Walker Of The Worlds

2787  Stench Of Rotten Currents

A lingering silence settled in the room, broken only by Lin Muʼs measured breathing. The ruthless glint in his eyes receded as he turned his attention to the office. His gaze swept across the chamber, searching for anything of value.

He knew time was of the essence, but information was just as valuable as any weapon he wielded. If he could unravel the deeper secrets hidden within these walls, he would have more than just brute force on his side.

A drawer, locked but hastily secured, caught his interest. With a flick of his fingers, he forced it open, revealing a stack of official documents.

”Documents of the investigation?” he murmured, scanning the contents.

A cruel smirk curled his lips.

ʼI didnʼt expect to find this so easily.ʼ

The documents detailed the disappearances, and to Lin Muʼs interest, Inquisitor Bernard had been involved—though not directly. He was merely kept in the loop, with another inquisitor handling the primary aspects of the case. Still, the fact that Bernard had these documents in his possession meant he had been keeping a close watch on the case, perhaps more than he had been allowed to.

Lin Muʼs brows furrowed as he flipped through the pages.

There were indeed traces of ʼhereticsʼ involved, though their identities remained unknown. At least, that was the official stance. Yet, when he examined another document, suspicion took root deep within him.

”They ordered the inquisitors to halt their investigation?” Lin Muʼs voice was a sharp whisper, his fingers tightening around the parchment.

That made no sense.

Even Bernard had questioned it. There were further correspondences between the inquisitor involved and some high-ranking clergy members of the church. Lin Muʼs gaze darkened as he read through them. The orders had come from above.

”Who sent these?”

He flipped to the signatures at the bottom of the letters. Several names stood out.

”Archbishop Andros, Archbishop Kane… and Cardinal Cavendish.”

Lin Muʼs expression hardened. These were not mere bureaucrats. These were some of the highest authorities in the church, men who wielded power almost on par with the ruler of a kingdom. The two archbishops were among the four that governed the city, ranking far above the bishop Lin Mu had encountered earlier.

But the cardinal…

Cardinal Cavendish was on an entirely different level. One of only two in the city, he was a man who stood just beneath the Grand Inquisitor and the Pope himself. If the Pope was the sovereign ruler, the cardinals were his left and right hands.

”Why would they stop the investigation?” Lin Mu muttered, his mind churning through possibilities.

Even Bernard had asked that question multiple times, but the archbishops had evaded answering. The only response that had come with authority was from the cardinal himself. And that was enough to make Bernard—and every other inquisitor—fall in line.

Lin Mu could smell the rot in this from a mile away.

ʼThey know something the inquisitors donʼt… and they donʼt want it getting out.ʼ

His expression darkened further. Secrets of this scale never led to anything good.

He scoured the office for more clues, methodically checking the desk, the shelves, the locked cabinets—anything that could hold more pieces to this puzzle. But aside from the documents he already had, there was nothing.

Lin Mu pulled out the inquisitorʼs spatial storage, his fingers making quick work of the rudimentary restrictions placed on it. The formations securing it were far beneath his level, trivial to bypass.

His instincts proved correct.

Within, he found another set of correspondences, but these were addressed to someone else.

”Head Inquisitor Carlisle.”

Lin Muʼs eyes narrowed. That was a name he hadnʼt come across before. Unlike the clergy, the identities of high-ranking inquisitors were not openly known. It made sense. The less people knew about those who operated in the shadows, the easier it was to maintain control.

He scanned the letters quickly.

Bernard had been running a two-way investigation. He had found the cardinalʼs interference suspicious and had reached out to his superior, Head Inquisitor Carlisle. To Lin Muʼs interest, it turned out that Carlisle had already been investigating the recent actions of the church. He had also found inconsistencies in their decisions and was trying to uncover the truth.

Carlisle had advised Bernard to comply with the cardinalʼs orders for now, stating that he would handle the matter personally.

ʼSo this has already reached the Grand Inquisitor too…ʼ

No name was mentioned, only the title, but that was enough.

This was no small conspiracy.

Lin Muʼs mind moved quickly, piecing together the implications. If the inquisitors themselves were questioning the churchʼs orders, then whatever was being hidden had to be significant.

ʼThis delay in our departure… it wasnʼt just bureaucratic stalling. They never intended to let us leave in the first place.ʼ

His jaw tightened.

If he hadnʼt taken the initiative to investigate, he and his people would have been trapped—caught in a web they hadnʼt even realized was tightening around them.

Lin Mu didnʼt dismiss it this time. For once, they were in agreement.

”I suppose I should.”

The presence within him chuckled approvingly.

”But tell me, will you simply flee now that you have a way out? Or will you remind them why they should have never interfered with you in the first place?”

Lin Muʼs fingers curled into fists.

”That remains to be seen.”

But even as he said it, the choice had already been made in his heart.

He had never been the type to let injustice pass unanswered. He had endured much in the past, let certain things go for the sake of keeping the peace. But this…

This was different.

They had not simply been rude. They had not simply obstructed him.

They had schemed against him. They had conspired to trap him and those who followed him under false charges. And if that were true, there was only one thing he could do.

ʼI will burn this place to the ground before I let them threaten my people.ʼ