In the name of the true god

As Jude walked from Connor's office back to his apartment on Hearthstone Street, he felt unusually light on his feet, and most of the pent-up frustration in his heart dissipated.

Indeed, the situation is urgent.

The fate of the forty-two implicated wizards and resonance sorcerers imprisoned in the capital's heavy prison is about to be decided, but those who intend to rescue them are almost at a loss.

But Jude felt relieved.

He and the most important family member he met after arriving in this other world are no longer adversaries. They can trust each other and are moving towards a common goal together.

What could be more fortunate than when the vast majority of people despise, scorn, and hate you, yet your loved ones set aside all prejudice and stand firmly by your side in the fight?

He felt that it was over.

Regardless of whether he can ultimately rescue his fellow prisoners, having done his best and gained a deeper sense of kinship, Jude can face the situation with equanimity and more confidence, calmly looking towards the future.

The tug-of-war between the "heretics" and the Holy Church has lasted for more than four hundred years.

Temporary gains or losses mean nothing; the one who laughs last laughs best!

"Sizzle—"

"Bang!"

The car stopped downstairs at the Hearthstone Street apartment building.

Just as Jude turned off the engine and got out of the car, closing the door behind him, he saw a familiar face standing at the apartment entrance.

"Mr. Vieira." The other person raised their hand to greet him, clearly coming for him.

"Detective Stefan Nolan?" Jude was inwardly surprised and wary, but outwardly maintained a smile as he stepped forward and shook hands with him. "What brings you here? Investigating a case?"

"Don't call me a detective anymore," Stefan Nolan said with a wry smile, wearing a dark brown trench coat and a matching fedora. "The crime-solving rate has been so low lately that the police department couldn't take it anymore and fired me."

"Ah..." Jude opened his mouth slightly, feigning surprise.

A week ago, in order to investigate the fat wizard's true identity, he went to the police station in the northern dock area of ​​the capital to meet Stefan Nolan.

He remembers it fairly clearly.

At the time, Stefan Nolan had just been severely reprimanded by the sheriff.

The sheriff threatened to fire him to force him to be more flexible and improve the crime-solving rate to above average. Stefan Nolan, however, preferred to pay out of pocket for the victims rather than comply with arbitrary case closures.

With a personality like that, it's quite remarkable that he's managed to stay in the police force this long.

Being fired was something I expected.

"So, what are you planning to do...?"

"Although my case-closing rate at the police station isn't great, my reputation is pretty good, so I'm planning to work as a private investigator and keep living my life as a private investigator." Stefan Nolan pulled a brand-new business card from his pocket. "Want to collaborate?"

"A collaboration?" Jude took the business card and glanced at it.

"I might come to you often to inquire about prisoners. Of course, the information won't be free; I'll share some of the reward with you," Stefan Nolan said. "Also, if you need anything in this area in the future, you can contact me, and I'll give you a 20% discount."

"Hehe..." Jude chuckled.

With his own contact law enforcement presence, he shouldn't need a private investigator to help him.

However, keeping this connection isn't necessarily a bad thing.

He slipped the business card into his wallet and politely replied, "Okay, best of luck."

"Thank you, and I wish you all the best." Stefan Nolan took off his hat, bowed to Jude in thanks, and said, "I'll be going now."

Take care.

Watching Stefan Nolan leave, Jude walked into the apartment and slowly climbed the steps.

Private investigator...

After I leave prison, should I become a detective?

Wouldn't it be much more efficient to follow up on clues using the law of contact?

Or they could work in fortune-telling or divination, a kind of mystical profession, and make money just by sitting down.

Ok……

No.

Based on my memory, there are no professions like fortune tellers or diviners in this other world.

Perhaps it existed hundreds of years ago.

But ever since the Holy Church began its persecution of "heresies," any profession associated with mystery, metaphysics, or supernatural abilities has become taboo.

If your calculations are inaccurate and your divinations are full of mistakes, no one will support you.

If the calculation is accurate and the divination is flawless, then the priest will have to come and check the water clock the next day.

Let's focus on the present...

Putting aside his chaotic thoughts, Jude knocked on his own door.

A few seconds later, Allen opened the door, let Jude in, and then cautiously glanced outside a few more times to make sure no one was following him before closing the door: "Who was that you talking to downstairs just now?"

"A friend of mine used to work at the police station." Jude hung his coat on the hanger and looked at Chairman Frost sitting on the sofa. "He's been fired now and is planning to make a living as a private investigator, so he wants to work with me."

"Cooperation? Cooperate on what?" Allen followed behind, asking.

"They're simply after the large number of prisoners in the jail, which is considered an important source of intelligence by detectives?" Jude shrugged, changed into slippers, and sat down next to Chairman Frost. "Chairman, has Allen told you everything?"

President Frost hummed in agreement: "Did you find out anything?"

Jude revealed that both prison breaks were orchestrated by the church, and that Warden Urban Adel had already gone to meet His Majesty Leonard: "...Judging from the attitude of Warden Melanie and my brother's intentions, the royalists are most likely to compromise."

"Then we have at most a day or two left." Allen clenched his fists, seeking the president's opinion, "President, should we make a move?"

President Frost squinted and shook his head slightly.

No one understood the difficulty of a forced prison break better than him.

In particular, Alan also described the speed of the prison guards' response after the prison break last night.

soon.

It's flawless.

A rash attempt to break out of prison would likely result in everyone being killed.

"There's one more thing," Jude revealed another piece of good news, "I've confirmed my brother's stance."

"Standard?" Chairman Frost turned his head.

"My brother was once saved by a wizard or resonance sorcerer who was implicated in a crime. It was because of this incident that he specifically went to work in the capital's heavy prison and voluntarily became a priest, hoping to secretly rescue our kind..."

"Was your job in the prison also his doing? Did he want to use you, and family ties, as cover to indirectly help implicate the wizard and the resonance sorcerer?"

"Yes."

"Did he already suspect Allen's identity?"

"Yes."

"Was that subtle hint that the church was preparing for a fake relocation not a test, but a genuine attempt to convey a message?"

"Yes."

……

After hearing Jude's words, both Chairman Frost and Allen could not hide their surprise.

It's astonishing that a priest would be willing to help a "heretic".

Do not--

The logic is flawed.

It's not that the priests help the "heretics," it's that they help the "heretics" become priests!