"What are they doing here?" On the small square in front of the hostel, I pointed at the clergy who were walking hurriedly on the mountain road and asked Celine in confusion, "What kind of religious activity is going on today? Or is it because of the information we brought about about the heretics? "
Celine was also confused. "Today is not a religious gathering. Also, if it's the heretics... The information we brought shouldn't be that serious. I see that even the Cardinal Bishops have been dispatched. Hmm? It seems that the people gathered here are the bishops who are responsible for deciphering the ancient documents and managing the Holy Relics. The priests who are in charge of the battle don't seem to be doing anything. Did they find a new large-scale relic? "
It seemed that Celine, who had been away from home all year round, did not know much about the happenings in the Holy Capital. At this moment, a young priest who did not seem to have been summoned passed by us (it seemed that he was also going to watch the show?). I stopped him and asked, "Excuse me, what is the commotion going on down there? What's going on today? "
The young priest seemed to know about us. He immediately recognized that the people in front of him were the guests who had come to see the Pope (I think he must have recognized Sandora. This feature was too obvious. The 'glowing ball' was a blank ID card no matter where it was). He smiled and said, "Are you the two guests who just arrived today? The Pope is summoning the holy relics experts. It is said that three days ago, the Deity forge had sent an apocalypse. The Pope urgently summoned everyone to decipher the meaning of the apocalypse. There is a meeting every day. This is the third day. However, I don't know the details. I am in charge of the city defense. "
The 'apocalypse' from the Deity forge? I suddenly remembered the relic that Sandora and I had found at the edge of the galaxy a few days ago. The timing was just right! So, the relic was really the Deity forge? And it could even send a message to the Lost Church on this planet?
There was an 80% to 90% chance that Shadora and I had triggered something while exploring the ruins. However, I didn't know how these members of the Lost God Church, who were trapped in a low-tech society, would respond to such an alarm. Did they still have a usable spaceship?
However, the young priest in front of me really did not know the details. After chatting for a while, he continued to watch the show. Celine, on the other hand, exclaimed, "The apocalypse of the Deity forge? It is said that the last apocalypse related to the Deity forge happened nearly two hundred years ago. I did not expect that I would be caught in such a situation this time. My trip was not in vain. "
This was just a small interlude for the time being. We rested on the Wind Summoner's stone platform for half a day, quietly waiting for nightfall. After dinner (I let Sandora soak her ball in the vegetable soup), a group of clergymen in heavy robes came to receive the visitors. Celine nervously tidied up her black robe. Then, we got on the rune carriage (a magic vehicle that does not need to be pulled by horses, provided by the magic pope) with us to the cathedral. This city built in the mountains was indeed the most precious treasure on the entire planet. I did not know how much manpower and material resources it took for the Lost Church to build such a large complex of buildings in the mountains after they lost their high-tech support. From the high Wind Summoner's stone platform to the cathedral, there was a wide stone road that was almost eight lanes wide. Not to mention, paving the road must have been very difficult.
"Heresy" was of equal importance to the entire Church of Technology and Magic. Therefore, the pope of Technology and the pope of Magic had to deal with this matter together. However, what surprised me was that this meeting was not in front of some solemn pope's throne, nor was it witnessed by a large group of cardinals. Instead, it was in a relatively private environment. After we entered the cathedral, we were directly brought to a small reception room on the second floor of the cathedral. Apart from the three of us, there were only two popes and a few elven bishops present. Since the two popes had personally come to the scene, it could not be said that they did not attach much importance to it. This kind of relatively private small scene was probably a habit of the Church. Anyway, I was quite satisfied with it.
This small reception room was a long oval hall, a bit like the meeting room of some companies on Earth. On the curved walls on both sides of the reception room hung two huge emblems: the symbol of a chain and a gear on the technology side, and the symbol of a hexagram and an eye on the magic side, representing the two major branches of the Lost Church. On the wall facing the door, there were some religious murals that seemed to depict the rise of the Church after the ancient war. Other than that, there were no other decorations. The barely spacious room only had a long square table and a circle of chairs. Even the furniture seemed very simple.
All the guards were chased outside. It seemed that the Pope didn't want news of the heretics to spread, and he wasn't worried that an outsider like me was actually an assassin with a hidden identity. (Actually, I felt that the Sandora ball I was hugging in my arms was like an explosive) When I entered the room, the first thing I noticed was naturally the two Popes who were faintly surrounded by a few Elven bishops. From the emblems on their robes, I could tell their identities. The Pope of Science was a young male Tree Elf. He had a slender body, short emerald green hair, and his face was rather manly, which was rare among the Elves. (It was hard to tell if most of the male Elves were a man or a woman before they opened their mouths. Some of the more powerful ones were so strong that you couldn't even tell them apart after they opened their mouths.) On the other hand, the Magic Pope was a young female Tree Elf. She had a slender body, and she had long green hair. I wasn't sure if I was mistaken … I felt that she looked similar to the Pope of Science, but her face was softer. Could it be that they were siblings?
There wasn't much to introduce about the passersby behind the Pope. There were a total of five Elves. Four of them were old beyond recognition, and the last one was a woman who looked ridiculously young. She seemed to be even younger than the Magic Pope. However, considering that the Pope only had a lifespan of a hundred years, the two Popes were the youngest. Out of the five Elven bishops, three were Tree Elves (including the young one), and the remaining two were of other Elven species. Sandora and I were quite familiar with Tree Elves, so we could tell from the details. The appearance of other Elves among the high-ranking bishops seemed to prove one thing: The Tree Elves weren't the only race that knew of the ancient secrets. Other long-lived races had also participated in the establishment of the church. The decision to abandon civilization was indeed a joint decision of many races.
"Welcome, sisters from afar, and two distinguished adventurers who have made great contributions." The Pope and a few high-ranking bishops took the initiative to welcome us. The one who spoke was the Pope of Science and Technology. "Tonight's meeting might be a bit hasty. After all, you have experienced two days of exhaustion. However, the heretical matter is very serious. I hope you can understand."
Celine hurriedly and respectfully saluted. First, she drew a strange symbol in front of her chest, then bowed to show her respect. Afterwards, she nervously said, "It is my honor to meet the Pope. We … Hey, Mr. Scholar, aren't you going to salute?"
I didn't even think about this matter. At this moment, I was busy studying the mural on the opposite wall to see if there was any information. After hearing what she said, I didn't even react. "What did you say?"
"No need to stand on ceremony. Just treat it as a private meeting." The female Pope smiled and waved her hand. Then, she pulled us to sit at the long table. After everyone sat down, she curiously looked at the Sandora ball who was lying on the table. "This … Is this the Miss Sandora who is said to have suffered from an ancient curse?"
"Yes, Miss Sandora was turned into this by a strange magic when she was exploring an ancient ruin." Celine never forgot to help us find a way to 'remove the curse'. At this moment, she immediately seized the opportunity to mention this matter. "I hope that Your Holiness can help this pair of ill-fated lovers. Miss Sandora hasn't eaten for two years …"
At that moment, my voice went out of tune. "Don't mention this!"
Alright, Celine's concern for Sandora was indeed touching because of a random excuse. However, don't you know that the thing that Sandora ball hates the most right now is the problem of eating? It wasn't easy for me to make her not pay attention to this matter for the past two days. Why did you mention it?
"An ancient magic that turns people into a ball of light?" A High Elf Bishop who was so old that he almost didn't look like a human opened his mouth slowly and hoarsely. His pair of muddy old eyes seemed to flash with light. The long robe with the symbol of a hexagram and an eye on it indicated that this High Elf (not a Tree Elf) was a member of a magic sect. "I don't remember any ancient magic that can turn people into such a curse. However, I have never seen such a life form … Is this really a magic effect?"
"It is indeed like this. If you don't know the reason, then I don't know either." I waved my hand. Then, I confirmed with Sandora through our spiritual connection. "What is going on with those two Popes? Do they really only have a lifespan of a hundred years or do they use the method of reincarnation once every hundred years to maintain their eternal life? "
On the way, I suddenly thought of a situation that could explain the Popes' lifespan of a hundred years. That was to maintain their eternal life through continuous reincarnation. Back in the Gemini Star world, I had seen a similar case where there was indeed a situation where they had to live forever in order to undertake a mission that had to be carried on forever. However, after Sandora scanned the two young Elves' physical and mental condition, she finally rejected this conjecture. "Their souls have never reincarnated. Their bodies are indeed aging rapidly. As Elves, it is only their lifespan that has been drastically shortened."
"What is the reason? Can you find out the 'cause'? "
"I have detected a hidden implanted device in their bodies. This implanted device is connected to the brain and acts on the soul at the same time." Sandora's tone was very serious. "It should be this device that has overly depleted the power of both their body and soul. Only Elves can barely withstand this thing. If it was installed in the body of a short-lived species, I'm afraid that it would only take a few months for a person to be drained dry. It wouldn't be strange for them to die on the spot. However, I don't know why their lifespan was reduced to exactly a hundred years. This device doesn't seem to kill its host at a fixed time. How long the host can live should depend on their own strength. The device only shortens their lifespan … However, these are all details. "
So this was the reason why the previous Popes had such a short lifespan? There was such a thing in their bodies?!
I could not help but look curiously at the two young Elves who looked like brother and sister across the table. From their appearance, there was nothing unusual about them at all. They spoke normally, frowned, and talked with Celine about the heretics. It seemed that the implanted device rooted in their brains did not bring them any pain. However, they should be well aware of what was happening to them. Even if they did not understand the device, they should know that they could only live for a hundred years. For short-lived species, it was a normal lifespan. However, for Elves, it could not even be counted as a newborn cry. They were selected from the list of Saints and put on the Pope's robe. They did not even have the chance to experience life as an Elf before they died. They did not even know who their parents were! What on earth was worth them going to this extent? Was it related to the Heavenly God forging furnace?
The male Pope was very young (especially among the Elves), but he spoke with a steady and reliable tone. His tone was gentle but not exaggerated, and he seemed to be very knowledgeable about the affairs of the Church. He wasn't as young as I had imagined him to be. "It's impossible for so many of them to disappear into thin air. However, they could have used forbidden knowledge to get past the first checkpoint of the encirclement. I have already arranged for the knights and the Commandment Monks to investigate the situation at a few possible gathering points. As long as they are still in this world, they will definitely give themselves away."
"Why is the Technological Revival Party so persistent?" After Celine reported what she knew, she could not help but express her doubts. "They called for alien planets, created flying vehicles, and tried to dig the 'origin device' from deep underground. None of them succeeded. It has proven that they do not have the power to fight against the Church. Why are they still wasting their energy?"
"Maybe our attitude is too gentle?" The female Pope (Magic Pope) shrugged. It seemed that she was more lively than the Technological Pope, and she was also a straightforward person. "After all, they have a lot of history with the Church. However, we still have to suppress them. They do not know anything. They have no idea how dangerous this world is … "
The Technological Pope immediately looked at the straightforward female Pope sternly. "Morning Wind, this is not what we are talking about."
The female Pope named Morning Wind spread out her hands. "I know, brother. Don't be so nervous."
I was stunned. I was just saying it casually. Who would have thought that they were really a brother and sister duo?!
"Pay attention to your identity. Don't call me brother." The Technological Pope looked at his sister sternly again. I immediately thought that his next words would be "You must call me Pope in formal situations." However, the moment he opened his mouth, he said, "You must call me brother!"
"…" Why did I suddenly feel that rather than worrying about the safety of this world, I should be more concerned about whether there was something wrong with these two Popes?
There was only so much that Celine had to report. Very quickly, she explained the entire incident and the situation that she had discovered at the underground hideout. The two Popes looked at each other and nodded. Only then did Morning Wind look at me curiously. "Now, it's time to listen to your … deeds. Mysterious Mr. Scholar, I heard that you and this … Miss Egg courageously chased after a heretic who had a holy outfit for an entire night? This is not something that an ordinary person's courage can achieve. Currently, you are the only two people who have seen the appearance of a heretic with your own eyes. Your information is crucial. "
Sandora's light ball slowly floated up. She had already completed the body scan of the Pope. Furthermore, she had just discovered something very concerning in the underground of the Holy Capital. Now that we had met the person who theoretically knew the secret of this planet, it was time to get down to business.
"We are not talking about the heretic." Sandora's calm yet dignified voice came from the light ball. "What is going on with the technological blockade? Also, the shielding of this world and the strange Deity forge … Which one of you knows about it? "
I glanced at Sandora. Just now, I thought that she would at least set up the atmosphere and find a way to start the conversation. I didn't expect that Her Majesty the Queen was indeed Her Majesty the Queen. Once she started to work, her swift and decisive style immediately showed itself. She was really direct with her questions. The moment she spoke, the four old men at the scene were ready to pull out their guns. How could such sensitive questions be asked directly?
However, Sandora's swift and decisive style saved me a lot of trouble. At least, I didn't have to think about how to explain these annoying questions in order. Celine realized that the atmosphere suddenly became strange. More importantly, she vaguely realized that we seemed to have asked some inconceivable questions. Instantly, she looked at me in surprise. "Mr. Scholar, this is …"
"Don't be nervous. Don't be nervous." I waved my hand at Celine. At the same time, I spoke to the four old Elves who looked like they were about to have a heart attack. "We are not the party of technological revival. Our composition is much more complicated than theirs. Where should I start … Celine, why don't you leave first?"
Celine was just a very ordinary grassroots member. She wouldn't be of much use here. Instead, she might make it difficult for the Pope and the few Archbishops to speak up. So, it was better to ask her to leave. However, it was obvious that the people at the other side hadn't thought of this. An Archbishop with a beard that almost reached his chest stood up shakily. "Celine is a member of my church. As for the two of you … I don't think you are the so-called adventurers or scholars, right?"
"Are you sure you can let Celine listen in here?" These past few years, I had faced this kind of situation often, so I didn't have the slightest bit of stage fright. In any case, before the other side's imagination ran wild, it was definitely not a bad thing to throw out a bunch of information first. Those who were confused were the easiest to talk to. "Then I'll say it. There is a space base at the edge of the Milky Way Galaxy. This universe is sealed by something. All or some of you are from other universes. As far as I know, at least the Tree Elves came from the Empire District. The God of Science and Technology and the God of Magic are actually …"
The four old men at the other side (it seems that at least the four oldest Archbishops knew about this) immediately spoke in unison. "Celine! Leave first! "
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