A Crusader with System in the Middle Ages

Those who witnessed that day all know how submissive and devout Count Belem was, listening to the Holy See’s teachings and judgment like a lost lamb.

Not a single person at that moment remembered he was a Norman. He was merely a devout believer willing to take responsibility for any mistake, disciplining himself strictly by the Bible and willing to suffer for even a potential sin."

"If he felt he was not guilty, why did he not seek justice? The just Holy See would have cleared his name!"

Cesare suddenly spoke out, feigning a devout appearance as he bowed to the Holy See.

"I must thank Administrative Officer Cesare, for he has raised a good question.

Why did Count Belem not plead his case? After all, Pope Gregory himself was present.

Do you remember what the Book of Romans says?

It says: ’Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.’ (New Testament, Romans 12:19)

Eric looked at Cesare and walked toward him.

A grim look came over Cesare’s face.

At that moment, Sir Ugo, the Guard Captain of Canossa, who had been standing at the door, walked in.

"I, Ugo de Capone, in my capacity as Guard Captain of Canossa and by the honor of the Capone Clan, vouch for this before you all. I participated in the arrest of Count Belem that day. What Marquis Eric says is true."

"In life, a trivial slip of the tongue or an unintentional act can lead to misunderstanding, quarrels, and even violence. Is this not a common occurrence?

How many of you have repented for such things? Yet Belem was willing to confess for this possible transgression.

Why can’t you do the same?

Because you know it is merely a possible transgression, and not born of your own intent.

As long as it’s only a possibility, it isn’t absolute; it can be avoided. And so, with this lack of certainty, you convince yourselves and feel at ease.

This is because you think too much. The life of a merchant has made you haggle over every penny; you cannot bear to lose anything for even a moment.

A Norman may seem reckless and ignorant to you, but Normans still know to be devout to God at all times.

This devotion is without regard for cost, because we are not city-dwellers, not merchants, and certainly not nobles. We are willing to give everything for salvation, be it reputation or glory.

Just like my father, Robert Outville, at the Battle of Sivite, did with Pope Leo IX. We are willing to hand over a victory within our grasp to the Holy See.

Because we know that we are servants, servants of God! Compared to the arrogant Emperor, we are willing to unconditionally submit to the See of Peter!

That is why the Holy See chose us! The See of Peter cast the Celestial Gate Key to us, and we have no reason to refuse it!

We are devout believers in God! We firmly believe that devotion can bring eternal salvation, and also glory! Including everything required by the Knightly Spirit!

We know to be as devout as lambs before the Master of this Catholic World, before His worldly representative, treating the Holy See as our father and the Church as our mother!"

As Eric’s voice fell, many people in the main hall began to murmur among themselves.

Then, Eric glanced at Cesare and continued speaking to the crowd:

"Do not be blinded by momentary impulse and prejudice. Even if a man is wicked beyond redemption, he should not be charged with crimes that are not his, for that would allow the law to be abused and the true culprit to escape.

Simply because you hate a man, or a people, can you pin a crime on someone based on a mere possibility or suspicion?

Hatred makes one lose their mind and abandon reason.

Do you remember? How was our Lord, our Christ, nailed to the Cross?

That Jewish mob called our Christ a heretic who misled the masses, called him a false Prophet, and said he was wicked beyond redemption! But what did our Christ do wrong?

He did not harm a single person! Yet he was burdened with the accusation of being wicked beyond redemption!

That Jewish mob, simply because they hated him, had no evidence! No evidence! No evidence!

They declared him a sinner, forcing the Roman Governor Pilate to execute the innocent Christ.

The Roman Governor Pilate even gave the mob two choices: one was Barabbas, a truly wicked villain, and the other was Christ, who had harmed no one.

Do you remember what is recorded in the Gospel Book?

Pilate said, ’Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?’

That Jewish mob actually chose to release the villain and execute Christ!

Pilate said, ’Why, what evil hath he done? What is truth? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go.’

However, the mob pressed him with loud voices, demanding he crucify Christ, and their voices prevailed!"

As he spoke, Eric shoved the bare-chested Belem into the crowd.

He then pointed to the crucifix of Christ’s martyrdom in the center of the hall. The sunlight had just risen to the perfect position, falling upon Christ’s blood-streaked face, his battered body, and the sinful crown of thorns!

The story from the Gospel Book surfaced in everyone’s minds.

Eric’s words, the scars on Belem’s body, the Holy See on the high platform, indifferent to it all.

They were a mob.

A mob.

A mob.

A sense of fear began to spread among them.

Belem, playing his part, deliberately pushed into the crowd, creating chaos and fear.

"You all know the Jews are detestable because they crucified Christ, but who among you truly understands why Christ died?

It was not because of the Jewish people as a whole, but because of the ignorance and foolishness of that Jewish mob, who were blinded by hatred and prejudice.

Even in his final moments on the Cross, Christ did not hate that mob. Instead, he pitied their ignorance and foolishness, grieving for the wickedness of humanity.

How many of you have understood Christ’s meaning?

I’ll tell you what I feel today. I heard shouting, constant shouting. And what were they shouting?

’Crucify him! Crucify him!’

And what do I want to say to you?

’Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him!’"

The moment Eric finished speaking, someone in the crowd suddenly shouted, "Blood! Blood! Blood!"

A thin figure ran out from the crowd, his face and hands splattered with blood.

Suddenly, the crowd erupted into chaos.

"Sin, sin, we have all sinned! It’s the stigmata! The blood of repentance!"

"Retribution has come! Retribution has come! We are accomplices! The Jewish mob!"

"Christ! Christ! I see Christ! Christ is watching us."

"..."

Some people fell to the ground, some screamed, and many fled the main hall.

Even the Bishopric Council and the Priests present were somewhat at a loss.

Many of them had never studied at a Divinity School. They only knew that Eric’s quotes were indeed from the Bible, and his logic was flawlessly exquisite.

For a moment, they too were unsure what to do.

However, the scene was too chaotic.

Some of the Bishops tried to ask Pope Gregory for instructions, but Gerard’s Otto, the Cardinal Bishop of Ostia and Pope Gregory’s assistant, gestured for them to be silent.

They could only remain where they were, resentfully. The special status of this Cardinal meant that, most of the time, he represented the will of Pope Gregory.

After quieting the Bishopric Council, Gerard’s Otto then nodded at Eric, signaling for him to continue.

Eric looked toward Cesare. Cesare, also frightened by the scene, was frozen in place.

"And you, Cesare, you have forsaken the words of Christ and the language of the Bible. For you attempted to pin an unproven crime onto a devout man.

I have only this to say to you, ’...prepare to meet thy God! The Lord shall punish the wicked, for he shall receive what his sins deserve!’ (Amos 4:12)"

Cesare’s body tensed as he tried to remain calm.

But in the next moment, the smell of blood wafted over him. He subconsciously wiped his cheek and saw a smear of bright red.

’Blood... blood...’

A wave of dizziness washed over him.

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