第１８６７堀：晩酌とこれからの話 (Part2)
The more witnesses there are, the more a scandal becomes an undeniable truth. If the number is too small, it’s all too easy to sweep under the rug. For the Kingdom of Giadana, a cover-up would be meaningless; the very fact that there are individuals with no prior connection to the incident serves as proof of its legitimacy.
Still...
"I understand the situation, but will this really be enough to halt the influence of the Clearstream Church?"
Scandals come in all shapes and sizes. While the Kingdom of Giadana has clearly unearthed something substantial, I find myself questioning whether it’s enough to force the Church to cease its operations.
*“It would be difficult to dismantle the Clearstream Church in its entirety, but we can certainly guarantee that their machinations within the Kingdom of Giadana will be paralyzed for at least a year.”*
*“Indeed. It carries enough weight to ensure that much.”*
"So, we’re buying ourselves a year."
*“Exactly. With that much time, we can manage our dealings with Weed. Baron Siana and the others will be able to live in safety once they reach Weed.”*
*“And for the Clearstream Church members already operating there, this will provide the ultimate justification for them to halt their activities.”*
"I see. So, the individuals the Church has deployed under the guise of an 'Ohe suppression force' can be legally apprehended as well?"
If that’s the case, we can move against the Clearstream Church without hesitation. It would give us the window we need to conduct a thorough investigation.
*“Correct. The Church will undoubtedly send high-ranking figures to Ohe, so the more information we can glean from them, the better. I’ll leave that to you. In the meantime, we intend to carry out an internal investigation of the Clearstream Church’s facilities within the Kingdom of Giadana.”*
*“That is the plan. We will physically seize the Church’s assets within the Kingdom. Once that happens, their momentum in Giadana will be brought to a dead stop for at least a year.”*
"Is the scandal truly that grave?"
To be able to raid the Clearstream Church and suppress them with military force—that implies something truly monstrous. What on earth did they do? My curiosity was piqued, though...
*“Hmm. Well, I suppose there’s no harm in telling you?”*
*“Indeed, though it is hardly a pleasant topic. We are enjoying our evening drinks, after all.”*
*“Ah, you’re right. Yuki-dono, would you mind? It’s the sort of tale that turns good wine bitter. We could discuss it another day if you prefer.”*
Their hesitation told me everything I needed to know. If it was a scandal so vile it could justify a raid on any church, I could guess the nature of it.
"No, I think I understand. Did they capture demi-humans and subject them to torture?"
*“...”*
*“...”*
At my words, both of them froze. I’d hit the mark.
"We’ve had our own share of such cases, unfortunately."
As I spoke, they both twisted their faces in disgust.
*“Is there nowhere that remains untainted?”*
"Wherever people gather, factions form and conflict ensues. Though, in this case, they’ve clearly crossed the line."
*“That is true. I agree. That is precisely why we intend to strike. However, poking at one part often causes the rest to scurry into the shadows, so we plan to coordinate our movements as closely as possible.”*
"I see. And by exposing the rescued victims to the public eye, you’ll appeal to the necessity of your actions."
Well, without that, there would be no way to move against the Clearstream Church, which still enjoys the support of the masses. But...
"I understand the plan, but what about Archbishop Dodona of the Clearstream Church?"
*“He knows nothing. Since his influence began to wane, he has dedicated himself entirely to the care of children and the maintenance of the church.”*
*“Precisely. Furthermore, if he were to learn that his own disciples were committing such atrocities, it would be a cruel reality to force upon him. He might well try to dismantle the entire organization single-handedly.”*
When they put it that way, it made sense. Archbishop Dodona trusts Petra and the leaders who support him. If he were told the truth, he would either fall into chaos or, worse, charge in alone. Strength is a quality that demands caution in its own right.
*“Anyway, we shall provide you with the details at a later date. We will need your cooperation in witnessing the events.”*
"Understood. I will relay the message through Ena."
With that settled, we returned to our evening drinks. Now, I have to figure out how to break this to Viria and the others. Victims will continue to mount while we wait, and as Ohe, we can’t just turn a blind eye to this.
A truly sickening discovery. It’s a common enough occurrence, but the sheer difficulty of exposing such things is a headache. Dealing with forces like these is always a struggle—it’s like playing a game of Whac-A-Mole, and without proper preparation, there’s simply nothing to be done.