NOVEL NEXT Chapter 232: Chapter 27: Reasoning Game
If only gods truly existed.
The Holy Emperor had thought this on countless nights.
But gods, in the end, were nothing more than spiritual comforts that fragile people chose to rely on hopes that ordinary people clung to when despair descended and they felt powerless, expecting to be saved.
However, the Holy Emperor was not an ordinary person.
She was the most powerful figure in the Tokyo area, one of the few surviving cities in Japan.
Her every move, her every word, determined the fate of Tokyo.
That was why she couldn't believe in something as illusory as gods.
Yet, after witnessing the miracles performed by Nia Honjo, the Holy Emperor resolve wavered.
Reason told her that there must be a scientific explanation for this, just like the mechanical soldiers from the New Human Creation Plan effects achieved through some kind of advanced technology.
But the scene before her was so sacred, so incredible, that she couldn't help but feel a flicker of belief in Nia Honjo words.
Perhaps this person truly was an agent of God.
Perhaps this person truly had the power to save Tokyo and even all of humanity.
"Your Excellency, the Holy Emperor."
The voice of her maid called out from behind, snapping the Holy Emperor out of her daze.
She tightened her resolve, quickly dismissing her earlier foolish thoughts and feeling ashamed for momentarily believing in the existence of gods.
After calming herself, she spoke slowly, "Ms. Honjo, I don't know how you achieved this ability, but you can't gain my trust by invoking the name of God."
"Lord Holy Emperor, don't you believe in the existence of gods?"
"No."
"Even after witnessing a miracle?"
"There are many things in this world I don't understand. Are they all miracles?"
"Lord Holy Emperor, I really like you," Nia Honjo said with a smile. "You're thinking, and that's a good thing. Too many people in this world have given up the ability to think and blindly follow anything that seems to make sense."
The Holy Emperor was puzzled.
Why would this person be happy that she didn't believe in God?
"Isn't your purpose to make me believe in God?" she asked.
"No, I told you my purpose is to bring the gospel to those who need it."
"Isn't the purpose of that to spread faith?"
"True gods don't need faith, because their power comes from themselves, not from humans," Nia Honjo said calmly. "Gods don't need humans."
"If gods don't need humans, why do they send messengers?"
"Lord Holy Emperor, when you open a window for a butterfly that's flown into your room, do you expect something in return from the butterfly?" Nia Honjo asked. "When you use your umbrella to shelter abandoned cats and dogs, do you expect them to repay you one day?"
"No... I do it simply to satisfy my kindness."
"Yes, gods are the same they act out of mercy," Nia Honjo said. "And I am their messenger, walking among mortals, spreading that mercy."
"Then, Miss Messenger of God, what do you hope to gain from me by revealing this identity?"
"Oh, nothing other than the bounty I deserve," Nia Honjo replied. "Besides, the reason I revealed my identity was simply to answer your question."
"My question?"
"Did the Holy Emperor forget? You asked me how I knew the location of that Gastrea," Nia Honjo said, spreading her hands. "My answer is that God granted me the ability to know everything."
"Omniscient?" The Holy Emperor chewed on the word. "That's a heavy claim. Are you saying you know everything?"
"That's right."
"Then can you tell me what I'm worried about right now?"
Nia Honjo summoned the Whispering Volume.
Using the power of her angel, she could see the Holy Emperor innermost thoughts at a glance.
"Haha, as the ruler of the Tokyo region, Lord Holy Emperor has many worries."
Scanning through the Holy Emperor concerns from insomnia to the survival of the city all were listed in the volume.
Nia Honjo picked out a few key ones and said, "You're worried that I have ulterior motives for the Tokyo region. You're worried about whether you're qualified to be a ruler. And you're worried that Kikunojou Tendo will refuse to continue assisting you because he opposes the [Gastrea Protection Act]. Am I right?"
With each worry voiced, a hint of fatigue appeared on the Holy Emperor face.
Yes, these were facts.
Especially the last one a worry she had never shared with anyone.
Even in front of outsiders, she had to pretend to trust Kikunojou Tendo completely.
But this didn't mean Kikunojou Tendo wasn't loyal.
It didn't mean the Holy Emperor didn't trust him.
Kikunojou Tendo loyalty was unquestionable. Despite having the ability to usurp power, he chose to assist the Holy Emperor, helping her navigate the critical period of power transition.
The Holy Emperor trusted him, but she had no choice because in the vast Tokyo government, she had no one else she could rely on.
"Lord Holy Emperor, you must know that the person secretly hindering the [Gastrea Protection Act] is Kikunojou Tendo, right?"
"Of course. He doesn't hide his disdain for the cursed children in front of me."
"But do you know that the incident with the Seven Stars relics was also his doing?"
Hearing this, the Holy Emperor expression turned serious.
She stared at Nia Honjo and said firmly, "Although I disagree with Lord Tendo on many things, I won't allow anyone to slander him."
"Then why don't we play a reasoning game?" Nia Honjo said with a smile. "Suppose this incident was orchestrated by Kikunojou Tendo. His goal was to use the Seven Stars relics to summon a stage five Zodiac Gastrea, worsening public perception of the cursed children and further pressuring the [Gastrea Protection Act]."
"Please continue."
"If he received word that a police officer had recovered the relics and wanted to meet the Holy Emperor, what do you think he would do?"
"..."
"He'd have someone stop that officer, right?"
"..."
"And after stopping the officer, what would he do next?"
Just then, a maid's voice came from outside the door.
"Lord Holy Emperor, Lord Tendo requests an audience."