As Maxwell advanced step by step, his eyes were fixed on the Pope, ignoring the Cardinals entirely. Then, words slipped from his lips. "I’m just a littlete. Is that a problem for you?"


    Though he said this with a calm expression, the thin smile on his lips revealed he was mocking. The Pope simply narrowed his eyes, seconds turning into minutes in that moment. The Pope opened his mouth to speak.


    "You arrived just in time, Maxwell." The Pope’s aura, along with everything else, appeared calm. Pope Bartolomeo’s dead eyes briefly turned toward Morrigan.


    ’What is this feeling?’ Morrigan’s eyes widened as she felt a sudden pain in her head. She sensed the Pope’s eyes sh for a brief moment. Her body was strangely forced into stillness.


    "Do not make eye contact with the Pope, Lady Morrigan."


    Maxwell intervened calmly, then continued, "The Pope’s eyes are fearsome enough not to be underestimated. Don’t face him until you’re strong enough..."


    Breaking eye contact with the Pope, Morrigan shifted ufortably. After studying her for a while, Pope Bartolomeo raised his hand. Then, with a prayer, hemenced the trial.


    "Before the Goddess, everyone is equal. Neither a noble nor a king is exempt from this," the Pope said calmly, then continued, "Lady Morrigan, I hereby revoke your immunity, considering both the Holy and the Noble Council’s decision."


    As Morrigan sighed, the Pope turned his dead eyes toward Maxwell. "Do you object?"


    "No," Maxwell said calmly. He was stillposed despite the grim situation. Pope Bartolomeo’s gaze then shifted to the four Cardinals. "The floor is yours. Today, you will act as judges."


    "As you wish," Genna said with a grin, her eyes gleaming with amusement as she turned to Morrigan. Then she smiled and said, "You’re a sweet girl. I don’t know why you have dark magic, but—"


    "Genna," the Pope’s weary voice interrupted her, and Genna coughed before continuing, "Anyway, I’ll ask the first question then."


    Genna’s aura grew cold as she cast a mocking nce at Morrigan. "Have you ever attempted to curse or kill someone?"


    Morrigan shook her head in denial, rejecting the usation. "No, I have never intentionally tried to kill or curse anyone."


    "We’ve heard that you nearly killed your Chief?" Cardinal Genna asked, with a thin, mocking smile on her lips. "That’s all from me. I think you should be executed immediately."


    "This—" Morrigan was about to protest when she was silenced by Maxwell’s grip on her arm. Maxwell calmly nced at Cardinal Genna. "Cardinal, that is a rather hasty judgment. I ask that you reconsider."


    "Hoo? Well then, I shall reconsider," Genna replied in a calm yet mocking tone. Meanwhile, Maxwell’s brows furrowed with irritation, his eyes narrowing. Cardinal Genna touched her chin and threw an annoying nce at Maxwell.


    "I’ve reconsidered, and my decision is still for her execution."


    "Holiness, won’t you say something?"


    Despite Maxwell’s question, the Pope remained silent as if he hadn’t seen or heard anything. Maxwell clicked his tongue and looked hopefully at the other Cardinals.


    When it was Cardinal Judas’s turn, he only gave Morrigan a look of disgust before coldly dering, "Dark magic heretics can burn and die. My judgment is for execution."


    "Isn’t this unfair?!" Morrigan’s voice rose unintentionally as her mana red up, but suddenly, a burning light radiated from the runes on her body, causing her to fall to the ground in pain.


    "Lady Morrigan, let’s not raise our voices in court," Pope Bartolomeo’s eyes glimmered slightly as he subtly threatened Morrigan with Mana Suppression.


    "Holiness, that’s unnecessary. Still, the decisions made by the Cardinals are childish and beyond human reasoning." Maxwell’s stern voice was heard again, but the Pope ignored him and intensified the Runes burning Morrigan’s body.


    "Ah—" Morrigan’s eyes widened as she clutched her stomach in agony. When Maxwell received no response, he red up his mana and struck the ground hard with his staff. As the marble floor cracked, the Pope’s deadly gaze turned to him.


    "What do you think you’re doing?"


    "I’ve spoken respectfully until now, but enough is enough," Maxwell said, ring at each of the Cardinals in turn before dering in a firm voice. "The Goddess is equal to all, but apparently not some of those present here. I object to this."


    "Overruled," Cardinal Oliver, who had remained silent until now, stated emotionlessly. His eyes were cold. "This is not the Hall of Justice, maintain your respect."


    As the mana pressure from the four Cardinals red again, Maxwell sighed and continued, his gaze unyielding. "I request that Lady Morrigan’s trial be postponed to another day."


    "Overruled."


    Hearing Oliver, Maxwell frowned even deeper. "I request the trial be dyed until Lady Morrigan’s father, Duke Alfred, can be present."


    "Overruled."


    "I request the Noble Council be reconvened to reconsider Lady Morrigan’s immunity."


    "Overruled."


    "I request that Lady Morrigan’s death sentence bemuted to a sixty-year prison sentence, with a good behavior reduction to twenty years, and then twenty years of exile, followed by house arrest for the remainder."


    "Overruled."


    As the Cardinals rejected all his requests unanimously, a savage smile spread across Cardinal Hannibal’s lips. "It’s uneptable tomute Lady Morrigan’s sentence to imprisonment or house arrest. It’s unthinkable to even suggest it."


    As Maxwell’s brow furrowed even more and anger boiled within him, he exercised self-control to calm himself down. His gaze turned back to the Pope. "You should be the one to judge. But there is no judgment here, only prejudice and usation."


    "Do not question the court’s decisions. This ce is equal for all, even dark mages." The words from Cardinal Oliver’s lips caused Maxwell tough. It was all he could do.


    Who would’ve guessed everyone here would be so unreasonable? Well, they’re not really unreasonable; they’re just using the power they hold. The power of corruption.


    "That’s enough, the decision has been made."


    Morrigan held her breath. If she said she wasn’t nervous, it would be a lie. She was very tense, and she knew what the decision would be.


    She bit her lip, her eyes welling up as she recalled her father’s promise to save her. Was she really going to die? Even now, when she had new friends? When she could actually live like an ordinary person—peaceful and normal…


    Pope Bartolomeo’s eyes lingered on Morrigan for a moment. Then, with his wrinkled chin lifted, he delivered the final verdict. "Lady Morrigan is hereby sentenced to death."


    *Rumble!*


    After the words left Pope Bartolomeo’s mouth, a loud noise reached everyone’s ears. The Inquisition court trembled with a sudden jolt.


    "What’s happening?"


    As the nobles fell into chaos, Pope Bartolomeo calmly asked. The answer came shortly after from Solomon, who entered the room.


    "Holiness," Solomon bowed slightly, greeting the cardinals and the Pope. Then he said, "The walls of the capital are under siege."


    "Is it Alfred?" Despite this extraordinary news, the Pope appeared calm. He was not anxious, even with the continuous sound of the tremors. Solomon nodded in confirmation. "They’re bombarding the fortress with cannons they acquired from the dwarves. While the mages are holding the walls steady for now, they may soon deploy their own mages."


    "What a bold man," Cardinal Genna said with a smile on her lips. There was a hint of lust in her eyes.


    Meanwhile, Morrigan’s eyes were filled with hope. While she was happy her father hade for her, the thought of seeing the kingdom embroiled in a civil war brought a deep sense of guilt.


    "The negotiations failed; the King and Queen still couldn’t reach an agreement," Solomon’s calm voice echoed. "As a result, the Duke dered war on the King and his supporters, no longer willing to wait."


    "War means..."


    Pope Bartolomeo emitted a bloody aura. Then his lifeless eyes turned to Morrigan. "It means there will be no salvation for you. You will be executed."


    "If I were you, old fool, I’d think twice."


    As a mocking voice echoed, everyone turned their eyes toward the man who had appeared next to the Pope.


    "Thomas?"


    Morrigan’s eyes widened at the sight of Thomas there. Seeing the gaze of his Lady, Thomas bowed in a flourish and smiled. "I’vee to save you, my Lady."


    Even though he stood next to the Pope, Thomas seemed unfazed, leaving Morrigan unsure of what to do. Maxwell, on the other hand, couldn’t understand how things had escted so quickly.


    "Who are you? How did you get in here?" Hannibal asked, drawing his giant axe. But by the time he spoke, Thomas had already moved, vanishing from Hannibal’s sight.


    As Hannibal was left bewildered, his eyes widened as a fist drove sharply into his chest. It wasn’t just Hannibal, the other cardinals looked equally astonished.


    "Holiness, I—I," Hannibal stammered, looking at the Pope with hope, as Thomas calmly withdrew his bloodied hand. Before he could finish, Thomas disappeared again, and Hannibal’s massive body crashed to the floor, causing panic.


    Despite everything, the Pope remained still, his dead eyes fixed on Thomas. If you looked closely, you could see a flicker of shock and anger in them.


    Even he probably wasn’t aware of it.


    In the meantime, with one swift move, Thomas caught Oliver’s scythe. His eyes gleamed mockingly. "Too slow."


    Then, punching Oliver square in the face, Thomas turned his gaze toward Genna, who was ring at him with fiery eyes. In an instant, he appeared before her. Genna shivered and stepped back.


    She tried to maintain a smile. "Y-You wouldn’t want to hurt a beautiful woman like me, would you?"


    Looking at Genna, who shot him a sweet nce, Thomas grinned. "Sorry, but I prefer gender equality. So, no apologies."


    With that, Thomas delivered a brutal right hook, knocking out most of Genna’s teeth. Her once beautiful face bruised as her body slid across the floor.


    In a sh, Thomas’s defeat of the Cardinals caused a wave of panic in the room. Then, charging at Judas, Thomas grabbed his head and mmed it into the ground.


    Judas’s head sank into the marble floor, while Thomas calmly surveyed the surroundings.


    At that moment, as a sudden sword shed toward Thomas’s neck, he shifted slightly and avoided the de.


    "Thomas!" Solomon’s furious voice echoed, and Thomas’s eyes grew serious as he adjusted his sses. "You again?"


    "You are in no position to ask questions; I will kill you!" Compared to his earlier calm demeanor, Solomon now resembled an enraged beast.


    As the sword in his hand emitted an incredible glow, Thomas suddenly appeared behind him, pressing on his shoulders and forcing him to his knees.


    Thomas knocked the sword out of Solomon’s hand with a blow and grabbed his long hair, yanking it hard. "It’s been a long time, Solomon."


    "Bastard—" Solomon’s eyes widened in rage as Thomas’s cold purple eyes gleamed like a beast’s. Grabbing Solomon’s head, Thomas forced him to look into his eyes.


    "Look into my eyes." Thomas spoke calmly. Though Solomon tried to avert his gaze, it was useless, and his body suddenly seized up, his mind filled with agony.


    "Hrrr..."


    As Thomas stared into Solomon’s eyes and solomon filled with fear, pain, and fury, he sighed and mmed his head into the ground.


    As Solomon copsed, Thomas adjusted his sses and looked at the Pope. Throughout the entire ordeal, the Pope remained silent. While Thomas had humiliated the high-ranking members of the church, his eyes showed deep disappointment in his subordinates.


    "Let’s go, Thomas!" Hearing Morrigan’s voice, Thomas stopped, deciding not to attack the Pope.


    Realizing she couldn’t stay here any longer, Morrigan called out to Thomas urgently.


    "As you wish," By now, all the nobles had escaped through the hidden passage. The Temr Knights had already been defeated by Thomas.


    "Wait!"


    Hearing Maxwell’s voice, Thomas ignored him and activated the teleportation device he had received from the Seer Heka, disappearing with Morrigan in an instant.