Chapter 39
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Demonic Beast (4)
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Nearly twenty minutes had passed since Rex was confined to the mansion.
There were no more guards to protect him, nor was Palios there to offer advice.
Faced with the reality that the Count's authority held no sway here, Rex finally gave up resisting.
He realized there was no way to hold out against them any longer.
Resigned, Rex sighed and asked Loan about their identity.
"Who are you people?"
"We are the Order. We serve the Great One and spread His will throughout the world."
"The Great One..."
Rex frowned at the name "the Order."
The only religions legally sanctioned in every nation on the continent were the six temples officially recognized by the Holy Land.
All others were considered heretical and hunted by the Holy Land's Inquisitors.
As far as Rex could tell, the Order Loan spoke of seemed to have no connection to the six temples of the Holy Land.
Besides, there was no reason for temples affiliated with the Holy Land to approach him in such a manner.
It seemed highly likely that this so-called Order was a heretical group, unrecognized by the Holy Land.
"Do you know of the Great One?"
"It seems you're different from the six temples I know of."
"You're quick on the uptake. The Great One is nothing like those fakes."
Hearing Rex's words, Loan immediately admitted they were heretics unaffiliated with the Holy Land.
But like all heretics, he was brimming with excessive confidence.
Then again, if they weren't confident, they wouldn't have dared to do something like this to a nobleman.
Moreover, they had easily subdued Palios, one of the most skilled men in the Count's household.
It was proof that they were also confident in their martial strength.
"So, why have people who serve this 'great' person come to me?"
"Our reason for visiting you today, Young Lord, is simple."
"What is it...?"
"Join the Order. And receive its protection."
Rex's face darkened upon hearing the Order's purpose for seeking him out.
He had expected them to demand money at most, but this request was far more troublesome than he had imagined.
Joining the Order was synonymous with joining a heretical cult.
Of course, the Holy Land's Inquisitors probably couldn't punish an Imperial nobleman.
Nevertheless, it was clear that he would constantly clash with the Order.
In particular, Count Maier, a devout follower of the six temples, would not look kindly upon Rex joining a cult.
"You want me to join the Order?"
"It shouldn't be a difficult proposition."
"You're heretics, aren't you? I'll be branded a heathen by the six temples! My father will look at me like I'm crazy!"
Heretics.
Loan's eyebrow twitched at the word Rex used.
Only then did Rex realize he had misspoken.
It was the Order, after all, that held the upper hand.
Provoking them would do him no good whatsoever.
"Heretics is a blasphemous term."
"No, I..."
"It seems the wicked six temples have been spreading strange rumors. I will let it pass this time."
"Ah, I understand."
Fortunately, the moment seemed to pass without incident, and Rex nodded at Loan's words.
Having corrected Rex, Loan finally began his explanation.
"We are not unaware that you would be in a difficult position if you were to openly declare your faith."
"..."
"However, if you sincerely decide to serve the Order, we are prepared to support you at an organizational level."
Loan wasn't asking Rex to publicly show his support for the Order.
Rather, he was promising that the Order itself would support Rex.
But it didn't seem like he was merely promising financial aid.
In the current situation, anyone could see the obvious intention behind an offer to support Rex.
They intended to interfere in the succession dispute of the Count's family.
"Support...?"
"For now, it is fine to keep your faith only in your heart. After all, you will one day ascend to the title of Count."
"Are you saying you'll make me the Count?"
"Of course. In return, all you need to do is keep your promise to us after you become the Count."
The reason Rex had come here was to build a faction that would support him.
He had even come to form a connection with the Eisalia Viscounty of a neighboring country.
That he had to consider joining hands with foreign nobles showed just how poor his current situation was.
The faction of his younger brother, backed by the Countess, had grown far too powerful.
His relationship with his brother, Max, had already reached a breaking point.
If Max were to become the Count, he would surely try to eliminate Rex, who was an eyesore to him.
At the thought of how pathetic he had become, Rex stroked his chin and spoke.
"What do you want from me?"
He had already considered bringing in foreign nobles.
There was no reason why heretics couldn't get involved in this dirty factional struggle.
Even knowing it was a foolish thing to do, Rex decided to hear the Order's conditions.
Loan answered Rex's question with a kind smile.
"One. Hand over the city's death row inmates to the Order."
"The death row inmates?"
"They are destined to die anyway, so it doesn't matter, does it?"
"Well, that's true. Alright."
Handing over death row inmates wouldn't be difficult.
They were going to be executed and die anyway.
Once he became Count, he would even be willing to increase the number of death row inmates to some extent.
Whatever happened to those criminals after being dragged away by heretics was no concern of his.
The problem, however, was the second condition.
"Two. The city shall not interfere with the Order's events."
"What does that...?"
"It means exactly what it says. Do not interfere when the Order proselytizes or performs its rituals."
"I can't touch anything you do?"
"We don't expect that much. We are simply asking you not to meddle in activities that have been approved by the Order's leadership."
Do not interfere with the Order's events.
It sounded simple, yet it was a difficult request.
The moment he allowed the Order's activities to go unchecked, the Count's influence within the city would inevitably diminish.
This could become a major source of trouble later on.
Rex's troubled gaze fell upon Loan.
As if he had anticipated this, Loan continued with a proposal he had prepared in advance.
"Of course, we will provide commensurate support on our end."
"What kind of support?"
"For the time being, we will assign Sir Evan to be your escort. In addition, we will grant you the title of Honorary Archbishop of the Order."
"...Honorary Archbishop."
"It is the position just below mine within the Order. Are you perhaps dissatisfied?"
"Does this mean the Order will take responsibility for me, even if things go wrong?"
"Of course. Furthermore, as long as it does not interfere with the Order's affairs, you are free to command the faithful as you wish."
The ability to command the Order's faithful.
This meant Rex would have his own faction to control.
It was not a bad proposition for Rex.
Furthermore, even if something happened to Rex, a path of escape to the Order had been opened.
If he hid within the Order, not even Max, once he became Count, could easily kill him.
It was, in its own way, an attractive option.
"And one last thing. We will make you the Count in one year at the latest."
"One year? You think that's possible in just one year?"
"Do you believe it to be impossible?"
To make him the Count in just one year.
To Rex, it seemed impossible.
But from the moment he heard those words from Loan, Rex's heart began to beat wildly.
How long had he dreamed of the moment he would become the Count?
It was the very reason he had held on without giving up, even though the succession had already tilted heavily in Max's favor.
Rex Maier wanted to be the Count.
If possible, he would sell his soul to the devil to become the next Count Maier.
"I..."
He wanted to avoid a fate where he, the firstborn, was murdered by his younger brother after spending his life walking on eggshells around his family.
As if reading Rex's mind, Loan gently patted him on the shoulder.
It was not the way one would treat the firstborn son of a Count.
He looked at Rex with a benevolent gaze, like an archbishop looking upon one of the Order's faithful.
"Do not worry too much. The Great One will be with you, Young Lord."
"Ha..."
"So, Young Lord Rex. Come with us."
Loan's hand was extended toward Rex.
Blink. Blink.
Rex's eyes stared at Loan's open palm.
It was a hand that held so much meaning.
Perhaps, just as he suspected, he was about to shake hands with a devil from hell.
Even so, Rex could not bring himself to push the hand away.
"Alright. I'll join the Order. I understand everything... so now, please return Sir Palios."
With a voice that flowed out weakly, Rex took Loan's hand.
Rex Maier.
He wanted to be the Count.
He wanted to become a lord who would govern the county splendidly, following in his father's footsteps.
That was why he took the Order's hand.
Even knowing it was the wrong thing to do.
Cloud, Centierius Branch.
Agent, a 1st-Class Investigator, stared at the report with a dark expression.
Normally, Cloud's reports would be filled with relatively common incidents like robberies and thefts.
But the contents of the report Agent received today were different.
It was because it was filled with matters that required more attention than usual.
The very first case on the report was an example.
The page detailed a request for cooperation sent from Crossbridge to Cloud's headquarters.
"An Inquisitor from the Holy Land went missing here?"
An Inquisitor from Crossbridge had disappeared while on vacation in the Centierius region.
The Inquisitor's name was Evan Alemier.
He was a Holy Knight renowned even in the Holy Land for his devout faith.
He was also the brother of Hurs Alemier, a 2nd-Class Investigator who had been part of the Centierius branch until recently.
The request was for Cloud's Centierius branch to take the lead in the search for the Inquisitor.
Reading the report, Agent turned the page with a troubled expression and muttered.
"Of all the damn places, why'd he have to disappear here? As if I don't have enough complicated things to deal with."
The 2nd-Class Investigator who had recently quit Cloud, Hurs Alemier, had a rather thorny relationship with Branch Chief Agent.
It was so bad that he had argued with Agent even on the day he left.
The fact that he now had to search for a colleague's family member was not a pleasant thought for Agent.
Moreover, Inquisitors were considered a vital part of the Holy Land's strength.
If someone like that suddenly vanished, he couldn't just send any mediocre investigator.
It seemed highly likely that Agent himself would have to step in.
"Hmph."
Agent sighed and looked at the next page.
The contents of the next page had also been delivered from Cloud's headquarters.
The Abyss Demon Beast, Kueberberg.
A monster had appeared in the southeastern part of the Empire.
The monster possessed intelligence on par with being able to converse and had apparently introduced itself by the name Kueberberg.
"Kueberberg..."
Kueberberg's infamous deeds lived up to its grandiose name.
More than ten villages had already been destroyed by it.
Furthermore, due to its trait of crushing everything in its path, a small castle in Kueberberg's way was now in danger.
The moment Kueberberg reached the castle, the Empire would lose a viscounty and a castle.
Because of this, Cloud headquarters wanted the nearby branches to send a subjugation team as quickly as possible.
After reading about Kueberberg, Agent rested his chin on his hand and began to ponder.
"If that Hurs fellow were still here, I would've sent him to the subjugation team."
With Hurs Alemier gone, the Centierius branch had no one to replace him.
For most matters, Agent himself had to fill the void.
But he couldn't solve two cases at once by himself.
Since both were urgent, Agent had to make the choice himself.
Should he search for Evan Alemier?
Or should he participate in the subjugation of Kueberberg?
Agent, who had been looking back and forth between the reports, shot up from his seat.
"Ugh, seriously..."
Rising from his seat, Agent crumpled one of the reports on his desk.
It was the report about the Kueberberg subjugation team.
The paper, crumpled by Agent, left his hand and tumbled to the floor.
Thump.
After tossing aside the report on the subjugation team, Agent let out a dry laugh and looked at the first report.
"...Hurs Alemier. I'll make damn sure I get a 'thank you' from you for this."
The search for the missing Inquisitor, Evan Alemier.
That was Agent's decision.