Jorgen followed the two priests through the winding corridors and staircases, advancing towards the ground floor. The underground part of the cathedral was much deeper than he had imagined. The vast space echoed only the sound of their footsteps.
"Please follow us closely and do not look around," the guide said, "or you will get lost."
Professional habits made Jorgen try to remember the route he had taken. "No problem," he said, "I think such an underground structure is still within my ability..."
"What did you say?"
"Nothing, don't mind."
"If you think you can find things like religious dungeons, you are very wrong! No matter what your intentions are, we don't have such things here." Another priest said.
After more than ten minutes, they turned into a relatively large room.
"It doesn't seem to have reached the ground yet," Jorgen said.
"Indeed not, but the Archbishop is waiting for you here."
The room was still dimly lit by candles. Through these candles, one could see a huge map of Azeroth hanging on the front wall, with thumb-sized badges distributed on it, indicating the distribution of churches of the Holy Light around the world. Benedictus, dressed unusually in red and black robes and accompanied by two priests, stood beside the candlestick on one side of the room, looking as if he was not waiting for someone to arrive, but rather sending off a team.
Jorgen walked up. "Your Grace Archbishop Benedictus," he said, "I really didn't expect to meet you privately in such a place. I mean, the basement of the Holy Light Cathedral..."
Benedictus showed a typical religious leader's smile.
"Call me Archbishop, Mr. Jorgen. Are you satisfied with the treatment of your injuries?"
"Thank you very much for your men to treat my injuries, but can we get straight to the point?"
"Put that attitude away and figure out who you're facing..." one of the priests said. Benedictus stopped him with a gesture, then said to Jorgen, "It is indeed impolite to bring you to this cold and dark basement against your will. I suppose I'm just not used to your way of doing things. Since you also don't want to stay here for too long, I'll get straight to the point. Do you remember Bossia Wislanzo?"
"Of course, your priestess. We've met before."
"Yes, I saw you take her out of the guards of the church. I heard she has been locked in the special cell for interrogating serious offenders."
"Following orders."
"I'm not blaming you. So, what do you think of this? Regarding Bossia as a suspect of inciting murder..."
"I have no say in this case now. This case is not under my jurisdiction. I don't even know clearly who she was accused of inciting and whom she killed." Seeing Benedictus remain silent, Jorgen continued, "Do you want me to find out about this for you?"
"Not under your jurisdiction? I see... So do you know who is in charge of this matter?"
"It seems you don't understand our division of responsibilities very well. No one but Shawl himself could possibly grasp the arrangements of all cases, let alone me, just an investigator."
"I told you he can't be relied on," the priest who had just rebuked Jorgen said, "how can we expect someone from MI7..."
The procrastinating attitude of these people made Jorgen feel a little irritable. If he didn't take the initiative to break the situation, who knew how much longer he would have to waste time here?
"Your Grace, you think your priestess is actually innocent," Jorgen said, "and hope that I can find evidence for you. Is that the case?"
Benedictus hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "That's right. Even if she's not innocent..."
"Your Grace, I apologize for offending you, but I have to speak plainly. Whether Bossia is innocent or not does not matter. No matter what, you want her to regain her freedom. Isn't that your real thought?"
"The Light will not forgive the sin of inciting murder, but aside from the Archbishop's identity," Benedictus said, "it must be admitted that you are right. I hope she can regain her freedom. This is my first thought."
"I didn't know about your priestess Bossia until yesterday. I need to know more before I can make a decision."
Benedictus pushed his eyebrows with his left hand and sighed. "Bossia's parents were my best friends before I became Archbishop. They were both paladins, more loyal to the kingdom than anyone else, and willingly undertook all the most dangerous missions ... until they were unfortunately killed in action. Before that mission, they entrusted the three-year-old Bossia to me. For the past eighteen years, rather than a priestess, I have regarded her as my own daughter. To be honest, many people think she was able to pass the selection of the Guards of the Church of Holy Light only because of her relationship with me. The guards of the church never go to the front line, so I thought she could live peacefully like this. But..."
"So what do you know about the victim, Neil Jessie?"
Jorgen remembered how the old man had deliberately emphasized Benedictus when mentioning this name yesterday.
"I only know that he was a folk singer. He illegally gathered people with politically motivated songs, so he was imprisoned as a political prisoner. That's all. I don't think he had any relationship with Bossia."
Jorgen did not believe Benedictus told the truth on this point, but it was not unexpected.
"Mr. Jorgen, I think I have confessed enough to you. So you must promise."
"Then...why me? I don't look closer to the faithful of the Holy Light than any other member of MI7."
"I'm not foolish, Mr. Jorgen, please don't deliberately lead me," Benedictus said. "There are many rumors about you. They make me feel that you are the only one I can entrust. You know best why there are rumors about you."
"You think I can betray Shawl for you."
"Yes. Of course, I will not let you take risks for nothing, although I may only be able to use the most vulgar means of money to repay you."
Money? What do I want with that stuff? Jorgen now knows that among MI7's hostile forces, he has become someone who can betray the old man. The old man must know this.
"You also know your situation now. If you refuse, believe me," Benedictus said, "the days to come will be difficult."
Jorgen never thought he would be carrying the secret of five years ago as an ordinary investigator and living peacefully all his life. One day, he and the old man would settle accounts. It seems that day is approaching.
The face of Mardias appeared in his mind. He saw the nine-year-old boy sitting by the window, looking at the maze-like mountain path outside the mansion. He heard Dalia say, "I want to be with Mardias for that day."
So he decided.
"I have a request." Jorgen said.
"Go ahead."
"On the 15th of each month, allow Mrs. Dalia to meet her son."
"Is that all? I can talk to His Majesty and ask him to ask Lord Prestor to give his grandson more freedom. But... is that all you want?"
"Not just that. But that's part of what I can get from you. As for other rewards, I will win them by my own ability. If you can't do this, I will stop all actions immediately."
"Such a request also confirms some rumors... But very fair." Benedictus took a small wooden box from one of the priests and opened it. Inside was a pure gold badge engraved with the pattern of the Cathedral. "Please accept it. It can prove our cooperative relationship is established." He said.
"Pure gold? What do I want this for?"
"This is not a monetary reward, just something that may be helpful to you. Show it to any member of the Church Guards and they will assist you to the best of their ability. Of course, as long as this is going on, you don't have to return it."
"OK." Jorgen took the badge out of the wooden box, examined it, and put it in his pocket. "I will start investigating immediately."
"Take Mr. Jorgen to the surface."
"One more thing," Jorgen said, "all this is to get your priestess out of Shawl's control. Right?"
"We have reached consensus on this point."
"Very good, the purpose of such an action makes me feel better. I'll just assume that's the truth."
Jorgen did not see Benedictus's reaction and left the room. What bothered him most was the Archbishop's attitude toward the matter: so anxious, claiming he did not even know what had happened to his own priestess, yet taking the initiative to contact someone who could solve the problem by special means the next day.
When he left the cathedral, he found that it was already deep night. The priests who sent him stopped at the door of the cathedral, then hurried back in.
Although the requested reward was only to ensure that Dalia could meet Mardias on the 15th of each month, so as not to miss Dean's annual festival day - Jorgen knew that he was not without selfish motives. He didn't want a second Shawl, and this was just an opportunity. How could he threaten the source of the shadow if he was always in the shadow of the huge MI7? He did not expect to gain asylum from the Church of Holy Light by assisting the Archbishop; what he really wanted to do now was to know more, control more, no matter who he obeyed or what means he used.