Chapter 277
"Sure, it's improbable that the charges for impeachment and the vanishing of the Heretic Inquisition will entirely disrupt the Pope. Nevertheless, it's bound to unsettle him."
"I'm concerned about the potential larger repercussions following this minor disturbance, my liege."
"There's a method to transform that slight disturbance into a significant change."
"Really?"
Despite Clayton's response, Logan simply grinned.
"I hadn't considered it initially."
Among the myriad memories from his previous life, it was challenging to immediately recollect an event that occurred within an order he had little interest in.
However, the instant Cardinal Austin mentioned 'impeachment,' a memory surfaced like a falsehood - the Pope's assassination attempt.
- During the investigation into the truth behind the incident, a decades-long deception by the Pope was uncovered.
- The fabricated saint. The ensuing impeachment.
Naturally, the specifics eluded him. When he heard the gossip in his previous life that even the Pope was a charlatan amidst a corrupt church, he simply dismissed it with a laugh.
And now, with such rumors potentially circulating due to the impeachment motion in place...
"Someone will question it and seek verification. That should suffice."
Impeachment stemming from past corruption.
Sacrifices made due to abuses of power.
Add to that the deception of posing as a saint.
"There won't be any space to investigate the disappearance of the Inquisition."
During Logan's continued elaboration, Clayton could only gape in astonishment.
"Where did you come across such information?"
"Damian's skills are truly exceptional."
"Ha... He truly is remarkable. I should be indebted to him as well."
As a mage in pursuit of the world's truths, could his inquiries ever be so few?
Damian might feel a flicker of conscience, but Logan brushed off the rising guilt.
'I must safeguard the secret of regression at all costs.'
Despite the temple's corruption, they succeeded in replacing the Pope under the guise of simulating divine powers.
Interfering with time and space, something not even a deity could accomplish – information about regression must remain concealed.
Reaffirming this conviction, Logan's mentor casually chimed in.
"Yet, to avert suspicion, we must ensure you have a solid alibi, Your Majesty. I trust you have made adequate preparations..."
It was a valid concern. Deliberately causing chaos in the empire could easily make McLaine the primary suspect due to past grievances.
Considering that only a limited force could subdue the Inquisition, the question lingered.
Yet, Logan responded with a confident smile.
"Indeed, I am fully prepared."
At that moment, there was no unusual activity within the McLaine royal family.
"Then, let's address that matter in that manner, Your Majesty."
"Thank you for your diligence. You have been most attentive, father-in-law."
"Pardon me...?"
At 'Logan's' words, Roberts Floyd tilted his head in confusion.
Father-in-law, he pondered.
It was unusual for him to use such a term in a public setting.
Yet, he couldn't help but relish the praise in front of others.
Elated, Roberts responded with a contented smile.
"Haha, think nothing of it. I shall take my leave now."
As Roberts, along with other officials, departed from the palace, Dwayne, who had been bowing with a smile, suddenly stomped hard on Logan's foot.
"Ack?!"
Logan jumped up.
Even Dwayne, who wouldn't typically dare such an act, bared his teeth and growled before him.
"Are you insane? Why bring up your father-in-law!"
"You're acting out of character all of a sudden, where is this coming from..."
"What?"
"I, I apologize."
Dwayne's menacing tone prompted Logan to quickly bow his head.
While observing the scene, Dwayne reluctantly sighed and thumped hard on Logan's shoulder.
"Ugh!"
"Get it together, Rick. You know the King's mannerisms best. You have a similar physique, and I even bestowed upon you top-notch magic. Will you really cause trouble after upholding it for merely a few days?!"
"Ow! That hurts, Your Honor! Why are you so strong!"
"It's all for His Majesty and you, fool!"
Thump. Thump.
"It doesn't feel that way..."
Rick, disguised as Logan, muttered under his breath as Dwayne experienced a pang of guilt. Although scolding Rick in the guise of Logan for the past few days brought him a guilty satisfaction.
Masking his true emotions, Dwayne persisted even more sternly.
"What's the matter with you? Some individuals are in dire straits due to constant blunders, and you're doing this now?"
As Dwayne reached for 'Logan,' resembling a bandit with his stature and burgeoning beard, Rick appeared indifferent, having known him since childhood.
"No, but I am officially the royal chamberlain now, your treatment is too severe..."
Dwayne dismissed Rick's objection with one ear and ruminated to himself.
‘Ah, this sense of gratification...’
In that moment, holding the collar of someone resembling Logan, he succumbed to a sweet reverie. All his toil seemed to flash before his eyes.
Yes, all the adversity endured because of you.
Now grappling with stomach ulcers, a little rough handling didn't seem so bad, right? It's not even the real deal.
"Hey! Even though I may seem like..."
Swelling with pride, Dwayne's voice started to escalate.
"No! How dare you! What are you up to now?!"
"Wh-what? ..."
At that juncture, a voice behind him caused his body to stiffen.
Turning around, Dwayne noticed officials who had exited the office standing there, each holding inexplicable gifts.
"Lord Dwayne??"
What are you doing?
The unspoken query from Roberts Floyd automatically echoed in Dwayne's mind.
"Cough! I was just dusting off His Majesty's robes."
Dwayne pivoted hastily, fashioning an excuse while catching a glimpse of the gifts in the officials' hands.
The first thing that caught his attention was the recognizable wrapping.
'Impolic? Wasn't that supposed to be sold out? How did they obtain it?'
Furthermore, the officials clutched various items renowned for men's vitality, such as Krang leaves or Lithe livers.
Why now of all times?
"Why did you return here?"
"Ah. His Majesty is newly married, and it seems there hasn't been any good news. I, as his father-in-law, prepared a gift. I intended to visit separately, but these individuals... insisted on coming simultaneously."
"Ah... Haha, I see."
Dwayne glanced back and scowled.
Normally such an occurrence would never transpire, but it appeared the term "father-in-law" brought about a slight alteration.
As Dwayne scowled at Rick, disguised as Logan,
"Haha. It seems our Lord Finance Minister is more acquainted with His Majesty than I thought. Quite amiable."
Roberts Floyd's dubious tone sent a shiver down Dwayne's spine.
Once more, he glanced towards the still suspicious gazes.
"Haha. Naturally, as I have known His Majesty since childhood."
"Is that so? That contradicts the tales I've heard..."
Feeling perspiration trickle down his back, Dwayne hastily signaled with his fingers behind his back – flicking them three times.
The brief signal was explicit.
- Emergency situation. Demonstrate how Logan McLaine would have acted.
And Rick interpreted the signal quite distinctly.
"Dwayne, bow your head."
"Excuse me?"
As his head swiveled once more, Dwayne looked back incredulously.
Are you out of your mind?
His intense stare did nothing to faze Rick.
"Oh, it seems I have been too lenient with you. It's unreasonable even in jest. Tsk."
Rick, now flawlessly masked as Logan, adopted an impassive expression with a faint grin.
For a moment, as Dwayne witnessed his master's plausible demeanor, his body trembled uncontrollably.
However, there was no room for resistance.
"I beg your pardon, Your Majesty."
Thud.
Everyone, including Roberts, relaxed as they witnessed Dwayne knock his head to the ground.
While bowing, Dwayne felt a measure of relief observing their expressions and Rick then casually seated himself on him.
Crunch.
"Cough! My back... Your Majesty?"
"Hush. Stay silent. You have compromised the king's dignity before the ministers, that's not a trivial offense, is it?"
"Ugh."
You, you...
Is this retribution...?
Seething with anger but devoid of an outlet,
"Oh. And you were speaking of gifts, were you not, my father-in-law?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. We have assembled only the finest items beneficial for men."
"Haha, to what extent?"
In imitation of Logan's usual lighthearted manner after work, Rick continued to mimic him while secretly reveling in Dwayne's astonishment.
'Heheh. Layla will appreciate this. The Majesty surely doesn't require these being a superhuman.'
The royal chamberlain contemplated his succession plans with a sly smile.
* * *
The Sacred City of Noviens was abuzz with Cardinal Austin's motion for impeachment, yet the majority of inhabitants were skeptical of the outcome.
"No matter what, he is His Holiness the Pope."
"Could he truly have committed such an act?"
Supporters of the Pope,
"There are seven cardinals from the Pope's faction. There will be many more among the higher clergy."
"It's surely a battle the Pope will emerge victorious from."
As well as detractors.
The consensus among all was identical.
In the midst of this, as the day of reckoning swiftly approached, another astounding rumor shook the Sacred City profoundly, startling the residents.
The returning Inquisition had mysteriously disappeared.
There were indications of a struggle, yet it was impossible to trace them through divine or magical means.
Presumed eradication of the Inquisition. Certain involvement of a grand mage, yet the culprit remained unidentified.
The recent headline-making joint expedition of the inquisitors culminated in an unforeseen catastrophe.
The Inquisition may have been antiquated, but they stood as the church's elite forces. Singularly, they could rival the Holy Knights in strength, thus narrowing down the suspects.
"If it occurred within the Imperial domains, could it be the Empire's handiwork?"
"Why would the Empire do such a thing?"
"Even so, the only entity with that level of power is the Empire."
"What of the McLaine kingdom?"
"That diminutive realm?"
"Small, but the king is a superhuman. And they possess a Grand Mage. Most significantly, there might have been animosity towards the Inquisition."
Disregarded scoffs were drowned out by the counterarguments of those privy to insider information.
Nonetheless,
"Would that small nation openly challenge 'the Empire's territory' and 'the church'? Even disregarding how it could go unnoticed, without lunacy..."
For most individuals, their perspectives dismissed the plausible conjecture.
Furthermore, voices that would typically be disregarded began to seep through gradually.
"Was it not the Pope who dispatched the Inquisition without concrete evidence?"
"They hadn't even been branded heretical yet. Overstepping brings divine retribution."
Criticism towards the Pope began to amplify ever so slightly.
Church leadership, particularly the Pope's faction, took the situation gravely.
"The church's authority has crumbled! We must deploy all intelligence to apprehend the culprit!"
"Indeed! Whether it's Ares or McLaine, they must atone for their transgressions!"
Council of Cardinals.
Specifically, aside from Austin and Ilia, the remainder aligned with the Pope's faction congregated, voices of distress resonating within the chamber.
Filling in for the Pope, Cardinal Tener Rainey interjected with a weighty statement.
"At present, McLaine is the most probable suspect. The Empire has no motive for such actions."
"But, there's no evidence of military movements. Does that kingdom possess the capability to confront the Inquisition in such a brief span?"
"We shall ascertain once we investigate."
"Heh. If there are no other options..."
"Dispatch the Holy Knights for an inquiry. Through divine or magical means, by force if necessary, we must extract a confession."
"Without His Holiness' consent?"
Even Tener Rainey, the Pope's right-hand man, hesitated at that notion.
"Until the impeachment charges are resolved, His Holiness' responsibilities are suspended. It's inevitable."
Some time later, as someone concurred, the council door swung open, and an unforeseen report was delivered.
"Catastrophe! Peculiar rumors are circulating in the streets!"
"Again? What now?!"
Noviens, already in a frenzy with rumors about the vanished Inquisition, was further agitated by a more startling narrative.
The canonization of Julio Umberto I was a sham.
He is an impostor saint.
An outrageous rumor, inconceivable for anyone, especially the clergy, to overlook, had disseminated surreptitiously throughout the Holy City and its environs.
It was common knowledge that the ascension of Julio, a commoner-turned-priest, to the papacy was largely influenced by the first saintly apparition in 50 years.
In essence, alongside rumors concerning impeachment and misuse of authority, the very bedrock of the Pope's position was now imperiled.
"Ah, that cannot be..."
"Does that even hold credence?"
"Given the current circumstances..."
This rumor, under typical circumstances, would be dismissed as absurd, but with a series of grim occurrences unfolding, most residents couldn't help but lend an ear.
Naturally,
"Detain all those prattling!"
"Seal the church and ensure the priests are shielded from such talk!"
"Those spreading such baseless rumors will face severe repercussions!"
The Pope's cardinals vehemently repudiated the rumor, their countenances flushed with ire.
Yet,
"The Pope is not merely a criminal but also a pretender."
Joined in the chorus of voices were those of the impeachment instigator, Cardinal Austin, and the newly appointed Saint Ilia.
Consequently, the attention of the entire continent fixated on the Central Church.
Precisely, on the impending day of the Pope's impeachment trial.