Above The Sky
Chapter 415 - 415 386 Let Hope Happen 13

415: Chapter 386: Let Hope Happen (1/3) 415: Chapter 386: Let Hope Happen (1/3) When Ian proceeded to the third floor to examine the clues in Linda’s room and the alchemy laboratory,

the Radiant Nun was taking down a statement from Steward Moda.

It sounded peculiar — how could a mere First Energy Level executor of the Huai Guang Church, a nun who wasn’t even formally ordained within the church, possess the authority to record the testimony of a witness, or even a tainted witness, in a major case?

But this was actually due to the internal affairs of the Empire itself.

Indeed, the Empire had its own law enforcement agency, and just the Emperor’s apparatus for supervising Nobles and gathering intelligence from other nations consisted of three completely different, independent intelligence and violent departments: “Inspector Knight,” “Noble Court,” and “Mirror Sea Guard.”

Moreover, responsible for managing Sublimators were the “Truth Institute” and the “Spirit Wisdom Institute,” two prominent factions in the many power struggles of the Empire, constantly wrestling with each other for control.

But the institutions genuinely responsible for addressing commoner-related issues were rather scarce.

“Criminal Law,” “Jurisprudence,” and “Inspection,” collectively known as the “Supervisory Court” or simply “Court,” and their agents dubbed “Inspector Officers,” constituted the official Empire entities that dealt with commoner grievances and various civilian criminal and civil cases.

Ordinary cases of robbery, kidnapping, extortion, and commoners committing murder and fleeing were handled by the local Supervisory Court, which dispatched personnel to pursue and investigate, bringing the perpetrators to justice.

But how should one put it…

Not to mention their inability to handle everything, even if they truly could, would the local Nobles allow them to?

Take Harrison Port as an example.

Fourteen years ago, the chief judge of the local Supervisory Court died in an encounter with an Ironclad Shark.

The successor disappeared before taking office, likely devoured by the Natives.

This reveals the standing of the Supervisory Court within the Empire.

And frankly, even if they had the capacity to take charge, in Terra, any significant incident would surely involve Sublimators and Spirit Energy Users!

But if a case were somehow linked to a Sublimator or Spirit Energy User, it could lead straight to a powerful local Noble or other influential figure with just one thread of connection.

Even if the individuals were just ordinary wandering Adventurers and mercenaries, those who live well despite being Nobles’ secret enforcers and still manage to cause chaos, would undoubtedly possess considerable skills.

Some things were out of their jurisdiction, and they wouldn’t take action even if they could.

What if they actually uncovered something significant?

If they did, the Supervisory Court officials might find themselves having to apologize to the local powers.

The Huai Guang Church, however, was a different story.

Under normal circumstances, the Huai Guang Church wouldn’t interfere in these matters.

Although they never cared for local laws, having their own logic to confront the world, the majority maintained a neutral stance, observing everything without intruding on the internal penal system of other nations.

But if the Huai Guang Church did intervene and manage to uncover something…

Then it would be the Nobles and local powerhouses who would have to kneel and apologize.

Now was such a phase.

The missing cases on the Agate Stone Plains had alarmed the Huai Guang Church, and the local Inspection Institute had not dealt with the issue.

Thus, according to customary practice, even if law enforcement from Nauman City arrived later, they would have to wait until the Huai Guang Church had finished addressing the relevant matters before they could access the secondary scenes and witnesses handled by the Church.

By that time, there would be little room left for local law enforcement to operate, generally only able to close cases based on clues provided by the Huai Guang Church.

Unless they wanted to overturn the findings of the Huai Guang Church.

If they dared to do so.

The Radiant Nun was acting this way primarily to protect Steward Moda.

Baron Leyan was already clearly burdened with a multitude of grievous charges, such as ‘indiscriminate mass murder and concealment of corpses,’ ‘illegal human experimentation,’ ‘unlawfully using Spirit Energy to interfere with others’ will,’ and continuing to investigate could easily add several more accusations like ‘colluding with Cults,’ ‘illegal blood sacrifices,’ and a variety of crimes related to his property.

As one of his close associates, the best Steward Moda could hope for was to be implicated and beheaded, the worst being his whole family disappearing.

But he was not guilty.

At least in the view of the Huai Guang Church, Steward Moda had simply carried out all his duties diligently, and those duties did not involve the lives of anyone else — he was merely managing the castle for a criminal, due to the memory alterations caused by Spirit Energy, taking care of the lord and young master in his mind.

“That’s about it.”

After asking nearly all the details, the Radiant Nun put away her pen and paper.

She nodded to the weary and disheartened steward, “The statement is now complete, rest assured, the local Inspector Officer won’t do anything to you.”

“…Thank you…”

Summoning his energy to lift his head, Steward Moda also knew this matter was bound to escalate, and it was almost certain that Baron Leyan would be stripped of his title.

Being jobless was a minor concern, but what would become of Leyan Territory?

Most importantly…

“What will happen to the master and the young masters?”

The old steward asked in a low voice, inquiring about an answer he already knew.

He was simply begging for a glimmer of hope.

However, after some consideration, the Radiant Nun still mercilessly revealed the truth.

“The Baron might be punished by the Noble Court, and the outcome could be that after being stripped of his Sublimator and noble status, he will be executed as an ordinary person.

If all goes well, these children will be sent to the Huai Guang Church for reformation.”

When she saw Moda the steward’s eyes widen with hope, the Dragon Maiden slowly said, “But if they are too dangerous, we cannot allow these children to continue living.”

“And judging by your current situation, Steward Moda…

Yila’s Spirit Energy is considered high-tier mental series Spirit Energy under control, and even if he did not resist and was taken in, for the rest of his life he would likely only be able to live in the Sacred Domain Shelter around Holy Mountain.”

“It’s the same for the other children; their abilities are suspected of artificial enhancement, all extremely dangerous…

As long as they resist, their chances of surviving are almost zero.”

“But…,” as if struck by a heavy hammer, Steward Moda stammered, “Aren’t you from Embrace Light?”

“Yes, we are Embrace Light,” responded Yingguang earnestly, the dragonfolk girl’s eyes glittering with red starlight, the flickering light of fire-type Origin Quality, indicating the fluctuations of emotion in her heart.

This question had been asked by many; there were ragged old men, middle-aged people showing despair, and mothers who knelt down in grief begging for their own.

They all held hope for Huai Guang.

But Huai Guang was not hope.

Never was.

So, when facing Steward Moda, she still said in a gentle tone: “I understand what you mean, Steward Moda.

Personally, I sympathize with Baron Leyan and the plight of his three adopted sons and daughters, but that doesn’t contradict the heinous sins they’ve committed.”

“Indeed, they are pitiable and tragic, but what about the innocents who died, just among those, I’ve recorded in the course of my investigation, are already hundreds of people.”

“Not to mention, the two children who disappeared from Dawn Twilight Town in recent weeks, and several ‘deceased’ in Gold Leaf Town taken away by Sharp Claw Tigers—they didn’t have parents, children, family?”

“They had just said goodbye to their families with a smile in the morning, set out to enjoy a beautiful day working hard on the land, and then they vanished without a trace from this world, leaving their families in anxious tears, asking others where their children, their husbands, and wives were, turning into fragmented specimens within this room…”

“Tragedy breeds more tragedy, and for that, I am deeply saddened.”

Huai Guang treated everyone equally and did not think that one life weighed more just because it was more tragic.

Furthermore, could it be said that those innocents who died weren’t tragic?

This was what the Radiant Nun did not say aloud.

“I understand…

I realize my thoughts are sinful, unjust…

but, but…,” visibly aging before her eyes, Steward Moda slowly knelt down, hugging his head and muttering to himself, “I just fainted once, why has the world completely changed in an instant, and why does my past feel like a false joke…

”

Yingguang did not answer that question.

Because Spirit Energy Users, possess such power…

it’s that terrifying.

Therefore.

Some fear, others desire.

—Artificial Spirit Users, huh…

The situation behind this is far too complicated; I wonder if the Holy Hall Enforcer will arrive in time before Baron Leyan truly makes a grave mistake…

On the other hand, if they really do arrive, things will be very troublesome…

At first, I thought Baron Leyan was at most harboring cultists, which was within the scope of the Huai Guang Church to deal with by punishing.

The enforcer defeating the Baron and handing him over to the Empire’s relevant departments would have sufficed.

But now the issue has become too significant, so significant that the Holy Hall Enforcer will definitely act to execute the ‘Heretic’…

With Baron Leyan’s death, there will definitely be a tangle of Empire departments to deal with, and the trail will go cold.

But…

Someone must do it.

With this thought in mind, facing the silent, bowed, tearful Moda, Yingguang extended her hand, gently laying it on his head.

The nun’s fingertips bloomed with a faint light, accepting his repentance.

She murmured an ancient maxim in a soft voice, “The light of heaven doesn’t clear a darkened heart, the sun’s flame doesn’t purify the sins of the world.”

“We are the Angel Envoys of Embrace Light, we are the watchmen of the daylight, our mission as we tread through the world is not to eradicate darkness, not to sweep away sin…”

“We Huai Guang…

merely exist to let hope occur.”

Thud, thud, thud.

Footsteps sounded from the stairway entrance.

As she soothed the old man’s spirit, Yingguang turned her head to see the knight in Alchemist’s Armor coming downstairs with a stack of thick documents in hand.