"Investigate the energy level," the bishop said in a deep voice. A priest took out a compass, and the pointer floating on the surface of the compass began to spin, with the scale rising rapidly.
"this..."
Many people couldn't help but wipe their sweat, but some were not surprised at all.
"Property investigation".
"boom"
Seemingly stimulated by something, the test tube lit up, the twelve eternal lamps around the altar flickered, the flames turned a ghostly green, and some wisps of mist seeped out of the test tube.
"Mist, negative energy…" The bishop's brows furrowed deeply.
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Just then, another unexpected event occurred!
"Tap...tap...tap..."
A series of soft yet unusually clear footsteps suddenly rang in everyone's ears!
"What was that sound?!" The interim mayor turned pale with fright and took a step back.
The people from Blue Moon City also showed surprise and looked around warily.
The bishop's expression changed drastically, and horror flashed in his eyes.
"No! Stop right now!" he shouted sharply, slamming his scepter down heavily, and the twelve ever-burning lamps went out.
The priests who were chanting the incantation all changed their expressions and forcibly stopped chanting.
"puff!"
With a muffled thud, more than a dozen priests spat out a mouthful of blood, their bodies swayed, and their faces instantly turned ashen white, clearly suffering from the backlash of the divine spell.
As the divine spell ended, the eerie footsteps under the holy light stopped, lingered for a few moments, then gradually faded away and disappeared.
The mist inside the test tube gradually dissipated and returned to silence.
The hall was deathly silent, save for suppressed breathing and the heavy breathing of the crowd.
Everyone was stunned by the horrific scene that had just unfolded.
Under the protection of the "sacred dwelling" ceremony presided over by the temple, merely examining the remnants had attracted such a terrifying phenomenon, and even caused the priesthood to suffer backlash and injuries!
"Your Excellency, what... what is this thing?" An official asked, his voice trembling slightly, as he composed himself.
The bishop's face was ashen. He did not answer immediately. He walked over to the injured priest, examined him, and frowned.
"The injuries aren't serious, but they've been contaminated and need purification and recuperation." He said in a deep voice, turning to the crowd: "Gentlemen, the situation is similar to what we imagined. This is no ordinary evil; its power level has reached the forbidden level."
"It's very likely number 31, an ancient taboo associated with those who walk in the fog."
"To ensure the safety of the temple and Carlton City, all samples must be sealed immediately and escorted to Blue Moon City by the Templar Knights. This matter must be reported to the Prime Minister and Her Majesty the Queen for a decision at the highest level."
The temple's report arrived at the Blue Moon City Prime Minister's residence within half an hour.
On the oak desk, the Prime Minister's brows furrowed more and more as he unfolded the parchment.
"High energy, fog, a traveler in the fog…" the prime minister murmured to himself, recalling a similar approach taken by a previous prime minister.
He picked up his quill pen and wrote a note in the blank space of the report: "To Her Majesty the Queen, I suggest the establishment of a special investigation committee, with the White Tower in attendance and the Temple cooperating."
When the messenger arrived at the Royal Gardens, the Queen was pruning roses.
The monarch took the gold-embossed envelope, tore it open, glanced at it briefly, and then handed it to her husband beside her: "Take a look."
Prince Will took the report and began to read it carefully. When he saw "High Energy Taboo" and "Walker in the Mist," he was taken aback.
The Queen casually placed a white rose into a vase: "Is the assassination of Earl Carlton related to this? Why would those cultists assassinate a nobleman?"
"The report mentions a list of suspects." Will pulled out an appendix from the file folder, his eyes quickly scanning the densely packed names.
When he saw the last few pages, Su Yu's name was actually listed. Prince Will closed the document and said, "I will keep an eye on the progress of the case."
"Don't take it too seriously," the Queen said calmly. The government has the right to exercise power, but it also has to bear responsibility. It's best for the royal family not to get involved in these kinds of events.
Ibrahim Palace
"Your Highness, we have arrived." The coachman's voice came, and a maid lifted the carriage curtain, releasing the sweet fragrance of water lilies.
This enamel palace, built in 1705, is currently bathed in the warm autumn sun.
Golden leaves fell from the plane trees lining both sides of the park entrance avenue, while a few late-blooming roses stubbornly unfurled their petals.
On the 6-acre artificial lake, several swans are leisurely swimming.
Lin Pengpeng stepped onto the steps and nodded to the old man waiting under the porch.
"Your Highness is well." The old steward bowed slightly. "The kitchen has prepared tea and refreshments, and... a messenger is waiting in the small hall."
Lin Pengpeng paused, then went to the small hall, where the fire in the fireplace crackled and cast an amber light onto the long table.
The maid skillfully served the milk tea.
"Your Highness, this was just received." A roll of parchment was handed over, the edges of which were still warm from the touch of body heat, indicating that it had just been delivered through some channel.
Lin Pengpeng gently stirred the milk tea with a silver teaspoon, slowly scanning the contents.
Her gaze lingered for a moment on words like "high position" and "number 31," then she smiled.
"So that's how it is."
"Are you sure it has nothing to do with Su Yu?" she said calmly.
The maid paused as she placed almond cookies on the saucer: "The messenger said that Su Yu's involvement has been largely ruled out. He has a clear alibi for the day of the incident."
"They didn't leave for even a minute."
"I see."
Lin Pengpeng sighed, picked up the teacup, took a sip, and felt the unique flavor slowly spread on her tongue.
"Earl Carlton…" Lin Pengpeng thought of this nobleman with the blood of Xia Lan flowing through his veins, and of his hidden resentment when she left.
She also recalled the subtle obstacles she encountered when she was active in Blue Moon City.
If it wasn't Su Yu, who wanted him dead? Those cultists?
"Your Highness, should we continue to follow up?" the maid asked softly, casually placing a stack of gold-embossed envelopes on the table—invitations, the first one sealed with the royal coat of arms in deep red wax.
"No need," she waved her hand. "This is a matter for the Ying Kingdom."
"Furthermore, this case is likely number 31, a taboo subject known in ancient times as the 'Walker in the Mist,' so we must not interfere."
"Believe it or not, even the Ying Kingdom's royal family won't get involved very deeply."
Lin Pengpeng turned her gaze to the courtyard outside the window.
Contrary to what ordinary people think, those in positions of power avoid getting involved in such taboos as much as possible; this is a lesson learned the hard way.
Because of their high position, they have various ways to achieve their goals indirectly.
To truly solve this problem, we must ask heroes to sacrifice themselves.
The maid, who knew a thing or two, changed the subject, asking, "So, whose invitations did you accept at noon and in the afternoon?"
"The second one, please."
"Also, I can consider the invitation from the Mechanical Workers' Union. After the congressional investigation team leaves, I can visit the Mechanical Workers' Union and see what's going on with this puppet."
"yes!"
The crown prince's gaze was too intense; didn't he know that there was no possibility between them?
Or does he want her to be his mistress?
That's too arrogant.
When the bell rang, Lin Pengpeng had already changed into her outfit for the opera house.
The black velvet gown was adorned with hundreds of pearls. As the maid tightened the ribbon at the waist, she noticed a faint smile playing on the prince's lips.
"Go ahead," Lin Pengpeng said, adjusting her necklace in front of the full-length mirror, "Which scene from yesterday's 'The Stone Statue Guest' did you find the most exciting?"
The maid paused for a moment, then replied, "Naturally, it's the third scene, Your Highness."
"That's true; wise people don't meddle."
Lin Pengpeng smiled at her reflection in the mirror, a slight curve appearing at the corners of her mouth. Perhaps, tonight's moonlight was just right for appreciating someone else's hell.
#516Chapter 510 The Law of Guilt and Innocence
Chapter 510 The Law of Guilt and Innocence
Winter comes unexpectedly on Myron Island.
Deep within the Witch's Forest, frost flowers condensed on the dark green pine needles, and Su Yu was hidden in a magic circle at the roots of an oak tree.
"rustle--"
The sound of snapping branches came from the northwest, where three evil spirits were wandering aimlessly, their scarlet eye sockets flickering with eerie green flames.
They seemed to sense something was amiss, but they were unable to pinpoint Su Yu's location.
Su Yu looked at the little figure in the system, who was holding a quill pen and scratching on parchment: "When the number of evil spirits killed exceeds a certain threshold within a certain period of time, a spiritual tide will be triggered. High-ranking evil spirits will enter a state of rage and will also have a certain locking effect..."
As Su Yu gazed at the evil spirits lingering outside the magic array, his thoughts drifted back to his mission at the Tide Temple. He had used heavy-handed methods back then, only to be caught in the spiritual tide and nearly capsize.
"The decoy magic array needs to be adjusted."
"The trapping radius can be further adjusted to more accurately segment the groups. The key is to utilize the territorial instincts of the evil spirits, causing them to enter the designated hunting area in batches..."
"Furthermore, once you enter the spiritual tide, it will automatically subside if you avoid it, since it cannot last long; it's similar to a violent surge."
Therefore, proper avoidance can greatly reduce the destructive power of spiritual tides.
Within the system, a semi-transparent blueprint of a magic circle unfolds before your eyes.
In the system interface, a little figure is writing furiously, and the title of the paper, "On the Application of Spirit Tide Avoidance and Cooling Cycle in the Extermination of Evil Spirits," is gradually taking shape.
"Good, that works!"
Su Yu finished reading, nodded in satisfaction, took out a few pieces of parchment, and spent some gray crystals to materialize the system text onto the parchment.
"Coo coo—"
A snow-white owl landed on my shoulder, its golden-brown eyes staring curiously at the parchment.
This is a messenger owl from the Witch's Forest, with a wingspan of two feet, capable of carrying letters of considerable weight.
Su Yu rolled up the parchment and put it into its envelope, along with a small bag of dried fruit as a reward.
"Blackshire, Green Vine Society, to Mr. Cheng Shenxing." He whispered the instructions, and the owl tilted its head and nuzzled his cheek before flapping its wings and disappearing into the depths of the forest.
Just then, a fine, cool sensation landed on the tip of my nose.
Su Yu looked up and saw the first snowflake swirling down in the leaden sky, followed by the second and the third, which in the blink of an eye wove together a dense snow curtain, dyeing the dark green forest with a hazy white.
"The snow has come this year." He pulled his cloak tighter and turned to walk towards the wooden house not far away.
The aroma of burning pine wood from the fireplace mingled with the scent of food, wafting through the air.
As soon as the wooden door was pushed open, the witch Lanmei got up.
"This is your lunch," she said, pushing a wicker food box onto the table. "And this is something the messenger from the Tranquil Forest asked me to give you."
The small bag contained several delicate pastries: honey almond cookies and jam tarts, with a folded piece of parchment at the bottom.
"It's Qiaoqiao!"
Su Yu unfolded the letter. The girl's handwriting was youthful yet earnest. She boldly expressed her feelings, sent homemade snacks, and brought good news.
"You've become a full-fledged witch."
Su Yu stroked the letter, her heart filled with mixed emotions.
He clearly remembered that Qiaoqiao from the indigenous era did not seem to become a witch so quickly. In fact, it was hard to say whether she became a witch at all. The trajectory of history was quietly changing.
He took out the return gifts he had prepared beforehand: a carefully blended calming incense, a small bottle of specialty moonlight honey, and a letter.
Tie these together and summon the messenger owl again.
"Thank you for your hard work." He patted the owl's head and watched it disappear into the snow.
This is the third letter, addressed to Ibrahim Palace.
"Magic is truly incredible."
"Location is all included"
After sending the letter, the fire crackled in the stove. Su Yu remembered, "Lan Mei, I would like to ask you for some time off to go to Luoyue Valley to check on the progress of the project."
"There's no need to use the excuse of asking for leave." Lan Mei waved her hand to interrupt him, taking out a banknote with gilded edges: "You have purified 60% of the evil spirits in the forest; this achievement far exceeds the requirements of the commission."
"Besides, I'm still a forest witch; I understand what you mean by the cooling of the spiritual tide."
She pushed the banknotes over, the words "Five Hundred Golden Sea Dragons" on them gleaming in the firelight: "Although the reward for the commission is magic, I can't let you work for free."
Su Yu looked at the emblem on the banknote, smiled, and put it into his purse: "Then I shall accept it."
When we left the Witch's Forest, the snow had stopped.
The snow-covered land was exceptionally quiet. The horses' hooves crunched on the snow. Su Yu wrapped his cloak tighter and rode forward. The outline of Falling Moon Valley was faintly visible in the distance.
At the construction site at the mouth of the valley, dozens of wooden houses are arranged in a neat and orderly manner, and stone-built irrigation ditches meander into the distance.
Song Qiongyao was directing workers to cover the straw mats; she was wearing a mink cloak and looked very energetic.
"Lord Su Yu is back!" the sharp-eyed Steward Liu shouted.
Song Qiongyao turned around, her face showing surprise: "You've finally arrived! Just in time for the surprise I prepared."
She clapped her hands. Two maids were busy inside the wooden house. There was a large copper hot pot, the broth was bubbling and wafting a rich aroma.
Hot pot!
Su Yu approached with a smile: "It really captures the snowy scenery. Looks like you've done a lot of research."
This was not invented by Su Yu, but is a delicacy that Yingguo has had for 1300 years.
"Of course." Song Qiongyao walked with him toward the wooden house: "I searched through the entire family's collection of books to find this hot pot recipe. By the way, the project is progressing very smoothly. Manager Liu will tell you in detail."
Manager Liu from Yuntong Trading Company rushed over carrying account books: "Sir, the main structure of the irrigation canal is complete, but the reservoir is still awaiting final capping. This year's winter wheat harvest will be delayed. I suggest planting sugar beets next April, followed by intercropping winter wheat. According to the schedule, all projects should be completed by next year..."
It will all be completed by April of this year.
At this moment, a witch apprentice dressed in a gray cloth robe hurried over: "Mr. Su, the grapevines on the hillside have finished growing and are now in hibernation. They will grow normally next spring."
Su Yu nodded in satisfaction: "Well done."
He took out thirty gold sea dragons from his purse and handed them to the girl: "Thank you so much. Take these and buy some winter clothes."
The girl happily accepted the gold dragon and went back to the forest.
The snow started falling again, and fine snowflakes landed on the workers' felt hats.
Looking at the workers, whose skin was red from the cold, Su Yu said to Manager Liu, "It's snowing today, let everyone take a day off. Use this money to buy some New Year's goods, and consider it an early celebration of the New Year."
He then counted out fifty more gold sea dragons: "This is an extra reward, not included in the original payment."
The workers erupted in cheers, and their movements as they packed up their tools became much more brisk.
Manager Liu remarked with emotion, "Mr. Su is truly considerate of his subordinates. Working under you gives everyone hope."
In this world, farewell feasts are never held at night, but at noon. At this moment, the fireplace in the wooden cabin is lit up, the copper hot pot is boiling on the pine table, and the table is piled high with slices of meat and vegetables.
Song Qiongyao removed her cloak, and the pallor she always wore was gone.
"Your body…" Su Yu couldn't help but ask.
Song Qiongyao paused in her chopsticks, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons as she smiled: "I feel much better. My aunt said this might be a benign awakening of my bloodline. Although I haven't felt any special abilities yet, I certainly don't feel uncomfortable as easily as before."
Sitting opposite her, Li Ningzhuang put down her teacup, her long hair gleaming softly in the firelight: "Bloodline awakening requires a trigger, and perhaps it just so happens to have activated her bloodline potential."
Su Yu looked at Song Qiongyao, recalling her pale face and frail body when they first met, and then seeing her radiant appearance, he couldn't help but sigh. He raised his glass: "To health, and to the future of Luoyue Valley, cheers."
"Cheers!" The crisp sound of glasses clinking echoed in the wooden cabin.
The steam from the hot pot blurred the windowpane, and the snow outside fell heavier and heavier, enveloping Falling Moon Valley in a tranquil white.
As Su Yu watched the flickering firelight reflect on the faces of the two girls, he suddenly felt that such a winter day was exceptionally precious.
"Even without any evidence, killing Earl Carlton and Kong Han, the head of the Isle of Mellen's Mechanical Guild, might not bring peace."
Because many times, evidence is not needed.
"The only difference is that the higher the level, the more evidence is required."
The judicial process is actually very clear: from the presumption of guilt to the presumption of innocence.
However, what most people, including most legal professionals, don't know is that this is not a precipitous change.
In fact, since ancient times, the presumption of guilt and the presumption of innocence in the judiciary have coexisted.
A powerful person is considered guilty but not guilty; to convict a powerful person, one must have rigorous and irrefutable evidence.
Without irrefutable evidence, the person in charge is presumed innocent.
Including the present day of past lives, those at a certain level are in this state.
The legal rights enjoyed by the middle class continue to decline as the class descends, while commoners and the lowest social classes are presumed guilty.
"You, you lowly commoner, are born guilty. Tell me, did you steal the apples in the house?"
"No one can prove your alibi, hang yourself."
The modern universal "presumption of innocence" is actually a process of elevating the entire populat