Chapter 134: Taking Office as Director
“All personnel, salute!!”
Inside the main hall of the Hamel Inquisition, all the Inquisitors had gathered. Under Leon’s lead, they lined up and saluted Bishop Beckett, who was serving as Director.
On a small table set to the side, wine glasses filled to seven-tenths sat alongside an assortment of small refreshments.
It was a farewell reception, just like when they had once seen off Aaron.
The Church’s transfer order had been formally issued. Today was Bishop Beckett’s final day as Director of the Inquisition. After this, he would return to a civilian post within the military branch of the Church of the God of War, and the position of Director would be taken over by the current Deputy Director, Leon, who had just obtained rank and Blessing from the Prophet Church.
Bishop Beckett stood upright before the crowd with his hands clasped behind his back and nodded in acknowledgment. “Thank you all for your kindness. I appreciate that, at this parting, you have given me the same treatment you gave to Knight Dias when he left. Truly. I understand very well that, in your hearts, I certainly cannot compare to Knight Dias—especially in the eyes of those young, unmarried ladies.”
The crowd chuckled softly at the joke, and Bishop Beckett continued, “But in any case, though this was only a transitional handover, over these past half a year you have given me tremendous support. It has been my honor to work alongside you. In the time since Mr. Griffin Henry Potter’s death, we have successfully dealt with the remaining heretical forces within Hamel Town and firmly brought the local illegal trade under control——”
Leon listened along with the others without revealing anything on his face. He knew that the illegal trade in Hamel Town had not disappeared; it had merely become more concealed and more regulated.
After he had taken control of South Harbor County, the scattered Underworld forces had almost entirely lost the ability to touch the business of Magical Potions and Mana. He produced extremely high-quality Mana locally; the smuggled Mana from outside simply could not compete. Coupled with pressure from both the Hamel Inquisition and the mercenary forces he had organized—exerting influence in both the black and white worlds—no Magical Beast trade chain outside his control could survive locally.