Steel Empire
You're gonna say that to him?

Berengar sat in his father's seat of power as he knocked his troops three times with his left hand and drank from the wine chalice in his right hand. Standing in front of him was a group of priests dressed in red robes with golden crosses hanging around their necks. These are the people of the inquisition, a group of passionate and sadistic priests who exterminate, torture, and execute heretics. The number of innocent people they have killed is innumerable because they really don't care if someone is guilty or not for the so-called heresy crime, only the sensation comes with torturing another human being.

The people who refused to submit to Berengar were currently acting as Regents of Kufstein and were essentially Barons in all aspects except name. Instead, they stood in front of Berengar, who took a sip from his golden trophy as he listened to the inquisition as they introduced themselves. Their leader was a short plump man with bald gray hair and a matching mustache. If the crime****Catholic Church of Berengar's previous life is in this timeline, then only with first glance, one can assume that this man was involved in the activity. Lucky for Berengar neither Henrietta nor Adela were present, otherwise he would not have been able to hold back his anger at the fat priest's perverted gaze. Thinking of such a possibility, Berengar instinctively sneered with disdain at the man as he introduced himself to Berengar in a way that lacked the respect that his position deserved. The man spoke with a thick Spanish accent, instantly saying that he was not a German speaker from birth.

"I'm Father Alphonse, and the two are my colleagues, Father Antonio and Gilles. We came at the behest of a local priest and one Lambert von Kufstein to investigate the claims of heretics. I was told that Baron Kufstein was a middle-man old man. Who're you?"

Berengar could not help but curse himself inwardly

'Jesus, the Spaniards, the Southern Italians, and the French, of course, there would be no Germans in their little courts. Looks like I won't be able to play the cards of his compatriot.'

After having such thoughts, Berengar took a sip from his glass as he declared his authority in front of the unwanted priests who barged into his house.

"I am Berengar von Kufstein, son of Sieghard von Kufstein, and acting Regent of Baron Kufstein while my father has been exiled in penance. All authority to deal with this matter has been given to me by my father Baron Sieghard von Kufstein in accordance with the laws of Man."

Berengar made sure to emphasize that last part, as he made it very clear to the Inquisition that they had no authority here in his realm. Father Alphonse immediately frowned when he heard this news; this was the worst possible outcome. If what Berengar said was true, investigating the claim, and finding the young master guilty would probably be difficult. Nevertheless, Father Alphonse continued his duties.

"Say where is Lambert von Kufstein? I'd like to discuss with him about the matter he brought to our attention."

Berengar glared at the inquisition leader with a satisfied expression as he boldly declared Lambert's fate.

"Lambert has been convicted of murder, attempted murder of a brother, and treason against the Barony of Kufstein. He had been disowned, stripped of his name and title, and sent to the Teutonic Order where he would spend the rest of his days redeeming himself in the eyes of God."

The fat and bald priest was astonished at this news. It has only been a matter of weeks since they became aware of the situation, yet the man in which Bishop Innsbruck insisted on supporting to maintain Church rule in Kufstein has been removed from the equation? How did this happen?

Father Alphonse now understood why Berengar was calmly sitting on it while sneering at him with disdain and disdain; with his key witness being punished and humiliated as a traitor and murderer, his chances of overthrowing this young man from power were slim. Unless he can find something in a legitimate investigation to prove that he is a heretic. That is the only hope of the Church. Either that or they could have framed Berengar for the crimes he was accused of. Therefore, the man smiled and began to rule Berengar as if he was just a servant.

"Before his departure, Lambert had made some bold accusations about heresy in the region; therefore, I will need your full cooperation in my investigation."

The fat priest began to smile wickedly while waiting for Berengar's reply; all they needed to do was plant some evidence in their investigation and have the local church and its parish side with them. The Inquisition would have had enough justification to punish Berengar from heretics and remove him from power. Whoever took over this little Barony after his death did not concern the Church as long as they obeyed the wishes of the Vatican. However, the response Berengar gave to Father Alphonse was completely beyond his expectations. Berengar took a sip from his Chalice and placed it on the back of his arm before shifting in his seat of power so he peered at the priests below him with a look of intimidation.

"Under whose authority do you dare to investigate such allegations in my territory?"

The three priests were shocked as they stared at Berengar in disdain. Father Alphonse could no longer hold his tongue; he had never witnessed such a brash young Master before; therefore, he began to flex his support to Berengar, he said, trying to intimidate him into allowing his untrue investigation.

"Under the authority of the Holy Father himself!"

Thus, the Imam issued a large scroll signed by the Pope; in it there was an order to investigate and rid Kufstein of heretical thoughts and adherents. However, Berengar was unaffected by this statement and only continued to look down on the men with domineering and arrogant pressure.

"The last time I checked, this land was ruled with absolute authority by Baron Kufstein, my father who in his absence had appointed me Regent as his successor, to act with all the Barons Authority himself. As far as I'm concerned, neither the Pope nor the Vatican have judicial authority in the land of my family, and you'd better return from where you came before I consider your stay no longer acceptable."

The words he spoke were bone-chilling, and the other two members of the inquisition began to tremble before Berengar. Only now did the inquisition priests notice the line of men equipped with half-plate armor and armed with what seemed like a strange mixture of hand cannons and spears staring at them with indifferent gazes nonchalantly. Berengar had summoned the most loyal and elite of his men here, the grenades, especially for this meeting. The people who had fought and killed for Berengar in the Battle of the Mining City. Those who willingly gave their lives to God and their Commander who had brought them and their families out of slavery and into high-paying industrial jobs.

"Evilification! I'm warning you, if you don't submit to our Investigation, then we'll hold you guilty by default, and we'll return with a sacred order to lift this heathen land to the ground!"

This threat against Berengar not only against the land and the people under his control was the final blow. He was no longer willing to negotiate politely, instead he stood up from his chair and stared at the priests below as he gave his orders to Eckhard, who was not at all, who was currently leading the grenade unit that was acting as Berengar's personal bodyguard at this time.

"Deputy Commander Eckhard, arrest these men for conspiracy to seize the Barony of Kufstein."

There was no doubt in Eckhard's voice as he gestured for his men to follow the Regent's orders.

"Yes, my Lord, I will do as you command."

Quickly, the grenades surrounded the Priests and lowered their Bayonets to aim at the Inquisitor's coffin.

Father Gilles immediately protested as the bayonet was only inches from piercing his heart.

"I am the Holy Father's messenger; you cannot do this!"

Berengar started down the stone steps in front of his throne and approached the three men in front of him.

"Pastor Alphonse, Father Gilles, with the power given to me as Regent of Kufstein, given to me by my father, Baron Sieghard von Kufstein. I hereby punish you for espionage, sabotage, and power grabbing. You will be sentenced to death by firing squad. The men! Take these would-be usurpers to the yard, get them to the wall and shoot them!

Soon his army responded in unison without the slightest disobedience in their collective voice

"Okay, my master!"

After that, the inquisition priests were dragged out of the large hall and taken to the courtyard, where the people marched into a proper firing squad. Berengar dragged Father Antonio to the window to look from above as his comrades were executed. The frightened priest begged Berengar to rethink his actions and save the lives of the Inquisitors.

"Lord Berengar, if you do this, you will be ostracized and branded a heretic. The Church will consider you an enemy forever!"

Berengar simply looked at Father Antonio with an indifferent gaze and raised his hand, gesturing for the troops to open fire. Thunder gunfire and the smell of smoke filled the air as the bodies of the priests were ripped apart by a dozen shotgun balls, their blood splashing onto the stone walls of the Castle Courtyard like a painting of death.

Antonio looked horrified as his brothers were shot to death by a mighty hand cannon; he had only woken up from his shock when the grip of Iron Berengar grabbed his shoulder, the young man and the prince looked into the priest's eyes with an ice-cold look from a born assassin and responded to his words earlier.

"When you return to the Vatican, tell the Holy Father, that he may have the power to excommunicate me and brand me heretical, but in the end when I finally perish from this world, he said, it is under the Judgment of God, not the Pope who will determine whether I enter the Kingdom of Heaven or not... You're gonna tell him that, huh?"

Antonio began to tremble in fear as if he had been touched by the cold hand of death and looked into the eyes of the angel of death itself. After struggling to find her voice, she finally said nothing and simply nodded at Berengar's "request.

From today on, Berengar has made a powerful enemy, one who will never forgive him for his actions here on this day. The gap will only grow further as Berengar refuses to bend his knees to a corrupt and bloated church, and the Supreme Pontiff leading it.