Chapter 605: Secret Chamber
While Charles was in the middle of stopping the Disaster, many things happened in the Sacred Empire's Capital City.
The first one was the assassination of Bishop Clay. Although no one knew who assassinated him, this incident caused pressure among the higher-ups. After all, it had been almost 15 years since such a similar incident happened, which confused everyone.
What was more coincidental was that Bishop Clay was Bishop Michael's best friend, which brought in lots of suspicions and questions about the killer's intention. Some even linked both incidents and suspected that the same person killed both. Because of this, the High Ups of the Sacred Empire increased security all over the city and even sent six holy knights and a deacon to protect Bishop Clay's family members.
The second important news in the city was the killing of a foreign guest by the Order Church Official member in broad daylight. Although no one had witnessed the killing, many people in the Holy City saw Inquisitor Erwin chasing after Charles. Not only the Inquisitor killed a guest of the Empire, but he also caused great chaos in the South Borough by burning multiple houses in a slum street, which infuriated many people.
And last, the incident that attracted many powerhouses from different parts of the Edhen World was the announcement of the opening date of the Star Tomb by Lawful Alliance. Star Tomb was not a mere small tomb but a Dungeon. Although it wasn't a powerful dungeon like Lost Tombs, it was still one of the true Dungeons connected directly to the main World. Like all other dungeons, this one also had a severe entry restriction and could open only once a century.
Because of this, only a few people talked about it.
But that didn't mean anyone had forgotten about it. When the Star Tomb opened last time, a major magical beast breakout happened, resulting in countless deaths. So, the appearance of Star Tomb's entrance was both an opportunity and a danger.
Alas, only those with a rare artifact known as the 'Key of the Star' could unlock the entrance to the Star Tomb and enter.
During the First Arcane Era, all of these keys were once in the hands of the Arcane Empire and always kept in secrecy. But after the fall of the Empire, the keys fell into the hands of Churches and other powerful families. For now, only seven Lawful Churches and five powerful mage families hold the Key of Celestial Stars.
But even the Key Holders couldn't break some rules of the Star Tombs.
For each key, only ten people were allowed to enter. Even they had to pass the trials before even entering the true dungeon. Otherwise, it would result in the total death of the whole team.
Word of the opening of the Star Tomb spread like wildfire more than a month ago and had already reached the farthest corners of the Edhen World. Explorers, Mages, and all other class Mystics came from all over the place and gathered at the Sacred Empire's headquarters, their eyes gleaming with anticipation and their hearts yearning for glory.
Legends spoke of the great treasures hidden within its labyrinthine halls, guarded by formidable creatures and traps.
There was also a rumor that the rise of the former Star Empire was mainly due to a powerful artifact from this Star Tombs. Although it ended up destroyed by the schemes of outsiders, the Empire's history and achievements had yet to be disappeared from the annals of time.
Holy Cathedral of Order and Truth, Central Borough, Holy City, Sacred Empire.
It was around 8 P.M.
Hidden beneath the hallowed grounds of the Cathedral lay a secret underground chamber shrouded in an air of mystique and guarded heavily. This clandestine space, accessed through a concealed entrance, unveiled a large hall of solemn grandeur where important meetings were held.
As a young man in his twenties stepped into the chamber, the subdued lighting cast eerie shadows upon the worn stone floor. His sapphire eyes darted around, observing the ancient unknown texts on the walls and ceilings.
Four sturdy stone pillars rose from the corners, supporting the weight of the chamber above, their rough surfaces telling tales of centuries gone by. The pillars stood as silent sentinels, symbolizing the strength and resilience of the hidden truths kept within this sacred space.
A round table sat in the center of the chamber, weathered by the passage of countless years. Twelve chairs surround it, their ornate designs displaying the craftsmanship of a bygone era. These chairs, worn but sturdy, have witnessed the gathering of minds and the shaping of clandestine plans.
The stone walls stood tall and firm, serving as a backdrop and canvas for the chamber's enigmatic stories. Paintings depicting wars and conflicts adorn the walls, capturing heroic battles of mages and pivotal historical moments. Although steeped in a touch of artistic exaggeration, the scenes portrayed carry a hint of secret.
However, as time had eroded the chamber's secrets, some paintings suffered a peculiar fate. Faded and vague, their colors have faded into obscurity, leaving only hints of their once vibrant hues.
At that moment, three figures cloaked in crimson robes occupied the distant end of the concealed chamber. Their attention shifted silently towards the young man, their eyes fixed upon him as he crossed the threshold into the sacred hall and arrived closer to them.
All of them clutched books tightly, exuding an ethereal presence. On the right stood a towering figure, reaching seven feet in height. With a complexion as fair as freshly fallen snow and fiery auburn locks, his broad forehead accentuated his piercing amber eyes. Despite his age of 50 to 60, his visage held an air of wisdom and authority. The golden rings adorning each finger hinted at the opulence, while his countenance projected an unwavering sternness tinged with an unyielding arrogance.
Positioned in the center, an elderly gentleman stood, his diminutive frame hinting at the weight of years. His bald head gleamed under the light, contrasting against his olive-toned skin. The contours of his face showcased a strong jawline, accentuated by a distinct X-shaped scar etched onto his chin. His appearance exuded the essence of wisdom, resembling the archetypal sage of old.
On the left stood a robust figure radiating strength and vitality. In his forties, he had wavy blonde hair that cascaded in unruly waves. His pale complexion contrasted with his rugged features, defined by bushy eyebrows that framed his piercing gaze. Calloused hands, weathered by labor, told tales of perseverance and hard work, while numerous scars adorned his palms and fingers, symbols of past struggles and battles fought.
They were all Archbishops of the Order.
When the young man arrived closer to the round table, he first went on his knees and greeted the man on the left side.
"Greetings, Lord Victor Hawthorne!"
"Just because I come from Hawthorne family, you don't have to kneel down and respect me like a king, Erwin. In Cathedral, I'm nothing more servant of the Lord of Order. Just mere bow is more than enough." He deliberated for a moment and soon changed the topic.
"Do you know why I called you here?"
Upon hearing those words from Victor, Efwin went stiff for a moment, slowly standing up, and answered with a forced smile.
"Lord must have called me here to give me punishment for causing chaos in the Slums and also for killing the guest of a foreign kingdom."
"Not entirely wrong, but I also called you for another matter. Anyway, I thought you always act calmly but what happened? Why did you kill that man? If not for the Miracle City's ownership changed suddenly due to an unknown reason, things would've gotten more serious. In the worst case scenario, even I might have faced some severe punishment in the Family Elders meeting for selecting a troublesome guard under my wings."
Erwin's face turned purple as he heard those words.
"I-I'm ashamed for not controlling myself back then, My Lord. But that human knows lots of secrets. Leaving him alive would've resulted in much more devastating consequence-"
Before he could end his speech, the elderly bald man stroked his long white beard and interrupted.
"Hohoho, interesting. A mere Rank-3 Mage from Miracle City knows lots of our Empire's secrets? I love to hear what he said, which made you act impulsively." Although his voice sounded more carefree, Erwin strangely felt a cold shiver in his spine.
"L-Lord Magnus!" Erwin hurriedly bowed his head and answered.
"He not only knows about the 'Slave Auction' happening in the night market but also said something about 'World of the Wild.' Although I don't understand his words, I vaguely suspected that it must be secrets behind the Barbarian Slaves under the control of our Empire's Nobles."
A frown appeared on the elderly man's forehead.
"What are you talking about? World of the Wild? Even I hadn't heard of anything like that, though. Aren't those barbarians captured in an Island of the Endless Sea and transported to our Empire with the help of Azure Federation? Although they are useful tools for carrying heavy objects, those guys are nothing but primitives. If not for the language barrier and strict aristocratic contract terms, even I would've brought a few as bodyguards."
At that moment, Victor heaved a deep sigh and shook his head.
"It's a cover up to fool the masses. I heard from my father once that the World of the Wild is a secret world occupied by our Sacred Empire and has lots of resources over there. But it's a secret only a selected few working under Cardinal Fourth and two family members knows. If I'm not wrong, even the puppet Pope knows nothing much about it." He deliberated for a moment and added gravely.
"This is not something even Archbishops like us could handle. If the news of us knowing about the truth of the 'World of the Wild' reaches Cardinal Fourth's ears, we might be branded as sinners and hanged. Forgot about everything." Victor shook his head and asked further.
"Did you kill that man properly? He shouldn't be left alive after all. But the question is: who leaked the Sacred Empire's top secret to the Miracle City?"
"I stabbed his heart and even burnt his corpse, My Lord. As for how he knows about the secrets even we don't know of, I also have no clue about it," While answering, Erwin decided not to casually tell the other secrets Charles muttered in the hotel room.
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