Chapter 523: Who Is Cassius Vindictus Holyfield?

At the moment, the Saintess of Judgment sat with a stack of parchment spread across her lap, each filled with detailed reports, stamped documents, and royal seals. Her fingers moved quickly, flipping through the papers, her sharp eyes scanning every line.

Across from her, sitting comfortably with hands folded in her lap, Maria watched her daughter intently and couldn’t help but be curious.

It wasn’t unusual to see Joy working. In fact, it was the most ordinary thing in the world.

Ever since she’d been anointed as Saintess, her life had become an endless stream of missions, verdicts, and investigations. Every night, Maria had seen her sitting by candlelight, reading through files about corrupt nobles, priests, and thieves until dawn.

But this time...this time was different.

Maria could see it in her daughter’s eyes, that flicker of something she hadn’t seen in years.

There was a glimmer there—an edge of excitement, almost fervor, like a hunter who had finally caught the scent of long-awaited prey.

’Now what could she possibly be thinking about to get so excited?’ Maria tilted her head slightly, frowning.

Her daughter rarely displayed emotion—joy, anger, or anything else—unless something truly extraordinary was happening.

So what was it about this case that had her so invested?

Curiosity got the better of her.

Leaning forward, she glanced at the black-haired nun sitting quietly beside her—the young Sister Stella, who had joined their order just three years ago but had already proven herself trustworthy.

Maria lowered her voice, cupping one hand beside her mouth in a whisper that was adorable in its secrecy.

"Psst...Stella." She whispered, glancing sideways toward Joy’s focused face. "What exactly is going on here? Why is my daughter looking like that? She looks like she’s about to meet a long-lost lover—or worse, a particularly juicy criminal."

Stella bit back a laugh, lowering her own voice.

"Sister Maria, please...she might hear you."

"Oh, please, she’s too lost in those reports." Maria said with a small pout. "But I’ve never seen her eyes sparkle like that before."

"Who exactly is this Cassius Vindictus Holyfield that Her Majesty summoned her about? Even his name sounds fancy!"

At that, Stella’s lips curved into a small, knowing smile. She had great affection for Maria, just as every sister in the order did—her warmth was infectious, her curiosity charming rather than nosy.

So, she decided there was no harm in indulging her just a little.

"Well..." Stella began, leaning forward slightly so their conversation stayed hushed. "That name isn’t just fancy, Sister Maria. The man himself is practically the embodiment of nobility."

"Cassius Vindictus Holyfield has perhaps the purest noble bloodline in the entire continent."

Maria’s eyes widened immediately, sparkling with interest. "Oh my...the purest noble bloodline? Really? Go on, go on!" She whispered eagerly, leaning so close that their heads nearly touched.

"The Holyfield name, as you might know, comes from the Holyfield family..." Stella chuckled softly. "...the wealthiest and most powerful business lineage in existence. They aren’t just merchants or traders; they’re an empire in human form."

"The Holyfields also have connections everywhere—royal, military, foreign, even direct familial connections to the the strongest fairy, elven and dragon races. And..." She lowered her tone even further. "...the partriarch’s second wife happens to be none other than the Empress’s younger sister. Her Majesty’s personal aide."

"You mean Lady Rose?" Maria gasped quietly, covering her mouth with both hands. "Oh, I completely forgot she’s married into such a wealthy family, with how humble and sweet she is!"

"She always welcomes me and my child with open arms every time we visit the palace."

Stella nodded, amused by Maria’s excitement.

"Indeed. And that makes Cassius deeply connected to the very heart of the royal court. Not to mention the Holyfields own the largest mines in the continent, including the Holyfield Veins—the ones that produce Eather."

"The precious ore used for magic tools and mana machinery?" Maria gasped again, her eyes glimmering like a child hearing a fairy tale. "Oh, heavens! No wonder they’re rich!"

"Indeed. But that’s only half of it." Stella giggled softly.

"Oh? There’s more?"

"Yes." Stella continued, her tone lowering a notch. "You see, Cassius doesn’t only bear the Holyfield name. He also carries the name Vindictus."

At that, Maria’s expression turned puzzled.

"Vindictus?" She repeated slowly. "I don’t think I’ve heard of that one."

"Most haven’t." Stella admitted. "Because the Vindictus family is one of the most mysterious noble houses in existence. No one really knows who they are, what they do, or even where they are based."

"What’s known, though, is that their power runs deep. Rumors say they operate in the shadows, tied directly to the royal line, perhaps even older than the crown itself. Some say anyone who crosses them...disappears."

Maria’s eyes trembled dramatically, her expression caught somewhere between fascination and horror.

"How scandalous! You’re saying he belongs to both the richest family in the world and the most dangerous one?"

"That’s right." Stella said. "With both those names—Holyfield and Vindictus—in one title, Cassius Vindictus Holyfield is easily among the most powerful nobles alive. Wealth, influence, and untouchable lineage."

"He really does sound like a prince from a fairy tale." Maria sat back in astonishment. "The kind that rides a white horse and steals hearts with a charming smile."

She sighed dreamily, then leaned forward again, lowering her voice.

"But...since my daughter seems so very serious about him, I suppose he’s no charming prince after all, is he? He must’ve done something quite bad. And knowing my daughter, if she’s this excited, then oh dear—whatever he’s done must be really bad."

She gave a little laugh, expecting Stella to nod in agreement.

But instead, the young nun’s expression grew uncertain. Stella’s smile faltered slightly, and her fingers fidgeted with the rosary hanging from her belt.

"Well...that’s the strange part." Stella admitted quietly. "We thought the same at first. That he must have done something horrible. But the deeper we looked, the more complicated it became. Nothing fits neatly in this case."

"It’s...a mess, to put it mildly."

Maria’s eyes lit up like a gossiping maiden at a festival.

"A mess?" She whispered eagerly. "Oh, do tell, Stella. I want to know more!"

She leaned in so close that their foreheads nearly touched.

"What kind of mess? What happened?"

Before Stella could answer, a sharp voice cut through the air.

"There’s no need for you to indulge in my business, Mother."

Joy’s gaze was still fixed on her papers, but her tone left no room for misunderstanding.

"It’s the same as every case—messy, political, and filled with filth. There’s no need for you to corrupt your thoughts with such matters. Especially not when it involves this man."

Maria, however, refused to be cowed.

"Oh, my sweet child, don’t be like that!" She leaned towards her daughter, eyes twinkling mischievously. "You can’t keep secrets from your mother. Besides, this isn’t corruption—it’s juicy gossip! And Stella’s saying it’s the most confusing case of the decade!"

She turned to Stella and urged in a whisper.

"So, go on, go on, dear. Don’t mind her gloomy tone. Tell me what’s so particular about this Cassius Vindictus Holyfield."

Joy exhaled softly through her nose, her patience visibly thinning. Yet she didn’t interrupt again.

Her eyes remained on the reports, though one could see the faint twitch of her lips, the slightest trace of amusement or perhaps resignation.

And Stella, torn between obedience to her Saintess and fondness for Maria, smiled helplessly, lowering her voice once more.

"Well..." She said. "If her holiness insists on knowing...I’ll tell you. But I must warn you, Sister Maria, this story is not a light one."

She folded her hands neatly in her lap, her tone growing quieter, her eyes reflecting the carriage’s flickering lantern light.

"Even before all this began—before the recent summons or the investigation—the name Cassius Vindictus Holyfield was already quite well-known throughout the continent. In fact, it was infamous. You see, long before any of these grand rumors or scandals began, he was known by another title."

Maria blinked curiously. "Another title?"

Stella nodded gravely. "Yes. They used to call him the Devil’s Son, the Spawn of the Devil...or sometimes, the Demon Child."

"Demon child? How cruel!" Maria gasped softly. "Why would anyone call a child such a thing?"

"Because..." Stella said with a sigh. "...the name didn’t come from outsiders—it came from his own father."

"From his father? Oh dear heavens, that’s dreadful!" Maria’s eyes widened further, horrified. "Why would is how father who’s supposed to take care of his child say such a thing?"

"Because his father...the great patriarch of the Holyfield family, was utterly broken when his beloved wife died giving birth to Cassius."

Stella’s tone softened.

"He lost his mind to grief, perhaps even hatred. And in his despair, he blamed the newborn child for her death. He cursed him. Called him a spawn of the devil—the one who took away his angel."

Maria placed a trembling hand over her mouth, her eyes glistening. "Oh, that poor boy..." She whispered.

"Yes." Stella continued. "And because of that, Cassius was abandoned by his own family. Cast out, left to grow up without a mother’s love, without a father’s guidance, and without a home."

"The Holyfields pretended he didn’t exist. They gave him no title, no protection. Just a boy, thrown to a abandoned mansion."

"How heartbreaking...He must have just wanted someone to love him, someone to say he mattered."

Maria’s voice quivered with genuine pity as she couldn’t help but think about her own situation along with her daughter’s that was extremely similar.

"Exactly." Stella nodded solemnly. "But the world is cruel, Sister Maria. And a boy born with the Holyfield name, yet denied its warmth was bound to fall...And fall he did."

"As he grew, he turned bitter, reckless...a wastrel. Always drinking, gambling, losing money, brawling in taverns. Every noble gathering had his name on their tongues—but only as a joke."

"They’d laugh about him at banquets, call him the disgrace of the Holyfields. Some even wagered bets on how long it would take before he drank himself to death."

"He must have only wanted love." Maria sighed deeply, her eyes filled with sorrow. "And when he didn’t find it, he sought it in all the wrong places."

Stella’s expression softened further. She couldn’t help but admire Maria’s compassion—even now, hearing of a supposed sinner, she found pity instead of disgust.

Truly, this was the heart of the kindest nun in all the Empire.

"Yes." Stella said, smiling faintly. "That’s exactly what we all thought too, that he was just a broken soul, trying to fill an emptiness inside. But..." She paused, her tone darkening slightly. "...one day, everything changed."

Maria’s perked up, her curiosity instantly rekindled.

"Changed? How?"

Stella leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to a whisper.

"There were rumors—rumors that one night he was poisoned. They said he was at a banquet, drunk as usual, when he suddenly collapsed. The doctors declared he wouldn’t make it till morning."

But somehow, against all odds, he lived. No one knows how, but when he awoke...something in him had changed."

"Changed?" Maria blinked.

Stella nodded.

"Completely. The Cassius who woke up was not the same man who had fallen ill. He was colder, sharper, more...dangerous. It was as though he had been reborn, some even called it resurrection."

"And from that moment on, the rumors about him took a darker turn."

"What...kind of rumors?"

Maria asked with a fervent gaze as this wasn’t just simple gossip anymore and she was heavily invested in this story about this boy, who she couldn’t help but pity because of how similar it was to her own duaghter’s.