Chapter 232: Lamia’s Cell

Archbishop Kulik fell into thought for quite a while after hearing him out, then let out a long breath and said: “Listening to this, it really does feel a little like an arrangement of fate. I’ll tell you the truth. In Saint Rosalia Prison, the person in charge of Lamia’s Living Area is actually me.”

“Really?” Leon put on a pleasantly surprised expression.

He had learned about Archbishop Kulik’s circumstances from Weiss beforehand before writing to him. If some other bishop had been responsible for Lamia’s cell, he would have had to find a way to approach that other bishop instead.

But when contacting Archbishop Kulik, he could only pretend that the other party was the only person he could ask for help, and that he merely wanted to ask him whether there was any avenue available.

“To tell you the truth, we actually made private contact with Lamia before for the sake of study and research. Weiss did as well……” Archbishop Kulik smiled somewhat awkwardly.

After talking all the way here, he had genuinely come to regard Leon as a supporter of the Rose School. Although Leon was only an Intermediate Inquisitor, he had already made something of a name for himself in academic circles.

“Then I wonder whether you could…… grant me this convenience?” Leon asked tentatively.

“I can understand you. With this sort of heretical book, even trying to interpret it would invite criticism, even if you were doing so for an investigation. This is the right thing to do. I’m willing to help you.” Archbishop Kulik said.

“Thank you so much!” Leon hurriedly thanked him.

“But I think you’d better not get your hopes up too much. Although Lamia can converse normally, she isn’t particularly inclined to cooperate when facing people from the Church. There is a person in charge from the Tribunal who visits her regularly, and every single time, he has to spend a great deal of effort negotiating before he can obtain any intelligence from her. You should be prepared to return empty-handed.” Archbishop Kulik said.

“I understand. It’s common for investigations to hit a dead end. I’m only thinking that I should at least give it a try.” Leon said.

“However, I have a question. I know that during Tribunal investigations, personnel outside the investigation team are required to stay away to prevent intelligence leaks, so are you planning for me to arrange for you to meet her alone?” Archbishop Kulik asked.

“The information concerning the case is indeed somewhat sensitive, and this can’t exactly be considered a formal investigation either. If possible…… Of course, I also know you certainly can’t be completely at ease, so I’d already be very grateful if you were willing to give me this opportunity. I wouldn’t dare make any other demands.” Leon smiled awkwardly.

Meeting Lamia alone was, after all, still a rather sensitive request, so he could not push too hard.

If Archbishop Kulik absolutely had to supervise the conversation from the side, that was not impossible either. It would still be better than being unable to meet her at all.

It was just that bribery might be obstructed, and he would also have to choose his questions carefully.

Archbishop Kulik thought seriously for a moment before slowly saying: “If it’s only five minutes.”

“That’s really possible?” Leon froze for a moment.

Although Weiss had said that Archbishop Kulik should be relatively easy to talk to, Leon had thought that Weiss had probably formed that impression because she belonged to the same school and was essentially his student. For a local Inquisitor like him to come asking for rules to be bent for an investigation, he might not necessarily receive the same treatment.

He had originally planned to leave the request for a private meeting entirely to chance, yet Archbishop Kulik had actually considered it briefly before agreeing.

“If you’re willing to lend me this heretical book for a while. I know it’s evidence, so I won’t take it away. I merely want to make a copy of it for research.” Archbishop Kulik stated his condition.

“Of course that’s no problem. If you’re willing to research an important piece of evidence, I couldn’t ask for more!” Leon immediately replied.

“There’s one more thing…… Let me make this clear first. This isn’t a demand. I merely hope you’ll consider it.” Archbishop Kulik looked at Leon and said, “Inquisitor Set, you uncovered an important lead this time. If the investigation makes progress, will you have a chance to earn enough merit for a rank advancement?”

“That, I’m afraid, isn’t something I can decide.” Leon answered cautiously.

After reintegrating the Earl’s territory, he had indeed planned to sort through some difficult-to-handle assets, such as the underworld assets belonging to Mr. Turtledove, whom he and Johnny had eliminated, then report some leads to the Church in order to earn merit for himself.

In fact, the smuggling ship in the story he had told Archbishop Kulik this time was planned to be presented as having originated from Mr. Turtledove’s territory.

“Once you advance to Second-Tier Intermediate Inquisitor, you should have another opportunity for reassignment.” Archbishop Kulik looked at Leon and said, “Would you like to try transferring to Saint Rosalia Research Institute?”

Leon blinked in surprise. Weiss had also once invited him to transfer to Saint Rosalia Research Institute.

He thought for a moment before asking tentatively: “Are you hoping I’ll join your school?”

Now that the Rose School had suffered such a heavy blow, yet Archbishop Kulik still persisted within the school, he would naturally hope to recruit some younger Church personnel to inherit and develop its philosophy, allowing the school to continue.

“I won’t insist on that. I’m already very grateful that you’re willing to be a supporter. I simply feel that you…… that you’re rather well suited to the positions here. Saint Rosalia is both a prison and a research institute. There are positions available on both the Tribunal and research sides. You’re an Inquisitor from a Tribunal institution, while also possessing academic aptitude. I genuinely think you’re suited to developing your career with us.” Archbishop Kulik persuaded him.

“Well, to tell you the truth, I recently married Viscount Arend’s daughter and inherited a noble title attached to an island in the east……” Leon said.

“Is that so? Then congratulations!” Archbishop Kulik smiled in surprise, “It seems I should actually be addressing you as Your Excellency Viscount Arend now.”

“It’s merely an insignificant little island. Please don’t tease me.” Leon smiled awkwardly, “What I mean is, although I’m also interested in your invitation, the distance is simply too great……”

At this point, he no longer needed to remain fixated on the position of Director of the Hamel Inquisition. It was time to consider transferring to a more convenient post.

Working at Saint Rosalia Prison would indeed offer certain conveniences, but it would make it very difficult for him to keep an eye on Arend Island. After all, that was now his base of operations.

“You don’t need to worry about that. We actually have departments in every archdiocese, including the Southeastern Archdiocese, responsible for prisoner transfers and investigation procedures in the various regions. You can still give it serious consideration. If you’re interested, I can recommend you for a position.” Archbishop Kulik smiled.

“How could I have the nerve to refuse when you’re giving me an opportunity like this? Of course, assuming I have a chance to be reassigned.” Leon replied with a smile.

If he could transfer to work in the Southeastern Archdiocese, it really would be a good choice. Archbishop Kulik seemed to think quite highly of him and had taken the initiative to provide him with an avenue.

“You’re young and accomplished. You’ll definitely have the opportunity.” Archbishop Kulik said.

By the time their conversation reached this point, the carriage had already been descending along the mountain road for some time, gradually sinking beneath the ravine. The shadow of the mountain walls enveloped the carriage.

“We’re almost there. You can take a look ahead.” Archbishop Kulik smiled meaningfully.

Hearing this, Leon tried leaning his head slightly out of the carriage window to look ahead. He saw the road through the ravine extending forward, ending in a neatly formed circular valley. The surrounding mountain walls were uniformly vertical, their surfaces appearing exceptionally smooth, like man-made high walls. Yet with the technology of this world, constructing walls of such a scale, over a hundred meters tall, was clearly impossible.

And enclosed by those mountain-wall ramparts, a magnificent complex of buildings was surrounded by genuine man-made high walls. It was an isolated island built on land, with only this ravine road leading to it. In terms of being easy to defend and difficult to attack, there were probably few cities in the world that could compare with this prison.

“This is…… Saint Rosalia Prison?” Leon was slightly surprised.

The prison’s architectural conditions and the remodeled terrain surrounding it had already completely surpassed the construction technology that should have existed in this era, not to mention that the prison itself had a history of at least five hundred years.

“It is a miraculous city built by Saint Rosalia and countless predecessors using power bestowed by the gods. Of course, it was also expanded generation after generation before reaching its present scale. I’ve actually already completed the procedures for you. I’ll directly arrange for you to go to the area where Great Witch Lamia is kept. Her cell is independent from the others here.” Archbishop Kulik said.

Just as Archbishop Kulik had said, after the knight driving the carriage presented the appropriate token, the carriage smoothly passed through layer after layer of checkpoints and entered the interior of the prison’s high walls.

The architectural complex inside did not have the stern and oppressive style Leon had imagined. Instead, it looked like many municipal halls connected together. He saw no area that resembled a prison. Instead, he saw churches, monasteries, tall towers, and covered bridges. It looked very much like an archdiocese.

“The actual prison only occupies one-third of this place. This is primarily still a Church research institution.” Archbishop Kulik explained, “We’re here now. Change into this uniform.”

The carriage stopped. Leon got out with Archbishop Kulik and passed through a checkpoint guarded by knights. Leon underwent a simple body search here, removed his weapons and left them behind for safekeeping, then followed Archbishop Kulik through an entrance leading underground. Their surroundings abruptly darkened, with only streaks of firelight along the walls illuminating the way.

There were also several heavy iron doors within the underground tunnel. Each time they passed through one, different authorization tokens had to be presented to the knights standing guard. Leon followed Archbishop Kulik through the final door.

Ahead of them suddenly appeared a long, pristine white corridor. At its end stood an exquisitely carved door of the sort commonly seen in luxurious mansions.

Leon frowned slightly upon seeing it. From this point onward…… the style seemed a little different.

“Lamia’s living quarters are just ahead. From this moment on, you’re not a visitor here. You’re an attendant I brought with me. Understood?” Archbishop Kulik said.

“Yes, my lord.” Leon immediately slipped into the role. This was the whole point of having someone bend the rules for him.

“Good, let’s go.” Archbishop Kulik led Leon toward the door, then took out a key and unlocked it.

After the door was pushed open, Leon saw a brightly lit palace hall. The marble floor bore colorful patterns, while all manner of artworks decorated the corners of the hall. Several people dressed as maids moved back and forth, and when they saw Archbishop Kulik enter, they respectfully greeted him.

Leon somewhat wanted to ask a question, but considering his current identity, he restrained himself.

This was the…… cell where Great Witch Lamia lived?

“The room is inside.” Archbishop Kulik led Leon into a room farther within.

As soon as Leon entered, he discovered that the room had been divided by a quartz barrier. On the other side was a bed surrounded by gauze curtains, and someone seemed to be lying face-down on it.

“She appears to still be asleep…… For certain reasons, she spends most of her time sleeping.” Archbishop Kulik quietly explained, “Wait a moment. Waking her requires a particular method. Just stand where you are and don’t do anything unnecessary.”

However, just as he finished speaking, Leon saw that figure move slightly.