Volume 3: Artifacts Chapter 101: Cleansing
Qingkong's words opened up another line of thought for Theresa, and she began to seriously consider the responsibilities she should bear.
Having stayed in Saint Lun City for such a long time, this Holy Judge Angel was able to step out of the Sky City circle and examine the problems of the angels from a third-party perspective.
The Archangel and Archangel Gold could see that the rule of the Shining Gold People had left an indelible mark on the angel civilization. They wanted to return to the era when they once lived in peace with the world and turn the angels' "justice" into romance bestowed upon the world.
The Archangels, led by the Sword of Oath, are trapped in the trauma of the ancient war. Although the war has ended for a thousand years, the extremes of "authority" and "justice" have made their hearts still trapped in the battlefield. They are idols to be worshipped by young angels, which has created the overall atmosphere of the current Sky City. Even the Archangel can only compromise to a certain extent.
As the World Tree revived, the artifacts were revealed, the source of divine power was in turmoil, and the conflicts in the secular world became increasingly intensified, it seemed to be foreshadowing the resurgence of a new all-out war. The contradictions that had been suppressed in Sky City naturally emerged, and the assassination of Archangel Elzer by a Holy Judgement Angel brought this contradiction to the surface.
Theresa has always believed that she is on the side of the Sword of Oath, but now she is wavering in her position.
The first thing Theresa felt was fear!
I was actually questioning the Sword of Oath and the beliefs I had been holding on to since joining the Holy Inquisition.
I actually had the idea of changing the Holy Inquisition!
“Miss Qingkong, this may be the way the secular world solves the problem, but I cannot accept it.” Theresa took a deep breath to calm her restlessness. “For the angels, my change is also a pollution to them. I am no longer like a real angel. Before I figure out my change, I bring the ideas I have learned here into the Sky City. I wonder what kind of impact it will have.
It seems that I am not suitable to compete for the Archangel. I should continue to stay in the temple of Saint Lun City and figure out what is wrong with me... This is what I should do. "
Theresa's answer was beyond Qingkong's expectations. She thought Theresa would compete for the archangel after hearing what she said, but she didn't expect that her ideological awareness was so high.
"You have such an idea, which shows that human civilization has indeed had a great impact on you. It is a subversive change compared to when you directly led the angels to descend on Saint Lun City and surround the palace." Qingkong did not continue to persuade Theresa to return to Sky City. Anyway, the fire had been started, and it would not have much impact without her.
Hearing Qingkong mention the embarrassing things she had done, Theresa couldn't help but laugh: "I used to be arrogant and ignorant, looking at today's human civilization with the eyes of a thousand years ago. The more I understand you now, the more I think how ridiculous the scenery at that time was. At that time, Queen Christina and Princess Agatha looked at me with surprise instead of fear, right?"
The atmosphere became relaxed as Theresa laughed at herself.
Qingkong also laughed: "I was very surprised, but I was also afraid. That's why so many extraordinary projects were specially approved for implementation. The Empire's Golden Shield Warriors and the extraordinary warriors jointly developed by Oulu Academy and the Moonlight Royal Court have all made major breakthroughs.
The Magic Titan independently developed by Raging Waves City has proven its combat effectiveness in the Emerald Forest.
We should thank you. Without that stimulus, these studies that require large investments and collaboration from multiple departments would probably take a long time to coordinate before they can be launched."
Theresa’s smile instantly turned into a wry one.
"I don't know if I have created a strong enemy for Sky City. Let me tell you one thing. Sky City is also forming a Legion of Heroes. I hope we won't be enemies in the future."
Qingkong said jokingly, "I know that Sky City is forming a Heroic Spirit Corps. Meteorite told me that Raging Waves City has received many orders for building Heroic Spirit Armaments. Raging Waves City is working overtime to produce them and ensure that they are delivered to you on time with guaranteed quality and quantity."
Theresa was a little dumbfounded: "Meteorite knows that those are the components of the Heroic Spirit Armor? How is this possible! I clearly placed the order anonymously, and the components were split up and given to different alchemical product manufacturing factories for production.
This can also be seen!"
Qingkong drank the tea and said, "Theresa, you still have a lot to learn in Saint Lun City. Even if there is a war in the future, it will definitely not be the ancient war you know. It is more complicated.
Politics, economy, military, intelligence, technology, public opinion... all known and unknown fields will become battlefields for competition. The establishment of the Heroic Spirit Legion by Sky City only strengthened its military strength, and it was far behind the Shining Gold People in other aspects.
I dare to assert that if the angels and the shining gold people were to fight now, the winner would still be the shining gold people. "
Theresa asked vigilantly: "Now that the Golden Shield Empire has challenged the Shining Gold People, does it mean that you think the Golden Shield Empire is also stronger than Sky City?"
"Let me correct you... The Golden Shield Empire did not challenge the Golden People. The Golden Shield Empire only challenged the World Bank. These are two different concepts. Now the main confrontation is economic, supplemented by military.
The Saint-Lun City branch of the Oulu College is preparing to start an elective course in political economy, inviting imperial economists and some officials to give detailed explanations of current affairs. My original intention was to let my students know more about current affairs. If you are interested in this course, you can sign up for it. "
Hearing that Qingkong actually invited her to attend the class, Theresa thought about it seriously and said, "Okay, I'll take it! When does this elective course start?"
"Soon, I will send someone to deliver the course schedule to the temple. If you are still interested in military affairs and intelligence, I can ask the Prime Minister of Meteoric Star to give you a few auditing places at the Imperial Military Academy and the Intelligence Department of the Secret Service.
Your angels are just sitting there doing nothing, so why not learn something? Once you have figured out your identity, you may be able to rely on your current team to return to Sky City and turn the tide at a critical moment!"
Theresa looked at the clear sky with a very strange expression.
"Do you want to use human civilization to influence me more deeply?"
Qingkong said indifferently: "Angels have proven that romantic justice without the support of force is a castle in the air that can be destroyed at any time; now authoritarian justice is more like the remnant of colonial thought. Fallen angels are either white or black, and completely abandoning justice is obviously not a path that angels can accept; hunting angels is even more unacceptable.
In my opinion, the angels have not yet found a path that belongs to them. Malus realized this, so he cherished every minute to absorb every bit of knowledge he could see. He broke his wings in thought and truly completed his self- transformation , which is also what you think of as pollution, and his purpose is to find a suitable position for the angels. I think he will become a great philosopher, but he does not have the conditions to become a leader..."
"I regret coming to see you this time!" The belief that had just stabilized was shaken again, and Theresa said angrily: "You make me don't know what I am now!"
Qingkong asked: "Are you still taking these classes?"
"superior!"
"Then pay the tuition!"
Theresa walked out of the museum holding a handful of payment receipts. She looked back at the building full of retro atmosphere and couldn't help but smile bitterly.
Taking this step, I don’t know what the future holds.
Perhaps what happened to the fallen angels is their own end.
It’s better... I might as well go back to Sky City and fight for the Archangel!
Theresa, dressed in human clothes, got on the carriage. She was going back to the cathedral to arrange for the angels to report to various schools.
Qingkong stood by the window, watching the church's carriage go away, and planted a seed in a flowerpot.
I don’t know what kind of fruit it will bear.
Suddenly, a large number of Secret Service cars whizzed past on the street outside. The vicious Imperial agents quickly blocked the street and occupied the high ground. Someone held a loudspeaker and ordered everyone to leave the street immediately...
Qingkong called Jennifer, "The Secret Service is going to arrest someone! Close all the doors and windows of the museum, set up a barrier, and keep an eye on the children. No one is allowed to go out, and no one is allowed to come in!"
"Yes, Miss Clear Sky!"
The museum was completely closed for a short period of time.
Saint-London City.
Under the long-planned plan of the Imperial Secret Service, the Imperial Secret Service completed the city-wide martial law in a very short time. The roads were completely blocked, and the citizens were either confined to their homes or found places to be confined on the spot.
The next step is to arrest people.
The target was a force that was preparing to obstruct the new emperor's coronation during the celebrations. The Secret Service had already identified the mastermind, along with those who had been recruited to cause trouble and sabotage, and they were all surrounded by Imperial agents in their residences.
Brief battles broke out in some places, but the rebels were quickly suppressed by well-prepared Imperial agents.
One by one, the criminals walked out of the house under the escort of the Imperial spies, got into the prepared prison van, and drove to the headquarters of the Imperial Secret Service.
It was close to the celebration, and all the people who needed to be arrested were concentrated in the imperial capital, so the Imperial Secret Service only took less than a day to complete the suppression and arrest. The blockade was lifted in the evening, as if nothing had happened.
In the dungeon of the Imperial Secret Service headquarters, the darkness and strong smell of blood added to the terrifying atmosphere.
Because there are many more prisoners today, some of whom have special identities, so a lot of guards have been specially added.
The prisoners were very restless. They cursed loudly, held badges and other symbols to reveal their identities, and demanded that the spy release them immediately, otherwise they would...
Some even revealed their royal identities: "I am the nephew of Emperor Augustine. Your Secret Service's duty is to protect the royal family! Let me out now! I want to see Her Royal Highness the Princess and His Royal Highness Alex!"
"Have you, the Secret Service, gone mad? Are you planning a rebellion? You even dared to arrest Lord Gabriel, the former Prime Minister of the Empire!
Let Meteorite come! I want to ask him face to face what crime we have committed and why the Secret Service arrested us! "
Gabriel, the former Prime Minister of the Empire, sat in the corner of a cell. He remained silent, allowing others to make noise there, as calm as if he was not in prison, but in his own home.
After a while, a group of imperial agents walked out of the cell. They opened the door and violently pressed everyone else against the wall.
An inspector walked up to Gabriel and saluted politely: "Lord Gabriel, Her Royal Highness the Princess wants to see you!"
Gabriel looked up at the spies, then stood up. He patted the wrinkles and straw on his clothes, stretched out his hand and said to the inspector: "Take me to see Her Royal Highness the Princess!"
At this time, Agatha was sitting in the dungeon interrogation room. The light from the overhead chandelier shone on her face, making the intelligence chief's cruelty even more apparent.
Gabriel was brought in by the spy in handcuffs and leg irons.
"Please take a seat, Gabriel."
Gabriel sat down opposite the interrogation table. He placed the chains heavily on the iron table and asked, "Agatha! Which imperial law have I violated that you treat me and those officials and nobles who have dedicated their lives to the empire like this!
We are all trusted ministers of Emperor Augustine. Are you going to persecute us just to steal the empire?"
Seeing that Gabriel was still stubborn, Agatha took out a stack of documents and threw them in front of him.
"Gabriel, these are the charges against you that the Imperial Secret Service has collected during your time as an official of the Empire and as Prime Minister.
These include but are not limited to bribery, favoritism, sheltering, persecution, embezzlement of other people's property and murder. My father knew all these crimes, but he still protected you..."
Without waiting for Agatha to finish, Gabriel shouted excitedly: "It is because Your Majesty protects me that I will offer all my loyalty to Your Majesty. I absolutely cannot bear to see Your Majesty's empire being stolen by you, not to mention that you are all suspected of regicide!
Agatha, you have been blinded by the falling star!
You are handing over the Augustine family empire to him with your own hands!
Now is the last chance to save the empire... Let us out, and we will crown you the empress of the empire."
Agatha said calmly, "Gabriel, we did not commit regicide. It was our father who chose death. Meteor once proposed that I ascend the throne as queen, but I refused, so we chose Queen Christina."
Gabriel said excitedly: "If you don't want to ascend the throne as empress, you can let your brother, His Royal Highness Alex, be the emperor of the empire. Queen Christina is just a puppet of Meteorite. Can't you see that?"
"Let Alex ascend the throne as emperor?" Agatha sneered, "Does the empire want to continue to support vampires like you?
Each of you only seeks profit for yourselves and your families. How many of you have the empire in your heart? "
Gabriel retorted: "Isn't Meteorite also trying to make a profit for himself? Look at the court now, it's all his people!"
Agatha shook her head and smiled bitterly: "You people are selfish and think that everyone in the world is the same as you. Talking about ideals with you will make me look like a fool.
I met you this time just to give you one last chance. After all, you did contribute to the rise of the empire.
Confess your guilt, and you and most others can return to your hometown alive."
Gabriel looked at the charges in front of him and said with a smile, "Your Highness, I have been the Prime Minister for so many years, but you can't just convict me casually. You have accused me of so many crimes, can you provide evidence?"
Agatha put away her smile and said, "Gabriel, I've given you the chance, but you don't cherish it... Don't blame me!"
Gabriel's expression changed: "Agatha, what do you want to do? I am..."
Before Gabriel could finish his words, the spy behind him inserted a needle into his neck artery. As the liquid was injected, Gabriel quickly lowered his head.
Agatha waved her hand: "Take it away and replace it with the next one!"
