Chapter 197 - Please (1/2)

Chapter 197: Please

The cathedral guard who went to find Anhebus returned faster than Song He had expected because they encountered Anhebus’s trusted subordinate, Lopez—he was the one who had almost killed Baz in the morning.

Lopez was about 1.9 meters tall and could look down on most people in the Ashlands. Even Shang Jianyao—who had undergone genetic enhancement—was slightly shorter than him. Apart from being tall, he was also rather muscular. The pressure such a person exerted on another when they stood in front of them was obvious.

Lopez wasn’t a parishioner of the Vigilance Church, so he didn’t wear a mask and directly revealed his face.

Light-blond messy hair, light-blue eyes, distinct edges and corners, a stiff and rugged bearing, a camouflage-green army uniform, two United 202 pistols at his waist, and leather boots with steel nails embedded at the tip—together, they portrayed the muscular man’s appearance.

Jiang Baimian—who was standing beside Baz—said in Red River language, “He doesn’t look like a Red River person. He’s closer to an Icelander. Uh, he might be a Yargai.”

Iceland was in the northernmost part of the entire Ashlands, and it covered a large area. Many Red River people these days carried certain Icelander characteristics. According to some information from the Old World, many native Icelanders had headed south as a result of climate change. They entered the Red River area, conquered many local native tribes, and settled down. Over the generations, the Yargai people had become a branch of the Red River people.

Similarly, there were also Ashlandic people who had blond hair, fair skin, and tall and muscular builds. However, they slowly disappeared with time.

Upon hearing Jiang Baimian’s ‘whisper,’ Lopez couldn’t help but look at her in surprise.

He was indeed Yargai. But after the Old World was destroyed, there was a new round of intermixing regarding human species due to disasters, war, and migration. Coupled with the loss of all kinds of information, almost nobody would mention such matters in places other than places with more Yargais. They were usually treated as equivalent to the Red River people.

Lopez quickly retracted his gaze and bowed at the gigantic symbol deep in the hall. Although he wasn’t a believer of Eidolon Nun, he didn’t dare to be too impudent after entering the Vigilance Cathedral. After all, there were many pious believers in Redstone Collection, including his subordinates.

If he did anything to blaspheme the Kalendaria, he suspected that his subordinates would shoot him from behind before he could walk out of the cathedral. It was impossible to guard against such matters.

Furthermore, the large red signs warning of danger and the solemn and holy golden colors that covered the Vigilance Cathedral subconsciously made him feel reverence.

Song He—who was wearing a black robe—stood in front of the gigantic Eidolon Nun symbol and nodded slightly.

“You said you wanted to find Baz?” Shang Jianyao spoke in the Red River language.

Lopez didn’t answer immediately. He looked around and said, “Where’s Bishop Renato?”

Song He calmly replied, “The bishop is occupied with other matters. I have full authority to represent him.”

Lopez didn’t make any irreverent claims and showed his friendliness. “Harbinger, it’s very likely that Baz is related to Helvig’s death. My boss, Mr. Anhebus, is both a business partner and a very good friend of Helvig’s. He has been investigating this matter since yesterday.”

“Lies!” Baz refuted in shock and anger.

Lopez smiled. He first looked back at his subordinates—who wore all kinds of masks—before saying to Baz, “No murderer will directly admit that they did it.”

“There are—” Shang Jianyao, who was wearing a monkey mask, interrupted, “—some who admit as a way to show off, and some do so to cover up other matters.”

For example, Father.

Lopez glanced at Shang Jianyao and didn’t take the random interjection from a nobody to heart.

He looked at Song He and smiled. “Harbinger, can you guarantee that Baz isn’t the murderer?”

Song He fell silent for a few seconds. “It’s true that I can’t guarantee anything. Nobody can guarantee anything until we get to the bottom of the matter.”

Without waiting for Lopez to speak, he continued, “Baz also identified Anhebus as the murderer and gave a sufficiently convincing reason. You crafted the firearms robbery to deceive others and sent the batch of firearms into the mountains. At the same time, you pushed the blame to the Ashlanders and the Underground Ark. In order to seize this batch of firearms, Anhebus has a motive to kill Helvig.”

Be it Helvig or Anhebus, none of them dared to blatantly sell the firearms to Subhumans. That would make them public enemies of Redstone Collection.

Until now, there were only rumors regarding their sale of firearms to Subhumans. If Baz wasn’t Helvig’s trusted aide, it would be very difficult for him to know this secret.

Lopez suddenly laughed out loud after quietly listening to what Song He had to say. “Haha, this is the funniest joke I’ve heard this year!”

His laughter echoed in the empty and quiet cathedral, making Song He frown slightly.

“Please pay attention to your volume in the cathedral,” Song He warned.

Regardless of what was on his mind, Lopez didn’t dare to be impudent. He restrained his laughter and clicked his tongue. “Harbinger, you can’t be deceived by Baz. He must have framed Mr. Anhebus to get away with his crime.

“Over the years, Mr. Anhebus has been contributing to Redstone Collection’s fight against Subhumans. He has even used his social connections to purchase a military exoskeleton for the city. How is it possible that he sold the firearms to the mountain monsters? You need evidence!”

Baz immediately replied, “Apart from me, Mark and Castil know as well. They can testify!”

“Maybe you teamed up to kill Helvig to seize that batch of firearms and then framed Mr. Anhebus,” said Lopez calmly.

Song He raised his right hand and stopped their confrontation. “There’s no conclusive evidence now. You can say whatever you want. As a Harbinger, I won’t side with anyone. I can only guarantee that everything will happen under the Kalendaria’s watch.”

Upon hearing the words ‘Kalendaria’s watch,’ Jiang Baimian couldn’t help but recall her previous experience. Even now, she still had lingering fears.

Song He continued, “You can interrogate Baz, but it has to be done in the cathedral. I’ll bear witness. Similarly, Anhebus has to come to the cathedral to be personally interrogated. You can’t make the decision on this matter; go back and report to him.”

His words stopped Lopez from any potential argument.

If Anhebus comes, can you make him friendly and make him confess? Does this count as us completing the mission? Jiang Baimian muttered inwardly.