Uncle here isn't your average office worker!

"Yes."

"Then what is your purpose in coming here? To reclaim the Law? To shut down the Law? To turn Laterano from paradise into hell? To end this false dream that has lasted for a thousand years?"

“No.” Roy shook his head. “I’m just here to resolve our issues; I’m looking for a win-win situation.”

Roy held up two fingers and said,

"Latran gets the final say, I get the weapon to fight the crisis, win, win."

Volume 1: Final Exam

I'm taking a day off today. The exams will end on the 29th. I should be updating normally except for today.

Because tomorrow's exam is on Marxist philosophy, and I haven't studied it at all, I'm cramming for the exam.

I hope I don't fail the final exam.

......................................

Volume 1: Chapter 277 Heading Underground, The Sound of the Conch Shell

Roy never even considered destroying Laterano.

Whether from a personal emotional or practical standpoint, destroying Laterano would be meaningless for Roy. Aside from eliminating one of the few morally above-average nations on Terra, and physically and mentally displacing tens of thousands of Laterano residents and millions of Terrans who adhere to the Laterano religion, such an act would bring no benefit.

Oh, perhaps Theresis and the radical Sarkaz would be pleased, but Roy has no reason to curry favor with Theresis. He, Kuranta, is, in a way, also within the scope of Theresis's grand war plan's purge.

What he sought from Ivangelista XI was a conditional cooperation.

"While your guess isn't entirely correct, I do indeed have an inseparable connection with the one who created the law. To put it more clearly, I know how to properly utilize and manipulate the law."

Roy took the USB drive out of his pocket and showed it to King Ivangelista XI:

"This kind of utilization and control is different from the Sarkaz's, which accept the revelation of the law and integrate into the same combat network to achieve synesthesia. As long as I insert this USB drive into that machine, I have the administrator privileges of that machine. I can decide whether the law accepts a certain Sarkaz, and I can also kick existing Sarkaz out of the synesthesia network, remove their aura and wings, and restore them to their original form. This is the level of power I have."

King Ivangelista XI swallowed hard.

Before Roy explained, he had a vague idea of ​​what Roy was going to say next, but when those words actually came out of Roy's mouth, he still felt a chill run down his spine.

This was even more suffocating than a dozen minutes earlier, when Roy had snatched the guard musket from his hands, knocked down two musketeers, and pointed the dark muzzle at him.

Because at that time, even if Roy truly harbored ill intentions, the only one who would suffer would be Evangelista XI, and the future of Lateran would naturally be borne by new saints, and the law would still protect them. At least, they still had hope.

Now, King Ivangelista XI couldn't even imagine that, if Roy's words were true, this threat was undoubtedly aimed directly at the Sarkaz race. This was probably even more terrifying than the Demon King leading the Sarkaz to sweep across the world again and invade Laterano!

King Ivangelista XI couldn't resist reaching for his Guardian Gun again. But before he could, he snapped back to reality. The short gun was now in Roy's hands, and even with the Guardian Gun, he was no match for Roy.

"What do you want?" King Ivangelista XI raised his hand to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead and asked in a forced, calm voice.

“I want to start it,” Roy replied.

King Ivangelista XI's face instantly darkened, and he asked with a bitter and helpless expression, "What you're doing is tantamount to driving Lateran to its doom."

“You should let me finish,” Roy said. “After I’ve started it up, I’ll hand the USB drive over to you.”

“I have no intention of deciding the fate of Lateran. The creator of the law and I are only using this legacy of the old era to deal with the crisis from the old era.”

"That's why I brought a USB drive as a form of authentication, instead of having the creator himself be present."

Roy told a small lie. The creator of the Law was probably long gone, buried in some unknown corner of history; Roy didn't believe he was still alive. And of the few remaining humans, Trevor Friston certainly couldn't be present in person. His massive alloy body had never been intended to leave the Stasis Chamber from the very beginning. As a semi-permanent synthetic life form, it was destined to fulfill its impossible mission until its very last moment.

But this didn't stop Roy from negotiating in this way. Negotiation is inherently a matter of deception; to truly and honestly reveal all one's cards isn't negotiation, it's a sign of a mental illness requiring a therapist. Furthermore, Roy's half-hearted pressure actually made the Pope feel more at ease, since compared to the trust that Ivangelist XI had to give, the rewards he and Lateran received were far greater.

King Evangelista XI clearly understood this principle. On Terra, completely entrusting one's trust to another was virtually impossible. If judged solely by his conscience, he would most likely give the same answer as Andorn in the Path of the Guide—"Regardless, I choose to protect this paradise." But now, Roy's subtext was undoubtedly telling him that his current offer was the most favorable. To deal with the so-called "crisis of the old," obtaining access to the Law was unavoidable. Even if the Pope refused, he could simply bring the creator of the Law; then the Law would still be theirs, and Laterano might not have the opportunity to negotiate or make a deal with him.

He had certainly considered the possibility that Roy's words were false, but he couldn't think of any reason why Roy would lie. Just to play him for a fool?

He's already a renowned knight of Terra, his reputation and prestige no less than any famous figure throughout history. Why would he bother coming to Laterano and causing this commotion? Besides, wouldn't it be easy to tell if that USB drive is real or fake with a simple test?

King Ivangelista XI ended his contemplation and replied:

"I need to verify the truth of what you're saying before I make a decision."

King Evangelista XI rose to his feet and solemnly declared, “Come with me, for you will be the first non-Sarkota in all of Terra to see the true nature of the Law.”

..........

Violet is keeping an eye on Amaya's every move.

This self-proclaimed Iberian writer from Victoria has repeatedly demonstrated her unusual nature. Her counter-surveillance skills are exceptionally strong, her patience is unparalleled, and most importantly, her attitude is remarkable. Even though Violet is sure she hasn't revealed anything and been discovered, she can always sense that Amaya is glancing at her from around a street corner or through the glass of a shop.

This was the first time she had ever felt this way, as if she were being watched all the time.

But she was, after all, a cardinal assistant in the Tenth Papal Court, a high-ranking intelligence officer who, with a few more years of experience, was poised to rise to the position of cardinal. The more unusual Amaya's behavior became, the less she could let this suspicious woman go.

Even if it might be dangerous—though Violet didn't think Amaya could do anything, this was Lateran, after all—she wouldn't back down.

Finally, after replacing the stalker, Violet received a report that Amaya had stopped in front of a jewelry shop belonging to the Iberian Church.

"An Iberian Church of National Accord's jewelry shop? Lateran has such a shop?" Violet was somewhat surprised. Ever since the Iberian Church of National Accord declared its independence from the Lateran Church, the relationship between the two had gradually become distant. Although they still communicated during the Golden Age, such communication had become extremely rare after the Great Tranquility and the subsequent fall of Iberia.

Because the Church of England no longer exists, only the Iberian Tribunal remains.

"It should be the old shop from before Great Tranquility. It mainly sells Iberian-style trinkets, tapestries, clothing, and the like. Business is so-so," came the reply over the walkie-talkie.

Violet frowned, a sudden thought flashing through her mind about some rumors about Iberia, and immediately asked warily:

What was she doing there? What did she buy?

"Uh... a seashell?"

"Don't let her blow it!" Violet hurriedly ordered.

But it was too late; the melodious and deep sound of a conch shell could already be heard from afar on the walkie-talkie.

[Waaah————]

Volume 1: Chapter 278 15,000 Letters

The dark environment of the tunnel did not obscure Roy's vision; he could see everything clearly.

The descending staircase is flanked by numerous sculptures and murals, depicting the saints of Lateran throughout history: the ten saints counting back from Evangelista XI, the twelve who originally founded Lateran, and a dozen or so others who were canonized posthumously for their outstanding contributions or great renown. A total of thirty-six sculptures stand in the carved-out caves, surrounded by countless blooming flowers, flying winged beasts, various animals, and enormous, almost lifelike halos.

The owners of these lifelike sculptures are now in the law and the Kingdom of God they believe in, but Roy can still feel their gaze in their eyes, which are etched with spirit, as if they were really alive, standing in this dark underground for thousands of years, waiting and observing each believer who goes deeper into the earth.

It was a dark and silent journey, but Roy felt the piety along the way at every moment. Passing through the first gate, coffins containing the remains of saints from past generations appeared beside Roy. Unlike his treatment of Andorn, Ivangelista XI did not introduce or explain his location to Roy; he simply stopped quietly and stood silently before the coffins for a long time. When Roy noticed that he had fallen behind him, he turned around and found Ivangelista solemnly clasped his hands together, repenting and praying.

Roy didn't interrupt him, waiting until he finished praying and caught up before asking:

"Is this also part of the Lateran's process of meeting the law?"

“This is one of the procedures to ensure I don’t go to hell after I die,” Ivangelista XI replied with a wry smile. “If you’re lying to me, I can already imagine what the outcome will be.”

"In posterity, I may be called 'the Apostate' Ivangelist XI, and the Laterans will despise and scorn that Lateran ever had a pope like me. This title will follow me to the end of civilization."

“But you might also be called the ‘Thirteenth Saint’ or the ‘Initiator of a New Era.’ It depends on whether you also want to reveal the secret,” Roy added.

King Ivangelista XI glanced at him and nodded noncommittally: “I hope so.”

After walking for a while, he suddenly stopped and reminded him, "It's a very dark road ahead. If you're not prepared, you can close your eyes."

Roy glanced at him with some confusion, as if wanting to ask why. But Ivangelista XI had already taken a step forward, reaching out and slowly pushing open the ancient stone door in front of him, which was covered in dust.

There was light behind the door.

Having been in the dark for so long, the sudden exposure to the blinding light made even Roy instinctively turn his head away. He was about to ask why Ivangelista XI had lied when the scattered bones on the roadside answered his question.

Those were skeletons, very old skeletons, their surfaces yellowed, and some of their structures were obviously damaged. They were scattered haphazardly on both sides of the corridor, looking like some cheap, bloody toys.

Compared to the well-preserved and maintained coffins that Roy had seen along his journey, the remains here received no respect whatsoever. They were like rotting corpses in a pile of dead bodies on a battlefield; no one was willing to clean them up, and no one cared about their past.

"who are they?"

Roy asked.

King Ivangelista XI pointed to a pair of distinctly curved horns atop a skull with a large hole in the top, and replied, "Sarkaz."

"According to the secrets of Lateran history passed down by the Twelve Saints, when the saints discovered the remains of the Law in the wilderness, they were quickly besieged and plundered by a large number of Sarkaz. The Sarkaz attempted to seize the Law to serve their wars and revenge, but the saints and the First Men had had enough of sacrifice and death, and they chose peace. Thus, a fierce battle ensued between the Sarkaz and the saints and the First Men. At the end of that war, the saints felt the call of the Law and led the remaining First Men to its presence. The Law helped them conceal their demonic traits, taught them to do good, gave them empathy, and bestowed upon them guns."

"Like a miracle, once the gun was in the hands of the saint, it seemed to become the saint's arm, easy to use and extremely powerful. So, when the saint stepped out of the temple of law and faced the heavy encirclement of the Sarkaz outside the temple, he raised the gun and summoned divine punishment."

"A holy light that reached the heavens and the earth descended from the sky, purifying all enemies. The Sarkaz who participated fled in panic, only to be defeated by the saints and their people."

"This is the site of that time."

Legends may contain both truth and falsehood, but Roy knew that Ivangelista XI probably wasn't lying about the part about the beam of light that reached the heavens.

In the original storyline, the Rhodes Island elite operator, the former papal envoy and cardinal of Laterano, the old Sarkaz man codenamed Outcast, summoned the Holy Light to descend and judge when he fired his sixth bullet while facing the five commanders of Deeppool.

Guns may indeed be a medium for some kind of more powerful force. Some military installations from pre-civilizations are still operational even now, tens of thousands of years later.

"bring it on."

Ivangelista XI crossed the ruins forged from the bones and stood before the final gate.

Like the sanctuary that Trevor Friston had guarded for 30,000 years, the outer shell of the Hall of Law was also made of layers of black, textured black alloy. However, it clearly did not have a semi-artificial intelligence administrator like Trevor Friston, so when Evangelista XI placed his hand on the display screen in the center of the door, the entire hall came to life.

The dried-out lines quickly filled with energy, the screen rippled like waves, displaying the words "authentication successful." Accompanied by a dull unlocking sound, the door slowly opened to both sides, revealing a room entirely composed of computers, cables, and a huge central processing unit, which immediately appeared before Roy's eyes.

Only now did Roy realize that the temple of law was itself part of the law. The size of this supercomputer had exceeded Roy's imagination of computers.

"Check the recent situation."

King Ivangelista XI uttered the simplest instruction.

But as always, the law did not react. He could only turn to look at Roy.

Roy took out the USB drive, walked forward, and without much effort, found a familiar, old-fashioned interface on the huge machine.