She was doomed, but she still had a sister, relatives, and important friends.
Her husband also had a male cousin and two female cousins.
As long as I steered the topic to her father’s business and used that to make an issue, she would have no choice but to confess.
Otherwise, Qiao En, to verify the truth, would surely go investigate.
But with Qiao En’s personality, if he saw those filthy deeds, would he stand idly by?
Once he intervened, how many important figures would he offend?
How big an earthquake would it cause in the Empire Capital?
That woman could fully imagine it.
And those powerful officials affected would certainly wish to send her, the culprit, along with her family and friends, all to hell.
Confess, and only she dies.
Refuse to confess, and if Qiao En stirred up a huge mess, her entire clan would be buried with her.
Anyone who wasn’t a fool knew how to choose.
Lan Luo Si finished his explanation and smugly waited for everyone’s praise.
The knights admired him immensely—he had managed to escape unscathed from under that Great Demon King Qiao En’s hand.
Truly worthy of being their big brother.
A moment later.
“I’ve thought of a second good way to deal with Qiao En.”
Icot, however, fell into a long contemplation.
With a grave tone, he commanded everyone:
“Ma Xiu, lead a team immediately and quickly fabricate false evidence for each case. The false evidence can be vague, but it must leave no trace.”
“Ai Er Bote, lead a team to investigate the relatives these Demon Collaborators care about. Take some symbolic keepsakes, and while Qiao En is away from the Inquisition Court, sneak in to intimidate and bribe them, forcing them to confess and admit to the forged evidence.”
“Qiao En won’t find any leverage, and in the end he’ll have to back down. Doesn’t he love being the Partner of Justice? Then let him see just how ‘just’ our actions really are.”
Icot spoke with a cold laugh, but his brow did not relax.
“Lord Bishop is wise!”
Lan Luo Si immediately started flattering him.
Icot glanced at him and instantly knew that this guy had also thought of it, but had deliberately given him the chance to speak.
Qiao En, Lan Luo Si—why were other people’s juniors so outstanding?
He didn’t even want his nephew Wen Sen involved in this kind of thing.
It wasn’t to protect him, but because he was sure that guy had almost no other merits besides being cowardly.
He was a pure troublemaker—couldn’t accomplish anything but could spoil everything.
“Where are Scottie and Lebron?”
Icot scanned the crowd and suddenly asked.
“It seems Scottie helped Lebron back to treat his injuries.”
“Alright, I’ll go find him myself later.”
After finishing his calculations, Icot swept his gaze over everyone.
He coughed, and as the backbone, delivered a final motivational speech.
“Remember, this matter concerns the future of all of us. Succeed, and we all stay safe. Fail, and we all go to prison. So only success is allowed, not failure. Understand?”
“Understood!”
Everyone responded in unison.
“Get to work. After it’s done, I’ll give everyone an extra year’s salary. Those eligible for promotion will be promoted, those deserving commendation will be commended. As long as we work together and get through these hard times together, our future will keep getting better. No one can stop us from living a good life. Cough, cough, cough…”
By the end, Icot coughed violently.
Amid everyone’s worried looks, Icot said irritably:
“What are you looking at? I won’t die from a little disruption to organizational stability. All of you, go do your work. Each to his own duty, and work together to oppose that Great Demon King who blocks everyone’s future.”
The knights all dispersed.
Icot stepped onto the Glowing Fluorite Path and slowly walked toward the Knight Hall.
His back was thin and desolate.
Arriving at the Apprentice Knight quarters, sure enough, Scottie was treating Lebron’s injuries.
The two were chatting and laughing until Lebron noticed the bishop at the door, and then he struggled to get up.
“Alright, no need to be polite with me. Lie down comfortably and take good care of your health.”
Icot’s tone was like that of a kind old man concerned for his grandson.
“Lord Bishop…”
Lebron was somewhat moved.
“How is your mother’s illness? Has it improved?”
“Thanks to your blessing, she can already get out of bed. I don’t know how to thank you.”
“No need for thanks. You are a filial and good child, I appreciate you very much. I am your bishop, and it is my duty to be responsible for you. However, there are still many areas where I have fallen short.”
“No, you’ve done more than enough.”
Icot shook his head, putting on a show of guilt.
“If I had done well enough, how would this Qiao En matter have come up? He’s not wrong, and no one else is wrong either. It’s just… isn’t there a way to resolve things to everyone’s satisfaction?”
Scottie murmured to himself:
“There is.”
Icot suddenly looked toward him.
Scottie’s heart tightened, sensing something.
Forcing calmness, he replied:
“Lord Bishop, I… I suddenly remembered there’s something at home. I’d like to ask for leave.”
“At this critical moment, you want to abandon everyone?”
Icot said slowly.
“But what can I do? Go persuade Qiao En? He won’t listen to me. That’s just how he is—stubborn, won’t yield or play nice.”
Scottie made a pained face.
Icot, however, said:
“Good child, I’m sure you can see that Qiao En is a capable person. His talents shouldn’t be wasted on such trivial matters every day; he should be contributing to the Empire. I have a way to help him leave our Old City District Church and transfer to a more crucial position.”
“W-What way?”
Scottie was nervous and flustered, not knowing where to put his hands.
“Commander Haran.”
“Alright, I understand.”
Scottie didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, painfully covering his forehead.
“Th-This is too damn dirty! How can I use Qiao En’s trust in me to harm him? Can’t you think of something else?”
“What way?”
Icot asked slowly.
“For example, have the ‘bait’ you prepared locked up in the Inquisition Court, then pretend to be a wrongly accused Demon Collaborator to approach…”
Scottie’s voice grew slower and slower.
He gradually realized something, his expression turning terrified.
“Good idea.”
Sure enough, Icot said approvingly.
“Then do it as you said. Scottie, you’ve really made a great contribution.”
Scottie knew he had been dragged into the water, and frantically waved his hands, shouting in grievance:
“No, Lord Bishop! This method has nothing to do with me! I just said it offhandedly!”
“I know, I can help clarify that for you.”
Icot then shifted his tone.
“But Scottie, this is everyone’s business. You can’t always stay on the sidelines. Since you’re unwilling to deal with Qiao En, then just do me a small favor. That should be fine, right?”
Scottie was silent.
After a long while, his hands dropped limply, and he said bitterly:
“Fine, I understand.”
“There is a lady who can save us from this predicament. She is an orphan of a Holy Army martyr. Her father had some acquaintance with your mother when they were young. I hope… you can help me arrange to meet her and act as an intermediary.”
A long silence.
“…Yes.”
A long, endless lingering sound.
When the nest overturns, how can any ‘good person’ remain unscathed?