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 little late. 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 flash 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 uncomfortably. After studying her for a while, Pope Bartolomeo raised his hand. Then, with a prayer, he commenced 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 still composed 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 glance at Morrigan. "Have you ever attempted to curse or kill someone?"
Morrigan shook her head in denial, rejecting the accusation. "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 glanced 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 glance 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 declaring, "Dark magic heretics can burn and die. My judgment is for execution."
"Isn’t this unfair?!" Morrigan’s voice rose unintentionally as her mana flared 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 flared 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, glaring at each of the Cardinals in turn before declaring 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 flared again, Maxwell sighed and continued, his gaze unyielding. "I request that Lady Morrigan’s trial be postponed to another day."
Morrigan’s eyes widened at the sight of Thomas there. Seeing the gaze of his Lady, Thomas bowed in a flourish and smiled. "I’ve come 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 escalated 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 glaring 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 glance, 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 flash, Thomas’s defeat of the Cardinals caused a wave of panic in the room. Then, charging at Judas, Thomas grabbed his head and slammed 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 slashed toward Thomas’s neck, he shifted slightly and avoided the blade.
"Thomas!" Solomon’s furious voice echoed, and Thomas’s eyes grew serious as he adjusted his glasses. "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 slammed his head into the ground.
As Solomon collapsed, Thomas adjusted his glasses 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 Templar 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.