Unfitting Not to Die

In Karen's narrative up to now, the defining characteristic of the Immorales family faith system had always been "learning." A neutral, perhaps even commendable word. It was much like the mythological accounts in the *Light of Order*, where the God of Order went on a frenzied slaughter of deities toward the end of the previous era. While the book recorded those events in detail, its writers were not foolish enough to brand their own god as "brutal," "bloodthirsty," or "cruel." Instead, they relentlessly proclaimed that each targeted deity had violated Order and been judged an evil god, prompting the God of Order to step in and suppress them. Whether others believed it or how other religions' scriptures described it mattered little; after all, no one would speak ill of their own god. Karen took the same approach. Even though the events occurring within him could no longer be understood through mere "learning," he still refrained from uttering the word "plunder." Neo continued, "You told me that before you left Rueland for Wien, your grandfather conducted a blood sacrifice ritual for you, extracting the cultivation aptitudes of all his blood descendants and concentrating them into you. "In essence, how does that method differ from what happened in the Felscher and Norton families? "To push the conspiracy theory further, couldn't the relationship between you and your grandfather be strikingly similar to the one between Madam Felscher and Philomena? "I admit your grandfather is a genius, and I make no secret of my respect and admiration for him. But isn't it possible... that he realized he had chosen the wrong path and couldn't turn back, so he placed his hopes on you? "He chose you, Karen Immorales, to walk this path in his stead, and then he could deal with you just as Madam Felscher deals with Philomena. "Do you think that's possible?" "No." "Still stubborn, are you? Your voice even had a tremor just now." "Heh," Karen chuckled. "I was only playing along because I guessed what you were going to say." "Anything is possible, isn't it?" "It's completely different. "My grandfather grew sick of the chaos and darkness in church circles. Because of what happened to my parents, he hoped his family could stay away from religion and live peaceful, normal lives. His current slumber is actually protecting that peace. "My uncle, my aunt, and my cousins—none of them ever set foot on the path of faith, right from the very beginning. "In fact, if it hadn't been for my own persistence, I wouldn't have walked this path either. I only underwent purification after arriving in Wien. "Therefore, a situation like the Felschers' or the Nortons' simply doesn't exist in my family." "Then how do you explain it?" Neo shrugged. "The method is the same, isn't it?" "Do you know the Arte family? They were blessed by the God of Eternity, but for a long time, that blessing turned into a living nightmare. They were kept and raised like livestock, serving merely as witnesses at high-society weddings. "Blessings and curses often lie side by side. "One side is a blessing; twist it slightly, and it becomes a curse. "The methods look identical, but in reality, they're two sides of a mirror." "So you mean when your grandfather acted against the Felscher and Norton families back then, he was just practicing? Using a Head Bishop's family as a test subject?" "I wouldn't rule out that possibility." "Tsk, tsk." Neo smiled. "Why do you trust your grandfather so much?" "Because there's no need for deception. Even if Grandfather wanted to devour me after I grew stronger, he could have told me directly. He could have granted me a few years of freedom, and once the time was up, he'd come to consume me. "I would have answered: 'Oh, alright.' "He knows I would agree, so there's no need to deceive me. "I'm not like Philomena. This life of mine was picked up from the brink. I cherish it, and under any other circumstances, I would never throw it away. Whoever wants my life, I'll fight them to the bitter end. "But if Grandfather asked for it, I think I'd agree." "You and your grandfather have quite the bond." "Strictly speaking, our relationship isn't that of a traditional grandfather and grandson. We were supposed to be strangers. He said that because I called him Grandfather when I woke up, he wouldn't kill me, but protect me as his grandson. "Since he treated me as his grandson, I treat him as my grandfather. "Beyond that, between him and me, there is a spiritual harmony and inheritance—a bond beyond words that might even transcend blood. Much like that follower of Light, Ryan, who emerged from beyond the gate and directly bestowed his Spirit of Light upon you. Did you share any blood relation with him? You had never even met him before; you were complete strangers. "So if Grandfather wants to complete his godhead or make a run at his goal, all he has to do is tell me. I'll help—at any cost." Karen paused, picked up a napkin from the table, and wiped the lingering bloodstains from his chin before continuing, "In a relationship where one is willing to give up his very life, what need is there for deceit?" At these words, Neo pointed first at himself, then at Karen, and asked, "What about between you and me? Would you give up your life for me?" Karen shook his head. "No." "Tsk." "But if you ever need it, I could risk my life for you once." "Heh." Neo picked up a cigarette from the table, brought it to his nose, and sniffed it. "An intriguing feeling. It's like witnessing a piece of history." "In the future, we might very well be part of history." "That's why I've always suggested you become our headquarters' image ambassador. When you talk big, you really don't hold back." Karen closed his eyes and rested for a while longer while Neo sat beside him, smoking. After waiting for about an hour, Mr. Dalis returned. "My apologies for keeping you two waiting." "Not at all, not at all. We just sat here digesting our dinner." Neo stood up, warmly greeting Mr. Dalis and casually taking the bag filled with cigarettes and other gifts from his hands. "Where are we headed now?" Dalis asked. Neo patted his shoulder. "Back to headquarters. Though we'll have to trouble you to stay in the holding cells for now." "Of course. Everything should follow procedure." Karen and Neo brought Dalis back to the Whip of Order headquarters. Before his investigation began, Dalis was placed in the holding cells, directly across from his elder brother, Trisen. "Sorry for the discomfort," Neo said before shutting the door. "We'll arrange the questioning right away and try to get through the process as soon as possible so you can rest." "Alright, no problem." With a clang, Neo locked the door. "Dalis, you're locked up too?" Across the corridor, Trisen shouted to his brother. "Did Father have you bring any message inside? Hey, Dalis, answer me!" Dalis ignored his brother entirely, his gaze narrowing slightly as he watched the retreating backs of Karen and Neo. *** "Was I a bit too cold just now?" Neo asked Karen. "A little." "It's hard for me to be warm toward him. Turns out you were right—the most abnormal person in the Norton family is actually our cuckold gentleman." "Yeah." "I'll go brief Bernie on what happened tonight and have Fannie and the others help arrange the investigation procedure for Dalis. I won't mention the suicide note; there's no way to explain it." "Right. We'll just wait for Bishop Dolph to publish it himself tomorrow." "Exactly, wait for him to announce it. Though we can nudge things along slightly—say, by scheduling a joint departmental meeting to discuss the matter. What do you think?" "Sounds like a great idea." "You come along too when the time comes." Just then, Philomena and Richard walked over, having finished their late-night snack. Neo shot Karen a glance and headed upstairs to find Bernie. "Captain, we brought back some midnight snacks. Would you like some?" Richard enthusiastically held up the food in his hands. "No, thank you. I just ate. Share it with the others." "Oh, alright." "Philomena, come to my office for a moment." "Yes, Captain." Karen walked into his office and sat down behind the desk. Philomena closed the door, walked over, and took a seat opposite him. Pointing at the teacup on the desk, she asked, "Shall I make some tea for you, Captain?" "Oh, no need." "Cold water?" "Neither. Did things go smoothly?" Karen began making conversation. "Smoothly." Philomena hesitated before adding, "Though I ran into my grandmother. She entered the city." "When?" "Around eight in the evening." Karen nodded, recalling the timeline. It matched. So Madam Felscher had gone to meet Dalis? Two targets cursed by his grandfather had met tonight. What did that signify? "Captain, I have a premonition." "Hm? About what?" "I feel the time is near. My grandmother might be reeling in the net, and I'm the fish." "Don't worry. I'll help you." Philomena blinked. Karen had said similar things before, but this time, he spoke with much greater conviction. After all, having confirmed that the curse originated from his grandfather, Karen felt considerably more confident. Of course, that was only regarding the curse itself. Madam Felscher was a contemporary of his grandfather; she certainly wouldn't be easy to deal with. "Well, try not to go home during this period. Stay at headquarters as much as possible, and keep your communication devices fully stocked. Never mind, I'll have Richard handle it..." "Captain, I trust my own abilities. I can send out a distress signal in time, perhaps even in advance." "We need to be as thorough as possible, alright?" "Yes, understood." "I'll have Richard stay with you these next few days." Philomena frowned slightly. "Don't misunderstand. Richard possesses a unique ability that neither you nor he is aware of, capable of transmitting danger perception." Memphis was scheduled to return to the squad tomorrow. The Arte family's ability would allow Memphis to sense Richard's condition. In theory, Karen also had Arte blood, but it wasn't nearly as pronounced. "Understood, Captain. I'll comply with the arrangements." "Once the matters with your family are resolved, take some time to properly examine and choose your own path in life." "I will." Karen made a gesture of dismissal. Philomena stood up. She was puzzled that Karen had called her in just to say these things, but her temperament kept her from asking unnecessary questions. Once Philomena left, Karen stepped into the adjacent room, took a shower, changed into fresh clothes, and lay down on the bed. The scenes revealed by the silver mask continued to replay in his mind. When would he become as powerful as his grandfather had been in his youth? Yet on second thought, despite being so brilliant and formidable, his grandfather had lived such a suppressed life in his middle and later years. Strength could solve most problems, but strength couldn't solve everything. Closing his eyes, Karen muttered to himself, "Bishop Dolph, please pass on quickly. I want to advance to Adjudicator." *** The investigation into Mr. Dalis was launched overnight, though it had little to do with Karen. As Neo said, an excellent leader was skilled at cultivating an excellent team. In short, by the time Karen woke up, washed, and began eating breakfast, Alfred and Vic arrived with the investigation report to brief him. Moreover, before reporting to Karen, they had already bypassed him to report directly to Neo. In other departments, such conduct would be seen as leapfrogging for credit and undermining one's immediate superior. But in the Disciplinary Inspection Office, it was never an issue. Alfred had merely wanted his young master to sleep a bit longer, so he had woken up Neo, who was also asleep, to brief him first. Just as Karen drank the last sip of milk from his glass, the briefing concluded—almost as if Alfred had synchronized his tempo precisely to Karen's breakfast. First, the chain of evidence regarding Trisen's criminal offenses had been solidified. Second, Mr. Dalis, acting as a tainted witness, had submitted his testimony and evidence. The next step was to discuss at the joint departmental meeting what sort of massive accusation would be appropriate to pin on Bishop Dolph. Karen stood up, gathered the documents, and walked out of his office. Upon exiting, he saw three people sitting on the bench. Philomena and Richard were regulars. With few tasks usually assigned to them, they spent most of their time sitting there, resembling two door gods posted outside Karen's office. The additional figure was Leon. "Captain, I've completed my transfer procedures and am officially reporting for duty!" The once-lofty young noble was now a subordinate under his command. Seeing this, Karen couldn't help feeling a wave of emotion. Perhaps this was the true meaning of hard work and struggle? Making no attempt to hide his amusement, Karen patted Leon's shoulder and asked, "Didn't expect this, did you?" "When we first met, I really didn't," Leon replied candidly. The security guard who had snuck out to steal snacks with him during a meeting break was now his direct superior. "You're one of us now. Come to the meeting with me first, and then..." Karen looked toward Richard. "Richard, you'll be responsible for helping our new member integrate into the squad afterward." "Yes, Captain." Richard and Leon were old acquaintances. After all, Richard had previously belonged to the young noble circle, though he rarely hung out with Leon's crowd back then, and after launching his pastry shop venture, it had become even less likely. "Let's go, come with me to the meeting first. Has your grandfather arrived?" Karen asked. "He's here, Captain. Bishop Bourne and Minister Moch of the Law Enforcement Department are here as well, along with the directors of the three offices under the Law Enforcement Department." "Alright, got it." Karen led Leon straight to the conference room. Leon stepped forward ahead of him to open the door. Inside, at the head of the conference table sat Regional Chief Harry and Head Bishop Wolflen side by side. Bernie and Neo sat on one side, while Bishop Bourne, Minister Moch, and his three directors sat on the other. Karen walked over and sat down beside Neo. Leon took a seat behind Karen, pulling out a notepad and pen to take minutes. In fact, when Leon entered, the people from the regional administration had collectively turned their gazes upon him. This matter had been kept confidential until now, meaning everyone was only just finding out that their boss's own grandson had "defected to the enemy." Wolflen set down his teacup and smiled. "There may be minor differences in our perceptions of working methods, but I believe that on the broader trajectory, everyone remains eager to cooperate fully, do our work well, and contribute to the church." This was evidently a light explanation for his grandson appearing on the opposing side, as well as an opening statement for the first joint law enforcement meeting. Regional Chief Harry nodded. "Naturally. We are all followers of the God of Order. That fact has not changed in the past, does not change in the present, and will not change in the future." Bernie spoke up. "I propose we proceed directly to today's agenda." Minister Moch responded, "Let us begin, then." Bernie looked at Neo, who yawned and glanced at Karen. Karen stood up. After scanning the room and confirming that everyone held a copy of the report, he immediately spoke: "The materials distributed before you contain the series of investigations into the Norton family's severe dereliction of duty. "Furthermore, they include the allegations brought against Bishop Dolph by Dalis as a tainted witness. "Our side believes that if the Norton family is not dealt with severely, the church's reforms, the Whip of Order's reforms, the image of the Regional Administrative Office, and the foundational consensus of unity across the entire church will all suffer an exceedingly grave blow." The unspoken message was clear: now that the matter had escalated to this point, if the Norton family was not dealt with, neither side would have any dignity or face left. A political consensus and tacit understanding had already been reached prior to today's meeting, so everything proceeded far more smoothly than the trial had that day. Next came the assignment of charges. Right then, however, a knock sounded on the conference room door. Without waiting for orders, Leon immediately rose and walked over to check. His expression shifted slightly, and he returned with an official dispatch, reporting: "Bishop Dolph has just published his suicide note to the entire church." Minister Moch asked, "Is it verified?" Leon nodded. "Verified." A silence lasting several minutes settled over the entire conference room. Head Bishop Wolflen was the first to break the silence. Smiling, he said, "That truly is an unexpected turn of events." Wolflen then looked toward Harry and asked, "What does the Whip Bearer think?" Harry responded: "Since the suicide note has already been published, let us cooperate with him. We cannot have a distinguished bishop publish a suicide note while we show no reaction; that would violate the principle of unity within the church. "Bernie, relay my orders: all departments in our headquarters are to prepare condolence funds and flower baskets, and send them to the Norton family." "Yes, Whip Bearer." Wolflen glanced around and said, "Though I don't know what on earth was going through his head, he certainly saved us a great deal of trouble. In fact, he has rendered continuing this meeting pointless. "Still, this serves as a fine omen for our joint law enforcement department's first meeting, portending smooth sailing ahead. "As for Dolph, we shall proceed according to our Whip Bearer's wishes. "Since he published a suicide note, we will help arrange a proper funeral. Bourne." "Head Bishop." "You'll have to take on the burden of organizing Bishop Dolph's funeral personally. Make it grand and magnificent. Bishop Dolph was a man who loved saving face and enjoyed lively occasions; we must cater to his tastes, ensuring he departs with satisfaction and peace." "Yes, Head Bishop. Rest assured, I will arrange everything." Minister Moch rolled his neck and laughed to lighten the mood. "I still haven't figured out what Bishop Dolph hoped to accomplish by publishing that suicide note." Neo chimed in to keep the atmosphere light: "There's really no need to dwell on that. After all, now that the mood has been set this far, when the time comes, even he himself might feel it would be unfitting not to die."