"This is impossible!", Donovan shouted, "You can rise to this position, the Holy Sect must have done an extremely strict investigation of your origins, as long as there is the slightest mistake, you will not be able to become the Patriarch of the Holy Radiance City." （）”

"Yes, that's why I've been able to lurk in the Holy Sect for so many years. The reason why the Holy Sect can't find any flaws is very simple, because my origin is infallible. ”

"I was indeed born in an orphanage, and I didn't know my background until I joined the Holy Church, and I only thought that I was from a poor family from a humble background. Until that day, I learned that my family was a hidden aristocrat who had served the royal family for generations, and that I had been abandoned in an orphanage since I was a child, which was also the plan of the previous Emperor Grievous. ”

As he spoke, a self-deprecating smile appeared on his face, "Didn't I say it before, Donovan, I'm a marionette without a will of my own, acting out a play on stage according to a script. First as a lonely orphan, then as a devout believer, then as a wise and wise bishop, I played all my part, and finally I had my final role, my last role: a vile and shameful betrayer. ”

"This is my whole life, this is my script. ”

"My whole life has been in someone else's hands. From the moment I was born, my fate was decided, and it was no longer up to me to call the shots. ”

"So you entrusted your net worth and life to me, and I can only say sorry. I can't even decide my own fate, so how can I bear the weight of other people's fate?"

"I envy you and admire you, Donovan. At least you will fight against fate for yourself, no matter how vile, how dark, how inferior, at least you are still a free man. ”

Donovan fell to his knees and was silent for a long time. He only felt that the wind was blowing colder and colder, as if his body and mind were going to freeze. I don't know how long it took, he said stiffly: "You are different from me, you can choose for yourself." ”

"Choice?, choose the Holy Church against the royal family?", Lisbon shook his head, "No, I don't have a choice. Donovan, remember the ant stories I told you?"

"The ants who look at the sky are trying their best to build a tower in the sky, but it only takes a big hand to destroy all their previous efforts. ”

"Just for a moment, everything was reduced to nothingness. Those experienced times, those diligent sweats, and those touching emotions are not worth mentioning in front of this big hand. Lisbon spread out his right hand, "and I'm just one finger on this big hand...... No, it's just a joint. ”

"Joints can't be separated from the palm of the hand and survive alone. ”

Donovan slowly rose from the ground, as slow as a rusty machine. He didn't look Lisbon in the eyes again, but lowered his head and said: "No matter how strong and powerful Zhang is, there will always be a day when he will be corrupt and decaying." ”

"You're right, it's just that the process will be very slow and slow, and I don't think our generation will see it. ”

Donovan shook his head, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he turned around with difficulty and walked out of the city guard defense circle without saying a word. Suddenly, he replied, and finally asked, "So, you were also aware of the famine and riot before, and even one of the plotters?"

Lisbon nodded slowly.

Donovan grinned reluctantly, as if he were smiling. Is he laughing at himself, or is he laughing at Lisbon, or is he laughing at the world?

However, he still didn't say anything, and left silently.

Lisbon looked at his back slowly moving away, and suddenly shouted loudly: "If I have the opportunity, I will recommend you to the Emperor." ”

Donovan's figure paused, and then slowly walked away as if he hadn't heard, his steps slow but determined.

Lisbon looked at the shallow footprints he left behind, thoughtful. As if he were used to it, he drew a cross on his chest, "May God bless you." But after praying, he remembered that he was no longer the patriarch of the Holy Church, so what qualifications did he have to pray for others?

"Good luck, little one, at least luckier than me. He can only bless in his heart. He beckoned the soldiers of the city guard to leave the square together, and in the direction of the previous direction was the royal palace where the Hawley district was located.

He slowly walked towards the beacon splendour, as if he wanted to plunge into it, becoming a little spark in that brilliance. After so many years, he finally has to return to his destiny.

......

On the morning meeting of the second day after the empty trial, the emperor rarely did not summon the ministers in that flower room, but held a meeting in the main hall. This made the ministers who were qualified to attend the meeting even more nervous, and it also made the conference more serious.

"The night has passed, how is the situation?", the Emperor finally spoke, breaking the silence in the main hall.

The Emperor had already named the generals, and the Minister of the Interior had to stand up, "Back to Your Majesty, there was not much commotion in the entire city, but the news of the Holy Sect's defeat was widely circulated, and everyone even knew about it overnight. Moreover, in the middle of the night, there was even a riot in which someone tried to attack the church in the Holy Domain, but in the end it was stopped by the Holy Church. ”

The ministers in the main hall tacitly exchanged a few glances, and there was such a riot in the holy realm, which showed that the influence of the Holy Sect on the believers had greatly declined, and even many believers were already suspicious, so such a conflict would break out.

The Emperor stared at the director of the Police Department again, and he hurriedly stood up and responded: "Your Majesty, the patrols will strengthen patrols in the past few days, and there will definitely be no chaos in Shenghui City." ”

He hesitated for a moment, but still said: "If necessary, the minister can send out all those patrol officers to control public opinion." There are also newspapers and periodicals that can be ordered to prohibit the publication of matters related to the Holy Religion. ”

"After a while, people will forget about it. ”

The Emperor was noncommittal to his suggestion, and said, "Tell me, what should I do?"

The ministers looked at each other, not knowing the meaning of the emperor's question.

"Ministers are ignorant, please show your majesty. ”

"Of course, what should I do after the trial? This public trial has already caused a lot of uproar among the people, so we can't pretend that nothing has happened, right?"

"Also, the accusation of the Holy Sect fabricating the gods and deceiving the world seems to be true, and we must give the kingdom an explanation and explanation, right?"