"I am here to surrender myself to the Holy City."
Michelle said: "Everything Ye Qingxuan did was under my personal instruction. He was forced to assist me due to his position. I am willing to take all responsibilities and pay the price."
Fierce noises rang out, and the onlookers who had just returned looked at his back with dumbfounded eyes, then quietly stood up and went to the top of their mountain again to report the shocking news.
The toilets in the Holy Wheel Court were overcrowded for the first time since they were built.
And more people exchanged shocked looks with each other and started discussing in low voices. The noisy low sounds came one after another. Even a devout priest who came to witness Ye Qingxuan's death stood up and angrily scolded Michelle:
"Ridiculous! You..."
"Silence! Silence! Silence!"
Borja banged the gavel several times, the bailiffs came in and drove the rioting priest out of the venue, and the musicians suppressed everyone's voices.
So again, there was silence.
In the dead silence, Bastian was sweating profusely, his mind was racing, and his expression was changing rapidly.
Borja's urging eyes made him unable to continue pretending to be dead. He interrupted Michelle, "Bishop Michelle, stop saying such ridiculous things. Ye Qingxuan has nothing to do with you. You are Why should he be held responsible for what he did? What’s more, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is the victim of this trial, so why should he be protected?”
Michelle lowered her eyes and didn't look at him at all. She just held the rosary in her hand as if she hadn't heard it.
Until Borja urged: "Bishop Michel, answer the prosecutor's question. This is your obligation as a witness here."
So Michelle sighed and raised her eyes.
"From the very beginning, Ye Qingxuan was a member of the Ministry of Doctrine. The "Night on the Barren Mountain" passed down from him is the best evidence. Are there any other musicians in the world who would choose to practice this piece of music that can only be used to kill people? The music of the devil?"
He stared at Bastian's face and said word by word: "The Hammer of Witches secretly recruited him ten years ago, and his records are still in the archives of the Ministry of Doctrine and are available for everyone to retrieve. He is the best that the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has had for decades and will in the future be able to revive the genius of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.”
"Then how can we explain Ye Qingxuan's killing of Colt?" Bastian asked again: "Colt is also a member of the Ministry of Doctrine of the Faith, right? He is also known as a hero and the person who saved the Ministry of Doctrine of the Faith... "
He regretted it before he finished speaking, regretting that he was so messed up.
He should first make circumstantial remarks, lure his testimony, find loopholes in it, and then overturn it in one fell swoop, instead of stupidly asking direct questions...
From the start, he was overpowered.
He raised his gaze, not daring to look at the solemn robes and coat of arms representing the bishop. He took a deep breath and was about to open his mouth when he heard Michelle's voice.
"It was a mistake I made."
Michelle coughed violently, took out the handkerchief from his pocket, wiped the scarlet from the corner of his mouth, and swallowed the medicine without anyone else. Soon, the coughing stopped.
His face turned red and his face was radiant, and even his rickety spine straightened up again, as if he had returned to normal. But the purple-green blood vessels under his neck floated. It was a vicious potion mixed in the blood, squeezing out every bit of remaining vitality.
"I gave the order in the name of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, ordering him to kill Colt."
He raised his voice. The voice was hoarse, but it was like the friction of gold and iron, stinging people's eardrums: "This is to redeem my mistake. Therefore, I also caused disaster and paid the price."
Bastian opened his mouth and wanted to speak, but Michelle looked over.
"Shut up, don't interrupt my words."
Michelle looked at him coldly: "I am already old. Even in court, I must at least learn to respect the elderly. Cardinals, please do not be disrespectful."
Bastian was stunned, sweating profusely, and opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out.
The old man's eyes were like those of a nightmare, green and deathly black, making one breathless.
This is the judge who once crucified countless demons on the stake!
Even though he is also a prosecutor, unlike Bastian, a civil servant who only sits in his office and blows the cold air, his court is in the wilderness of the dark world.
He arrested, he judged, he executed, he established human teachings in the dark world, and used the corpses of demons to ignite the light of fire.
Over the years, he has been terminally ill, mired in quagmire due to political failures, bedridden due to various reasons, and watched the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith slowly die, dying.
He is old.
Now, he stood here again, making up his final determination and not allowing anyone to dare to stand in front of him.
If you open your mouth again, you will die.
Those eyes said it clearly.
Bastian swallowed his dry spit, his face pale.
"I hereby surrender my crime to the Holy City."
Michelle raised her voice, and the hoarse voice replied in the Holy Wheel Court**: "In order to revive the declaration of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, I went astray. In order to seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I was inspired by Colt I made the first mistake by admitting him to the Ministry of Doctrine of the Faith without any examination and disregarding the will of the Holy City. After I became aware of his true face and the sins he had committed, I made the mistake Second. - In order to protect the honor of the Doctrine of the Faith, I ordered Li Ye Qingxuan to execute him secretly, at all costs, and was prepared to sacrifice him afterwards to show the innocence of the Doctrine of the Faith."
"Everything Ye Qingxuan has done has been approved by me. Detailed records will be submitted to the Holy Wheel Court by my secretary to be preserved as evidence so that I can be convicted in the future."
Borja looked at the stunned Bastian several times, but Bastian was so dumbfounded that he was completely unaware of his gaze and did not even dare to open his mouth.
Borja frowned and asked:
"Bishop Michel, how does this explain the protection of Colt by the Ministry of Doctrine of the Faith? And the sacrifices of dozens of witch hammers and purgatory musicians?"
"It's all an act."
Michelle said calmly: "Those who died had different political views from me. They were sexually depraved traitors who had long forgotten the glory of the Ministry of Doctrine. In order to ensure their death, I even attacked a church , causing two innocent priests to become displaced, I was the only one who committed the crime. I am very fortunate that in the end, Ye Qingxuan was able to stand up and correct my mistakes. Even if he knew that he would be sacrificed by me, he still faithfully carried out the I have never violated any of my orders. In the end, what he said in front of the gate of the Holy City was actually meant for me. I was extremely ashamed of this and knew very well the mistakes I had made. Even if I prayed every day, The guilt and regret in my heart have never been reduced. I turned my back on God’s way and committed many unforgivable sins. I am willing to accept all punishments and pay any price for this.”
He turned back and looked at Ye Qingxuan, who was stunned.
This was the first time that Ye had seen Ye Qingxuan, the stunned young man so close.
Then he smiled.
Everything from now on...
I leave it to you.
He looked away and murmured softly.
“—May the Lord draw down the curtain.”
Then, divine light fell from the sky.
The majestic and pure light was like a flame, covering him inch by inch, pulling him into the fire, and slowly turned into ashes.
Amid the screams and astonished eyes, the faces of the jurors changed drastically, and even the projection of the Cardinal's Church started to move.
"Stop him!"
Borja lost his grace, stood up from his seat, and shouted to the dull bailiff: "Musician! Come to the musician! Organize him quickly!"
Michelle wants to die here!
Unfortunately, it can no longer be stopped.
This is the musician's suicide. Even if the Red King is here, there is no way he can stop this.
When he said that he was willing to pay any price for it, he triggered the chapter of destiny in his body. The chapter of destiny that carried the meaning of divine punishment ignited the ether, transformed into a vast flame, and engulfed him from the inside out.
From the moment he stepped into the courtroom, he had already made up his mind.
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith cannot compete with the behemoth of the Congregation of the Holy See. Even if Michelle puts all the blame on himself and makes such a testimony, flaws will definitely be found.
There may even be traitors within the Ministry of Doctrine of the Faith, and even he himself has flaws that ordinary people don't know about... As long as they find any opportunity, it will be enough to make his last painstaking efforts come to nothing.
Therefore, this is his last chance.
Under the witness of the Cardinal Church, in the Holy Wheel Court, he surrendered to the Holy City and apologized with death, so that everything could be settled.
Death is not terrible.
After living for so many years, you should have lived enough.
As the flames burned, he stood on the witness stand, muttering verses from the Holy Scriptures in a low voice. But his eyes peered past the flames and stared at Maxwell.
Maxwell couldn't bear to look anymore, closed his eyes and just nodded.
So he smiled, as if he had been saved from this turbid world and quagmire, and walked to death willingly.
"Why choose us? Bishop Michel."
Maxwell's voice seemed to ring again.
"Because at this time in the world, only Angelo needs the power of the Ministry of Doctrine the most. In order to preserve this power, he is even willing to make half of the Holy City an enemy."
From that moment on, Michelle knew that she would die here.
It is not the battlefield of the Eastern Expedition, nor is it a sick death. It does not have a glorious ending, but a humiliating and humble death burdened with sin.
The judge dies in judgment.
Your Majesty, is this probably the ending you chose for me
He seemed to be enlightened and laughed softly.
Very good, very much to my liking...
Thank you for your mercy and mercy, and thank you for your forgiveness.
In the burning flames, severe pain struck him, and he seemed to feel his body turning into fly ash inch by inch, floating out from under the robes.
It seemed that some people were screaming, some were shouting in panic, and some were trying to get close, but could not step into this sacred light.
But gradually, nothing could be seen and there was no sound anymore.
Only the pain of burning continues, as if it will continue endlessly, until the end of purgatory.
The memories of the past seemed to be ignited by flames and turned into ashes along with him. But in the trance, a faint voice sounded, as if I had returned to seventy years ago...
"I tell you all here, and everyone who's not here: This is God's will!"
That solemn voice declared from above, as if conveying the gospel of the kingdom of heaven: "Let us engage in a holy war, a great eastern crusade to regain the land for mankind! Let all disputes and strife cease, and embark on the journey Let’s go on a journey! Take back the fertile land from the hands of evil gods and demons! That dark world, as the "Sacred Scripture" says, is the land given by God to our ancestors!"
In a trance, Michel suddenly felt the urge to cry again. He stood in the darkness, followed by his companions who had been waiting for a long time, and embarked on the road leading deeper into the darkness.
He shouted, and together with the teachers who had passed away, the comrades who died in humiliation, and the priests who died in depression, they moved forward fanatically following the voice.
"...let those who formerly fought fiercely with others over private matters now fight demons for their fellow men! This is a battle worth fighting for, a battle that will be won! Let those who used to be robbers, Now go fight for mankind and become a knight of God! Let those who have fought endlessly with their relatives and friends in the past now fight with confidence against those demons who desecrated the holy land! Set off towards the east! To obtain eternal rewards!"
"Eastern March!"
"Eastern March!"
"Eastern March!"
With countless people cheering, Michelle was overjoyed, but couldn't help but burst into tears.
"Go to the east, everyone... go to the dark world..." In the lingering thoughts, the last sad words came: "Go to the battlefield that haunts us... Go to the blood and bones..."
If one day you go there, please take my soul with you...
Michelle, disappear into the darkness.
…
In the silence, only the pure white ashes and a solemn cassock were left in the witness seat.
Silently, the projection of the Cardinal's Church dissipated and left.
Everyone stared in silence at the last remaining traces of Michelle.
"Adjourn the court for ten minutes."
Borja brought down the gavel.
…
…
The bells of the Holy City rang loudly.
At the port, an ordinary merchant ship bound for Angru was about to set sail, and crowds gathered. The young and middle-aged people seemed to come from all over the world, and they were all different.
But when they stood together, the same breath emanated from their bones.
When the bell rang, the whistle echoed loudly.
Those who boarded the ship turned back involuntarily and stared at the steel city in the distance. Some looked sad, some had cold faces, and some old people had tears in their eyes.
Michelle is dead.
Since then, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has ceased to exist in this world.
The shell that has died of old age will sink into the mire, and the new blood and bones that have been extracted will embark on a wandering road, heading to the dark world with the help of Angel, to rebuild their hometown there.
Even if you bear the name of a traitor, even if you can never come back here in this life, even if you pay a heavy price!
Let the long wait before the Eastern Expedition begin.
One day, I have to go there.
Go to the deepest depths of darkness.
Set it on fire!