Wizard: Starting from the Skill Tree-Chapter 588: Investigation

The Duke briefly explained how he located and finally purified the aberrant entity, emphasizing that its core had been destroyed, the ritual’s base point was nearly ineffective, and the remaining energy was negligible; the abnormality of the castle had been essentially eliminated.

Regarding the specific details of the battle, especially the Dark Form and Blazing Sun Judgment, he naturally skimmed over them, only mentioning that he employed certain powerful purification methods.

Steward Raymond listened intently, occasionally tapping his fingers on the crystal, leaving behind glowing records. His brows furrowed tightly upon hearing of the high-risk other plane and energy aberration. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"So, it means that the tragedy at the Laurent Earl’s mansion stemmed from someone privately conducting a forbidden ritual connecting to a high-risk other plane?" Raymond asked solemnly, his tone exceptionally severe.

This is a serious offense, crossing the red line in the Seville Empire.

"Based on the scene’s traces, that’s indeed the case," the Duke confirmed, but he did not specify who, as it was beyond the scope of his mission, and surely the Laurent Earl had already made a decision.

"The ritual itself has been completely destroyed, and its specific origin and construction method cannot be traced. My task was to resolve the abnormal event; investigation into the root cause might be better handled by the Knight Hall and relevant empire departments."

He skillfully tossed the ball back, fulfilling the duty of truthful reporting while avoiding direct involvement in accusations against the Laurent family.

He merely stated objective facts: there was an illegal ritual that produced monsters and led to deaths, and both the monsters and the ritual had been dealt with by him.

Steward Raymond gave the Duke a deep look, seemingly trying to discern something from his calm face, but ultimately only nodded and made the final recording on the crystal.

"I understand. Thank you for your detailed report, Duke Wizard. You successfully eliminated a serious supernatural threat. According to the task assessment, you will receive the agreed task reward. Once the matter is fully resolved, you should also receive additional rewards. Please wait a moment, I will handle the paperwork for you."

The Duke nodded slightly, "Thank you."

He knew that once this report was submitted, the Laurent family would inevitably face an examination storm from the empire.

But that was no longer his concern; he was just a passerby, having completed his task and received due rewards, which was enough.

...

Just two days after the Duke left Red Rock City, the anticipated storm at Laurent Earl’s residence arrived at lightning speed.

There were no prior notifications, no polite calling cards.

On an overcast morning, a group of knights clad in Seville Empire tribunal standard black armor and draped in dark red cloaks, led by an elder wearing the high-ranking steward badge of Knight Hall and the tribunal judge’s emblem on his chest, surged straight into Red Rock Castle like a black iron torrent.

The castle guards dared not even make any gesture of obstruction, only fearfully opened the gates, letting the team exuding a chilling murderous aura proceed without hindrance.

The leading elder, Judge Malcolm, with hair and beard as white as snow, had a face as cold and hard as if carved by a chisel, and his gray eyes seemed to pierce right through the skin, into the depths of one’s soul.

He didn’t even go to the reception room, directly requesting to meet the Laurent Earl in the castle’s main hall.

In the main hall, portraits of ancestors observed silently from above. The Laurent Earl, dressed in formal earl attire, tried to maintain composure as he stood in the center, but his fingertips trembled slightly beneath his sleeve.

Butler Ossen and several core family members stood by with lowered heads, not daring to breathe heavily.

"Earl Laurent," Judge Malcolm’s voice was not loud yet carried an iron-like quality as it echoed in the hall, "According to the task report submitted by the visiting wizard, the Duke, it is confirmed that there was an illegal ritual of connecting to a high-risk other plane inside your Red Rock Castle, and it has resulted in multiple deaths.

According to the ’Empire Nobility Code’ and ’Extraterritorial Contact Control Regulations’, I, Judge Malcolm, Level 3 judge, together with Knight Hall stewards, hereby initiate comprehensive examination procedures for the Laurent family and its fief Red Rock Castle!"

He did not inquire but directly announced.

This meant that Empire institutions had already unilaterally accepted the Duke’s report, categorizing the event as extremely serious.

"Your Honor Judge," Laurent Earl took a deep breath, responding with a long-prepared speech in a tone full of sorrow and remorse,

"I admit, as the family head, I bear an irrefutable responsibility for negligence. I am deeply pained and ashamed by such a horrific tragedy occurring within the castle. Upon discovering the abnormality possibly related to... possibly linked to certain inappropriate research, I took the strictest internal measures immediately..."

He tried to steer the topic towards the results of internal handling.

However, Judge Malcolm raised his hand and coldly interrupted him, "Internal measures? Earl, what we need now is the full picture of the facts! Who conducted the ritual? What was the purpose? Are there accomplices? Has irreversible planar pollution already occurred? These are not issues that can be brushed aside with one word about internal handling!"

He ignored Laurent Earl further and directly ordered the black-armored knights and several investigators in rune robes behind him:

"First team, seal off the castle’s underground area, focusing on investigating the ritual site mentioned in the Duke wizard’s report for in-depth residual energy analysis!"

"Second team, review all the castle’s library collections, especially those involving mysticism and other planar knowledge, all to be sealed for inspection!"

"Third team, isolate and question all family members, stewards, servants, especially those who have had close contact with the second son Calvin Laurent! I want to know his all whereabouts, contacts, and items over the past six months!"

"From now on, Red Rock Castle allows entry but no exit! All external communications temporarily controlled!"

Orders were issued one by one, cold and efficient.

The black-armored knights and investigators dispersed immediately like precise machinery to execute the tasks.

Laurent Earl’s heart sank to rock bottom; he hadn’t anticipated such a rigorous and direct examination, and evidently, the tribunal was determined to uproot the matter completely.

He initially hoped to put a hasty end using Calvin’s self-conclusion, but now it was clear that this was merely the beginning.

The following days felt like being trapped in a never-ending nightmare for the Laurent family.

The investigators found residual traces in the basement after the ritual’s destruction, confirmed its high-risk nature of connecting to other planes, and collected energy samples for further analysis.

The library was rummaged through, and several ancient books evidently containing forbidden knowledge were sealed separately, becoming crucial evidence.

What tormented Laurent Earl most was the isolation and questioning of family members.

He himself was repeatedly interrogated about everything related to Calvin and whether he, as family head, was aware or even allowed it.