Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
The sky of the Ultimate had been lit up. The music theory of Scepter was produced from within, and just its aftermath alone was enough to turn the pitch-black sky into a turbulent ocean. All of the musicians were rudely awoken and they all began to look up.
“What a crowd.” Naberius was standing on the tip of the broken clock tower as he looked towards the south. “What a pity that we can’t join in something as big as this. Can’t we just go closer?”
The androgynous youth stood behind him quietly. Upon hearing what Naberius said, he shook his head. “For your safety, this is the furthest we can go.”
“They can kill me?” Naberius asked.
“Not those pathetic Scepters. It’s the Saint.” Paganini smiled coldly. “The Church has used the same trick even after so many years. Schubert did not have a successor, and no one could inherit his talent anyway, so this was the only way. Sacrificing him in exchange for the power of the Ultimate is simple and worthwhile but Schubert’s music theory must have been embedded with regulations in its deeper levels. If she senses your Changing Music Theory, she will definitely try to drag you along with her self-implosion. Since she is going to die anyway, why won’t she use it to serve an even greater good for the Church?”
Naberius remained silent as he imagined how a saint would hugging him before self-imploding. He could not help but shudder. “They are really a bunch of lunatics.”
“Whoever said otherwise?” Paganini laughed. “The servants of the God are crazier than the fallen. Doesn’t that make sense?”
“After so many days, has that Chief Inquisitor finally given up?” In the north, the second Prince looked towards the sky with a teasing look in his eyes. “Personally sacrificing a saint to the Ultimate should allow him to break away from the restrictions of the Church and become a Scepter straightaway right?”
“Not necessarily.” Beside him, an old and frail musician was fiddling with a fender in his hands. With a penknife in hand, he began to carve wedge-shaped music notes on the dry surface of the fender. After brushing off the carvings, he threw the fender to one side. Beside him was a small mountain of fenders. The old musician reached out his hands, and very soon, the mud began to tremble and water evaporated as a brand new piece of fender was formed in his hands. He was fully engrossed in his carving as if he could care less about the commotion that was taking place somewhere else.
The second Prince was stunned for a while when he heard a different opinion. He looked at the old musician respectfully and asked, “So what do you think?”
Although he was the second prince, he was in no position to flaunt his status in front of this elder. This elder was someone that his mother’s family had designated to be there for the second prince to depend on if necessary. Even if he was to become the emperor in the future, he was still obliged to seek advice and support from this elder. 40 years ago, this elder was already a scepter musician of Asgard. Before the previous Emperor had passed away, the elder had served as an advisor. What was so special about him was that he was someone, who was purely from the School of Revelation, that had managed to become a Scepter. He was wise and had great foresight so the second Prince had to listen to his opinions on many matters.
“It’s very simple. Haven’t you realized that he does not lack power?” The old musician said, “He does not lack power nor reputation or money. He did not even lack status. If you think about it, how many things does he have that would leave plenty of people feeling envious? Your opponent is someone who is not inferior to you in any way. No, in fact, if he was in your position, he probably would already have defeated your elder brother and become the Emperor of Asgard. In this aspect, you have to learn from him.”
The second prince frowned when he heard this, as his eyes revealed displeasure. Nevertheless, he did not say anything. The old musician shook his head. He knew that he had triggered some resentment in the second prince, so he would have to explain to the latter more tactfully. “Weakness is only temporal in the Ultimate. It is not worth it to sacrifice a lot in exchange for power in the short run. This Chief Inquisitor has very long-term goals. If he killed a saint, he would only become a Scepter. Do you think he really cares about becoming a Scepter? As long as he is in Anglo and continues to be boosted by the Chapter of the Golden Victory, he will be able to gain power that is comparable to a catastrophe.”
“At the end of the day, that is still an external force that can be relied on,” the second prince said.
The old musician glanced at him. “Would you be in a hurry to become a Scepter?”
Everything became clear to the second Prince once he asked this question.
Would he be in a hurry? After achieving resonance with Odin, he was now almost the equivalent of a demi-God. His future was so bright that becoming a Scepter should only be a mere stepping stone. That Chief Inquisitor was also in the same situation as him. No, in fact, he had even more options. Regardless if he chose to head to the East to embark on the Path of the Deva, or to inherit the music theory and holy name of Haydn, they were both incredible options that could only lead to bright futures. He did not even need to depend on anyone else. Based on his talent alone, becoming a Scepter was only a matter of time. Sacred City might have stopped him for now, but they would not be able to stop him forever.
“This is why he is not in a hurry,” the old musician said calmly. “To him, a dead saint is far less useful than one that is alive. In your opinion, what do you think is his trump card?”
The second prince pondered for a long time before raising his head. “The Religious Court of Inquiry?”
“Close.” The old musician nodded. “The Religious Court of Inquiry is just a façade. In order for it to be fully filled, they will need more than ten year’s time even with the capabilities of Anglo. It may be powerful in the future, but right now, it cannot be relied on. The thing that troubles most of his enemies is his title.”
“Chief Inquisitor?” Realization dawned on the second prince.
“That’s right.” The old musician said calmly, “This must be what the College of Cardinals regrets the most. Initially, their intention was to maximize resources and discard the things they didn’t need by putting the blame onto them, but they must not have expected their plan to come back and haunt them. They never considered the possibility that the Chief Inquisitor could be a lunatic. His nickname is ‘God’s Hand’ and he possesses the Staff of Fate, both of which justify his actions as fair and righteous. In other words, all who stood against him will be considered heretics. Within this short period of time, before the Sacred City turns against him, he is basically free to do anything he wants. With such a convenient title, why would he kill a saint in front of so many people and give them something to use against him? Besides, even if he became a Scepter in the Ultimate, the Church may still have a way to deal with him. Therefore, it may seem as if he has gained by becoming a Scepter but it will eventually only serve as a burden that will cause him to lose the right to carry out social justice. On the other hand, if he can keep the saint alive, the latter will be like a hen that can lay golden eggs. Besides…” The old musician paused for a while before laughing self-deprecatingly. There was a bitter expression on his face.
“What is it?” The second prince asked.
The old musician sighed softly. “Besides, no matter how I see it and no matter how critical I try to be, this Chief Inquisitor… is just a good man.”
The second Prince was silent. This must be the most ridiculous joke in the world yet it was true. Every one of the same status as him understood that the most priceless thing in this world was not power or authority… it was conscience.
Conscience might cause one to lose opportunities or pay heavy prices but he did not seem to care. Everyone knew that he was willing to kill for a little girl in front of the doors of Sacred City. By doing so, he had practically provoked every organization in the Sacred City and he was not afraid to make everyone his enemy. It might sound ridiculous but it was the most possible explanation.
This Chief Inquisitor and God’s Hand was probably the only representative of conscientiousness within the Church and the Sacred City. Who would suspect someone like him to secretly yearn for power and kill an old nun?
“If this was all an act…” The second prince stopped halfway before laughing self-deprecatingly. It was a foolish question. If this was all an act, it would only mean that this person was truly terrifying. The second prince lowered his head and sighed. “I am beginning to admire him.”
