Black Sail
Chapter 327: CCCXXVII. Formless is the great elephant

Chapter 327: CCCXXVII. Formless is the great elephant

February 3rd.

In the territory of Aran, the Imperial City, Dragon Stone Square, Aran National Museum.

The grand square, with pathways paved in cobblestone and sparkling gravel, is uniquely scenic. At a bench beside a garden outside the museum, a freckled newsboy sells the "Aran Epoch Weekly."

Sharon sat on the bench. With her status as a Priest, except during sacrificial rituals, she no longer needed to wear a nun’s hat, but she still wore the black clergy attire with a white shawl and a silver necklace bearing the Dragon Lord emblem, just like Marcus once did, her left arm adorned with an armband symbolizing her priestly rank.

She bought a newspaper for the price of two copper coins.

As a semi-official media outlet of Aran, the news was generally serious.

It distilled the major news from around the world over the past week.

Three global events were repeatedly mentioned. First was about the Atomic Heart Church rebelling against the heavenly mandates, condemned by various religious groups. Second was about the internal chaos in Beima Duchy, where royal authority had collapsed, and rebels were banding together, leading to severe civil unrest.

The third major event.

It was the recent uproar involving the infamous Liszt, who was accused of massacring people in the East Sea Domain, committing inhumane mass murders on four fishing islands belonging to member states of the Cross Alliance, in an attempt to violently control the East Sea.

The Emperor, from within the Imperial Palace, never issued commands personally. The highest spokesman of the Royal Court was Cicero, the national bank director and the one-eyed warrior who campaigned with the Emperor against Old Aran.

The truth could not be contained any longer. Cicero expressed that regarding the mastermind behind the train robbery, who had also been one of the instigators of the Northern Prison riot, the Royal Court would pay close attention and implement severe sanctions.

Sharon closed the newspaper, deeply concerned for Liszt’s safety.

For unknown reasons, Marcus always chose this location for their meetings.

Due to the importance of the matter, Sharon had arrived early and waited until Marcus arrived.

It was not until ten o’clock that Marcus appeared.

Always dressed in Chain Armor, with sharp black hair and deep blue eyes, he looked about the same age as Sharon, but his gaze carried a maturity not fit for his age.

Upon seeing Marcus arrive, Sharon immediately stood up and respectfully greeted him.

Accompanying Marcus was a male clergy member, holding a rectangular wooden box.

Now there wasn’t much left to hide. This rejuvenated man carried a huge secret, and because of the so-called "Dragon Lord’s True Prophecy," he held an indisputable and esteemed position within the Church Court.

"Your work has been very successful."

Marcus had appointed Sharon as the head of the New City Industrial District for many reasons. Among the Emperor’s followers, there were also outsiders. Sharon’s task was not only to preach but also to root out that outsider, the real head of the industrial district whom the Church planned to assassinate or control.

"I need to tell you something..."

Sharon planned to come clean and persuade Marcus to use his influence to intervene in the pursuit of Liszt, to give him some time to recover.

By now, Marcus already knew about Sharon’s close relationship with Liszt. She had previously traveled to Yunxi City, and the location used by the Black Sail group before the train robbery was also near Yunxi City.

The local Sect in Yunxi City also noted that Sharon had left the church for a few days.

After thorough investigation, based on informants’ reports, Sharon had visited the Black Sail group’s hideout, and she participated in the train robbery.

However, the outcome was ultimately positive. The loss of face for the Royal Court could be retrieved by the Pope, augments the prestige of the Eternal Sect.

"You want me to help stop the Constitutional Army, right?"

Marcus spoke calmly, unaware that it was Liszt who had killed him, which also gave him the chance to hear the sacred sounds.

Sharon seemed somewhat bewildered now.

"Come with me."

Marcus pointed towards the museum, also taking the opportunity to visit the former highest official.

Aran National Museum, the two took the elevator to their destination.

They headed to a room on the thirteenth floor, only open to official personnel. Civilians or nobles not from the central government had to schedule an appointment beforehand to apply for entry, where their background and motives would be scrutinized, ensuring that the "Devil’s" corpse displayed for deterrence wouldn’t be misrepresented by ill-intentioned anti-imperialists as some sort of war hero.

This was an incredibly eerie exhibition hall, with two guards wielding firearms standing watch outside the room.

With Marcus’ status, naturally, he did not need an appointment, and the guards let him in.

The space, relatively speaking, could not be called expansive.

The walls were pitch black, with only track lighting illuminating some plaques and inscriptions that recounted historical events, the once sinfully egregious organization known as the Witch Hunting Secret Department.

As for the last item in the exhibition hall, it was a cylindrical vessel soaking in a pale green preservative fluid.

And the thing immersed inside...

Sharon took one look and felt somewhat nauseated.

Besides, perhaps it was just her imagination, but it seemed as if, even in death, an invisible will was emanating from this person. Although it was clearly spring, the room felt chillingly cold and sinister, instilling fear.

Sharon did not want to stay here for another second.

Even Marcus took a deep breath, his hands trembling slightly. He often came here to confront the deepest nightmares that haunted him.

The information on the plaque beside him was about this person.

Chief of the Witch Hunting Secret Department, Ogne Heinrich.

It also held a brief biography, describing how he had been tried in a military court. Under the Emperor’s Heavenly Army, he had attempted suicide to escape trial, but the Emperor did not let him succeed. The Emperor arrived just before he could kill himself, stopped him, and after a public trial, executed him personally.

"You said... you could solve any difficulty."

Sharon understood her importance. The Sect needed professionals to decode the underlying logic of various projects in the New City Industrial District and prevent the Emperor’s extraordinary talents from blocking technology.

"I did say that, but he doesn’t need my help."

Marcus spoke calmly.

"What do you mean?"

Sharon did not understand.

Marcus motioned for the accompanying clergy to open the wooden box.

The clergy placed the box on the ground and, seemingly with sweaty hands, struggled twice to open the lock, finally lifting the lid and stepping back a few steps.

Inside the box was an immensely ornate ceremonial sword, the room’s light twisted and misty around it, with the handle colored like ivory and adorned with meticulous carvings, extremely lavish.

Marcus gripped the handle, holding the sword in his hands.

Sharon reached out to touch it.

"Be careful, whoever touches this sword will die, even if they are from beyond the heavens."

"What?"

Sharon stepped back in fear.

"This sword is called Junlin Sword, inherently containing unrivaled spell power. At the beginning of its forging, it was also considered a Divine Artifact. Seven hundred years ago, the Empress used it to bestow death upon thirty-three Knights who had conquered the Western Continent under her command. However, these Knights died yet were undying, their resentment entwined and lingering on the sword, hatred crossing through history. It is considered one of the few King’s Devices born within two thousand years after the Ancient Era. If one is not of kingly caliber, touching it means certain death; it is a sword of regicide."

"Kingly caliber..."

Sharon felt a bit dizzy; was Marcus somewhat praising himself?

"I am only because I have the Divine Power granted by the Dragon Lord, untouched by calamities. The person you mentioned does not need my help."

Marcus placed the Junlin Sword back into the Sword Box and handed it to Sharon as compensation for her recent work.

Sharon was a bit hesitant to take it.

"I still don’t understand."

Sharon didn’t grasp the connection between everything, Marcus’ every action seemed like that of a supreme soothsayer.

"Even though I did nothing, the thought touched upon everything, and everything operated spontaneously. Invisible things are called ghost gods; tangible things are called kings. Don’t worry, he is an indispensable part of the once-in-nine-hundred-years catastrophe. I have foreseen the future... you just need to complete your work, following... the will of the Dragon Lord."

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