Lu Mingfei Development Program

Chapter 550 The Eve of Advent
The elevator door opened again, and the sudden cold air made César tighten his clothes. Franco beside him looked a little depressed, as decadent as a fanatic who had lost the chance to go to heaven.

Xizel took him out of the mechanical temple roughly. He wanted to let him stay in the place where he could devote the rest of his life. But Xizel didn't listen to him. He took him out of the underground mechanical temple with brute force that didn't match his thin body.

When César stepped in, the metal rock walls retreated like soldiers, and gathered again after he left. Franco could only watch helplessly, and has been decadent until now, as if there is nothing left in his life that is worth his passion.

César took the cloak handed to him by the soldier at the door, put it on, and walked into the cold rainy night.

Unlike the boring metallic underground temple, the surface world is so gorgeous. The prosperous city is so brightly lit by the advanced steam technology that it seems to even illuminate the sky.

Such luxury is unimaginable even for several major countries in the Western camp. In Florence, it seems that even the air is filled with the taste of luxury, worthy of the name of the kingdom of God on earth.

There was no way to confirm changes in the weather in Florence's underground facilities. Although it was raining when César entered the underground, it was not as heavy or dark as it is now.

He looked up, and the rain mixed with the smell of ice and snow hit his face. Dense and dark clouds covered the sky above the city, like a crawling giant beast, making it difficult for him to breathe.

Even without the warning from the huge metal heart underground, he could sense the abnormality of the sky. Something powerful enough to change the weather was about to descend upon Florence.

"Devil, how long will it take for that thing to arrive?" Riding on the Stein motorcycle, the blade-like light pierced through the rain and fog. The Stein motorcycle tore through the rain and headed towards the brightly lit Florence at full speed.

In his mind, Lu Mingfei said: "It has suffered a lot of damage, and is not in a perfect state both physically and mentally, and is now being chased by my companions."

In his explanation, the attacker was not in a good situation. But if that was the case, the metal heart underground would not have been so cautious to let him leave in time.

After a pause, Lu Mingfei continued: "...However, this world is his home, and because of a certain dead guy, he probably learned some dirty tricks."

There were some things in what he said that César could not understand, but he also understood that the newcomer was not easy to deal with and would use dirty tricks.

There was one more thing Lu Mingfei did not explain, and he did not mention the huge metal heart underground, but Xizel knew that with the guard force of the Papal States, they might not be able to fight against that guy, and they might not even be able to defend themselves.

……

Canterbury Castle was once one of the most famous mansions in Florence, but that was three years ago. Three years have made this mansion deserted. After all the valuables in the house were stolen, even thieves are unwilling to patronize here anymore.

However, a few days ago, the owner of this deserted mansion returned quietly, and the dilapidated walls and iron gates were repaired.

The dense weeds in the house were removed, and the guards with muskets walked in the rainy courtyard. The arrival of the Pope's Guards and the scorching iron cavalry hidden in the woods, puffing out steam, made all those who had their eyes on this place leave on their own accord.

The roar of the heavy machine was so piercing in the dark night with noisy rain, and the light piercing through the rain curtain approached quickly. Before the guards could react, the heavy machine suddenly lifted up, flew over the towering iron gate, landed on the gravel road that was not suitable for speeding, and still rushed towards the courtyard behind the forest at full speed.

The Seraphim Iron Cavalry in the forest immediately stood up. The guards in the courtyard raised their muskets to give a warning, then immediately put them down. The Seraphim Iron Cavalry in the forest also hid again.

"Major." The guards of the Pope's Palace saluted César.

Major was César's rank in the military three years ago, when he was only sixteen years old. The young age of officers was a characteristic of the Papal States, and the nobles sent their children to the army early to serve as secretaries or adjutants.

But César is different, or rather, the ranks of all armored knights who can control Seraph are different. Three years ago, Rundstedt's rank was already Lieutenant Colonel, and he was only two years older than César.

Although César has not yet been reinstated by the military, and even has few daily clothes, he can only wear school uniforms when he goes to the Sistine Chapel. However, this does not prevent everyone from knowing that he will eventually return to the military.

After getting off the heavy machine, he took off his soaked cloak and handed it to the guard, then came to the door of the main building with an expressionless face. Before entering the door, he looked at his clothes, and there was nothing unusual except that they were a little wet when he hurried back.

Archbishop Cicero died of shock and had no external injuries, so Cesare didn't have to worry about getting blood on his clothes.

But Adele was a smart girl, and Césaire didn't know if anyone had told her what happened in the Sistine Chapel, but Adele might be able to guess something from her attitude.

César didn't want his sister to know about some dark things in this city.

After opening the door, the warm light made Cesar, who was cold, relax a little. A smile appeared on his expressionless face, so as not to scare the girls with his scary expression.

The girls were waiting around the long dining table. There was a sumptuous dinner on the table, but it was untouched, as if they were waiting for the owner of the house to come back.

When Bea, the head maid of Canterbury Castle, saw him, she immediately exclaimed, "...Sir, I'll get you a towel right away!"

Aristocratic families always have beautiful maids, but the maids in Canterbury Castle are a little too beautiful. Although she wears the common maid uniforms of aristocratic families and her family background is not noble, Bi'er does not feel inferior.

She didn't have any special temperament, but she had the courage to be a pawn and finally become the queen. This was also the reason why she was willing to stay in Canterbury Castle and become a maid.

"No, it will get wet again soon." Xizel asked Bi'er to come over, and the two girls at the long table also stood up together.

Adele and Anne looked at Cesar, whose hair was soaked but who was smiling gently, with both surprise and confusion. They were surprised that he came back for dinner, and they were confused because they both noticed his uneasiness.

As a survivor of the Marston incident and a classmate and friend of Cesare, Anne was asked to stay in Florence as one of the witnesses. Minet was also asked to stay, but he accepted the Pope's suggestion and moved to another place, saying that it would be embarrassing for a boy to be among girls.

Anne was somewhat surprised by the life in Florence, which was indeed a fashionable city. Many things that she had only heard of in Marston opened her eyes. But after the initial novelty wore off, she was left with only uneasiness.

She was asked to stay in Florence as a witness, but since she came here, no one has asked her to appear in any court, and she doesn't even know for whom she will appear as a witness.

Accompanying Adele in Cantreb Castle every day and watching César return home at night are probably her few comforts. However, this also makes her worried and surprised. She is worried that she may eventually return to Marston, and she is surprised that César treats her like a family member. Anne is surprised by the appearance of Beau, who seems to have served César here three years ago. Anne does not look down on Beau because of her status as a maid, and even envy her a little.

Anne envied her for knowing César earlier than she did, and for knowing César, who was at the peak of his career, something she didn't know three years ago. Anne envied Beau for being able to work in Canterbury Castle, where she didn't look like a servant at all, but rather like a hostess, always able to keep the house in good order.

It is said that before Césaire and his men returned to Florence, Beau received a call from the Pope's Office, telling her that the owner of Canterbury Castle was coming soon. So she immediately took out all her savings, hired workers, and restored the abandoned Canterbury Castle to a level where people could live.

Anne was actually very curious about César's past in Florence, but it was not appropriate to ask Adele or Beau about these things.

The guards from the Pope's Office guarded Canterbury Castle tightly, but in fact, everyone in the castle was not restricted in their personal freedom. In theory, Cesare, who should be under the most strict supervision, went out early and came back late every day, and no one knew what he was busy with.

One day, Anne was traveling with Adele under the protection of the Vatican's guards when she saw him with three men. Adele said that they were his former subordinates.

But there was actually one thing Anne didn't say, because during one of her outings, she saw a figure who looked like Césaire, hooking his arm around a red-haired girl whose face was hidden by sunglasses and a hat brim, like a couple.

The girl had a graceful figure and looked very much like Miss Bower, the popular female star in Florence.

That day, Anne sniffed the clothes that Cesar had changed out of and smelled a slightly bitter but moist floral scent. She knew it was the scent of gentian, and coincidentally, on the same night, after finishing her performance, Miss Boa came out to thank the audience with a bunch of pure blue gentian.

Xizel looked at Adele who was looking at him worriedly, feeling a little helpless. The person who knows you best will always discover the little emotions hidden in your heart at the first time.

Adele who returned to Florence seemed no different from when she was in Marston, because no matter where she was, she was so bright, warming everyone like the sun.

"Brother, what happened?" Adele asked worriedly.

Unlike Anne and Beau, she knew that a trial of her brother had taken place in the Sistine Chapel today. But her brother, who had returned, did not seem unhappy about the trial.

However, there seemed to be something else that was even more troublesome and impossible to deal with that was bothering him.

"We have ten minutes... no, five minutes to pack up and leave Florence." César walked towards the phone.

Adele followed him and asked, "Where are you going?"

"...Go to a safe place." Xizel picked up the microphone.

When he left the Minerva Agency, he sent a telegram to the Pope's Office, briefly explaining the crisis Florence was currently facing. However, he hurried back to Canterbury Castle before he could receive a response.

Now he wanted to inform his four knights and recall these old subordinates. He wanted to let them show their skills in Florence, but he didn't expect that they would be interrupted by this accident from the sky.

"I think there is probably no safe place for you and your sister." The devil's voice suddenly sounded in his heart.

Xi Zeli paused for a moment, hung up the phone with Boer Knight, and asked in his heart: "Why?"

"Because it's coming for you, or you two." Lu Mingfei said, "You and Adele have what it needs. No matter where you hide, it will chase you."

There was no answer, and Cesar fell into a long silence.

He originally thought that by accepting the power of the devil, he would no longer be tortured by the fate that destined him to be lonely. But now, the devil who gave him the power to defeat fate told him that there was something chasing him after fate.

"…Why must it be us?" Xizel asked again in his heart.

"There is no answer to this question." Lu Mingfei sighed and said, "I have wondered why it was me before, but when I found there was no answer, I gave up."

He continued, "Although I don't know who arranged this, we are born to shoulder certain responsibilities. No matter what happens along the way, we will face the unavoidable responsibility in the end."

"We?" Xizel was puzzled. He had always regarded the devil as some kind of powerful existence. However, the devil seemed to have always felt that they should have some kind of equal relationship.

"Yes, we." Lu Mingfei said softly, "I have said this before, right? We seem to bear the same responsibilities in our respective worlds, so in a sense, we are brothers."

Cesar replied dimly: "I thought you made that up just to get Adele to call you brother."

"Fabricated?" Lu Mingfei was almost amused by him. "If there was no such relationship, who would be willing to help you so much? Do you really think I like to meddle in other people's business?"

"Isn't it to get your heart back?" asked Cesar.

Lu Mingfei was silent for a moment, and then continued, "I think it doesn't matter if the heart remains with you. Even if there is no heart, it won't prevent me from punching that guy in the sky to pieces."

"But it is still rushing towards Florence with great momentum," said César.

Lu Mingfei sneered: "That's because it doesn't dare to face me."

"I don't think I can blow it up with one punch like you can," said Cesar.

"No, you do." Lu Mingfei interrupted him.

(End of this chapter)