Arknights' Lock of Heaven

Before that magnificent celestial canopy, who isn't a weakling? The religion that only the weak need... it turns out, also has its own significance.

At least, it can offer some solace to the defeated soldiers.

So he began to pray with a clear conscience, for himself and for... General Boris.

He was cautious his whole life, but no one expected him to be so fierce in his final moments.

If those fundamentalist priests from Lateran or Iberia saw them praying, they would probably be furious. What kind of nonsense is this, from the rituals to the gestures to the prayers?

But if the Lateran pope saw this, he would probably be very pleased.

When faced with the unknown, people always need something to hold onto in their hearts to cope with it, whether it's real or fake, they always need something to support them.

Isn't this how the earliest religions were born? The elaborate dogmas and strict rituals were all added later, for the sake of the sacred, for the sake of distinction…

And this is what religion originally looked like.

It was originally meant for people to fight against the unknown and to arm their minds.

Perhaps after civilization develops again, the weapons that once protected people's minds will become shackles that imprison them, but at least for now, people still need them.

And so, under the light of the two moons of Terra, the two vehicles sped recklessly toward Chepulini, as if some monstrous flood were behind them, while the people inside prayed.

-

Cheprini Lermontov Mayor's Estate

"Lord Edmund, please come in," Alexie, dressed in a suit and tie, stood at the entrance of the manor, smiling at each guest. "Your presence makes the manor even more honored today."

“Oh, Mr. Deputy Mayor, what brings you to the door?” the other person deliberately drew out. “I still remember how imposing you were in my chamber of commerce yesterday.”

"..." Hearing this, Alexei forced a smile. "It's all because of my offense to you all, which ruined the city hall's mission. So I'm here to apologize to you all."

“Oh, I see,” Edmund said with an understanding look, then reached out and patted him on the shoulder. “Actually, I still prefer your previous rebellious self.”

After saying that, he laughed loudly and went inside.

Alexei was left alone at the door, forcing a smile.

"Ah, Mr. Duke, your arrival..."

"Hmph!" Before he could finish speaking, Duke snorted coldly and ignored him, walking straight into the room.

In any other context, such behavior would be considered quite impolite in aristocratic social settings, but everyone present today knows what the host wants to see.

It's just pandering to their preferences.

Watching his retreating figure, Alexie gritted his teeth. He was just the count's illegitimate son... just someone who controlled a merchant guild, while Alexie was the deputy mayor...

Ah, the deputy mayor.

What is the use.

In the dead of night, he would toss and turn, wondering if he had chosen the wrong path.

But every day, the city hall officials treated him with utmost respect, and the power he wielded was not a lie.

Lermontov was so wicked that he truly gave himself the power to hang this sweet poison in front of him.

It makes you unable to stop... Once you've tasted that feeling, you can't let go.

"Ms. Kayne, your arrival..."

After a brief sigh, he put on a smile again and continued to greet the guests for Lermontov.

“You shouldn’t have humiliated him like that,” Lermontov said, holding a wine glass and looking towards the entrance of the manor. Behind him, his uncle sighed. “Alexei is a talented man, you know that better than anyone. Since he has come to our side, why treat him like this?”

"It shouldn't be too difficult for you to recruit him, right? And then there's Igor from before. It's not easy for a local messenger of natural disasters to come. He also has a weakness like his mother. He could have been used effectively."

"Uncle, do I lack talent?" Upon hearing this, Lermontov swirled the red wine in his glass. "No, I don't. Every one of my henchmen is a high school graduate. This city is never short of talent!"

“I only need to show my attitude, and a lot of people will come to me. These days, talent is nothing, what’s most important is being appreciated. Uncle, I understand your thinking, but things are not like they used to be. Back then, the family wasn’t as glorious as it is now, and every talent was precious.”

"I respect your opinion."

“But our family has passed that era. In Cheprini, even the major Ursus merchants have to fawn over us.”

"But do you really have no ulterior motives in humiliating him like this?" Uncle sighed.

Upon hearing this, Lermontov unconsciously reached up and touched his cheek.

The memory of my father's slap from back then still seems so vivid.

Why did I get slapped?

Oh, it's because when Alexei came to the city and started to make a name for himself, he spent a night in a casino.

When he got home, his father laid out everything Alexei had done over the past few days in front of him and slapped him.

Look at others, and then look at yourself!

That sentence is still etched in his mind.

Yes, he never denied Alexei's talent, but what good is talent?

Will he be able to protect his achievements? In the end, his talent ultimately served as a stepping stone for his own power.

“Uncle, this is just a little bit of my willfulness. The family really doesn’t need the strength of one more person,” he muttered to himself. “Talent is nothing.”

He firmly believed that inherited power was the only truth, a belief that had held unwavering since the day he effortlessly seized Alexei's achievements through power and made them his own.

“Sigh, perhaps we’re out of touch with the times,” the uncle sighed as he read this. “You decide for yourself.”

“…Well then, as you said, Uncle, if that messenger of natural disaster survives, I will try to recruit him,” Lermontov said.

It wasn't because of his talent, but simply because I needed to show my uncle some respect, nothing more.

"Now, I'm going down to preside over the banquet."

The uncle watched Lermontov's retreating figure and sighed.

Power, power, it sounds nice, but in reality, our power only has a stable environment.

Ursus is getting more and more chaotic. Nobody knows what will happen tomorrow. If the world really descends into chaos, can a family protect itself by relying solely on illusory power?

When the army arrives at the city gates, what can those thugs kept by the family do?

Having weathered the storms of the past, he understood perfectly well that aligning himself with the Duke would naturally preserve his power, because now that the two sides in Ursus were locked in a power struggle, neither side would put too much pressure on these neutral forces, or those that outwardly sided with the Duke but were actually neutral.

But what if they decide a winner...? Will the victor still be so amiable?

405 A bolt from the blue

“Ms. Kayne, I must apologize for disrupting your Chamber of Commerce’s plans,” Lermontov said, raising his wine glass as he strolled through the banquet. “This sudden natural disaster has disrupted the plans of many people.”

"Of course, that includes me."

“Yes, natural disasters are something no one can predict, are they?” Kathy, the head of the House Chamber of Commerce, replied with a smile. “Mayor, there’s no need to worry so much. Our chamber of commerce can afford to wait a little longer.”

As someone with powerful connections, she actually knew what was going on, so she could only accept her bad luck.

Who can blame them when it's the Duke's will?

Everyone was affected, including the Sixth Army. When these military thugs entered Ceprini, they extorted money and bribes from various factions, causing merchants throughout the city to avoid them like the plague.

“Natural disasters are easy to avoid, but man-made calamities are hard to prevent,” Ms. Kay said meaningfully. “In times like these, we can only overcome difficulties by sticking together.”

“Take the Sixth Army for example,” Lord Edmund chimed in. “If it weren’t for the mayor’s intervention, we businessmen would have been in serious trouble.”

He said meaningfully, "In critical moments, we need reliable people like the mayor to protect this city, not some clown jumping around like that."

Alexei, who was sitting alone in a chair, clenched his fists upon hearing this.

He understood that these people were just trying to curry favor with that person.

“You flatter me,” Lermontov shook his head gracefully. “At times like these, everyone’s efforts are indispensable.”

"For example, in the upcoming fundraising, my deputy, Mr. Alexei, has already raised 20 million. All that's needed is for everyone here to contribute another 20 million."

"Sigh, I've been so worried about this matter these past few days that my hair is almost turning white. After all, everyone has seen the demeanor of the Sixth Army Group."

At this point, he shook his head, looking helpless. "They've already gone out of the city to 'suppress bandits.' Of the 50 million in military expenses, our family contributed 10 million, and the citizens of Ciprini raised 20 million."

"I really have no choice but to swallow my pride and ask you all for the remaining vacancies."

“Mayor, you flatter me,” Lord Edmund said, adopting a magnanimous air. “Ceplini has brought us so much wealth; how can we be stingy now?”

“Since you’ve said so, Mr. Mayor, I will donate five million on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce as a small token of my appreciation to Cheprini.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the wealthy businessmen and political figures around him generously donated money, ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars. For a time, the hall was filled with the sound of bidding.

In this environment, Alexei sat alone in his seat, feeling out of place.

No one would approach him to talk, or even glance at him.

Although no one knew why the mayor was targeting him, everyone was happy to join the mayor in kicking him while he was down.

At the bustling banquet, a deserted area suddenly appeared around him.

This cycle of humiliation continues; when will it end?

Alexei lowered his head.

Can he give up?

No way...