NOVPUBChapter 190: Chapter 189: The Promise of Freedom
Chapter 190 -189: The Promise of Freedom
Shandela wiped the sweat from her forehead and realized it was a dream.
When she looked toward Chaoyang, she suddenly noticed that the shadow’s figure was exactly like his…
“Who… who are you exactly? No… what kind of god is the Paradise Master exactly?”
“Although it presides over Paradise, Paradise was often born in dreams at the beginning,” Chaoyang said softly. “Your inner will is quite stable, you might sense the intervention of the Paradise Master, but no matter what, it will have no effect on you.”
“I… still feel dizzy and disoriented.”
“That’s the effect of the anesthetic.”
“Then can you tell me now who you suspect? Have you found the evidence?” Shandela asked, holding her head.
Chaoyang glanced at Ailuodi and then at Ge Wei.
After the three nodded, he continued, “Currently, Earl Li Qiang Ola is a major suspect and very likely to be one of the leaders of the Causal Sect.”
“Who?” Shandela didn’t immediately catch on.
“Earl Li Qiang Ola, that is, your superior.”
“No, that’s impossible!” she objected instinctively, “There’s never been a record of a lord becoming a follower of a heretical cult, and besides, he lacks nothing and has no way to contract Hysteria. How could he worship a heretical cult!”
Woody was also shocked, “Have you lost your minds? Daring to slander a lord? If these words get out, execution would be too lenient a punishment!”
“Have you seen the arrangement in the study?” Ge Wei was more concerned with this point.
“Not just the bookshelves, frescoes, and statues, but the wool carpet pattern on the floor is an equilateral triangle, and his desk is arranged in perfect symmetry. If you say he has obsessive-compulsive disorder, then this symptom is indeed quite severe.”
“Obsessive-compulsive disorder doesn’t compel others,” Ailuodi stated bluntly. “We have ample evidence that symmetry is a belief of the Causal Sect. If he has been like this since his appointment as the city’s Commander, then it means that the Earl has been a devotee of the Causal Sect for at least three years.”
“Just because of symmetry?” Shandela clearly found it hard to accept. “How about this then, I’ll take you to meet his lordship so he can personally clear your doubts—”
“He’s already dead, Shandela,” Ge Wei interrupted her coldly. “The signal flare from the residence was just a decoy, the lord’s mansion was also a target of the heretical cult’s attack. Of course, we can’t rule out the possibility that this is all an elaborate deception …”
“What did you say?” Shandela and Woody both were stunned. “The lord is dead?”
“Yes, I have confirmed the body on the scene.”
“But there were city guards stationed there!”
“The attack was swift, his butler was a follower of the heretical cult. Moreover, when the enemy burst out from the castle, the city guards on the outside also collapsed quickly. At least, the corpses I saw in the courtyard that belonged to the city guards were only about a dozen.”
Usually, a castle would be garrisoned by about a hundred soldiers.
The priestess’s words left Shandela feeling a sudden emptiness in her chest… For three years, she had diligently guarded this city, hoping Magnificent Castle would become the most dazzling star on the New Continent, but now everything she worked for had become a huge pit with nothing beneath.
“All of you have already confirmed the body, do you still think his lordship was a follower of the heretical cult!?” Woody couldn’t help but roar.
“Indeed, Aibuvich is deader than dead, but he still appeared on the ship. We have to consider a special possibility, that the Causal Sect has the ability to manipulate life and death. As for the exact method, that is still under discussion,” Chaoyang replied calmly.
“This is… preposterous!”
“We are dealing with a heretical cult, Mr. Deputy,” Ge Wei whistled. “It makes sense for it to be unreasonable.”
“Also, in my memory, I saw another thing.” Chaoyang turned to look at the distracted Shandela. “The sword he gave you, do you still have it with you?”
The latter somewhat regained her composure, “I’ve always used it as a sword.”
“I’d like to see it.”
“Why? Is this also evidence?”
“This sword will grant you freedom,” Chaoyang said, mimicking the lord’s tone, “What is freedom for a cultist? I guess it is probably when you follow the steps of the Evil God and become a part of the Evil God. Perhaps inside this sword lies crucial evidence.”
Shandela couldn’t help but clench her fists tightly.
“Woody, show it to them!”
After Woody had left, she managed to hold back her anger and said, “If it turns out you are wrong after all this, I will not tolerate such slander, and don’t expect me to keep secrets for you by then!”
Even Shandela reacted like this, one could only imagine how the nobles of the Old Continent would respond.
Chaoyang helplessly spread his hands, just as Ge Wei had said, the cost of going down this road would be astonishing.
Unless they could obtain decisive evidence.
Moments later, Woody handed Shandela’s sword over to Chaoyang.
Ailuodi and Ge Wei immediately came over and observed it for a while from both sides. Apart from the hilt being somewhat old, nothing else seemed unusual. The blade was still well maintained, showing signs of careful upkeep.
Chaoyang activated wishing power, recorded the sword, and immediately detected something peculiar—there was a wooden plug at the bottom of the hilt, secured with screws, and contained a narrow space inside which held two folded objects. He could make out their outlines, but couldn’t sense the material, and needed to see them in person to know the truth.
Of course, he could also replicate the folded object inside immediately, but unquestionably, the evidence taken out from the real object would be more persuasive. He promptly produced a screwdriver from his pocket and started drilling into the hilt.
Woody and Shandela watched his every move with complex expressions, neither attempting to stop him.
It wasn’t long before the wooden plug was removed.
For a sword, covering the wooden handle with steel is common craft, but deliberately leaving a hollow slot in the middle is quite unusual, even if considering weight reduction, it wouldn’t be in this spot. Shandela seemed to realize something and couldn’t help but hold her breath.
Chaoyang turned the hilt upside down, and the objects within fell into his palm—it was actually two pieces of parchment.
He unrolled the parchment, and even after three years, they were still well preserved, the writing on them clear and legible. At a glance, he understood the significance of these two sheets.
“What does it say?” Shandela couldn’t help asking.
Chaoyang didn’t look further and handed the two sheets over to her, “Li Qiang Ola was right, he gave you freedom.”
She laid the parchment flat in front of her, eagerly looking over it.
The two pieces of paper were the “Letter of Dismissal” and the “Order of Exemption.”
The former was a generic document issued by a lord to dismiss a servant, with the Earl simply placing his name and seal at the bottom. The latter was clearly a specially written document, stating that Shandela, because she was actually removed from her position, therefore did not need to take responsibility for anything that happened in Magnificent Castle and should not be subject to legal sanctions.
The signing date was this June.
In other words, she was no longer His Lordship’s Defense Officer, nor was she the Commander of the City Guards of Magnificent Castle.
Even though Earl Li Qiang, whom she was responsible for protecting, was already dead, with these two notices, her reputation would not suffer actual damage. When Shandela returned to the Old Continent, she could still rejoin the army and resume the life she was familiar with.
Yes, she was free.
