holy city.
Central Sanctuary.
News of the rout of the front and Chopin's retreat had returned here.
There was a suffocating atmosphere in the huge conference room.
The cardinals, clad in red, were debating what to do next.
"Chopin must be severely punished for his behavior of escaping from battle! The Holy City has given a wide berth to his fallacies and heresies, and he has no intention of repaying him. He even encouraged others on the front line to flee with him when the Holy City needed him most!"
"Chopin's disposal can be put aside, and the production of a new saint's inheritance must be put on the agenda!"
"We must be careful next. We don't have many natural disaster cores stored! Moreover, the horn that can temporarily control the eight major phenomena has been completely destroyed. It would be better to say that now even the eight major phenomena no longer exist. We need new deterrent forces to deal with it. Expansion of the Caucasus.”
"At least our battle was successful. Their Son of God has now lost all his strength and may not be able to cause any more waves."
"Who can say for sure that he will not recover? You know, he is... "
The retorting bishop stopped speaking halfway, and among the many livid faces, he forcibly swallowed the taboo word.
After a brief silence, someone spoke again, breaking the dullness.
"The top priority is to maintain the influence of the Holy City and protect justice and justice. If this continues, the Holy City's orders may not even be able to leave the city gate."
"Rebellion must be punished and those who blindly follow must be deterred."
"What's more, not only in the Caucasus, but also in the west, there is that guy from Angelo... That guy has obtained the authority of the Yellow King. We must not let him continue to expand, otherwise everything will be completely out of control!"
Amidst the numerous arguments, someone plucked up the courage and looked at the seat.
"Now, all we have to do is invite the Holy See and the Blue King..."
He didn't say anything in return, but his meaning was already obvious.
Even if the situation has deteriorated to this point, even if the Yellow King has betrayed, the Holy City has not lost after all. As long as the Red King is in charge, and as long as the Blue King takes action, everything can still be restored.
But in the face of many expectant eyes, there was no sound behind the curtain.
After a long time, the figure sitting on the Pope's seat slowly stood up and just waved his hand, as if tired:
"That's it for today."
In deathly silence, he turned and left.
All the bishops were left staring at each other in astonishment, with annoyed eyes.
In the silence, someone yawned.
It's Albert.
He stood up, patted the dust on his body, and said goodbye to his colleagues: "As people get older, they tend to lose energy easily. I'm going to go back to bed first. If you have any discussion results, just remember to inform me."
After that, he turned and left.
But at the door of the central sanctuary, he was stopped by a voice from behind.
"Albert, what on earth are you thinking about?"
The livid old man looked at him with a gloomy expression.
Albert yawned, "I want to sleep."
"In this moment of internal and external troubles, when everyone is doing their best for the Holy City, you only think about sleeping? Where is your responsibility?"
"I'm sorry, I have no interest in starting a war. Besides, I am only responsible for the observation of the Central Temple. Aren't all the reports and information placed on your table?"
"Is this your excuse to escape?" The colleague looked contemptuous.
Albert shrugged, fumbled for a cigarette in his arms, and said coldly: "Even without me, haven't you already reached the conclusion? We want war, and we want to put the world back on track at our feet, at all costs. The price... is for this world!"
When he said this, he pretended to wave his fists and pretended to be fanatical, but his tone was full of ridicule: "But, do you really know the consequences of doing this? In order to determine the outcome you want, you will not hesitate to let the entire The human world was destroyed in this war... Why bother? Cornit, you just lost your power, not your life. It's not that scary, right?"
Archbishop Cornett's eyes became colder and colder.
"Albert, you have abandoned everything created by your ancestors and ancestors. Look up and see this city, these countless towers, and this city that was once a glorious place in the world! Now you want to let this Is everything brought to shame because of you?"
"Shame on you."
Albert finally found a half-smoked cigarette in his pocket, and he said happily and nonchalantly: "I am an illegitimate child, don't you know?"
Cornette's expression stiffened, he suppressed his rage, and squeezed out a hoarse voice from between his teeth:
"you this… "
He didn't say the last word, but everyone knew what it was.
"Mongrel".
Albert didn't get angry, and didn't even raise his eyes. He's just a "bastard". If he gets angry after being scolded for a few words, it's better not to live that life.
He lit the cigarette, took a deep breath, and the sad wrinkles on his face relaxed as the harmful substances spread.
"Cornet, you have done your best for the Lord, and you will be rewarded in heaven after your death. Why should you desire more?"
He held a cigarette between his teeth and glanced sideways at his gloomy colleagues, "Or do you think that just a paradise is not enough to repay you for your wonderful dedication?"
Cornette didn't speak, just looked at him coldly.
"So, that's it for now. You should go back and have a drink and get some sleep instead of trying to anger me here. This is the best advice I can give you now."
He lowered his head and threw away the cigarette in his hand, slumped his shoulders, and said in a calm tone: "Just a few hours ago, my last friend died for you. For your stupid ambitions and wishes... "
Under the bishop's red coat, he clutched the small medical respirator, the only relic left by Wagner.
"I am very depressed."
…
…
Two days later, late at night.
Burgundy, the Royal Palace, the top of the palace.
The young man in his nightgown leaned on the railing of the terrace, humming a song and staring at the square outside the palace.
This dried corpse is still hung on the gallows in the center of the square.
After the emperor died, he looked like everyone else.
In the short night before the new emperor ascended the throne, the emperor who was about to ascend the throne did not feel any nervousness. Instead, he admired his uncle's body with great interest, hummed leisurely, and drank the red wine from the cup. Finished, then turned back to his study.
In the study, an old man named Richelieu was copying the decrees that the new emperor would promulgate tomorrow. When he saw his student slumped on the sofa without any appearance, he couldn't help but frowned, but There was no intention of reminding him to pay attention to his demeanor.
"It's almost time."
Don Juan looked at his watch and asked the attendant in the corner: "Connect me to Archbishop Uriel in the Holy City."
The attendant left respectfully, and soon the call to the Holy City was sent. After a long wait, he was finally picked up. The old man's voice on the other end was calm.
"This is Uriel."
"This is Don Juan, one of your countless followers." The young man on the sofa raised his eyebrows and smiled happily: "Dear Archbishop, I think we should talk."
"Watch your words, Don Juan."
Uriel's voice was indifferent: "For the servants of gods, there is no business to discuss."
"Is it?"
Don Juan nodded, "Maybe I misunderstood."
Then, the communication was disconnected by him.
Regardless of the other party's attitude and thoughts, unilaterally, without any etiquette or sincerity, I hung up.
As the clock ticked, he stood up, took out the copper tube and matches sealing the cigar from the drawer, smoked the cigar slowly and without anxiety, and after it was perfectly preheated, cut off the head and enjoyed the fragrance of tobacco. .
It's like nothing happened.
Let time pass by bit by bit.
Until the waiter outside the door knocked cautiously on the door, "Your Highness, you have a communication from the Holy City."
"oh."
Don Juan tilted his head, "How long, teacher?"
Richelieu looked at the time and replied:
"five minutes."
"Don't worry, just wait for five more minutes."
Don Juan's eyes were full of malice and ridicule: "This old ghost who can't see the situation clearly has no need to cooperate at all. Hang up the communication with me in five minutes. Then contact Uriel's arch-enemy Cornet, time That should be enough for him to get the message.”
The waiter left respectfully.
Until the clock strikes midnight.
"I didn't expect that the time for farming has not passed long, and the time for harvest has arrived." Don Juan stood up, put out his cigar, and looked at the old man behind the desk, "It's a pity, I should go to bed, tomorrow is a good day for me. .Teacher, I’ll leave the matters here to you.”
"Aren't you going to come and talk in person, Your Highness?"
"Forget it, I can't get along with those kind of old ghosts." The young man shrugged, "Besides, I just got married, why should I leave my beautiful wife alone in the empty house for those ghouls?"
Richelieu smiled bitterly, "But you didn't tell me anything."
"You know my bottom line. As for the bargaining chips, there is also a list of foundation properties in the drawer specially designed to satisfy their appetites. You can make the decision yourself. So, please feel free to use it, teacher."
Don Juan sneered, "I can give you as many bad checks as you want. At worst, you will turn your back and deny the person. If you don't kill me now, how can you deserve the rejection and cold looks we received some time ago?"
"As you command, Your Highness."
Richelieu stood up, sent the emperor away who was about to ascend the throne in six hours, and then opened the drawer.
When I saw the names on that fund list, I couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"Reptile Breeding Fund?"
As bad as ever.
But, how long have you been preparing for this day
The night is dark.
In distant cities the great bells before the salute were rung.
In six hours' time, His Majesty the new Emperor will ascend the throne amidst the cheers of all the people.