"No need for an introduction." The old man in white robes stopped him with his hand. "Although it is far away in the southernmost part of Sara, I have heard the story of Aisuen Hitzfell."
“Ah? So…”
"After all, not everyone can solve the Jedi bounty posted by the Northern Diocese." Archbishop Jones grinned slightly, "From this point of view, Wayne specially sent a lucky person like Miss Hitzfeld to Nanxinze, probably hoping to bless us with better development."
Xia Yibing's brows gradually furrowed.
The old man spoke politely, but the meaning behind his words was quite annoying.
Lucky?
This means that they were able to solve the problem of the Crystal Sea not by relying on their own abilities, but simply by good luck?
The idea of blessing is even more interesting... To put it more seriously, it can even be understood as a warning. It warns them to be mascots and not to interfere too much in certain affairs.
"Nanxinze must be sealed off immediately."
Hitzfeld said calmly.
As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of everyone else in the room, including the four tin cans, changed drastically.
Joe Cole turned to look at her in horror.
What about the agreed negotiation?
Is this a negotiation?
How can you cut the bottom line right from the start?
"Oh... Detective, you may not understand what you are saying."
Archbishop Jones grinned slightly. "Nanxinze is the largest port city in Sara besides the capital of Wayne. You may not have a rough idea of how many ships shuttle through the port every day, how many trains there are, and how many merchants and travelers come in and out..."
"I understand." Hitzfeld interrupted him, "But Nanxinze must be closed."
Joe Cole stood at the back with his neck shrunk, not daring to breathe.
Pondich opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he said nothing.
Karl frowned, supported himself on the back of the sofa with his hands, stood casually, and looked away.
Only Xia Yibing.
Despite the suffocating pressure, he took a step behind the girl.
"reason."
Archbishop Jones glanced at her, then turned his gaze back to the girl, "Give me a reason why Nanxinze must be closed."
"The general reasons behind the newspaper war in Nanxinze, a lot of information and data are written in the report to Cole. I believe you have read it."
"I have seen it." The old man nodded. "It is because of a strange library hidden deep in the Dream Ruins that has the ability to manifest in reality."
"Then based on the evidence we have so far, I have reason to believe that the vast majority of the members of the Holy Fruit Society, the novelists you are now celebrating, have some kind of physical distortion and are no longer human to a certain extent."
"Then."
"I think this is enough of a reason." Hitzfeld raised his eyebrows slightly. "The reason for the distortion, judging from the evidence we have so far, is most likely a deal made between Xigrant, the Dream City, and the undead in the city. As long as this strange city floats over Nanxinze, the number of distorted people will increase. Once we start to capture these people, we can't rule out the possibility that they will use Nanxinze's developed transportation system to quickly escape to other areas."
"Then."
"..." Hitzfeld narrowed his one eye and clenched his hanging hands quietly.
“I think the city can indeed be closed.”
Seeing that the atmosphere between the two was becoming increasingly tense, Karl interrupted with a cough.
"Agent Casimir's situation... shows that the... well, defective fruit may be poisonous. If the person who can make this fruit escapes to other areas, and other areas are not vigilant against this kind of person, this phenomenon... it is very likely to cause damage to local public security rules in a short period of time."
“So I think the city can be closed.”
"Even if it's not a complete city lockdown, I think it's necessary to just increase control over various transportation channels."
"Ah!" At this point, Pondich suddenly cried out as if he had just woken up, "Yes! If we just increase the control, it is indeed possible... Sheriff Cole and the army can also cooperate and help!"
"It would be best to completely seal off the city." Hitzfeld glanced at him, "And we need to quickly allocate a large number of personnel to capture all novelists throughout the city."
"All?" Pondich stared.
"Even those who have no evidence to prove they are members of the Holy Fruit Society are going to be arrested?"
"Yes."
At this moment, Archbishop Jones, Pondich, and Joe Cole's faces turned completely gloomy.
"Well, Miss Hitzfeld."
Pondich's tall body slowly moved closer.
"Now the publicity for the newspaper and cultural festival has already been released. If you arrest a few people, you can still explain it, but if you arrest everyone..."
"According to Agent Casimir's diagnosis report after he devoured the defective fruit, this fruit carries a large amount of spiritual insights from the producer."
Hitzfeld interrupted him rudely.
"People who consume this spiritual insight will have an impulse and must write down the thoughts in their minds. Therefore, the most intuitive ones are these new novelists. They themselves are major suspects."
"..."
"..."
"..."
No one answered.
The atmosphere became awkward and solemn again.
"Increase inspection and prevention efforts at all transportation checkpoints, and arrest all novelists on the watch list."
Archbishop Jones broke his silence.
"Since you are so direct, I won't waste my time with you."
"That's my bottom line, Miss Detective."
Hitzfeld's mouth curled up.
"I have met the other district heads, Your Excellency the Bishop."
she said softly.
"Lord Isaac Rhodes of Blackwood City... through him, I have always had respect for everything about the Order."
“But now I’ve changed my mind.”
"I think maybe Nan Xinze is too comfortable."
"It's so peaceful that it's not suitable for a bishop to stay here for too long."
Chapter 56 Trust
In the end, Hitzfeld didn't eat here.
Standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window and staring at the car lights going away, Carl frowned and looked worried.
Talk fell apart.
All I can say is that it was within his expectations.
But he had never expected the intensity of Asun Hitzfeld's attitude and the sharpness of his words.
"Sir." He turned around and looked at the only old man in white robes left in the room. "Since it is related to the Black Snake, I think her persistence is not wrong to some extent."
The Dark Snake.
Just being associated with this word is enough to make you extremely vigilant.
And to be honest, he, who was used to spending money and practicing asceticism, was born to be different from the bishop. If it weren't for the church rules and laws restricting him, he would have gone to the northwest before the end of his term.
That's where golden knights like him are particularly needed.
Only there can he really show his talents.
"You only see the surface of the problem, Xiaomila." Archbishop Jones frowned and looked at Carl with some dissatisfaction. "You also mentioned the Black Serpent... Do you think that since this case involves such a level of evil, it is not too much to pay attention to it?"
"Of course." Carl nodded immediately. "The total population of the entire Xinze Parish is nearly three million. If something happens in the south, northern Xinze will also be implicated. This is not as easy to choose as the situation in West Grant at that time. We can't give up this city!"
"That's a nice thing to say." The old man smiled contemptuously, "But what are you going to do about it?"
"How to do it?"
"If it is really the Black Snake, let me ask you, what can you do to save this city?"
“This…” Karl frowned. This was something he didn’t expect.
"We can follow Aisuen Hitzfeld's idea first." After thinking for a long time, he could only answer like this, "Seal off the city, arrest people, and find a way to find out the origin of the evil..."
"If it really worked, West Grant wouldn't have been wiped off the map." Archbishop Jones interrupted him unceremoniously, "We did try to save it when the disaster broke out, but what was the result? In vain!"
Karl's face looked uglier than ever before because he knew that what the other party said was right.
Closing the city... arresting people... At that time in West Grant, more drastic measures were implemented.
But it's no use.
No one can see or harm the Dark Snake. Not to mention harming it, even those who get close to the dream ruins where it may exist will disappear.
"All evil creatures, nightmares, and beasts that have mutated for some reason, these things will be classified by the parish, with their types, characteristics, and weaknesses marked. They will be used for research and to warn future generations."
Archbishop Jones continued, "But the only thing is that the Black Snake... not only can we not use this method to classify and analyze it, but we still cannot be sure whether it really exists."
"Do you know what this means, Shomila?"
"The only thing that has been passed down from the beginning to the end of the West Grant disaster is the legend of the snake. It was spread by a young civilian."
"Now she suddenly said that there is a force behind this case, and they may be able to control this terrible monster..."
"what do you want me to do?"
"History has proven that it is meaningless to do as she says! Do you want me to make this news public, causing panic in the entire diocese and spreading those who may cause contamination all over Sara?"
"Of course not!" Carl's face turned pale. "But I think... she also knows this truth... but she still brought it up. So maybe she can... find the reason for the evil outbreak?"
"Can you guarantee that she can do it?"
“…No.” Carl lowered his head and sighed, “Okay, sir, I know what to do.”
He understood why Jones would go along with people like Pondich.
This is not the case. Although it seems that their pursuits and goals are the same, Archbishop Jones's philosophy is obviously much more profound.
Now, after hearing these words and explanations, he also felt that it was not appropriate to make a big fuss about the matter.
“You are also thinking about the people.”
Seeing that he had surrendered, Archbishop Jones's expression softened slightly.
"It doesn't make sense no matter how you look at it or say it, but I will insist on it no matter how irrational it is. Maintaining the current stability of Nanxinze is the best thing for this city and its people!"
Carl nodded and said nothing more.
"Go and do your thing." The old man waved his hand at him. "Although the talks with the detective broke down, we can't just pretend nothing happened. Mobilize the people in the district to strengthen the supervision and control of various transportation channels and supervise the sheriff to arrest everyone on the list."
"Ok."
"As for the library, cooperate with her to find it! As long as their requests do not violate our bottom line, we can satisfy them!"
"I see."
Carl nodded again.
With mixed feelings, he closed the door and walked away outside.
“This autumn is not peaceful.”
Looking at the gate, the old man in white robe sighed.
Then the corners of his mouth slightly curled up, revealing a smile that was somewhat weird considering his identity.
"Forbidden fruit..."
"Hey!"
……
"You have offended him badly."
