Enforcer Manual
Chapter 574: The Old Man and the Marinated Egg_1

Chapter 574: Chapter 574: The Old Man and the Marinated Egg_1

"First, let’s eliminate one wrong answer,"

Under Song Lan’s imposing desk-slamming, Yeying quickly grasped the concept of elimination and helped him remove a wrong answer. "At that time, my sisters and I were all reassigned from the ’mine,’ that is to say, we had a complete alibi!"

"You were reassigned from your posts?"

Song Lan sat up straight, such crucial information almost enough to point to the mastermind behind this affair.

The Church’s "Angels of Death" had just been moved away, and the very Spiritual Energy seals they were tasked to guard had issues. How could such a coincidence exist in this world?

Probably only the naïve Yeying would not connect these two events.

"Moreover, the way the Saints died was extremely strange,"

Without waiting for Song Lan to speak, Yeying continued, "They died inside the sculptures of the Spiritual Energy seals. The Archbishop said the murderer must be a very powerful Psychic."

For the purpose of investigating the cause of the "mine’s" disturbance, the "Angels of Death" were once ordered to return to the Spiritual Energy seals where the five Saints were located. From the outside, these sculptures binding the Saints appeared intact, but when they shattered the sculptures, they discovered that the Saints within were burned to ashes, leaving only five empty husks.

In the words of the Archbishop, the one who killed them was very familiar with the structure of the Spiritual Energy seals; he had infused Spiritual Energy into the sculptures tailored for the Saints, burning them from the inside out.

After the Saints died, the supply to the Spiritual Energy seals was cut off. The Mutants then broke through the seals and started pouring out from the "mine" continuously, resulting in the current situation in the Third Neutral Country.

Some in the Church believed that someone had betrayed the Church and Father God. They yearned to drag the traitor from the crowd, tie them to the execution stake, and watch them burn to ashes in the raging fire. However, another faction believed it was a conspiracy by the Barrosa Group; they intended to use this method to cause infighting within the Church so they could reap the benefits of the fishermen.

Song Lan asked again, "Who reassigned you from your posts then?"

"We only take orders from the Archbishop himself. The believers discovered a secret society that the Barrosa Group had infiltrated into the Church, and we eradicated all the members of that society."

This was where the conspiracy theory concerning the Barrosa Group originated.

Some informed individuals believed that the Barrosa Group had deliberately used the society to draw the Church’s higher-ups’ attention. When the "Angels of Death" were called away, the spies the Barrosa Group had planted within the Church would proceed to the "mine" to sabotage the Spiritual Energy seals. The strategy adopted by the Barrosa Group afterwards—to surround but not attack and let them fight the Mutants—also indirectly confirmed this.

These sensible believers called for not being blinded by rage. At this critical juncture, they should unite and present a united front against the external threat, not engage in pointless infighting.

This passionate speech in the city square was met with enthusiastic responses from other believers.

They enthusiastically tied those believers who had delivered the speeches to stakes and then set them on fire to atone to the "Father God."

While Song Lan and Yeying were discussing this matter in their room, the near-fanatical cries of the believers came from outside the hotel.

Another Heretic had revealed themselves.

Just as the believers had hoped, no Heretic could hide from the Tribunal.

The sacrificially fervent Ceremony forced Song Lan to temporarily suspend his detective work. He took a gray cloak from the hotel wardrobe, draped it over himself like an ordinary believer, hiding his face.

Afterwards, the three of them followed at the end of the procession, all the way to Antigon’s city square.

This square, which had been used for sermons and preaching, had been transformed by the Tribunal into an execution platform during the war. The platform was lined with several charred stakes, each with a charred corpse tied to it.

Now, the fervent believers gathered in the central square, watching as the Tribunal erected a new stake on the execution platform and then shoved a prisoner in handcuffs and shackles onto the platform.

The execution process seemed to be the source of the believers’ strength.

They possessed the most loyal and steadfast faith in the world. Whether they were to be engulfed by a Mutant army, pierced through the heart by bone scythes, or have their heads gnawed by sharp teeth, they would not retreat an inch. And each trial of a Heretic would make the flames in their hearts burn even brighter.

When the hood covering the Heretic’s head was removed by the Judge, Yeying suddenly exclaimed in shock.

"It’s Father Delari, he has actually betrayed the Church!"

"Do you know him?"

Song Lan lowered his voice, asking such a question in a square full of believers, which could easily provoke the hatred of other devotees.

"Father Delari is the librarian, one of the most learned men in the Church!"

In Yeying’s memory, Father Delari was different from those believers who feared them; he was always kind and had told her many stories about the Church.

"Then... who is that bald guy over there?"

What Song Lan referred to was naturally the most conspicuous "boiled egg" on the execution stand, dressed in bright red robes, fat and ear-large, with a smug smile on his face.

It was not hard to see that this "boiled egg" was the supervisor of this trial, and all the judges showed him great respect.

"It’s not the bald guy; it’s Father Aige!"

Yeying frowned and corrected Song Lan’s way of addressing him.

It should be known that such irreverent terms, if heard by members of the Tribunal, would undoubtedly result in Song Lan being sentenced to death.

"After Father Bruno left, Father Aige took over his work and became the Chief Judge. Beneath the Archbishop, he is the most renowned and powerful person, authorized to deal with some affairs for the Archbishop when he is too occupied... You better not refer to him like that again."

"Understood."

Song Lan nodded in acknowledgment.

He admitted that he had slipped up just now; on the one hand, Father Aige’s bald head was simply too conspicuous on the execution stand, and on the other hand, from the very first sight of the man, he had felt an inexplicable revulsion.

As a salted fish who lived a serene life and never harbored enmity towards anyone, it was rare for him to have such feelings.

"Heretic Delari, now you must confess to the devout believers the sins you have committed!"

Once everything was ready, Father Aige began the grand trial without needing a microphone, making sure his voice clearly reached the ears of every believer in the square.

Just a simple sentence stirred up the emotions of the devotees.

They were enraged, with eyes that seemed to spit fire.

The faithful could hardly wait to see this hypocritical traitor burnt to a crisp.

"Stop this, Aige."

Tied to the stake, Delari only watched Aige with calm and pitying eyes. They had worked together for many years, becoming members of the Church since its foundation.

He had witnessed the Church’s changes and seen the Tribunal and Aige gradually morph into what they were today.

"Power has blinded your eyes."

"Seditious words."

Father Aige let out a cold laugh, "It seems you have not the slightest remorse for the sins you have committed. Since that is the case, only the hellfire can burn your body, letting your twisted soul go to Father God for atonement."

With these words, he personally picked up a torch and began to walk step by step toward the old man tied to the stake, awaiting judgment.

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