Chapter 33 Sacred Sovereign

In the top-floor office of the Heresy Tribunal, Williams threw a file onto the desk, the wind blowing through his white hair as he spoke in an expressionless tone, "According to the investigation of the capture manual for Ron, we've found all the information on John Moor. We've also found the records of the East City human sculpture murder case, but the criminal apprehended at the time was not him, but rather a scapegoat."

"Even 500 years later, this kind of thing is still not uncommon. Many judges, under pressure from their superiors, will tend to find a scapegoat to take the blame when they can't solve a case."

He emphasized, "But this situation is different. After the East City human sculpture case was closed, they were still pursuing the real culprit. From this perspective, it is obvious that certain people, for certain reasons, want to cover up some things and try to resolve it privately."

This white-haired man's ability to quickly organize so much information showed that he had not slept all night, dark circles forming under his eyes, his expression betraying his fatigue.

Of course, Mike wasn't doing much better either.

The two of them looked utterly exhausted, like overworked employees who had just finished a grueling 996 work schedule, with no energy left in their bodies.

In Mike's case, it was due to his cultivation and poor health.

For Williams, it was because of his work.

It's clear he is a very dedicated and reliable person, and his work is likely competent as well.

People with this kind of personality would normally make a good impression.

It's just strange that everyone in this city seems to be so wary of him.

Mike took off his military uniform and put on a thick, long windbreaker, casually asking, "But as the head of the Heresy Tribunal, how could you not know about this kind of thing?"

Damon and Rose glanced at him and explained, "Actually... the chief only returned three months ago. The previous Grand Adjudicator had a tarnished record, and was sent to be burned at the stake by him."

Mike was taken aback - that was quite harsh.

No wonder with Williams' methods, such things could happen under his command.

It seems that most of the people in the Heresy Tribunal are not his confidants.

His power base in this city is not that stable.

This is likely why he was unaware of the appearance of the Necro Cult.

"By the way, the enlightenment priest who guided you into the Third Temple, as well as an interrogator named Montenegro, have all disappeared without a trace. This lead has been cut off, so we can only search for clues from old John's relationships."

Williams flipped open a page in the file, "Old John had adopted six children, four of whom have already died, and the whereabouts of the other two are a mystery. According to the information, one of them is named Sasha, the other is called Baron. Yesterday I investigated Ron's residence and found some clues. Apparently, about half a month ago, Ron captured Sasha and imprisoned him, interrogating him for some relevant information. After that, Ron went out on a rescue mission."

As for Sasha's fate, one can only imagine the worst.

Mike understood, "So that time, Ron found us because he was going to hunt down old John. We just happened to cross paths."

He pointed to a person in the file and said, "In that case, old John's last remaining child, Baron, maybe the only clue left. He might know something."

The deputies Damon and Rose glanced at the young man.

They had to admit, his thinking was quite on par.

"Initiate a big data search?"

Rose raised her eyes and asked, "But the notification will take time."

Damon shook his head, "The chief doesn't have that much time."

Williams coughed and gestured, "Indeed, I don't have the patience to wait for the bureaucrats up there to go through the proper channels. Moreover, if this Baron has taken refuge in the underground district, even a big data search won't be able to find him... so we'll have to use some special methods."

At this, Rose and Damon understood.

"Private, the things you've seen today, it's best not to say anything about them. If you report this to the higher-ups, you'll be implicated as well, understand?"

Mike was bewildered when suddenly a rumbling sound came from the wall.

The bookshelf behind Williams automatically moved aside, revealing a hidden compartment.

There are a total of six hidden compartments.

Williams turned around and reached out to touch one of the hidden compartments, "I believe that as long as it doesn't harm innocent parties, it's acceptable to use certain extraordinary measures when necessary. Of course, the means don't have good or bad attributes in themselves, it's more about who is using them."

He paused for a moment, "And what's the purpose?"

The hidden compartment automatically opened, and inside was a lizard kept in a glass jar!

It looked like a red-eyed monitor lizard from 500 years ago, but the difference was that it was entirely blood-colored, transparent like jade, and had a shiny, crystalline luster.

The Dark Matter in Mike's palm was becoming agitated.

He also synchronously developed a sense of hunger in his mind.

An Abyssal creature!

That lizard was an Abyssal creature!

Goodness, if the Duke family people found out about this, they would unleash their "three consecutive attacks".

Charge, kill, done!

No wonder it needed to be kept secret.

The Grand Adjudicator of the Heresy Inquisition was privately keeping an Abyssal creature.

If this was discovered, they would be brought to trial.

"The red-eyed blood lizard, a tier-1 Abyssal creature, an endangered species. Don't let its small size fool you, it's quite powerful in combat. It also has a special ability to track and determine the range of its true body through the scent of blood. And its olfactory range extends over 50 kilometers," Damon briefly explained, then opened the glass jar's lid and released the red-eyed blood lizard.

"Hey, long time no see."

Rose teased the Abyssal creature a bit, opening a bottle of blood for it to smell.

Mike hesitated, "This is... Baron's blood?"

Williams nodded, "The lowly, inferior species, each person has the opportunity to donate blood once a month. Donating blood earns 10 merit points, it's a kind of basic welfare. Yesterday, I conducted a night raid on the medical department's blood storage, and luckily found some."

Mike understood, so this was a shortcut.

"By the way, there's something I need to tell you."

Williams turned around and calmly said, "Regarding the Necro Cult matter, we're not the only ones investigating. Theoretically, this falls under the jurisdiction of the Heresy Inquisition. However, once the Enforcement Bureau can confirm the gathering of illegal forces, they also have the right to intervene."

Mike raised an eyebrow.

"Just yesterday, Chief Charles of the Enforcement Bureau requested to attend the meeting, and he's bringing Instructor Jack. You can ponder why that is."

Williams lit a cigarette, "In a sense, the Enforcement Bureau and the Heresy Inquisition are somewhat competing departments. Chief Charles is also an old friend of mine."

Mike fell into contemplation, "That means we must act quickly. Once the Enforcement Bureau finds clues, we may not be able to uncover anything. The hidden figures behind Ron may manipulate the Enforcement Bureau to completely erase this matter."

Williams' gaze towards him held a hint of appreciation, "Yes, that's exactly it. After I've reorganized the Heresy Inquisition, if that person dares to interfere again, it will be easily detected by me. So he will extend his hand to the department that I have no authority to intervene in."

Mike understood that the bottom line is to act fast.

As the red-eyed blood lizard caught the scent of the blood, it became noticeably more active, climbing up and down, even looking a bit cute.

"Alright, let's split into groups for the next step."

Williams raised two fingers, "Damon and I will be one group, you and Rose will be the other. We'll provide cover from the shadows, with me posing as the nephew."

Damon kept a straight face, "And I'll be the uncle."

Mike hesitated, "Then we..."

Rose let out a coquettish hum, "We'll be mother and son, I'm the mom, and you're the son!"

Mike's eye twitched, "Why not father and daughter? I'll be the dad, and you'll be the daughter."

"You little rascal, are you asking for a fight?"

"I've been tolerating you for too long."

"Wanna see who's the higher tier?"

"Alright then," Williams said flatly as he looked up, "Sometimes I just want to blow both your brains out. Shut your mouths and let's get moving."

A rumbling sound.

Rose rode her motorcycle down the long street, the scenery whizzing by. The red-eyed blood lizard was dozing in the pocket on her chest, clearly having failed to find its target.

"Don't bother looking, one day when you manage to stand out in the military, you'll find that you have privileges in this city. Those well-dressed people will treat you like a VIP. Of course... you can't just go around beating them up."

The woman noticed the young man constantly looking around in the rearview mirror and smiled, "But in their eyes, you'll be a hero who protects the city. Women who want to be your girlfriend will line up on this street. After all, who doesn't want to marry a high-ability person? If a high-ability person can rise to the top, that's the best. If they don't live long, at least they can leave behind an inheritance."

Mike quietly retracted his gaze, "I'm not longing for that kind of life either. I've never experienced it. I'm just curious when I see them, feeling like I'm back in the old world."

"Because this is between the first and second ring," Rose said nonchalantly, "Wait till you get to the fourth ring, it's like going from heaven to hell. Especially the underground areas, you can say it's a city of disorder."

Mike nodded slightly, and suddenly noticed three huge statues within the first ring, much taller than the Statue of Liberty, and even more majestic and imposing. But there were no specific facial features carved on them.

"What are those?" he asked curiously.

"Oh, those are the statues of the successive Sacred Sovereigns," Rose replied.

"Why don't they have faces?"

"Because no one is qualified to see their true features."

"Were they great?"

"The first Sacred Sovereign was an oriental, who led humanity to explore a new era after the calamity. That was the cornerstone of the human order. He was the first to discover the use of fate and endowed all of humanity with the weapons to protect themselves. Your spine, that's what he gave us. Otherwise, we would all still be prey to the mutants. Not to mention establishing civilization, just surviving would be difficult."

"So he's no longer around?"

"Mm-hmm, he sacrificed himself even before the establishment of the Apex Federation."

"What about the second one?"

"The second Sacred Sovereign was also an oriental, a true tyrant. Human civilization was in considerable chaos at that time, with numerous major financial groups trying to establish their own countries. Later, he developed the use of Praxis of Fate, and with an iron fist and invincible power, swept across the entire world, establishing the Apex Federation. If he were still alive, the world today would probably not be like this. Divine power must not exceed human rights."

"What about the third one?"

"I only know his name, Constantine."

Mike was stunned, "What did you say?"

Rose replied, "I said, except for his name, I don't know anything else. The existence of this Sacred Sovereign seems to be a taboo, something that ordinary people cannot access."

Mike was shocked, his little sister knew about this.

He now realized that something was not right.

Isabelle's previous behavior had clearly shown that she was anything but an ordinary low-ability person.

"So who is the current Sacred Sovereign then?"

Mike asked.

"There isn't one. Sacred Sovereigns don't exist in every era," Rose rolled her eyes. "Don't you understand?"

"So how does one become a Sacred Sovereign?"

"It's simple, as long as you have absolute power that transcends religion and the secular world. In the past, the original developers of Aurora Technology, based on the power passed down from the divine era, established the Akashic Records. The major financial families participated in the establishment of the Apex Federation. As long as you can surpass them, you naturally become the boss regarding the future development of all humanity."

They chatted from the first ring to the fourth ring.

Throughout the journey, the red-eyed blood lizard did not react.

It seems right, that Baron being a low-ability person, definitely couldn't have made it to the prosperous areas.

The most likely place would be the slums.

Until late in the afternoon, Rose parked the motorcycle at the entrance of the fourth ring's vegetable market, and the red-eyed blood lizard on her chest became noticeably restless.

"Found it?"

Mike felt relieved, "I was worried it had died."

Rose rolled her eyes, "Who wouldn't be?"

"Let's go, to the underground black market."

She smiled, "I'll let you experience a true hell."

As soon as she got off the motorcycle and removed the key, four burly men came rushing out from the alley, swinging iron bars and aiming straight for her head.

Rose didn't even bother to dodge, simply taking off her helmet.

Bam, bam, bam, bam!

Mike punched and kicked, and the four burly men were immediately knocked down.

The vendors on the street stalls were greatly alarmed, and the onlookers immediately scattered, hiding in the corners and closely watching the motorcycle.

"Not bad, your skills and reactions," Rose said with a half-smile. "I was worried you wouldn't be able to handle it."

She emphasized the "not able" part.

Because Mike looked sickly.

"Whether I can handle it or not, you'll find out soon enough," Mike rolled his eyes. "Those car thieves are nothing. Back when I was carrying bricks on the construction site, those guys used to steal my stinky shoes. I'm already used to living in hell."

He turned and looked at the dirty and messy vegetable market, inhaling the familiar scent.

"Looks like I'm back home."