Chapter 637: The Law Does Not Punish Wizards

The next day, the details of the inquiry spread across the Empire like wildfire.

In his half‑giant form, Lei En bore massive wings on his back, wielded a war hammer, and a storm of lightning swirled around him; a single man held his own against the entire Naiser Elders Council and hundreds of Naiser Wizards.

The Naiser Wizards in the photo wore varied expressions—indifference, terror, bewilderment—all captured, like a world‑famous painting that lingers in the mind.

The newspaper headlines, each more eye‑catching than the last, read:

Naiser Wizards Engaged in Collective Corruption!

Shock! Chairman Lei En smashed the Naiser Elders Council with a single hammer strike at the Temple of Truth!

Who truly leads the Naiser Floating City?

……

Beneath the sensational headlines, the news stories were largely the same, detailing yesterday's inquiry and emphasizing that Lei En publicly issued a Triple‑Divine Blood Oath to prove his innocence. The overwhelming majority praised the act, lauding Chairman Lei En as selfless and devoted to the Empire's greater good.

The front‑page headlines weren't enough; every newspaper ran lengthy analyses bluntly condemning the Naiser Wizards' corruption.

A few bold papers hinted that someone of higher rank was pulling the strings.

No one dared to slight the Holy Soul Wizards; not a single newspaper mentioned Duke Hong Shi, not even a whisper. Yet rumors swirled among the populace, with private conversations assuming that the Gold Shield and supplies were taken by Hong Shi to repair his ParrasFloatingCity.

The inquiry continued.

Finance Minister Ai Xilei uncovered more fraudulent accounts each day, with the sums growing larger and more Naiser Wizards implicated.

With Consul Ge Nieu Si's tacit approval, newspapers across the Empire reported the inquiry's progress in real time.

For several days straight, the entire Empire's gaze was fixed on the Temple of Truth.

From street corners to corporate houses, whether in public or private, everyone was discussing Naiser.

By the fourth day of the inquiry, Ai Xilei and the treasury accountants finally reviewed every ledger, preliminarily concluding that the fraudulent accounts amounted to over 14 million Gold Shield, with nearly half of the Naiser Legendary Wizards involved—shocking the entire Empire.

Most of that 14‑plus million Gold Shield and supplies vanished within half a month, though some stemmed from earlier issues.

By then, no one was scrutinizing the details.

Public opinion unanimously blamed the Naiser Wizards.

Numerous Imperial legislators voiced opinions at various venues, denouncing the Naiser Wizards and the Elders Council. Some radical citizens even gathered outside the Temple of Truth to watch, and dissent began to echo within the Naiser Floating City itself.

Yet at the inquiry, the Naiser Legendary Wizards remained uncooperative—either remaining silent or answering questions with three "I don't know."

On the fifth day, the crowd outside the Temple of Truth swelled, the opposition swelling in wave after wave without pause.

The slogans denouncing the Naiser Wizards could even be heard inside the temple.

Another full day of inquiry passed with no result.

After five days of intense questioning, Consul Ge Niu Si's throat was dry, his patience long gone; seeing the inquiry's time about to end, he could no longer contain his anger and slammed the table.

Bang!

The obsidian table split in two, the deafening crash startling Imperial legislators and reporters alike. The Consul rose, shouting angrily, "I'll ask one last time: where exactly did this money and supplies go?"

The Naiser Wizards below remained silent.

"I won't let you speak, but someone else will," Ge Niu Si sneered, looking down and saying in a low voice, "If we still get no answer today, I will report to the Supreme Council, grant the Supervisory Group the right to cast interrogation spells, and have an Arbitrator step in for questioning."

Everyone in the hall's expression changed.

The God of Justice and Order controls the Empire's judicial authority; its doctrine is the Imperial law—impartial and harsh, showing no leniency toward criminal suspects.

When a criminal falls into the Church of Justice's hands, the judges and arbitrators always have a way to make them speak; Holy Swordsmen possess the ability to discern truth from lies, so misjudgments are rare, and once confirmed, execution follows the law immediately.

Imperial civilians both revere and fear Holy Swordsmen, never daring to interact much with the Church of Justice.

But the Empire is, after all, ruled by Wizards.

Wizards who worship the God of Magic enjoy legal privileges; unless a wizard commits an unforgivable grave crime with irrefutable evidence, Holy Swordsmen of the Church of Justice will not readily punish them.

Wizards born in a floating city are even higher‑ranked; usually only a floating city can sentence them.

Not to mention the Naiser Legendary Wizards.

They practically enjoy legal immunity; ordinary charges are ignored. Only Augulevi Master can discipline Naiser Legendary Wizards. Now that Augulevi Master has vanished, that authority has shifted to the higher‑ranked Supreme Council.

Having the Church of Justice torture Naiser Legendary Wizards has never occurred in Imperial history.

The law does not punish Wizards.

The Church of Justice has long harbored deep hatred for this, and will gladly grant Consul Ge Niu Si's request. Once this unwritten rule is broken, the God of Justice's reputation in the Empire will soar, spreading its doctrine thoroughly.

Around the hall stood twenty legendary Holy Swordsmen from the "Sword of Order," their airtight silver armor shimmering in unison, emitting a solemn, dignified aura.

At that moment, fierce protest chants rose from outside the temple.

"Arrest all the Naiser Wizards!"

"Put them on trial!"

"Naiser's glory must not be tarnished by shameless scoundrels…"

"Down with corrupt Wizards, restore the authority of the law!"

The Consul's overt threat, the Holy Swordsmen's readiness, the protesters' clamor, and the countless Imperial citizens' public pressure finally broke the nervous defense of the guilty Naiser Wizards.

Their faces turned pale as they kept glancing at the seated Bu Oyangsi in front.

Among them were several Naiser Elders.

The scene made everyone present understand; many wore expressions of 'I told you so.' Elder Bu Oyangsi was the mastermind behind the Naiser ledger fraud, and he surely knew best where the 14‑plus million Gold Shield and supplies went—perhaps he handled it himself.

Instantly, Ge Niu Si, the Supervisory Group members, Imperial legislators and reporters fixed their gaze on Elder Bu Oyangsi, awaiting his response.

But Bu Oyangsi sat motionless.

His face showed no change, his eyes drooped, like a statue.

The hall's tension hung for half a minute before Ge Niu Si asked in a low voice, "Elder Bu Oyangsi, do you have anything to say?"

"Nothing," Bu Oyangsi replied calmly.

"Very well."

Ge Niu Si nodded, glanced at Lei En beside him, and said, "I will report the fraudulent accounts to the Supreme Council truthfully, request an Arbitrator's interrogation, and, on behalf of the Supervisory Group, propose to the Supreme Council that, since several Naiser Elders have broken Imperial law, they are no longer fit to govern the floating city, stripping the Naiser Elders Council of its authority over Naiser."

Before the words even finished, a clamor of shocked cries erupted in the hall.

Except for Lei En and three other Mo Du supervisory delegates, everyone else was stunned.

All the Naiser Wizards suddenly turned pale.

Bu'ao Yangsi snapped his head up, his eyes filled with disbelief, not understanding how things had come to this point.

The Naiser Elders who were not involved in the false accounts also could not stay seated; Elder Keluonomanse hurried to his feet and shouted, "Consul, please reconsider!"

Harawa also stood up to voice his stance, trying to thwart Genieus's idea.

Genieus ignored them and said loudly, "Today's inquiry session ends here; adjourn."

Having said that, he walked away without looking back.

Lei En also rose on the platform, his gaze sweeping over the bewildered Naiser Wizards below, lingering briefly on Elders Keluonomanse and Harawa before opening a teleportation portal and departing.

Within a quarter of an hour, the news that the Consul would strip the Naiser Elders' Council of power spread throughout Nuosiruier.

Half an hour later, the upper echelons of the Empire had received the news.

The rumor spread in a frenzy.

As the true mastermind behind it all, Lei En had already returned to Viola's exquisite manor. Two days earlier, he had moved out of the Fesin Pafen Hotel, bringing an Extreme Warrior to stay, and each night indulged in intimate bliss, thoroughly delighted.

On the first day of the inquiry session, Viola communicated with the Longhaired Lady to remove the Church's supernaturals, and quickly obtained consent.

Then the Extreme Warrior moved into the manor.

The three legendary supernaturals and their guards had intended to mock Viola, but upon seeing the Extreme Warrior and Lei En appear, they dared not utter a word and withdrew. In the manor, among dozens of servants, Lei En used his Soul Eye to screen them, eliminating a few treacherous informants.

These years, Viola has enjoyed great fame throughout Nuosiruier.

Her world‑shaking beauty, illustrious lineage, vast wealth, and the promotion of Phonographs and Cameras have made Viola's name renowned in the imperial capital, attracting countless admirers.

If it were ordinary times, these events around her would surely draw many eyes.

But at present, everyone's attention is on the inquiry session.

Aside from a few schemers and interested parties, few notice the Beauty and Goodness Church's power struggle, or the gossip surrounding Lei En and Viola.

On the manor's terrace, Lei En is sharing a star‑lit dinner with Viola.

After several days of pampering, Viola's flawless face glowed, and when she looked at Lei En her eyes were full of tender affection, a little woman immersed in happiness.

Suddenly, she produced a communication gem bearing the Beauty and Goodness Church emblem, which was faintly glowing.

"It's a message from Mrs. Ilaysa."

Viola whispered an explanation, channeling soul energy into the gem to receive its contents, then her brows gently furrowed.

Lei En sensed her unease and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Mrs. Ilaysa invites us to her manor for a music salon," Viola replied.

(End of Chapter)