NOVEL NEXT Chapter 67
67 Flag
“Regarding the manifestation of the Eighth Holy Spirit a week ago, it has been repeatedly confirmed by our episcopate. Its authenticity has been confirmed and recorded in the Church’s history. It will be written in the Book of Silver in the future as a permanent record,” the aged Patriarch, Adrian, said.
Upon hearing this, Albert perked up. He adjusted his sitting posture slightly and sat up straight.
Albert’s intuition told him that this matter was the highlight of the day.
This included why the Senate meeting on the 30th of every month was held in advance, and why so many politicians and ambassadors from the Empire’s provinces were present today.
It was all because of this.
“According to records, this divinity manifestation is the 17th recorded since Terra I’s ascension, but the range and extent of its influence can be said to be unprecedented. There are records of divinity manifestations in the entire Riel Empire. There’s even news that there are signs of divinity from the Damon Continent, Ava State, and even the expedition from the Ruins of Orsis.”
As the Patriarch spoke, he put the figurine back around his neck and continued,
“It can be said that this is the largest divinity manifestation since Terra I’s ascension. Moreover, it is written in the Book of Revelations that it is a sign that the Holy Spirit’s imminent wrath will descend… It’s a serious matter, so the episcopate’s interpretation of the manifestation began a week ago. Now, we have a preliminary conclusion…”
So that’s how it is. Have you finally made up your mind to give this matter an official explanation?
Albert wasn’t that surprised.
The matter of the figurines seemingly coming to life a week ago caused everyone in Platinum City to panic. It was said that the imperial guards were deployed in the middle of the night. Just the people who spread the rumor that judgment was imminent had filled an entire floor of the dungeons.
The aftershocks had far-reaching effects.
Platinum City was originally the origin of the Holy Spirits Church and the center of faith across the continent. The traditional Church itself vaguely suppressed the Eighth Order.
Although the Eighth Order’s church-Kane Riel Church-was allowed to be opened, in a sense, it was a symbol of the Holy Spirits Church’s recognition of the Riel royal family’s legitimacy. Therefore, this church was basically only dedicated to the Riel royal family’s prayers and sacraments and was rarely opened to the public.
After the figurine incident, the Kane Riel Church was surrounded by citizens almost every day. Countless people held cracked figurines and tried to enter the church, hoping to see if the adamantine statue in the church had cracked.
Of course, even more ridiculous rumors were spreading.
For example, the statue of the Holy Spirit would have tears in its eyes and spit out golden words that floated in the air, filling the name list of corrupt officials in Platinum City. Or, the statue would leave the base in the middle of the night and turn into a black-robed person on the street to ask about the Empire’s current situation.
Of course, most of these rumors came from the taverns and the mouths of the delirious drunk. Although they made it sound real, no one could produce evidence.
Empress Erin immediately ordered the Platinum Ring to set up an expelling barrier in front of the church. Most people who came on a pilgrimage or wanted to investigate would be stimulated by the barrier to the point of tears the moment they approached. Then, they would be captured by the nearby guards and fined 20 gold riels on the spot.
Then, all the taverns or other entertainment venues in Platinum City received relevant orders through their respective channels. They were strictly prohibited from discussing those rumors in public.
With such a forceful crackdown, the Platinum City government at least temporarily suppressed this storm on the surface.
However, it was only on the surface and temporarily.
It was impossible to care how many people secretly wanted to use the Holy Spirit’s manifestation to achieve their goals.
If this matter continued and the rumors continued spreading, it would be exploited by people with ulterior motives, causing the situation to spiral out of control on a large scale.
Relying on forceful suppression would ultimately have the opposite effect. What the Church and the Empire really needed to do now was to use this divinity manifestation as a guide and firmly seize the initiative to provide the framing of the incident.
Rather than calling the manifestation of the Holy Spirit a flag, as long as the figurine didn’t personally give its orders, the greatest right to interpretation lies with the Empire’s officials.
This thought suddenly appeared in Albert’s mind.
Therefore, what decision would they make by holding this flag high?
“…According to the time of the divinity manifestation, the final interpretation of the episcopate is that this is the Eighth Holy Spirit’s anger at the land in Ava State for rejecting the Astral Laws, the glory of the Holy Spirits Church, and the land that doesn’t have the slightest respect for the Riel Empire. It also issued an ultimatum for the date of their unconditional submission to the Empire.”
With that said, everyone looked at Empress Erin.
If this was the interpretation, this must be what that person wanted.
Ava State generally referred to the archipelago southwest of the Vic Continent, which was the hometown of all elves. At the same time, it was the origin of the original mage organization, the Tacma Church. To put it further-it was the origin of the concept of magic.
However, to the Riel Empire, this place had a more important historical significance.
It was the only place where Terra I’s great conquest failed in the unification war 800 years ago. 200 Empire warships sank into the storm of the Shattered Sea in the Battle of Wandering. Terra I almost died here.
In the 800 years since the Riel Empire was established, a few emperors had tried their crusades against Ava State to complete the great undertaking that the founding emperor hadn’t completed. However, they either retreated in the face of the unpredictable storm in the Shattered Sea or suffered a tragic failure after crossing the sea and losing more than half of their troops.
To this day, Ava State relied on the natural dangers of the Shattered Sea to remain beyond the Empire’s regime. They didn’t abide by the Astral Laws, nor did they acknowledge the existence of the Eighth Holy Spirit and the Riel royal family’s rule over the Vic Continent. They cultivated Tacma’s classical magic system and advocated the most heretical ‘Pan Magic Big Bang Creation Model’, rejecting the Holy Spirits’ teachings.
Now, if one were to interpret the divinity manifestation in this direction…
The Patriarch sat down. Speaker York cleared his throat and said, “Then, the next motion, which is also the last motion for today’s Senate meeting, will be proposed by Empress Erin. I will read it on her behalf-there’s a proposal for the preparatory preparations for the conquest of Ava State…”
Just as everyone was attracted by the content of the proposal, Albert suddenly realized a problem.
This is the last motion…
Why has there been nothing about what happened in the Blackwater Province some time ago at such a high-profile meeting today-be it the short-lived Undead Tide crisis that quickly subsided, Duke of Thorn’s disappearance, the sudden death of the Stranger Lighthouse’s tower guardian, or the Master magic chanter named Vincent’s announcement that he would become the interim leader of the entire Blackwater Province-why hasn’t anyone mentioned these things?
Not a single word was mentioned.