At that time, the people of Naxos were still unfamiliar with the Temple of Hades, and Colientus was responsible for spreading his teachings. After seven years, the people of Naxos had completely accepted Hades, the benevolent king of Hades. The number of people worshiping him every day far exceeded the number of people worshiping Demeter. This showed Colientus' ability and the hard work he had put in over the years.
The prison was dark, damp, and smelled terrible. Colientus had been here many times and was already used to it. He ignored the cries of the other prisoners in the cages on both sides and walked through the middle to a cage.
The jailer opened the lock and pushed the iron door open.
Colientus walked into the cage, and the smell of blood assailed his nostrils.
Colientus frowned and hurried a few steps forward. With the dim light from the narrow window, he saw a naked man lying in a pile of withered grass in the corner. The blood oozing from the dense scars had dried up outside his body, turning him into a bloody man from top to bottom. He lay there motionless, and only a faint breathing sound could be heard …
Colientus turned his head to look at Diocasis behind him and said with a reproachful tone, "Why did you hit him so hard?!"
Facing the reproachful gaze of the priest, Diocasis felt a little ashamed. He stammered, "He … he refused to tell the truth …"
"You guys can leave. You don't have to stay here," Colientus said in a deep voice.
"It's too dangerous here, esteemed priest!" a jailer reminded.
"Don't worry, with the protection of Hades, he won't hurt me!" Colientus said firmly.
Diocasis and his men had no choice but to leave.
"Boil a few pots of boiling water for me," Colientus made another request.
After they left, Colientus and the two priests who came with him carefully carried the slave to the simple bed next to him.
Colientus had been to the prison many times and had a lot of experience. He asked his men to bring two medical boxes. One was filled with medicine for external injuries, and the other was filled with clean linen. After the boiling water was delivered, he and his men first dipped the linen in the water and began to wipe the blood off the slave's body. At the wound, they would gently peel off the blood that was mixed with soil and straw, and slowly remove the green pus from the wound …
Back then, Helpes had been instructed by the Devers to send doctors to train the priests of the Temple of Hades in basic medical skills. Colientus was one of the most hardworking ones. Coupled with years of practice, his ability to treat external injuries was no less than that of an ordinary Diónia doctor.
However, the pain of cleaning the wound still woke the slave up from his coma. In a trance, he saw the person squatting in front of him wearing a white robe and a simple black letter "A" drawn on the chest. He subconsciously struggled to sit up.
"Don't move first. Let me finish applying the medicine and bandaging you." The slave shuddered slightly. The kind voice was so familiar. It was very similar to the voice he heard during the Naxos Hades celebration every year on the 9th of September.
"… Merciful Priest Colientus?!" He shouted in a hoarse voice with uncertainty.
"It's me." This answer was like a beam of warm sunlight shining into the slave's deathly still heart, making his eyes instantly wet. He struggled to prop up his head and stared blankly at the old man who was incomparably sacred in his heart pouring cool and comfortable medicine for his wounds. Then, he used clean strips of cloth to paste and bind the wounds one by one … His white robe was stained by dust and bloodstains, and his wrinkled face was full of sweat. However, this old man did not care at all, his expression was so focused.
Colientus finally finished his work. He reached out to wipe the sweat on his forehead and asked, "What's your name?"
There was no response.
He looked up and saw that the slave's face was already full of tears. The slave looked straight at him, but he bit his lips and did not make a sound.
Colientus was a little relieved. It seemed that it could be done.
So his expression became serious and said, "Now you know how to cry, but you have brutally killed so many people before!"
"I didn't —" The slave saw that the person he respected the most misunderstood him and almost blurted out the truth. He quickly shut his mouth and then said unwillingly, "After I die, I will see the three judges. They will give me a fair trial."
"A fair trial?" Colientus pondered for a moment and said slowly, "If you didn't kill anyone, then you are lying. Are you not afraid of being sentenced to the hell of having your tongue pulled out and enduring endless torment?! Besides, you've concealed the truth and allowed the real culprit to escape punishment. You're an accomplice, and the three judges will definitely make you bear half of the blame for his crimes. This isn't as simple as pulling out his tongue. Are you ready? "
The slave's face changed when he heard this. He quickly lowered his head, but only saw the muscles on his arm bulging and the linen that had just been tied immediately oozing blood.
"Don't use too much force, or the wound that has just been applied with medicine will open again!" Colientus immediately patted his arm with concern. Seeing that the slave still clenched his fists, he asked softly, "What's your name?"
"… Lacus." The slave squeezed out the word from his mouth.
"You are a Numibian, right?" Colientus looked at his dark skin and said, "I heard from the inspector that four of the girls who were killed were Numibians. They were all your compatriots!"
Lacus trembled all over.
"I heard from the inspector that when these six corpses were buried, they were placed very neatly, and each of them had an Opol in their mouth. The murderer would not be so kind … Aksai, this is all because of the kindness in your heart that prompted you to do this …" Colientus sighed and said with certainty, "I believe that you are not the murderer. You were just forced to follow the instructions of the real murderer!"
Lacus' shoulders shook even more violently, and a low sob could be heard.
"Child, it must be very painful to live like this …" Colientus sighed again, and his tone became stern. "But … You clearly have the opportunity to catch the murderer and let him be severely punished by the law, but you want to take the blame for him, giving him a chance to hurt more Numibian girls in the future. Do you really have the heart to do this?! Are you really willing to do this?! "
"I'm not willing!" Lacus raised his head with tears in his eyes and roared emotionally, "But I'm just a slave, and 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. Whether it's a slave or a senator, he treats them equally. His Majesty the Devers enacts the Laws of Diónia in accordance with his will to protect all the good people in the Kingdom of Diónia and punish all the wicked. Don't have any scruples. Tell me, tell me the truth! Hades above, your devout believer Colientus swears to you that I will protect Aksai's wife and daughters and never let them come to any harm! "
Aksai looked at Colientus in surprise as he placed his left hand on his chest and raised his right hand, sincerely swearing the oath. His heart suddenly filled with endless gratitude. This gratitude melted the barrier in his heart, and he knelt in front of Colientus with a thud.
… …..
Diocassis walked into the reception hall of the Naxos City Hall. As soon as he saw Strompoli, he said excitedly, "My Lord, your advice is really useful. That slave finally told the truth!"
Strompoli was both proud and emotional as he said, "I only know that the slaves of the Kingdom of Hades trust the Temple of Hades the most. From time to time, slaves from various places would run to the Temple of Hades to complain about their grievances. Speaking of which, this has something to do with the Polyxis case that caused a sensation in Greece more than ten years ago …"
"My Lord." Diocassis took a few steps forward and said in a low voice with a slightly solemn expression, "That slave also revealed another thing about Laodisian …"
Strompoli looked at his expression and asked in a deep voice, "What is it?"
Diocassis did not say anything, but just handed him the record in his hand.
Strompoli carefully read the record, but his two white eyebrows gradually knitted together. His face was filled with surprise. He suddenly pressed the record hard on the table and asked anxiously, "Is what he said true?!"
"He said that he did not do it. It was another slave who had already committed suicide who had been secretly doing it. But one time, when he was drunk, he confided in him … I have no way to verify the truth of this matter." Diocassis showed a rare hesitation, "After all, this directly involves Senator Laodisian … So I came to ask you for advice."
"You are right. Don't act without authorization." Strompoli nodded in approval of Diocassis's approach. In his mind, he was thinking about some vague rumors he had heard in the past few years when he was in power in Naxos.
With his hands behind his back, he slowly walked around the living room with a solemn expression.
Diocassis waited quietly at the side.
After a moment, Strompoli said in a deep voice, "Who else knows about this matter?"
"Me and two of my most trusted subordinates … and Priest Calientus …"
"Tell your subordinates that they must not tell anyone! Otherwise … "Strompoli's eyes flashed fiercely.
"I understand, my lord."
"I will talk to the priest about this matter. He is a smart man. Besides, the law states that priests are not allowed to interfere in political affairs. " Strompoli stroked his beard, looked at Diocassis, and ordered, "Delay this case first. Continue to detain Paphocles, but do not interrogate him. Also, temporarily lock up the slave like before … I will talk to Judge Aldarus and ask him to give you more time. I believe he will still do me a favor … Now, I have to prepare to write a letter to His Majesty. Go back quickly and take care of your inspection office. "
Watching Laodisian leave, Strompoli looked down at the record on the table. His wrinkled face revealed a trace of a sneer, "Laodisian, will you be the second Polyxis?"
… …
At the same time, in the inner city of Turií, in the mansion of the military minister of the Kingdom of Diónia, Antonios was sitting in the courtyard with his nephew, enjoying a meal while talking.
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