Germanic Officer x You Who Traveled Across Time (Sixty-four)

Chapter 64: Mortal Body

Private estate in Zurich, Switzerland.

In the screening room, a huge screen occupied the entire wall. Hurley sat silently on the sofa while the projector was playing a film reel.

The film opens with a black-and-white video with three lines of subtitles explaining: "A 12th-century Irish bishop once predicted that the 262nd successor of St. Peter would become a 'pastoral angel.'"

Soon, the subtitles with white text on a black background completed their introduction mission. Accompanied by gorgeous and melodious background music, the camera passed through the magnificent frescoed hall, St. Peter's Basilica and San Damaso Courtyard in turn.

Until the protagonist of the film finally arrived, the "Angel of Pastoral Care", the great Pope Pius XII raised his white robed arms to bless the praying crowd, and extended his right hand to be kissed by a woman veiled in black.

Hurley picked up the bottle of whiskey from the one-legged round table next to the sofa, swirled it slowly in circles, then tilted his head back and brought the wine to his lips and drank it all in one gulp.

The projector kept rustling and the movie continued to praise the Pope's holiness, but the audience had already left the private cinema in the manor.

He came to a neatly trimmed lawn filled with children's innocent smiles, and not far away was the beautiful Lake Zurich.

Emma, ​​who was running happily on the lawn, saw her uncle. While Susie was not paying attention, she turned a corner and ran to Hurley.

"uncle!"

Hurley restrained his stern brows, smiled and picked up Emma. He held Emma with one hand and pointed with his right hand at the photography team that had been waiting in front of him for a long time.

"My little princess, when you've had enough fun, don't forget to go over there so we can take some beautiful photos."

"Emma baby will go after she finishes playing!"

Emma clapped her hands happily in Hurley's arms, and while Hurley was bending down to put her down, she ran away again.

"What a vibrant little angel."

There was a parasol on the lawn, and under the parasol was a round table covered with a pink floral tablecloth, on which exquisite tableware and tea sets were placed. The Duchess of Argyll, Jaures Campbell, was elegantly drinking afternoon tea in the blue and purple velvet robe of the Campbell family.

Hurley came over and sat next to his sister, and the two of them watched the laughter and joy on the lawn together.

Yao Lesi glanced at her brother calmly and advised, "Oh, Hull, be happy. You'll be able to see Ina soon, right? Worrying about nothing is not a good quality of the Campbell family."

"Yes, we will meet soon. I will definitely bring Ina back this time."

Hurley took out his pocket watch and looked at the only photo of the three of them. Dick and Ina's identical bright smiles temporarily eased the heavy mental burden he had been carrying for these days.

He raised his head and looked at his sister. Yao Lesi understood what he meant, put down the tea set in her hand, and slowly wiped the corner of her mouth with a napkin.

Then she grasped the silver cross on her chest and solemnly promised, "Her, please rest assured. I promise you on the honor of my family that until you return, I will take good care of Ina's child and prevent her from any possible harm."

"He is no longer the head of the family. He can no longer harm us. Feel free to do what you want."

"Sister Siqi, thank you."

Yao Lesi waved her hand lightly, leaning back in her chair and gazing into the distance, the broken diamonds inlaid on her velvet robe sparkled in the sun.

…

Vatican.

A black, low-key and luxurious car passed through the Porta Santa Anna and entered the Vatican walls. The Swiss guards on the walls saluted the visiting vehicle from a distance, and the car then drove into the magnificent Apostolic Palace.

A page in a red brocade uniform led the two visitors from the sedan to the audience room in the Apostolic Palace, and then the Pope's valet came out and led them to the Pope's private study.

Pope Pius XII was sitting behind a carved desk, smiling and inviting visitors to take a seat.

The two visitors were Francis Osborne, the British ambassador to the Vatican, and Hurley Ludwig Campbell, the British royal envoy and a member of the British hereditary aristocratic Campbell family.

Osborne, a 58-year-old Protestant ambassador, knelt on one knee in accordance with the traditional custom when meeting Pope Pius XII, but Hurley declined the traditional religious ceremony.

Osborne handed Pope Pius XII a written report, and after taking his seat, he respectfully reported to the Pope the message that British Prime Minister Churchill asked him to convey.

"Your Highness, I cannot describe the horrifying scene. On the Eastern Front, evil people are frantically carrying out their horrific plan..."

"My Holy See, my Holy Father, in the tormented hearts of every devout Catholic of yours, there is a fervent hope that you, our Holy Father, can stop this terrible war..."

Pope Pius XII folded his hands on the carved desk, and his right hand, covering his left hand, kept stroking the golden fisherman's ring that symbolized the Pope's power and represented the Pope's supreme status.

A pair of glasses rested on Pius XII's face, making him look extremely haggard. "Francis, I think you should understand that the consequences of the Church getting involved in politics are very serious."

The implication is that the Pope will not publicly express any opposition to the atrocities against Y., otherwise he will be caught in the quagmire of taking sides in the war.

"But last June, in your encyclical, 'Mysticus Christi,' you condemned the resurgent T4 operation and clearly said, 'The blood of children shed cries out to Heaven on Earth!'"

Osborne was emotional and tried to persuade him: "Holy See, this is not about getting the Church involved in politics, this is about saving the Hungarian people from danger."

"My son, I love the German people, I love the Hungarian people, and I love all people."

Pope Pius XII spoke words of compassion, but seemed to have the hardest heart of stone in the world.

"Violence is lurking everywhere in the world. If we put an end to one tragedy, will other tragedies and sufferings really stop happening? I think not. All we can do, then, is pray. When the final day of judgment arrives, God will render the most just judgment."

Hearing this, Hurley, who had remained silent since he sat down, finally couldn't help but let out a sarcastic laugh.

He was wearing a well-cut, elegant and noble classic British suit. From Osborne's perspective, all he could see was the tight lines of his jaw, and his expression was a fleeting, all-seeing look of extreme disdain.

Hurley gave Osborne a look beside him, and Osborne got the signal, stood up and handed Pope Pius XII a document marked "Top secret archival materials on cases of immorality among monks and priests."

After the insinuation, Hurley regained his polite and indifferent expression and went straight to the point.

"Holy See, as you can see, if the scandal of Catholic clergy abusing minors were to become public, it would undoubtedly trigger a massive backlash against the Church."

The pair of black eyes hidden behind the lenses of Pius XII suddenly became sharper, and his originally rosy cheeks also showed a hint of gloom.

"My child..."

Hurley didn't give Pius XII a chance to speak again and continued to press closer. "Also, I think you should know that before the Prime Minister decided to send a special envoy to meet with you, he had already reached a consensus with the President of the United States on the basic matters of aid."

As soon as these words were spoken, the messenger of God immediately understood the deeper meaning behind them.

The Vatican's economy depends on the support of the United States, and now that the United States and Britain have reached a consensus, Pope Pius XII must avoid angering Catholics elsewhere, especially in the United States.

More importantly, his goal was to protect the church. He had to maintain the church's reputation and not allow the document of this "immoral case" in his hands to be circulated, so as to fulfill the mission of protecting God-given souls.

Everything was within Hurley's expectations. He only needed to look at the subtle changes in the other party's expression to know which way the balance in Pope Pius XII's heart was leaning.

Hurley smiled a smile common to British gentlemen and personally paved the way for Pope Pius XII to ease the situation.

He pointed to the ivory cross on the Pope's desk and said, "Holy See, as you just said, God will make the most fair judgment. Each of us is in God's hands."

"My godfather, Ludwig, a German who served as ambassador to Rome, once told me without hesitation that you, the great Holy See, will one day be hailed as the 'Savior of Europe,' and that time is now."

"Oh, Ludwig, I remember him, my child, the faithful apostle." Pope Pius XII sighed deeply after he finished speaking, as if he was having a huge struggle in his heart.

Osborne, who was sitting nearby, saw that the Pope was obviously wavering and continued to increase his strength.

"Holy See, I tell you sincerely that some people in Hungary have concealed their identities. They have even converted to Catholicism and no longer worship and live according to the customs of the y...."

"In Hungary, there are no sacraments, no sermons, no seminaries, no monasteries, no religious education, and even the most basic survival has become an expensive luxury. How terrible it is..."

"Holy See! I implore you, please let the world hear your voice. The Vatican cannot commit the 'sin of silence'!"

Pius XII remained silent for a long time. Osborne and Hurley remained silent at the right time and did not disturb him again.

After a long time, the Pope stood up and looked out of the study window, enjoying a panoramic view of the magnificent Vatican.

Pius XII could not bear the pressure to publicly condemn the German barbarity, because not all German church members were unaffected by the man's successful rise to power, and his public statement might harm those he hoped to help.

But if he still chose to remain silent, he would not be able to afford the anti-clericalism that might prevail in the future.

More importantly, someone has now seized his lifeline - the reputation of the church and the financial resources of the Vatican.

"The majority should not oppress the minority. I no longer want to see anyone arrogantly betraying the Christian religion, denying the Christian creed and the cause of redemption, advocating violence, race, and bloodline, and destroying human freedom, personality, and dignity."

Pope Pius XII stated his attitude in a heavy voice, then turned around and threw away his gorgeous white embroidered robe. In the end, the Pope made concessions.

He said: "I will send a telegram to Bishop Tatini, the head of Hungarian foreign relations, hoping that God's will will radiate to the land of the Danube. Osborne, please give my regards to Prime Minister Churchill. Campbell, please give my regards to the Duchess of Argyll and King George VI."

Osborne saluted and shouted: "Ah! My Holy See, my Holy Father, in this world, there are only two people who have the ability to speak out for justice for the poor nation, and that is you and Mr. Prime Minister!"

"Holy See, there are no copies of the document in your hands. You have the authority to seal it permanently."

Hurley also stood up and bowed in greeting. Pope Pius XII held out his hand and let him symbolically kiss the Fisherman's Ring on his hand.

A tense game between multiple forces was thus invisibly resolved through compromise and concessions by both sides.

…

You left Warsaw, Poland, and arrived at the suburban airport in Budapest, the capital of Hungary, by a special plane.

Although the German army was retreating from Southeast Europe, they did not intend to evacuate Hungary, as it was the only way to Austria and southern Germany.

It is no exaggeration to say that if Budapest was captured, it would only be a matter of time before the Soviet army reached Berlin.

After leaving the airport, you got on a Mercedes-Benz and prepared to go from the suburban airport to Theresienwiese, the sixth district of Budapest, located on the left bank of the Danube.

District 6 was named after Maria Theresa of Habsburg, whose most proud commission was Theresienstadt, which was used as a military camp.

The long journey has exhausted you both physically and mentally, so you lie sideways on the back seat, resting your head on your brother's thighs.

The Mercedes sped through the suburban streets, the afterglow of the setting sun mistily casting a shadow on the rapidly receding scenery, and along the way were Hungarian iron chimneys emitting smoke.

"Brother, what time is it..."

You close your eyes and don't want to open them, feeling like too much time has passed. The wound on your left forearm is scabbing and it itches, and you can't help but want to scratch it.

After several attempts to dissuade you failed, Feinz simply held both of your hands with his big hands.

The man who was resting with his eyes closed glanced outside the car. The yellow light was swaying freely like a golden sphere.

He lowered his head, smoothed your hair with his left hand, and said something in French slang.

"Baby, among the wolfhounds."

"oh……"

Ever since you told your brother about the characteristics of your ideal type, he has been using French slang whenever he talks to you, and now you are used to his unexpectedness.

Entrechienetloup is French slang for the time between day and night, or twilight.

Because the sun was setting and the light was dim, it was difficult to see whether the approaching person was a dog or a wolf.

You continue to close your eyes, silently complaining in your mind, wondering why Feynz stubbornly links "French slang" and "humor" - two things that are so far apart.

Soon, the Mercedes-Benz arrived in front of a private apartment building on Andrassy Street in Theresienwiese.

The apartment building is in neoclassical style, with gray roofs and yellow walls. The details of the wall design have some Baroque style. The lines are simple yet generous, solemn yet lively.

According to the officer who brought you here, this was once a property given by Count Andrassy to his daughter. Count Andrassy was a close friend of Princess Sissi, who served as the Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary during the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Although the apartment building does not have a wide carriageway like that of an aristocrat, the foyer still has the elegance and grandeur that is unique to the aristocracy. When the button in the corridor is turned on, the metal chandelier hanging at the top immediately emits light.

The elevator was temporarily out of service, but your house wasn't very high, so you took the stairs to the second floor. Yuri and the accompanying officers helped with the luggage.

You like the layout of the whole house very much. It is a typical Pest citizen residence from the early 1940s. It has an overall modern feel and is spacious and elegant.

Various types of furniture were covered with exquisite crocheted tablecloths, a golden hexagonal chandelier hung from the ceiling, and next to the fireplace were two mahogany armchairs covered with a white knitted blanket and an oval wooden table.

There was even a porcelain tea set with floral patterns from Meissen, Saxony, on the table in the living room. Further inside were the regular bedrooms, bathrooms, and study rooms, and at the innermost part, a wide balcony surrounded by wrought iron railings.

The accompanying officer said, "Commander von Kármán, no one has lived here before. We prepared it specially for your arrival."

"Thank you for the trouble." Feinz nodded and thanked him.

"Although it's late, Horst Greer, Director of the Human Resources Department, has been waiting for you at headquarters. What do you think?"

Feinz looked at his watch and thought for just a second. He looked back at the confusion in your eyes, took a step forward, said a few simple words to you, and then left the apartment.

It was already midnight after you packed your luggage and took a shower. You were not sleepy, so you poured yourself half a glass of Bluestem white wine, a specialty of Hungary, and sat on the sofa to think.

The man appointed Feyns as envoy to Budapest, who reported directly to him and had the privilege of intervening in the affairs of the Hungarian government.

But your brother didn't tell you what his mission was, and you didn't understand what he meant by "cooperation will not fail" that he kept saying.

If he wanted to send you to Switzerland, why would he take such a big detour? You've already reached Hungary on the edge of Central Europe, which is getting farther and farther away from Switzerland.

You shook your head in confusion, took a sip of Bluestem white wine, and asked the system about your daughter's situation in Zurich, Switzerland.

When Feintz returned, it was almost one in the morning. He took off his military coat and jacket and hung them on the hanger at the door. He rolled up his sleeves and washed his hands carefully at the sink at the entrance.

"Yina, why haven't you returned to your room to rest yet?"

"Brother, I'm waiting for you."

The Bluestem wine has a mellow and sweet taste with a clear aftertaste. You couldn't help but drink a few more sips. Now a little drunkenness has risen on your face, making your light blue eyes look even more affectionate.

Feinz glanced at the empty goblet on the table and saw through your drunken state. The man frowned and sat down next to you. You took the opportunity to lean against him, taking advantage of the alcohol.

A long arm stretched out, and he checked the wound on your left forearm, his eyes following your fair arm down to the position of your ring finger.

There is now almost no trace of the original ring there. On the contrary, after being accidentally bitten by some kind of mosquito, the area is slightly swollen.

Even though you were a little tipsy, you subconsciously sensed danger. When you noticed his tense brows showed no sign of relaxing, you knelt on the sofa and reached out your soft, white fingers to hook them around his shirt in a flattering manner.

Unexpectedly, the furrow between the man's brows deepened, and he suddenly said in a deep voice: "Yina, the last time we did it was over a month ago."

ah?

A sharp remark suddenly entered your ears without any warning. You were stunned for a few seconds, and your fingers that were hooked on his shirt withdrew without knowing why.

Ignoring your visibly reddened earlobes, Feinz continued to utter earth-shattering words from his thin lips: "Although my brother has taken measures, the possibility of a small incident cannot be ruled out."

The man's deep blue eyes grew darker, his seriousness accentuating a natural intimidation. The next second, Feintz mentioned a possibility you had never imagined.

"Why didn't you tell your brother that you were pregnant? How long do you want to keep it a secret?"

When a man and a woman are intimate, even if they take proper precautions, there is still a small probability of an accidental pregnancy.

The moment you heard his question, you immediately asked the system in your mind. After receiving a negative answer from the system, you finally realized it belatedly.

It turns out that Feintz mistakenly thought that you hadn't been wearing your wedding ring because you were pregnant.

When you were pregnant with Emma, ​​your fingers were swollen and you didn't wear your wedding ring for a long time...

"Brother, I'm not pregnant... You, you're thinking the wrong thing..."

You replied to him bravely, and the man's expression became even worse, but Feinz breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't want you to get pregnant again because he had seen the pain you suffered during childbirth and didn't want you to go through it again because of him.

Feinz stretched out his hands, passed through the gap between your arms and body, and with some irresistible force, pulled your body directly towards him.

"Did you think it was wrong?"

"So what about our wedding rings? Hmm? Do you still want to tell brother to put them away this time?"

Feintz was very calm when he said this, but when you listened, you could detect the emotional fluctuations of dissatisfaction hidden beneath the calmness.

Having ruled out the first two possibilities, only one remained. The man narrowed his eyes slightly, examining every possible trace of emotion on your face.

"Ina, don't tell me that you sent our wedding ring to the black market to trade because of some pathetic and stupid compassion of yours."

You swallowed silently. Although your brother's guess was not that accurate, it was almost the basic outline of the matter.

You opened your mouth slightly, trying to explain something, but seeing it from Feynz's perspective was a completely different experience.

You nervously opened your jaw, keeping your upper and lower teeth slightly open, and raised your soft palate, unconsciously making an upward motion, as if you wanted to lick something.

Looking up again, your light blue eyes are filled with a hazy light, wet with an indescribable temptation...

"Yina, if you do something wrong, you should be punished."

This chapter has a total of 13,000 words, 6.5k of which are released, and the remaining half is hidden in the gift:

Brother and sister get along. Hurley saw Ina and two men working together in the same frame, and the brother was frustrated.

Red heart is the driving force of renewalbr>

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