Silent Crown

Chapter 407 The World Keeps Spinning

The Holy Spirit Temple was silent. Serene moonlight fell from the stained glass windows, shining onto the various stone coffins. It illuminated the ancient and distinguished names. Dust floated in the air, dancing with the faint hymn. Singing from the distant church hung in the stillness, complementing the graveness of the coffins. At the front of the coffins, a lonely figure stood before the large altar. He wore the crown of utmost authority and a pure red robe. It seemed to have been dyed by blood but rather than feeling like 'death,' it represented the reverent 'life.'

This was the red that encompassed all meaning. This was the King of Red.

In the stillness, he looked at the altar and asked, "Is that what Hermes said?"

"Yes, Your Excellency." Nibelungenlied's voice was respectful. "He chose this path and did his best."

"I see." The King of Red nodded. "He has always been clever though this is especially laughable for him. I am sure he knows my thoughts if he made this choice. Let him enjoy his 'life.' From now on, these matters will have nothing to do with him."

Nibelungenlied said, "He wanted me to thank you for him."

"…He even predicted my words?" The King of Red laughed. "He truly is clever, is he not?"

Rather than replying, Nibelungenlied said, "The Ministry of Information told Anglo the location of the Ultimate Well's appearance this year… How should we punish what Archbishop Michael did?"

"He's already dying. Do you want me to lock him up?" The King said, "Just let him retire with the Ministry. The Inquisition's era is over. The shattered dream of a crusade is the best punishment for him."

"He will fall apart."

"He won't." The King shook his head. "He will continue waiting. Even if he died, he would find someone to wait for another crusade for him and fight with the natural catastrophe… He has endless hope. These things won't crush him."

"Understood." Nibelungenlied asked, "Leviathan's awakening is fated. The Cardinal will continue fighting with Anglo."

"Has the Anglo royal family not always been determined?" The King of Red said lightly, "Sovereignty of the nations is the core of the second amendment. Leave Arthur's matters to his descendants. It began with them so let it end with them. Haven't they already taken back St. George's spear to prepare for everything? If the Cardinals still wish to show the majesty and necessity of the Sacred City, tell the Knights Templar to prepare and be ready to take over in the worst situation."

"Yes." Finishing recording, Nibelungenlied said, "Commander Bann requested to be punished for the Romulusian War. He is awaiting the result now."

"I am the one who ordered him to not harm any Romulusians. I am also the one who hindered him. We had decided too late. The result has nothing to do with him and Knights Templar."

The King of Red ordered lightly, "Let him go repair the western desert defense line. With his abilities, it will be hard but may not be impossible. The descendants of the past Semites are still there. Tell him to bring the flag and that the Sacred City will give him all the needed equipment."

After a long silence, Nibelungenlied asked, "Do you mean…for him to rebuild the Knights Hospitaller?"

"For the hundred years since the desert defense line was defeated, the Sixth Legion has been vacant for too long."

The King of Red looked up. His face was cold as if he never had any expressions. He looked down on the human world emotionlessly. "The most painful thing for well-prepared people is that time does not wait. I do not wish to realize that the Knights Hospitaller has disappeared for too long when we need it."

"Your Excellency is far-sighted," Nibelungenlied replied respectfully.

The King of Red fell silent. After a stretch of silence, the midnight bell rang.

"Let us end here today." The King waved a hand. "Hand everything else over to the Cardinals. They need something to argue over."

"Yes." Nibelungenlied asked, "Then what about the event at the city gates this evening? It involves the sword bearer of Anglo. The Cardinals are much divided over this."

The King looked up at the moon. The light fell into eyes like a silent sigh. "He is someone as unwilling to be lonely as Ye Lanzhou."

"Does Your Excellency sympathize with him?"

"No," the King said. "Let the Cardinals decide on this. He made a choice and therefore must take responsibility. Since he wants justice, then give him justice. It is that simple."

"…Perhaps." It was rare for Nibelungenlied to be indecisive. "To many people, this type of simplicity is difficult. The lawyers of the Sacred City will argue until they spit out blood."

"A long, long time ago, someone told me that the meaningless arguing is a necessary experience before coming to a conclusion. Even if the arguing is meaningless to both parties. Just let them find the result that they want." The King of Red said indifferently, "I am just the pope. I cannot give them what the lord promised them."

"I will notify them."

"Good. You can go." The King waved.

"And you?" Nibelungenlied asked. "Will you return to your room or eat dinner first?"

"Me?" The King of Red looked up. He gazed at the moon in the sky. "I suddenly want some silence…to experience what that coward wanted. It must feel nice. Otherwise, that guy would not miss it so."

After a pause, Nibelungenlied said, "Perhaps the King of Yellow just wanted to rest. Your Excellency need not be so gloomy."

"Perhaps." He did not seem too convinced and just studied the moonlight. "After all, he has already escaped to somewhere far away. Even if he doesn't come back, the people left behind has to worry about the future. Nibelungenlied, no matter what is lost, the world will keep spinning."

No one replied. Nibelungenlied seemed to have already gone.

In the silence, the King of Red stood before the altar and looked up at the moonlight. His vision went past the night and into the endless sky. His eyes went up, up, and up.

There was a vast ring of moonlight in the darkest corner of the universe, far above the world. At some time…an unnoticeable speck had appeared before it. It bent the iron radiance, fighting against the gravitational pull of the Earth, and hovered on the stars' orbit. It did not get closer or further. It just watched the land and sky, forever running in the silent void.

There, someone finally woke up from his dream. In the seemingly eternal silence, he opened his eyes and stared at the moon outside the window. His eyes grew peaceful and happy.

It was such good moonlight.

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