The evening bells came from the direction of the Palace of Westminster.
The rays of the setting sun spilled from the sky and landed on the top of the pure white city, illuminating the palace with extraordinary majesty. After the light passed through the narrow colored window, it became dim.
A dim light fell on Hermes' face.
He sat on a chair, looking boredly at the complex patterns on the colored windows. Behind him, a heavy curtain hung.
Compared to the splendor of the palace, this room was too simple and too clean, without even the slightest unnecessary decoration.
There was a strong smell of medicine floating in the air, and a woman's hoarse cough could be heard faintly from behind the curtains, just like a ward.
It's a pity that this is not a ward, this is the Queen's palace.
At this moment, a painful scream suddenly sounded from behind the curtain.
…
Through the curtains, one could vaguely see the dark iron coffin that was shaking crazily.
On the human-shaped iron coffin, which looked like a giant embryo, it had all the facial features and limbs. There seemed to be something strange sealed inside, exuding a strong smell of blood.
Surrounding the iron pipe were several monks exuding a gloomy aura.
Wearing white clothes, bareheaded and barefoot, they stepped in a pool of blood. They received sharp iron thorns one after another from their assistants, and skillfully and cruelly drove the iron thorns into the holes reserved on the iron coffin. , penetrated the living creature locked in it, and nailed it deep into the bone marrow!
Every time a nail was driven in, the iron coffin vibrated wildly. The woman imprisoned inside was screaming in agony, her voice hoarse.
A steady stream of blood gushes out from the hollow iron nails, dyeing their white robes and hands black.
Yes, pitch black.
The dark, viscous blood gathered under the iron coffin, meandering along the reserved grooves, and finally fell into the silver urn drop by drop.
"That's it."
During the long torture, Hermes suddenly made a sound, causing the monks to stop moving.
Someone carefully picked up the copper cauldron on the stove. In the copper cauldron, pale golden liquid was rolling silently, releasing a burning red light like iron juice.
The hot "iron juice" flowed out as the copper cauldron tipped over, and flowed into the mouth of the face on the iron coffin. In the iron coffin, there was the sound of swallowing, full of desire and greed.
Just above the iron coffin, the long nails that penetrated it suddenly trembled, and were slowly squeezed out by the power contained in them. They fell to the ground one by one, making a heart-stopping clear sound.
Until finally, all the "iron juice" in the copper cauldron was poured out of that mouth, and there was not a drop left.
The monks put away their spikes and tools, retreated silently, and disappeared into the darkness. In the silence, the only thing left behind the curtains was the breath coming from the iron coffin.
"Come more."
In the iron coffin, a hoarse female voice sounded: "I need more..."
"Your Majesty, this has exceeded the upper limit."
Hermes shook his head, "If we add more, even the bloodline of the Red Dragon will collapse. The effect of the medicine is getting worse and worse. If the guys from the Royal Academy can't come up with a new method, let alone cure it." , even the status quo is difficult to maintain.”
"…because the curse has become stronger."
The voice was hoarse: "It's getting stronger and stronger, I can't suppress it anymore."
"Well, the Shadow of Avalon is calling, and it is about to wake up, so the curse will become stronger and stronger." Hermes said, "Your Majesty, you should have known: there is no cure for this kind of thing. Unless the curse is eradicated, it will forever be entangled in the blood of the royal family, and you will have to pay the price for what you did back then."
In the iron coffin, there was silence for a long time, and the hoarse voice asked softly:
"How long do I have?"
"It can take as long as five years, and in the end, you will go crazy like Arthur and die in pain. But as short as one year, you will collapse in his sleep like Prince Thames..."
Hermes said coldly and straightforwardly:
"With all due respect, the most important thing for you right now is to choose a successor. After all, the eldest prince who is currently ranked first is a retard... He does not inherit the curse, but if he inherits the throne, the cursed one will probably be from there. The royal family became the country.”
Faced with such offensive words, the queen was not angry, but after thinking for a moment, she asked: "What about the second princess?"
"Your Highness Mary?"
Hermes thought for a while and nodded: "You can consider it, but the cursed blood on her body can be said to be worse than yours. Although you are sitting on the throne, I'm afraid she has been affected now, right? I have heard her legend since five years ago..."
“…”
The Queen was silent, and after a long time she sighed softly: "When will the shame of the royal family be washed away? I have paid so much, isn't it enough?"
"Because you have been doing useless work."
Hermes' voice became cruel:
"Whether it is the research conducted in secret by the Royal Academy, or the blood purification technology of Eastern dragon blood, either drinking poison to quench thirst, or water far away cannot quench the fire close. It is because of this that you will indulge the House of Representatives to study forbidden technology, Let them explore the bloody road? Unfortunately, those things cannot reverse the outcome. Even if they succeed by luck, they can only make the outcome worse."
After a long silence, the queen in the iron coffin sighed: "Is this the Angel of Heaven?"
"Perhaps? But Your Majesty, you have another choice."
Hermes raised his eyes and smiled meaningfully:
"-Why don't you try to trust me? I am the greatest artist, alchemist, composer and musician in the world. Although this curse is a desperate situation, if the royal family is willing to let me study it, there may not be a solution."
These words are like frivolous jokes, but everyone knows that a trader never lies. If he says it can be solved, it will be solved. If he says there is a way, then he will definitely find a way.
He seems to be able to do anything in the world, as long as you pay the price...
If these words are heard by other people in desperate situations, they will be ecstatic, like a ray of light in the darkness, a glimmer of life in the dying.
But the Queen didn't move, didn't respond, and didn't even look happy at all. Instead, she fell silent, and in her silence, she exuded an aura of real rage!
That's murderous intent!
"Hermes, haven't I tolerated you enough?"
Her voice was cold: "Don't challenge the tolerance limits of the royal family, and don't do unnecessary things! This country can only allow you to survive here. It's been so many years, don't you understand? No matter where you start from, Whatever you do, all you get is chaos and destruction."
"Oh, that's so sad."
Hermes sighed softly: "Have I changed from your good friend to your decoration? Passion is really something that can be easily destroyed. It was Arthur's fault for that kind of thing back then... "
The person behind the curtain was silent, but there was an angry murderous intention in his blood.
Hermes felt the sting of murderous intent and showed a respectful expression: "Don't worry, Your Majesty, I will keep my promise. Look, haven't I done nothing for so many years?"
"Very well, you don't need to do anything. Hermes, you are no longer needed here."
Her Majesty the Queen said coldly, "Don't you like to watch the most? You just need to sit there quietly."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Hermes leaned forward and saluted, with a playful smile on his lips:
"-Just as I witnessed the beginning with Arthur, I will also witness the end with you."
…
…
In the long corridor, the door leading to the palace opened silently, and Hermes walked out of it.
He seemed to be in a good mood, but he always looked like this, with a frivolous expression, cheerful steps, and a weird and unpredictable smile on his lips.
Just behind the door, an old man stood leaning against the wall, as if waiting for the Queen's summons.
When Hermes saw him, he stopped and his smile became more enthusiastic.
"Oh, it's you, an old ghost. Long time no see."
He looked at the old man in front of him: "Are you not dead yet?"
"It's the old age that makes you stronger."
The man named "Shaman" glanced at him and said, "Besides, I am not the only one who was called an old ghost by Ye Lanzhou back then, Hermes."
"Hey, that's why I wish you would die as soon as possible. Two men sharing the same nickname is as shameful as wearing the same pair of pants."
Hermes looked at the shaman expectantly:
"-How about please go and die quickly?"
The shaman just shook his head, "Sorry, I just recently learned the truth of 'life is precious' from a person, please forgive me for refusing."
"It's okay, you won't live long anyway."
Hermes reached out and carefully adjusted the collar on his chest. Finally, he patted his shoulder intimately and comforted him softly:
"It's hard to live a useless life, so enjoy the last time of your life. After Gein's death, there will be no more joy."
The shaman was silent, and Hermes laughed, hummed a tune and turned away, disappearing at the end of the corridor.
…
After a long time, the door opened again.
The shaman walked in silently, lifted the curtain, walked over the dried blood on the ground, knelt down on one knee, and lowered his head towards the iron coffin in front of him.
"I haven't seen you for a long time. I thought you were really gone."
A hoarse sigh came from the iron coffin.
The shaman shook his head: "Avalon is here, how could I leave? I will never leave you, Your Majesty."
Then, the hoarse voice in the iron coffin laughed, full of joy:
"It's great that an elderly woman like me can still hear such heartfelt words of love. It's like being young again."
"You are as beautiful as ever."
The shaman stared at the iron coffin, his eyes seeming to penetrate the ferocious edges and fall on the gloomy face.
"Don't say such sad things."
The Queen's voice was slightly tired: "You reappeared with this look. Do you have any good news to tell me?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The shaman whispered back:
"—From now on, all of Avalon is under your control!"