I’m Going to Destroy this Country

“Originally, interrogation is made up of instigation and fabrication.”

At Isaac’s words, Benjamin broke out in a cold sweat.

My goodness, instigation and fabrication?

Hey! Is that something the Blue should say?!

Benjamin’s head couldn’t help but spin.

‘My goodness, how could such a child be born from that kind brother…’

He didn’t know where exactly it went wrong, but… actually there was something even more wrong.

“Ah, I love it. This is the best…!”

The Red Cardinal was trembling and greatly enjoying Isaac’s words. He even said something like this to Isaac:

“Isaac, will you come to our family after all?”

…Where did it really go wrong?

Benjamin looked at the Red Cardinal with disgust.

But the Red Cardinal looking at Isaac seemed sincere.

“Each of the children in our family has some problem. So it’s even more regrettable. Why were you born into the Blue of all places? Won’t you come over even now?”

Benjamin immediately hugged Isaac.

“Isaac is our family’s child! Don’t cross the line!”

Above all, if Father were to hear this, his eyes would roll back.

“And as Your Eminence knows, that’s not what’s important right now.”

“!”

It was none other than the Pope’s hearing.

Instigation and fabrication went too far, but it was right to raise questions and hold him back. When would there be another chance to interrogate the Pope?

But it was true that our side was at a disadvantage.

“There probably won’t be much harvest today. I’ll find more materials from the archives, so today is just for show…”

“No.”

“!”

Isaac chuckled.

“There probably won’t be a next opportunity. Once today’s hearing is over, such an occasion will never be created again. The Berit family isn’t so easy. In fact, they’ll crush the Red faction as soon as this hearing ends.”

“!”

“But don’t worry. The Red won’t be crushed. I won’t let that happen.”

Benjamin was surprised by that confidence. He thought Isaac would be inwardly discouraged by the words that the Pope seemed likely to slip away.

Benjamin firmly grasped Isaac’s shoulder as if very reassured.

“That’s right, Isaac. As your uncle, I’m really proud of you. I’m really proud, but…!”

“But?”

Benjamin looked anxiously at the Red Cardinal.

“Please don’t give that pervert anything to enjoy…!”

“!”

Who knows how the Red Cardinal understood Isaac’s words about not letting the Red be crushed. He was deeply moved, as if immersed in pleasure.

Benjamin dragged Isaac away before the Red Cardinal could have any strange thoughts.

* * *

Murmur murmur.

The hearing room was packed with people. The interior was shaped like a round hall, and the atmosphere was like a courtroom.

‘It’s full of people I’ve never seen before.’

At the center were the Gold Cardinal and the Pope, surrounded by high-ranking priests.

Blue, White, Red, Gold, Black.

Judging by the ornate stoles on their shoulders, they were all 1st class high priests. Most were elder level or above, of an older age group.

[In short, it’s a gathering of old fogeys.]

Well, that’s right.

And they weren’t just any old fogeys. It was really a gathering of only 5th faith 1st classes, at least bishop level and above.

Not just Cardinals, but even Archbishops were present. The rare young priests visible had dimensions of holy power different from others, probably not for nothing that they became 1st class at that age.

‘The upper echelons of the clergy.’

[In demon terms, it would be like a gathering of True Demons, right?]

‘That’s right. They’re that high in both power and position.’

Anyway, it was quite a spectacle to see those who could never be seen together normally gathered in one place. The problem was that everyone was stirring.

“To think His Holiness the Pope is standing here.”

“It’s an unprecedented situation.”

They were looking worriedly at the Pope in the interrogation seat.

The Gold Cardinal’s expression wasn’t good either, as if the Gold family was equally displeased with the situation.

‘This situation came about all because of that bastard.’

The Gold Cardinal gritted his teeth thinking of Isaac.

Right. Things ended up like this all because Isaac brought the Sacred Dragon.

And there was one more filthy culprit.

‘Damn Benjamin Eshua.’

That 0th rank maggot.

If only he hadn’t brought up the Supreme God then, the Red Cardinal wouldn’t have taken the bait. Originally, the one giving advice from the side is more hateful.

‘I should have stolen Isaac, who has the Supreme God, earlier.’

But it was fine.

‘Rather, it’s an opportunity to attack the Red in reverse.’

The hearing?

The hearing will be won by them anyway. Rather, once this place is over, the Gold will hold the knife handle.

‘You dare join hands with the Blue?’

In a place that was in some ways a fight between the Gold and the Red, the Gold Cardinal had no intention of losing.

‘I’ll root out the Red from the roots for false accusations.’

Sure enough, he stood up.

“The Gold has finished speaking. We sowed discord and stole the Imperial Family’s Sacred Dragon? You should limit your nonsense.”

“!”

“It’s meaningless to continue the discussion any further, so I’ll end the hearing. The Red should prepare…”

“It’s you who should prepare.”

“!!”

Everyone was greatly surprised by the voice that rang out in the hearing room. Isaac was smiling at the Gold Cardinal, having entered at some point.

The hearing room stirred greatly at his appearance. Even the other Cardinals who wouldn’t be shaken by ordinary matters seemed inwardly surprised.

Especially the Gold Cardinal widened his eyes.

“How dare a mere 2nd class priest enter here?”

The other priests also looked at Isaac as if exasperated. Unpleasant faces as if asking how he dared to sit at the same table.

The most angry were, of course, the Gold priests.

“Isn’t that Isaac Eshua? Wasn’t he definitely a 2nd class priest?”

“Not just any 2nd class . He’s a newbie chick close to 3rd class who just got his qualification.”

“Drive him out immediately!”

The Gold Cardinal also glared fiercely at Isaac.

“Impudent one. Get out of here! This is no place for you to step up.”

The other Archbishops also raised their voices.

“Who let him in here in the first place…”

Bang!

“!”

Suddenly the Blue family head slammed the table.

At that signal to shut up, the priests fell silent as if by agreement.

The Blue family head lightly signaled to his grandson. It meant to go out for a while as the timing wasn’t good.

But it was right then.

“It’s fine. He’s the witness I chose.”

“!!”

Everyone was surprised by the unexpected voice.

It was none other than the Red Cardinal. He walked over with a face that looked thrilled to death.

“Isaac Eshua is a key figure in this matter. He’s the proxy for the Sacred Dragon who doesn’t want to come out.”

“…!”

“And you all seem to be mistaken, but you should recall under whose authority this hearing is taking place.”

“…!”

It was a threat that if they continued to object over this trifling matter, the Red would take them all away.

The Gold Cardinal furrowed his brow.

“I allow observation.”

At those words, the Red Cardinal chuckled.

“With the authority of the person in charge of this hearing, I’ll also allow Isaac Eshua to speak.”

That bastard?

The Gold Cardinal glared, but the Red Cardinal smiled coldly.

“The Gold is in the position of defendant now. So don’t misunderstand your role, and just answer the questions properly.”

The Gold Cardinal gritted his teeth. This situation itself was exasperating.

But in other words, he just had to get through this place. If he could just escape from here, he would completely eliminate the Red along with the Blue.

Sure enough, the Gold Cardinal pointed to one side.

“It was all done by that bishop.”

The Gold bishop who was dragged in as a witness also readily admitted to the charges.

“I didn’t like seeing the Imperial Family trying to suppress His Holiness the Pope’s power. So this matter has nothing to do with the Pope’s family, and it was all done independently by me.”

The priests all nodded.

‘It could certainly happen.’

While other faiths are mainly about gods, in the Gold faith it wasn’t rare for the object of loyalty to be the Pope, who is the incarnation of God.

‘The heart of a loyal subject.’

The Gold priests were even moved.

But there was someone who sneered at him.

“Huh, so the bishop thought the Pope’s power was so weak that he needed to do such a thing?”

What’s going on?

Everyone was startled by Isaac’s words. What is this bastard saying now?

But Isaac chuckled.

“Isn’t that right? Was the Pope’s authority so precarious that a mere bishop-level person was worried enough to take action?”

The Pope only raised an eyebrow looking at Isaac, and the Gold Cardinal glared as if it wasn’t even worth listening to.

“It doesn’t matter what thoughts underlings have, and it’s none of our business.”

“Is that so? For underlings, bishop-level isn’t such an empty-headed position.”

What, what? Empty-headed?

Everyone doubted their ears, but Isaac continued speaking naturally like flowing water.

“Moreover, it’s an Imperial matter. It could even be dragged into treason charges, a dangerous act. If the Pope was fine, could one even imagine doing such a dangerous thing?”

“Everyone has different values.”

The Gold Cardinal spoke as if it was a world commoners wouldn’t understand.

“It seems you haven’t experienced such things yet. Your subordinate, misunderstanding that your junior family head position was in danger, could arbitrarily take action for their lord.”

“I’m not so sure. No matter how strong their loyalty, they wouldn’t do that without cause, would they? Moreover, a Gold bishop is an elite from a prestigious family, right? Such things are originally done by those with nothing to lose. Or if ordered from above.”

This bastard?

Isaac chuckled.

“Or was it because they were afraid some secret of His Holiness the Pope would be revealed if the Sacred Dragon appeared?”

At Isaac’s brazen words, the hearing room suddenly fell silent. Everyone had faces as if they had heard shocking words.

For good reason, if the Red Cardinal allowed him to enter, it was clear this child knew something.

They couldn’t help but be concerned.

“…A secret of His Holiness the Pope.”

“…What does that mean?”

At that reaction, Isaac smiled sweetly as if everyone had taken his bait.

“I’ll ask directly.”

“!”

“You, are you really the Pope?”