Chapter 172
Chapter 172
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 172
Chapter Title: Investigation Concluded
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After wrapping up the interrogation of Baron Howard, I had the priests reach out to those around him to conduct further investigations into the baron.
Three days had passed since we began methodically meeting everyone connected to him.
"Bishop."
The priests had set out at dawn and slunk back sheepishly before lunch.
"What's going on with all of you? Shouldn't you be in the thick of your investigations right now?"
"Well..."
I furrowed my brow and shot them a sharp glare, wondering why people who should be bustling around the Imperial Capital and the Empire had returned to the church instead. The eldest priest forced an awkward smile and spoke up.
"The investigation of those around him is complete."
"Pardon?"
I stared at them blankly, racking my brain to see if "complete" held some meaning I wasn't aware of.
There was no way the peripheral investigation could be perfectly done in just three days—or more precisely, 58 hours since finishing Baron Howard's interrogation.
It might be possible with commoners.
No matter how extensive a commoner's network, how vast could it really be?
But he was a noble.
Not just any noble, but the second son of a house called the emperor's left arm, the core of the Empire's north, and the scourge of the nomads.
Even three weeks wouldn't be enough to call it quick for someone of his position.
"Hmph."
I snorted and shifted my gaze to the report the priests had placed on the desk.
Never mind that it was finished in just a day or two—the thing was paper-thin.
No way this volume came from investigating everyone around him.
Ah, they must have only managed his family in this time.
"So, the investigation of the baron's family is done?"
"No, we've finished with everyone who had more than a one-time meeting."
"Does that even make sense? There's no way you met that many people in three days..."
"Excluding customers, there weren't many who qualified as truly knowing Baron Howard— just family, business contacts, and employees."
"No close friends?"
"No."
"He had some in the past, but not anymore?"
"No, there simply aren't any. Neither in the past nor now. He was popular with young ladies his age, but not one turned that into ongoing relations."
"Huh?"
No friends...?
Not in the past, not now?
"Did the Earl of Hume lock him away and raise him like that? Should we start investigating the earl?"
"No, quite the opposite—they practically dragged him out because he didn't want to go outside."
"I see..."
I barely swallowed the "Is he even a noble?" muttering and forced my souring expression back to neutral.
"So, to sum up what you've learned: Baron Howard's connections are extremely limited, and he barely interacted with people even in the past?"
"Yes, exactly."
"But this happened despite the family neither confining him nor just passively supporting social activities—they actively encouraged them?"
"Correct."
"And he was popular with the ladies, but not a single deep relationship formed?"
"Yes."
"Yet suddenly he starts actively engaging externally and, in just a few months, captures the hearts of His Imperial Majesty and Her Highness the Imperial Princess?"
"Yes..."
As they nodded along affirming every question with a simple "yes," I flashed a smile while grinding my back teeth.
"You're not messing with me, are you, priests?"
"We wish it were a joke."
"That last part is utterly ridiculous. Even as the scion of a powerful house, this doesn't add up. He didn't really use witchcraft, did he?"
"He must just be an exceptionally talented genius. He seems deeply devoted to his family—maybe he hid his abilities to avoid issues during the succession."
"Then why reveal them now? The title transfer is underway, but it's not fully complete yet."
"We don't know about that either, but it has no bearing on the heresy inquiry."
"True..."
The common sense I'd held until today had been thoroughly shattered.
Could a noble have no one worthy of being called a close friend?
Possible.
Could connections fail to form despite regular social appearances and active family support?
That too, possible.
Yet could such a person rise to the empire's power core by winning over the emperor and princess in mere months?
Incredibly, yes.
So suspiciously perfect, yet squeaky clean where it counts.
Was this the feeling of witnessing a demon praising the Lord?
"Haa..."
A profound unease, like a demon manipulating minds, gripped me. I clutched my forehead and bowed my head.
"Bishop, if the report feels insufficient, we can expand to atelier customers and anyone connected to the Hume Earldom."
"No... no need. As you say, these are unrelated to heresy."
"Understood."
Investigating houses linked to the Earl of Hume would essentially mean probing every noble in the Empire.
That alone would take one or two years, and with the trial, I'd be stuck rummaging through the Empire for several.
The Empire wouldn't tolerate it.
Mere heresy suspicions provided neither justification nor reason to go that far.
So, it was right to end the investigation here.
"Then, let's review any notable findings."
I picked up the report, skipped the cover and table of contents, and opened to the main body.
Written in summary style, the very first line jumped out: "Extremely low possibility of heresy."
"Any irregularities related to heresy in the investigation?"
No major difference from the interrogation results, so I could close it, but I asked formally anyway.
You could never be too thorough with heresy checks—those around him might gripe, but still.
"No, none. We wondered if acquaintances' positive views were biased, so we visited the Devonshire Ducal House amid recent disputes and asked around, but they firmly denied any heresy ties."
"Devonshire Ducal House..."
I repeated the priest's words and pulled up the record on the marquess who clashed most fiercely with the baron.
['He's an insolent brat I'd love to erase, but he's no madman. The Holy Kingdom shouldn't shake the Empire's nobles with baseless rumors.']
"Oh..."
Even softened, the blatant hostility shone through—yet a firm conviction he wasn't a heretic.
A view tinted by patriotism and wariness of the Holy Kingdom, but not one to dismiss.
They could have just said "unknown," but they vouched for him.
"Any other opinions?"
"If we had to pick, most around him said, 'He's not the type to lie convincingly—if he were a heretic, we'd have noticed and reported him first.'"
"Hm~"
With that, I closed the report.
No significant differences from the interrogation; nothing more to see.
"Lord Sterling?"
I turned slightly to summon the Empire's veteran knight who had quietly observed the process.
"You called?"
The knight approached with a courteous bow.
"I'd like to report the investigation results to His Imperial Majesty. Can you arrange it?"
"Yes, I'll report to my superiors immediately upon returning to the knight order."
"Thank you."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The audience with the Emperor came far quicker than expected.
We'd discussed it today, yet by evening came the summons to the palace.
"I am Bianca Vitale di Luca, Heretic Inquisitor and Bishop of the Holy Kingdom, here to serve the Lord."
"Pleased to meet you."
Though surprised, wrapping this up quickly meant an early return home, so I headed straight to the palace and met the Emperor in a dimly lit audience chamber.
"So, the investigation results are in?"
"Yes, they are."
"That's awfully fast. Did you even do it properly? Storming into the Empire like this and poking around half-heartedly would breed ugly rumors, and I won't have that."
"The charges were so outlandish that it didn't take long."
"Must have been a real hardship coming all the way here for a week-long probe."
"I sincerely apologize for that."
"Good that you know."
I led with an apology toward the Emperor, who started prickly.
Had Baron Howard been a heretic, we could crow; as he wasn't, we owed the bow.
"So, what were the results?"
With my humble posture easing him somewhat, the Emperor shrugged off the grumpiness and cut to the chase.
"All charges except moral turpitude are cleared. That minor issue will end with nominal service or donation."
"Meaning the heresy accusations against Baron Howard were all fabrications?"
"Whether intentional or misunderstanding—we'll know after investigating the accuser—but yes, reporting nonexistent crimes."
"Hmm~"
The Emperor slouched, tapping the throne's armrest.
"If it was mere misunderstanding, what punishment does he face?"
"Without intent, a pilgrimage to the Holy Land for atonement."
It might sound light—just a trip to the Holy Land—but pilgrimages must be on foot.
Barring rivers or seas, no matter the distance, it's walking only.
From the Empire to the Holy Land: minimum six months, up to two years.
Return the same way, doubling the time.
For simple misunderstanding, a harsh penalty indeed.
"Too lenient. Tsk tsk..."
Yet the Emperor dismissed it boredly with a tongue-click.
"I wouldn't call pilgrimage lenient."
"Bishop, nor is it severe. Too merciful for the wretch sowing division via heresy hunts. If it were harsh, would he dare accuse without evidence?"
"That's..."
Hard to counter.
Politically lethal if true, yet just a pilgrimage felt light.
"What outcome does Your Majesty desire?"
"I won't gloss over this lightly. Ending it with a mere pilgrimage invites everyone to cry 'misunderstanding' for heresy claims."
"We can't falsify results in the Holy Kingdom."
"No need. Just turn a blind eye after our probes and trials to whatever the Empire does to the accuser."
"Hmm..."
Principally no, but after the Empire's concessions, some leeway was due.
We might need their cooperation again someday.
"So long as no innocents unrelated to this suffer, we can overlook an 'unfortunate accident.'"
"Excellent."
The Emperor nodded with a satisfied smile.
"Then, handle the rest swiftly and close this out."
"Yes, I'll do my utmost to resolve within the month."
"Good, I leave it to you."