Morin expected Carlos to immediately show a serious expression and say something like, "So you're the legendary Templar Knight, the mortal enemy of us assassins," or something similar.
Instead... the scene fell silent, and not for just a second. After a while, Carlos finally frowned and asked Morin cautiously, "Are you talking about the... Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon?"
"No, I'm not talking about that," Morin said, shaking his head helplessly.
"It seems you assassins have managed to conceal the existence of the Templar Knights well..."
"What?" Carlos said he didn't understand what Morin was talking about.
"Okay, it seems I need to be a history teacher today, but before that..." Morin pointed at the gun in Carlos's hand.
"Put your gun away. Let's go for a drink, and we can talk while we're at it."
...
"Are you telling the truth?" Carlos asked after Morin had explained the history of the Templar Knights and the Fraternity of Assassins.
"But I know nothing about it!"
"The Templar Knights fell into decline because of the assassins' 'Loom of Fate'." Morin shrugged.
"Can you imagine the kind of loss that can be caused when the so-called Loom of Fate, which names the people the assassins must kill, is under someone's control?"
"Under control?" Carlos's pupils widened slightly.
"Since the names are generated by a special code, it naturally means it can be deciphered and manipulated."
Morin said, "When the assassins started using this mechanism, it meant they had broken the rules and started ruthlessly attacking the Templar Knights."
"The Templar Knights didn't even have time to react before they were badly weakened by the massive deaths of their elders. Because they were at a huge disadvantage from the start, and due to internal divisions... after thousands of years of fighting, they were completely defeated."
"So... you're..." Carlos hesitated.
"I am probably the last Templar Knight in this world," Morin said. "That's why I came to find you."
"But I'm an assassin."
"Assassin? No. When the assassins started to change the results of the Loom of Fate and added 'profit' to their
goals, they were no longer assassins, but killers."
"What's the difference?"
"The difference is huge," Morin said seriously. "Assassins fight for their beliefs, and killers fight for profit."
"So, in my opinion, the so-called Fraternity of Assassins today would be more accurately called the 'Killers' Alliance'."
"We've always followed the guidance of the Loom of
Fate," Carlos argued.
"Oh, really? I don't quite believe that." Morin finished the wine in his glass, then asked the waiter for paper and a pen.
He wrote down his newly-acquired phone number and gave it to Carlos.
"I don't want to have a pointless argument with you, and I don't want to force you to join the Templar Knights to help me, so I choose to let you see for yourself."
"Since you think the Fraternity of Assassins is following the guidance of the Loom of Fate, then fine," Morin said.
"Go back, find a way to get a list of all recent assassination targets, and send them to me. I'll investigate the financial motives and entanglements behind those lists."
"Evidence can be faked."
"Do you not trust your own judgment and observation skills, Assassin Master?" Morin said with a chuckle.
"The reason I'm not asking you to investigate is, have you ever considered, if what I'm saying is true, who is controlling the Loom of Fate within the Fraternity of Assassins right now?"
"Sloan..." Carlos muttered. He remembered some things, some details.
"Those involved are often biased, while outsiders can see more clearly. My saying this will surely make you think of things that are worth questioning, but that's far from enough."
"And the reason I don't want you to investigate is exactly this. If you make a big move and get discovered, Sloan will put you on that 'Loom of Fate' list."
Morin said slowly, "Even though you're an Assassin Master, you'd probably have a hard time dealing with that kind of onslaught, right?"
"But if you get discovered..." Carlos asked subconsciously, but then stopped halfway through.
"If I get discovered, you shouldn't be worried about me, but about the people who are sent to kill me," Morin said with a laugh.
"I am far stronger than you can imagine."
"If that's the case..." Carlos asked. "Why don't you just go to them directly?"
"Because my goal isn't just to destroy the Fraternity of Assassins," Morin said. "I want to correct the mistakes the assassins have made and correct some of the
problems in this world."
"That sounds like something a religious fanatic would say," Carlos said, frowning.
"The Templar Knights have always been staunch proponents of atheism," Morin denied.
"I just want to bring some balance and order back to this chaotic world."
"Therefore, I can't do it alone. I need to spread the glory of the Templar Knights across the world again."
"So, Carlos, pass the torch... no, once you've confirmed the situation within the Fraternity of Assassins, join the Templar Knights and bring glorious order to this world!"
"..." Carlos was silent for a moment. "Isn't that the same as proselytizing?"
"Of course not. There's a fundamental difference in our purpose," Morin said, giving Carlos a disdainful look.
"And if possible, you should also find time to meet with your son."
"At a time like this, shouldn't you be pledging your allegiance?" Morin thought to himself, sighing inwardly.
To be honest, he wasn't a Templar Knight who believed in order. However, by reading the records in the Revelation and interpreting the system's explanation for the Templar Knight profession,
Morin guessed that to make big money with this profession, he would have to recruit people and re-establish the Templar Knights.
This was an essential step.
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