"Become a demigod! Only by becoming a demigod will you have a slight qualification to intervene in this matter, and only then will you be qualified to know the truth."
This was the promise Ebner had given Xio at Damir Harbor before boarding the White Agate.
And now, after more than a year, Xio had finally met the condition. She looked at Ebner beside her with anticipation.
Although she had already investigated some clues regarding the cause of her father, Mason Dere's, death.
Ebner had no intention of reneging on his promise. It was just that his viscount's residence was not a suitable place for such a conversation. So after bringing Xio to the bedroom, he "respectfully" prayed to Mr. Fool…
Moments later, Mr. "Tower" and Miss "Judgment" appeared on opposite sides of the ancient mottled, long table.
Ebner glanced left and right. Although he didn't see anyone else, he knew Klein was definitely eavesdropping in the shadows.
However, Ebner didn't mind. He simply looked at Miss "Judgment" across from him and said with a smile, "What do you want to know?"
"What was the direct cause of my father's death?" Xio pressed her lips together and asked.
Ebner organized his thoughts and replied, "Earl Mason Dere discovered George III's secret. Because what the latter was doing violated his conscience, he resolved to notify the three major Churches…
"But unfortunately, due to betrayal by his deputy, and because the Loen royal family had long been monitoring an 'outsider' like him, his plan failed, and he was executed on the spot."
Though his answer was based on the original work, it was also the result obtained after truly "seeing through" the matter.
Ever since learning about the various manipulations of his previous "selves," Ebner no longer "superstitiously" believed in the original plot.
Hearing this, Xio let out a sigh, as if finally confirming her suspicions. After thinking for a moment, she asked again:
"The king's secret is the reason you've always refused to tell me the truth? Does it involve something very dangerous?"
Ebner looked at Xio with appreciation and nodded. "That's right… To be honest, if I hadn't already confirmed that one's attitude, even now I wouldn't dare tell you."
"That secret… what exactly is it?" Xio frowned and said softly, "It should involve the disappearance of a large number of people… But even so, it shouldn't have made you unwilling to mention it before."
"Your thoughts are already very close to the truth… In fact, the Great Smog of Backlund was merely George III's cover for his secret." Ebner first affirmed Xio's reasoning before revealing the answer:
"Everything George III has done was in preparation for a godhood ritual. He… no, He, wants to become the 'Black Emperor'!"
"Become a god? The Black Emperor?!" Xio's expression instantly froze. Although she had guessed that what the king was plotting was no simple matter, she had never imagined it would be related to a true deity!
Ebner nodded solemnly. "Yes. The ritual for the Black Emperor's apotheosis is:
"To possess a nation of one's own, to link one's name with the title of Emperor so that it becomes common knowledge among the populace, and to establish a strict and complex set of rules that nevertheless violate normal circumstances. Then, secretly command the people to build nine mausoleums similar to pyramids. After that, enter one of them and, amid corresponding sacrificial rituals spread across different cities and participated in by the vast majority of the populace, consume the Sequence 0 potion.
"That's why there were large numbers of disappearances and a resurgence of the slave trade—because George III not only needed enough people to construct the mausoleums but also needed to create a false appearance to confuse the Churches.
"That's why, years ago, the Loen royal family obtained the crown of the Balam Empire, and recently publicly displayed Roselle's imperial seal… All of it was to link the king's name with the title of Emperor.
"That's why the repeal of the Grain Act, the unified civil service examinations, the restructuring of military relations, the suppression of the House of Lords and the nobility, the strengthening of the House of Commons—even the relatively smooth development of my film industry and the 'Academy Awards,' which faced far less resistance than in Intis or Feysac and operated well with only a temporary team assembled by Hazel—weren't merely because Princess Vera had invested in them.
"Your father discovered that large numbers of people were being thrown into the construction of the mausoleums and dying miserably. He vaguely sensed George III's goal and intended to report it to the Churches. That's why he was executed."
After hearing this, Xio's expression turned unusually gloomy. She pondered for a long time before biting her lip and saying:
"So that's how it is!
"But Ebner… since you knew from early on, why didn't you report this to the gods? Why did you insist on risking yourself to approach George III…
"Was it so that I could personally participate in avenging my father? That wasn't necessary…"
Klein, hidden to the side and eavesdropping, also thought, Good question. Although after becoming a Miracle Invoker, and with Ebner's hints, he had guessed the king's intentions, he still had many unresolved doubts.
And what Xio asked was one of them.
After all, given Liu Bo's relationship with the Goddess, he wouldn't conceal such a matter from Her… And besides, it wouldn't be easy to hide something from a "Mother of Concealment." There was no need to.
Facing Xio's confusion, Ebner shook his head with a smile. "If I can know about it, how could the gods who have existed for several epochs fail to see through George III's little trick?"
"Then why…" Xio stopped halfway, because what followed would be disrespectful to the gods.
Ebner considered it and decided it was fine to explain. "It's simple. The attitudes of the gods and the Churches are not completely identical.
"The Churches do not permit anyone to challenge Sequence 0. But the Seven Gods are happy to see a mentally stable 'Black Emperor' born—though they would prefer it be the one they support. Therefore, They will not give overly specific revelations to Their respective Churches. They simply let them follow normal procedures: if they can uncover it, they punish; if they cannot, they tacitly allow it to develop.
"It was precisely because he grasped this attitude that George III dared to take the risk!
"So even if we had reported it, it would have been useless. We would only have ended up like your father… Because without decisive evidence, the Churches would never move against an angel family that possesses a Sequence 1 and multiple Grade 0 Sealed Artifacts."
Xio finally understood the crux of the issue. Somewhat dejected, she asked, "Is there no god who opposes George III?"
"Of course there is…" Ebner met Xio's suddenly raised, astonished gaze and said with a smile, "'Mr. Fool' cast a vote against it in this matter!"
Hidden in the shadows, Klein nearly failed to control his expression even with the use of his Clown abilities.
Although what Mr. "Tower" said was true, the way it was described made it sound as if I alone stood against the gods and vetoed them with a single vote…
So embarrassing!
Have I used my Clown abilities so much that I'm always passively playing the 'clown'?
Klein covered his face, then took a deep breath and decided to ignore Mr. "Tower's" deliberate teasing, putting on an expression as if nothing had happened.
At this moment, "Tower" continued:
"In fact, George III's plan for apotheosis is merely the beginning of another plan…
"The reason I didn't dare tell you before was that I was afraid the one truly standing behind the scenes would notice."
"The one behind the scenes… who is that?" Xio asked again.
"The 'Twilight Hermit Order'… Adam!"
...
(End of Chapter)