Do ratmen dream of the sacred tree of spirits?

Chapter 92 Meeting

Fafnir told a little white lie. Knowing Miss Joël as he did, he knew she would definitely go to Tyrell or even Bishop Leyton to argue with him, and Fafnir didn't want her to get involved.

"Oh, right," Fafnir suddenly remembered, "Miss Joelle, excuse me, could you attend the class with Martha and Allen from 3 to 5 this afternoon? I'll talk to them. I apologize, I have some other business to attend to—"

At three o'clock in the afternoon, Fafnir hurriedly left the school gate and flagged down a horse-drawn carriage. "Please go to the city police station, please hurry."

The carriage traveled through several blocks before finally stopping in front of the police station, a three-story gray-white stone building with exquisite carvings on its exterior. Above the main entrance was the raven feather emblem of the Church of the God of Death, and two uniformed guards stood at the gate.

Fafnir stepped forward and showed his priesthood certificate:

-

"Hello, I wish to see Bishop Demery."

The guard glanced at his identification, then at the silver raven feather on his chest: "Priest, please wait a moment, I need to go and report."

Kingsley DeMoury was reviewing documents at the Sheriff's Office. As a top-tier Enlightened One, he would only personally go to the crime scene or investigate a case in very urgent situations. Most of the time, he was reviewing documents or attending meetings with the Council and the Joint Inquisition. He would also attend banquets hosted by prominent figures and sometimes go to other units for exchanges.

"Knock—knock," there was a knock on the door of the chief sheriff's office. "Come in."

"Reporting, Lord Demery, there is a fourth-level priest named Fafnir Beckett at the gate who wishes to see you."

""

"Fafner? Quickly, bring him up."

This was Fafnir's first visit to the Lorraine Regional Police Department. He wanted to meet with the department's chief sheriff, Mr. Kingsley DeMerry.

After being informed and waiting briefly, Fafnir was led inside by the guards at the gate of the police station and arrived at the chief's office on the third floor.

The door was open, and Kingsley, sitting behind his desk, smiled when he saw Fafnir come in and gestured to the chair opposite him.

"Sit down, little one, haha, what brings you here?"

Fafnir went in and closed the door behind him. He bowed to Kingsley and sat down in the chair, only occupying half of the seat, his back very straight.

"Lord Demery, I apologize for disturbing you, but I have something to discuss with you."

"Little one, don't be shy, just say what you want. We've known each other for years. Bishop Victor asked me to take care of you before he left."

Fafnir took a deep breath and recounted Tyrell Gideon's affair from beginning to end: the renovation contract, the inflated purchase price, the lighting equipment, the tables and chairs at one silver shield and fifty copper coins per set, the total price of two hundred and sixty gold pounds, and Tyrell's statement that "the Bishop of Leiden has no objection." Fafnir's presentation was clear and his data and logic were precise and accurate.

"So, little one, what do you want me to do?"

Fafnir hesitated for a moment: "Lord Demery, I don't know who to turn to."

I just wanted you to know these things. Tyrell is the Bishop of Leiden's man, and I seem to have no way to deal with him. Besides, I can't sign that contract; signing it would not only be a violation of the Commandments.

Kingsley was silent for a moment. "Young man," Kingsley said slowly, "do you know how many personnel changes Bishop Leighton has made in the less than a month since he arrived in Lorraine?"

Fafnir shook his head.

Kingsley counted on his fingers: "The Security Committee has eleven members, and he replaced four of them. The Finance Committee has eight members, and he replaced three of them. They were all his people."

On the police front, the head of the East District Police Station has been replaced by an old man who previously served under Bishop Leiden, while the head of the West District Police Station has been transferred to the archives. The new head is someone who has given Bishop Leiden many gifts. Ha.

"My deputy," Kingsley continued, "has voluntarily applied for a transfer to a sinecure in the Eastern Region this month. The new one is Bishop Leiden's subordinate in the Eastern Region."

"Little guy, I'm not afraid you'll laugh at me, but do you know how much money I gave Bishop Leighton?" Kingsley gave a wry smile.

Fafnir remained silent, listening attentively to Bishop Kingsley's narration.

"Twenty gold pounds. It's not that I want to give it, but I have to. If I don't, I might not be the head of the police department tomorrow."

19

The office was quiet for a while, with only occasional sounds coming from the street outside the window.

“Young man, it’s not that I don’t want to help you,” Kingsley looked at him, “I’m sorry—it’s that I can’t help you. The fact that I’m sitting here, reviewing documents, and occasionally attending council meetings is already a favor from Bishop Leiden. If I were to go and tell him now that the people you sent are corrupt, guess what he’d do to me?”

Fafnir lowered his head. "Before Victor left, he asked me to look after you," Kingsley's voice lowered. "All I can do is make sure nothing happens to you, but I can't go against Bishop Leighton. I have a family to support, and hundreds of people in the Sheriff's Department depend on this salary."

Fafnir looked up: "Lord Demery, I didn't ask you to go against Bishop Leiden. I just—I didn't know who to talk to."

Kingsley looked at him for a moment, then sighed, "Little one, listen to me for a moment."

"Please speak."

"First, you were right not to sign that contract. If you had, it would have been a handle against you, and if something went wrong in the future, Tyrell could have pinned all the blame on you."

Second, don't confront Tyrell head-on. Whatever he asks you to do, just agree verbally and stall. If the project needs to start, let him start; the money comes from Bishop Leiden's appropriation anyway. As for whether certain situations will affect the quality of teaching—you'll have to figure that out yourself.

"And another thing," Kingsley leaned back in his chair, "keep that grammar school diploma you have safe. It's something that Bishop Andre and Bishop Victor left you. It'll definitely be useful in the future. Look to the future, kid. You have a long road ahead. In three years, Bishop Leighton will be transferred, and you'll be able to get away from him. Maybe you can even go to university."

Fafnir was silent for a moment, then stood up: "Lord Demery, thank you."

"What are you thanking me for?" Kingsley waved his hand. "I didn't help you at all."

"The fact that you're willing to see me and tell me all this is already helping me."

Kingsley looked at him, his lips twitching slightly, but he didn't laugh. "Little guy, you're more sensible than I thought."

Fafnir bowed slightly and turned to walk towards the door.

Fafnir went downstairs and walked out of the police station. The sunlight outside was a bit dazzling, so he squinted and stood on the steps for a while.

Twenty gold pounds, he silently counted the number in his mind. At his current salary, it would take him ten years to earn that much money.