Chapter 257- Inquisitor Of The Sacred Truth (2)
After finishing her mission, Karina disappeared from the scene.
Jerrel was stunned by the assassin's scary mastery in stealth before placing his attention on the knight in question.
"They are the king's guards. They are heavily poisoned!! Sir Reinhardt, what is the meaning of this?"
"Don't worry, I can remove the poison in their bodies with my skill," the latter assured. "More importantly, you should sit back and watch what happens next. I assure you that I won't kill them".
With the Divine Paladin saying so much, he could only stand down. And so it began. One of Reinhardt's titles, [Inquisitor of the Sacred Truth], activated.
For the activation of this title, three conditions need to be met. First, the Divine Paladin should be questioning or investigating another party with the intent to uncover the truth.
Secondly, it requires the other party to be bound in a state where they are not able to move freely. And finally, it needed him to say these words.
"By the authority of the inquisitor, only the truth shall be spoken from this point on".
[Inquisitor of the Sacred Truth] is now active. Effects: [Tongue of Chains] Once the title activates, the target's words are bound by divine law. They cannot tell a lie — attempting to do so causes their tongue to turn to ash in their mouth (symbolically, causing unbearable pain until corrected).
[Weight of Truth] Any attempt at deception, omission, or twisted wording makes the target's body grow heavier, as though the guilt of their lie is dragging them down in chains. If they persist, they may collapse entirely, unable to even stand before him.
+50% resistance to charm, illusion, and mental manipulation effects to all allies in range.
With the Title now in effect, Reinhardt began. [Radiant Renewal].
Some trace of lucidity finally appeared in the eyes of the knights, who struggled to get free. However, thanks to the poison that was not completely removed fromtheir system, they could not move from their place.
That said, while their bodies can't move, their mouth still can.
"You what are you doing? What is the meaning of this? What did we do to you?"
While one questioned Reinhardt, the other seemed to have noticed Jerrel by the side.
"Sir Jerrel, what is this? We are the king's guard? How can you treat us like this?"
"This.." Just when the Emerald Knight tried to speak, Reinhardt cut him off.
"From now on, you two will only answer the questions that I ask".
"Who do you think you are to act so arrogantly in front of us?"
"Yes, do you even know who we are?"
The two knights barked; however, that was their first mistake.
"Kuh!! What is going on?"
"My body feels so heavy all of a sudden."
Immediately, their body started growing heavier. The skill judged their words as trying to avoid his investigation.
"Now then, let's begin. My first question for you," Reinhardt pointed at one of the knights. "Tell me what you were doing in the underground sewer of the Staleport city a month ago on the date of 24th".
His question caused the other party's face to suddenly turn pale. Why was his question so precise and specific? He even got the date and location right.
The knight tried to lie his way out, second mistake. "W-What are you saying, I was never there in the Staleport city a month ago… Aaarrghh!!"
Before he could complete his sentence, chains appeared around his tongue, strangling it. That was not all, the chains ran very hot, scorching his tongue. Of course, it was all an illusion. However, the knight did not know it, nor did the one next to him.
"W-What did you do to him?" the latter asked, pale and afraid.
"He tried to lie, so the chains scorched his tongue. It would be the same for you if you lied too. Now answer my question".
Reinhardt placed his question for the second knight.
"Did you meet him on the 25th of the previous month in Staleport city?"
The knight thought for a while before nodding his head. The pain did not come.
"See, if you answer correctly, you won't suffer any pain. Now then, your tongue should have mostly recovered, meaning you can answer again. This time, choose wisely when you answer."
And so he placed another question for the first knight.
"Who were those people who laid the summoning circle in the sewers?"
Another precise question. The first knight gulped, looked at his tongue and answered.
"Those people were a bunch of shady people who were trying to do something in the underground sewers. I confronted them when I noticed something unusual….Aaarghh… s-stop it so heavy!! My bones might break!!" he screamed in pain again.
"W-Why did you do that? He just answered you truthfully," The second knight protested.
"He tried to twist the words. Hence, he is feeling the [Weight of his Words] now. While he recovers, you answer the next question. There should be more than just you two knights. Who else was there on the night of the 31st?"
Night of the 31st, it was the very same day when the Staleport city was attacked by the demons and the place was razed to the ground. A catastrophic event that caused massive loss of life. As such, all the people of the kingdom of Rune know about this date.
The second knight looked at the condition of the first knight and deliberated over his options. If he lied here, his tongue would be twisted and burned by the chains.
Framing or twisting words was also not an option. Then what should he do? Immediately, an idea arrived in his mind.
"There were five more knights beside us. They were all covering their faces and all of them came to the Staleport city on the night of 26th …Kuh!!".
At that moment, the second knight felt what Reinhardt previously meant by the [Weight of their Words]. His body felt so heavy that his bones might just break.