Chapter 54
Thud.
Karl threw the bishop to the ground.
“Cardinal Thomas! Are you just going to stand there watching? That man dared lay hands on a bishop of the Order! Shouldn’t someone like that be seized and tried by the Inquisition!?”
Richelieu exploded in anger.
“Sir Karl has been entrusted by His Holiness the Pope with the investigation of this case. If he brought Bishop Fabricio here, he must have his reasons. Let’s hear him out before passing judgment.”
At the invocation of papal authority, Richelieu’s expression twisted with displeasure, but he backed down a step.
“Sir Karl, may I ask under what circumstances you brought Bishop Fabricio here?”
“I wish to emphasize once again that I, along with Sir Godfrey and twenty members of the Holy Knight Order under his command, personally witnessed this man engaging in human trafficking in the underground of the Isoca Domain.”
Everyone's pupils widened.
The name of the Holy Knight Order had been invoked again—not vaguely, but with a commanding officer named directly.
“Do you have proof?! I’ll send Order members to Isoca to verify it myself!”
“How laughable—the very one who ordered it now gets angry.”
Karl’s gaze fell directly on Richelieu, clearly referring to him.
“What did you say!?”
“Several members of the 3rd Holy Knight Order are currently stationed there, securing evidence and witnesses.”
At Karl’s words, Richelieu’s face hardened sharply.
‘How the hell did that bastard mobilize the 3rd Holy Knight Order?!’
That place had been secured with help from Tarantula. He had assumed it was safe, which is why he had been so bold. But this changed everything.
“Then… is it true that a bishop of the Order has been trafficking human beings…?!”
His attempt to separate himself from the scandal faltered immediately.
“You’re the head of that atrocity.”
Unlike Richelieu, who raised his voice in anger, Karl remained calm and even-toned throughout.
Nonetheless, Richelieu pushed forward with all the passion of a practiced actor.
“How could something so horrific happen within the Order…! Unbelievable!”
With an expression of grief, he now looked as if he truly believed he had nothing to do with the incident.
“Not only trafficking—this bishop has confessed that the Saintess bathed in human blood and drank the blood of children by tearing out their hearts. Bishop, get up and tell them yourself.”
Bishop Fabricio, who had been lying flat on the ground like a corpse, rose after Karl lightly nudged him with his foot.
“…It’s all true. The Saintess Sabrina committed the crimes listed, and the human trafficking was originally ordered by Cardinal Richelieu. At first, only criminals were sold. Later, vagrants and even innocents were rounded up and handed over to a group called Tarantula. In exchange for managing the operation, I was paid in gold coins.”
As the bishop spoke in one breath without pause, the faces of those present filled with horror. Richelieu quickly assessed the situation.
There was nothing he could do in this courtroom. But he had one last card to play.
Even if the accusation was blatant nonsense, it was better to throw the trial into chaos. He just needed to buy a few hours.
“What is the meaning of dragging my name into this! Were you ordered to say it!?”
“I’m only telling the truth about the instructions given by the Cardinal!”
Fabricio had decided—if he was going to die anyway, he wouldn’t go alone. Getting stoned to death wouldn’t be as lonely if he had company.
“So the Inquisition’s abuse of power has reached the very marrow of the Vatican! Fabricating evidence and intimidating a criminal into falsely implicating someone completely innocent! I won’t sit back and take this!”
“But earlier, you said he wasn’t a criminal.”
Karl’s sarcasm made Richelieu’s face twist in frustration.
“We must investigate thoroughly and reveal the mastermind behind this!”
“I’ve already submitted a ledger detailing where the Cardinal’s letters and bribes were sent.”
At this, Richelieu’s expression froze.
“Everyone, listen! This is slander! An elaborate, calculated smear campaign!”
“We’ll find out soon enough, won’t we, Cardinal Richelieu?”
“Slander!? You’re trying to threaten me with the coerced words of a criminal and forged evidence!? I’ve devoted my life to this Order!”
“We will begin by reviewing the evidence thoroughly alongside other senior clergy.”
This time, it was Thomas who responded.
At his words, Richelieu’s face turned crimson, and he spun around abruptly.
“Where are you going, Cardinal Richelieu?”
Without a word, Richelieu opened the door and walked out. The remaining Cardinals, stunned by the abruptness, declared a recess.
Sabrina and Fabricio were stripped of their titles as Saintess and bishop, respectively, and were both imprisoned. The next step was to review the submitted evidence together.
“Why am I being imprisoned!? Nothing has even been proven yet!”
The former Saintess cried out in protest. But the room’s response was icy.
“If I go down, do you think the rest of you will be safe!?”
As she was bound, panic finally set in, and she screamed furiously.
A few Cardinals who had demanded evidence earlier now avoided her gaze entirely.
As the two were dragged away, Richelieu rushed outside the main council chamber and approached a contact from Tarantula.
“The situation is dire! It looks like I’ll have to use the last resort. Is everything ready?”
At this rate, Richelieu’s crimes would be fully exposed. He had to act while at least some Holy Knight Orders could still be mobilized.
“The sides are nearly even between the Orders. Assist me in suppressing the Cardinals I name, and I’ll push for a new Pope. You’ll be rewarded with deeper ties to the Church.”
“What can you offer?”
“I’ll install your people in high-ranking positions within the Order.”
“That’s not enough to sway us. In truth, we’ve decided to sever ties with you, Cardinal Richelieu.”
“What…? After everything I’ve done for you!?”
“Done for us? Be precise. It was a business transaction. And now, that deal is over.”
The robed man gave a slight smirk—then vanished like smoke.
“Wait! Where are you going?! Where the hell are you going!?”
No matter how loudly Richelieu shouted, the man was nowhere to be found.
***
Outside the trial hall, the Holy Knight Orders remained in standoff, unaware of what had just happened inside.
However, members of the 4th and 5th Holy Knight Orders were starting to feel uneasy about the situation.
Just then, Richelieu arrived at the head of a force comprised of what was essentially his private army.
“4th and 5th Holy Knight Orders, hear me! These heretical Inquisitors, drunk on power, have framed the innocent Saintess and now seek to label us all as apostates! They wish to spill our blood on the soil and mock the sacrifices we have made for this Order! We, who have devoted everything to the Church, are not the heretics! Those power-hungry fanatics are! Now is the time to stand with me, Richelieu, and purge the Vatican of corruption and restore true justice! If we fall, we will die as branded heretics. But if we win—we will bask in eternal glory!”
Amid the lengthy speech, one message was clear:
“If we lose, we’ll be branded heretics and die.”
Already tense from the scent of blood in the air, the 4th and 5th Orders finally drew their swords.
They had benefited deeply and long from Richelieu’s “special” favors. If he fell, no one would be able to stop the Inquisition from digging into their pasts.
For better or worse, their fate was now tied to Richelieu’s.
At the same time, the 1st and 2nd Holy Knight Orders also drew their weapons.
“4th and 5th Orders—stop the 1st and 2nd! The heretics in the Central Hall—I will bring them before God’s judgment!”
At Richelieu’s command, the 4th and 5th Orders clashed with those opposite them. Then, leading about 100 armed soldiers, Richelieu charged toward the heart of the Vatican.
No one had imagined someone would raise a private army and spill blood in the very center of the Vatican. As they hesitated in disbelief, Richelieu’s troops breached the central chamber.
“You bastard, Richelieu! What do you think you’re doing!?”
Cardinal Thomas shouted at the oncoming Richelieu.
“Who do you think has sacrificed the most for this Church!? It’s me—Richelieu! Everything you eat, wear, and sleep in comes from me! The Church’s prosperity—its order—is all thanks to me!”
He screamed as if possessed. His eyes gleamed with madness, and his troops began forcing their way toward the podium and surrounding Cardinals.
Then—measured footsteps echoed through the hall.
“You…? So you didn’t run. Fine! I will deliver divine punishment here and now! Death! You are sentenced to death! Immediate execution!”
At Richelieu’s declaration, Karl… laughed.
And in that laugh, Richelieu felt a flash of dread. At that very moment, all three entrances to the chamber burst open as knights flooded in from every side.
They were members of the 3rd Holy Knight Order—everyone except the small team Karl had left behind in Isoca.
“…!”
Sensing danger, several of Richelieu’s men lunged toward Karl. But then, a breeze swept from Karl’s body—even though the windows were shut, the wind was unmistakable.
[The Blessing of the Wind Spirit is in effect.]
As the Spirit’s fury aligned with Karl’s will—avenging the ones slaughtered by these men—his body felt lighter than ever. In the same breath, Karl moved like a ghost through his enemies.
Slash!
A streak of lightning followed in his wake. Four soldiers touched by the light collapsed, spraying blood.
“Sir Karl! I’ll help you!”
Cardinal Thomas rushed in with nothing but his fists clenched. Beside him, Isabel appeared wielding a massive mace.
“Daniel of the 3rd Holy Knight Order, reporting in. It’s been a while.”
“Thank you for coming in our darkest hour, Sir Daniel!”
Daniel felt a strange emotion stir at Cardinal Thomas’ gratitude. This was the Central Hall of the sacred Vatican—and yet chaos, blood, and cries of agony filled the space.
‘Where did it all go wrong…?’
Richelieu stared at Karl, who cut through his soldiers at the front.
‘This is all his fault…!’
Grit.
He clenched his teeth so hard they ground audibly. He was about to lose everything.
‘Then I’ll take him with me!’
Richelieu pulled out a concealed weapon he had once received from Tarantula. A cylindrical weapon coated with deadly poison—if used successfully in a sneak attack, it could kill anyone instantly.
“Sir Karl! Watch out!”
Cardinal Thomas shouted as he noticed Richelieu aiming something. Steel needles shot from the tube at terrifying speed toward Karl, who was fending off five men at once.
“No…!”
Even Isabel thought the deadly projectiles would surely hit him.
Shing!
In that instant, Karl’s body darted back as if he’d flown—his blade slashing through the air like a flash of light.
It happened so fast, no one was certain—but for a brief second, golden light seemed to shimmer around Karl.
“STOP—!!!”
As the steel needles clattered harmlessly to the floor, a deafening roar filled the chamber.
“You bastards…!”
“Ah…!”
At the far end, the Pope—the very one Karl had seen in the old hut—gripped a soldier’s head like a grape and growled.
‘What a monster…’
Karl thought.
All that remains now…
…was the cleanup.