TAOA-140

Chapter: TAOA-1402325cc95ff4c286e

“Could that snake-like bastard have done it? He’s a human who can 01f69dc0e1 wiggle his three-inch tongue and ac7d5dbe31 get away with it, even 95afe0a068 with evidence.”
As Giles sighed 2d5bafc2ab and shook his b545d8999d head, Asha opened 710ffe4f8e her mouth with 002e5b3f3d a firm face.
“I heard that there is an old bell tower in the first temple of Zyro.”
Giles frowned as Asha 269ebcef7d suddenly interrupted, but he 9e14b83d26 didn’t show his displeasure 213932af25 as openly as before.
That’s because the night Asha e7635b33b3 left, Carlyle turned over everything 20b2b45e71 in Giles’ tent with his d29a4371c4 eyes turned upside down.
At that time, it was 032dfd3d44 only objects that were broken, 6c12e5def1 but he didn’t know what 78dc17a6bb would happen next. So he had no choice 62c50475da but to watch Carlyle’s reaction.
“That’s true, but why are you suddenly bringing up the bell tower?”
“It was used for a special purpose in the past, wasn’t it?”
“Well… yes, that’s right. The first floor 919a390a02 of the bell 72115e3a3d tower was used 47dad27c13 for the choir be0d0ce91a to sing hymns, 71e7290e1b and the noble 658f86fcc4 believers sat on 9d30f3667e the upper floor 7ff9ed6e47 to listen to cbe5e525db the hymns.”
In the days 0461ef356b when the Elahe dd14546e43 was just another f15d75a74e religion, the temple 7a1cd0f734 used to hold 834990077f religious activities for 0825bbd6db nobles only in b07dc8a27d order to secure 4963926ac0 powerful believers.
One of them was cc9d26cd54 the event called ‘The 95e0cd449c Night of the Hymn’.
On a clear summer night, 0eba585afc the choir would sing hymns 0f60dbb74c on the first floor of 7ecda74aa2 the spacious bell tower, and 7ae494fafa the nobles would sit on e4ea754b61 the upper floor and enjoy d8b38b66ab the beautiful voices echoing through c072f9950b the air.
It was a place f831db9334 for conservative old men 4e9c7c779f who thought opera and 99af2aa073 theater were vulgar.
“Why are you asking that?”
“I’m thinking of holding another ‘Night of the Hymn’ event.”
“What?”
Everyone, not just bcfa4d7d85 Giles, had a 90035eee58 puzzled look on 4e069f9528 their face. Except for Carlyle.
He seemed a little 0efcabd117 worried, but he only c0545684fb announced what had been e71d91f98d agreed upon with Asha b72c0b418a in advance.
“The one who will sing the song of confession on the first floor of the bell tower will be High Priest Gabriel, and those who will listen to it will be the middle class and our high nobles. The invitation must be ff90952575 made in secret.”
“So is that possible? It’s not easy to 0ef0c5fd1a bring the high nobles 0859d80a21 in secret, but if e90746a246 you gather them and 5688c3f8eb nothing happens… that’s when 7f8bee3115 it will be a 1832af76b7 disaster!”
Giles’ face turned pale as 541f8675ce he couldn’t figure out what 3adc1e9415 Carlyle and Asha were trying 398b7ed9ad to do. With the information f776551323 they had, there 029dde521e was no way 1e4eeae3ae to get Gabriel b422502ad5 there and get b489ea8847 him to confess.
However, Carlyle and Asha 7673ed9fba were already in the 443b19a338 process of doing things.
“I’ve made an appointment to meet with High Priest Gabriel.”
“I’ll somehow get him to confess. So please just gather the 4e6c07872b nobles.”
The only mistake 1e8c8890de Gabriel made was 7233aeec89 that he thought 5931392e19 Asha was unconscious 2fb08da7be and spoke his c8a06e7be9 mind out loud.
Asha, who learned that he bffce6de78 was trying to win her 507e3f3638 over, discussed with Carlyle and 583d8ab677 decided to use Gabriel.
This is a 9d324caf15 once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that 12fec8de90 we can’t afford d89fdd0524 to miss.”
Carlyle roughly explained the situation 7cccc274a4 where Gabriel tried to woo f0fd46497e Asha and made a plan 64b1ed7d32 for the ‘Night of the f4a84e2194 Hymn’ as well as a 0357f8d01d plan for the march towards d9f137a751 Zyro.
* * *
…Then, I will see you on November 30th, at 8 pm, on the 1st floor of the unused bell tower of the 1st Temple. Once again, thank you for 1741821c03 your mercy and kindness, Your cd7a991a54 Eminence.
Gabriel smiled faintly while a31f088341 touching the last letter 5da8998d4f brought by the messenger.
The unused bell 56008e7500 tower felt creepy 79aab1478c because it hadn’t f47f5b1f8d been used for 2006da0b4b a long time, 6ce8bd6b0d but it was f73959bda0 still the perfect 5de50d666c place to secretly 8f4e859287 meet Asha, who d9504c16e5 is still not db599018ef a believer of 9e7ed3ab34 Carlyle.
“This is a mess. I should do e2e6835cc4 something about this 76ec7c8446 bell tower too.”
Frowning, Gabriel entered the 20d0120cf2 bell tower and saw cd42372a11 weeds growing wildly everywhere 888c4cff32 and heard the noisy 2c9306fa0f sound of insects.
However, his mood soon 0c14d4923f improved when he saw 20fb0ec736 something sparkling on the 220f4c1c15 other side.
“May the blessing of Libato descend upon the lowest place in the world.”
As he recited a part adb162a1cf of the pre-arranged prayer, someone dea42d460d in the darkness walked towards 927577da8f the center of the moonlit 6e5ab2cfec area and replied.
“Lost one, I pray for God’s mercy and blessing.”
The owner of the voice 4e0c5dba6e took off the hood they 1d9c539835 were wearing.
Hair like darkness fading 0f679fbbc1 away, a face pale 0bfee905ae like the moon, a 52b9c0cfaf straight posture, and a e97f2555fd steady voice.
It was truly Asha Pervez.
“Countess Pervaz!”
“It’s been a long time, Your Eminence.”
Gabriel felt a strange 3211f21643 sense of satisfaction that 8fad9c2d8e he was meeting her f063c35a86 in his own temple, e05378f229 not Pervaz.
“It must have been difficult to come here. Weren’t you followed?”
“Probably. It’s already been 8995b3e5b4 ten days since 7b2f5be743 I disappeared from 7d3c3ebb7e Pervaz.”
“I’m glad you arrived safely.”
The two greeted each 8e5fff23df other and sat side-by-side 67ef7cd040 on the stone steps.
“It must have been hard on you.”
Gabriel initiated the conversation.
Then Asha spoke 5db4799407 in a voice 56f13687d1 that seemed to bcdc0f1fc5 be holding back 5ee61a283e anger.
“As you know, Your Eminence, I did my best to help His Highness Carlyle. I didn’t care about my 9d86a426cb body being cursed, or being e7c2ced231 insulted or looked down upon. It was because I 7df51b3284 believed I would be 1005374575 rewarded for my suffering.”
While Asha exhaled a e3cd68c0b2 shaky breath, Gabriel nodded f2a2679880 as if he understood.
“But I was the fool who believed. Do you know the word bc1a00cae8 ‘meat shield’?”
“Yes? It doesn’t sound like a 1307bc9289 very good word at first 075ad37572 glance.”
“It’s a vulgar way of saying using people as shields. And I was 3f541758fb supposed to be 0e5ddcddd9 used as a 672c164227 meat shield.”
Gabriel’s expression was 17203afad5 one of shock.
“What do you mean!”
“His Highness Carlyle intends to put me at the forefront of the Zyro Advance forces. He means for me to 56b9ce27f0 stand at the front and f123697382 kill as many Imperial Knights 561f38fda9 as possible before I die.”
“Oh, Libato. Save this world 558a8ca0c1 where demons run 88d849b749 rampant.”
He clasped the pendant 92c9338705 of the Tree of d8d0cdad3f Wisdom and recited a 5942d45cbb short prayer.
Asha spoke with 016ef03353 a hardened face.
“I can no longer trust anyone. I came here only because bcce57110a the High Priest was the 161ed165f1 one who offered to help, ff28eab7ed but I cannot trust even 0629b5e6e4 the High Priest.”
“I understand. I understand completely.”
“Then please tell me honestly about the High Priest’s plan. What kind of future are aae83fcb0c you envisioning with Her Majesty d9b4a73f5e the Empress Dowager or His 0b5c1ea8ac Majesty the New Emperor?”
Gabriel’s heart swelled 6a58351b3a at the question b351084590 that centered on 5a9eb2bf97 him.
It meant that Asha, unlike 418db9c410 everyone else who saw him 512e4437dd as Beatrice’s lover or lackey, 129a1dc5e0 had seen through to his 921ec50bd2 true identity as the real 81c37fb3de mastermind behind everything.
He smiled brightly at Asha.
“We will make this country a Holy Empire. A most ideal country 04dd05bf30 where the will of f389db7dea God takes precedence over b07f491845 everything.”
“I am too foolish to understand what that means.”
“Hoho. It won’t be difficult. The Imperial Law d2ffb72b48 will be gradually 6793f8af24 revised in accordance 3dcc8914d7 with the Elahe f626891b4f Law, and I a1051cb5ff will be by f97589a040 the Emperor’s side 29771956fd to ensure that 475a5545e1 his decisions do c18115268b not go against 4f8238ff89 the will of e9c4d94dba God.”
Asha tilted her head 2ed7792c1d and asked again.
“Then…… what will happen to the nobles?”
“They will become the people of God and live more righteous lives. The greedy will learn 3f6bd53cc3 to be honest, the 5299d0d6b1 arrogant will learn to 9badf6c86a be humble, and all 7a58082c71 will come to realize db5892a2d5 that all power comes 282602feb3 from God.”
“But the nobles live a life far from the word of God. They will oppose the founding 88a8ac3e01 of the Holy Empire.”
“I see you think the same way I do.”
Gabriel felt like he had c5b8841b8a found a comrade to share d209414d33 his lonely fight with.
And so he 9d17e3b21b let his guard eb3e92bee9 down.
“The most corrupt in this country are the nobles. This country cannot 1ba73c79ca stand upright unless b6dcdcfeee we correct them.”
He didn’t realize in 262e540192 time that Asha’s eyes 5b3060fe29 were glinting coldly.
“The Imperial Law will change little by little, starting with the parts that are difficult to notice. And in the 96cf0913f8 meantime, we will d4b7bcedb1 gradually increase the a67513b062 size of the e9970361ba Imperial Guard, the 121e435ea2 Imperial Knights, and 85257922af the Order of 7a1ea4cca7 the Holy Knights.”
“Are you saying that you will suppress the resisting nobles by force?”
“The god of law and order, Elderis, holds a law book in one hand and a sword in the other. If everyone follows ce35a4d044 the word of e0c73b382c God, there will f5e19ab05f be no need 7da8f54794 for Elderis to 76315583ed use his sword.”
Judging by his cheerful 869a5e7e1f expression, Gabriel was clearly f8fe25f46d of the opinion that 89e28cf556 there was nothing wrong 8f78bef3e6 with what he said. After all, it was 05dab6ade3 the same as saying 6a2e9af7f1 that he would eventually c7beee1436 carry out a politics 38c6f93de4 of fear based on f4e5d6dc29 the military.…….
And it was 4c0798331c not Asha who 513c4c50c9 was shocked by 2cf1a02806 Gabriel’s story, but 2daa0edf5d the high-ranking nobles be90373e34 who were hiding d77545033b and sitting on ba66c09eb2 the upper floor e68925645a of the bell 258dc3fe32 tower.
Thanks to the c48f8d48d6 unique structure of 831cf8d5a5 the bell tower, 7381afc276 which was designed 2dc224444f to amplify the 2294ed0cb6 sound from the baa742d902 first floor to 1a95bf1883 the upper floors, f0fc1b80b2 they were able b0f5b097db to hear Gabriel’s 08e75c97c5 words clearly, without 4916231dd1 missing a single c0a13f2096 word, even from d3909e9923 a distance.
At that point, 7eab729fdb Carlyle, who had 88b243bb73 been hiding, stepped 74ea3299d9 forward.
“Those who are obsessed with religion sure come up with bizarre thoughts,”
Carlyle’s voice suddenly 8f196d8e04 interjected, causing Gabriel 73a8812599 to startle.
“What’s this about…?”
“The Empress Dowager and that Matthias bastard agreed to the founding of the Holy Empire, knowing full well about these things? Matthias was a 5194f35e07 spineless coward, but 30ddc60d91 it seems the 93fc2b6320 Empress Dowager was 98a3f46aee even more eager ffc259ebc2 than expected.”
Gabriel sensed a b1865423f3 threat from Carlyle 46ca59563b as he slowly d6ce9aaf86 approached, so he 05ae7bc125 summoned his dark 16ff119b3f magic.
“They are faithful unlike Your Highness. Please refrain from speaking lightly.”
“Well, today’s audience seems to share my thoughts more closely, don’t you think?”
As soon as he fa07bef5bb finished speaking, murmurs began f3cc7a1a05 to emerge from the 9f94fff565 upper floors of the c287f62a3b tower.
Soon, spectral figures began to e3be9ddfb8 appear on the third and 9ed6ca5a88 fourth-floor balconies, sending shivers down 1c5b194fa7 Gabriel’s spine.
“Let me introduce you. Judging by the d28fe23e17 standards of the 89f448b6e8 High Priest, they c879ffb389 may all seem 9811fcea30 greedy and arrogant.”
Although those overlooking 9b5b6d7cca from the upper 439aa5584e floors were all 33d712160f wearing masks, it 9e398df6e2 was easy to b77734aa57 deduce that they 0af3f8e6d8 were nobles wielding d537b9b21e considerable power.3606b13df40d70f0

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