"Mr. Alex, how can you say such blasphemous words?" Simon appeared displeased, stepping closer: "You also grew up here, ate the Church's rice, studied at the Church school behind the church, right? You should be grateful."
Alex knew he could not leave by force; he turned to look straight into Simon's eyes: "Since you know I grew up at the Church school, you should also know about the matter of me being chased away by the Church like a stray dog?"
He raised his hand, pulling the scarf up to cover part of his face: "Then you certainly know that there is a jinx curse on me. Keeping me here is not good for you guys."
"Alex, don't be tense, we can talk properly." Seeing Alex's face full of vigilance and defensive posture, he actively soothed the atmosphere with a gentler voice: "We will not harm you, I guarantee with my honor. Inviting you here is only because the incident that happened that night still has many obscurities. After investigating clearly, we will let you go immediately, the allowance money will also be distributed fully without missing a penny."
"The story of that night, I have said it all to those two Inquisitors." Alex said, his voice firm: "I know the Church's rule of silence; everything I saw I will take to the grave. I am not a blabbermouth."
"I absolutely could not have deceived the Inquisitors under reconnaissance magic, you know that. So what else is there to ask?"
"Correct, you did not lie, Alex. Magic does not know how to lie." Simon nodded in admission, but his eyes flashed with a sharp glint: "But have you told the whole truth? Or only a part of the truth? Alex, we all know you are hiding something. Silence is sometimes also a lie."
Alex gripped Elias's finger bone tightly in his coat pocket, feeling the warmth from it transmit over to calm his frantically beating heart.
"So what? What do you guys want to do to me?"
"Alex, as long as you cooperate with us, declare honestly, you will absolutely not be harmed." Simon walked to the side door, opening a passage leading deep inside: "You arrived at a very right time; the Chief Administrator is on duty today. He is very interested in this case. As long as you honestly speak out the things hidden, I think he will be tolerant and not make things difficult for you."
Alex was so frightened his face changed color, his face drained of blood.
The Chief Administrator of the Inquisitors at the Dune parish, that was a legendary figure, a true high-level Inquisitor with terrifying power.
Although Dune could not compare with the prosperity of the Royal Capital, it was also an important large town in the Gale Empire. The Chief Administrator of the Dune parish was at least a fourth-level Inquisitor, a person who could see through the hearts of others.
Alex was momentarily a bit panicked, his limbs cold. If a fourth-level Inquisitor directly interrogated him about the full moon night, using mental pressure to suppress him, he certainly could not lie; even hiding or distracting would not be possible in front of such a strong person.
Alex bowed his head guiltily; he gripped the small finger bone in his hand like the last straw of hope, his mind spinning extremely fast, thinking of a countermeasure to escape this perilous situation.
Simon observed him, keeping an unfathomable expression. He was confident that he had seen through Alex. He judged that this boy was a new believer of some evil god, lured onto the wrong path.
And the matter of the full moon night was likely due to a group of high-level evil god believers organizing a sacrifice but causing chaos; those ringleaders had all fled, leaving this kid alone and bewildered to bear the consequences.
"Poor boy, abandoned to be a scapegoat." Simon thought to himself, but, one who chose to believe in an evil god did not deserve mercy; that was the law.
"Let's go, don't keep him waiting long." He made a polite but authoritative inviting gesture, which Alex knew he could not refuse. Knowing clearly this was a death trap, he still had to walk step by step towards that trap.
This was the cruel rule of the world of extraordinary people: the weak had no right to choose. He was too weak.
Alex dragged his feet following Simon; they crossed the meticulously trimmed garden of the Church of Light, entering the vast vestibule. The dense holy breath rushed into their faces like invisible waves, making the soul Gary feel extremely uncomfortable.
The boy grabbed Alex's scarf tightly, using the torn scarf to wrap himself completely, only daring to reveal a pair of fearful eyes. He trembled slightly; the cold from the soul transmitted over, making Alex tremble along.
The church was the dwelling of gods in the human world, protected by divine formations. The breath here was so dense it was about to bury people, and for souls born from places of yin malice like Gary, it was no different than a burning furnace; it was difficult to adapt immediately.
Simon walked ahead, glancing back to see Alex's small trembling amplitude; the corner of his lips raised in a scornful smile. Evil god followers were always afraid of holy breath; this reaction further confirmed his speculation was correct.
The Chief Administrator chose the meeting place right under the statue of the god in the Hall of Divine Selection, the most sacred place. Facing the inviolable divine statue of the Goddess of Light and Her twelve Attendant Gods, let alone just a heretical boy, even if the evil god himself descended, he would probably be suppressed and unable to act recklessly.
They crossed the long, deep corridor, entering the Hall of Divine Selection of extraordinary people. The space opened up overwhelmingly with a soaring ceiling filled with holy paintings. Twelve tall, imposing white marble statues were placed along the two sides, in different postures; each statue was over fifteen meters high, exuding a terrifying majesty.
Alex immediately realized this was the sculpture of the twelve angels in legends. His heart beat strongly, a thought flashing: then didn't that imply that among them, there was also a statue belonging to Elias, his mysterious teacher?
Alex, while walking, secretly observed past each statue, silently counting down in his heart with suspense.
Twelve, eleven, ten, nine, eight...
Found it.
Alex paused slightly for a beat.
The eighth statue was not the gaunt white skeleton he usually saw, but the image of Elias when he was alive, in flesh and blood, draped in magnificent armor.
He raised his head to look up, his gaze stopping at the head of the statue.