Chapter 147 – Eisen Bernstein

Eisen Bernstein

Eisen spoke as he walked along with Rashid.

“As expected, the order also views the matter of the Flowering Cult in a bad light.”

“Yes, from our perspective, is it not heresy? Although I am a dispatched inquisitor, it was a case I had been keeping a close eye on ever since I was dispatched here.”

Rashid knew Eisen all too well, even if he did not know anyone else.

Because he was one of the key figures of the Allied Nations.

‘This guy can become an enemy depending on the situation, but likely not this time.’

At the very least, Rashid saw that he had the potential to be an ally in resolving this incident.

“It is a group that mass-produces fanatics speaking nonsense about having bloomed like flowers. I do not know the reason for it yet, but their core value is destruction itself. And their doctrine is as follows.”

Eisen decided to listen quietly to see how much he knew.

“Obtaining salvation through the end times. That is the doctrine they put forward.”

Eisen was somewhat surprised.

Because what he said was a part of what they had been vaguely guessing.

“You know more than we do. I knew they were highly violent and engaged in destruction, but I did not know it was due to the doctrine they possess.”

“It is a fact I also learned through interrogation. Just looking at their ideology, there is no need to look further; they are a cancer on society and heresy itself.”

“I agree.”

Before they knew it, the two had reached the cloister garden.

In that place which was peaceful beyond measure,

their conversation continued.

“I know that the propagation speed of the Flowering Cult is remarkable. This is certainly not normal. I am currently speculating that perhaps some magical power is involved.”

“Do you know what it is?”

“It is just a simple speculation, but… perhaps it is something like an infection.”

“An infection?”

As if not immediately convinced, Eisen frowned.

“Are you saying they caught some strange virus and developed a mental illness?”

“It may sound strange at first listen, but we must keep all possibilities open. Otherwise, there is absolutely no reason for people who were perfectly fine to engage in destruction overnight and spout bullshit about flowers having bloomed.”

“Indeed. Just as you said, the ones causing trouble were mostly normal people. Until just a short while ago, they were people who lived extremely normal lives.”

“I knew that the Palace Court would be interested in the matter. Is this not a cancerous element of society rather than just simple heresy? If left alone, the entire royal capital will be swept into massive chaos.”

“Indeed.”

The two stood still at a spot with a good view of the cloister garden.

Around this point, Rashid slowly began to broach the subject.

He began laying the groundwork so that there would be no misunderstanding about himself.

“Actually, I am not the inquisitor in charge of the Flowering Cult case.”

Eisen thought it was strange.

To think someone who knew that much was completely unrelated to the case.

“The inquisitor in charge is not you? When you know about it in such detail?”

“I only know about it because I have a great interest in it. The person directly in charge of the case is Inquisitor Kasim, who sits facing me. We share the same office.”

“Ah, was he right in the next seat?”

Eisen misunderstood to a reasonable extent.

He mistakenly assumed that he knew a lot because the inquisitor in charge of the case was in the next seat.

“Then does Inquisitor Kasim know in more detail than you?”

“Not really. This is information I investigated separately. Ever since I was dispatched to the royal capital, I have been keeping a close eye on the Flowering Cult case because it was unusual.”

“You found out by chance, even though it was not your assigned case?”

“Yes, this is not a light matter, is it?”

When Rashid asked back instead, Eisen, who was about to doubt him, felt momentarily awkward.

“The matter is serious. It will likely be difficult for Inquisitor Kasim to resolve it alone. Although I have not spoken to Inquisitor Kasim yet, I also intend to help him resolve this matter.”

“Our Palace Court also intended to cooperate with the order. That is good. Let us join forces like this to resolve the issue of this heretical religion.”

“That sounds like a decent proposal. I will speak to Inquisitor Kasim myself. Could you possibly give me your contact information? I expect we will be contacting each other frequently to resolve the case.”

Rashid had already recognized the communicator worn on his wrist.

Eisen gave him his contact information without hesitation.

Since there was nothing problematic about it.

“I will give you my number. Contact me immediately if there is something.”

Eisen handed over his number to him.

Receiving his number, Rashid began to broach a subject once more.

This time, it was for the sake of saving Do-jin.

“Um… as I said earlier.”

“Do you have something else to say?”

“Did I not say that we must keep all possibilities open?”

“You did.”

“I already know the person suspected to be the master of the Flowering Cult.”

Eisen’s ears perked up.

“You know the one who is the master of the Flowering Cult?”

“Yes, but it is not certain. Since it is also information I heard.”

“Who is it?”

Pretending to ponder, Rashid subtly let slip her name.

“Sayaka. That was the name I heard.”

“Sayaka?”

It was a name Eisen was hearing for the first time as well.

“What kind of name is that? Is she a barbarian woman? If it is a barbarian, there should be plenty of bizarre names.”

“No. That name is something I heard from the player imprisoned here.”

“A player?”

“Yes, I heard it from him.”

“Wait a moment. A player…”

He read the newspaper every single day.

Eisen could recall a certain player whose public execution was scheduled in one of the articles that appeared recently.

“Surely you are not talking about that player who is said to be publicly executed soon?”

“Correct. While interrogating him, I happened to learn the name of the master of the Flowering Cult by chance.”

Players were a kind of disaster-like existence that committed various bizarre acts.

“Then all those ridiculous events until now were related to a player?”

Rashid smiled faintly.

“Haha, not exactly. They are related, but it is difficult to see that the player led the Flowering Cult affairs. Because according to what I heard from him, Sayaka is not a player.”

“But how does that player know about the master of the Flowering Cult?”

“I do not know about that in detail either. However, I confirmed that the player knows a lot about the master of the Flowering Cult, and also harbors considerable ill will.”

Rashid continued speaking.

“At the very least, the captured player and the master of the Flowering Cult called Sayaka are enemies. This is certain.”

Eisen expressed concern.

“If he is a player, he will be executed publicly soon?”

“Yes, that is correct. Therefore, I am also worrying. I question whether it is fine to execute the player, who might be the only clue to the case, in this manner.”

Eisen showed signs of contemplating.

To aid his judgment, Rashid subtly dropped these words as well.

“If we can save him, I think he will be of considerable help in dealing with the Flowering Cult. However, pulling him out is difficult. I do not have that level of authority, and since the order itself has set the execution date, it will be hard to postpone the matter.”

“I will resolve that.”

The moment those words came out, Rashid laughed inwardly.

Because it was a phrase that made him feel the power of the ruling authority anew.

‘It would be out of the question in the Basilica, but this is the Great Balt Nation.’

“Will the master of the Palace Court exert his influence?”

Eisen spoke in an indifferent tone.

“Postponing the player’s execution is simple enough, but finding another player who knows about the master of the Flowering Cult would be difficult.”

“If you would only do that, it seems it will be of considerable help in resolving the case.”

“How long should we postpone the execution? Should we just postpone it indefinitely until the case is resolved?”

Rashid responded with a faint smile.

“That much will do. Since he is a player anyway, there is no need to keep him alive for long, is there?”

“True. I understand. I will take care of that before I return. Do not worry about the player.”

“Once Inquisitor Kasim returns, I will deliver this story to him. In any case, the inquisitor in charge is Inquisitor Kasim, not me.”

Eisen cast a lukewarm look at him.

“To me, you seem more like the inquisitor in charge. The case seems heavy as well, so why do you not take charge of it together?”

“I also wish it were an order where things went my way, but there are strictly procedures here too. Or would it be alright if I borrow the name of the Palace Court?”

It was an unexpected demand entered out of nowhere.

Eisen showed a lukewarm expression.

“The name of the Palace Court?”

“Yes, if I just mention the name of the Palace Court. I feel like things will proceed smoothly without a hitch. Then I think I will be able to take charge of the case without worrying about others’ reactions.”

“If it is related to this Flowering Cult case, feel free to use the Palace Court’s name as much as you want.”

However, Eisen delivered a clear and distinct warning.

“However, it is limited only to this case. If you bring up my name and the Palace Court elsewhere, you will go straight to the exhibition of human mysteries.”

Eisen added these words as a joke as well.

“Surely you do not want to see what your organs look like, do you?”

“You really say such chilling words without hesitation. I am not such a foolish idiot that I would go around carrying the Palace Court’s name in my mouth. I promise you. I will borrow the Palace Court’s power only for this case.”

To think an inquisitor of the order would go around bringing up their name.

Although it was somewhat displeasing, considering the severity of the case and the efficiency of the work,

there was some room to tolerate it.

“Inquisitor, you have more courage than you look. Not shrinking back even against Her Highness the Princess. I never expected you to go so far as to borrow the Palace Court’s name.”

Rashid smiled and responded.

“I said something similar earlier, but… it seems my courage has grown considerably because I mainly deal with devils.”

“Devils… perhaps so.”

Eisen suddenly recalled the man who had persuaded him and departed, but immediately erased it from his mind.

It was a story about Kaiser, who had departed after persuading him that he would become a spy for the Empire.

“Anyway, I look forward to working with you. I will contact you.”

“Yes, I will contact you too. I only ask for the matter concerning the player on your way out. Or you can leave him to me.”

Rashid continued speaking.

“Do I not also have the power given by the Palace Court now?”

Eisen smiled bitterly.

‘Somehow I am reminded of that guy. Is it just my imagination?’

It must be his imagination.

Because his face was different from his, and his voice was completely different too.

Yet…

what on earth was this strange feeling that he could not shake off?

‘It cannot be. He is a completely different person.’

Convinced of that, Eisen moved his steps.

The attendant, who had been watching the two from a distance, quickly caught up as he approached.

“Did you have a good talk with the inquisitor?”

“His courage was quite remarkable. Oh, if that inquisitor goes around selling my name and the Palace Court’s name, condone it for the time being. Since I decided to overlook it until the Flowering Cult case is resolved.”

“Our name?”

The attendant thought it was somewhat strange.

“Is it alright, even though he is not a Palace Court agent?”

“We need to accommodate the convenience of the work until the Flowering Cult affair is handled.”

This was the great nation, not a country like the Empire where the power of the order was relatively strong.

“This is not the Empire, is it? It would be best to handle the work quickly.”

At his words, the attendant also seemed to reluctantly understand.

As he said, the power that the name of the Palace Court gave in this country was indeed grand.