At that time, the people of Naxos were still relatively unfamiliar with the temple of Hades, and Colientus was responsible for spreading the teachings. In the course of seven years, the people here have fully embraced Hades, the benevolent king of Hades, and the people who worship him every day are far more than Demeter, which shows the power of Corientus and the hard work he has put into it over the years.

The prison was dark, damp, and smelled bad. Colientus had been here many times, and he had become accustomed to it, and he ignored the cries of the other prisoners in the cages on either side, and walked through the middle passage to a cage.

The jailer unlocked the lock and pushed open the iron door.

Collientus walked into the cage and a breath of blood came to his nose.

Collientus frowned, took a few more hurried steps, and by the faint light cast from the narrow window, he saw a naked man lying in a pile of dead grass in the corner, the blood oozing from the dense scars had dried up outside his body, and became a blood gam, turning him completely into a bloody man from top to bottom, where he lay motionless, and could only hear the faint sound of breathing......

Colientus turned his head to look at Diocassis who was following him, and said in a reproachful tone, "Why did you hit so hard?!" ”

Faced with the reproachful gaze of the priest, Diocassis was a little ashamed, and said in a solemn voice, "He...... He has always refused to tell the truth......"

"Go out, you don't have to stay here." Collientus said in a deep voice.

"It's too dangerous here, honorable priest!" A jailer reminded.

"Don't worry, with Hades' protection, he won't hurt me!" Colliontus spoke firmly.

Diocassis and his men had no choice but to go out.

"By the way, boil me some jars of boiling water and bring them." Colliontus made another request.

When they were gone, Corientus and the two priests who had accompanied him carefully carried the slave to the humble bed next to him.

Collientus has been to the prison many times and already has a lot of experience. He had his men carry two large medicine kits, one containing medicine for wounds and one full of clean linen. When the boiling water arrived, he and his men dipped linen in the water and began to wipe the blood off the slaves. At the place of the wound, they will gently peel off the blood mixed with earth and wheat grass, and remove the green pus from the wound little by little......

You must know that at the time of Herps's instruction, Herps sent doctors to train the priests of the temple of Hades in the basic skills of medical care, and Collientus was one of them to study hard, and with years of practice, his level of healing injuries was no less than that of an ordinary Dionian doctor.

However, the pain of clearing the affected area woke the slave from his coma, and he subconsciously struggled to sit up when he saw the person crouching in front of him, dressed in a crisp white robe and a simple black "A" letter drawn on his chest.

"Don't move yet, wait until I finish giving you the medicine and tie the bandages." The slave shuddered slightly: this kind voice was so familiar, very similar to the voice he heard every year at the Hades celebration in Naxos on September 9.

“…… Priest of Mercy Corientus?! He shouted uncertainly in a hoarse voice.

"It's me." This answer shone like a warm beam of sunshine into the dead silence of the slave's heart, which made his eyes moisten instantly, and he reluctantly propped up his head, and watched in a daze as the old man, who was extremely sacred in his heart, poured him cool and comfortable wound medicine, and then pasted and tied the wounds one by one with a clean strip of cloth...... His white robe was stained with dust and blood, and his wrinkled face was covered with beads of sweat, but the old man didn't care at all, his expression was so focused.

Finally finished his work, reached out to wipe the sweat from his forehead, and asked, "What's your name?" ”

No response.

He looked up and saw that the slave was already full of tears, looking straight at him, but he bit his lip and did not make a sound.

Colientus breathed a sigh of relief in his heart: it seemed that this could be done.

So, his expression became serious and said, "I know that I cried at this time, but you brutally killed so many people before!" ”

"I didn't—" The slave saw that the most respected person had misunderstood him, and almost blurted out the truth, but he quickly shut his mouth, and then said unwillingly, "When I die, I will see the three judges, and they will give me a fair judgment." ”

"A fair trial?" Colientus groaned slightly, and said slowly: "If you didn't kill anyone, then you are lying, aren't you afraid of being sentenced to hell and suffering that never ends?!" What's more, if you conceal the facts and let the real criminals escape punishment, you are an accomplice, and the three judges will make half of the responsibility for the crimes committed by him be borne by you, this is not just as simple as pulling out the tongue, are you ready? ”

The slave's face changed dramatically, and he quickly lowered his head, but saw that the muscles on his arms protruded, and the freshly tied linen was immediately stained with blood.

"Don't use your hands too hard, otherwise the wound that has just been applied will open again!" Colientus immediately patted his arm with concern, and seeing that he was still clenching his fists, he asked softly, "What's your name?" ”

“…… Laxe. The slave squeezed a sentence out of his mouth.

"You're a Numibian, aren't you?" Corlientus looked at his dark skin and said, "I heard from the inspector that four of the girls who were killed were Numibians, and they were all your compatriots! ”

Laxse shuddered.

"I heard from the inspector that when these six bodies were buried, they were placed very neatly, and each of them had an Opol in his mouth, and the murderer would not have such a good intention...... Axie, it's all the kindness of your heart that prompted you to do this......" Corientus sighed and said in an affirmative tone: "I believe that you are by no means a murderer, you are just forced to obey the command of the real murderer!" ”

Laxey's shoulders shook even more, and a low sobbing could be heard.

"Child, it must be painful to live like this...... "Colliontus sighed again, and his tone became stern: "But...... Obviously there is a chance to catch the murderer now and let him be severely punished by the law, but you have to take the blame for him, so that he has the opportunity to hurt more Numibian girls in the future, do you really bear it?! Are you really willing?! ”

"I'm not reconciled!" Laxai raised his head, with tears in his eyes, and shouted excitedly: "But I'm just a slave, he's a big man, my wife and my two daughters are in his hands, what can I do?!" What can I do?!! ”

"Hades is the most just god of the gods, whether he is a slave or an elder, he is treated equally. His Majesty Davers followed his will and enacted the Law of Dionya to protect all good people and punish all wicked in the Kingdom of Dionia. You don't have any worries, speak up, tell the truth! Hades, your devout devotee Corientus swears to you that I will protect Axe's wife and daughter and never let them be harmed in any way! ”

Axie was surprised to see that Colientus put his left hand on his chest, raised his right hand, and said the oath reverently, and his heart suddenly rose with endless gratitude, which melted the barrier in his heart, and he "pounced" and knelt down in front of Colientus.

…………………………………

Diocasis walked into the parlor of the Naxos City Hall, and as soon as he saw Strombori, he said excitedly: "My lord, your advice really works, that slave has finally told the truth!" ”

Strompori said with some smugness and some emotion: "I only know that the slaves of the kingdom trust the Hades Temple the most, and from time to time there are slaves from all over the country who run to the Hades Temple to complain, which is also related to the sensational case of Polyxis more than ten years ago......

"Your Excellency." Diocassis took a few more steps forward and whispered with a slightly solemn expression, "That slave also revealed another thing about Laodisian......"

Strompori looked at his expression and said in a deep voice, "What's the matter?" ”

Diocassis did not speak, but handed him the transcript in his hand.

Strombori read the record carefully, but the two white eyebrows gradually twisted together, his face was full of surprise, he suddenly pressed the record on the table, and asked urgently: "What he said is true?!" ”

He said that he had not done it, that another slave who had committed suicide had been doing it in secret, but that he had once confided in him when he was drunk...... I have no way of verifying the truth of this now. Diocasis showed a rare hesitation: "After all, this directly involves the patriarch of Laodisian...... So I'm here to ask you. ”

"You're right, don't act on your own." Strompori nodded in approval of Diocassis's approach, but his mind was recalling some rumors he had vaguely heard during his years in Naxos.

He walked slowly in the living room with his hands behind his back, with a solemn expression.

Diocassis waited silently.

After a few moments, Strombori muttered, "Who else knows about this?" ”

"Me and two of my most trusted men...... And the priest of Corientus......"

"Tell your men that you don't say it! Otherwise—" Strompori's eyes flashed.

"I understand, sir."

"I'll go to the priest and tell him about it, he's a wise man. Moreover, there is a law that does not allow priests to interfere in political affairs. Strompori touched his beard, looked at Diocassis, and ordered: "You first drag this case down, and keep Paphgres in custody, but do not interrogate him, and the slave will be kept as before for the time being...... I'm going to go and talk to Judge Aldarus and ask him to give you some time, and I'm sure he'll give me a favor as an old man...... Now, I am ready to write a letter to Your Majesty. You hurry back and take care of your patrol station. ”

Watching Laodisien leave, Stromboli stared down at the record on the table, a sneer appeared on his wrinkled face: "Laordisian, will you be the second Polyxis?" ”

………………………………

Meanwhile, in the residence of Antonios, the military minister of the Kingdom of Dioonia in the city of Turiyne, Antonios was sitting in the courtyard with his nephew, enjoying a meal and talking.

At this moment, it is already evening, night falls, and the bright moon rises. But a dozen candles as thick as a toddler's arm were lit in the courtyard, illuminating Antonios' mansion. By the light of the candles, the three children chased and frolicked in the corridors around them, and the crisp laughter continued.