Chapter 574 "Moriarty Style"

When promoted to cardinal, one does not have to wear clothes of prescribed colors and styles like ordinary bishops and archbishops.

Although Aiwass has not yet fully mastered the advanced divine arts, the two most difficult steps have now been completed: the body has been prepared, and the Lord of Scales and Feathers has also completed the preliminary arrangements - the crack in the gem on Aiwass' chest is proof of his strength.

To put it in a metaphor, the first step was like laying network cables for the community and pre-installing them in the houses. The second step was getting the optical modems and other equipment ready for commissioning. Now, all they had to do was pay the fee and wait for the Scale and Feather Lord's switchboard to confirm the access, and the network would be connected.

Now that we have reached this stage, it is almost time to prepare clothes in advance. After all, custom-made clothes take time.

The location, shape and size of the sin marks - or "stigmata" - on each cardinal's body are different.

And not all forms of sin scars have this strange crystal... at least Cardinal Matilda doesn't.

"What is the specific meaning of this crystal?"

Before deciding on the color, Aiwas confirmed with Cardinal Cyril, "I do not possess the adaptability to the Path, but the Lord of Scales and Feathers bestowed this gem upon me..."

At that time, he thought it was a gem decoration inlaid on the outside, but he didn't expect that it actually grew on the skin.

Is this a kind of local amber?

"It is because you lack the ability to adapt that I have given you a Path Crystal."

Cardinal Cyril shook his head. "Power can't just appear out of thin air; it must have a carrier. Once incompatible Dao power is stored within the body, it will disrupt one's mind and even risk losing control and going insane... Those degraded versions of high-level divine arts are prone to going insane or losing control after 'summoning the gods', which is because they lack this configuration."

"When you normally use divine arts to pray for paths you don't master, power is bestowed upon you through ritual. While higher divine arts omit this step, they still require a process... Even if the Lord of Scales and Feathers' will descends upon you, you still lack the power to adapt. Is it necessary to guide the power of adaptation into your body? That's impossible."

"……I see."

Aiwass understood a little.

After all, Master Janice in the original plot went crazy because of the abnormal Taoist power that did not belong to him appearing in his body.

She even possessed the talent and adaptability for the Twilight Path, but lacked the corresponding level, and she still lost control when introduced. The "Path Crystal" configured by high-level divine arts was designed to prevent this from happening.

Aiwass had a strange association -

If that's the case, then wouldn't I have become the human-shaped staff of the Lord of Scales and Feathers?

The Lord of Scales and Feathers did not channel the power of adaptation into Aiwas' body, but directly into this crystal of the path. When the Lord of Scales and Feathers descended, he would activate his authority to draw power from it, and then transfer the power back in after using it.

That path crystal is simply a carrier of power, like a gem embedded in the tip of a staff.

"Cardinal Matilda and I, for example, draw power directly from our bodies. This is because our advanced divine arts align with the paths we master, and we won't use more power than we can handle."

Cardinal Cyril added.

As he spoke, he briefly opened his clasped hands and turned them over to show Aiwass.

The marks of his sin were on the palms of his hands, because they were not covered by the cardinal's robes and there was no hollowing on his body at all.

Hearing this, Aiwass realized something: "There aren't many people like me..."

"Not many, really. So you want green? But as far as I know, there is a cardinal who uses green... It's better to stagger them to increase recognition."

Cardinal Cyril clasped his hands together again, returning to his previous harmonious and contented posture.

"No, I use black."

Aiwas thought about it seriously, recalled the appearance of the Lord of Scales and Feathers, and answered decisively.

The Lord of Scales and Feathers wore a black suit, and the River of Survival was also pitch black. While it was unclear why He chose emerald as the symbolic gem of His Path of Adaptation... Aiwass believed that black was closer to the Lord of Scales and Feathers' essence.

Everyone wears all black, and that's considered the company uniform!

The old elf was stunned when he heard this, thinking: "Mainly black? That's rare..."

Aiwass was a little confused. "Is it rare? I think black goes with everything."

"Because Sinthorn is black. Black clothes don't really show Sinthorn well."

"...Then, on top of the black base, let's decorate it with golden patterns... or platinum will do. Just like my hair."

Aiwass made a rather rough proposal: "As I recall, I need to expose the sinister thorns on my body? However, I hope the exposed part is not too large on my chest... and it is best not to affect the intense movement."

As he spoke, he took out a few strands of his hair.

The wind blew automatically, blowing up Aiwas's hair and carrying it into the corner.

An exquisite box in the corner of the room opened automatically, and then closed again after Aiwass's hair fell into it.

"About how long will it take?"

"I'll urge the tailor to do it as soon as possible. It should be ready in three or four days. It will definitely arrive before March 2nd at the latest... It won't delay your inauguration as a cardinal."

Cardinal Cyril gave a definite answer.

The old elf asked curiously, "What is your assessment?"

"A promotion ceremony with increasing difficulty... Is this considered easy or difficult?"

"It's pretty good, or rather, very good. It's mainly clear and not too troublesome."

Cardinal Cyril smiled bitterly and said, "When I signed the contract with the Serpent Father, he asked me to 'surpass my old self seven times.' To complete this mission, I traveled around the world for a full seventy years before finally fulfilling the requirement. It was only when I was finally summoned into a dream by the Serpent Father that I realized I had completed the mission... I had no idea which seven times I had surpassed, and I was completely confused about the mission.

"Sizhu's request to me was more clear. He asked me to help others and receive their gratitude three thousand times. At the beginning, I was still carefully counting the number of times, calculating how many times I had left every day... At that time, I was very anxious.

"But later on, I suddenly had an epiphany—there was no need to record anything, I could just live my life normally. I also like to help others. So I simply threw away my notebook... After I had forgotten how many decades later, I suddenly received Sizhu's recognition."

“…That all sounds so long.”

“No, there are actually shorter ones… For example, Cardinal Matilda and former Cardinal Loki.

"When Cardinal Matilda signed the contract with Amber, the condition she set was to 'carve biographies of Amber Condensers.' So she began to learn about the biographies of those Amber Condensers, and when she finished carving the ninth one, Amber approved her request.

"And former Cardinal Loki... Hehe, this matter was originally supposed to be a secret, but now I can tell you."

Cardinal Cyril said meaningfully, "At that time, the Giant Kingdom of Alctors had already been defeated, and the Silver Crown Dragon had not yet ascended to the throne of Pillar God. Loki survived because he contacted the Theocracy and betrayed Alctors long before the city was taken.

"But in the early stages of the war, as the Wildfire Giant, he was still the core of Alctor's fighting force. He killed many humans and many elves... He also ate humans and even more elves. Although he had merits, he also committed more sins. Although he possessed the power of the Path of Devotion, he also possessed the power of the Path of Strength."

"So the candlelighter gave him a chance—to stand on the altar that could continue to heal him, turning all his sins so far into sin thorns and igniting them with his own 'wildfire'.

"Every second he endures the equivalent of being burned at the stake, and each execution must be carried out anew by his own will. If his devotion falters even once, the altar will not heal him, and he will die completely, his soul no longer existing.

"Loki accepted the test. At that moment, I witnessed with my own eyes a vast mass of sinthorns sprouting from his body. He stood still, repeatedly burning his own sinthorns with the power of wildfire. His body, a towering giant over ten meters tall, melted and collapsed to less than three meters.

"In just three hours, he died and was resurrected 10,800 times... and he lit every one of these 10,800 burnings at the stake himself. And not once did he harbor any resentment.

"So I forgave him, and Sizhu also forgave him. I think the other witnesses were similar. Everyone had great trust in Loki. He completely shed his giant body and was reborn under Sizhu's treatment. The rage that came with the giant's blood was also sealed."

That is the true meaning of "never give up even if it means death."

It was because of this that Cardinal Loki gained the trust of Sizhu and became the cardinal of the eleventh floor.

Aiwass suddenly felt doubtful.

Is this really some kind of acting? If it were just a performance, could it be so sincere?

The raging fire refines the heart...

Even Aiwass himself wouldn't dare take on a trial of that magnitude. He really couldn't bet on his unwavering resolve. And under Sizhu's watchful eye, there was clearly no room for cheating.

This elven blood comes from Sizhu's recognition.

This is not just a matter of death and rebirth, but also a kind of glory.

...Will such a person really give up this glory for the power of being a "perfect man"?

Or... his death now is also part of "dedication and atonement"?

If we think about it from this point of view, what did his death bring?

Aiwass fell into deep thought.

The White Saint will no longer be targeted by the Controlled Fire. Cardinal Loki has gained the power of the Perfect Man. The Theocracy may not split or fall into civil war again. Aiwass has gained the experience needed to master the higher divine arts. The position of Cardinal of the Eleventh Circle is vacant...

His eyes gradually opened wide.

"——Things will end peacefully in the [Moriarty style]."

In his memories, Freya's voice faintly sounded in Aiwas's ears.

Aiwass had been wondering before, was this "Moriarty style" referring to the professor or Aiwass himself...

But now, he realized... they actually had something in common. Whether it was his adoptive father or Professor Aiwass, their planning style tended to "benefit everyone," making people work sincerely for them. It was just that the residual influence of this incident would benefit Aiwass or Professor Moriarty.

And now, the death of Cardinal Loki has benefited everyone—

If Cardinal Rocky's plan was for Aiwass to become a cardinal, then his plan must have gone beyond this.

He wanted to nominate a cardinal to become Pope, thereby disrupting the close ties between the Eternal State and the Church of the Nine Pillars... but this would inevitably be met with fierce resistance from the Saint. The Saint would not allow any cardinal to control the State, believing that such an extreme move would cause the State to lose its neutrality.

But what if... Aiwass takes this position?

The position of the eternal pope!

(End of this chapter)