Chapter 9: The Law Is Supreme

“Do you mean that behind that treasure room lies what we’re here for?” Boriz was so excited that his breathing became rapid. If his companion’s guess was correct, then this trip wouldn’t have been in vain. But why hadn’t his companion pointed it out earlier?
“No, I can’t be sure. After all, we have no evidence, no sign of dark energy. We have no reason or right to demand that they obey every one of our demands unconditionally. More importantly, if what we’re looking for really is hidden there, things might get even worse.” Karu was far more cautious than his companion, always planning carefully before taking action. “But aside from those despicable things, I can’t imagine what they could have that’s worth going to such lengths to hide from us. Rebrí should know the responsibilities of our tribunal and also know who I am. Anything unrelated to faith—no matter what, even if it involves other matters of the Light Church—we won’t interfere.”
“Karu, do you think those two dare to challenge us?” Boriz was annoyed by his companion’s caution. They had already suffered an embarrassment in the magic matrix, and Boriz wanted to regain his face. Now that they had such an opportunity, his companion had wasted it—how could he not be dissatisfied?
“Boriz, never underestimate your enemies. Leaving aside my former colleague, even that lord’s strength cannot be dismissed. I suspect the puppet ice man is that viscount’s doing. My former colleague doesn’t seem to have any interest in puppet magic.” Karu sighed deeply. “That guy has already reached a level beyond that of a grand mage. If we act hastily, we may not achieve our goals.”
“Then what do you suggest?” Boriz didn’t want to argue with his companion. He was eager to resolve this trouble as soon as possible.
“Boriz, we need to prepare for the worst. If that viscount and Rebrí have both become representatives of the dark forces, as those intelligence reports suggest, there are surely many skilled experts lurking in the shadows of the Caucasus. If we want to succeed in a decisive strike, we need more thorough plans and stronger forces to ensure perfect success.” Karu’s expression appeared especially resolute under the sunlight on the deck.

“Then why don’t we go straight back to Marco?” Boriz didn’t entirely agree with his companion’s opinion, but he had to admit that relying on just the two of them to deal with the entire Caucasus region was rather arrogant.
“Hmph, neither that lord nor my former colleague is an easy opponent. Do you think they sent us off to Bahomon out of respect for the Church of Light or out of personal friendship? They wanted to monitor our departure; they wouldn’t be at ease until they saw us leave. Well, it’s good to give them a break for now—it’ll make things easier for us next time we come here.”
Karu’s words clearly showed he was already planning for the future. Returning to Marco was inevitable, and they also needed to get in touch with Noyora. If the Caucasus was indeed a nest of darkness, then it wouldn’t just be the two of them coming here. This filled Boriz with excitement—he could finally wait for such an opportunity, though it would still take some time.
Neither Komer nor Rebrí could have imagined that their opponent’s thoughts and observational skills were so keen. Such a trivial, negligible detail could lead to such profound conclusions. While the high quality of the Inquisition judges was one reason, another important factor was the mindset of preferring to believe in the existence of such threats rather than dismissing them.
But right now, Komer really didn’t have the mind to ponder these issues. He hadn’t expected his seemingly foolproof plans to crack under his opponent’s deductions. His attention was now focused on the changes in the situation north of the Kingdom of Nicomedia.
The orc army had retreated! Although there were countless theories and guesses about why the orc army had withdrawn, the reality for the people of the Kingdom of Nicomedia was that the orc army had indeed retreated—completely. The minotaur warriors who had occupied those fortresses disappeared gradually into the northern wilderness like retreating tides. Aside from occasional sightings of wolf cavalry scouts speeding across the fields, seemingly still unwilling to give up, the elite tiger-armored troops, the boar-light-armed forces, and the fox-feathered archers had all vanished entirely from the northern lands of the kingdom.

But what remained for the kingdom was only heaviness and oppression. The entire north of the kingdom had become ruins; countless cities and towns lay in rubble. The fortresses that had once served as barriers were all reduced to dust without exception. All supplies that could be taken were looted. The orcs had ample time to transport and destroy, carrying out these actions with impunity.

Large numbers of displaced northern residents continued to stream southward. The despair and anger of those who had lost their homes and all their possessions showed no sign of diminishing. All that remained for them was humiliation, hatred, and suffering. Having lost all sense of security, they could no longer trust that the kingdom’s central authorities would offer them trust or comfort.

Rumors also spread quietly among these refugees heading south. The Church of Light had been bribed by the orcs; in exchange for promising to worship the God of Light, they had persuaded the Church’s mage council to respond indifferently to Nicomia’s requests for aid. An even more bizarre rumor claimed that the Church of Light deliberately delayed aid to punish Nicomia for its policy of religious freedom, with the earlier destruction of Melen, Main, and Sussor also being part of this punishment plan, as those places followed the same policy as the kingdom. Now, the orcs were withdrawing because the kingdom was willing to support the initiative to worship the God of War, Marko. Of course, the orcs were also under pressure from the Church of Light, which did not want their influence to grow too much.

These rumors spread widely among the refugees and quickly spawned countless versions. Some even depicted in vivid detail how the king pleaded with the Church of Light for aid, how the Church responded perfunctorily, and how the orcish king, a tiger clansman, negotiated with important figures from the Church of Light in the Mogan Wasteland. These rumors even caused turmoil in Jazair for a time. Rumors end with the wise, but only with the wise. For the vast majority of people who were poorly informed, these insider stories undoubtedly overturned the sacred beliefs they held. Thinking of their own misfortunes and neglect, their pent-up anger nearly drove them mad.

The slave trade in Bay of Paruka only added to the refugees’ despair and sorrow over their fate. Hundreds of thousands of northern commoners captured by the orcs were forced to march northeastward over several months to Bay of Paruka, located on the northern coast of the Sea of Darkness. The long queues stretched for hundreds of miles.

The orcs lacked the technology and ability to build ports, docks, or ships, yet Paruka Bay seemed like a natural harbor bestowed upon them by heaven—free from freezing throughout the year, with naturally formed stone walls along its shores serving as ideal docks. When news spread across the Land of Heaven and the Land of Vastness that captive civilians from the Kingdom of Nicossia would be sold at low prices in Paruka Bay, nations from the kingdom itself, those along the Sea of the Earth, and even those in the upper reaches of the Catalonia River became agitated.

Previously, the orcs had rarely captured large numbers of people to enslave on such a scale. According to them, they disdained such actions, but this time they seemed to have changed their usual ways, perhaps influenced by the materialistic mindset of mortals. Yet slave traders from various places did not halt their activities despite public outrage. Numerous ships rushed north as soon as they heard the news, heading to the once-unremarkable Paruka Bay—first come, first served; those who bought first got better deals. It was unclear where the orcs obtained this idea, but they began using it as a competitive tactic to attract slave traders.

The booming slave trade in Paruka Bay quickly caught the attention of cities and nations across the continent. Merchants from colonial settlements in the Land of Vastness flocked there. Conducting such large-scale transactions outside the domains of mortal nations allowed them to avoid hefty taxes—a huge advantage for profit-driven slave traders. Anyone who saw the bustling crowds around Paruka Bay and the numerous ships anchored in its harbor would assume it was a prosperous city of a mortal nation. The massive slave trade instantly made Paruka Bay the most talked-about place in the Land of Heaven.

Soon, other rumors began to circulate. Negotiations between the Church of Light, the kingdom, and the orcs regarding the enslavement of ordinary people in occupied areas seemed to hide many secrets. Marco’s plan to build a holy city appeared to face funding issues, and regarding the captives in the north of the Kingdom of Nicossia, the Church of Light seemed to have some kind of understanding with the orcs. These shameful accusations tarnished the Church of Light’s holy image. Although no one dared openly question these possibilities, seeds of doubt and distrust had already taken root in the hearts of the people. With such favorable conditions, they spread like mushrooms after rain.