Whispers of the Gods

Chapter 9 Vigrich I

"quiet!"

Gozoron growled.The whole hall fell silent again.

"Then, His Royal Highness and Your Majesty planned to inform the priests in the temple about the graffiti," the guard continued, "but when we found the priests, they were unfortunately killed and the perpetrators had already left.

A total of three priests were killed, all of whom were stabbed to death by small knives or dagger-like weapons. Their eyes were also gouged out, but they were nowhere to be seen. "

Hearing the tragic situation described by the guards, the audience hall was filled with unbelievable cries and mourning.

"Eye?"

Vigrich looked at Zhuo Ke standing in the front row, beside him were Allen and Dia.His intuition told him that the recurrence of this cruel method of killing was not a coincidence.

The two looked at each other, and Zhuo Ke seemed to realize the subtleties between the priest's murder and the previous case of the carpenter's wife killing, and his face was frowning worriedly.

"This is simply absurd!" Bechar Apollion walked out from among the officials, his voice trembling.He wears a gray robe embroidered with stars to represent his priesthood.

Bechar was thin and plain-looking, his face crumpled like faded parchment, and the hair on top of his head had fallen out.

Judging from appearance alone, it is hard to believe that Bechar is two years younger than Wigrich.

"Cousin," Vigrich said.

"It's the High Priest, Your Majesty." Bechar corrected.

"Words cannot describe the pain in my heart because what happened last night was brutal and unforgivable.

The faithful servants of the three gods were murdered in cold blood in the holiest of places, and the perpetrators remain at large with no trace left.

They should pay the price for this cowardly crime with their own lives! "

"My condolences, High Priest, they will pay the price for this," Vigrich said, "I assure you, we will investigate this matter thoroughly and hand over the murderer to you."

"We can't find them," Bechar said, shaking his head, "because they are in the dark and we are in the light. We are like a group of lambs waiting to be slaughtered, waiting for them to make a move."

"Hmph, isn't this obvious?" Gosfried said, "These apostates are everywhere, and they are eating away at our country like parasites. Now they are getting worse and dare to challenge our authority!"

"It's a bold allegation without evidence," Arrowin said sharply. "You're talking about tens of thousands of innocent people."

"The innocents were the priests who were murdered," Bechar argued.

"Master Allowin, we all know that you have a good relationship with the Holy Palacis Empire," Gosfried smiled slightly, "After all, you have benefited a lot from trading with them."

"What are you implying?" Allowin asked angrily.

"Nothing," Gosfried replied, "I just think that we should not mix personal reasons in our stance on this matter."

"My loyalty has always belonged to the empire," Arrowin said sharply, "everything I do is for the empire, for the benefit of the emperor."

Although Allowin Sfrench regarded money as his life and was even suspected of enriching his own pockets, Vigerich was always satisfied with his ability and judgment as Chancellor of the Exchequer.

"Now is the time to be united," said Seal Keeper Bavor Grayhaven. "My lords, we need to be united."

"Lord Bavor." Gosfried raised his eyebrows and said, "Where's your brother? On such an occasion where unity is needed, I thought everyone who cared about the empire would be there."

"Stop raising these silly accusations in front of His Majesty the Emperor, Lord Gosfried. It will only make you look stupid." Bavor shook his head.

Bavor, a diminutive man with shaggy black hair, the same rare blue eyes as his younger brother Odoma, a flat nose and a goatee, doesn't stand out in crowds.

"Odoma is rushing to the Gray Harbor at this moment, personally organizing and building new ships for His Majesty the Emperor."

"Very well," said Gosfried, curling his lips, "we'll need them."

Everyone is fighting for their own interests. This is the truth that Wigrich has long understood.

For the courtiers in front of him, the truth is not important at all, because they have already decided to believe the story that is beneficial to them.

Gosfried wanted war, and that would be the best place for him to gain influence;

High Priest Bechar wanted to curb the development of the Supreme God Cult. After all, in Madkalin, many old temples were bought by followers of the Sun God and donated to the church.

Vigrich doesn't believe that things are really what Gosfried and Bechar think, that it is the Supreme God and the Holy Palacis Empire who are doing the tricks,

Because in the case of the murder of the carpenter's wife that Zhuo Ke met before, the method of the perpetrator was the same as the method of killing the priest, which shows that these people are not only targeting the clergy of Hastza.

This coincidence is not a good thing, because there is an invisible force in the empire conspiring in the dark, and Vigerich has no idea of ​​their identity or purpose.

"Stop this pointless quarrel at once," Vigrich ordered, having heard enough.

Everyone in the audience hall except Bechar bowed their heads to express their obedience.

"Gozolon," Vigrich looked at the captain of the guard beside him, "I need you and your people to use all means to find possible witnesses in the city of Madkalin."

Gozolon nodded respectfully, accepting the order.

"Father, I am the chief law enforcement officer, please let me join the investigation." Zhuo Ke said, his tone was full of dissatisfaction.

"I have other plans for you," Vigrich said, "I need you to join me and go to the Hall of Ashes to attend the coronation of Vivalia's new queen, Lozaria."

"With all due respect, it is enough to send some envoys and officials to this ceremony," Bechar said, "There is no need to make an exception for a woman, and we have more important things in front of us."

"She is my sister, the High Priest." Di Ya emphasized with an angry face.

"I don't mean to offend, my queen." Bechar smiled and said contemptuously.

"It is extremely important to maintain an ally relationship with the Kingdom of Vivalia, and I want to ensure that it is safe." Vigrich replied.

At the same time, he also wanted to propose a marriage with Zhuoke to Queen Vivaria, and it was time to reconquer the Great Plains.

"If that's the case," Bechar said, "let me do your horoscope for your trip and predict the suitable days.

When you go out, I will first pray to the star gods in the capital for the rest of the souls of the murdered priests and your safe return. "

"Thank you, High Priest Bechar." Vigrich said.

"During my absence, the remaining six of you will strictly abide by the laws of the Hastza Empire and exercise power as my agent."

According to the tradition of the empire, when the emperor is incapable of governing the empire due to young age or other reasons, or is away from the capital due to going out, etc., the power of agency will be granted to the emperor's cabinet, which will consist of chief law enforcers, high priests, military commanders, The Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Keeper of the Seal, the Master Spy, and the Lord of the Admiralty govern the empire by voting.

In the hall, except for Zhuo Ke, the six members of the cabinet put their right hands on their left chests and bowed to express their compliance.

After the crowd dispersed, only Vigrich and spy master Hagen El Azer remained in the hall.

"Hagen, I need you to do something," Vigrich said.

"Please speak, Your Majesty."

Hagen El Azer knelt on one knee, looked up at Vigrich and said.

His whole body is covered by a black robe, a pair of hazel eyes and a few strands of black hair are exposed under the hood on his head, and his mouth and nose are also hidden by a black mask.

"The matter of the temple and the case I asked you to investigate the carpenter in Zhuo Ke's hands that day, the two incidents have the same murder method and the same eye-gouging method. I don't think this is a coincidence." Wigrich said.

"We are facing unknown enemies. They are hiding in the dark. I need you to find them."

"That carpenter has gone crazy," said Hagen's calm voice from under his mask. "I haven't been able to extract any useful information from him, but he shouldn't be the murderer. We haven't found the eyeball."

"I see," Wigrich stood up, "until a clue is found, anyone can be an enemy, no one can be trusted, no one."

"Understood," Hagen said.

(End of this chapter)