Chapter 254 The farce ends (6k)
No one knew who took the lead, but someone had a sudden idea and tore off a bed sheet from their home, wrote the four big words "Lynn is not guilty" crookedly with charcoal, tied it to a long pole, and rushed to the front of the parade.
Unexpectedly, this simple flag ignited the emotions of the entire city.
"Faster, faster..."
Old John's sewing machine in the tailor shop was almost smoking. Lynn killed the real limb-transplanter, Burlehuman, which was equivalent to avenging his son's death.
The white cloth turned into flags in old John's hands. Neighbors gathered spontaneously in front of his shop, some helped with cutting, and some were responsible for writing.
If you look down from the sky at this moment, you will find that the entire Glostin is being swallowed by white.
In the Square of the Hierophants, white flags fluttered in the wind like snow; on both sides of the street, residents opened their windows and hung white cloths on their balconies.
The procession grew larger and larger.
"Lynn is not guilty!"
"Release the heroes!"
“…”
In the end, the voice of Lynn's innocence swept through every street in Grosstin like a tsunami.
The Priest Square had completely turned into a white ocean at this time. The guards responsible for maintaining order looked at each other, and the edges of the spears in their hands unconsciously dropped.
Even Saint Laurent VI, who was sitting in the main seat, felt dazed when he saw this scene. The sunlight shone through the intertwined branches of the holy tree, casting mottled light and shadows on his face, making it difficult to see his expression.
But the right hand resting on the armrest trembled slightly.
More than twenty years have passed since Saint Laurent VI ascended the throne.
At this moment, he suddenly remembered the words his father, Saint Laurent V, said to him earnestly when he was crowned on the day of his coronation ceremony:
"Public opinion is the sharpest sword."
So many years have passed, and to be honest, he doesn't have a deep understanding of this sentence.
It was not until today that he realized that the words his father had said to him back then seemed to have come true.
However, Saint Laurent VI was of such high status that no one would notice his daze. After just a short moment, he put on the mask of "Emperor" again.
On the other side, after realizing that something was wrong, Marquis Fred looked at Bishop Connor with sweat on his forehead and an embarrassed expression.
Obviously, he never expected that even at this time, things would still develop in an unexpected direction.
No one would have thought that even in such a dangerous situation, the young man still found the only solution to turn the situation around among countless dead ends.
Not only them, at this moment, Bishop Connor's nails were completely dug into his palms. Even though his expression remained calm, the boundless anger in his heart could not be concealed.
Although they had prepared to kill Lin En in advance, they failed in the end, and everyone's position became one-sided.
"Haha, everyone, get ready to pay."
Unlike most of the nobles who had silent and distorted expressions at the moment, Marquis Matthew seemed extremely excited and agitated.
Before the Holy Tree Trial began, he bet with everyone that Lin En would not die today.
According to the bet, those who bet that Lin En would not be able to leave here alive today would have to lose 10,000 gold coins to him.
"Don't be happy too soon. Although Lin En was not the real limb transplanter, it is an indisputable fact that His Royal Highness the Fourth Prince died at his hands."
Lady Olivia said through clenched teeth.
"That's right. Even if your majesty doesn't want to pursue the matter of Lynn assassinating Senator Black, the crime of killing the prince is always unforgivable."
Marquis Saxton clenched his fists, the word "reluctant" was clearly reflected on his face.
Hearing this, Matthew raised a sarcastic arc at the corner of his mouth, and his eyes lightly swept across the blushing faces of every noble present.
"Everyone, it's already come to this point, there's no need to deceive yourselves."
"Use the life of the Fourth Prince to offset the horrific disaster brought about by Kusuisten's rampage in the imperial capital. What do you think His Majesty would choose if he were to make the decision?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the nobles around were speechless and fell into silence.
Based on their understanding of Saint Laurent VI, they were afraid that His Majesty the Emperor would really choose to sacrifice the Fourth Prince Joshua.
What's more, public opinion is now boiling, and the citizens of Grostin are pleading for Lynn and demanding that he be acquitted.
Some nobles with conscience also joined the team to plead for Lin En, led by the honorable Elector Duke Tyreus.
In a sense, this is already a huge force that cannot be ignored.
“That’s great. It’s really great.”
Seeing that Lynn's desperate situation had taken a turn for the better, Eleanor, Afiya and the others cried with joy.
Judging from the current situation, there is a high possibility that Lin En will be acquitted.
However, Hillina narrowed her eyes slightly, her gaze stayed on Lin En for a moment, and she chuckled meaningfully.
"Lynn, ah Lynn"
There was a hint of playfulness in her voice, as well as some indescribable complex emotions, as if she was appreciating a carefully choreographed drama.
Based on her understanding of Saint Laurent VI, she would definitely not sentence Lynn to death in this situation.
But just when almost everyone thought that Lin En could escape, something strange happened again.
"Please wait a moment."
Following Bishop Connor's calm voice, the entire audience fell silent again.
He originally thought that everything was foolproof and that Lin En would definitely die in the Priest Square today, but he did not expect such a dramatic turn of events.
Fortunately, in addition to ordering people to assassinate Lin En, he also had a backup plan.
However, it requires him, the person who has been manipulating things behind the scenes, to step to the front and completely reverse public opinion.
"Everyone, please be patient!"
The clergymen accompanying him instantly suppressed the commotion in the square with their rebukes that carried supernatural power.
Archbishop Connor walked slowly towards the judgement platform. With every step he took, the scepter in his hand struck heavily on the bluestone floor, making a dull "dong...dong" sound.
The sound echoed in the square like a divine overture, gradually synchronizing with the heartbeats of everyone present, making people hold their breath unconsciously and become quiet in an instant.
When he walked to the front of the stage, he first bowed humbly to Saint Laurent VI. After obtaining the other party's approval, he slowly turned around and faced the countless people in the audience.
"Everyone." Bishop Connor's voice echoed throughout the city, "The Holy Spirit Tree has indeed performed miracles, allowing us to see the truth of the incident."
"Indeed, Lin En is not the Limb Reaper, Burrhuman. Many people misunderstood him, but he risked his life to get involved, not hesitating to bear the infamy. In the end, he even sacrificed his life to perish together with the King of Evil and Cruelty, in order to prevent the disaster from sweeping across Glostin."
"This feat is equally worthy of praise and even praise!"
When Bishop Connor mentioned that Lynn "put himself in the game" and "was willing to sacrifice his life", the crowd even cheered.
Some young girls even hugged each other excitedly with tears in their eyes. Old John stopped sewing at the sewing machine and a hopeful look appeared on his wrinkled face.
"Even Bishop Connor said so. Does it look like Mr. Lin will be declared not guilty soon?"
The citizens whispered, their voices full of anticipation.
However, just as everyone was looking forward to waiting for Bishop Connor to declare Lynn not guilty.
"but--"
"This does not mean that we can trust a person who has committed a serious crime."
Bishop Connor suddenly raised his voice and slammed his staff to the ground. A visible shock wave spread out from him, instantly suppressing all sounds.
"The Holy Tree Trial also showed us another truth." His voice suddenly became cold. "During the trial, we clearly saw that there seemed to be an unknown past between Lin En and the evil king."
Bishop Connor deliberately spoke slowly, making each word carry heavy weight.
At the same time, the holy crystal on the top of the scepter in his hand began to emit a soft light. This is the "resonance of faith" passed down by the Tianli Church for thousands of years, which can subtly influence the emotions of the audience.
Under his instigation and influence, there was indeed some commotion among the crowd, and many people began to question Lin En.
Bishop Connor was satisfied with this scene and continued, "Not only that, the incredible abilities that Lin En displayed in the battle were something I had never heard of before."
"How can a young man who comes from a declining noble family and has no extraordinary background master so many forbidden powers?"
When he said this, the Clergy Square was already in an uproar.
Of course, these people are mainly loyal believers of the Tianli Church. To them, Bishop Connor himself is the spokesperson of God.
As for those people who originally supported Lin En's innocence, some still firmly support it and are unmoved, but some seem to have been shaken.
The atmosphere in the square gradually became strange. People who supported Lin En looked at each other, and the joy in their eyes was gradually replaced by confusion.
"What an old fox."
On the high platform, a hint of coldness flashed in Hillina's eyes. She probably had guessed Bishop Connor's purpose. He had no intention of letting Lin En go.
“This old thing!!!”
Afiya and the others were so angry that they gnashed their teeth and wished they could tear Bishop Connor to pieces.
Seeing that Bishop Connor was gradually going astray, Saint Laurent VI did not say anything to stop him, and naturally others did not dare to refute him.
"Of course, none of the above is the most critical."
"The most puzzling thing is..." Bishop Connor's voice suddenly lowered, "A few months ago, on that night in the Solon Mountains, as far as I know, Lin En was just a mortal at that time. I am very curious about how he managed to survive the fierce battle between the Creation Demon and the King of Evil and Cruelty, two high-dimensional demons?"
This question was like a bucket of ice water, extinguishing the last bit of enthusiasm in the square.
Everyone held their breath, all eyes turning to the young man who had not yet stepped down from the judgement stand.
"This old immortal thing is so insidious."
Lynn's eyes met Bishop Connor's, but he still looked calm and indifferent.
He knew the fatality of this problem better than anyone else - any reasonable explanation would point to the forbidden name, and once the existence of the witch was exposed, not only would he be doomed, but it would also implicate everyone related to him, even the sleeping Yvesette, who might be directly imprisoned by Saint Laurent VI.
"Lynn Bartleron." Bishop Connor took a step forward, with his staff pointed directly at Lynn's forehead. "I demand that you answer this question in front of the Holy Spirit Tree, His Majesty, and the people of the entire city!"
At the same time, the crystal on the top of his scepter suddenly burst into a dazzling red light, forming a strange rune that floated above Lin's head. That was the "Truth Shackles", a secret technique used by the Tianli Church to prevent the defendant from lying.
Obviously, Bishop Connor would not let Lynn leave here alive today.
Lin En also knew very well that once the truth was exposed, the hope of a turnaround that he had finally seen would disappear again.
Even the possibility of him making a comeback is slim.
Because by that time, he will have enemies all over the world.
As the biggest villain in the whole book, how terrifying is Miss Witch, even more than the King of Evil and Cruelty?
If the world knew that Lynn was involved with her, Lynn would definitely be labeled and branded as a demon.
It's really ironic that before he could even get the title of a brave savior, he was about to become a minion of the devil.
At this time, the silence in the square continued to ferment, and every second seemed as long as a year.
The wrinkles on Bishop Connor's face relaxed, revealing a confident smile. He knew too well the lethality of this question. No matter how Lin En answered, he could not escape the trap he had carefully woven.
However, Lynn did not intend to sit still and wait for death.
The "Truth Shackles" of the Tianli Church are certainly powerful, but its Lie Swallowers are no less powerful.
Especially now, Lin En, who is able to use a small part of the power of the end, is even more adept at controlling the Liar Eater. How much better than before?
"I"
However, Lynn was about to defend himself against the fatal question raised by Bishop Connor.
The next second, something strange happened again!
And this time, it seems that even fate can't stand the behavior of the Tianli Church, or perhaps this mysterious and unknown force itself is on Lin's side.
The Holy Spirit Tree, which had just finished its judgment, suddenly burst into brilliant light!
Thousands of golden points of light poured down like a crushed galaxy. Each grain of light left a tiny trace of light in the night sky, interweaving into a flowing golden gauze, enveloping Lin En in this dreamy star rain.
Bishop Connor's scepter fell to the ground with a clang, and his face was full of disbelief; even Saint Laurent VI, who was sitting on the throne, leaned forward unconsciously, with a strange light flashing in his eyes.
This scene was very familiar to some people, especially to Hillina. Not long ago, the Holy Spirit Tree also blossomed with similar brilliance, endowing Xia with the identity of "Savior Hero", making Hillina fall in love for the first time, and making her experience the feeling of accelerated heartbeat for the first time, which then led to Hillina proposing to her.
According to the prophecy, the Holy Spirit Tree will only react in this way to a fearless being with noble character and the will of a saint.
All along, Hillina thought that Xia was the destined hero. He was upright, brave, and aboveboard, and perfectly met all the church's definitions of a "saint."
But now it seems that the Holy Spirit Tree actually had a similar reaction to Lin En.
When she looked closely, she discovered that ancient runes were even beginning to emerge in the light - this was a vision that the Holy Spirit Tree had never shown in its long history!
The commotion in the Clergy Square became more and more intense, and countless people began to kneel down and pray to God.
At the same time, the brilliance of the Holy Spirit Tree reached its peak at this moment.
Countless rays of light gathered into a pillar of light that reached the sky and the earth, completely enveloping Lin En.
When the light gradually faded away, everyone saw an incredible scene - a golden mark suddenly appeared on Lin En's forehead.
That is the proof of the Holy Spirit Tree's approval, more convincing than any words!
“?!”
This situation made Hillina's body tremble subconsciously.
It’s nothing, it’s just because it’s too familiar.
Because just a few days ago on that night, the same certificate of bravery appeared on the man who claimed to be "from a hundred thousand years in the future."
Not only that, I don’t know if it’s an illusion.
Hillina always felt that the brilliance of the Holy Spirit Tree at this moment was more dazzling than that of Xia.
As such thoughts flooded into her mind, some subconscious aspects of her heart changed, and the engagement ring that Xia gave her on her hand also became a little murky at this moment.
At this point, Bishop Connor looked ashen, not at all like the passionate guy he was just now.
Not to mention the likes of Marquis Saxton and Lady Olivia.
Mrs. Olivia might be better off. After all, there was no hatred between her and Lynn. She just simply hated Yvesette.
But the Marquis Saxton is different. He and the Bartleon family are sworn enemies. Now that Lynn has been recognized by the Holy Spirit Tree, no one can stop his rise. At that time, their family will inevitably suffer the most thorough liquidation.
After all, after the Bartleon family fell into decline, he did a lot of things to beat the downtrodden. Lynn might not know these details, but his sister Eleanor wrote them all down in her little notebook.
Of course, the one who was more desperate than Marquis Saxton at this moment was Marquis Fred.
He and Bishop Connor had planned everything and prepared one back-up plan after another, thinking that they could completely kill Lynn, but they never expected that even the great wonder of this country would approve of Lynn's actions.
The dazzling divine light not only washed away all the stigma on Lynn, but also slapped the conspirators in the face like a loud slap.
Even the Tianli Church, the first church in the Saint Laurent Empire, is no longer qualified to pursue the matter further.
Because the will of the holy tree is above everything!
If you go against the will of the sacred tree, you will be against the faith foundation of the entire Saint Roland Empire and the will of the Holy Spirit that has protected this land for thousands of years.
That things had come to this point was beyond everyone's expectations.
Even Lynn herself.
At this moment, everyone's eyes involuntarily turned to the figure who was always sitting on the throne.
Lin En stood in the center of the judgment seat with his back straight. Even though he had gained the recognition of the Holy Tree, he still remained surprisingly calm and indifferent.
Because he knew better than anyone that in the Saint Laurent Empire, the final say would always be in the hands of the one on the throne.
"It's time for this farce to end."
Hillina looked at her father and murmured, seemingly unable to see anything unusual.
Even she couldn't figure out what her father was thinking at the moment.
The next moment, Saint Laurent VI slowly raised his right hand. This simple action made the entire square hold its breath.
Just a moment ago, the emperor was planning to imprison Lin En for a period of time on the grounds of "murdering the prince". After all, the majesty of the royal family cannot be desecrated, even if the other party is a hero who saved the imperial capital.
But at this moment——
"In the name of the Saint Laurent family." Saint Laurent VI, who was in his prime, said in a voice as loud as a bell, "I declare that Lynn Bartleron..."
He paused deliberately, and then glanced at the pale-faced nobles before continuing:
"Not guilty!"
These two words were like a spell that unleashed a magic. The Clergy Square and even the entire Grosstin became boiling instantly. The cheers made the water droplets in the fountain tremble, and countless white handkerchiefs were thrown into the air like snowflakes.
Old John knelt on the ground and cried loudly, praising the emperor for his wisdom, and at the same time he was happy for Lynn from the bottom of his heart.
Although he and Lin En had never met before, he avenged his son's murder. To old John, Lin En was his benefactor.
Finally, when everything was settled, a tired smile appeared on Lin En's lips.
Bathed in the cheers of everyone, he walked straight to the viewing area, his steps getting faster and faster.
His sister Eleanor, already in tears, ran towards him with her skirt lifted, along with Afiya, Melanie and the others.
The next moment, everyone hugged each other tightly and cheered for Lin En's survival!
(End of this chapter)
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