Chapter 192
"Very brave. If it weren't for the mission assignment, the first to enter Königsberg might have been from District 11. The 'special envoy's' prototype guided weapon is quite powerful. I believe they are capable of taking on more responsibilities."
"Then let's arrange it all together. Tomorrow morning, before returning to Saint Petersburg, I will award medals to those who have rendered meritorious service in Königsberg."
"Notify the entire army that the campaign objectives have been achieved. East Prussia is the end point. Going too far is as bad as not going far enough. The Danzig Corridor... is not the time yet."
As Vera ascended the church steps, the cathedral bells rang on the hour, signaling the end of her conversation Vera her advisors.
A retainer from Hohenzollern bowed and said, "Your Highness, the French still have some sense of honor; they did not damage the mausoleum."
"Lead the way."
Tap, tap.
Vera led her trusted confidante through the main entrance into the church.
Compared to the ornate and luxurious Gothic cathedrals of Central and Western Europe, this church, which is the final resting place of many Grand Masters of the Teutonic Knights, is surprisingly simple, built of red brick.
The glass windows on both sides are also unusually ordinary monochrome or two-tone glass, far inferior to the colorful windows of those famous churches.
The entrance to the underground sanctuary was also narrow and dark.
The sun was setting outside the window, torches were lit, and kerosene lamps were activated. With a clear destination in mind, and guided by the pastor in charge of the church, Vera soon found the burial grounds of her maternal ancestors.
Albrecht von Prussia of the Hohenzollern family
This is the inscription on the tombstone.
The last Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights, he converted the order to Lutheranism and secularized it, transforming its territory into the first Duke of Prussia.
Performing rituals and engaging in united front work, along with the political need to strengthen legal principles, are only one aspect of the issue.
On the other hand.
While her trusted confidants all bowed their heads and clutched their chests, Vera subtly and quickly scanned her surroundings.
Well-preserved murals and painted reliefs.
Mythological figures and eulogistic parts are naturally irrelevant; the key is—
'Geass.'
In silent contemplation, a strange, scarlet bird mark was reflected on Vera's indigo iris.
That was a striking crimson bird mark on the mural, resembling a gemstone or a painted mark, located on the forehead of the person in the mural.
Meanwhile, in the unknown territory bathed in the dim sunlight.
"Hey, Charlie (nickname), your offspring. Another one has come into contact with the power of the Geass shards. Unlike that rebellious little one, she should be an asset to you."
"Yes, brother."
It's like I'm trying to write something new. The known ways to obtain Geass are either from CC or VV, or like in the side story, where Shin Hyuga Shingo's family had a Geass user or had contact with him, and he inherited fragmented power.
Most fanfiction follows the Critical Opinion (CC) route, but I prefer to dig up scraps.
Perfect timing! The Teutonic Knights were one of the most successful examples of a religious-to-secular transition, weren't they? Geass is a unique feature of this world; it's illogical that someone who frequented Jerusalem wouldn't have encountered it. And considering they were the founders of Prussia, this association is logically sound. The first Duke of Prussia is someone I came up with after researching and brainstorming. In reality, he's buried in Königsberg Cathedral.
Also, um, let's do a PY (Personalized Beta) thing.
Push a seedling.
If you're interested, you can check it out.
186
Chapter 186 Geass and Code, Vera of Strong Desire and Restraint.
Geass.
A general term for a type of mental superpower.
Vera knew and confirmed that supernatural forces existed in this world long ago.
[CODE GEASS] The world is not what the physical world appears to be; it is merely a pure science fiction mecha world where the technology tree has gone astray.
In this life, she was born in the royal court of the Holy Britannian Empire in the year 1992 of the imperial calendar.
Even if she hasn't yet awakened to and embraced her own "Heaven's Gift," during childhood, as her brain gradually matures and becomes capable of carrying and supporting more thought processes, those extraordinary "soul Remembrance" that should never be shared with outsiders will naturally surface.
Beyond the basic knowledge she possessed from the very beginning, more profound, vague, and ambiguous things emerged in Vera's mind and became clearer.
It was during that period that she, without seeing or witnessing anything, seemed to possess innate knowledge, grasping the pulse of the ever-changing world situation. Even if it was just a fragment or a piece of information.
At the opportune moment, regardless of good or evil, or whether it should be used or not, a very simple, utilitarian spark ignited Vera's 'young' mind—
Want to!
She desperately wanted to obtain the power of Geass.
Unfortunately, fortune and misfortune are intertwined. Her illustrious and privileged birth granted Vera the right to inherit the throne, allowing her to "rule the world with supreme power and wield the whip to punish all under heaven," but it also restricted many of her words and actions.
Private space? No.
Vera, naturally standing in the spotlight, only needs to leave the Gemini Palace. Who knows how many court servants, guards, and trusted bodyguards from her own family are hiding behind her, inside and out.
Vera knew that Geass was obtained through a contract with the owner of the Code, but others did not, and she could not explain the source of her information.
I can't possibly be a 'disciple of God Jehovah,' a 'dream sent to me by the Alaya consciousness of the human collective subconscious,' or a 'reincarnation of Arwen I, the first king of the Britannia ATB calendar,' believe me?
Moreover, the Code owner is not a Geass ability user who is becoming increasingly common over time.
In short, Code is immortal and can grant others Geass through contracts.
Geass abilities are granted by the owner of the Code or by physical fragments of Geass. Their form and characteristics vary from person to person, and their specific manifestations are influenced by the wishes and qualifications of the person to whom the contract is made.
Vera knows of only two owners of the Code: CC and VV.
The former is an immortal forest witch, the then leader of the Geass Order, and a participant in Emperor Charles's mystical "Ragnarok Plan".
The latter is even more significant: Charles's elder brother, her uncle, the mastermind behind the 2009 White Palace Incident that killed Marianne, and the current leader of the Geass Order after C. C.'s departure for his travels.
So, young children shouldn't always be thinking about causing trouble.
Soon, as the year 1998 of the Imperial Calendar approached, the 'The Blood Crest Rebellion' broke out and was quelled, and the Fifth Empress Marianne stepped onto the stage of history.
During that period, Vera had reason to suspect that CC and VV had been frequenting the Imperial Capital Pendragon. Unfortunately, they were most likely plotting their scheme in Marianne's Aries Palace, which Vera had never been fond of.
She wasn't Cornelia and had no interest in currying favor with Marianne.
Playing house with Lelouch, Nunnally is destined to rebel unless something unexpected happens, would be a waste of Nunnally's time.
Instead of wasting time, he should spend it with his elder brother Odysseus. The gentle-natured eldest prince is at least less scheming, and it would be more relaxing and pleasant to be around him.
Realizing that she couldn't obtain Geass in a short time, Vera had already suppressed the restlessness in her heart, suppressed her strong desire, and returned to a peaceful state of mind, continuing her life as usual.
He continued to cultivate his power base methodically and unhurriedly, building relationships with his mother's supporters, nurturing his own core group of retainers, and watching as his influence grew ever stronger, like a raging fire.
Then, Marianne died.
After losing his mother, Lelouch confronted the emperor, demanding to know why he hadn't protected her. His outburst in court, defying the emperor and relinquishing his inheritance rights, earned him a ticket to Japan, along with his disabled sister, from which they never returned.
It could be said that Vera sat patiently on the riverbank, watching the corpse of her mother, Princess Victoria Adelheid's, court rival, float by.
Although many people both inside and outside the empire view the 'White Palace Incident' as the work of the Hohenzollern faction, who were the biggest beneficiaries.
This kind of thing can't be proven by oneself.
Vera didn't care; the innocent would clear themselves. Emperor Charles, who already knew who the real culprit was, had his own considerations and wouldn't touch her.
If we didn't act then, there's even less reason to act now.
Don't make mistakes, wait for others to make mistakes.
Do not strike first and kill; fight without breaking the enemy's defenses, and solidify your internal strength.
Holding high the banner of Emperor Charles's global unification, fully implementing the policy of hegemonic conquest, and making Britannia even greater!
From then on, it became Vera's benchmark and strategic plan for doing things from the Far East Incident in the Imperial Calendar 2010, the Conquest War District 11, until now—the Imperial Calendar 2017.
Vera clearly remembered the audience she had when she was officially appointed and about to go to European Britannia to pacify the newly conquered lands.
Inside the hall, there were only her, Charles, and Lord Bismarck, the First Knight who served as the guard of secrets.
The conversation was drawing to a close.
Emperor Charles, seated on his throne, asked, "My daughter, what do you desire?"
Vera countered, "Do you mean to ask about frankness or empty pleasantries?"
Charles laughed, "Interesting! What would you say if you were to speak frankly? And what would you say if you were to say something unintentional or just for show?"
Vera didn't pause for even a moment, and answered bluntly, "Polite words are nothing more than saying nice things, like 'May Father Emperor be healthy and live a long life.' To be frank, after Your Majesty's long life, I want to rule the world."
Charles wasn't angry. Instead, he looked at the third woman below the steps with an admiring, disdainful gaze. "Very good, my daughter Vera. Facing your desires honestly, without any hypocritical pretense, you are more honest than I expected. But—"
"Do you have the capacity for that?!"
The emperor suddenly stood up, his loud, booming voice echoing throughout the hall, his scrutinizing gaze as sharp as needles.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Faced with this imposing presence that could cause the 'childhood' former 11th prince Lelouch to lose his composure and stumble, Vera calmly raised her head and met his gaze.
"I will assist you in destroying the EU. The earth will be unified for the first time under your rule. History will record that the earth was unified under the 98th emperor of Britannia. One world, one country, one leader. An unprecedented feat will be accomplished."
This is the truth.
Vera knew very well that Emperor Charles hated most was lies.
Because he witnessed too much power struggle among nobles and royalty when he was young, especially his own mother who was assassinated as a result.
After their mother was assassinated, she and her brother VV made a pact: to create a world without lies and never lie to each other.
This is also the origin of Emperor Charles's ability to modify Remembrance using Geass.
The ability to modify and supplement the recipient's Remembrance is, to some extent, a manifestation of his desire and way of creating a new world—since people cannot understand each other, he imposes his thoughts and ideas on others.
Perhaps the secrecy surrounding his offspring and any lies are irrelevant to him now, but honesty is always a plus.
Vera never hid her ambition.
When princes and princesses take up their posts in local areas, it's just like going to work. If they want to advance, doing things is one aspect, but they must also be able to make PowerPoint presentations and talk about their future prospects and ideals.
Charles listened with great interest.
He didn't speak again until Vera finished speaking, "Continue. If it were you, how would you govern the country, Vera, my daughter? What kind of world do you want to create?"
Vera smiled gently, " To Trailblaze."
"Trailblaze?"
For the first time, an unusual look appeared on Charles's aged face.
Vera simply turned her head to look at the rose window in the hall, which was constructed of pure white marble and a wide gilded crystal structure. The blood-red sunlight shone through the polarized glass of the rose window onto the steps and carpet. She reached out her hand.
The light shone on that fair, slender hand.
Vera slowly began, "From land to sea, and then to the sky, humanity has never concealed its desire to control the stars, and human progress should not stop... Of course, that includes me."
She gripped her hand tightly, as if she had grasped something.
In his indigo eyes burned a fierce greed and a passionate drive for advancement.
For Vera, it doesn't matter who is in power when the Earth was unified; what she wants is to ascend to the throne.
In any case, she will definitely leave a significant mark on the history of the Unification War.
As for her plans for herself—
"Following you, my goal is the stars and the sea! Humanity must leave its cradle and venture to farther horizons!"
Vera looked at the emperor.
Rather than figuring out how to embellish existing quantitative structures, tinkering with things like 'love, peace, and hope,' and then exhausting herself mentally, Vera chose to create incremental growth.
"Interesting!"
Charles smiled.