Pietro, the Conservative leader of the Venice City Council and Speaker of the Council, was lying in a rocking chair on the balcony drinking afternoon tea, feeling quite comfortable.
However, this good mood was soon interrupted.
"What? The New Party caught the murderer of the former governor!?" When he learned this from the butler, he almost jumped up from his chair.
"Yes, sir." The butler whispered, "It is said that the Criminal Investigation Bureau has already made a final decision on the case, and a public trial will be held in St. Mark's Square tomorrow."
That demigod is not the murderer! Speaker Pietro's mind clearly jumped out of a positive judgment.
The murderer is a female demigod. According to the inside information of the Pure-Blood Priory, she is a poison-type demigod from the early Fourth Epoch, Agrippina, the Belladonna Poison, who once served as the Queen of the Ancient Solomon Empire!
And no matter which male demigod the new party captured this time, it was definitely not Agrippina.
Of course, Pietro cannot tell the public about this information, because the public does not know the difference, and he has no way to explain the source of his information (otherwise he will be accused by his opponents of colluding with the Pure-Blood Priory).
On the other hand, the Lord of Filth's abilities allow them to change their appearance freely, so judging by gender is untenable.
The most important thing is that the truth is never important in politics, only interests are important.
For the Venice City Council, especially for those neutral and non-partisan councillors, catching the "murderer" who killed the former Governor of Venice as soon as possible can gain a lot of prestige and exposure in front of the public, and exposure means votes, so...
These huge number of fence-sitters are most likely already standing on the side of the New Party, waving their flags and shouting slogans, righteously demanding severe punishment for the murderer!
As expected, despite urgent discussions and consultations throughout the morning, the Conservatives suffered a crushing defeat in the city council vote in the afternoon.
Sansovino, the leader of the New Party, stood in front of his seat and read out the New Party's proposals slowly and calmly, as if he was the speaker of the city council:
"I propose that the murderer be tried in public as soon as possible, so that all citizens of Venice can see the consequences of offending the Lion of Mark."
(Lion of Mark, symbol of Venice)
"Wait!" A Conservative MP tried to obstruct, "The identity of the murderer has not been confirmed..."
"I totally agree!" the independent MPs shouted in unison, and the Conservative MP was soon attacked by other MPs, who accused him of "trying to exonerate the murderer" and "speaking for the criminal", so he could only cover his face and surrender.
"Let's vote," Sansovino said calmly.
The result was beyond doubt. The New Party won almost two-thirds of the votes, and the public trial proposal was passed on the spot.
"Regarding the diplomatic affairs of the Holy See," Sansovino continued, "we will certainly not easily disobey the Holy See's decree, but up to now, the Holy See has not issued any form of instructions to Venice. Out of consideration for the friendship and mutual trust between the two countries, the results of the trial should be informed to the Holy See after the public trial is over."
Pietro's face was as gloomy as water, and something in his heart fell heavily. Obviously, once the news was conveyed to the Vatican through public channels, it would be a done deal, and the real murderer would not be tracked down in the future.