In the quiet coffee shop, a faint roar came from afar.
The customers in their seats looked up anxiously, but they couldn't see anything. The street was quiet.
The patrolling guards politely told the people who asked for help that it was just a small matter and would be resolved soon. They asked everyone to stay where they were and not to panic or run.
Soon, a waiter with a plate politely handed out verification bracelets and the nearest fallout shelter map to every customer. The unhurried and well-prepared appearance successfully calmed some people.
"Sir, your bracelets and map."
When the waiter came to the corner, he saw the person sitting on the chair.
The skinny man had his back to the door and looked down at the chessboard in front of him.
Unfortunately, no one came to play with him.
Cracks gradually appeared on the broken chess pieces on the chessboard. Just as the waiter approached, the last two chess pieces fell apart.
Strangely, there seemed to be only one side of the glass pieces on the chessboard, and all of them were chariots and bishops.
Only the lonely king was still in the hands of the player.
When the player was focused, there seemed to be some strange magic that made the surroundings quiet and undisturbed.
The waiter stood hesitantly on the side and didn't know if he should speak. He raised his head.
The two blue eyes in the deep eye sockets moved nimbly, and the waiter couldn't help but take a step back.
Being stared at by the skinny man was like being stared at by something bad. It made people's hair stand on end. But his voice was low and magnetic, making people feel close and trustworthy.
"What's the matter?" he asked.
The waiter hesitated and handed over the things on the plate, "This is your verification bracelet and the nearest fallout shelter map. If anything happens, you can go there immediately."
"I will."
He smiled at the waiter and emphasized again, "I will."
His smile was kind and kind, making people feel at ease. The waiter couldn't help but smile and leave in a happy mood.
He was left alone in front of the silent chessboard, deep in thought.
Until in his hand, the piece that represented the king also showed a tragic mark.
In a trance, there seemed to be a wail from afar.
"The wail of the ruler?"
He whispered, "It seems to be no different from the voice of the ruled."
"Don't you feel pity? Mr. Morando. "
Across from him, on the empty seat, came a low and elegant voice with a reserved Roman accent.
The phantom-like middle-aged man held an exquisite cane in his hand and was dressed in formal attire. His slightly white sideburns were neatly arranged and his long hair was combed to the back of his head.
He asked curiously, "Or rather, the superior you believe in has met a tragic end. Don't you feel a little guilty for standing by and doing nothing?"
"Guilty? Why? "
Morando asked, "Because of my former beliefs?"
"Exactly." The elegant man nodded.
"I think you're mistaken about one thing, Mr. Mathers."
Morando shook his head slightly and smiled mockingly. "From the very beginning, things like faith have always been a sneaky exchange for humans. It can't be said to be equal, nor can it be called fair."
"With just verbal praise, you want to be safe; with just a little money, you want to live a long life; with just a little bit of devotion, you want to go to heaven. Isn't this a joke?"
"It doesn't matter if the object of faith comes from heaven or the abyss. It doesn't matter if the other party promises paradise or hell. It doesn't even matter if those promises have the possibility of being realized, whether it is the truth or a lie."
He said firmly, "The so-called faith is the shameless greed of the weak. It is a kind of begging and a kind of luck in the face of fear."
Speaking of his own opinion so frankly, he asked seriously, "Since I already don't know shame, why should I feel ashamed?"
Mathers raised his eyebrows slightly. "Then, do you hate faith?"
"No, it's the opposite. I thirst for faith, more than anyone else! Because I know my own weakness and incompetence, and I also know my own limitations. "
Morando told him seriously, "I want faith. I want to have a faith full of power. So, I will believe in whoever gives me power. It's that simple. "
Mathers seemed to be stunned.
He looked at his collaborator in front of him with slight astonishment. After a long time, he sighed in admiration. "Let's not talk about whether your words are reasonable or not. After so many years, it is really rare to meet someone as magnanimous as you."
"Is this not good?" Morando asked. "Or is it that this kind of naked shamelessness is too disgusting?"
"No, I think this is more pleasant."
Mathers leaned closer with his cane and laughed softly. "A long time ago, the priests who preached would say that a long time ago, humans lived in a beautiful heaven and followed the orders of God. They lived a carefree life, but they were not allowed to eat the fruit on the tree. Do you know why?"
"I would like to hear the details."
"Because only the sinful who ate the apple know shame," Mathers said.
Mathers said, "Shame is something prepared for those who have sinned. Those who have true faith will only look down on it and scoff at it."
Morando laughed. "Do you think I'm innocent, Mr. Mathers?"
"No, it would be better to say that you and I are the kind of people who have committed the most heinous crimes, right?" Mathers shook his head. "How can there be a pure and righteous person like you and me who would fall into the abyss with hands full of blood?"
"Then what is the meaning of this story?"
"If you want to find meaning, then it can only explain one thing."
Mathers laughed mockingly.
"From the beginning, the so-called faith is a lie."
* Boom! *
A low and loud sound came from afar.
In Morando's hand, a crack appeared on the crystal king's chess piece again. Faint ink appeared from within and flowed out from the king's face.
It was like blood.
"The king is about to die."
Mathers raised his hand and opened his palm. A blood-red chess piece slowly appeared between his five fingers. It was a chess piece with a holy crown on its head, a pure white robe on its body, and a rose rosary in its hand. Its face was impressively that of Morando's.
"I think it's time for you to appear."
He slowly got up and placed the chess piece in Morando's hand. He bent down and whispered softly in his ear, "The last 'bishop'."
"I will."
Morando calmly closed his five fingers and asked again, "What about you?"
"Hmm?" The middle-aged gentleman who was about to leave stopped and looked back in confusion.
"You don't plan to appear on the chessboard?"
Mathers laughed. He took off the round top hat on the hanger and put it on his white hair. "For a chess player, there is no need to put any representative on the chessboard, right?"
Morando did not speak again.
Mathers nodded and turned to leave.
When he passed by the seat by the window, his footsteps paused slightly. He seemed to unintentionally look down.
On the seat was a haggard man with dark circles under his eyes. He wore an inconspicuous gray suit and was frowning as he drank black coffee without sugar.
He looked up at Mathers, and Mathers looked back at him.
The two calmly retracted their gazes and continued to go their separate ways.
Just like back then.
.
.
Twenty minutes ago, on the surface of the sea outside the Stellaris, the wind was calm and the waves were eerily silent.
Far away on the border of London, in the heavily guarded headquarters of the Astronomical Society, after going through double identity and password verification on the sixteenth floor underground, they transferred to a specialized elevator. After going through another Origin Substance comparison, the old elevator began to carry the passengers down again.
It went straight down, and then down again.
Overhead Floor, L8.
The iron bars of the elevator slowly opened. A middle-aged man in a gray maintenance uniform walked out and heard the music from the old television.
There was a cold pizza on the reception table at the door, but there was no one on the chair.
Until the low sound of the toilet flushing came from the cubicle. An old security guard with a big belly walked out. He shook his legs and returned to his seat.
"Application report?"
He flipped through the document the middle-aged man handed over and compared the signature on it. He took out a registration book and signed it. Finally, he picked up a pen and ticked it. He pulled open a drawer and took out a bunch of keys. He stood up and said, "Follow me."
The door leading to the warehouse was opened.
There was no smell of dust in the air. The good ventilation system maintained a constant temperature. There wasn't even any smell of mold.
It was just pure. There was no smell at all.
No sound could be heard.
There was only the crisp sound of leather boots stepping on the floor, gradually going deeper.
In the end, they stopped in front of a huge square cabinet. The guard compared the number on the dustproof cloth and nodded.
"[Serial Item TS-7767]. This is it." He turned around and asked, "Do you need to use it here? Or take it away? "
The middle-aged worker in a gray maintenance uniform replied, "No, take it away."
"Who's going to use it?" The guard asked, "Do you need my help?"
"Yes."
"Then wait for a moment."
The fat guard stretched out his hand and tore off the dust-proof cloth, revealing a well-kept giant globe underneath. It was about the height of an ordinary person and was fixed between four layers of brass tracks. However, in addition to the latitude, longitude, and the common meridian lines, there was a new scale, which made it hard to understand.
Next to the globe was a small stove and crucible, as well as a sealed jar of animal fat.
Soon, the fire burned from the stove, and the fat in the crucible melted from the heat, turning into a clear liquid.
After another three minutes, the fat boiled and glowed with a flame-like color.
The fat guard picked up the pliers and set up the crucible full of boiling fat. He walked to the ladder next to the globe and climbed up the ladder with some difficulty.
"Coordinates?"
"East of the Asian region, south of the Cyboris Sea."
The middle-aged worker looked down at the data on the signature board and reported, "Longitude 124.35946 … Latitude 2.7653475 … Depth 1.95."
"Time?"
"In three seconds."
So, after three seconds, the boiling fat was poured on the coordinates of the globe. Like an illusion, it disappeared without a trace.
It was done.
The fat guard climbed down with difficulty and shook hands with the middle-aged worker. After signing two words, he packed up everything, returned the ladder to its original position, and covered it with a dustproof cloth.
Finally, he left the warehouse and closed the door. After watching the visitor leave, the fat guard returned to his chair and continued to eat the cold pizza.
Melodious music came from the TV.
A new program was about to start.
.
.
At the same time, on the endless sea.
The sky was broken.
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