The Time Is Ripe?

"Heh." The High Priest chuckled, shaking his head. "Where did you pick that up from?" Foden replied, "My deputy—Lynmelle, the Chief Inquisitor of the Whip of Order—was giving me a briefing at noon. When she finished, I told her I had two points to add. She immediately picked up her water cup and started washing her ears. I burst out laughing right then; I found it quite amusing." "Yes, it is amusing, which is why you couldn't wait to use it on me?" "That's right, indeed." "A pity," the High Priest said with a touch of helplessness. "Such an amusing gesture, yet I can't find a suitable person to try ear-washing on." Foden smiled without replying, reaching out to gently adjust the orb displaying the tribunal chamber. If it had been any of the previous High Priests, they would have had someone to do it to: the Temple of Order. For example, during the reign of the previous High Priest, Rasma, the Temple Elder Council stood behind him on the surface, but in private, whenever the Temple Elders spoke, Rasma could only stand by their side. This High Priest was different. Upon taking office, he thoroughly overturned the attitude his predecessors had held toward the Temple of Order. Not only was he unyielding, but he also made it unmistakably clear that he viewed the Temple of Order as merely another departmental system under the Holy See—acknowledging the noble pedigree of the Temple Elders, but refusing to recognize any transcendent status for the Temple of Order itself. Foden knew full well that the Temple of Order was deeply dissatisfied with this, yet they also held great wariness toward this High Priest. In short, they were unwilling to clash with him head-on. Furthermore, the Whip of Order was far from the only system or department that had been purged and reorganized recently. Other factions, especially the Temple faction, were primary targets of scrutiny. Many individuals connected to the temple—such as direct descendants of Temple Elders—had been reassigned to departments responsible for conducting routine rituals and researching liturgical etiquette. The ascension of a formidable High Priest brought a shock wave crashing into the old power structure. Naturally, marginalized factions rallied around him, joining him in carving out a share from the vested-interest establishment. The resulting upheaval was bound to be comprehensive. If it erupted entirely, its intensity would be no less than—and could even exceed—that of an external war. Managing it demanded consummate political finesse and vision among the leadership to keep the turbulence within a controllable range. Just then, the projection in the orb grew clearer, and the viewing angle dynamically shifted as multiple broadcast arrays operated simultaneously. The image happened to frame Karen and his two companions. "Vic?" The High Priest recognized the student taken in by his predecessor in his final days at a glance. "Yes, Vic," Foden introduced at once. "After Lord Theisen passed away on Fire Island, his official posting was arranged with the Whip of Order." The High Priest's gaze shifted onto Karen. "Karen?" "Yes, Karen. A very outstanding young man. When I read his dossier, I thought he'd be someone with a strong personality, but after meeting him, he actually gives off a rather shy impression." "Displaying personality or showing sharpness before you would be inappropriate. Putting on a modest, shy front takes the least effort." The High Priest took a drag of his cigar and said to Foden, "I had intended to get some rest." Foden pointed toward the projection before them. "Yet this might also be a form of relaxation, wouldn't you say?" "Then... let's watch." *** Inside the tribunal chamber, the broadcast array had been fully installed. Old Delon handed the application form to a subordinate, instructing him to complete the final procedure and bring back the receipt slip. Delon then simply found a seat in an out-of-the-way corner of the public gallery below, making no move to join his grandson. Now that all pretense of cordiality was shattered, there was nothing left to worry about. Such a rare, splendid stage play was too good to pass up. Karen happened to walk over just then and bowed respectfully to Delon. "You truly caught me by surprise today, sir." "Hahaha!" Delon laughed, patting his knee. "A rare opportunity like this doesn't come often. When you grow old, you either don't get angry, or if you do, what you dread most is having to wait too long—fearing you won't live to see it through. By the way, where are you off to?" "Out for a smoke." "Nervous?" Karen shook his head. "Enjoying myself." "Good, very good." Old Delon nodded. "I look forward to watching." Karen nodded in greeting to Delon and walked out of the tribunal. Instead of heading to the restroom on this floor, he lit a cigarette in the hallway. "Is he nervous?" In the distance, Bernie, standing within the concealment barrier, asked Neo beside him. "Nah. Where are we even at yet? How could he be? He just stepped out to get into character. Don't believe me? Watch. He'll probably take two puffs of that cigarette and waste the rest." Down the hall, Karen dropped the cigarette—having taken only two puffs, leaving most of it intact—onto the floor, crushed it beneath his boot heel, and gently rolled his neck. "Truth be told, I'd still feel most at ease if you were the one going up this time." "Rest assured, Karen won't disappoint you." "All right, then I'll look forward to it with peace of mind." Karen walked back into the tribunal chamber. He had stepped outside originally hoping to see if Neo and the others were around, but hadn't run into them. Though he had sensed a pocket in the corner that deflected probing, he hadn't forced his senses into it, as doing so was exceptionally rude. Upon returning to his seat, Karen found that a matching desk and chair had been set up opposite him. Bishop Bern was already seated there. Alfred and Vic both nodded toward Karen, signaling that everything was prepared. Presiding Judge Gaspol led the inquisitors back into the tribunal. The entire chamber fell silent at once; even those few still moving about deliberately softened their footsteps. *Crack!* The whip cracked. Everyone rose in respect, including the four bishops present. "The recess is over. The trial will continue." Once Presiding Judge Gaspol took her seat, everyone else sat down. One of the inquisitors looked toward Karen's side and announced, "Please present the case." Alfred stood up and delivered a concise presentation of the facts. His voice was naturally resonant, his diction impeccably clear, and with his background as a radio host, what was meant to be a routine procedural recital carried the cadence of a formal news crime broadcast—as if Vicolai had already been convicted. His entire account centered on three key points that strung together a clear timeline. The first point was that in Qihe's case, Vicolai had usurped Pavaro's credit. The second point was that due to his own condition, Vicolai regularly visited that establishment to "feed" on priests, committing the atrocious and cruel act of consuming them until they dissolved into puddles of water. The third point was that Pavaro had investigated these crimes and prepared to expose them just as he had in Qihe's case, only to be murdered by Vicolai to silence him. Of these three points, the first two were fact, while the third was half true and half fabricated. As for the clash between Vicolai and Richard, it was omitted from the presentation entirely, nor did the Whip of Order submit any evidence regarding it. Vicolai's existing crimes were already more than enough—an overflow of guilt, so to speak—making a brawl in a pastry shop irrelevant to sentencing. Moreover, it was best to crush Vicolai under a single, seamless chain of offenses; introducing unrelated charges now would only scatter their fire. "That concludes my statement, Presiding Judge." Gaspol turned to Vicolai and asked, "What does the defendant have to say?" "They are framing me!" Vicolai shouted the words, said not a single syllable more, and turned his head to look at Bishop Bern. It was undeniably an exceptionally clever move. "The defense counsel may speak now." Bishop Bern said, "Presiding Judge, I would like to speak after the opposing side has presented their evidence chain." Gaspol nodded. An inquisitor below called out, "Present the evidence chain." Vic stood up and began introducing the relevant evidence. Articulate and unfazed by the setting, he highlighted the key elements with precision. Regarding Vicolai's "patronage" of that establishment, both witness testimony and physical proof were comprehensive. As for Qihe's case, there were the investigative notes and "suicide note" left behind by Inquisitor Pavaro. Once all the evidence was explained and laid out, Vic looked toward Gaspol. "Presiding Judge, my presentation is complete." Gaspol looked at Vicolai and asked, "What does the defendant have to say?" Vicolai shouted once more, "They are framing me!" Then, he looked back at Bishop Bern. It had to be said that Vicolai was more lucid and clever today than he had been in months. For a truly foolish and arrogant man, doing nothing other than keeping his mouth shut was already a tremendous improvement over his former self. Karen rubbed the ring on his finger, waiting for Bishop Bern's counterattack. "Defense counsel?" "Very well, Presiding Judge." Bishop Bern stood up, left his seat, walked into the central area, and looked toward Karen. "I have several questions that I hope the opposing party will answer. "First question: Captain Karen, where have you been residing these past few months?" Karen understood in an instant. Bishop Bern hadn't spoken after Alfred's statement, choosing to wait until Vic finished presenting the evidence, not because he wanted to pick apart flaws in the evidence itself, but because he knew exactly what kind of creature Vicolai was. He had no intention of wasting time within the traditional framework of a trial; he had chosen to leap straight outside of it. He intended to tear open a breach from external circumstances, shifting the case from its merits into a targeted power struggle launched by the Whip of Order. His choice was correct, and it was the wisest path available. Even though the trial was being broadcast live, with an untold number of departments and units across the church watching, human nature inevitably favored picking a side first and reasoning out the details from that allegiance afterward. Once the concept of an institutional power struggle was stamped onto the proceedings, then no matter how airtight the evidence chain was, it would lose all meaning. Most people would assume from the start that the evidence had been fabricated and the entire scenario orchestrated. After all, even the priests watching this trial would at most listen with curiosity during Alfred's narrative opening; by the time Vic went through the evidence, most minds would drift into apathy. Karen stood up and answered calmly and directly, "For the recent period, I have been residing at Pavaro Funeral Parlor." Bishop Bern pressed, "Please confirm once more: is that the residence of Inquisitor Pavaro... the one whose credit was stolen by Adjudicator Vicolai, and who was allegedly murdered by Adjudicator Vicolai for attempting to expose his crimes?" "Yes, it is the Pavaro Inquisitorial Office." Bishop Bern nodded and smiled. "Then Captain Karen must have had a very close relationship with Inquisitor Pavaro?" "I was originally a servant clerk assigned to the Pavaro Inquisitorial Office." "Please confirm once more: I am asking about your personal relationship with Inquisitor Pavaro, Captain Karen." Karen replied, "He was a sloppy yet kindhearted superior..." Images surfaced in Karen's mind of Pavaro helping him carry Alfred to the hospital, lending him money for medical fees, and jumping in fright when Karen repaid him, terrified his wife might find out. "He was a dependable and trustworthy friend..." Annie, the follower of the Goddess Mills, had said something similar when speaking of Pavaro. "And above all, he was a role model worth emulating." Having answered, Karen looked directly at Bishop Bern. "It seems your relationship was indeed profound. May I characterize it that way?" "You may." "Then tell me: after Qihe's case broke out, did you know very early on that Adjudicator Vicolai had stolen Inquisitor Pavaro's credit? I have reviewed your dossier. Barely days after that case concluded, you were assigned as a servant clerk to the Pavaro Inquisitorial Office." "Yes." "Was it a routine reassignment, or did you already know? Please be specific." "I knew very early on." "Did Inquisitor Pavaro tell you personally?" "Yes." "Had you interacted with Inquisitor Pavaro before entering service at the office?" "I had. He helped me once." "Was it deep interaction? What I mean is, were those descriptions you gave of Inquisitor Pavaro earlier impressions formed before or after you took the post? Let me make the question even more precise: exactly when did you first meet Inquisitor Pavaro?" "Before I joined." "How long before?" "A very short time." "Ah, I see. Having one's credit stolen—such a monumental grievance—and Inquisitor Pavaro actually told you first, someone newly joined who was merely a servant? Forgive me, allow me to strike the word 'actually.' Please answer: is that how it occurred?" "Yes." "Inquisitor Pavaro had a wife and two daughters. Did they know?" "No." "To my knowledge, you were not the only servant under the office; there were two others." "Yes." "Did they know?" "No." "Then why?" Bishop Bern asked with an expression of profound bafflement. "Such a grave matter, involving not only his superior, but a superior with immense backing. I put this to the gallery, to the presiding judge, and to the inquisitors: would any of you reveal such a critical secret directly to a newly recruited servant under your command? Even if he needed to unburden his chest to keep from suffocating, far better options were readily available—such as the other two servants with whom he had worked longer and shared closer bonds. Captain Karen, can you provide a single reason why Inquisitor Pavaro placed so much trust in you back then, and chose to confide in you alone?" Bishop Bern was deliberately steering the origin of the case toward a premeditated conspiracy. "I can give you a reason." "Oh? And what might that reason be?" "Because I was exceptional enough." Bishop Bern was struck speechless. The reason was impossible to refute. A hush fell over the entire tribunal. Below in the gallery, Richard and the others broke into grins, finding the captain's words both utterly blunt and immensely satisfying. *** "Heh, quite amusing." The High Priest chuckled aloud, and Foden smiled along with him. "Foden, is this the shy young man you were telling me about?" "In front of me, he truly is quite shy." "That's different. Aren't you rather reserved in front of me as well?" "You speak the truth, Your Holiness." "By the way, his family background..." The High Priest lightly stroked his forehead. Foden hurried to answer, "Karen Silva. Raised in an orphanage. An orphan." "Ah, an orphan." Foden nodded in agreement, but the High Priest's next words sent a faint tremor through the Whip-Wielder, instantly searing this "young wolf cub" into his memory. For the High Priest had murmured, "Just like me." *** "Your Grace, do you find my reason sufficient?" Bishop Bern, left without a rejoinder, could only nod. "Personally, I can accept that explanation." Yet Bern quickly pressed on, "Why didn't Inquisitor Pavaro report the theft of his credit immediately when it happened?" "Because he was used to it." "Used to what?" "Used to that sort of phenomenon within the Church." "Then why did he investigate Adjudicator Vicolai?" "Because Inquisitor Pavaro felt that while he had grown used to it, the innocent people persecuted by Adjudicator Vicolai had not." Hearing this, Bishop Bern's eyes narrowed slightly. He continued, "Then why didn't you, having known about it so early on, report it?" "Because back then, I was only a servant." "Yet later on, you entered a Whip of Order squad. After that, you passed two rounds of selections, earned the right to undergo the trial in the Gate of Samsara, formed your own Whip of Order squad, joined the observation delegation, and now serve as Captain of the Operations Battalion under the Disciplinary Inspection Office. Let me ask you: when Inquisitor Pavaro began investigating Adjudicator Vicolai, did he inform you, or did he conduct his entire investigation behind your back in secret? Given that he once shared such a momentous matter with you, there is no reason he would keep it from you later, is there? After all, you lived under the same roof." Karen replied, "He informed me." Bishop Bern pressed in immediately. "So you participated directly in Inquisitor Pavaro's investigation of Adjudicator Vicolai from the very beginning, did you not?" The objective behind the question was obvious—digging a pit right in front of him and demanding he jump inside. Yet Karen shook his head. "No." "No? You knew of the matter, yet you did not investigate alongside Inquisitor Pavaro?" "I did not. After Inquisitor Pavaro informed me, I rejected his plan to investigate Adjudicator Vicolai and advised him not to proceed for the time being. Clearly, he did not heed my counsel, launched the investigation on his own, and in the end, the mishap I sought to avoid occurred." "Why?" "Because I believed the time was not yet ripe." "The time was not ripe? Yet you are already Captain of the Disciplinary Inspection Battalion. You are qualified to sit right here. Does that not count as the time being ripe?" "Heh... heh heh heh." Karen laughed. His laughter rang out openly, echoing through the tribunal chamber. Then he turned his head, his gaze sweeping across the room. Raising his left hand, he pointed straight at Vicolai inside the cage, while the knuckles of his right hand rapped sharply against the desk before him. *Thump! Thump! Thump!* Finally, Karen raised his voice, shouting to the entire chamber in a tone that bordered on an indictment: "If the time were truly ripe, why, in the presence of such overwhelming, irrefutable evidence, would this trial have turned into this farce?"