I hadn’t had a wink of sleep.

But I can’t let my exhaustion show in public. There was a crowd of onlookers with the Imperial Guard forming a perimeter line to keep their distance.

Thanks to that nuke-level explosion, a raging fire broke out that could make the Great Fire of London seem like a mishandled barbecue. I won’t go into details but I’ve been fielding orders and helping out to quell the flames before they consumed Capital. I even had to save an old lady and a kid from two separate burning homes but I’d skip over that.

The sun had already begun to set from the horizon when everything had settled down. Thankfully, unlike the Great Fire, it didn’t last a few days but just one.

I thought we may have mitigated the damages, but I may have underestimated how big the explosion was. There were a few casualties which I find disheartening. The injured were being treated in makeshift shelters by the Virgo Division.

The homes and buildings along the main highways leading to ground zero were also heavily damaged due to the shockwave of the explosion but that’s not where the real damages were. Those buildings were elegant and picturesque like you'd find in a postcard. As though to paint a beautiful picture of an ideal town leading to a magnificent cathedral. But they were a facade. Just a couple of buildings behind them lay shanties and squatter homes. In other words, the slums. Those places wound up getting a backlash from the flaming debris and fires spread uncontrollably.

And then…there’s ground zero…

St. Artur’s Cathedral, the Mother Church of the Atlantasian Orthodox Church. It was designed like that of the People’s Salvation Cathedral of Romania if I recall in the wikis. It was a beautiful cathedral that had survived nearly seven centuries. But what used to be a towering cathedral with massive spires and crowned with a towering dome was now reduced to a pile of rubble surrounding a massive crater.

What was in the canister?

I was pretty sure the blue one contained chloroform. There was no way chloroform caused a catastrophic explosion like this! Did we mix something up? I made sure to color-code each bottle to prevent using the wrong chemicals. Right now, I had Niko check who handled those bottles before Nils.

Nevertheless, it won’t change the current result.

Normally, I would send inquisitors from the Palace but I decided to survey the area myself. I was already here so it’s not much of a point to send someone to report to me. It also gave some advantages of being a PR coup for the Imperial Family.

Okay, it’s also out of guilt.

But who could expect the perpetrator to return to the scene of the crime? Ah, that’s not the point. It would be very...awkward if word got out that the Emperor had a hand in blowing up the Cathedral and thereby sending a fire that burned down much of the surrounding district.

So here I was walking with a couple of Knight escorts. This place looked like a warzone.

Hm? I noticed a pair of Knights sitting on what looked like old remnants of a collapsed column. They were looking very exhausted. Well, they were wearing full armor. I know how sweltering that thing is.

I silently approached them.

“Are you both alright?”

““Y-Your Majesty?!””

The both of them quickly stood up in attention. But I can see them looking very dehydrated. I activated my hammerspace and pulled out a pair of mugs and a pitcher of ice-cold water. I then poured water into the mugs and handed them to them.

“Here, have a drink. You both look quite parched.”

The two knights began to panic. My escorts were equally surprised.

“W-We can’t accept such grace from His Majesty!” one of them waved his hands frantically while the other nodded in rapid movements.

Oh, for Pete’s sake. I know this hierarchy BS is making things difficult.

“Just take the mugs and drink. Consider it an order then.”

Knowing they can’t defy a direct order from me, they gingerly took the mugs and drank. Their eyes were wide open when they noticed it was cold. After a long hot day, water tastes better when chilled. And soon they began to quickly drink in earnest. It was clear how thirsty they were.

Of course, I didn’t forget the escorting Knights behind me and produced another pair of mugs for them. Like the other pair they tried to refuse but my “Consider it an order” words were enough to shut them up and get them to oblige.

I had the previous two Knights from earlier carry pitchers of chilled water and mugs I produced from my hammerspace and then distribute them to the other Knights on duty. After much bowing and words of gratefulness, I saw their backs as they carried out my order.

“Um…is this alright, Your Majesty?” my escort Knight asked me

“Hm? It’s fine. I know you guys were trained to endure harsher conditions but if the opportunity to replenish yourselves arises, don’t skip your necessities.”

Sigh, where is the logistics and support team in this place? I know they are trained to withstand such but even I can tell those two were about to pass out from dehydration earlier. We had a corner in the sports meets in schools back in the day to prevent such.

“I-I beg your pardon. Your Majesty…”

I turned and saw...muscles.

Bulging muscles. Massive pecs and biceps. And a 2.6-meter frame.

I would have assumed he was a bodybuilder or a mercenary. If not for the black cassock he was wearing. It did little to hide those massive muscles. How is this guy a priest? I often ask myself despite knowing who he is.

This was Bishop Carlo von Wotila.

He is a Titular Bishop of the Atlantasian Orthodox Church. This would mean he is of the Upper Clergy.. of the lowest rank.

I heard he wanted to be a Templar but he was forced into the position because his maternal uncle, the Patriarch, wanted his family to be in prominent positions in the Church. And the post of Titular Bishop was available at that time. A simple case of nepotism similar to how the Borgias of Italy controlled the church during the 1400s.

But unlike the rest of the Upper Clergy (and the Borgias for that matter), he was a pious and devout clergyman. He simply kept up his physical training but still did the work as expected of him as a Titular Bishop.

A battle monk or something? Well, in the game he is. He played a pivotal role in the storyline as another one of their allies in the main quest where Arte and his allies took down the corruption of the church.

Behind him were several other priests, nuns, and some of the Church Templars. They looked tiny in size in comparison. All of them were looking worse for wear with a few of the priests wearing bandages.

“Bishop Carlo! You’re alright. I’m glad.”

“I’m honored that you’ve remembered this humble priest.”

Humble doesn’t match your appearance. Despite his muscles and dedication to physical training which resulted in his physique, he is quite an intellectual with a kind personality. Simply put, you can say a gentle giant.

“Of course, how can I forget the one who placed the St. Artur’s Crown upon my head during the Coronation Rites because most of the Upper Clergy was suffering from...stomach issues…”

On that note...I didn’t want to be crowned by those corrupt Upper Clergymen. Especially by the Patriarch Rotherigo von Vorgia. That guy could get along pretty well with some improper Popes from Earth for his promiscuity and corruption. But then again, he was also another main antagonist second to Stahlin.

So the night before my Coronation, I secretly spiked their drinks with Laxative that would take effect the next day. A personal concoction I made myself in my sideline jobs. I’ll tell you more about that later.

“We are truly grateful for your presence and action amidst this tragedy.”

“Please, the Imperial Family must oversee crises like this one. That being said...where is the Patriarch Vorgia?”

I cut to the chase. All the while hiding that I already knew of his fate.

“Ah, regarding that...His Eminence…is missing throughout this whole fiasco…”

“Hoh~? Missing? At a time like this? And he’s left you lot with the actual work again…”

For a big guy with muscles, he looked even more flustered at my words. The priests and nuns behind him had dark looks. Yes, this guy had been left to do all the actual work of the Church. Another simple case of hierarchal power harassment.

The so-called Patriarch had been stuffing his fat ass with wine, meat, and women. Not exactly godly is he?

“Ah, that’s because His Eminence...had been in prayer in the Cathedral along with the rest of the Upper Clergy for the whole evening… I shudder to fear...”

“In the Cathedral? Wouldn’t that mean…”

I trailed off my words as though to imply.

“Your Majesty!”

We both turned and saw Leofold approaching us. He saluted me with a grave expression.

“Ah, Captain Leofold. Did you find something?”

“Unfortunately, yes, Sire. We found bodies.”

“Bodies?!” I feigned an act of surprise. From the corner of my eye, I can see Bishop Carlo paled.

“Yes, there was quite a rather large group concentrated in the remains of the Catacombs.”

“The Catacombs? Bishop Carlo, you told me the Patriarch and the Upper Clergy were at the Cathedral for prayer. Who else is there and what are they doing in the Catacombs?”

Bishop Carlo looked panicked and confused, “I-I don’t know, Your Majesty.”

I turned back to Leofold, “How many were there?”

“Numbering about twenty-seven were concentrated in the Catacombs. There are an additional nineteen in several other areas.”

Twenty-seven plus nineteen… A total of forty-six....just the exact number as reported by one of our Night Lurker watchers.

“They were all badly burned. And it would seem that an explosion started from where this group was. One of them had this around his neck.”

The priests and nuns gasped as they saw what Leofold held in his outstretched hand.

It was a medallion that had a three-barred cross. In my old world, it was known as the Cross of Salem but in this world, it was the religious symbol of the Atlantasian Orthodox Church.

“T-The Patriarch’s Medallion!” Bishop Carlo fell on his knees, which shook the ground a bit

I looked back at Leofold, “Do you think it’s the Patriarch?”

“His whole body was badly burned but the corpse seemed to be around the same height and build. Not to mention, although the clothes were also burned I could tell they were the vestments the Patriarch would wear.”

“So that means he was roasted alive then.”

Leofold flinched at my callous remarks.

“Oh, oh...May the Gods have mercy on the Patriarch’s soul…”

He’s gonna need it, Bishop Carlo.

“And not only that but there was also a corpse we believe to be the Grand Master of the Templars.”

The Templars all looked shocked when they heard that.

“So even Grand Master von D’Molay was there?”

I don’t like that guy either.

He was a corrupt individual who acted as the Patriarch’s right-hand man. He did all the dirty work. He led some of the worse Templars on so-called “religious inquisitions” but in reality, they were committing some unspeakable crimes like extortions, kidnappings, rape, illegal slavery...you know the works? Anything that can go toe-to-toe with any corrupt Knight Order from the tropes.

“So assuming that’s Patriarch Vorgia and Grand Master von D’Molay...what of the others? I don’t recall the Upper Clergy being that many and according to the report, most of the templars were at their Barracks. ”

Most of them were hiding and cowering like babies during the whole ordeal and were practically useless if I recall. Not much of a surprise though, most of the templars were second or third sons of nobles or wealthy persons out for titles. It’s usually the commoners or the good “noble” boys who did actual training and grunt work.

“On top of that, why would they be in the Catacombs in the first place?”

“About that Sire, these were found in the fingers of some of the corpses.” Leofold produced three large signet rings bearing crests of several prominent Noble Houses.

I frowned as I gazed at them.

“I can recognize the crests of Duke Casyius, Marquis Arnuld, and Count Fawks. These should only be worn by their Heads. The timing of the bombing is way too late for public evening services so I doubt they were here for such. Not that they were even religious for that matter. What could they be doing here at that hour?”

Everyone was quiet in the tense atmosphere. They all seemed to have the same suspicions.

“Captain!”

A pair of knights ran up to us holding a piece of document.

“Captain Leofold, we found something you need to see!”

“You are in the presence of His Majesty! Show your respects!” Leofold barked at them.

The knights flinched when they just realized I was standing amongst them and quickly went to their knees.

“Now, now, these two seemed to have something important to tell us. Please report what you’ve found.”

The knight who spoke gave me a document protected by Preservation Magic. Hee~ To think they had something this convenient on hand. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t expecting they’d write it all down but it seems they were expecting not to be caught.

“The New Atlantasian Order Society…they’ve written down their names and objectives. This is a list of Clergy, Nobles, and wealthy Merchants with aims to overthrow the Monarchy...”

I inflected as much coldness in my tone as possible all the while releasing some Mana Pressure. Leofold, Bishop Carlo, the Knights, and even Clergy flinched. They all withdrew in fear.

“I can understand if they wish to replace the government system for the better but knowing who is listed here, it would seem they are doing so for their agendas. Leofold, have the knights search the homes of the families listed here. Gather evidence and apprehend them all in the name of the Emperor.”

“By your will, Your Majesty! Knights!”

As such, Leofold began sortied the Knights.

“How could this be… Did Uncle aim to overthrow the Monarchy?” he looked rather distraught.

In the story, Bishop Carlo knew his uncle was unfit to be Patriarch and a shame to the clergy due to his lack of responsibility and his indulgent lifestyle but he never believed his uncle was capable of much darker deeds.

If only he knew what other deeds that fatass has done.

But this is a good thing for me.

Now, I can act upon one of my other goals ahead of time.