"Reporting to the Chief Executor. It is indeed me, Calvin Villanueva." Calvin was quick to make the sign of the Goddess on his chest as he stood tall in front of the middle-aged man.
"Nice to meet you," The middle-aged man stood up.
A somewhat fanatical look was on his face as he stretched his hand and said, "My name is Martin Lothar, the Chief Executor for the Department of Justice..."
"It truly is a pleasure to meet you, my kindred spirit." Marin Lothar's eyes seemed to glaze over as he stared thirstily at Calvin.
"Uh..." Calvin had stretched out his hand to receive the handshake, but he found himself unable to retract his hand as Martin held it tightly.
"Indeed, indeed... such calloused hands... Especially around the second and first joint of your index finger and the first joint of your thumb. I see, so you are right-handed?"
"Yes, right-handed people are common in the world, but I am more inclined to believe that left-handers are more special than those who can only use their right hand."
Martin repeatedly nodded his head as he stared at Calvin like the latter was a rare specimen.
"I can use both of my left and right hand though..." Calvin nonchalantly declared.
Martin's figure froze.
"What?"
He blinked his eyes and stared at Calvin for a while before he exclaimed in shock, "Oh Goddess of Light! Are you serious?"
"Yes, I am... I can show you." Calvin stared in confusion at Martin.
Was it really that surprising to be ambidextrous?
Back then, so many people have been left disabled on the battlefield, so it became part of their regiment to learn how to effectively use both of their arms.
After all, it would be depressing if you lost your right arm in the battle, and now you suddenly couldn't function properly with your left hand.
Martin handed over a piece of paper to Calvin.
"No, give me two pieces of paper and a quill. It would be faster if I demonstrate it." Calvin interrupted.
"Oh..." Martin absentmindedly handed over another piece of paper and two quill pens.
Then, Calvin started writing on the pieces of paper with both of his hands at the same time.
"You..."
"Wow..."
Martin gawked at Calvin while the other Cavaliers seemed to be impressed.
"Art on the left; literature on the right... This is the way of the dual dragons! You... How did you know how to do this? Did you train for it, or are you just simply a natural when it comes to this?" Martin stared at Calvin.
Calvin stopped whatever he was doing and smiled, "I'm a natural."
"I've discovered this niche talent of mine when I injured my right hand when I was young."
"Oooh! So that's how it is..." Martin crossed his right foot over to his left foot as he asked, "Are you interested in literature?"
"Not particularly..." Calvin shook his head. Well, he was interested in writing but as for painting and other literature-related arts that didn't involve writing, he didn't have any interest in them.
"I see, I see... Are you interested to join the Club of Calligraphy, perhaps? I'm quite a high-ranking senior in that club, and maybe. You could maybe help us elevate the club to a higher pedigree. Who knows, you might even become our representative for the yearly scrim against those calligraphy fanatics from Laguna?" Martin asked with shining eyes.
Calvin's lips twitched.
I came here to discuss with you the release of the Captain and the others!
Why are we talking about things like these?
"Well, maybe some other time in the future..." Calvin awkwardly scratched his head and glanced at the Captain and the others.
"Hey, old man. He didn't come here for idle talk. If you want to continue such talk, then it is better if you go to the Captivating Fragrance Coffee Shop." Ron Samuel complained, "Why did you come here so late, Calvin? The sundial says that there's only about half an hour before the shop opens. Could it be that you closed the shop while we're gone?"
"No, no, no..." Calvin hurriedly waved his hand, "If I closed the shop, then those nobles would probably riot given how many Cafe Latte they drink in our shop every day." A smile appeared on his face, "The shop is still open for business. I should be able to make it in time. As for why I came here late, I know it's embarrassing but I actually lost my way."
"You lost your way?" Ashlynn couldn't help but boisterously laugh, "Now I can see how you stumbled upon the creepy secrets of that village, you must've lost your way up to that sinister thing and prematurely awakened it, right?"
Ashlynn was laughing, but no one else had a smile on their face.
It was because they knew just how dangerous that sinister being was.
If not for the fact that Ron Samuel and the others forced the church into action, that sinister being would've fully awakened and could've been roaming the lands by now.
"Calvin, do you have any leads as to who are the masterminds? We can't seem to find those two comrades of yours for an interview. The Missionaries and Evangelists had probably gotten to them faster than we did." Ron Samuel asked.
Calvin nodded his head, "Yes, I know everything... I know who is involved and I know just what to do."
"But before that, I have a question to ask the Chief Executor of the Department of Justice." Calvin made a sidelong glance at Martin, "What should do if I wanted to release the Captain and the others from prison?"
"Hmmm..." Martin seemed to fall into deep contemplation, "The crime that the Cavaliers committed except you is the crime of mutiny and treason against the crown. From their names alone, I'm sure that I do not have to explain to you how serious these accusations are, right?"
"Yes..." Calvin clicked his tongue.
He hadn't expected that the crime of insubordination would suddenly level-up to mutiny. Moreover, the crime of treason against the crown was also involved. Now, it became more complicated to legally let the Captain and the others get out of prison.
"However, just as the church punishes those that violate the law. They also reward those deserving of rewards. Since you've uncovered the secrets of that godforsaken village and even pretended to be dead to alert the authorities..."
"The church has decided to give you ten thousand merit points." Martin surreptitiously glanced at Ron Samuel and the others to see their reactions.
"T-T-Ten thousand merit points?!" Ashlynn was the first one to react, "How did the church suddenly become so generous? I've been here for years now, but I don't even have a hundred merit points yet!"
Martin nodded his head.
He seemed to be in a good mood as he explained, "The threat level of that sinister being was so severe His Eminence himself had to go there and cleanse the lands. Now, do you think that Calvin's discovery is still not worth ten thousand merit points?"
"I'm sure that I don't have to explain to all of you the severity of the situation when His Eminence had to be involved."
The Cavaliers sucked a mouthful of cold air.
"Damn..." Even the usually uptight James Branzuela couldn't help but curse in amazement, "It's a good thing that Calvin discovered that thing before it fully awakened. Or else, we wouldn't know how many cities it would destroy before the church catches up to it."
"Yeah, the Queen of Plague has always been troublesome. Then, fused with that Sinister Heart. It'll become an Ambassador-Ranked monster. Something that not many of us here can basically fight against." Martin let out a sigh as he shook his head.
He then directed a gaze of admiration to Calvin, "I really applaud you for your bravery, young man. To think that you'd be able to survive a night in that village."
"Thank you, sir..." Calvin slightly bowed his head as a return of gesture as he asked, "Since sir Martin told me that I have ten thousand merit points now. I wonder if I can use that for the release of Captain and the others?"
"What?" Ron Samuel stared at Calvin in bewilderment.
"Wait, what did you say?" Martin was also looking at Calvin in shock, "You... Do you now know what ten thousand merit points mean? With so many merit points you will be able to peek at the secrets of the church!"
"You could also exchange these points for Ascension Materials, or maybe for some mystical artifacts that would surely help you more than releasing these bunch of fools!"
"Shut up, old man." James Branzuela coldly snorted.
Martin lightly chuckled, "Are you sure that you're going to use your merit points for their release?"
"Yes..." Calvin nodded resolutely. He didn't have to peek at the secrets of the church since he had access to the Heavenly Abode of someone that knew the Church of All-Encompassing Light as if it was on the back of her hand. In regards to mystical artifacts, Calvin should be able to convince Grace to make one for him, and in regards to Ascension Materials.
Did he really need them when he had the Ascension System?
"Hahaha..." Martin boisterously laughed, "It seems that you didn't make the wrong decision of rescuing this newbie of yours, Ron!"
Ron Samuel didn't say anything in response, but there was a slight smile on his face.
Ashlynn boldly approached Calvin and whispered into his ears, "If you weren't married, I would've let you do it with me once or twice."
Her words carried with it her hot breath and it made Calvin's heart tremble as he cursed in his mind, 'Damn it, this vixen!'
"All right, since it looks like you are not going to change your decision so soon. I guess it's final." Martin smiled, "Give me your hand."
Calvin extended his arm and Martin took out his own custom-made medallion that signified his authority in the Department of Justice.
Clicking a button on his medallion, a needle appeared out of nowhere and Martin pricked Calvin's thumb with that needle, drawing blood from within Calvin's body.
A dim light covered Martin's medallion and he turned to look at Calvin and said, "Repeatedly say the words, 'I permit the extraction of ten thousand merit points' in your head until the light disappears."
Calvin nodded, 'I permit the extraction of ten thousand merit points.'
He chanted in his head.
The dim light soon disappeared and the transaction was completed. Calvin's medallion somehow didn't feel as heavy as it did before.
"Congratulations, Ron. You and your comrades are good to leave." Martin smiled at Ron Samuel before he turned to look at Calvin, "I really admire your compassion towards your friends, young man. It might be going over the boundary, but I want to ask you this. Would you be interested to work with the Department of Justice in the future?"