Chapter 554 Remember to Save Me
Although Aiwass couldn't be sure at the moment whether the person who stole the experimental sample was planning to assassinate the Pure White Saint during the Pope's promotion ceremony; nor was he sure how much this matter was related to Cardinal Loki and Professor Moriarty...
But he was sure of one thing at least.
——That person had obvious ill will towards the Pure White Saint.
When Janice realized this, she became visibly furious. "I'm going to find His Holiness the Pope—when did the Theocracy become a place where such scheming people can flourish?"
Despite being under constant pressure from the Pure White Saint, he was even scared to the point of running around and not daring to go home.
But when Janice realized that Gray was really in danger, she made no secret of her anger and anxiety.
"I'm sorry."
Aiwass shook his head and replied, "These monsters and demons suddenly appeared after His Holiness the Pope fell into a deep sleep."
"...Can't you wake him up?"
"It's the kind of deep sleep from which one cannot be awakened. Of course, you could also call it a coma."
Aiwass glanced at the people present and decided to speak frankly: "His Holiness the Pope's tree-like condition has begun to worsen. I wonder how long he can hold out."
"Why are you all so close together..."
Janice frowned. "That's bad. If the Pope isn't here... then I'm afraid the other cardinals won't move either."
"If all these things hadn't happened at the same time, I'm sure these people wouldn't have dared to move at all."
Freya on the side said softly.
Sherlock agreed, "That's right. If these accidents hadn't happened, then what's happening now probably wouldn't have happened. I guess the Eternal Theocracy has always been like this. That's why it's... 'eternal'. Heh."
It wasn't because things were always peaceful and beautiful inside, but because any signs of chaos and trouble were nipped in the bud. And when trouble arose at the top, it immediately exposed the problem.
"There are more than twenty cardinals in the Theocracy. Is there no one else who can take charge?"
Lily said subconsciously.
"I'm afraid not."
Aiwass thought about the subsequent plot development and shook his head.
Lily still instinctively regarded the cardinals of the Theocracy as the ministers of Avalon.
But the Theocracy is not a monarchical political structure.
"It is true, Lily. The Theocracy does not possess a clear and unified source of political power."
Freya spoke, explaining in words Lily could understand: "The Theocracy is not a state where the Candlelighter grants power to the Pope and the Pope governs the Theocracy. The highest power of the Theocracy itself comes from the Eternal Pope.
"In other words, the center of power in the Theocracy lies in these fifth-level cardinals. Each of them is in charge of a "diocese," responsible for the various facilities within that circle. The Pope is also a bishop, and therefore in charge of the twenty-second circle.
“It is precisely because these cardinals are also cardinals of the Ennead Church and obey the Pope within the church that the Pope has the right to rule over the theocracy.
"All of them are top-level transcendents at the fifth level of the Path of Devotion, and the Pope walks ahead of them all. Just as the person who travels the furthest in the dream world is a Pillar God, the Pope has become the protector and leader of all."
"But in reality, the Pope never had the power to rule the entire Theocracy. The only area under the Pope's direct control was the 22nd Ring; the Pope's sole responsibility was to communicate with all residents of all rings and to provide energy to the giant tree."
"...Doesn't that mean," Lily's eyes widened, "that the Theocracy will eventually even split apart because of this?"
"From a historical perspective," Freya explained, "the Theocracy has always been divided. It's effectively a union of twenty-two overlapping city-states. Since the founding of the Church, the rulers of these twenty-two federations have coincidentally been part of the same organization. Therefore, the cardinals have no affiliation with one another, and their powers are not mutually exclusive."
"In the final analysis," Janice replied softly, "we elves are ultimately the children of the Great Tree. Even though the Church of the Nine Pillars now honors Candlestick, and Candlestick is willing to protect the Church... the Church's 'land' actually belongs to the 'Great Tree.' After all, these are its remains, and it is its right to dispose of them. We still use the Great Tree's remains, so we must respect its rules.
"As the apostle of the Candle Master, the Giant Tree personally set the rule that only devotees of at least the fifth level can control a ring, and each person can only control one ring."
"Why is that?"
Hearing this, Aiwass suddenly understood why Sizhu remained silent when the Theocracy split.
So he asked, "Why did they merge later?"
"Because although the Great Tree is an ancient god, it is enlightened and gentle. It hopes that the principles of devotion will be divergent, developing, and innovative."
Janice sighed, "Then we have to start from the very beginning... I'm afraid there's no such knowledge in your human history books. This is already considered secret knowledge, a story from before the setting of the second sun.
"When the elves first emerged, they weren't actually unified. Back then, the elves were known as the 'Hundred Sons of the Great Tree,' and the theocracy was known as the 'Ten Thousand Nations of the Great Tree.' Not only was each layer independent, but even many of the circles had yet to produce fifth-level devotees.
"Since the birth of the Church of the Nine Pillars, the Theocracy underwent several civil wars before finally being united. However, division is its original form... Therefore, if the Theocracy were to split again, some conservative traditionalists might actually be happy.
"Take Cardinal Loki as an example: as long as he hasn't completely lost his power, it means he hasn't strayed from the path of devotion in his heart, and he still has control over the circle. Therefore, whatever actions he chooses to take, even with 'Controlled Fire,' is his personal freedom. Because he is the master of the 'Controlled Fire' sect."
Sherlock on the side understood.
The theocracy is actually a religious sect, and each cardinal is a faction.
The power of the theocracy does not belong to anyone, but is first come, first served - and qualification is determined solely by the resonance of the Tao.
If the path itself recognizes this idea, even if others do not, it only means that this is a "niche path of dedication."
Judging from the height of the giant tree, He does not want this possibility to disappear.
He hopes that competition and coexistence can lead to more possibilities, rather than stagnation...
“… Stagnation?”
Sherlock murmured, catching a glimpse of inspiration.
From this perspective, perhaps the current form of the "Theocracy" is what the giant tree dislikes...
“When there is pressure from the Pope, the path chosen by the Pope is the highest and only correct direction of the ‘path of devotion’.
"But since all cardinals are fifth-level transcendents, they must have their own thoughts and opinions. Now that the Pope is silent, they can also explain the path they follow... and preach. And from the very beginning, this has been allowed by the Pope."
Janice said seriously, "Because from the very beginning, the Theocracy has made it impossible to 'kill' other minds."
Aiwass also understood.
The reason why in his impression, after the Pope fell into a coma and the Theocracy was completely divided, these cardinals all looked crazy with their faces... was because they were all in an excited state and were recruiting people for their own paths and ideas.
"There's so much going on right now, so many clues. It's getting late... Time is running out, so let's split up our investigation tomorrow. If you have no objections, please let me take command for now."
Aiwass calmly analyzed: "Lily, you and Sister Freya go find Mr. Oswald."
"Oswald? Which...? Oh!"
Freya was stunned for a moment, then managed to recall the name: "Mr. Oswald is also in the Theocracy now!"
"Yes."
Aiwass nodded.
He remembered that Oswald had been a member of the Pope's guard and might have had a close relationship with the Pope.
Maybe he knows some secrets.
Furthermore, if Professor Moriarty returned, he would likely contact Oswald. Having Lily and Freya, two people who knew Oswald well, contact him would increase the likelihood of obtaining useful information, and Oswald wouldn't hesitate to speak up.
"Sherlock, please go find Mr. Yunus first. I can only leave the matter over there to you for now."
"Leave it to me with confidence."
Sherlock leaned against the wall with his arms folded.
He replied calmly, his words full of confidence.
As Isabel's father, Yunus also has to deal with the troubles he encounters. He knows Yunus's true identity - letting others go may not pay enough attention, but Sherlock will definitely protect Yunus.
"What about us?"
Yanis asked.
"It just so happens that the Pure White Saint will come to chat with you tomorrow. You can tell her about your current troubles as well."
Aiwass mentioned, "Also, Master Janice, you can ask her if Aiwass still has any dates. If she says yes, you can introduce her to Freya and bring some dates back for her to study."
"Okay, I'll remember that."
Janice nodded, then asked, "What about you? Where are you planning to go?"
"I want to go see Cardinal Loki again alone."
Aiwass said in a deep voice, "Perhaps there are some things he can't say in front of you. So I'll go there myself."
"This is dangerous, Aiwass!"
The first one to object was Freya: "According to what you said, Cardinal Loki might be the mastermind behind this."
Lily also looked at Aiwass worriedly, but she did not object.
"That's why I'm telling you this here."
Ai Hua said calmly: "If I don't come back soon... everyone remember to save me.
"—I'm not the type to investigate alone without telling anyone where I'm going."
As he said this, Aiwass glared at Sherlock.
Sherlock in the original timeline disappeared for this reason.
Sherlock tilted his head, somewhat confused: "Are you talking about me?"
"Just think of it as you."
Aiwass was too lazy to explain.
(End of this chapter)
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