Let me introduce you, this is my girlfriend, the Israeli boxing champion

Alvin asked Constantine in return, and he probably knew what Vashak was going to do by shaking the apple like this.

——The only question is, are these apples enough?

[We have to give it a try. Isn't this a chance? ]

——I always feel that this is not one of those “small details”.

[The general meaning of the lyrics is this. 】

——Okay, finally, can taking a bite restore your strength?

[I don't know if you can recover your physical strength, but having sex with Da Vinci should be able to restore a lot of magic power. ]

When Constantine saw Alvin's expression and realized that he was powerless to stop him, he helplessly asked this question:

"Is there something written on it? Like 'To the best Basilius' or something like that?"

"If you really mind, I can write it now."

As if to make Constantine sure, Alvin actually produced a marker pen and was about to damage the apple in his hand.

At the wedding of the human hero Peleus and the sea goddess Thetis, all the gods were invited to attend the wedding, except for the goddess of discord Eris. Eris held a grudge and presented a golden apple to the guests at the wedding, on which was written "For the most beautiful goddess". The three goddesses with the highest status and the most beautiful among the goddesses - Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite - were arguing over the golden apple. The other gods were afraid of offending the goddesses and dared not speak. The god of the sky Zeus asked Paris, a handsome young man who was a shepherd on the mountain, to be the judge.

In order to obtain the golden apple, the three goddesses offered attractive conditions: Hera gave him supreme power and blessed him to be a high and mighty ruler; Athena was willing to give him wisdom and strength, encouraging him to have the courage to take risks and break out a glorious heroic path; Aphrodite promised to let the most beautiful woman in the world fall in love with him and become his wife. Paris thought about it and felt that power and rule would be enough for him to inherit his father's throne in the future. He had the ability to be a hero and was brave enough to break out, but love was not something that could be encountered every day. So he gave the golden apple to Aphrodite.

Later, with the help of Aphrodite, Paris abducted the Spartan queen, the beautiful Helen, which became the fuse of the Trojan War.

There was no need to confirm it, Constantine thought. The one in his hand was the real golden apple. Thanks to the embellishment of history, he roughly knew the truth of that time:

What sparked the dispute among the three goddesses was not the words written by Eris, the goddess of discord, but the golden apple itself.

"That should be the last question - what does it do?"

"Hmm... maybe for oil?"

"You don't have to say anything you don't want to say."

No, dear Constantine, it is true.

As if to resolve Constantine's confusion, Alvin revealed the true identity of the golden apple in his hand.

He was sure that this was the first time he had seen it, but he felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity. Alvin's hand seemed to be glowing, emitting some indescribable power.

There was no need to say anything more, as Basilius knew very well that this was the treasure that those people were talking about.

"In 311, Constantine the Great crossed the Alps, defeated Maxentius' army at the Battle of Turin, occupied Italy, and defeated Maxentius in a decisive battle near the Mulvey Bridge on the Tiber River on October 312, 10. Maxentius fell into the water and died while escaping. Constantine executed Maxentius' family and important followers to eliminate future troubles. Then, he entered the city of Rome as a victor."

This is the Golden Apple No. 06 that does not exist in the records, and its first owner was Constantine I.

He looked back at Alvin, who was obviously observing his reaction. Then, Alvin opened the box and took out a spherical object about the size of two fists: a golden ball inlaid with patterns. It seemed as if there was energy pulsating inside, and Constantine was stunned. He even suspected that there was something wrong with his eyes.

Maybe in a way…it really is alive.

The emperor was in a trance, as if some force was pulling him.

"It's...tempting us," Alvin hummed.

Suddenly, like a candle being snuffed out, the pulsating light inside the golden ball disappeared. The halo disappeared, and even the pattern on it vanished without a trace. It became an ordinary ball: an antique. Although it was uniquely beautiful, it was just an ornament.

"It looks like a piece of silver..." Constantine said. "I think I understand what the 'motor oil' you're talking about is."

"It did light up for a little while, but it wasn't anything special until everything started," Alvin said.

“What is the truth of history?”

"'The piece of silver' expelled Adam and Eve. It was the forbidden fruit itself. It was the serpent, and it divided and united the Red Sea. Eris used it to ignite the war at Troy. With it, a poor carpenter turned water into wine."

"It looks quite ordinary compared to how it appeared in history," Constantine asked. "How does it work?"

"Whoever holds the golden apple can control the hearts and souls of others. Whoever looks at it will be captured - as they say, anyone who tastes it - this is what I told you at the beginning, the 'Angel's Coming' itself."

"I can't stop you, but you have to act quickly." Constantine said, leaning back in his chair, having completely let go of everything. "I'm sure your colleagues in Chaldeas have already been alerted to our situation, and El-Melloi and Leonardo, who have worked with us before, will also do their best to expose our identities at the time."

"Fatih expected you to show up: a man with a monocle. Perhaps they are already looking for you."

"They couldn't find me. I was a blade hidden among the crowd," Alvin said. "In the virtual world."

"But it's not important. Just in case, I think I should get some insurance."

He took off the ornament-like thing from his waist, handed it solemnly to Constantine, and pointed it at himself.

"If anything goes wrong with me, pull the trigger."

Chapter 226 Do these guys eat meat?

As night fell, the gray stones of the Golden Horn were covered with a light golden orange color. The last rays of the setting sun dyed the sea blood red, and finally merged into the horizon. The tides beat against the embankment of the port, and seagulls flew back to their nests in groups. However, the entire harbor was empty, which was strange and terrifying.

"In our cultural circles, there is a common understanding that a dynasty can hardly last more than 300 years. For an empire like Rome to have lasted from the monarchy era to the present day is already a remarkable thing."

"But even if it survives, it's better than being destroyed."

Nero looked at the sea, Ritsuka stood beside her. She looked at the sea without saying a word for a long time.

"From today on, her name will no longer be Rome, but Byzantium."

“Is there any knowledge in this?”

"Perhaps there is nothing wrong with using the capital's name as the country's name in your understanding, Lixiang. But according to your way of speaking, calling France the Kingdom of Paris, Persia the Baghdad Empire, and the Han Dynasty the Chang'an Empire, doesn't it sound a bit uncomfortable?"

“It’s very uncomfortable.”

Aku Hinako was very unhappy when she heard this. Ritsuka might not understand the meaning of this because he was not very worldly-wise, but that didn't mean he didn't know what it meant.

"Although the word 'Byzantine' has a strong Roman denialist connotation that many people oppose, its long-term use has been rooted in academia and even named after the field. Now this word has distorted historical reality."

But in contrast to the general term Byzantium, which is still used today for a territory, Latins before the eighth century AD were generally able to accept the description of Byzantium as still being the "Empire of the Romans."

However, in the second half of the eighth century, a series of events such as the Iconoclasm Movement and the Pope's turn to the Frankish Kingdom for support led to a change in the West's attitude towards the Eastern Empire. With the rise of the Holy Roman Empire, Latin-Catholic Europe gradually formed its own historical memory of Rome, and based on this, constructed a paradigm of Rome from the perspectives of church, language, and regime.

The difference between the memory community of "heirs of Roman tradition" and the Eastern Roman Empire made it difficult for the latter to be accepted into it. Compared with the "Alemanni Chieftains" corresponding to the Holy Roman Empire, the Eastern Roman Empire was satirically called the "Greek Empire."

Since then, the Crusades have seriously intensified the Greek-Latin conflicts, especially after the Fourth Crusade. In the Latin world, the Roman East has gradually become one of the stereotyped images of the Orientalist narrative - the so-called "Greeks" who are "cunning, treacherous, extravagant, literary, cowardly and timid". This narrative provided legitimacy for the conquest, exploitation, and failed transformation of the East.

In the Age of Enlightenment, the negative image of Byzantium and the Greeks portrayed by Enlightenment thinkers was consistent with the Middle Ages. On top of this, the criticism of Byzantium was further extended from national criticism and moral questioning to the field of political system: it became a corrupt, despotic, and religious pre-modern country, which was contrasted with the early nation-states that gradually emerged in the late Middle Ages in the historical narrative.

At this time, the "Empire of the Greeks" was given a new meaning. "Empire" as a pre-modern symbol was added to "Greece", and together they constructed the image of Byzantium.

"The reason why they can do these things so recklessly is simple: the ancient country in the Mediterranean no longer exists, and the dead cannot speak."

Nero fell into endless sorrow. Although Ritsuka was still a little confused, she no longer forced it and left the beach with Aku Hinako.

“What happened after the Enlightenment is somewhat laughable.”

After returning from the quiet dock to the bustling port, the silent Aku Hinako finally spoke.

“Interestingly, the independence movement in the 19th century made the originally derogatory term “Empire of the Greeks” become a powerful tool for modern Greece to establish historical links with ancient Greece, and further provided legitimacy for the Great Greek imperialists’ demands to retake Constantinople.”

“In Greece today, ‘Byzantium’ has become a symbol of Greek nationalism, so much so that modern Greek academics are often happy to embrace Roman denialism, and they are committed to proving that there were no ‘real’ Romans in Byzantium, but that it was an empire of Greeks.”

"So true Romans..."

“It’s lost conceptually.”

......

"But even so, I still don't understand why such a small and insignificant treasure would cause so much commotion."

Alvin pondered the ball in his hand. He had only experienced the magical attraction in the game, but when he saw it in person, he only felt a dazzling and fascinating power. Could it really control the minds of others, rather than just being a satisfying decoration?

Past experience warned Alvin that his idea was unrealistic.

Constantine nodded slightly, as if he had just woken up from a deep sleep, but he had already read Alvin's mind.

"From the historical texts, the Golden Apple is undoubtedly capable of enchanting others. Look at what it did to the three goddesses. Once you taste its power, your soul will be devoured. In my opinion, it is no longer a dangerous weapon to be destroyed, but a tool - a tool that can help anyone achieve their life's ambitions."

“So, Boris was chasing power at the time?”

"Yes and no. What he desires—what he always desires—is beauty, as is his choice."

"But what he did caused Troy to be devastated by war."

"No, Alvin," Constantine said sadly. "How could you not understand it in your heart? You made me see it all clearly."

"Even when the arrow is on the string, your heart is still waiting for something. Never hate your enemy, Alvin. Such thoughts are poisonous and will only affect your judgment."

"But now there is only one way left."

......

"By the way, you guys are going back tomorrow, right?"

"Well, we'll return to Chaldea at dawn tomorrow."

"That's it..."

Fatih felt a little regretful. According to tradition, he had to join his people's celebration tonight. However, after being away from the center of power for ten years, he himself could not guarantee that he still knew a few people among that group.

What's more, the war was not over yet. The Crusaders in the east and the heretics in the west were both heading towards him, and he really wanted to curse.

"Well, I wish you all a good time in Constantinople tonight, and congratulations on your continued success in future battles."

As he said this, he wanted to get on his horse and leave, but when he looked up, reality gave him a big slap in the face.

"Why is the city on fire? Do these guys eat pork?!"

PS: When you feel upset, take a ride and go for a walk

Chapter 227 Different Paths to the Same Destination, Different Paths to the Same Destination

Until the flames started, Nero sat on the rocks by the sea, looking at the sea.

"I thought she was some little girl, but it turns out she is the emperor of roses."

Nero looked back at the moon and saw the leader of the Iceni, the Queen of East Anglia, looking at him from behind.

"Boudica...I'm sorry."

"It seems that you have fallen into a misunderstanding, but I think that now that we are no longer opponents, it is necessary to solve some problems."

"What do you mean?"

"I take it that you are disdainful of everything that the 'Restorer of the World' has done, right?"

"How can it be!"

That's Aurelian! The true Restorer of the World!

"Zenobia, the queen of Palmyra in Syria, who was chained and paraded through the streets of Rome after Aurelian defeated her. Oh, and Cleopatra of the Ptolemaic dynasty among the Diadochi. What do you think of her?"

"So...about yourself..."

"Everything is just whitewashed by later generations. In fact, the Iceni tribe was not only the first to surrender when Rome invaded, but also used its early surrender status to gain a good position. It can be said that if I had done nothing at that time, I would have no shortage of wealth and glory."

"Then why raise the banner of rebellion?"

"Ambition."

If we say that Cleopatra VII's Ptolemaic Dynasty in Egypt was at least an independent country at the beginning, its purpose was to maintain independence under the erosion of Rome; although Zenobia now looks like a national hero, in fact Palmyra had been under Roman control for a long time, and at the beginning it was only a separatist regime that had achieved de facto independence, and its purpose was to capture cities and dominate one side; and her Britain was in the early stages of colonization, and initially became a Roman colony but still retained a certain degree of independence and was a foreign power with a strong basis for resistance, and its purpose was to break away from Roman colonial rule.

But these three real queens failed, and she herself became a "barbarian" hero like Vercingetorix and Verius who resisted the invaders.

"I forged that will. Judging from the final result, I should be the one thanking you."

A series of facts were placed in front of Nero. She was overwhelmed and her mind was confused for a moment. Looking at the emperor who was at a loss, Boudica lifted her fallen golden hair with her hand.

"Blond Romans are a bit rare to be honest."

"Aren't you cruel to me?"

"How can it be."

With a decisive and ruthless reply, Nero's ahoge, which had just stood up, drooped down again.

"But this does not mean hiding the truth. To be honest, after seeing how Zenobia became a Servant, I felt sorry for her, but I also began to face history squarely."

"At least the person sitting next to you right now is the Boudica you know. If you meet another Boudica Alter who is full of anger in the distant future, I think it won't be surprising."

"By the sign of the Cross, God our Lord, save us from our enemies, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen."

Draw the first small cross on the forehead, the second small cross on the mouth, the third small cross on the chest, draw the big cross, and put your hands together. This is the so-called "Great Holy Name Sutra."

"Lord, you were born in a manger and lived as a human being for thirty-three years. Therefore, you know that we are still weak and sometimes even fall. Lord, please use your loving shepherd's rod and your own hands to support us and lead us forward. Although we don't know the way tomorrow will take, we know that you are in charge of tomorrow and you hold my hand."

After finishing his final prayer, he raised his head and saw a four-winged angel stretching out his arms towards him in the vast firelight.