The roar of a red mercury power engine echoed under the gloomy sky as a massive iron chariot drove down the long street. Wherever it passed, pedestrians scrambled out of the way, their eyes filled with curiosity and dread.
It was the new “steed” of the Bureau of Heresy Inquisition. Embossed on both sides of its dark grey hull were three wings, each bearing an open eye.
Directly on the front of the vehicle, right where the wings joined at the center, was embedded an even larger eye.
Representing the All-Seeing Eye of the Lord's wisdom, it was also the latest technological breakthrough from the Logos Foundry—a giant headlight capable of illuminating the road ahead at night.
The moment the massive chariot came to a complete stop, several execution knights wearing military uniforms disembarked in rapid succession.
Now, the new military uniforms designed with the participation of His Holiness the Pope had taken the entire Holy State by storm. Young girls everywhere longed to wear these handsome uniforms and offer their loyalty to the Holy State.
Facing these tall, imposing execution knights, the girls hiding behind a trash bin cowered in terror, silently praying they were merely passing through.
“Fiona, look what I found!”
The voice of one of the officers rang out along the street, followed by footsteps approaching closer and closer.
The girls' hearts leapt into their throats at once. They prayed incessantly to the great Lord, begging that the Inquisition's execution knights wouldn't discover them.
Yet the great Lord was destined not to hear their prayers, for the Inquisition's mission came from another great existence.
Yes, His Holiness the great Pope.
“Don't... don't come any closer!”
Watching the figures draw near, the girls curled up together in sheer horror.
Most of them wore thin, ragged clothing, with only one of them draped in a blanket that was hardly thick.
Right now, everyone was screaming in fear except for the girl wrapped in the blanket, who watched the scene unfold in cold, quiet silence.
“Fiona, there's another one over there.”
Noticing her presence, one of the execution knights called out.
“Bring her back,” Fiona replied with a brief, indifferent glance.
Soon, every single one of them—including the girl with the blanket—was gagged and securely bound.
A few bold onlookers stayed behind, watching wide-eyed as the knights herded the street children into the strange vehicle.
“Why is the Bureau of Heresy Inquisition capturing those children?” someone whispered.
Another person said in confusion, “They're just kids! Won't these people even spare children?”
But no matter what, on this day, the sky over the holy capital turned pitch black.
Flora's blanket had been snatched away by those people, but fortunately, the interior of this strange carriage was not cold. For now, she didn't have to worry about freezing to death.
But what about the other concern?
Why did the people from the Bureau of Heresy Inquisition capture street urchins like them?
Slightly better off than the ignorant younger children, Flora recognized the emblem of the Bureau of Heresy Inquisition. She had heard about it from her mother, who was once a knight:
The six wings represented the Seraphim who attended at God's side, while the eyes on the wings represented the Cherubim guarding Heaven.
Driving their dark grey chariots, the officers of the Bureau of Heresy Inquisition caused all onlookers to yield. They were among those best equipped to deal with devils, naturally tainted with the aura of heresy themselves.
Flora's mother had described those who wore military uniforms as terrifying entities who would sometimes sever the heads of heretics without hesitation, and at other times torment their bodies and souls at whim.
Thinking of those stories, she couldn't help but tremble—not out of fear, but out of rage.
“What's wrong? Are you cold?” Fiona asked upon noticing her constant shivering.
Flora didn't reply, nor did she even look at her. She merely huddled her thin, small body further into the corner.
After a brief thought, Fiona took off her black military jacket and draped it over the girl's shoulders.
“Don't be afraid. We won't harm you; we're just taking you to a place,” she said.
Flora froze for a second. She lifted her eyes to glance at the woman, and seeing that she didn't seem to be lying, quietly lowered her head again.
Whether it was true or not wasn't as important to the girl as Fiona imagined. Flora knew full well she had no power to resist; her fate seemed already set in motion.
Until the vehicle slowly came to a halt in front of a newly built convent.
Word that the Bureau of Heresy Inquisition was rounding up children all over the streets spread like wildfire. Even Lu Li, who had spent the last few days busy acting as a mascot for the Secretariat, caught wind of the rumors.
“I asked you to rescue those poor children, not eliminate them all!”
Lu Li looked at Julia, whose expression remained entirely unchanged in front of him, feeling genuinely exasperated.
The rumors outside were running wild, with people saying all sorts of things. The most absurd claim was that the Bureau of Heresy Inquisition was eating children.
Good heavens! Eating children!
He originally didn't believe Julia was that kind of person, but several eyewitnesses in a row confirmed that the street children were indeed taken away by people from the Bureau of Heresy Inquisition, forcing him to believe it whether he wanted to or not.
“Your Holiness, you misunderstand,” Julia said.
“Misunderstand what?” Lu Li clutched his aching head and asked through gritted teeth. “Does the Bureau of Heresy Inquisition actually eat children?!”
Julia shook her head and explained, “Those children run the moment they see our people. They didn't believe anything we said, and none of our previous methods worked.”
“So you went ahead and executed them like heretics?!” Lu Li's voice rose instinctively.
“No.” Julia paused briefly, then continued, “It is simply that the Bureau of Heresy Inquisition is more professional at capturing people. No matter where those children hide, they can find them.”
Lu Li: “...?”
Good grief, is that what the Bureau of Heresy Inquisition is for?!
He strongly suspected Julia was doing this on purpose—it was practically a masterstroke of cunning manipulation!
“And do you know that right now everyone is saying the sky over the holy capital has turned black?” he asked.
Julia nodded, and the words she uttered next only solidified his suspicion.
“Your Holiness's holy portrait is nearly finished. Soon, the Cross Guards will post it everywhere and provide an explanation for what happened. At that time, the radiance of the Holy See will illuminate every corner of the Holy State.”
“Furthermore, the currency reform has been placed on the agenda. The Secretariat hopes to use Your Holiness's image on the paper currency about to be issued...”
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