Chapter 560: The Cult of Origination
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Ever since he came to Hao Ren's place, Y'zaks had never had a chance to showcase what a demon king could do. Aside from going back home to bring his daughter and followers back, most of his time at home was spent eating, sleeping and reading the papers. On most occasions when he went out looking for work, he ended up drinking coffee with the police for scaring the life out of someone. It was only lately that he started to bring his daughter out to look for discarded electronics (and fight off abduction syndicates). His routine was similar to that of a retired elderly's. But as he mentioned the interrogation of the heretic's soul, the old demon king finally showed what he could do.
Heck, he put it across in a way that made it seem like such a thing was as commonplace as drinking water. That was how imposing his aura was.
The pope's first reaction to Y'zaks' suggestion was that of pleasant surprise before he started to frown. It was clear that this was not present in the goddess' teaching. He also had some reservations about dragging someone's soul out of its shell: this was a natural reaction. As Y'zaks noticed his reaction, he turned his gaze to the monster that was trapped in the cage. The latter was a hideous amalgamation of flesh and blood made through foul magic. Despite its monstrous combat strength, the magic was inherently unstable. Y'zaks was unsure if the magic holding the monster together was fading or it was the damage dealt to it earlier, but it was clear that the monster was disintegrating very rapidly into a pool of rotten mud.
"I suggest that you make up your minds fast. This thing here won't last another two hours." Y'zaks shrugged. "The extraction and interrogation of a spirit is not something evil. It's the same as interrogating a person. You just remove the risk of the target dying during the interrogation process. This greatly increases the chances of you getting the information you need. The flesh is mortal but a spirit is eternal and can withstand all sorts of stimuli. Another thing, in this process I will also release the souls that are trapped within the monster. Even though their lives are forfeit, they can at least rest in peace."
The pope was just about to speak before little Y'lisabet interjected, "Don't fret too much! Heretics aren't treated with tender loving care during your interrogations, right? So, what's the difference between torturing a body and a soul? Besides, a soul can't bleed."
Becky was hiding in a corner. She understood that being someone who was a hard carry, it was better for her to just keep quiet. But even now she could not help but mutter. "Why do I feel like this father-daughter duo's going to drop some orange loot..."
Lily rolled her eyes. "What? A legendary newspaper roll and a screwdriver?"
The pope had completed his deliberations by then. He went through the teachings of the goddess in his mind and finally gave a nod. "This is not normal... but there's nothing in the goddess' teaching that's against this. The situation demands urgency, so I shall leave it in your good hands."
Y'zaks gave a satisfied grin and left for the penitentiary with the interrogator-cardinal. Before he left the building, he turned to Hao Ren. "Wait for my good news. It won't take long before it speaks."
Y'lisabet hopped happily behind her dad. "Papa, wait! I'll help you poke a few holes in it!"
Everyone there had cold sweat. Demons would be demons alright... Even if they were righteous, they would still do things the demon way!
Thankfully, there was no taboo about "soul interrogation" in Holletta, or else the pope would not have agreed so easily.
With things as they were, the banquet could no longer continue. King Mhoren extended his apologies to Hao Ren and Hilda again. What happened that day was no small matter for a king, but Hilda and her ministers were unperturbed. The elven queen gave King Mhoren a gentle and graceful smile. "Your Majesty, you do not have to apologize. Accidents do happen and we are used to it. The Hollettan cuisine was certainly exquisite, and you have our thanks.
Marshal Ophra muttered subsconciously, "What do you mean by you're used to it?"
Vivian sighed. "The Aerymians have been used to accidents happening since they were young. Outsiders may not understand it, but there's always a risk of something going wrong, like an explosion, earthquakes, toxic gas emissions, firestorms and the likes while having dinner."
Marshal Ophra's eyes widened as she was stunned. Hao Ren chipped in, "Just treat it as they're in very arduous training to be heroes. You know how things are, I'm not able to explain every detail that conforms to your worldview, so let's just leave it at that."
The Aerymians had completed their task on the planet, and the only things that Hao Ren had to to was settle the final details. The elves bade farewell and left Holletta the way they came. Five hundred odd elves went through the teleporter in Becky's basement like an assembly line, and Marshal Ophra was there to see them off. She looked amazed as she saw the elves simply vanishing. She the n asked Hao Ren, "Since you're that capable, why don't you set up a bigger portal? Or, build a bigger teleportation gate..."
"I do have those, but that is on a place without a owner, or at my own place." Hao Ren smiled at the general. "If I were to place a teleporter than could send ten thousand men across every minute on your land, others notwithstanding, would you not be concerned?"
Marshal Ophra smiled and did not reply. There were much to be said about this, but there were equally much that cannot be said. The marshal wisely decided to let the topic slide.
After a short while, Becky had appeared. The mercenary lass was busy directing traffic earlier and now just unfastened her corset without much of a thought as she fanned herself. Looking at Hao Ren as she continued fanning herself. "Mr Landlord, can you bring something for me next time around?"
"What you want?"
Becky's face turned sour. "There's no television, or game consoles, or computers or internet here! Having lived here for a while aside from the balls, I have nothing to do but lay with the fish... I'm BORED!"
Hao Ren smirked. "So now you miss the life on Earth?"
Becky almost wanted to cry. "I miss the television set in the living room and Lily's notebook! Can you please bring a set over next time? I'm not asking for free. I have plenty of moolah! You can take two catties..."
Listen to this overnight millionaire's calculation unit, catties!
Big Beardy who had been silent tihs whole while suddenly chipped in. "He'll need to bring a power generator for you as well... and how do you even set up the internet here?"
Hao Ren gave Big Beardy a surprised look. He never thought that the ascetic monk who was detached from all worldly needs could pull out such high tech terms. "Seems like you've picked up quite a bit, I thought you're just busy trying to live your ascetic life!"
Big Beardy grinned. "Electrification is a part of Earth's system. Deal with it."
".... Where did you learn that from?"
Lily jumped up and down. "Me! Me!"
"You and your nonsense." Hao Ren glared at the werehusky before turning to Becky. "Sure, I'll bring you a set of home electronics and power generator the next time around. I'll install a signal converter as well, that'll solve the internet issue."
Becky leapt in joy while Hao Ren started imagining Becky will be cooped up in the basement as trying to figure out how to connect the telly to the power generator as she sticks the LAN cable into the teleporter's control panel in the attempt... He never knew how his imagination could run that wild. Perhaps it was a passive ability.
The crew decided to take a break at Becky's place after sending the elves off. Marshal Ophra had ordered her subordinate to retrieve a box from her quarters back in the royal city. And after dismissing the servants, she opened the box in front of Hao Ren. "This is the information that we have managed to gather so far about the Cult of Origination. There's their religious text and some of their ritual items. The church had kept a copy for themselves. I've specially kept this for you."
Big Beardy immediately made a religious symbol before him. "The Goddess have mercy. May this heretical items do no more harm."
"These heretics have indeed done quite some damage." Marshal Ophra signed. "But I'm worried that they were just merely the outer layer."
Hao Ren was looking through some of the documents as he heard what Ophra said. "What do you mean?"
"This is their creed , the 'original text ' used by the core members of the cult." Marshal Ophra siad as she picked a thick hard cover book out of the box. "Based on what the creed says, the Cult of Origination is under the control of an even more powerful force. They are just the word bearers."