Master the Abyss, starting from an apprentice priest.

Chapter 651 Complaint!

"--What did you say?!"

Duke Harkas's voice suddenly rose eight octaves, his face contorted in a grimace, and a hint of panic flickered in his eyes—

"You're saying Hayek has disappeared?!"

"How, how is this possible! Where and when did this happen? You...you escorted him the whole time, and I even arranged for three 'Sixfold Fate' attendants to protect him! How could he possibly be in trouble!"

"..."

Seemingly startled by Duke Harkas's sudden outburst of rage, the Throne Knight who rushed to report was stunned, completely bewildered by Duke Harkas's fury.

"You! You—Dirac! You were escorting Count Hayek, how could such a thing still happen! What happened? Tell me, what happened!"

"..."

"I...I'm so sorry...Your Grace..."

The Throne Knight named "Dirac" finally managed to recover. Under the tidal wave of rebuke from Duke Hakkas, he struggled to piece together his memories. After a long while, when Duke Hakkas seemed to have finally calmed down, he finally spoke:
“We… as you said, we can only escort Count Hayek discreetly… three squads of Throne Knights, therefore we always follow Count Hayek’s carriage closely, maintaining a distance of three hundred meters.”

"But...when we heard the commotion ahead and rushed to Count Hayek's carriage, we only saw...we saw..."

"What do you see!" Duke Harkas' patience was wearing thin, his eyes blazing with undisguised rage as he glared menacingly at the Throne Knight.

The Throne Knight swallowed hard, looked at Duke Harkas with some timidity, and said in a broken voice:

“All we see are… corpses… The guards you appointed with the ‘Sixfold Fate’ have all turned into corpses…”

"Their deaths... Please forgive me, Duke Harkas."

"Their deaths were quite gruesome. One died of utter old age; another had a huge, unhealable hole pierced through her chest; and the third... her body was not dead, but her soul was, twisted against the carriage, drool mixed with blood dripping from the corner of her mouth..."

“That was no different from being dead… I brought her a final release. But the coachman who drove for Count Hayek was still alive, though he had fainted at the time.”

"And what about Hayek?!" Duke Harkas stared at the Knight of the Throne, pressing him for further answers.

“We…did not see Count Hayek there…”

The Throne Knight's voice trembled slightly: "After hearing that huge commotion, we rushed there, and then the nearby rangers also went over. We searched the area thoroughly, but we couldn't...we couldn't find Count Hayek..."

"The Earl has disappeared. And there's absolutely no trace of him left behind. We don't know... we don't know what to do..."

“Duke of Harkas, the captain sent me here immediately because of this. We will do our best to search for Count Hayek’s whereabouts, but it is indeed our dereliction of duty that we failed to protect Count Hayek… We are willing to accept whatever punishment you may give us.”

"..."

"Ha, punishment."

When Duke Hakkas heard the Throne Knight finish speaking to him, he laughed instead of getting angry.

“Punishing you will do no good… Dirac. I need you to continue, to continue to search for Count Hayek’s whereabouts with all your might, and to come to me immediately if you have any news.”

"As for the coachman—he's the only one alive, and he's highly suspicious of Count Hayek's disappearance. Use every means to interrogate him; you must find out something from him. If necessary, you can pry open his soul and control it, at least to find out who attacked Count Hayek."

"..."

"Yes! As you command, Duke Harkas."

Dirac, the "Knight of the Throne," immediately stood at attention and gave Duke Hakkas the most standard and highest salute.

Hearing that Duke Harkas did not intend to punish them, Dirac finally felt a great weight lifted from his heart.

As for what Duke Hakkas said about continuing to search for Count Hayek's whereabouts with all his might, even if Duke Hakkas didn't tell him, this was something the Knights of the Throne were supposed to do anyway. And the other order, "interrogating" the coachman, was something Dirac excelled at.

Because Dirac had served as an "interrogator" in the Imperial prison—and he had also learned a set of advanced execution techniques from the executioners of the Dark Duchy—if the coachman really had participated in the plot to murder Duke Hayek, Dirac believed that he would be able to pry the coachman's mouth open.

"I'll go right away and draw more people from the Knights Academy. We must find Count Hayek's whereabouts as soon as possible."

After Dirac finished speaking, he turned to leave.

"Wait, Dirac."

Duke Harkas called out to him, looking at him with an uncertain expression.

Dirac turned around and met Duke Hakkas's sinister gaze, and a chill ran down his spine involuntarily.

“Those three… the ‘Sixfold Fate’ guards I placed by Hayek’s side to protect him,”

Duke Harkas said with a sinister expression, “A bunch of useless heretics… It’s a pity they died, but it’s not a loss. Their bodies are still here. Collect them and keep them under strict guard. I will personally control their spirits and souls and personally uncover what they ‘saw’.”

Hakkas's expression was terrifyingly cold, causing the Throne Knight to break out in a cold sweat on the back of his neck.

Until Duke Harkas finally said:
"Finally, Dirac. Remember not to tell anyone outside that 'Count Hayek has disappeared.'"

"Your investigation should be conducted in my name, investigating a missing carriage traveling from my residence to the Duchy of Austin."

"..."

"Ming, understand."

Dirac nodded solemnly, bowed once more to Duke Harkas, then turned and left.

This time, Duke Hakkas did not call him back, but stared intently in the direction the throne knight had left.

He thought to himself, there was something that no one knew—not even Hayek himself.

In fact, Hayek—the eldest son of the Duke of Austinville Nolan, Hayek Nolan—was his own son!
That's why the Duke of Hakkas valued and cared for him so much, and why he was so anxious when the news of Hayek's disappearance came!
Now that Count Hayek has disappeared, Duke Harkas, though extremely anxious, knows that in such a situation, there is no need to be anxious. Since Hayek's body was not found at the scene, it means that Hayek is still alive, and the enemy who captured Hayek still has a use for him by keeping him alive.

This actually gives him time to use his power as the "Red Crown Prince." As long as Hayek is still around the capital, he will eventually be able to find the enemy who kidnapped Count Hayek!

But... who on earth has such audacity as to kidnap an earl near the capital?
Duke Harkas thought to himself—could it be that cardinal? He had just planned an operation against that "cardinal" Rosius Carlos, and the news of the operation's failure had just arrived when he received the news of Count Hayek's disappearance. Could this be nothing more than a coincidence?
But that bishop was under close surveillance the whole time... how could he have had the opportunity to do these things... and it was his political enemy... another "Red Crown Prince," Duke Kentville Nolan? His relationship with the Duke of Kentville had always been extremely hostile, and he couldn't wait for any opportunity to bring him down and seize all of his power and resources!

Could it be that the Duke of Kent... learned that I was about to plan a secret operation, and took this opportunity to secretly send men to ambush the carriage and kidnap Hayek, to use as leverage against me later?
still is……

"..."

Harkas felt increasingly distraught over Hayek's disappearance.

His expression shifted several times, and the light in his eyes grew increasingly profound. The surrounding air seemed to freeze and stagnate due to Hayek's natural force field, leaving only the sound of the dry wind rustling through the branches and leaves.

"I will find you, I will rescue you, Hayek..."

"..."

Duke Harkas's face was grim. Although he still stood there like a hunched old man, a terrifying spiritual surge emanated from him in waves.

He was truly enraged—the kind and gentle old duke of the past was gone. He was now a prince who wanted to dig three feet into the ground to find the murderer and tear him to pieces to vent his anger.

Da da da.

Duke Harkas, leaning on his cane, walked out of the courtyard.

Even though he looked like a hunched old man with a limp, his cane—a strange, spiked cane of "divine craftsmanship" quality—penetrated deep into the ground with its tip as easily as piercing through a stack of tofu.

Duke Harkas then leaned on his cane and walked step by step toward the outside of the mansion.

He headed towards the imperial palace, and his figure quickly disappeared into the shimmering night.

……

Austin Estate.

The creaking of the wheel hubs finally ceased with a long, drawn-out thud just before the carriage reached the manor's wrought-iron gate.

The carriage attendant jumped off the seat, first handed over the duties to the attendant guarding the manor gate, and then came to the carriage to pull back the curtain for Luo Xiu.

"We have returned to Austin Estate, distinguished guest. From now on, we will provide you with the necessary protection and the best service, hoping to somewhat compensate for your unpleasant experience."

The waiter spoke very politely, and Luo Xiu smiled and nodded, saying:
"I'm a little tired. I hope I can get some rest when I get back to the Lakeside Villa."

“Very well.” The waiter bowed respectfully to Luo Xiu and said, “I will take you back to the Lakeside Villa now. The estate is dedicated to serving you.”

……

The sound of "creaking" came once again from the road surface and from the turning wheel hub.

From the manor gate, the journey to the lakeside villa in the manor is not far; in about ten minutes, the carriage will stop in front of the main gate of the lakeside villa.

The attendant once again drew back the carriage curtain for Luo Xiu, who stepped down and looked up to see a saint walking towards him—

A “holy deacon,” and an old acquaintance of Luo Xiu’s, Hubert, stood before Luo Xiu.

"May you be forever bathed in holy light, acting as Cardinal." Huber greeted Luo Xiu. "I have completed the handover with the 'Holy Court' and various departments of the Imperial Court. During your absence from Austin Manor, there are no new important matters that require your personal attention."

"Holy Deacon" Hubert—after returning from the war of the trial, he also returned in triumph with Rosh and came to the imperial capital, Augustus.

In fact, when the other "Heavenly Ring Paladin" Daveld was not around, Rosh often had Huberte act as his "bishop," and Huberte had gotten used to it.

When he parted ways with the Minister of Military Affairs, Lagrand, he told Lagrand to contact his attendant saint if he needed anything; this was referring to Huber.

Now, with Luo Xiu's clerical status as a "quasi-cardinal," he can completely and autonomously make Hubel do things for him. Although Hubel is nominally still under the jurisdiction of the Matsubara Cathedral—a saint under Archbishop Sid—in reality, even Archbishop Sid has to listen to Luo Xiu now!
“I understand,” Luo Xiu nodded slightly.

He waved his hand, signaling the manor servants to leave.

After the servants left, Hubbard was alone with Roche. His previously reverent and devout attitude towards the public seemed to have relaxed. Facing Roche, he was not only facing a "cardinal" but also an old friend.

Luo Xiu continued, "Then, has that Second Minister of the Military Affairs, Lagron, come to see you?"

“The Ministry of Military Affairs…” Hubert recalled for a moment and said, “Indeed, people dressed in the uniforms of Imperial Court officials came here to ask if you were satisfied with your living conditions, food, clothing, and lodging. You weren’t here at the time, so I couldn’t answer them for you and just gave them a vague answer.”

"Hmm...that's good then." Luo Xiu nodded.

The smile on his face gradually faded, replaced by a serious expression, and he said:
“Write a letter of complaint on my behalf to the Imperial Court’s Military Affairs Department—specifically to the 'Second Minister' of the Military Affairs Department, Lagrand.”

"I also sent a letter to Asriel, the 'Knight of the Heavenly Pillar' and 'Spear of Heavenly Law' under the Emperor's command."

"I told you that after I went to the Royal Opera House tonight to watch the premiere of 'Triumphal March,' I was attacked by a joint assassination attempt by the 'Serpent Candle' secret order and the 'Mutual Aid' assassin organization. I demand a reasonable explanation and that they select someone of sufficient standing to take responsibility for this incident."

"..."

"—You've been assassinated?!"

When Huber heard Luo Xiu say those words, a look of surprise immediately appeared on his face. He wasn't afraid of Luo Xiu, after all, Luo Xiu was standing there perfectly fine. What surprised him was that someone would actually dare to assassinate a 'Seventh Destiny' Saint in the capital at this time!

Even if they were to assassinate the saint who made the greatest contribution in the final battle of the "Judgment War," Huber conservatively estimated that even if two... no, now three saints of the "Sevenfold Destiny" were to arrive together, they might not be able to truly kill Luo Xiu!
However, Huber had also heard of the "Serpent Candle" secret order and the "Mutual Aid Society" assassin organization, and knew that they were also quite dangerous heretical organizations. Therefore, he immediately took Luo Xiu's words seriously.

"it is good."

Huber nodded and said:

“Tell me more details about your assassination attempt. I will file a joint complaint and statement against Lagrán and Asler in your name… no, in the name of the Holy Court, the Matsubara General Church, the Holy Deacon Council, and in your name as well.”

"This was not a random attack, but a premeditated heretical operation against the 'Holy Court'—the Ministry of Military Affairs and Austin Manor must provide an explanation, and the 'Supreme' must respect our inherent holy authority."

……

(End of this chapter)