CHAPTER 80: 80 PROHIBITED ITEMS? (1/4)

"Your Highness!"

"I must see Your Highness!"

As the three of them passed through the central square of the Monastery, Herbert heard Blake’s call, or rather, his scream...

At this moment, Blake was being pinned to the ground by two Punishment Nuns who were even more robust than he was. He wanted to struggle but was worried about angering others. He could only let them press him down, lifting his head and calling out loudly.

Herbert instinctively turned his head to glance, then immediately withdrew his gaze, pretending not to see anything, focusing his eyes on the ground.

"Blake? Hmm... don’t know, don’t know."

What a disgraceful sight on the ground.

I don’t know them anyway.

"Herbert!"

However, Herbert wanted to ignore it, but Blake, with sharp eyes, saw him and called out even more miserably.

His body was trembling with an excitement that looked as though he had just been pinned down and subjected to humiliation—especially with his current posture, which was truly suggestive.

Since the other had already called out his name, Herbert could not pretend that nothing happened. He furrowed his brow and looked toward the Chief Judge behind him.

"Your Excellency, the Chief Judge, may I go and handle this?"

"...Go ahead."

After receiving permission from the Thorn Bishop, Herbert walked directly in front of Blake, ignoring his excited gaze, and instead directly inquired of the two Nuns:

"Respected Cultivators, may I ask what’s happened? What has my Household Servant done?"

"Cultivator Herbert... he’s your Household Servant?"

One of the Nuns stood up, frowning tightly at Herbert and said deeply, "Do you know what he’s done?"

"Would you please tell me?"

"They brought a forbidden object into the Monastery!"

Hmm?

A forbidden object?

Contraband?

Upon hearing this term, an uncontrollable word popped into Herbert’s mind.

...Could it be an indecent book?

But seeing the two Nuns looking so furious, it seemed the thing they brought in was quite outrageous, not just a book.

So could it be a fake...?

But that’s not right either, aren’t the guards all men?

Oh, men could use it too.

"Is there such a thing?"

Herbert blinked, looking quite surprised at Blake. He didn’t expect this man with thick eyebrows and big eyes was also someone with such interests.

Blake saw Herbert’s strange look. Not understanding what he had imagined, Blake shook his head vigorously, repeatedly saying:

"No, no! We really didn’t! We have no idea! We don’t know how that thing got into our package!"

In response, Herbert nodded gently, his gaze tender.

Yes, yes, go on, I’m listening.

I understand.

Every patient in our department claims it was accidental, that they slipped during a bath, while eating, or sleeping... we understand.

We believe you!

We’ve all received professional training, and unless we can’t help it, we won’t laugh.

While Herbert was thinking of proctology jokes, the second Nun also spoke up, angrily saying, "They hid a Protective Talisman of the Northern Lands Witch, intending to spy on the Monastery with it!"

Hmm?

It’s really not that!

Now the interest and abstractness of the matter have suddenly decreased.

But... the Northern Lands Witch?

Herbert furrowed his brows, staring into Blake’s eyes, and slowly asked, "Do you know about this?"

"Of course not!"

Blake answered resolutely, "Your Highness, you must believe me, I really don’t know! I can swear to the gods! That item was definitely not on the cargo list!"

"I see..."

Herbert stared at him for a while and then said to the Punishment Nuns, "I did not sense any aura of deceit from him. What about you two?"

"...Neither did I," the Punishment Nun hesitated for a moment but then answered truthfully, "But even so, we cannot let him off lightly."

"I understand, and I don’t expect you to break the rules and show leniency."

Herbert smiled, not pleading for them, but instead said, "I hope you can, for the sake of the Albert Family, interrogate them to the highest standard."

"If you find it necessary, even taking them all to the Judgement Hall is fine. I can promise on behalf of the Albert Family that we will not protest about this matter."

His eyes were full of sincerity. He respectfully bowed to the two, saying earnestly, "Please enforce the law impartially and maintain the honor of the Albert Family."

Blake: ?

Originally thinking Herbert had come to plead for him, he didn’t expect him to righteously push them directly into the fire pit.

Your, Your Highness!!?

What are you doing!?

I, I protest! We must protest ahhhh—

And the two Nuns were also intimidated by his momentum and became somewhat hesitant.

This matter could be as big or as small as one wants, but even the harshest treatment wouldn’t mean sending them all to the Judgement Hall—that would clearly be a malicious targeting.

That would be a very serious provocation.

"Uh, the Judgement Hall?"

"This... there’s probably no need for that."

The two Nuns exchanged glances and then looked at the two expressionless Cardinals behind Herbert, seemingly understanding something, and shook their heads at him, "No, there’s really no need for that."

"But, please make sure you discipline them well and ensure nothing similar happens again. If it does, we will strictly enforce the Scripture."

Herbert looked somewhat regretful, but in the end, he did not persist further and nodded, "Since you’ve said so... then I thank you both on behalf of the Albert Family for your understanding."

The two Punishment Nuns rose, returned the greeting, nodded slightly at him, and then neatly turned to leave.

After the two Nuns left, Herbert quietly looked at Blake, who was still on the ground, and softly said, "Get up, what are you still pretending for?"

Blake quietly got up, without dusting off the dirt on him, standing honestly in front of Herbert with his head down.

"Your Highness, I..."

He knew very well that if Herbert hadn’t appeared, it would have been hard to escape today’s ordeal.

"Any clues?"

"I..."

Herbert saw him about to answer immediately and interrupted, "Blake, you get only one chance, the first and the last."

Opportunity, Herbert would only give once; whether he could seize it was up to Blake.

This time, Blake remained silent for a long time before dropping his head and speaking in a low voice, "Jamie, responsible for loading and unloading goods, was once a City Guard of the Royal City. He became a guard of the Albert Family after injuring his right hand."

"Good."

Herbert nodded calmly, patted his shoulder, and said calmly, "Go back and cooperate with the Cultivators to check everyone thoroughly, and beyond that... do nothing."

"Yes, Your Highness."