The Church of Judicature in the Okam Empire is similar to the Anjing United Organization on Blue Star in Willis’s previous life.
However, unlike the latter, although the Church is divided into departments, its overall authority is extensive.
Within the Okam Empire, the Church of Judicature acts as the executor of the law, yet it often operates beyond the boundaries of imperial law.
The ranks from highest to lowest are: Inquisitor, Chief Inquisitor, Principal Justice, Vice Justice, Senior Patrol, Junior Handler, and finally, the regular personnel.
Time rewinds to one hour ago…
After surviving two assassination attempts in a single day, Willis sat inside the carriage that had just left her chambers, squinting as she gazed at the night scenery of the Royal City.
The lights shone brilliantly. Since Great Sage Bulwil Hadru invented the Illumination Spell, this foundational magic array had been continuously improved and adapted by later generations.
In the end, it was widely applied throughout the entire Vistoria Continent.
Everywhere, magical arrays inscribed with the Illumination Spell, enhanced by other magic arrays, created various lighting fixtures.
Judging by the effect, they were no different from the diverse lighting Willis had known on Blue Star before her transmigration.
The Royal City before her was a concentration of the empire’s top-tier lighting installations.
The lights shone dazzlingly, bright as day.
Yet, such radiant scenes failed in the slightest to pierce the darkness in Willis’s heart.
“Stop.”
Suddenly, Willis called out to the coachman.
“Your Highness!”
Seeing Willis step out of the carriage, the coachman hurriedly saluted.
Willis glanced at him, then looked toward the guards who had rushed out hastily to accompany her.
“You continue on. When you reach Eldest Imperial Sister’s residence, report to her and return immediately. If anyone dares to stray from the formation or cause a disturbance, they are to be executed without mercy! This is an order!”
With Willis’s icy command, the guards showed surprise, uncertain of what the princess intended.
Having faced two assassination attempts in one day, logic dictated heavy protection now.
Yet Her Highness the Princess was sending them off?
But seeing Willis’s grim expression, no one in the formation protested. The captain hesitated for a few seconds, then saluted.
“Yes, Your Highness!”
Without question, he led the guards away.
Willis watched them disappear before turning back into the carriage.
“Turn around. Head to the Church of Judicature.”
The coachman dared not delay, tugging the reins sharply to change direction, steering onto another grand avenue in the Royal City.
The Royal City covered a vast area. Fortified by walls, it looked like a city within a city.
Its roads crisscrossed in broad, grand avenues.
The wheels of the carriage rolled softly over the bluestone tiles, flanked by countless imposing and solemn palaces and mansions.
Within those walls lived the powerful figures who controlled the empire’s power, economy, culture, law, and all other aspects—along with their families and retainers.
Willis didn’t linger, pressing the coachman to hurry.
She didn’t know exactly how many of the guards assigned to her were enemies, but she was sure that at least the majority were loyal to the royal family.
The enemy’s infiltration was pervasive, but completely replacing the entire guard force was impossible.
“What needs to be done now is to buy time… I have to get ahead before my whereabouts are leaked.”
Willis murmured to herself, feeling an overwhelming weariness, accompanied by an uncontrollable surge of killing intent spreading through her body.
Though the Royal City was large, the Church of Judicature was easy to find.
Soon, the carriage came to an abrupt stop.
Someone arriving at the Church of Judicature at midnight immediately drew the attention of the guarding soldiers, who approached to question them.
When Willis stepped down, everyone present immediately knelt.
As they were about to cry out in reverence, Willis waved her hand to stop them.
“Keep quiet. Who is on duty tonight? Go report immediately, then dispatch a team to the Caoque Imperial Palace.”
Willis stepped forward, and an official hurried out from inside the Church.
“Your Highness! Your Highness! Principal Justice Normankev is standing by for orders. May I ask the purpose of Your Highness’s midnight visit?”
The man wore the formal black-and-white uniform—the black symbolizing imperial power, the white justice.
Only by exercising the power of justice could the empire maintain long-term peace and stability.
This had been the founding principle and goal of the Church of Judicature.
Every member wore a badge adorned with a white lotus, symbolizing purity untouched by mud, embodying the Church’s commitment to light and justice.
Each additional petal on the white lotus represented a promotion in rank—from a single petal for the lowest rank to seven fully bloomed petals for the highest rank, the Inquisitor.
The Church’s hierarchy was immediately apparent.
Yet, to Willis, this symbol of incorruptible justice now seemed somewhat ironic.
Normankev was handsome, with sharp features and short hair, appearing capable and intelligent.
He stood humbly, awaiting Willis’s orders.
“Principal Justice,” Willis sneered coldly, “someone crossed the Royal City to attempt to assassinate me in my own chambers… What have you in the Church of Judicature been doing?”
Hearing this, Normankev broke out in cold sweat, bowing even lower.
“Please forgive us, Your Highness! We will dispatch investigators immediately!”
“Enough. Do as I say.”
Willis’s eyes narrowed slightly, a murderous gleam shining through.
***
Not long after, Willis’s figure appeared again outside the Caoque Imperial Palace.
Overhearing a few conspirators whispering plans to flee, she couldn’t help but step forward.
“Oh? I’m afraid you won’t be going anywhere tonight…”
Magic surged from her hand, fueled by anger, but before she struck, the Church’s personnel hidden nearby swarmed out and captured the men.
The investigators who had come to the palace earlier now led a group of trembling maids and guards out.
“Your Highness, no one else tried to escape, but we cannot rule out the possibility of more traitors among them.”
Willis glanced coldly at the maids and said, “Enough. Let’s go.”
***
At this moment…
Willis sat leisurely in a lavish interrogation room within the Church of Judicature, crossing her elegant legs.
This room was where criminals were questioned.
It was called lavish because of the various cruel torture devices displayed, which made Willis feel uneasy just looking at them.
What if they were used on living people…
“Her Highness the Princess, everything is prepared.”
Principal Justice Normankev eyed the bound captives before him and smiled grimly.
No matter how the outside world vilified this fairy-like princess, within this interrogation chamber and its surrounding kilometer radius…
Few could claim to be better than Willis.
Regardless of the righteousness of their causes, judging only by their methods and outcomes, there was little difference.
“Your Highness! Your Highness, we’re innocent! We truly have nothing to do with those villains!”
The butler and several maids who had once served Willis closely now wailed in the interrogation room, all wearing shackles.
“Oh? Did I mishear, Your Highness?”
Willis asked with a smile.
“Yes, Her Highness must have heard wrong. How could we possibly be connected to the assassins?”
One maid’s face was streaked with snot and tears, whether from fear or the pain of false accusation, no one knew.
“Your Highness! Even if you don’t remember our contributions, consider our hardships!”
“We have served Your Highness loyally for so many years without causing you anger. Please give us one more chance—we are truly not accomplices of the assassins.”
“If Your Highness shows mercy and releases us, we will serve as beasts of burden for life, repaying your great kindness!”
Willis was too indifferent to listen further.
“Begin. I want results by morning. If they don’t confess, make sure they don’t die comfortably…”
Saying this, Willis turned and left, uninterested in observing the proceedings.
“Yes, Your Highness!”
Normankev saluted Willis as she left, then turned to glare coldly at the captives before breaking into a sinister laugh.
“Ha ha ha, dare to assassinate the Imperial Princess of the empire? I hope these toys will provide me with some fun before they die…”