Hero’s Downfall Report

29 – Devotion with a Sword (4)

The outer walls of the main building are just dull stone walls, but the inside is splendid.

The delicate mosaic on the floor felt like walking over a garden of red roses. The geometric arabesque patterns on the walls and windows give off a mysterious vibe as if they were alive, even when you just stare at them.

The lobby, with openings up to the fourth floor, overlooks the dome-shaped ceiling. Second floor, third floor, fourth floor. Beyond the stone railing, people filled the space. Some were laughing, and others leaned against the railing, engaging in serious conversations.

The lobby was the same. Even the intonation varied, but with just a slight tilt of the ear, you could hear all the dialects of the empire, from the North to the South, from the East to the West.

Moreover, in the center of the hall, there was even a separate information desk. Monks sat at desks in a row, handling guide services, document reception, and consultation reservations. To Cain, it seemed even more complicated than the imperial court.

“How may I assist you?”

Still, the friendly monk even smiled and asked. Cain responded politely.

“I request an audience with High Inquisitor Heinrich, Father.”

“Do you have a prior reservation, or is it related to a complaint or accusation?”

“Neither of them is, but it’s an important matter.”

The monk smiled broadly again, looking perplexed. The smile seemed different from the ones he had shown a couple of times before, probably because it was a familiar face.

“I’m sorry, but the person you can meet right away is not available. It’s the same for Father Heinrich and others. They’re all too busy with their duties. If you make a reservation, it might help save Brother’s time. Would you like to make a reservation now?”

Cain hesitated for a moment, pondering whether to tell the monk about Sister Haspel or not. It might be easier to get through if he mentioned the name of another high-ranking inquisitor. However, the risk of exposure was also significant, especially considering Anna’s reply.

“That’s unfortunate.”

Cain expressed his regret as if genuinely disappointed.

“In truth, I am conducting a major business. It’s a trade that would have been impossible without the grace of the Prophet of Life and Death. So, in gratitude for that great favor, I was thinking of organizing a donation and charity event and asking Father Heinrich for a congratulatory speech.”

The monk’s expression momentarily stiffened. Cain felt a tingling sensation in his ears. Lily, who was closely behind, must have sensed the tension as she was blowing air to ease it. The monk scanned Cain and Lily from top to bottom.

“Um… the person behind you is…”

“Oh, she’s my wife.”

“Hello.”

Lily greeted elegantly from the back. The monk lowered his head abruptly, but suspicion still lingered in his eyes.

“I’m sorry, but I’d like to hear more about what you’re doing. Oh, if my words sounded a bit strange, I apologize again. It’s just that it’s rare for someone to request such donations and charity from a high-ranking inquisitor. We usually know everything about the backgrounds of important figures, but I haven’t heard about couples where the wife is slightly taller than the husband.”

It was undeniably a rude remark to anyone, but Cain bowed politely and intentionally. A quick-witted person would easily recognize it as a Western heretic style.

“I understand that you may find it hard to believe. I am a trading intermediary, mainly active in the West and East. I haven’t had the opportunity to introduce myself in the South, but I am considering expanding my activities in that direction, accompanied by a good companion.”

The gaze of the monk narrowed.

“It’s an unbelievable story. To trade with Western heretics, you need approval from both the Empire and the Holy See. However, looking at your attire… pardon me, but it doesn’t seem like that of nobility. Of course, the clothes are undoubtedly valuable, but they don’t have the characteristics of noble attire.”

The monk’s words were accurate. Cain and Lily did not wear the shoulder decorations typical of high nobles, and they didn’t even have the kind of belt worn by royalty.

The delicate golden thread patterns on the silky soft fabric were undoubtedly valuable, but it might be the clothing of a wealthy merchant rather than noble attire.

“You’re right. Authorization is important. But there are ways to trade without authorization.”

“Yes? What do you mean?”

“In the conversation between people, permission is not necessary. I often exchange letters with traders from the Western Heretics and the Eastern Union Republic. When they contact me, unsure of whom to meet for the needed goods, I introduce them to someone who can provide the appropriate items. And I charge a mediation fee.”

“Ah, I see. So, you’re like an information intermediary. But how is such a deal possible?”

The monk seemed quite interested. Cain wondered why a rigid inquisitor targeting the Bluefin would be interested in such matters, but for now, he focused on winning his favor.

“Well, walking through cities, risking getting stabbed with a knife, it’s safer to take the risk of fraud and act as an intermediary. Besides, the Blumberg Twins Trading Company in the Imperial Capital is renowned for its high credit and robust insurance policies. Here, I have my credit card.”

Cain laid down a fake identity credit card and Southern Kingdom gold coins the size of a child’s palm on the table. The monk took the credit card, examined it, and then returned it after a quick inspection. The gold coins, however, he handed back.

“I understand. Just a moment… Oh. I’m truly sorry, but meeting Sister Heinrich immediately might be challenging. She’ll be presiding as a judge in the religious trial that’s opening shortly. Before the trial, there’s much to prepare, so a visit is difficult, but…”

The monk busily rummaged through documents, apologized, then stood up. He whispered something to another monk and brought back a list.

“Fortunately, since it’s a public trial, I can add you to the spectator list. I’ll inform the guards in advance, and after the trial, you may have a brief conversation. How does that sound? There’s about two hours left, so you have plenty of time.”

Cain thought of a puppy fetching a thrown piece of trash from afar, then panting as if to say, ‘Did I do well enough?’ The monk’s expression mirrored that exactly.

“That would be more than satisfactory.”

Of course, Cain was polite.

* * * * *

For two hours, Cain and Lily wandered around.

As the second city of the Empire and the sanctuary of the Twin Eagles, Magdeburg had another castle besides the imperial palace.

Although lacking a sea harbor and a drawbridge, it was a prominent castle with a long inner wall, exclusively dedicated to the clergy. It housed the headquarters of the Heresy Inquisitors, the largest cathedral in the world—St. Lea Cathedral—and the Park of the Sword’s Devotion.

Cain, like an ordinary man, rested his left hand on his waist and held a cane with his right hand. Lily walked beside him with her fists clenched. They appeared to be an ordinary couple to anyone who saw them.

However, their hushed conversation in low tones was anything but ordinary.

“I should send a drink to the head of Magdeburg Security. They said without wearing these clothes, you won’t even get treated like a person, and it turns out to be true.”

The regional director did not ask Cain and Lily what mission they were assigned. It was a principle not to ask or answer about missions, but in the region, it was customary to accommodate the convenience of the dispatched personnel as much as possible.

Cain had ordered “two sets of clothing that would make them look like decent merchants,” and although he didn’t want to, he and Lily decided to pretend to be a “married couple.” It was because they were advised that it would look more natural for a “married couple” to work together than for “cousins” to work together.

Even so, they were quite surprised when the director of the Magdeburg Security Bureau brought expensive and solid clothes that could be worn by the capital’s elites.

“Isn’t this too much? Completely silk, what is this? Is it gold thread embroidery? How did you dye red on silk?”

Not only Cain’s clothes, but Lily’s clothes were also quite burdensome.

In terms of not revealing their figures, it was a typical imperial garment, but it was careful to wear it because there were jewels sewn on it as densely as the morning dew, and it was unclear how they were cut.

“Isn’t it too much? It means not to act like you’re being treated well, but to be humble. If you don’t wear this much in Magdeburg, you won’t be treated well. And I don’t know the secret either. It was made by craftsmen from the Southern Kingdom.”

“I’ve heard several times that Magdeburg is wealthy, but to the point of disregarding people… What on earth happened?”

“It’s because of the war. Agent Lily,” the female agent who came with them answered instead.

“The Crusades and the Fifth Crusade War were the most beneficial to the Pope and the Southern Kingdom. Magdeburg is a major trading city with the Southern Kingdom, and thanks to that, a huge amount of wealth is pouring in.

In addition, His Holiness the Pope has designated the ‘Park of Devotion to the Sword’ as a special holy site. If you visit it even once, he declared that you ‘won’t receive punishment’ for the sins you have committed against God until now.

Pilgrimage to the holy site, and tourism. It’s a profitable business where even the heretics from the northern and western regions come in with money.”

“Wow. I thought I was a merchant. Are they really heretics? Is that possible?”

The director laughed.

“If you see how hatred and conflicts melt away in front of money, the word ‘miracle’ will come out naturally. There is no separate furnace. Isn’t it simple? When people gather and money gathers, merchants naturally gather. There is no religion, grudge, or conflict in front of money.”

Even so, it was an unimaginable situation.

While riding a disguised postal carriage to Magdeburg, Cain and Lily encountered countless crowds. They ranged from the poor to the wealthy and powerful.

However, all of them, like the people lining up as if Magdeburg was the only toilet in the world, had a miserable, dark, and desperate expression.

Cain had been to this city a long time ago. It was before his business trip to the east. Magdeburg was wealthy at that time, but it wasn’t to this extent.

“Are you talking about that? The church’s policy has changed a bit. They say you can’t go to heaven or hell living like you do. They say you will burn in the fire until you are purified in the middle ground, but if you prove your faithful belief, you can skip that ‘purification process.’ You receive the punishment you will receive there in advance, right?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I mean, even if someone makes a mistake and gets scolded, wouldn’t they still get hit with a wooden stick once or twice? Everyone gets hit with that stick before they go to the afterlife, but this is about not getting hit.”

“What kind of joke is that? And how do you prove your sincere belief?”

“In the past, people used to join the Crusades or donate money, but there are no wars like that anymore. So what the Vatican offers now is a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and donations.

Of course, it’s good to have the intention to remember the meaning while walking the path of those who sacrificed their lives, but why is it always the richest and most expensive place, Magdeburg, that the Vatican takes everything from?”

“What about the Treasury? Those guys won’t stay quiet, will they?”

“Oh, those money bugs? Don’t even mention them. They bring in money by the cartload, so why would they stop? Haven’t you seen the roads covered with coins and the market that keeps going? That’s the work of the Treasury.

Innocent country folk get swindled there once, and when they enter Magdeburg, they’re desperate because they have no money to offer. But if a monk kindly says, ‘It’s alright. Your faith is proven just by coming here,’ they happily go back.

If your wallet and heart and guilt are empty and your steps are not light, then that’s even more strange.”

“Goodness.”

“It’s gotten worse since entering the Park of the Reverence of the Sword. I told you earlier, right? The heretics are flocking there. Funny thing is, even the heretics from the West and the North recognize the Park of the Reverence of the Sword. They fought against the Demon King themselves.

And what better way to show off than to go to the heart of the enemy country during a ceasefire and spend money? Wherever people live, it’s all the same.”

Cain and Lily didn’t know what to say. The local chief let out a deep sigh, seeming tired.

“Magdeburg is a crucible. It’s a crucible boiling with the flames of money. They say the Religious Tribunal harshly reprimands the charlatans who claim to have turned lead into gold. But from what I’ve seen, Magdeburg is the true philosopher’s stone.

All the world’s hatred, resentment, grudges, and guilt turn into gold ingots. If this isn’t the miracle of alchemy, then what is it?”

Standing in front of the “Park of the Reverence of the Sword” now, Cain thought that those words were indeed true.