Medieval: Kingdom Come: Deliverance

Chapter 198 Initiating the Investigation

Chapter 199 Initiating the Investigation

Peter did not answer immediately. His deep gaze slowly swept over the emotional villagers, then looked at the two oxen lying dead on the ground, and finally landed on the young priest's pleading face. He smiled slightly, a smile with a calming power.

"Father, there's a saying I think is very true: 'Without investigation, there is no right to speak.'"

Peter's voice was calm yet firm: "I personally firmly believe in the oneness of God and oppose all forms of heresy. However,"

He then changed the subject, looking at the villagers, "To truly convince everyone, dogmatic authority and prohibitions alone are not enough. We must find out the truth behind this matter, let the facts speak for themselves, to completely resolve everyone's doubts, right? We can't just force people to accept it by saying 'this is heresy.'"

These words, like cool spring water, calmed the excited crowd down a little.

A hint of shame flashed across Father Marian's face.

He realized that he might have been too eager to correct the "mistake," neglecting the villagers' feelings and the complexity of the event itself, and even failing to try to find out the truth.

The villagers also felt that what the "Prince of Brunswick" said made sense.

An investigation? Then let's investigate!

They were also tired of the shadow that had lasted for six years, and they longed to know what was hidden in the mine.

Is it a real demon, or something else entirely?

"Your Highness Brunswick."

Father Marian became even more humble, bowing deeply, "Please allow me to ask you for help."

As you can see, our group lacks both the wisdom to discern the truth and the courage to venture into dangerous territory.

Could you, or one of your valiant knights, help us delve into that so-called Demon Mine and uncover the truth?

His request was immediately met with enthusiastic support from the villagers.

"Yes, yes! Your Highness, please help us!"

"Prince, my two cows are dead! They were my family's most valuable possessions! How will we plow the fields in the fall? Our whole family depends on them—"

The cow's owner, Vladimir, was a burly man whose face was filled with sorrow, his voice choked with emotion.

"Yes, Your Highness, if the demon isn't eliminated, he'll dare kill a cow today and a man tomorrow! We have wives and children; we have nowhere to run!"

"For God's sake, please help us!"

The voices of pleading, complaining, and worrying mingled together, creating a heavy pressure.

Peter raised his hand, palm down, making a gentle downward gesture. Surprisingly, the noise immediately subsided, and everyone looked at him expectantly.

"All right."

Peter's voice reached everyone's ears clearly, "Leave this to me. I will give you the clear truth."

But the prerequisite is that everyone present must unconditionally cooperate with my investigation, answer my questions, and provide the information I need.

"Of course, of course! Please give your instructions!" the villagers replied in unison, as if they had found their pillar of support.

At this moment, Chris, who had been faithfully guarding Peter's side, couldn't help but step forward and whisper in Peter's ear, "Sir, shouldn't we be taking up too much time with these villagers? The Hungarian grain requisition team should be arriving soon. Our primary task—"

Peter turned his head and gave Chris a knowing look, his voice low but full of confidence: "No problem. I know what I'm doing, and it won't take long to investigate this."

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He paused, looking at Chris's young and slightly confused face, and felt it necessary to enlighten him.

"Chris, you must remember that our fundamental purpose in fighting the Hungarian grain requisition team is to help the villagers and alleviate their burden and suffering."

Now, helping them uncover the truth about the "Devil's Mine" and dispel the fear that has haunted them for six years is also helping them, alleviating their burden on a deeper level.

Don't confuse the means with the end.

Moreover, if the grain requisition team really comes, our main force of the knights, hidden in the woods, will teach them a lesson they'll never forget.

Chris's body trembled slightly upon hearing this, then a look of realization and admiration appeared on his face. He nodded earnestly, "Yes, sir! I was short-sighted. I have learned a lot."

Beside him, Brienne, fully armored and like a steel sculpture, also glanced deeply at Peter through the gaps in her helmet.

Beneath her visor, the corner of her mouth twitched slightly as she thought to herself, "Lord Peter—he treats commoners with such patience and gentleness. This is so different from those nobles who treat commoners like dirt."

Peter dismounted, his movements still slow. He handed the reins to Chris, then strode off toward the village and the mine. Each step he took was steady and firm, as if he were walking on a magnificent palace carpet, not on mud.

The villagers automatically parted to make way for him, watching him with awe. His slowed pace, forced by the heavy load, was interpreted in a different way by the villagers.

"Look at His Highness's walking posture, it's so elegant and graceful," an old woman whispered in admiration.

"This kind of measured, step-by-step movement is perhaps something that only ancient noble families with hundreds of years of tradition can cultivate such demeanor."

"Yes, yes! Prince Brunswick, I wonder which duchy he's from?"

"Why can't it be our own Bohemian prince?" a young villager exclaimed excitedly.

"Ha, are you crazy?" The person next to him shattered his illusions. "Our queen, that woman from Munich, is—is a barren hen! It's all her fault that His Majesty the King has no heir, causing turmoil in the country—"

Peter walked ahead, with the priest and villagers following respectfully behind, discussing everything from guessing Peter's identity to national affairs.

Some mischievous children even imitated Peter's "elegant" walking posture, lining up behind him, stomping their feet, puffing out their chests, and laughing and joking.

This made Peter feel quite ashamed, and even a little amused and exasperated.

God knows how much he wanted to take big strides and move quickly. But he couldn't!

The supplies in the cargo compartment, enough to equip a small squad, weighed down on him like an invisible mountain; the excessive load prevented him from moving quickly.

This is his biggest secret and weakness, and he must never reveal it to anyone.

Therefore, he could only try his best to maintain this calm and composed demeanor, glancing left and right from time to time, as if he were observing the terrain, or as if he were showing the villagers the elegant demeanor of royalty, in order to cover up his physical embarrassment.

Sunlight streamed down his body, casting a long, slow shadow. The truth, often more painful and liberating than the devil himself, is more capable of piercing the heart and liberating the soul.

Let me see what secrets this village is hiding.

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