AI
#514Chapter 508 Temple of Order
Chapter 508 Temple of Order
About an hour later, hurried footsteps sounded outside the door.
Li Bailing's spirits lifted, and he said in a deep voice, "Come in."
The door was pushed open, and the man in black led in a man who was none other than Liu Tong from Yuntong Trading Company. His face was deathly pale, as if he had been startled from traveling at night.
He was an informant planted by the King's Hand within "Yuntong Trading Company," and also the closest spy to Su Yu.
"Sir!" The men bowed in unison.
"No need." Li Bailing waved his hand, his gaze falling directly on Manager Liu of "Yuntong Trading Company," and he went straight to the point, questioning, "I'm asking you, around eight o'clock this morning, was Su Yu at the winery construction site in Luoyue Valley the whole time? Did he leave?"
Manager Liu nodded immediately and answered with certainty, "Yes, Sir! He absolutely did not leave! I was near the construction site at the time and saw with my own eyes that Lord Su Yu entered Falling Moon Valley at 6:30 a.m. and did not come out until 9:15 a.m. During that time, he was discussing issues with me, the designer, and the foreman, and even went down into the cellar to check. He never left my sight for a minute!"
"Are you sure?" Li Bailing stared intently into his eyes, trying to detect any hesitation or lie.
"Confirmed!" Manager Liu answered without hesitation: "There were many workers on the construction site at the time, and they can all testify. His Excellency Su Yu even argued with the designer about the layout of the cellar, and their voices were quite loud; many people heard it."
Hearing this, Li Bailing's last remaining doubts about Su Yu began to waver.
With witnesses and physical evidence present, Su Yu's alibi seems truly impeccable.
Could it be... that it really wasn't him?
Li Bailing felt a headache coming on.
If it wasn't Su Yu, then who was the murderer?
"The higher-ups are pressing us urgently." Li Bailing rubbed his temples, softened his tone, and said to everyone, "Immediately compile all the latest intelligence related to Su Yu, especially the detailed record of today's activities, as well as all his recent contacts with the outside world. I need to report this immediately via magical communication."
"We can't delay, but everyone here today will receive 10 Jin Hailong Attendance Awards."
"Yes!" Everyone answered in unison and immediately began to get to work.
The room was suddenly filled with the sounds of people flipping through documents, whispering, and gathering files, a stark contrast to the deathly silence of the night outside.
Li Bailing looked at his busy subordinates, but his heart was still full of doubts.
moment.
"According to the intelligence we have gathered on Myron Island, Su Yu was inspecting the winery construction site in Moonfall Valley on Myron Island during the time when the assassination occurred in Carlton City."
After saying this, Li Bailing paused and added, "Of course, this is only a preliminary assessment based on the available intelligence. I will continue to investigate all of Su Yu's recent activities in depth to ensure that nothing goes wrong."
"Understood. Awaiting your detailed report." The ear flaps had actually been open the whole time, and the person seemed unsurprised by the result, or rather, had temporarily accepted the explanation.
Subsequently, communication was lost, and the earlobes lost their luster.
Li Bailing lowered the ear wings that had lost their magic and rubbed his throbbing temples.
Carlton City, Square
The heart of the city is shrouded in a heavy and oppressive atmosphere.
A few days ago, an explosion not only killed the Earl, but then a fog claimed the lives of 267 people.
This shattered the city's tranquility, and panic, speculation, and rumors spread like a plague.
At this moment, the area in front of the "Golden Deer Restaurant" in the square was cordoned off by soldiers, and a conspicuous yellow warning line was set up around it.
There seemed to be a faint smell of gunpowder and a faint, unsettling chill in the air.
A group of soldiers were carefully conducting a thorough investigation and collecting evidence near the steps in front of the restaurant.
Using specialized tools, they collected fragments of rocks, soil, and even dried, blackened blood and bits of flesh left behind after the explosion.
These collected "samples" were carefully placed into transparent glass test tubes and sealed with special rune-sealed tape.
Each test tube was labeled with detailed information, including the location, time, and number of the sample collection.
Above the square, a silver-white airship was slowly circling, with several ropes hanging down from its hull.
Temple priests in white robes and officials in uniforms are using ropes to transport sealed glass test tubes onto the airship.
The airship quickly flew away and arrived at a temple.
The temple has a pointed roof, and the pillars engraved with reliefs emit a soft light. Inside the hall, key figures from Carlton City and even the entire southern part of Ying Kingdom are gathered.
An elderly man wearing a bishop's crown, with a solemn expression, watched as the priests carried the glass test tubes to the designated location.
The center of the golden magic circle was drawn.
Several priests stood beside him, talking in hushed tones.
Not far away, a middle-aged man in a mayor's uniform was pacing back and forth. He was the interim mayor who had been urgently appointed after the death of the original mayor.
On one side stood several mages with different auras, some with white pagoda patterns and others with green vine symbols, clearly indicating that both the White Pagoda and the Green Vine Society had intervened.
In addition, there were several serious-looking officials from the capital of Ying Kingdom—Blue Moon City.
The atmosphere was oppressive, and everyone's face was heavy.
The death of Earl Carlton was no simple assassination. The explosives aside, the residual energy fluctuations at the scene sent chills down everyone's spine.
"Is everything ready?" The bishop's deep, resonant voice broke the silence.
"Bishop, all samples have been sealed and we can begin at any time," replied a temple deacon in charge of on-site coordination.
"Very good." The bishop nodded, his gaze sweeping over everyone present. "Gentlemen, the assassination of Earl Carlton is a matter of great importance, and the Fog Incident is even more terrifying. To ensure safety, we will…"
First, a sacred sanctuary sealing ceremony will be held to isolate the interior from the outside world before the samples are examined. Please cooperate, remain quiet, and refrain from using any force unnecessarily.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Even the mages of the White Pagoda and the Green Vine Society dared not neglect the temple's professional advice on matters involving unknown evil forces.
The bishop took a deep breath, walked to the center of the platform, and took out a holy emblem that shone with a soft white light from his bosom.
He raised the holy emblem and began chanting the incantation.
"In the name of order, by the authority of the King of Kings, separate this realm, purify the filth, and establish a sacred abode!"
As the incantation ended, the holy emblem in his hand burst forth with dazzling light.
The light spread out, forming a huge, semi-transparent light shield that enveloped the entire hall, including the temple spire above.
After the ceremony was completed, the bishop gestured for a priest to come forward.
The priest was holding a tray with several glass test tubes containing remnants of the explosion, which had just been taken from the airship.
The priest walked to the center of the light barrier, solemnly placed the tray down, and the dozen or so priests around him began chanting incantations.
As the incantation was recited, soft white light flowed into the glass test tubes on the tray.
Everyone's eyes were fixed on the test tube.
Under the white light, the stones, soil, and flesh residue inside the test tube began to emit a faint grayish-black mist.
The fog was extremely thin, yet it carried a chilling aura that sent shivers down one's spine. Even through the glass test tubes and the powerful light shield of the "Sacred Abode," the people on the high platform could clearly feel the bone-chilling cold.
"Hiss..." Someone couldn't help but gasp.