When the plot-skips players into the game world-Chapter 872 - 246 Interrogating the Honey Badger

Chapter 872 -246 Interrogating the Honey Badger

Cardinal Dominic was chatting enthusiastically and led Aiwass and his group deeper into the building, arriving at the innermost area quite swiftly.

This place was completely different from the loosely structured and nature-oriented disciplinary facilities outside.

Around them, the architecture had, at some unknown point, been enveloped in a layer of silvery-white light metal. Densely packed black runes were inscribed on the walls, possessing a strangely artistic style.

Aiwass felt a taut sensation on his exposed skin just from being in this space—it felt as though his skin was wrapped in cling film. A faint discomfort, as if he was wearing a slightly heavy watch, persisted on his wrist; however, a quick glance down reassured him that it was merely an illusion.

That was the effect of the overflowing Authority Force upon the Material Realm.

—The entire building had been transformed into the “Temple” of the Silver-Crowned Dragon.

...

Even though the entirety of the Eighteenth Ring essentially functioned as the Holy Nation’s prison, this silvery-white temple was the “prison within the prison.”

Within this area, even a Legal Mage of the First Power Level could easily display the restraining power of the Third Level.

This was just the kind of domain field with the Holy Nation’s signature style—if one were to achieve such a sustained enhancement purely through rituals, the price paid would be almost unbearable.

The Elves’ approach was to erect an adequately vast temple. This was far simpler than the former method… it only required allocating enough bishops for the temple’s area, then the whole building could be indefinitely sanctified.

This 𝓬ontent is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.

Aiwass estimated that this prison, which was actually a temple for heavy offenders, covered at least thirty thousand square meters—a size corresponding to four standard football pitches.

Not because it held that many criminals.

But because everything within was completely isolated from the outer world—it had its own enclosed systemic cycle, and the “redemption” actions of the criminals had to be completed within. Unless explicitly authorized, even bishops who entered could not leave at will… because even the Warden himself was one of the severe offenders.

—That person was Cardinal Dominic, dressed in restraining garb.

“…What sins have you committed, Dominic?” Aiwass asked curiously.

Cardinal Dominic replied gently, “Oh, there are plenty, Aiwass Vicar Pope.

“The Holy Nation has no ‘laws.’ Thus, no one can judge another by default—and as I mentioned before, the criminals of the Holy Nation must demonstrate their own value.

“Those who know healing spells go heal others, those capable of concocting medicine take on the labor of alchemy. If they have talents in research, writing, or calculating, there are places where they can utilize their abilities. Even if they’re good for nothing, the Holy Nation generously provides them with training… they can learn anything they wish, just as long as they eventually contribute sufficient value.

“Yet even so, there still are unrepentant fanatics. Some are true rotten wood; apart from their misconduct, they have no worthwhile skills and cannot learn any valuable work; the value they contribute far less than the harm they cause. Some others simply refuse to cooperate…”

As he spoke, Cardinal Dominic slightly raised his hand.

A heavy door without a handle then opened upwards and downwards, like the gaping maw of a beast.

Inside the room was a woman. With not a stitch on her body, her arms spread apart to the left and right, held in place in mid-air by a silver-white Triangle of Light. Her legs hung down naturally, and an even larger Triangle of Light clasped her feet together, suspending her in the void.

All around her, at least twenty or more intense light sources were directed at her simultaneously, causing her body to shimmer with dazzling brilliance. Not a single part of her body was connected with “darkness.”

The woman looked up in astonishment, but couldn’t make out at all who had come through the door, then promptly shut her eyes again under the glaring light.

Isabel’s face flushed with embarrassment, and she instinctively turned her head away. Seeing that Aiwass still watched intently, she pouted slightly. But considering the seriousness of the matter, Her Majesty the Queen’s puffed cheeks deflated as quickly as a burst bubble.

Cardinal Dominic continued, “Because they refuse to cooperate, they can provide no value.

“And for such people, the ‘Dissolution Court’ must be mobilized.

“To thoroughly dismantle the irredeemable criminals with no value… such an act is no different from murder. And indeed is a sin heavier than murder… such a sin ought to be borne by someone.

“—And that person is me.

“These documents are to be signed by me. The ‘necessary evil’ of the Holy Nation, all borne by myself alone…”

…Necessary evil?

Aiwass suddenly heard a familiar term and turned his head to look at Cardinal Dominic.

Cardinal Dominic, however, stepped forward, gazing at the Assassin Master immobilized by the bright spotlight.

“From the Hawkeye Organization, the Fifth Power Level [Shadow Dancer], hired by Cardinal Loki for a million Star Antimony Coins to assassinate the Eternal Saintess Grey.

“This year he’s sixty-five years old, possessing the Fourth Level Path of Beauty and the Fifth Level Path of Adaptation, codenamed [Honey Badger] Kurt Ludwig. Disciple of [Butterfly], mentor to [Little Deer], [Tutu], and others. Has served the Hawkeye Organization for fifty-eight years.

“Joined the Hawkeye because his parents, a legislator and a renown dancer, were attacked and killed by the Son of the Moon. Your mother was awakened as the new Son of the Moon, and following her memories from her former life, turned around to continue the pursuit to kill you, who had been hidden in your uncle’s home. Though she didn’t find you, she still killed your uncle’s entire family, transforming some of them into new Sons of the Moon.

“You currently hold three public identities, a dance teacher, a legislator’s widow, and a female soothsayer. As a legislator’s widow, you’ve had four lovers and married two of them. One ended through divorce due to emotional discord, the other was the Son of the Moon who you orchestrated an assassination against.

“You have three children, one son and two daughters, all of whom have joined the Hawkeye Organization. None of them know your real identity, and one of them is your disciple ‘Little Deer’…

“…Do I need to continue?”

Cardinal Dominic’s demeanor became stern and ruthless.

She pronounced the details of the other person’s identity, unraveling his secrets.

And codenamed [Honey Badger] Kurt Ludwig could only give a bitter smile: “What more do I need to say? Haven’t you already seen my memories clearly?”

Had it been in the past, this surely would have been assigned to Cardinal Loki for stellar divination.

But Cardinal Dominic did not resort to divination—insteading using the Advanced Divine Art from the Path of Authority to directly read the opposite party’s memories.

“Do you have any requests?”

Cardinal Dominic asked indifferently: “If you were to be sentenced to death, what would your final wish be?”

“… Anything goes?”

Honey Badger counter-questioned.

She was not afraid of her own death, or rather, as a failed assassin, she had long anticipated this outcome.

“That’s not for certain, but you might as well say it… maybe anything really does go.”

Cardinal Dominic shook her head slightly, neither confirming nor denying.

“Then I hope… you can spare Alice de Hacourt.”

Honey Badger pondered for a moment before speaking: “Because she really hasn’t done anything, and if we talk about her only responsibility, it’s at most failing to report something she was aware of. Given her position, she couldn’t possibly betray her identity, and at most, she could only remain silent. You can fully verify the truthfulness of this… she was merely used by me.”

“Why should we spare her?”

Cardinal Dominic countered: “Do you have a good relationship with her? Or do you think it’s unjust to drag an innocent person down?”

“… Because the Hawkeye Organization cannot easily bear the wrath of Duke Hacourt.”

Honey Badger smiled helplessly: “Especially the Hawkeye Organization after losing me.

“Alice is the most beloved daughter of the great Duke Hacourt; both the Iris Flower publication and the Hawkeye are using her identity. Had it succeeded, all would have been well; but now it has failed, and a price must be paid.

“—If Duke Hacourt harbors resentment against the Hawkeye because of this matter, those fence-sitter old nobles will also follow suit and distance themselves from the Hawkeye. Yet Hawkeye is an organization fighting for the freedom of human souls—

“If such an incident leads to the Sons of the Moon seizing power, it would be all too ridiculous.”