Rhodes Island does not exist.

Because the power contained in this message was extraordinary; it was like a rough, muscular hand that mercilessly pulled the life-saving straw from her tightly clenched hand and threw it to the ground, trampling it into mud.

She lost her only hope.

Now she is all alone in Iberia.

Now she is alone in this world again.

"Although we don't know exactly what happened to the plaintiff, judging from the testimony of Bishop Sobrino of the Cathedral of Afterglow—that he left the church in the morning and never returned—he must have gotten lost somewhere, or... he never intended to come back at all."

The priest in black robes bent down slightly and whispered in Levini's ear.

Language has a magical power.

Before the humans on the continent of Terra learned to use Originium to cast spells, language was their only weapon for distorting reality.

-

Thank you segment.

Thank you Chen·Manhanquanxi Wujiaohao for the monthly pass, thank you.

Chapter 87, Chapter Eighty-Six: Deep Sea Tales - Twenty-Two: The Ritual of Injustice

12:37 noon.

The courtroom doors remained tightly shut.

The believers gathered together, waiting for the final three minutes.

Their devout gazes were now focused on the three hands of the standing clock above the square, their hearts beating in sync with the ticking rhythm.

"Bishop Sobrino has arrived."

A voice reported.

The door opened because of that sound.

The believers dispersed to both sides like the sea opening up, leaving the central entrance passage for newcomers.

The man was dressed in an embroidered ceremonial robe, his steps were steady and dignified, his posture was upright and his eyes were bright, and two strands of long, wavy, matte gray hair hung down from the edge of the hood, swaying in the wind.

He is the bishop of the Sunset Cathedral.

"terribly sorry."

Upon entering the gate, his first words were not a greeting but an apology. And the recipient of his apology was, naturally, the priest in the black robe.

“Brother, there’s no need to blame yourself.” The black-robed priest shook his head and gently placed his right hand on his shoulder. “This is not your fault, but simply the Lord’s arrangement.”

"It seems that someone will be absent from this trial," the bishop sighed.

“It’s alright.” The black-robed priest looked at Levini, who was huddled to the side, and said, “The Holy Lord has his own arrangements. The trial cannot be interrupted because of this. Let it all continue.”

“Very well.” The bishop nodded, stood beside the black-robed man, and lowered his head slightly.

This is a sign of deference, implying that within the church hierarchy, he is lower than the person before him.

In other words, this black-robed figure could only be an Iberian cardinal—the actual ruler of the Lateran diocese in Iberia.

"Prepare to let the believers in." The cardinal nodded. "The time is almost up."

The minute hand moved to the 8 position.

On the digital clock, the time is 12:39.

Will he come back?

Levini, huddled to the side, still held onto a tiny sliver of hope.

Although the person she was expecting was the one who should come to judge her, at this moment in her heart, this person was more holy and benevolent than anyone who claimed to be saving her.

However, the scenario, reminiscent of a cheap novel, never materialized.

Time seemed to have been coated with lubricant, easily and effortlessly reaching the 12:40 mark.

"Clang, clang."

The brass bell rang.

That was the tolling of the bell signaling the start of the trial.

"squeak--"

The doors leading to the courtroom opened.

The door leading to the courtroom was also opened.

The believers, their eyes burning with fervor, entered the spectator stands in the hall, guided by the priests. Meanwhile, Levinia, the one on trial, and the priests on her jury followed the cardinal forward slowly into the main stage.

“Look... she cowers like a sinner.”

“I haven’t been to a trial in a long time since I last expelled that Agor.”

"Oh, Lord, may the Lord bless us, for today we will see yet another sinner receive the sword of righteousness."

Amen...

The words and gazes of the believers burned like sulfurous fire, searing every nerve in Levini's body.

But she had to move forward.

Having lost her home, she could only drift along, leaving her to the fate of the church.

"If only I hadn't tried to steal the doctor's suitcase yesterday."

She thought silently in her heart.

But there are no ifs.

Her lifestyle has been completely set in stone. Even if she doesn't rob the doctor's luggage, she will eventually rob someone else. Besides, Asturias has already been brought under the control of Iberia, so no matter what, she will eventually be captured and taken back to the City of Gold.

In this light, it might actually be a blessing in disguise that the robbery was committed by the doctor.

Because this at least gave her a chance to change.

However, this opportunity has probably been lost now.

"Please take your seats, those on trial."

The priest in charge of reading the verdict stood in front of the jury and announced it in a loud voice.

Suddenly, everyone's gaze toward Levini became even more cutting.

"..."

She could only lower her head and, under the watchful eyes of many, slowly move forward with steps broken into pieces by her shackles.

There were no instruments of torture or gallows in the courtroom, only a huge wooden cross standing behind the presiding judge's seat. Even so, fear still churned within Levini.

"Please, victims, take your seats."

The priest in charge of reading aloud spoke again.

But this time no one answered.

Because the victim is not in this hall.

“No need,” the cardinal said to the announcer. “The victim is temporarily unable to attend the trial because of his disappearance.”

"Understood. Now, jurors, please take your seats." The priest nodded to the cardinal, skipping the previous step and moving on to the next.

So all the jurors, including the bishop of the Cathedral of the Setting Sun, took their seats.

“Finally, please have the presiding judge and the accusers take their seats.” The priest turned his gaze to the cardinal.

The presiding judge was undoubtedly him, and the witness was the priest who had bumped into Levi that day.

In other words, apart from the PhD, everyone directly related to this matter has arrived.

The trial will begin as soon as the presiding judge gives the order.

"..."

The cardinal in black walked calmly to the presiding judge's seat, and after standing still, silently swept his gaze across the entire room.

In an instant, all the believers who were still making a buzzing sound fell silent.

The entire hall fell into an absolute silence, so quiet that even the sound of a pin dropping could be heard clearly by a deaf person.

"Thank you, brothers and sisters, for being here today to attend this trial." The cardinal smiled, sweeping away his previous silence and cold demeanor, and letting his vitality return.

"I'm sure the brothers and sisters in Christ already know what the charges are against the young girl on trial today," he said slowly.

"Blasphemy."

A voice whispered from the spectators.

“That’s right, it is blasphemy and theft.” The cardinal nodded. “The latter is a sin enshrined in our doctrine, and it is also a sin that is not tolerated by the secular world outside the diocese. The former… is a great insult to our faith, our Father, and our souls.”

"So let us begin to pray, so that this girl may be cleansed of her sins and so that she may know how foolish she has been."

After saying this, the cardinal clasped his hands together in front of his chest and closed his eyes.

All the bystanders and church members present followed him and did the same.

"Our Lord in heaven, may the world honor your name..."

However, as if the timing had been deliberately chosen, the door to the trial hall was suddenly pushed open before the first prayer was even finished.

The person who opened the door was a guard in the courtroom.

"report!"

"You insolent scoundrel who defies doctrine, how dare you—"

“I understand, but you must know that Agorians are heading toward the court.”

The words had barely left his lips when the cardinal's anger froze.

Chapter 88, Chapter 87: Deep Sea Tales, Part 23: Fratricide

Agor people.

Who are the Agers, and what is the Ager?

What is Agor?

This question has been on the minds of many Iberians.

But now they just wish they had never been answered.

"Trial suspended. Trial suspended."

The cardinal struck the gavel on his desk, signaling everyone present to calm down and listen to him.

"What are the Agorians doing here? How many of them are there?" The cardinal looked down at the guard.

“Not many, only ten,” the guard said. “As for their purpose, it is still unclear.”

"Go and summon the Punishing Army." The cardinal's face was ashen, and his previous smile was gone. "Summon the Punishing Army, and the Papal Knights stationed here as well."

"Yes." The guard saluted and ran out of the hall.

The surroundings were extremely noisy.

Because everyone heard the conversation between the guard and the cardinal.

"Quiet, no noise." The cardinal glanced at the spectator stands. "Everyone stay in your seats and do not move. Jurors, keep an eye on the defendant. Sobrino, come with me."

“Understood, Your Honor.” The bishop of the Twilight Cathedral rose from his position as the chief juror and followed the cardinal in his black robes out the door, leaving the people in the hall looking at each other in bewilderment.

As for Levini—she was abandoned here without even knowing what had happened.

-

In front of the courtroom.

The atmosphere in the square was tense, with heavy, gloomy clouds covering the city and stirring up a restless atmosphere.

"Agor".

The cardinal's gaze was sharp as a knife, sweeping across the ten figures that were gradually approaching him.

Those people were all dressed in clothing similar to those worn by church priests, as if it were a deliberate imitation.

“We heard you would be personally attending a trial today, and it turns out it’s true,” one of the Agor women said. “I’m curious, what kind of criminal is qualified to have someone of your caliber on their side for trial?”

"This is none of your business," the cardinal said coldly. "But why haven't you all gotten out of Iberia yet?"