Heavenly Inquisition Sword

Episode 1337. He is Baron Hank Stauron.

Intelligence is based on secrecy as any agency.

For that reason, he does not show his face to the great nobles.

Of course, the reason why the staff members of the Imperial Army Intelligence Department wanted to meet was to conduct an investigation.

It was difficult for Duke Cillian Hale to understand that the staff of the Imperial Army’s intelligence department suddenly came to the forefront.

This is because there is no contact between the Imperial Army and Count Helio Lagoa.

‘Did you decide to join the battle in the Northern Kingdom?’

What if the southern kingdoms, facing defeat, actively reached out to the northern kingdoms and the northern kingdoms changed their minds?

If that’s the case, it’s reasonable for the staff of the Imperial Army’s intelligence department to come to Count Helio Lagoa.

Elio said as Duke Cillian Hale continued his thoughts in the wrong direction.

“There is one thing.”

“Is there? Something? Have you heard anything from the northern kingdoms?”

“The Northern Kingdom?”

“I’m saying this because I think it’s time for the southern kingdoms to actively cling to the northern kingdoms.”

“Not at all. It is between me and the Imperial Army.”

“Did the Imperial Army put pressure on Lord Lagoa to join the war?”

“It’s a long way from that.”

“That’s not even that, so why is the Imperial Military Intelligence looking for Lord Lagoa?”

Until now, Duke Cillian Hale hadn’t realized the seriousness of the situation.

However, his face stiffened at the words of Count Elio Lagoa.

“A few days ago, a company of imperial troops attacked my stagecoach near Pheromuros. The reason was to rob the stagecoach cargo.”

“her! Something like that… So?”

“They fired magic guns at the stagecoach to leave no witnesses. After catching it and investigating it, it was already done more than ten times in the villages of the Southern Kingdom.”

“More than 10 times… you did something amazing.”

“So I killed them all.”

“You mean you killed all the Imperial Army companies?”

“Yes, no one seemed to be reflecting. Even if I pretended to be remorseful, I was going to kill them, but they didn’t even show any signs of that.”

“Then the Imperial Army Intelligence came…”

“Probably because of that.”

“Huh! Lord Lagoa’s actions were excessive, but… the imperial army committed a heinous war crime, so we’ll just investigate and end.”

“is that so?”

“Of course, isn’t it? Even though we are at war, we committed such a crime. If you attacked the stagecoach following the villages of the Southern Kingdom… you will not be able to escape the death penalty. Besides, is Lord Lagoa a normal person? Attacking the Grand Master’s wagon? He dug his own grave to die.”

“I wish I could go quietly.”

Elio didn’t want to escalate the job.

This is because it is urgent to find Ushas Undra, the vanguard of chaos.

“I have to say something too. Send in the staff of the intelligence department.”

At the Duke’s words, Knight Commander Spike Gore bowed and retreated.

After a while, three knights who appeared to be staff members of the Imperial Army entered the command center.

Duke Cillian Hale, as well as Elio, only slightly turned their heads toward the visitors from their seats.

The knight, who seemed to be the leader, bowed silently and then introduced himself.

“I am from the Imperial Army Intelligence Department. I am Count Carl Bamut, next to me is Viscount Lisa Cordo and at the end is Baron Claude Quello.”

Unlike Count Carl Bamut, who only nodded lightly, Viscount Lisa Cordo and Baron Claude Quello politely bowed.

After the greeting, Duke Cillian Hale was the first to get lucky.

“What happened from the Imperial Army Intelligence Department to this place? What business does Count Lagoa have?”

Count Carl Bamut answered with a calm face.

“I will tell you beforehand. This is a matter between the Imperial Army and Count Helio Lagoa. His Highness the Crown Prince personally said, ‘If there is any outside interference, report it.’”

“His Highness the Crown Prince?”

“yes.”

“No, what on earth is it that His Highness, the Crown Prince, even said such a thing?”

Duke Cillian Hale looked back and forth between Count Elio Lagoa and Count Cal Bamut.

Count Carl Bamut opened his mouth with a determined face.

“Five days ago, a company of Scorpions was slain in southern Pheromuros. Two days after the incident, the Stagecoach Association offered a deal with the Steel Corps. The Scorpion company attacked the stagecoach, and in response, Count Elio Lagoa’s party massacred the Scorpion company. Are there any lies in what you said? Count Lagoa?”

At Count Carl Bamut’s question, Elio shook his head.

He had heard of an offer from the Stagecoach Association.

Duke Cillian Hale, who was watching quietly, said a word.

“As a third party, it sounds like an appropriate response, but is there anything wrong with it?”

“Some important details were missing.”

“What is important?”

“The reasons why the Scorpion Company attacked the stagecoach and the company commander’s requirements are missing.”

“I heard that it happened while the Scorpion Company was robbing the cargo, but is there another reason?”

“This is what we learned while investigating stagecoach passengers. The Duke would be surprised if he heard it. Shall we continue?”

Count Carl Bamut stared intently at Count Elio Lagoa’s face.

Elio nodded, and Count Cal Bamut continued.

“The passenger’s testimony as to why the Imperial Army attacked the stagecoach… was different from the Stagecoach Association’s mediation. I heard the commander of the Imperial Army say, ‘The stagecoach thought it was communicating with the enemy and attacked it.’ He said it was because the cargo list submitted by the stagecoach and the cargo actually loaded on the stagecoach were different. The Ministry of Information conducted an investigation into the cargo, and as a result, it was the property that the great aristocrat of the Adria Kingdom had stolen. We have yet to conclude whether the final destination of the stolen property is the Resistance or simply stealing property.”

Duke Cillian Hale remained silent with a puzzled face.

I thought it was simply a punishment for war crimes, but somehow the content has changed a little.

If Count Helio Lagoa had annihilated the Scorpion Company even after knowing that fact, even if he was a Grand Master, it would be difficult to let go.

“Another thing… is the fact that the Scorpion Company Commander requested several times to be tried by the Empire before he was killed. But Count Lagoa ignored it and killed him. Do you admit it?”

“yes.”

When Count Cal Bamut asked for confirmation, Elio made no excuses.

It wasn’t because of the attack on the stagecoach that he killed the Scorpion Company.

Rather, Count Carl Bamut was taken aback by his reaction.

If the stagecoach passed through the enemy country, the Scorpion Company that attacked it was innocent.

If the Scorpion company commander requested a trial, he should not have been killed.

The actions of Count Elio Lagoa – beyond the legitimate self-defense of a great nobleman – are clear crimes.

The problem is that Count Elio Lagoa, who committed such a huge crime, is the Grand Master and the hero of the North.

To capture or kill Count Helio Lagoa, the Battalion unit must be mobilized.

You never know how many casualties there may be in the process.

Perhaps the Battalion troops would suffer a blow to the level of destruction.

Considering the war with the southern kingdoms and the resistance from the northern kingdoms, it was better to blame everything on the resistance and cover it up.

But Marquis Theo Stauran, the father of the murdered company commander, had no intention of doing so.

It’s not just Marquis Theo Stauran.

Even the crown prince clamored to take this opportunity to punish Count Elio Lagoa.

If either one of them had endured, this incident would have been buried.

Coincidentally, however, both Marquis Theo Stauran and the Crown Prince came out strong as if salty.

Count Carl Bamut hoped that this incident would not go from river to river.

So I thought it was fortunate that Count Elio Lagoa came out cooperatively.

Then Duke Cillian Hale intervened.

“You also investigated the war crimes of the Scorpion Company, right?”

“A war crime?”

“I heard that there are more than ten cases of looting villages and killing villagers in the Southern Kingdom.”

“Excuse me, can you tell me where the testimony came from?”

“I heard from Count Lagoa.”

“As you know, it is difficult to trust the testimony of Count Lagoa in the current situation.”

“Does that mean that the war crimes of Scorpion Company are not subject to investigation?”

“That’s right. Even if some of them are true, they won’t have much impact on the events of Scorpion Company and Count Lagoa.”

“The reason Count Lagoa tried his hand at the Scorpion Company was because the Scorpion Company had committed a serious crime… and it had no effect?”

“The count of Lagoa is charged with ‘extermination of a squadron of Scorpions that attacked a stagecoach that was liaising with the enemy’ and ‘killing a nobleman who demanded a trial’. Incidentally, the annihilation of the Scorpion Company makes the Scorpion Company’s claims of crime unreliable.”

“You mean you don’t believe the words of Count Lagoa?”

“In conclusion, yes. There is no one to testify to the criminal acts of the Scorpion Company.”

“You doubt the words of the Grand Master?”

“Because he is the one who killed all the witnesses. Moreover, considering that the people killed were Imperial soldiers, that in itself is already a serious crime.”

“so? Are you trying to arrest Count Lagoa?”

“His Highness the Crown Prince has said that if the Count of Lagoa admits to the crime charges against him… arrest him.”

“Damn it! Do you have the ability to arrest the Count of Lagoa? Do you think the northern kingdoms will stand still!”

No matter how victorious the war was, the imperial army still did not have enough energy to arrest Count Elio Lagoa.

Even if you have that ability, it’s best to cover it when you think about the future.

This is because if the reason why Count Elio Lagoa slaughtered the Scorpion Company is known, the southern and northern kingdoms will worship him.

Even in the face of sharp criticism, Count Carl Bamut’s expression did not change.

Silence flowed from Duke Cillian Hale’s mouth.

“Hmm! I don’t understand. Like His Highness the Crown Prince, why is the Imperial Military Intelligence taking such a hardline response?”

“Your Excellency, don’t you know who the company commander of the Scorpion Company is?”

“I’m sure he’s a greedy baron who doesn’t know how to do it.”

“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear it. He is Baron Hank Stauron.”

“…”

At that moment, Duke Cillian Hale’s face contorted.

To the Corvo Magic Corps, the Steel Corps was a ‘rolling stone’ that took their place.

‘Tsk tsk! Of course, the Scorpion commander was the son of Marquis Theo Stauran!’

It was as if he knew why the prince was doing that.

With the firepower of the Iron Legion, there is no reason to fear the Grand Master.

After a while, Duke Cillian Hale spoke.

“Marquis Theo Stauran lost his son, so why is His Highness interested in this?”

“Isn’t it because Marquis Stauran is the closest aide to Her Highness the Crown Prince? Anyway, the position of the Imperial Army Intelligence Department is as follows. If Count Lagoa does not admit the charges, he will interrogate the passengers and if he does, he will be immediately arrested and sent to the Special Investigation Headquarters of the Imperial Army Intelligence Department. That is all.”