Endless Debt Chapter 1162 - 21: Shackled Justice (Part 2)

"Do not forget your vow, Priest."

With those words uttered, Gami turned to depart. York, watching the retreating figure, called out with great volume, "You did possess a heart for repentance, did you not?"

At a specific point in time, Gami must have indeed felt regret, for he wouldn't have made arrangements for a confession otherwise. However, this feeling of remorse ultimately failed to overcome his overwhelming greed.

Gami's receding form faltered for a brief instant. He glanced back, shaking his head, and declared, "I fail to grasp your meaning, Priest. You are well aware that I hold no belief in God."

His statement hung in the air for a moment before Gami continued, as if in a tone of bitter mockery.

"Justice finds itself perpetually bound."

Gami then vanished at the alley's end. York remained with his back to the desolate ruins, his fists clenched tightly, as the woman's wails seemed to linger, refusing to dissipate.

Suddenly, a profound sense of confusion washed over York. He was certain of Gami's involvement in the affair, yet due to his faith and other constraints, he was unable to openly accuse him. Even the ordinarily wise Priest found himself in a state of bewilderment and helplessness.

In the days that followed, an increasing number of bodies were unearthed from the ruins, all having been plundered of their possessions, mirroring the previous victims. The populace was incensed by the sacrilegious treatment of the deceased, and the sheriff initiated a thorough investigation within the dilapidated town. However, no substantial progress was made in the immediate aftermath.

Gray Stone Town was beset by too many urgent problems at this juncture; the crime of desecrating corpses appeared to be a secondary concern.

York contemplated confiding in the sheriff, but this course of action would inevitably involve Gami's confession. As Gami himself had pointed out, York possessed no concrete evidence to substantiate Gami's transgression, let alone confirm the identity of the confessor. Thus, he was compelled to keep the secret buried.

Gazing upon the sorrowful countenances and the desecrated bodies, a deep pain festered within York's heart. He sank to his knees before the statue, overwhelmed by anguish.

"What am I to do?"

York offered his entreaties to the statue, but the unfeeling effigy remained silent, offering no divine guidance.

To summarize the tenets of the faith, confession is an act of absolute privacy, intrinsically linked to one's moral conscience and personal sanctity. A priest is duty-bound not to divulge the content of any confession; this is a foundational ethical principle.

York found himself ensnared in a complex ethical and moral quandary, his spirit wracked with pain and confusion due to the opposing forces of his faith and his societal responsibilities. On one hand, he was bound by the sacred teachings he held dear, and on the other, by the unyielding dictates of the law.

"I require him to seek true repentance," York whispered, his voice laced with a desperate longing. "My aim is to guide him towards reform."

Within this dire predicament, the sole recourse York could conceive was to appeal to Gami's buried conscience, to help him recognize the gravity of his errors, and to encourage him to voluntarily confess to the sheriff.

York harbored a firm conviction that he could succeed in this endeavor. He believed that an ember of goodness must still reside within Gami's heart; otherwise, the man would never have sought the sacrament of confession, regardless of his own vehement denials.

"God, I implore your assistance."

York's prayer was offered with utmost sincerity.

...

Beneath the cloak of the dense night, the lights of Gray Stone Town had long since been extinguished, leaving behind only deserted streets and a heavy, oppressive atmosphere that seemed to settle atop the ruins. Sheer, cliff-like heights obstructed all illumination, plunging the surroundings into a darkness so profound that one could not discern their own hand before their face.

A light, pattering rain descended upon the ruins, creating distinct, crisp sounds. The ambiance intensified, growing even more somber and desolate.

No semblance of plant life could be found on the ruins; the landscape was one of utter devastation. Some of the derelict houses lay in collapsed heaps upon the ground, exuding a potent aroma of decay. Gami, stooped in the oppressive darkness, was engaged in the silent, arduous task of dragging bodies and re-interring them beneath the rubble of the ruins.

The grim reality of the situation aligned, to some extent, with the sheriff's initial speculations. Gami had indeed procured these corpses from elsewhere, systematically stripping them of their valuables before unceremoniously discarding them back upon the ruins.

However, the stark truth was far more harrowing than even the sheriff had anticipated.

"I offer my apologies... I am truly sorry..."

Gami murmured these words in a low tone as he continued burying the bodies. Though the darkness concealed their features, Gami held each face firmly in his memory, recalling every single one.

As an enforcer for the casino, he had, by sheer fortune, managed to escape the underground establishment during the cataclysmic disaster. The affluent gamblers, however, had not been so fortunate. While others were occupied with rescue efforts, Gami had surreptitiously dug into the buried casino. Known as the shadowy underbelly of Gray Stone Town, its precise location was known to very few.

To Gami, this sorrowful ruin represented a veritable treasure trove, ripe for the taking.

"Aid me, Gami."

A rumble of thunder echoed across the sky, and almost simultaneously, spectral voices reverberated in Gami's ears.

Gami's actions momentarily ceased. The corpse beneath him appeared to stir, its spectral hand reaching out to grasp Gami's, an unspoken plea emanating from it.

The surrounding vista underwent a disorienting shift, transporting Gami back to the fateful moment he was excavating the casino. Amidst the disturbed earth, he saw the gamblers, clinging precariously to life, imploring Gami for mercy. Yet, Gami remained entranced by the glittering coins that lay scattered beneath them.

For a fleeting instant, Gami had genuinely considered offering them assistance.

"You are all nothing but societal refuse... Not to mention, you are already deceased."

Meeting the desperate gaze of the individual before him, Gami, in a self-induced trance, raised the shovel and brought it down with fatal force, crushing the man's skull.Blinking, a chilling coldness accompanied the rain, jolting Gami’s collapsing mind awake. He tore himself from the memory, to find no casino before him, only a desolate gray wasteland. Gami hurried his task, disposing of the bodies while ensuring he remained unseen. Precisely as Priest York had predicted, at a specific point, Gami was overcome by a wave of guilt. He sought out the Priest for confession. However, within the confines of the dark confessional, Gami faltered the moment he understood that confession would demand a hefty price from his fortune. He had wallowed in the mire for far too long. A deep yearning for change stirred within Gami, yet he was utterly lost on how to begin. Trembling, he grasped that this moment might be his solitary opportunity.