[NR] Truth's Light - Chapter 786 (Patreon)

Indeed, the crowd they saw in front of them was focused on the campsite. Though as the carriage approached, they quickly made space for it. After all, from what these rubberneckers had seen, the royal Inspector is exactly what this situation called for.

As they get right up next to the site, Alexander hops off the carriage and claps his hands. “Alright! Who was sent here? Anything new happen?”

A man dressed in leather armor emblazoned with the Temple of Truth’s symbology steps forward. “Cleric Tarse, sir. Quite a few things have happened.”

Alexander sighs, “Of course they have. We’ll wait until the Inspector is set up, then you can go over everything for us. I assume you have enough juice left to keep a truth light up?”

Tarse shrugs, “I haven’t really had a chance to do more than the most basic questions. Though I’ve at least confirmed no one has messed with the crime scene.”

Alexander pats him on the shoulder, “That’s all we need right now. I’m sure the Inspector will have more questions, but as far as I’m concerned? Just keeping the crime scene clean and contained is more than enough.”

Tarse let out a long-suffering sigh, “Well, that certainly took more than enough effort on its own. I simply didn’t need to use much Mana for it.”

Alexander nods, “I’m guessing a bunch of yelling at idiots to back up?”

Tarse shakes his head, “I wish that was all. There were a few people who clearly had less than honorable intentions. Thankfully, my presence meant they only fought a little bit.”

Tarse thinks back on the last few hours. The sun was climbing up the sky as he and the other two groups stood around the edge of the crime scene. A crowd of people milling about and commenting on everything from the weather to the visibly dead bodies.

An occasional curious sort would try to get closer for a better look, but a stern look mostly took care of such nonsense. Then the real troublemakers showed up.

First it was a single boarkin man walking closer, except he didn’t stop even when shouted at. Thankfully, the two hyenakin got in front of him before he could disturb things. Worse, while that was happening?

Around the back of the site, a handful of people, who had covered themselves up completely, tried to make a run for the bodies. Good thing the adventuring group was on their toes as well. The fighter managed to practically teleport from where he had been watching to in front of the people and stop them. Then the caster got some kind of black wall up behind him. Tarse could tell the wall was simply an illusion, but it did its job.

And that was just the first attempt on the crime scene! There were a handful more that happened and who knows how many hidden attempts that got called off. Something very fishy was going on here.

As Tarse was lost in his head, the Inspector’s driver was setting things up. First by clearing people back even further and then by folding out the carriage itself. While not perfect, the contraption somehow turned into a mini judges stand.

The setup is clearly less than ideal, but all the proper signs and symbols are in place. There is even backlighting for some crests to draw the eye to them. Mainly that of the royal family and Ref-ref’s family. Though some deities are acknowledged as well.

Not Truth though. They have certain expectations of any organization that would openly display their mark. And yeah, as much as any ruler would love to display said mark on their courts and what not? Well, such people also can’t seem to help themselves when it comes to telling lies “for the good of the people” or whatever other excuse they might be using.

Whatever the case, things are set up and ready soon enough. So Ref-ref climbs up a small staircase from inside the carriage and sits on his not-a-throne. Which since it is meant to represent royal authority, does have the trappings of the king’s throne, but is clearly marked such that it can’t be called a throne. Kind of odd, but that’s what you get sometimes.

Once sitting, Ref-ref grabs a small baton and smacks a hidden bell under the desk he is behind. “I call this court to Order!”

One of the backlit marks glows brighter and the divine power of a local deity to Order and Lawful conduct spreads outward. This creates a sound bubble around the crime scene and everyone involved, allowing sound out, but not in. Also, said bubble is a physical barrier, which means no last-minute attempts at sabotage.

Or rather, someone can certainly try! The barrier itself isn’t actually all that firm. Any average adult could probably push their way through. In fact, it was set that way so that things can be passed from outside the bubble to those inside. The important detail for why there won’t be any attempts is that this isn’t a spell or enchantment.

The sound barrier was a divine miracle and anyone who broke in would be marked, and those connected to them found out. Not that the barrier is 100%, after all, there are other deities who can oppose it and those at level-cap or close can break the bubble without consequence. Still, that would require powers above anything reasonable to interfere with this small city’s troubles.

Ref-ref folds his hands in front of himself, “I am here to judge a crime that appears connected to the corruption of city officials. Do we have confirmation that the crime scene has not been tampered with?”

Tarse steps forward, “I call upon Truth’s Light!” And Tarse begins to emit a soft white glow.

Ref-ref nods, “This court recognizes Truth’s Light and will accept your testimony so long as the light remains steady.”

Tarse, “I declare that the crime scene was not tampered with despite attempts to the contrary.”