Ascension from Dual Professions

Chapter 126: Chapter 125: Face-to-Face Confrontation

Procedural justice, substantive justice.

Xina’s mind raced as she tried to understand the meaning behind these two similar yet different phrases.

Although her personality was more composed than her older sister Xia’s, they had both received the same education since childhood—the teachings of the Sun God.

The doctrine stated that justice was pure and could not be compromised.

Any justice that deviated from this path was like a bent sword, harming both others and oneself.

But now, someone was telling her that justice could be achieved this way?

And reason told her that doing so might truly save them a lot of unnecessary trouble...

’But... what is the cost...?’

Before the girl could ponder the question further, the clamor from below grew louder, interrupting her train of thought.

”Get him! Don’t let him get away!”

”You audacious villain! Let Deacon Harir go, now!!”

Jon chose this moment to speak up.

”So, you two believers of the Sun God, what will you do?”

Xia, who was never one for deep thought, had already given up thinking before Jon even began his explanation. Now, she instinctively hurried her younger sister.

”Yeah, Xina, what do we do?”

”We...”

Xina looked at the menacing troop of cavalry below, then back at Jon on his manticore.

Finally, she bit her lip, abandoned her overthinking, and chose to follow her heart.

”Sister, we’ll escort this gentleman to the church!”

”Alright!”

Xia gave a cry and adjusted her position with her Light Wings. She and Xina flanked Jon, one on each side, like two small Divine Guardians escorting him and his captive toward the Sun Church, which still radiated the light of warmth and order amidst the snowstorm.

Because they had lingered for a moment in the sky and the furious guards from the Lord’s Mansion were in hot pursuit, the three fastest riders caught up almost the instant the trio landed at the entrance to the Sun Church.

Leading the charge was the reckless, burly man. Among the two following him was Yadri, the captain of the guards Jon had met when he first entered the city.

All three were Official Level Professionals, and they immediately surrounded Jon, Xia, and Xina.

The once-amicable Yadri was slightly stunned to see Jon, but his voice was cold as he immediately demanded an answer.

”Mr. Jon, why are you doing this?!”

”Was there something that couldn’t be discussed peacefully? Did you have to damage the Lord’s Mansion and abduct one of the Lord’s own retainers?”

”Why are you wasting words on him! Save Harir! He’s not going to make it!”

The whiskered, burly man, already seething with rage, could no longer hold back after seeing the miserable state of his colleague. He drew his sword and slashed!

A pale red Battle Qi solidified into the shape of a sword, aiming straight for Big Mimi’s tail!

”Stop!”

The sisters, Xia and Xina, couldn’t possibly stand by and watch. They immediately raised their hands to block.

Though they lacked experience, as Sun Monks who had undergone systematic training as Saint Professionals since childhood, their strength was genuinely at the Official Level!

A pale golden Light Shield materialized, effortlessly absorbing and dissipating the Sword Qi!

Xina spoke up at the right moment to explain.

”Sirs, please listen to our explanation!”

”Yeah, yeah! Listen to us!”

”According to Mr. Jon, this man is a spy for the Eternal Frost Sect who infiltrated the Lord’s Mansion. We—”

”You’re the spy!”

Seeing his attack blocked, the whiskered brute became even more enraged.

”Harir has worked with us for over a decade! How could he possibly be a spy!”

”Yadri, Hank, help me break this damn glowing circle!”

”Wait, Alek.”

In the end, it was Yadri who knew more and remained calmer in a crisis.

Not only did he refrain from attacking, but he also held his companion back.

”Mr. Jon, you claim Harir is a spy for the Eternal Frost Sect. Do you have any proof?”

Jon sat atop Big Mimi, looking down on them, his expression unchanging.

”I have no concrete evidence.”

”You!”

”But if you insist on an explanation—”

He patted Big Mimi’s head, signaling for it to display the frozen slab of meat hanging from its tail hook to the crowd.

”The Harir you know—would he be able to survive this weather after flying at high altitude?”

With their level of strength, the three could of course sense that while the miserable Harir’s aura was faint, there were no signs he was on the verge of death.

But Alek immediately broke free from Yadri’s grasp and pointed an angry finger.

”He’s already frozen like this! So what if he’s resistant to the cold?”

”Oh? And what do you think about him framing me for using a forged Badge from Basque to spy on the Lord’s Mansion?”

The three from the Lord’s Mansion froze.

They had clearly all heard of Basque.

”Basque... you mean Captain Basque?”

The young Warrior who had remained silent until now rested his hand on the hilt of his longsword and asked.

”What is your relationship with him?”

”I’m from Nomu Village. He entrusted me with a message for Village Chief Reed.”

”But this guy claimed Reed wasn’t here. When I asked for Basque’s Badge back, he said it was a forgery.”

Jon’s expression was perfectly composed.

”I knew something was off about him then, so I captured him. I plan to get to the bottom of this before the Deities.”

As Jon calmly explained, the tense atmosphere eased slightly.

Hank and Yadri were clearly somewhat convinced, but Alek’s face remained indignant.

”Who knows if this kid is in league with these holy rollers! If they gang up to frame Harir, what can we do?!”

Hearing this, the two young ladies present were not pleased.

”Sir, I must ask you to retract your accusation.”

”That’s right!”

”We are believers of the Sun God! Honesty is our creed!”

”Correct!”

Xina spoke, and Xia chimed in.

”We swear in the name of our Lord that we will uphold absolute justice in this matter.”

”We will not frame an innocent person because of anyone’s words, but neither will we let a heretic who blasphemes the light escape because of any obstruction!”

”If you don’t believe us, then I invite you to come inside and bear witness.”

”Under the radiance of our Lord, before the Priest, the truth will have nowhere to hide!”

”Right! Let’s all go in!”

Xia nodded forcefully, standing firmly by her sister’s side.

”Let the Sun God bear witness! Good or bad, we’ll find out with an interrogation, won’t we? If you have nothing to hide, what are you afraid of!”

She glared at Alek, her cheeks puffed out, clearly having made the impulsive brute her prime suspect.

Jon also leaped lightly from Big Mimi’s back, landing on the ground.

He dusted a few snowflakes from the corner of his clothes, his ice-blue eyes sweeping over the three men as he spoke in a measured tone.

”I captured the man. I made the accusation. I will bear the responsibility.”

”Inside the church, with Priest Ingram presiding, I am willing to undergo any form of questioning or examination.”

”If this man is proven innocent, I will accept all blame for attacking the Lord’s Mansion and abducting an official, to be dealt with as you see fit.”

He paused, then added.

”But if he is proven to be a deep-cover agent of the Eternal Frost Sect, then you will all owe me a favor. A very big one.”

”Aren’t you curious why your Lord has been gone for so many days and still hasn’t returned?”

This last sentence was undoubtedly a knife that stabbed deep into the hearts of Alek and the other two men.