Chapter 451: Chapter 434: Judicial Court of Heresy
Some are plotting, while others are investigating.
After extracting a wealth of information from the mind of that heretic priest, Perfikot wasted no time. Upon returning to Windsor Castle, she summoned the people from the military intelligence department and the Empire’s intelligence agency. She also notified the cardinal sent by the Church to inquire about matters regarding the Pleasure Sect.
"Countess, the Pleasure Sect is a faction of the church that inherits part of the ancient Romulus Empire’s Dionysus belief. Although they revere the All-Father, their doctrine and purpose are deeply influenced by the Dionysus faith, abandoning the teachings and commandments of the Holy Spirit. They pursue pleasure and indulgence and are one of the heretic doctrines strictly prohibited by the Church." The cardinal was the first to speak, as religious matters always make them sensitive.
Perfikot nodded slightly. She had already extracted this information from the mind of that heretic priest, so after the cardinal finished speaking, she said, "You don’t need to talk about these common things; tell me something I don’t know.
For example, what does this Dionysus belief say about the apocalypse? What is the conduct of the Pleasure Sect? Do you know about their dissemination among the Empire’s nobility?
If they dare to stir up trouble in Langton and attempt to overthrow the Empire’s rule during the apocalyptic crisis, they must have something to rely on!
The Empire invests so much funding and effort into the intelligence system every year, and it’s not for you to squander this money. I need to know some useful intelligence."
After hearing Perfikot’s questions, the two leaders of the intelligence agency exchanged glances. They were caught off guard by this matter but quickly began to compare their own intelligence and called their subordinates to organize the collected information.
Perfikot did not mind their actions, as they were merely leaders of the intelligence agency, not intelligence officers responsible for specific affairs. It was normal not to know the details.
Moreover, Perfikot did not give them time to collect and organize the data, so it was normal not to answer immediately.
However, if the information they submit later does not satisfy Perfikot, they will be in trouble, because that would mean their work was not done properly.
In comparison, the cardinal from the Church knew more and said to Perfikot, "Regarding the apocalypse, actually each sect has related myths and legends. For example, the church’s orthodox belief claims that when the apocalypse comes, the messengers of the All-Father will sound the horn, awakening the blue, red, purple, and green four knights, who will bring the calamities of moral corruption, war slaughter, indulgence, and rampant plague to this world.
When the calamities brought by the four knights cause the death of all humans, the All-Father will descend, judge all souls, and allow the devout believers to return to the golden throne of the All-Father and enjoy eternal peace. In contrast, those whose faith wavered during their suffering will fall into the abyss of chaos, doomed to eternal perdition."
Hearing the cardinal say this, Perfikot immediately sensed the connection between the Pleasure Sect and the church’s orthodox belief. She directly asked, "Because the four knights are going to destroy the world, so some people simply worship the four knights, right?"
"Yes, indeed some people believe that the four knights are the messengers of the All-Father, and they will ultimately destroy this world. So, those discontented with reality often choose to believe in the four knights, considering themselves spokespeople of the four knights, and attempt to awaken them through conspiracy, initiating wars and indulgence, or even spreading plague, hoping the four knights will destroy this world, and everyone will return to the golden throne of the All-Father together." The cardinal mentioned this with an expression of suppressed anger and embarrassment on his face. After all, these heresies were also derived from the church’s orthodox beliefs, and to some extent, the church holds responsibility for this.
So, after saying this, the cardinal hurriedly added, "Though followers of the four knights separated from the church’s orthodox beliefs, they have long been labeled as heretical doctrines by the church and are completely banned in all nations that believe in the All-Father.
The church has also established a special Heretic Judicial Court to specifically capture and judge these heretical doctrines."
The cardinal’s statement made Perfikot sneer, and she then questioned, "Does the church have a dedicated institution to capture these heretics? Then how do you explain what happened earlier?
A heretic of the Pleasure Sect openly appeared in the Empire’s capital, and even beguiled a noble of the Empire, attempting to incite a riot in the capital!
Do you know how many people I killed because of this? They were all citizens of the Empire! When they were bewitched, where was your Heretic Judicial Court? Where were you? Where were the people capturing heretics?"
Perfikot’s questioning was filled with intense dissatisfaction, her anger almost overturning the entire room and devouring the cardinal before her.
However, at this moment, a woman wearing a high-top, wide-brimmed hat suddenly walked in from outside. She approached Perfikot and splashed her with a bottle of Holy Water, then loudly proclaimed, "Evil spirit, be gone! Depart from the one under the All-Father’s protection! You cannot influence the child favored by the All-Father!"
Accompanied by the woman’s exclamation, Perfikot felt as if something on her body dissipated, and her consciousness became clear.
This situation immediately put her on alert. She hurriedly checked her body but found nothing, only feeling uncomfortable with her body soaked in Holy Water.
So she used alchemy to dry her clothes, and then asked, "Who are you? What just happened? How did you get in here?"
"Allow me to introduce, this is Judge Shabelle from the church’s Heretic Judicial Court, a devout and faithful believer of the All-Father. She has also been sent by the Church to act as your Guardian." The cardinal quickly introduced on the side, with a brief mention, "Judge Shabelle has been tracking the heretics of the Slaughter Sect in France and only arrived in Victory not long ago due to delays on the way.
Regarding the Pleasure Sect, Countess, you can inquire with her. Judge Shabelle is an expert in this area and is very knowledgeable about various heresies."
After the introduction, Judge Shabelle scrutinized Perfikot with a discerning gaze, then saluted her, "Greetings to you, the divine child under the All-Father’s protection."
"Interesting, what is this saying of the All-Father’s protection?" Perfikot detected a topic of interest from Shabelle’s words.