The judge's gaze
Deep within Rockefeller School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, in the office of the Inquisition, the space resembled more of a solemn confessional than an office. The lighting was dim, provided only by a single magic lamp emitting a cold, white glow on the desk. The air was thick with the mingled scents of old parchment, ink, and a faint, almost imperceptible, holy incense, creating a suffocating, oppressive atmosphere.
Judge Silas sat upright behind his large, dark wooden desk, his back ramrod straight, like a sculpture. A thick stack of reports lay before him, all the information he had gathered over the past few days through various channels regarding the "otherworldly being"—Ling Yao.
His fingers were long and pale, and he was slowly but firmly tapping the table, making a soft "tap, tap, tap" sound that was particularly clear in the quiet room, each tap seeming to strike some kind of invisible judgment.
"Powered by non-magical energy, it heals severely wounded mercenaries... It is suspected that it was made using 'Ironthorn' to create a highly effective stamina potion... Professor Eleanor Silverstalk suffered mental trauma after an 'academic exchange' with it... The shop was burglarized at night, and the thief suffered a mental breakdown, claiming to have encountered 'ghost walls'..."
Silas read the key words from the report in a low voice. With each word he read, his icy blue eyes grew colder, and his fingers tapped the table with increasing force.
These scattered pieces of information might seem surprising, perplexing, or even academically exciting to ordinary people or academics. But in Silas's eyes, they were like scattered puzzle pieces, gradually piecing together an extremely dangerous and blasphemous picture!
“An unrecorded power system…ignores existing rules…significant effects yet unknown origins…accompanied by signs of mental manipulation and control (Professor Silver Bud's abnormal state and the Thief's collapse)…” Silas’s voice was deep and cold, like an echo from the abyss, “All these characteristics are highly consistent with the ‘extraterrestrial evil arts’ recorded in the Holy Scriptures: Heresy Chapter!”
He abruptly stopped tapping, gripping the cold, silver insignia of judgment tightly against his chest. The sharp spikes on the insignia seemed to pierce his palm, causing a slight stinging sensation that kept him absolutely clear-headed and resolute.
You can't be wrong!
This otherworldly being, who calls herself "Ling Yao," possesses power that is by no means some undiscovered ancient legacy or new magic! It is a chaotic and evil alien power from outside the world! Its very existence is the greatest provocation and pollution to the Holy Light Order and the fundamental laws of this world!
Look at what she's done! She's easily accomplished with that evil power what orthodox magic requires high-level divine spells to achieve. She's bewitched the academy professors; she can even torture people's minds with bizarre methods! And this is only a few days! If she continues like this, who knows how many people she'll bewitch? How much destruction she'll cause?
Silas even conjured up terrifying scenes from the Holy Scripture: land corrupted by fel energy, believers whose faith had crumbled, a world devoid of order...
Absolutely not! As long as Silas the Inquisitor has a breath left, he will not allow this evil to spread in the land of the Holy Light!
"Dean Morris and those bookworms in the academy have been blinded by superficial 'effects' and so-called 'academic value'!" A fierce glint flashed in Silas's eyes. "They simply don't understand that some things are sinful in themselves! They must be completely purified!"
Expecting the college to take strong measures is unrealistic. That old fox, Morris, is only interested in stabilizing the situation and gaining academic and political capital from it. And that Professor Yinrui is almost "turned"!
This responsibility of purification must be carried out by the courts!
But should they take direct action? Silas wasn't completely blinded by anger. After all, the other party was labeled an "otherworldly visitor" and "potentially of diplomatic value," and there was indeed no clear evidence of an attack. Rashly resorting to force would only give them ammunition, allowing the Academy and the nobles already dissatisfied with the Inquisition to seize the opportunity to launch an attack.
He needed evidence. He needed irrefutable, irrefutable evidence proving that the other woman's power was inherently "evil and heretical"! He needed a complete record of her using that evil power! He needed to catch her in the act of "actively" committing blasphemy!
Only in this way can he silence everyone and legitimately initiate the highest-level "purification" program!
Silas took a deep breath, suppressing his surging emotions and regaining his cold composure. He opened a drawer and took out a specially made crystal that shimmered with a silvery-gray luster—a memory crystal, specifically designed to record images and energy fluctuations.
"Someone come here," he called out in a low voice to the empty room.
In the shadows, a judge dressed in the same black uniform, but with an even more concealed presence, silently emerged, bowing and awaiting orders.
“Increase surveillance.” Silas handed him the memory crystal. “I need a detailed record of her every day, every moment! Focus on the energy fluctuations when she uses that ‘power,’ and the changes in the mental state of everyone who comes into contact with her afterward. Remember, absolute secrecy, don’t alert her.”
"Yes, Your Honor." The judge took the crystal and silently disappeared back into the shadows.
Silas picked up another report, this one about Finn Liver, the magic apprentice who frequented the "Eastern Elixir."
“Finn Liver… mediocre talent, erratic personality, and has been frequently in contact with the target recently, suggesting he may have been bewitched…” Silas tapped Finn’s name with his finger. “Perhaps… we can find a breakthrough here. A bewitched, weak-willed apprentice is always prone to making mistakes.”
A plan gradually took shape in his cold heart.
Meanwhile, the atmosphere inside the "Oriental Secret Medicine" shop was completely different from the coldness of the courtroom.
Finn was excitedly holding up a newly produced "Gentle Breeze Talisman." Although the success rate was still pitifully low, it was a huge improvement compared to the previous disastrous situation of exploding at the drop of a hat. Once activated, the talisman could continuously generate a small, stable stream of air for nearly a minute!
"Miss Ling! Look! I succeeded again! The wind was a bit stronger this time!" He handed the talisman to Ling Yao like a treasure, almost blowing over the few lonely bottles of "Ling's No. 1" potion on the table.
Ling Yao was frowning, studying the red magic core in her hand. She had absorbed most of its energy, leaving only some murky residue. The quantity was too small, and the quality was inconsistent; it was practically a drop in the ocean for restoring her immortal power.
She needs a more abundant and purer source of energy. Or, she needs to find a way to more efficiently convert the elemental energy of this world into her own divine power.
Hearing Finn's words, she lazily raised her eyelids, glanced at the talisman, casually picked up a new parchment from the side, drew a more complex basic structure of a rune with a slight "spirit-gathering" effect, and tossed it to Finn. —The wind is too weak; try this and see if you can gather some energy particles.
Finn took the "heavenly book" and was immediately dumbfounded. The lines and structure were more than ten times more complex than the Qingfeng Talisman! He felt like he had wasted his time learning magical geometry.
"Miss Ling... what... what is this for?" he asked cautiously.
Ling Yao was too lazy to explain, and simply made a gesture of "absorbing energy".
Finn seemed to understand, but he still treasured the new blueprints and ran to a corner to study them—though it would most likely end in some form of explosion.
Ling Yao continued to worry about the energy problem. With a slight shift of her divine sense, she could vaguely sense several faint, almost imperceptible, observers around the shop. They were very discreet, carrying an unpleasant, cold aura of order.
No need to guess, it must be an informant sent by the leader in black.
Ling Yao pursed her lips, not really caring. Let them look, it won't hurt them. As long as they don't bother her. Right now, all her focus is on how to get more "hard stuff".
Perhaps… we really should find a way to open a pharmacy? The mercenary squad leader, Ron, came again later, saying that the special potion was very popular in their mercenary group and they were willing to buy it long-term, with prices negotiable. Other mercenaries and adventurers who heard the news also occasionally came to inquire.
However, her current production is limited, and she is also constrained by materials. The little money she earns is barely enough to fill a gap in her diet when converted into magic cores.
"We need to expand production...and find better materials..." Ling Yao tapped her fingers on the table, pondering in her mind. Should she ask Finn to inquire where she could get more energy-rich herbs or ores?
She had no idea how her normal needs to "expand production" and "find advanced materials" would be interpreted by some people.
A few days later, in the courtroom office.
Silas reviewed the latest surveillance reports and crystal records, a cold smile curving his lips.
The report indicates that the target is frequently active, instructing apprentices to purchase large quantities of basic potion ingredients and attempting to find special minerals and plants containing high energy. Apprentice Finn Liver is exhibiting hyperactivity, obsessed with drawing some unknown evil symbols (runes), and has repeatedly experienced energy loss of control (rune explosions). The target's contact with the outside world has increased, with multiple mercenaries and adventurers frequently visiting the shop, suspected of engaging in some kind of transaction.
The memory crystal also recorded some fragments: Ling Yao would occasionally pick up the potions Finn had prepared to examine, and a barely perceptible fluctuation of unusual energy would flash between her fingers; she had once frowned at a dull magic core when no one was around, and a very faint aura of longing emanated from her body (worried about energy)...
“Gathering materials…drawing evil runes…expanding influence…even beginning to crave more powerful energy…” The cold light in Silas’s eyes grew stronger. “Her actions are becoming increasingly reckless! This is preparation for a much larger conspiracy!”
The report, in particular, about "searching for high-energy minerals and plants" put him on high alert. Those things were often sacrificial offerings or mediums needed for large-scale, evil rituals!
We can't wait any longer!
Although no direct evidence of "spellcasting" has been found yet, these pieces of the puzzle are enough to piece together the image of a "potentially extremely dangerous heretic"!
He needed to create an opportunity, one that would force the other party to use that evil power and that could be clearly recorded!
Silas's gaze fell once again on the report about Finn Liver. This apprentice was currently the target's closest contact, and also the most unstable factor.
"Perhaps... I should help this wavering apprentice out of his limbo and make him make a mistake that's enough to lure the snake out of its hole?" Silas muttered to himself, a calculating glint in his cold eyes.
He picked up a pen, quickly wrote a few lines on a blank instruction sheet, and then stamped it with the court's seal.
"Notify 'Dark Nail' that 'Catalyst' can begin execution. Target: Finn Liver. Method... make certain sensitive materials on his 'procurement list' 'just right' easy to obtain. Be careful not to leave any traces."
In the shadows, someone received the instructions and left silently.
Silas stood up, walked to the window, and looked in the direction of the "Eastern Secret Medicine" shop. The afterglow of the setting sun cast a long shadow of him on the cold ground, like a shackle waiting for its prey.
He could almost see the otherworldly creature being forced to reveal its evil nature amidst the chaos caused by the apprentices, only to be ultimately purified by holy light.
The trial is imminent.
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