Realizing that the judge was testing him, Soshyan calmly chose a very correct and impeccable answer.
"Suspicion breeds heresy, and we will self-examine it that day."
The Inquisitor's eyes rolled again, then he nodded and turned back to his flowerbed.
"If you're not busy, could you please listen to a story?"
"What is it?"
"Before that, I want to ask you a question."
"Um?"
"What do you think of the current empire?"
Soshiyang frowned. He didn't know if the other party was setting up some kind of language trap, so after careful consideration, he chose a cautious and unreasonable answer.
"We are the Emperor's swords, and we do nothing but behead our enemies."
"Your words and actions are very inconsistent."
"Judge, I don't understand what you mean. Maybe you can speak more clearly."
"Okay, let me tell you that story directly. It actually came from a good friend of mine. I witnessed a debate that day... There was such a first on the ancient earth. Legends about primitive people living in caves deep in the mountains.”
Somehow, the other person's voice suddenly became like a storyteller, and every gripping word was full of charm.
"These people are isolated from the rest of the world and have never seen the glorious world. If it were not for the weak flame burning in the center of the cave, their lives would be shrouded in eternal darkness. They feed on the moss on the rock walls, Drinking the cold water of an underground river, they survived, but what they had was anything but life...Those who sat around that fire day after day, staring at the shining embers and dancing flames , believing that its light is all the light in the world, and the shadows draw various shapes and patterns on the wall, which makes them feel happy. They have their own joy, and they live like this for days and years, never thinking about it. Everything but the dancing light.”
Lennart Meyers paused and asked his listeners to imagine the scene, mentally picturing the dancing shadows on the rock face.
"However, one day, a fierce storm swept through the mountains, but the residence of those people was so deep that only a breeze could penetrate the cave. The flames danced in the wind, while the people in the cave laughed and watched the fire on the rock wall. Many new patterns appeared, and the breeze then disappeared, and they continued to observe the fire as before...but one of them suddenly stood up and walked away from the fire, which surprised the others, and they urged the man to return. They came to their side, but the lone traveler shook his head, because he was the only one eager to explore the breeze. He followed the receding wind out of the cave, climbed over the cliff, crossed the rift valley, went through many difficulties and dangers, and finally looked ahead. A hazy light arrived.”
"The primitive man climbed out of the cave and stood on the mountainside, looking up at the blazing sun. The light dazzled him, and the beauty and warmth made him fall to his knees. He was worried that his eyes had been burned to ashes, but his His vision gradually recovered soon, and he looked around cautiously. The exit of the cave was high on the mountainside, and the glory of the whole world spread around him: the shining green ocean, the endless green grass... This sight made him Crying because he sadly realizes that he has wasted many years in darkness, ignorant of the glorious things that are so close at hand, and this whole world has always been here, but his short-sightedness has kept him stuck in his own way."
The Inquisitor paused and looked up at the stars in the transparent dome. The audience followed his gaze with rapt attention, as if imagining the dazzling sun in the story.
"The man knew that he must inform his companions of this miraculous discovery, and he returned to the cave by the same route, while the others continued to stare at the fire, and watched the shadows on the rock wall with a vacant smile, and the one who had witnessed the sun The man re-examined the place that was his home and realized that it was in fact a prison. He told what he found, but they were unmoved by these absurd stories about a blazing eye in the sky - they only wanted to With their lives unchanged, they laughed at the lone traveler, calling him mad, and then continued to stare at the fire because it was all they knew... The lone traveler could not understand his friends. He did not want to go to the world of light, but he was determined not to let it end with their rejection, and he would show them the light, and if they would not seek it, he would let it come and visit them."
Gradually, Soshyan realized the core problem of this story.
"So the man returned to the light world and began to dig. He widened the hole and worked for a hundred years, and another hundred years, until he had leveled the top of the mountain. Then he dug down and carved out a Leading to the deep pit in the heart of the mountain, he finally reached the cave, but his companions were still sitting around the fire. Those people were shocked by what he showed. They had missed such a dazzling thing in their past lives. The light, and if they could muster the courage to walk with him, they would have experienced the glorious joy. They left the dark cave one by one, saw the real world, witnessed all the wonders and beauty, and they turned their heads Looking back at the dark and lightless home of the past, I feel terrified about my past ignorance. I can't help praising the person who led them into the light and remembering his great deeds, because all the treasures in the world are forever for them to explore. .”
Lennart Meyers fell silent, silent, and then looked at Soshyan.
"What do you think?"
Soshiyang thought for a moment, and then said:
"What if what the man saw was not the sun?"
Lennart Meyers smiled, very happily.
"Ah, you always surprise me, Chapter Master Soshiyan. The person who described this story had a very tragic ending, so I realized that this story has another ending. The light shown by that person made his The fellows were horrified because they did not see any sun at all, there was only a terrifying black sun in the sky, the world was shrouded in blood, the earth was devastated, and only twisted monsters were rampant, so they killed the lone traveler , and then fled into a deeper cave with a fire, living in the eternal twilight. They may still be in trouble, but at least they survived."
Soshyan nodded slightly.
"The Empire may be cruel to its people, but it is one of the ways to survive..."
Hearing the last two words, Lennart Meyers raised his eyebrows, but did not comment on them, but changed the topic.
"Although Abaddon was not eliminated in this battle, the results were still amazing. Terra's awards will come soon, but you also know that some people don't want you to be in the limelight, so the focus of this award may be darkness. Angel, I hope you don’t mind too much.”
Soshyan shook his head.
"Loyalty is our reward."
However, Soshyan felt a little strange. The other party's tone seemed as if he could influence the decision of the High Lords Council.
"This is good."
Lennart Meyers put his scissors into an oak, gold-rimmed box, then turned to Soshyan and chuckled.
"This is your philosophy."
In a distant place, church bells began to ring. It was a solemn, rhythmic sound, beautiful and ancient.
"I hope that when we meet next time, Chapter Master Soshiyan, you will have made new contributions to the empire."
"Of course, if you have time, you can come to Naisen No. 4 and I can show you my friendship as a landlord."
"Yes, if there is a chance."
Then Soshyan turned around and left slowly, leaving the other party in the sweet fragrance of the plant and the sound of the bells.
Not long after Soshyan left, a huge figure walked out from the depths of Lennart Meyers' garden. His body was covered by a black cloak, only a gorgeous and weird golden spire was exposed. The helmet is wrapped with circles of silver thorn strips, and the face is covered by a golden mask that combines crying and laughing expressions.
He walked to Lennart Meyers and watched Soshyan disappear behind the hatch. Soshyan had not noticed such a huge figure before.
"How about it."
Lennart Meyers sighed softly, with a look of nostalgia on his face.
"It looks so much like him. I even thought it was him standing in front of me."
"Then it's a pros and cons to the plan."
"You still like to simplify things so much, man, how can it be so easy to distinguish between pros and cons... Let's see! By the way, if you have time, I hope you can tell me about Said. , I remember correctly, this part doesn’t seem to be in the plan?”
The man wearing a pointed helmet was silent for a moment, and then said helplessly:
"I have answered this question three times, and this is your fourth time."
"Oh? So, it was a change made by the first backup?"
"Every time you make slight adjustments to the plan, but that person, Syd..."
The peaked helmet swayed from side to side.
"...Its situation is somewhat unique."
After thinking for a moment, the judge nodded thoughtfully.
"Then tell me what you know."
