503 Ascension (1/2)
Twenty minutes later.
A hidden underground prison was as lively and bustling as a bazaar.
In the spreading chaos, demons invaded the city, guards abandoned their posts, and criminals were joyfully rising in rebellion.
With torches held high, the prisoners lit their clothes and sheets, sawed through the bars of their cages, broke their shackles, and set off a carnival in the prison.
And on the high stage where dozens of desks were set up in the center of countless noise and screaming, someone was preaching passionately.
”Fellows!” the person shouted with an old voice. ”We meet here today, working together to fight against Ludovic's oppression! We have paid such a great price and made such a great sacrifice! We need to remember this moment of victory!”
”Victory! Victory!” the reveling prisoners shouted back. ”The moment of victory!”
”So, is it for money, glory, or rights?”
On those dozens of tables, an abnormal old man in a tattered, dirty dress clenched his fists, screaming angrily, ”No, it's the most precious thing for one's life. It's freedom!”
The prisoners, indulging themselves in stimulants, alcohol, and banned drugs, screamed with ecstasy, ”Freedom! Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!”
”Let us fight! Let us wave the flag of freedom! Let us move toward a new era!” the old man shouted. ”F**k the pope!”
Crazy prisoners shrieked and shouted back again, ”F**k the pope! F**k the pope! F**k the pope!”
”Very good!” The old man nodded with satisfaction. ”Come on, bring Ludovic's lackey!”
Soon, the prison governor was brought up and tied tightly on a tattered cross. The space around the cross was cluttered with broken wood and doused with fuels as well as liquor with a pungent smell brought by someone from unknown places.
The governor looked utterly pale.
”I beg your mercy! I beg your mercy!” he screamed. ”I'm innocent!”
”Nonsense! Do you think you can fool me!”
The abnormal old man in a dress jumped down and pointed at his nose. ”I can see through your little lies even with my nose!”
”What I said is true!” The governor cried without tears. ”It was the order of the stupid bishop! He had just run! I'm just a poor man! Please, I haven't done anything harmful to you! Please, it's all that stupid bishop's fault!”
The old man picked up two bottles of liquor and poured them on him, leaving a bit to drink. He got sleepy eyes from the drink and asked in a skeptical tone, ”Really?”
”Yes! Yes!” The governor nodded as fast as he could.
”Then, you answer a question!” The old man raised his voice, pointed to his nose, and said, ”If you dare to tell lies, you must pay for your lies today!”
He paused and asked in a holy and solemn tone, ”Do I look good in dresses?”
”...”
In a flash, all the noises disappeared.
Dead silence.
What is he talking about?
The prisoners and the governor tied on the cross looked at the old man with confused expressions. But the governor didn't dare to answer, because the old man still held a newly-lit match in his hand.
”Say it! Yes or no?”
The old man moved the match closer and said, ”If you lie to me, I'll fire you up!”
The governor cried out in tears, broke down completely, and was about to speak.
At that moment, a roar rang.
It was just like a thunderbolt dropped by an outrageous god from the ninth heaven to kill the goddamn desecrater. With the roar continuing, the earth and mountains quaked so hard that no one could stand steadily.
In the loudest bang, the ceiling suddenly broke. A roaring, heavy shadow passed through the layers of the barrier and fell to the ground of the bottom floor.
Boom!
Dust and broken stones flew in the air.
Everyone plopped down on the floor.
An extremely heavy thing descended from heaven, smashed every layer of the ceiling, and even fell to the bottom floor!
The prison governor, tied to the cross, was almost caught under the falling thing and smashed into a patty. He was pale and almost fainted after his narrow escape.
Soon, the scraping noise of steel and iron sounded.
A burly figure emerged from the smoke and no one could breathe.
Knights Templar!
It was the Knights Templar!
The huge gospel armor was a terrible deterrent, making everyone afraid to speak and awakening them from ecstasy with frightened eyes.
The Templar looked around, nodded, and waved to the ceiling after having confirmed that there were no threats. Soon, a rope condensed from aether stretched down.
A white-haired young man in a robe slid down the rope and landed on the Templar's shoulder. He looked around and frowned.
”Who's Albert, the archbishop?”