Chapter 29

Their leader was a man with black short hair, walking slowly like a resting black panther, his muscle lines rippling smoothly beneath his bronzed skin.

"They're from the Heresy Tribunal....."

Shen Zexi's voice was pressed extremely low, almost squeezed out from between his teeth.

His whole body instantly tensed, his brain racing.

Why would the Church's most covert violent organ suddenly appear inside the Academy? Who is the target? Why now, of all times?

Is it aimed at Luo Jinyou's sudden mutation, or something else?

Qi Hengyu's face turned deathly pale the moment he saw who was coming.

The Heresy Tribunal cares nothing for reputation; their very existence is synonymous with slaughter.

Of course, those atrocities are not seen as slaughter by them, but as "purification."

Using the most extreme means to erase anything the Church defines as "heretical," "contaminated," or "taboo," without cumbersome judicial proceedings, taking direct orders from the Pope.

As long as it's an order from the Pope, no matter how vile, they will carry it out.

Only seeing the leader wave his hand, the Heresy Tribunal squad spread out in well-trained fashion.

Their movements were fluid and deadly, instantly forming a perfect tactical half‑encirclement, cleverly using the terrain of the abandoned training ground to place all four within their control.

His gaze swiftly swept over the somewhat chaotic scene.

The hole in the wall still stained with blood and dust, Luo Jinyou unconscious on the ground with a pallid face, Shen Zexi and Qi Hengyu bearing the disheveled traces and grime from their recent fight...

Looks like they got into a fight?

The Little Ghost on the ground seems fine, just fainted, with a steady life force.

Young people........

The man shook his head silently; indeed, youthful vigor.

Finally, his eyes fell on that patch of Ying Guang Lu, which stood out glaringly even in the dim surroundings.

Ying Duo's right-hand wound had healed, no longer bleeding, but the blood covering his hand also told him that, in the recent scuffle among the few, this kid had taken part.

Although his intuition told him this kid probably wasn't, the required procedure still couldn't be skipped...

The man stepped forward, his military boots striking the gravel with a clear echo.

He ignored Luo Jinyou lying on the ground, turned straight to Ying Duo, and spoke with a somewhat nonchalant tone.

"Ying Duo, at dawn three days ago, in the Slum you were confirmed to have awakened Aberrant Arts, and during the day you participated and passed Mitra Academy's entrance examination, correct?"

He didn't need Ying Duo's answer; if he couldn't even confirm the mission target, he wouldn't need to do this job.

But since the Heresy Tribunal is the one making the arrest, he must follow protocol and recite the lines.

If he doesn't say them, they'll dock his pay.

Sigh, this miserable working‑class life.

"We are the Special Operations Unit of the Church Heresy Tribunal, carrying out divine will to cleanse impurity."

Really, that's pretty chuunibyou........

He kept complaining inside, but the man still mechanically repeated the line he'd said countless times.

"Based on intelligence and preliminary evidence, we reasonably suspect you have a major connection to a high‑danger‑level taboo incident."

"Under Article 7, Clause 12 of the Sacred Covenant granting emergency investigative authority, you are now formally named a suspect in this case."

"Please immediately cease all current activities, unconditionally cooperate with us to return to the Judgment Court for isolation and thorough examination; giving up futile resistance is your only wise choice."

As his words fell, the surrounding air seemed to instantly solidify, and the scene fell into a silent standoff.

Ying Duo remained silent, while the Heresy Tribunal members covertly rested their hands on their weapons, ready to strike at the slightest sign of non‑cooperation.

"Bullshit!"

Unexpectedly, it was Qi Hengyu who first broke the deadlock.

"What evidence do you have? You just open and close your mouths to take people away?"

He glared at the black‑haired man before him, as if he could punch him out the next second; Shen Zexi firmly held back the nearly leaping Qi Hengyu, the force so great that Qi Hengyu felt waves of pain in his arm.

Although Ying Duo bears many mysteries, they had just rescued someone together, and the Heresy Tribunal's ill reputation is widespread, so he naturally prefers to trust Ying Duo.

But he knows all too well the outcome of a head‑on clash with the Heresy Tribunal—they really will resort to lethal force under the pretext of obstructing official duties.

Shen Zexi stopped Qi Hengyu's further impulsive words and deeds with a glance, then took a deep breath, forcing himself to be as calm as possible and standing between Ying Duo and the tribunal squad.

"Your Excellencies of the Tribunal," Shen Zexi's voice tried to stay steady, but his tightly clenched right hand betrayed his inner tension.

"I am Shen Zexi, a student of Mitra Academy; may I ask, you accuse our academy's student Ying Duo of involvement in a 'taboo incident'—could you produce more concrete evidence or an arrest warrant?"

"As far as I know, even the emergency authority granted by the Sacred Covenant requires substantive documentary basis."

"Unrelated personnel, remain silent."

That captain didn't even glance at Shen Zexi, directly cutting off his words.

Documentary basis........

It does exist, but he didn't bring it.

And saying such a thing would definitely not be allowed—it would make the Heresy Tribunal look pretentious.

Energy fluctuations began to emanate from the members behind him, faint but perceptible, making breathing hitch—clearly a warning to Shen Zexi not to speak further.

The leader waved his hand magnanimously, "Alright, don't waste energy bullying kids."

"Our target is only one person; I'll repeat it once more—suspect Ying Duo, cooperate immediately, otherwise we'll have to resort to force."

Fortunately, the person who came today is him; if it were any hot‑tempered colleague, this kid would probably end up lying beside the Little Ghost on the ground.

Oh, his colleagues seem not to forget to bring the paper proof.

But he's also in a hurry, with no time to keep dragging this out here.

Shen Zexi was anxious, thinking of ways to stall for time or contact the Academy's higher-ups for intervention.

Ying Duo had been standing silently aside, as if uninvolved, but upon hearing the man's second warning, he actually moved.

His face still bore that signature blank expression, with no fear, no anger, not even a hint of doubt.

Like receiving an ordinary order, he obediently took a step toward the man, showing cooperation.

"Ying Duo! Don't go!"

Shen Zexi couldn't help but let out a low cry; he knew the methods of the Heretical Judgment Bureau, how could he just watch Ying Duo follow those people away?

The methods of the Heresy Tribunal are far more than mere "interrogation"!

Anyone who enters the gates of the Heresy Tribunal finds even having skin peeled off to be light; even if they die there, they have a hundred ways to cover it up.

But Ying Duo seemed to have completely not received his warning, or rather, didn't care.

Seeing Ying Duo so cooperative, the man's expression visibly softened; he turned slightly aside, making way.

"Looks like you made a wise choice, follow."

Shen Zexi gritted his teeth silently, fists clenched, nails almost digging into his palm.

He knew any obstruction now would be futile, possibly even dragging himself and Qi Hengyu into it.

He could only firmly memorize the features of these Judgment Court members before him, then quickly and clearly say to Ying Duo who was about to be taken away.

"Ying Duo! Listen, we will immediately notify the Academy's teachers! Don't admit to anything you didn't do!"

He hoped to give Ying Duo a hint, letting the Judgment Court people know the Academy would intervene, perhaps making them wary during "interrogation".

Ying Duo heard the words, his steps paused, he turned to look at Shen Zexi.

That gaze still had no content, but perhaps... maybe he had received the message?

That captain gave Qi Hengyu a deep look, then, before preparing to leave, lightly added a sentence, unknown whether it was comfort or warning.

"It's just a routine inspection; as long as he has nothing to do with it, he'll naturally return to the Academy soon."

"Soon?"

Hearing that, Shen Zexi sneered inwardly; the "soon" given by the Heresy Tribunal has no credibility, it could be days, or forever.

He watched Ying Duo's conspicuous green hair disappear around the alley corner, supervised by that group of silver-clad figures as they left, feeling a sense of helplessness wash over his whole body.