In the chilling Judgement Hall, two Cardinals quietly confronted each other.
It wasn't raining outside, yet the atmosphere between them could hardly be described as congenial.
"You needn't look at me that way, I haven't done anything wrong."
The Rusted Nail Bishop slowly stepped out from the shadows, the rivets piercing his body emitting a rhythmically bizarre soft sound as they collided during his movement.
"The seal artifact is acting up, the Archbishop is personally overseeing it, and he instructed us to find the cultivator under suspicion. This is something you and I both understand."
"He's an outsider, the most suspicious one, and the fact that I haven't arrested him outright, only secretly tested him, is already restraining myself for your sake."
Although Herbert wasn't very self-aware, his status was truly unique in the eyes of the high ranks at the Monastery.
The second son of the Silver Wings Duke.
There were noble cultivators in the history of the Monastery, but most were generally destitute nobles with nowhere else to go or minor nobles sent here for reform after violating some tenet.
Herbert was the only noble in nearly two hundred years to voluntarily apply to join the Mist Monastery.
And he was a powerful heir to a practical major noble of the Kingdom!
Regarding whether he committed the sin of "desecrating the Princess," everyone had a clear understanding, no one truly treated him as a criminal.
Not to mention the Purity Oath he later swore, which further strongly proved this point.
He was innocent.
But regardless of Herbert's purity, he remained a special existence, difficult to treat equally with others.
Was he truly set up?
Or did he have other intentions?
The Frost Crystal Kingdom had long sought to extend its influence into the Mist Monastery, and attempting to foster a Bishop with a Kingdom background was nothing new.
The higher-ups at the Monastery understood these royal schemes but chose not to intervene, implicitly allowing their small maneuvers.
Cultivators transcend worldly matters, dedicating their lives to order and battling for justice.
However, they are not completely isolated from the world, as they still require support from others due to their inability to completely self-sustain.
The Monastery, although respectful to the Divine Spirits and accepting their blessings, is not a servant of the gods.
The Mist Monastery doesn't belong to the Divine Spirit Church; it does not deliberately worship a certain god, nor will it wage a war for them, only fighting for worldly justice and order.
The Divine Spirit Church still requires donations from its believers for operation, even more so for the Monastery that has no worshippers.
The Monastery accepts goodwill donations from nobles and will also dispatch cultivators of the Knight Order to assist them with some minor issues when necessary.
Of course, only those that don't involve principles.
Such as exterminating bandits plaguing the land, hunting demons threatening the people, guarding borders between humans and demons, and more.
The Monastery doesn't wish for the Kingdom's influence to extend too far, maintaining the status quo suffices.
That's why Herbert was directly placed as a Prison Warden of Alien Race prisoners after becoming a Paladin.
This position, though seemingly substantial, was responsible for guarding important Alien Race captives, with little contact with other cultivators, making it hard to form bonds.
Apparent promotion, in truth a demotion, seemingly glorious but devoid of real power, effectively curbing some occurrences.
However, no one in the Monastery's higher ranks imagined that this position actually fit Herbert's intentions perfectly.
Being surrounded by Alien Race maidens, he was simply overjoyed.
"But he's no longer an outsider now."
The Thorn Bishop snorted lightly and said in a low voice, "When he swore his vow before the divine and received blessings, he became a member of the Monastery."
The Rusted Nail Bishop silently stared at him with dead fish eyes after the Thorn Bishop finished speaking. After a long time, he slowly spoke:
"...You previously agreed with my approach, so don't act as if I'm deliberately targeting him."
"Hmph! I don't care about that."
The Thorn Bishop's expression didn't change, he waved his big hand, shook his shiny bald head, and said in a deep voice: "Now, you've tested, is there any problem left?"
The Rusted Nail Bishop didn't reply, merely squinting his eyes as he stared at his stubborn colleague.
After a long time, he sighed somewhat helplessly and said:
"His mind is exceptionally resilient, barely affected by me. Besides the Purity Protection, he should have a soul-protecting magical artifact of at least Legendary grade."
Hmm?
The Thorn Bishop's expression subtly changed, frowning as he asked, "So everything he just said was a lie?"
Could it all be a disguise instead?
Was I deceived by him?
It shouldn't be!
How could I, after being the Chief Judge for so many years, not distinguish truth from lies?
"No, you weren't deceived, everything he spoke were deeply repressed truths from his heart."
"And that was just a part; there's much more that hasn't been triggered."
The Rusted Nail Bishop recollected that sense of resentment and anger he felt and also sighed in a rather sentimental way:
"As a wronged young man, he urgently needs a battle to prove himself and maintain his spirit with the honor of victory..."
He paused for a moment here, shook his head, and said: "His subconscious even hopes to make an honorable sacrifice to clear his false charge."
Upon these words, both Cardinals fell into silence.
Sacrifice.
To prove one's resolve through death.
Everyone fears death; not every Paladin possesses the conviction to sacrifice.
No need for further explanation; they could sense the psychological pressure Herbert endured.
Regarding the incident back then, despite showing nothing on the surface, he never forgot, keeping it buried deep inside.
"Have you investigated who is persecuting him?"
"I did, but I won't tell you; this isn't something we should meddle in."
"...Heh, I understand now." The Thorn Bishop snorted coldly, scornfully twitching his mouth, "Seems to be a figure ranking high in the Kingdom."
The Rusted Nail Bishop shook his head, ceased explaining, and said instead: "We can now confirm that Herbert is indeed innocent, not an ensorcelled individual, and can be trusted."
"As the Archbishop said, he indeed is an excellent candidate. I plan to induct him during the next Knight Order expansion."
"Indeed, he's an excellent... Hm?"
The Thorn Bishop was stunned for a moment, then burst into rage, pointing at his unscrupulous colleague in anger: "You're trying to snatch him!? Absolutely not! Don't forget, he's part of my Judgement Hall!"
Damn old thing, what are you trying to do!!?
"Heh."
The Rusted Nail Bishop sneered, ignoring the Thorn Bishop's fury, and turned to leave without looking back.
As he walked, he murmured in a ghostly tone:
"It's you who should absolutely not forget."
"Herbert is a Paladin after all."
"You, a Disciplinary Monk, cannot teach him... Heh!"