549 Qualifications and Conditions (1/2)
A group of living inquisitors of the Religious Court of Inquiry.
They're simply priceless!
The Court is nothing short of a miracle created at the start of the Golden Age with the combined efforts of the Church, the Sacred City, various nations, and even the entire human world, for the exploration of the World of Dark.
Every single member was chosen from the cream of the crop of the human world and could be considered geniuses in their own right. The funds and materials spent on cultivating their talents are worth far more than their weight in black gold.
They brought light to the World of Dark, converted the wasteland into fertile soil, and illuminated the depths of the darkness with human civilization...
Before the Mass Retreat caused by the onslaught of catastrophes, they had always been seen as legends.
The possibility that the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith might have actually continued to keep them in existence had never even crossed Ye Qingxuan's mind before this!
They may not be members of the first generation, which is known for being the strongest, but even if they are members of the last generation before the disbandment, even though they have nothing left in their possessions, and are almost dying of old age, they definitely still have some remnants of their powers from the past!
Such powers are not in the form of military might that can enable one to fight against a thousand men, nor movements powerful enough to destroy mountains and rivers, but something more fundamental—the legacy that only the Religious Court of Inquiry can preserve and has enabled the Court to nurture new inquisitors continuously.
”Elder Shi Dong, allow me to make myself clear, I am here to restore the glory of the Religious Court of Inquiry,” Ye Qingxuan said after sorting out his thoughts. He looked at Shi Dong, his tone solemn. ”I offer you my promise in the name of the sword-bearer. If you help me save Anglo, then as the representative of Anglo, I shall give you the full support of the nation, including the supply of whatever material resources and talent you need.
”Regardless of the stances of the other countries and the Sacred City, I will re-establish the Religious Court of Inquiry. The 400 organists I brought with me are enough to set up a new generation of the Witch Hammer once more—the new judgment knights.
”I give you my word that you will be able to form your own armed forces in the territories of Anglo, not having to answer to anyone but me, including the Emperor of Anglo.
”It'll be like the Chainsaw Fraternity. As long as you follow me, I can give you the status and treatment they have received in Canaan. ”
He was greeted with silence. In the silence, only the noise from the old men wrestling beyond the curtain could be heard.
Shi Dong's kept his eyes down, seemingly considering what the young man had said, but also perhaps just staring blankly at the air in front of him even though there was nothing but empty space.
After a long time, he said, ”I see.” But only that and nothing else.
Ye Qingxuan frowned. He said, ”Elder Shi Dong, I feel that I have given my promise with all due sincerity, and the conditions are the most I can offer. I don't like abstruse negotiations and trivial bargainings. If what you expect is a higher price, forgive me, but there's nothing else I can do about it.”
Shi Dong sighed. He scratched his face with a finger, wearing a gloomy expression, and spoke with the aid of his metallic prosthetic vocal cords, ”Mr. Ye, do you know what was my position in the Religious Court of Inquiry initially?”
Ye Qingxuan waited for the answer quietly.
”Accountant.” Shi Dong chuckled and said, ”I was an accountant.”
Ye Qingxuan was stunned.
”My apologies, Mr. Ye, I am no purifier nor judge, not even a priest nor clergy.” Shi Dong chuckled as if he had long been looking forward to Ye Qingxuan's stricken look. ”The last grand knight died two years ago. The only one remaining is me, the accountant.
”Do you need an accountant? Mr. Ye, an accountant to help you evade taxes, audit your accounts, and give out loans?” he said. ”I promise, I'm the best man for the job.
”I have even given out war loans and bought bonds from the emperors of various countries in the name of the Sacred City. Each year, we would collect huge amounts of interest from them without mercy, turning the countries into money printing machines for the Religious Court of Inquiry, the Witch Hammer and the Knights Templar. But do you need men like me?”
Ye Qingxuan remained silent.
Shi Dong pressed on, ”I am very sorry, Mr. Ye. Our era has passed, so please don't strong-arm us into doing things we are no longer capable of.”
”Elder Shi Dong, haven't you ever thought about re-establishing the Religious Court of Inquiry?” Ye Qingxuan looked at him and asked slowly, pausing between each word, ”Never? Not even once?”
Shi Dong laughed in self-mockery. ”I am already very, very old, Mr. Ye.” He said softly, ”I am 230-years-old. Few people can live as long as I do. In order to survive, I have given up a lot of things.” He reached out and lifted a corner of the curtain, showing Ye Qingxuan the chaotic scene outside. Pointing to the old men slightly younger than himself, he said, ”Look at them, still living in their unrealistic dreams. But me, I've grown so sick of living that I just want to die. ”
Heartfelt exhaustion could be felt from his words. Not bothering to disguise it anymore, he showed the young man in front of him the ugly side of his nature. ”What you have just said are all good. They're all excellent, precious opportunities, but for me, they're worthless.”
Worthless.
Ye Qingxuan closed his eyes.
In the long, dead silence, only the noise outside the curtain and the soft breathing of Ye Qingxuan filled the air. After a long time, he looked up again, fixing his eyes on Shi Dong, and slowly asked, pausing between each word, ”You find that I am not qualified to be the Grand Inquisitor. So you tell me all these words to persuade me to give up my plan. You would rather dig the Court a grave and bury it than to hand it over to me. Because in your opinion, I have no right to inherit the legacy that has been yours, right?”
Looking straight at the young man's sharp eyes, Shi Dong smiled.
He nodded. He expressed his stance unabashedly.