Chapter 146 Elemental Tribunal
The Elemental Tribunal is located at the edge of the city, where there are few buildings nearby and few signs of residents.
The overall tone of the building complex is black, dull and depressing, and daunting, just like the people here, who always feel out of tune with those around them.
Sometimes, whether they are commoners or noble politicians, they would even have this thought: Are the people in the Inquisition really the same species as them?
Are they human?
This inexplicable awe makes the Elemental Tribunal's status transcendent, and even the Church is unwilling to provoke it, until Rong Le drags Fairlight into the vortex of political struggle to gain power and status for herself.
He succeeded, but he didn't expect that this was also a knife that would stab him severely.
Only when the palm of the hand is stabbed and blood is dripping can the person holding the knife realize that he has provoked a monster that is difficult to get rid of.
Rong Le stood at the door, looking at the door of the courtroom, recalling what she had done.
After a long time, he lowered the brim of his hat slightly, restrained his expression, and walked in.
**
Meryl gasped softly.
He stood at the corner of the corridor, feeling the monsters gradually approaching from a distance. These monsters clearly had human bodies, like the background of this church, the most ordinary believers.
He tried to sneak into the depths of the Tribunal and had to place some guards on the necessary paths, but he didn't expect a big problem to arise here.
These believers are not human beings, but monsters.
He attacked quietly from behind, but found that the cultist did not fall down immediately after being attacked from behind. Instead, he shook his body, then bent his head 90 degrees and showed a hideous smile to Meryl behind him.
The dark eyeballs were covered with scarlet light, and the body continued to stretch and deform from the black robe, completely tearing the clothes and turning into a monster, snarling at him sharply.
Oh no, we’ve been discovered.
Meryl retreated quickly to escape pursuit, but the number of these monsters was far more than he had imagined. They emerged from the corners like spiders and soon gathered into a considerable number.
"The weak points are the head and eyes, but..."
There are too many of them. Even though Meryl's attack range is wide, it is difficult for her to fully exert her true strength in the complex buildings, and she cannot withstand the monsters' swarm tactics.
"Don't hide, come out, we see you."
A familiar male voice said so gently.
Meryl gritted her teeth with a gloomy face. The monster would imitate the voice and appearance of familiar people. He was almost deceived and almost hurt at first. After he realized what was happening, he was filled with resentment and anger.
These monsters...are they worthy of speaking with their master's voice?!
He ignored Rong Le's warning and insisted on sneaking into the courtroom. Meryl knew that this was a very reckless act, but he really wanted to be useful.
In fact, even Meryl was amazed at the change in herself.
After he was taken away by Rong Le, he never experienced abuse or beating again, nor did he suffer from hunger. Rong Le even rarely used his powerful killing power and handled his life very restrainedly.
Rong Le would raise him like an ordinary person, would not lock him in a cage, would not put him in chains, and would not treat his life as worthless.
He would give him food and water, soft clothes and a comfortable room, ask someone to teach him to read and write even though he saw no value in him, ask him to control his excitement, and ask him not to get hurt in battle.
Meryl knew that even his colleagues were afraid of him, afraid of his uncontrollability and his madness, but only the most noble and arrogant man always looked at him with calm eyes.
He seemed very close to Meryl, yet very far away from her, as if hazy and unclear through the clouds, but his eyes were always on Meryl, as if they would never change.
Meryl lifted the pendant around her neck, closed her eyes and kissed it silently. She closed her eyes and all the thoughts in her mind settled down.
No matter how unbearable the murderous intent raging in his body was, he would obediently return to Rong Le, follow his orders, and suppress his nature.
It was as if those words and knowledge formed shackles that imprisoned him, making him willingly be driven by Rong Le.
Under such a gaze, the blood that was always boiling in his body seemed to cool down a little.
Only by your side can I get peace and tranquility that is almost luxurious.
Meryl opened her eyes indifferently, her red pupils were far more cruel and terrifying than those of the monsters.
He couldn't just give up like that.
Fighting to the last moment, burning to the last drop of blood for the glory of the master he recognized.
This is his fate.
The bright light of the sickle flickered slightly. Meryl looked calm and ready to die, but suddenly a strong force came from behind him and dragged him backwards.
Meryl was a little stunned. Before he could figure out why his intuition didn't warn him of the approaching enemy, someone covered his mouth the next moment and he saw Rong Le's face approaching his.
Rong Le gently raised a finger to her lips and hushed silently.
Then he took out the piece of flesh of the Mother Goddess from the collection hall. The piece of flesh sealed in the box would not cause much impact, but it was enough for the monsters to sense the breath of their own kind.
The human scent faded to almost nothing under the cover of this powerful smell. The monsters lost their target and stayed in the corridor for a moment in a daze before gradually dispersing.
Rong Le glanced outside and put the box away so quickly that Meryl couldn't see where it was hidden.
Then he was dragged away by Rong Le. The boy with black hair and green eyes did not say anything, but just quietly searched for a suitable hiding place, with a calm look on his profile.
Until he found a safe room, pried open the door, pushed Meryl in, and closed the door behind him.
Meryl took two steps back meekly. This seemed to be a guest room. It was elegantly decorated, and the enclosed space brought a special sense of oppression. He put his hands behind his back to prevent Rong Le from seeing the wound on his hand.
However, this naturally could not escape Rong Le's observation.
Rong Le was wearing a dark, easy-to-move-in outfit. He was always particular about his attire, never lax at all. His elegance was evident in every detail, and his green eyes were very cold, as if he was really angry.
Meryl knew that she had not obeyed his order. She lowered her head and said, "I'm sorry, sir, I..."
Rong Le interrupted him, her tone cold, serious and low: "Turn around."
He slowly pulled out the belt and wound it into a handy size, moving very slowly, looking at Meryl with his chin slightly raised.
The lean body is matched with a high-quality leather belt, and the arm muscles are stretched into a graceful arc. It clearly symbolizes violence, but it is so gentle that it is addictive.
It seemed as if he didn't want to hit someone next, but to engage in some more intimate activity.
Meryl shuddered subconsciously and turned around.
He thought he could get away with it by just apologizing, but he didn't expect Rong Le, who had always tolerated him, to be serious this time.
He wants to teach him a lesson.
This realization inexplicably made Meryl hold his breath. He obediently exposed his back, waiting for the upcoming punishment.
The belt lashed his back mercilessly like a whip.
Meryl shuddered subconsciously, her whole body tensed, and her pupils contracted violently.
He was beaten.
This realization quickly made him excited. The white-haired, red-eyed boy twitched the corners of his mouth, as if he was suppressing the urge to raise his eyes. His eyes became brighter and brighter in the dim room.
Lord Rong Le was actually beating him!
Although she hated being beaten since she was a child, Meryl didn't know why she longed for the pain that Rong Le gave her. The more reluctant he was to give her these things, the more she wanted it.
It seemed that this was the only way to prove that there was indeed a connection between them.
Meryl didn't expect that he would be beaten for not following Rong Le's orders and acting on his own. This was a pleasant surprise for him.
Rong Le pulled back again, restraining herself and using only 50% of the strength.
The force brought Meryl just the right amount of pain. The back was more susceptible to pain than other vulnerable parts of the body. The white-haired puppy had thick skin and flesh, and the injuries it would suffer in a normal battle when it went crazy were much more serious than this.
Rong Le's main purpose was not to vent her emotions, but to teach Meryl a lesson.
Don't rush into things impulsively; consider whether you can handle the consequences.
He is not a lone warrior, but an ordinary man with someone waiting for his return at home.
Restrain your desire to fight, your life is far more valuable than you think.
The whipping continued to fall like raindrops, and Meryl bent down more and more, his white hair that reached his ears vaguely obscuring his expression.
He couldn't control his emotions, the corners of his mouth turned up, and he felt the force behind him.
What should he do? He was so happy and warm inside. He was so happy that he wanted to roll back and forth on the carpet.
Hit it harder and don't stop.
This is proof that his master loves him.
As he swayed, the thin chain with the pendant fell out from his collar, flashing a tiny light. This was given to him by Rong Le. Meryl still remembers him jokingly saying:
"Take good care of it. This is your collar."
The ordinary round tag was engraved with Rong Le's initials. This marking method made it no different from a dog tag, but it was so hidden that it was difficult for others to find it, as if it was just a careless humiliation of the noble boy.
Meryl loved it and couldn't let it go. She wanted to show off the necklace Rong Le gave her to everyone.
The expressions of the others were indescribable, but he didn't care.
When others called him a dog beside Rong Le, Meryl would laugh happily, thinking it was a compliment.
Because his favorite thing to do is to put his fluffy and soft hair on Rong Le's legs like a puppy, and accept his casual caress while handling official business.
I leaned on the armrest of the chair beside him, basking in the sunlight coming through the window, and sat on the carpet to enjoy this moment of tranquility.
He gained a greater pleasure than the blood and bloodshed, or than hearing the enemies howling and screaming while fighting with a scythe.
Is this the feeling of happiness that ordinary people can experience?
Rong Le stopped after whipping him a dozen times. Whipping was just a means of punishing subordinates, and the main point was to make Meryl remember it.
The tragic end of the white-haired kid was still vivid in Rong Le's mind. He thought he could face the past calmly, but in fact he couldn't do that.
Otherwise, he wouldn't be here, beating Meryl up with a belt, but would be calmly negotiating with Fairlight, using Meryl as a bargaining chip on the chessboard.
Rong Le sighed slightly, retracted the belt, and was about to say something when she noticed that Meryl was in a strange state.
Meryl hunched her back and covered her mouth with one hand, as if she was suppressing the pain, and she was even trembling slightly.
Was he injured or poisoned?
Rong Le originally thought that Meryl was not seriously injured, but it was possible that he was injured in a place he couldn't see, and the punishment just now might have aggravated his injury.
He frowned immediately, feeling a little regretful that he shouldn't have taught Meryl a lesson at this time.
He was about to take a step forward to investigate when he saw Meryl suddenly fall to the carpet. There was no look of pain on her face, but she laughed happily. Although she tried hard to suppress her voice, it still sounded very happy.
“…”
Rong Le sighed helplessly.
He is so happy to be beaten, what a little lunatic.
He half-knelt on one leg in front of Meryl, tilted his head and supported his face to the side to observe him. His black hair flowed down like water, and the ends of his hair touched the cheek of the white-haired boy, causing a slight itch.
The bright red eyes of the white-haired boy lying on the ground were full of brilliance, different from the dullness in his memory, and he looked full of vitality. This scene gradually overlapped with the pupils that had once been dull and lusterless, covering up his past appearance.
It was not until then that Rong Le felt some sense of reality and realized that she had really changed Meryl's tragic death. This lively puppy would have enough energy to cause him more trouble in the future.
It really is... so good.
Meryl stared at Rong Le blankly. The boy who was staring at her might not have known that the corners of her mouth unconsciously rose up at this moment, and it was an exceptionally gentle smile.
Although I don’t know why, as long as Lady Rong Le is happy, that’s all that matters.
When Meryl encountered something she didn't understand, she gave up thinking and threw herself on Rong Le, trying to act coquettishly and beg for his forgiveness.
Rong Le patted his back gently: "Don't act on your own in the future, understand?"
Meryl nodded.
Rong Le knew how to make him listen, so she warned him, "If you make this mistake again, I'll take your necklace back."
This sentence was more effective than any threat or lesson. Meryl immediately realized the seriousness of the consequences and nodded eagerly: "I won't do it again."
He held Rong Le's hand, his tone sincere from the bottom of his heart: "I didn't disobey the order on purpose, I just wanted to help you, but I didn't tell you because I was afraid you would worry. As long as I can help you, it doesn't matter if I die, so don't be angry with me."
The vicious dog had already been put on a collar and turned into a docile and obedient pet.
He gently kissed Rong Le's fingertips, his gesture was so pious: "I offer you my complete loyalty."
Meryl used all the etiquette knowledge she had learned, and her posture was so polite, as if she was an emotionless beast wearing human skin, growing flesh and blood, and there was a sincere warmth in her breath.
As long as I'm with this person, everything is acceptable.
He learned to restrain his claws and become gentle and cute. As long as Rong Le remembered his existence, he would be within reach. He would firmly occupy this position and would not let anyone take away his position.
"Because I am your private property."
[You have obtained your personal CG——]
Meryl HE Line Exclusive Love
…
Rong Le calmly walked through the complex corridors of the courtroom.
Behind him, the hurried footsteps sounded like the devil's death warrant. Countless monsters were wandering in the corridor, trying to catch the intruder.
He handed the box containing the Mother Goddess's flesh to Meryl and asked him to evacuate with other subordinates. The Mother Goddess's breath was enough to blind the monsters' sense of smell and interfere with their judgment. No matter how reluctant Meryl was, she could not disobey his orders.
This time, Rong Le came fully prepared, and the person who was supposed to pick her up was outside the Elemental Tribunal. He knew very well that everything that happened here could not escape Fairlight's attention.
If he wants to keep Meryl, he must use himself as bait to attract his attention.
The longer he stayed here, the more time Meryl would have to escape.
This kind of dealing with Fairlight was particularly familiar, and everything seemed like a dream back to the church days.
During the time when he regained his memory, his relationship with Fairlight progressed naturally, and Rong Le repeated his original behavior.
He secretly approached the Elemental Tribunal, gained Fairlight's support, and accelerated the consolidation of his position in the Church, where he already held a considerable position of power.
But after this sweet partnership lasted for a while, deeper contradictions gradually emerged.
Fairlight is a hypocrite who will do anything to achieve his goal. The real him has extremely huge desires and greed. Rong Le discovered this cautiously after working with him for a period of time.
After realizing that he would never be able to satisfy the wolf and would end up losing himself, he began to try to retreat and downplay his partnership with Fairlight.
Fairlight also sensed his intention, but it was obvious that he did not intend to give up Rong Le and the interests behind him.
The conflicts and contradictions between the two sides were tacitly covered up, and interests and status were the main theme of the planning, and the relationship between the two was undercurrent.
In the original destiny, Meryl's death was Fairlight's warning to Rong Le.
Fortunately, Rong Le was well prepared before the collaboration began.
Considering Rong Le's current position, cooperation with Fairlight is indeed profitable and his best choice at the moment. Even if he knows it is sweet poison, he will be willing to eat it.
Moreover, he couldn't be sure whether Fairlight had all the memories.
From Portland to the original Elemental Inquisition, Fairlight stood in the deepest shadows, hiding beside him, watching his actions quietly, like a poisonous snake that could not be shaken off.
After Rong Le tried several times and failed to find his flaws, she cautiously withdrew. In order not to reveal that she had recovered her memory, his behavior pattern did not change, and all his actions developed according to the original trajectory.
In any case, the Elemental Tribunal is the enemy he will ultimately fight against and the key to breaking the endless rewind.
Rong Le's pupils suddenly shrank, and a huge force came from behind him. He was pinned against the door frame by the attacker and could not move.
"I got you."
Fairlight's low laugh reached my ears.
The chase finally ended with the prey being captured. Rong Le calmly turned her head and said lightly, "You finally can't sit still anymore?"
He hadn't left himself any way out, because he knew Fairlight wouldn't kill him. He was just enjoying the chase, and even if he wanted to take his life, it wouldn't be now.
"You're always so calm, as if nothing can break your mask. I thought I'd see you panicking." Fairlight complained affectionately.
"What a pity! If I had really killed that white-haired brat, maybe I could have seen this scene, right?"
Rong Le, who was always calm and composed, seemed to have no flaws at all and would not be moved by anything. Fairlight thought he was like this to everyone.
I didn't expect that he would risk his life and come to the Elemental Tribunal just for the life of an insignificant subordinate.
Given his personality, the most normal thing to do would be to negotiate with him immediately after receiving the intelligence.
Rong Le's expression turned colder, and she didn't answer the question: "You came to me just to talk about this? Don't be so boring, Feier."
The relationship between the two at the moment was both tit-for-tat and superficially peaceful. He casually struggled with his restrained wrist.
Fairlight was so strong that he didn't let him go. "It's rare that you've caught me. What are you going to do with me?"
Fairlight mused, "To be honest, you do make me a little angry."
"I invited you many times, but you didn't come to the court. Now you come to see me for your subordinates. How should I punish you?"
Rong Le sneered coldly, and took advantage of the moment when Fairlight was distracted to burst out with strength and knock him over. She then pressed him to the ground, sat astride him, holding his wrist with one hand, and holding a dagger that was flashing with cold light in the other, as if to stab him.
Fairlight's hand was on Rong Le's neck, tightening slightly.
The two looked at each other, their cold green eyes and smiling gray eyes facing each other, their gazes entangled.
Even though he was lying on the ground, Fairlight did not look weak. His long black hair was spread out on the ground in a mess, winding into a dense web like a snake. His fingertips brushed across the white and thin neck and stopped at the side of Rong Le's face.
"You always bring me different surprises every time."
“It’s like a miracle.”
He gently stroked Rong Le's face, as if he was looking at some rare treasure, and the meaning revealed in his words was a little creepy.
Rong Le's pupils shrank slightly, but her face remained calm: "What nonsense are you talking about?"
Sometimes it was hard to tell who was more of a charlatan. Fairlight's power grew in front of the others, and as he grew older, the rest of the country tacitly accepted that he had fulfilled the duties of God and had become the new spokesperson.
No outsiders of the Elemental Tribunal know anything, but the only thing that is certain is that there is only one spokesperson for God, and the young heir will be assimilated by the previous one when he matures, inheriting his memory and wisdom, and merging into the new spokesperson.
No one knows whether the spokesperson after assimilation is still the same person, but everyone can always see the shadow of the former spokesperson through the person in front of them.
This ensures that the inheritance of the Elemental Tribunal continues uninterrupted, remaining independent of the state, yet still subtly controlling the current situation.
Only Rong Le, who is close to Fairlight, can vaguely glimpse the truth behind the mystery. Fairlight is unprecedentedly frank and tolerant towards him, as if he acknowledges that he is a member of the Tribunal.
But Rong Le has never been deceived by illusions.
"You are an outlier among the crowd, a black sheep born in the flock. Your path goes against everyone else's, which makes it impossible for me to stop looking at you."
Fairlight said as if in admiration:
"I long for you to break free from your constraints, but I also hope that you will remain ignorant forever... Just stay by my side and exist together in eternity."
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