Chapter 82

--In terms of having a big heart and being easygoing, Lemuen and Han Fei are a perfect match.

The two groups quickly met up, Han Fei looked at Texas with concern, asking, "Are you all alright?"

"Don't worry, don't worry, nothing happened~"

The one who answered Han Fei wasn't Texas Lemuen. She smiled brightly, gave Han Fei a thumbs-up, and her expression was somewhat knowing—"With me here, what could possibly happen?"

Texas nodded slightly, and said succinctly, "We didn't have a conflict. What about you?"

"It went smoothly..."

Han Fei had barely opened his mouth when he was abruptly interrupted by Gun Knights beside him, "That's enough of the reminiscing. His Holiness the Pope is waiting."

He shrugged, wisely kept quiet, and, surrounded by Gun Knights, left the solemn First Hall with the girls.

Before long, the majestic outline of the Laterano Cathedral came into view.

At this moment, there were already quite a few pedestrians in the square outside the church.

Han Fei's conspicuous entourage, "escorted" by Gun Knights, instantly attracted a lot of attention. Han Fei, however, paid no attention and strode confidently through the various gazes into the magnificent church.

A short while later, Pope Evangelista XI, who bore a striking resemblance to the KFC grandfather, came into Han Fei's view.

The Pope was quite good-natured. Even though Han Fei and his group had just caused a huge disturbance in the Pontifical Hall, he still wore a kind smile and said, "Good afternoon, children."

"Good day, Your Holiness the Pope," Lemuen greeted softly first.

Everyone then greeted the Pope, and Han Fei mingled among them and gave him a greeting as well.

The Pope responded kindly to the girls' greetings, then his gaze gently fell on Han Fei and Texas: "Two guests who have traveled from afar, please wait a moment..."

What followed unfolded exactly as Han Fei remembered: Mostima was officially appointed as the Messenger of All Nations, and Fiammetta embarked on her destined path.

During this process, Han Fei didn't interrupt, nor did he have any reason to.

Mostima becoming a messenger of all nations is actually a very good choice. After all, as a fallen Sankta, she will eventually have to leave Laterano, and becoming a messenger of all nations is already far better than the fate of other fallen angels.

As for Fiammetta's choice, Han Fei had no intention of interfering. Although Lemuen offered a few words of advice, Fiammetta's mind was made up.

"Alright, since you've made up your mind, I won't say anything more." Lemuen looked at her two old friends with a complicated expression. "Then, please be careful out there and take good care of yourself."

"It's still early for parting, relax." Mostima's face still held that faint, mysterious smile. "How about we save the farewell for the actual moment of separation?"

Lemuen nodded slightly. "Alright."

"Will we ever see each other again?" Lemuen's smile faded, her brow furrowed with reluctance.

"Relax, kids."

The Pope's gentle voice rang out at the opportune moment, dispelling the pervasive sorrow, "Messengers from all nations are required to return to Laterano periodically to report. The day of our reunion is not as far away as you imagine."

Upon hearing Lemuen breathed a long sigh of relief, "That's good! I thought I'd never see you again."

"How could that be?"

The Pope smiled and shook his head. Then, his deep and wise gaze refocused on Han Fei and Texas. "Well then, my friends from afar, you may now tell me the purpose of your visit. I imagine you've come all this way not just to put on a 'show' for these children in the Pontifical Hall, have you?"

Han Fei hesitated for a moment, then explained, "Your Holiness, we are actually preparing to leave. However, in order to leave Laterano, I need to do two things, namely, pull the lever. I have already pulled the lever of the Pontifical Hall. Now there is only one more lever to pull, and I can leave Laterano."

The reason Han Fei was so candid was simple: Pope Evangelista XI was a good person; he was kind, generous, and trustworthy.

"Can't you just leave Laterano?" the Pope asked, somewhat surprised. "The gates of Laterano never refuse a guest entry or exit."

"No."

Han Fei shook his head. "I know this sounds strange, but I have to pull the switch to leave, otherwise, I'll die."

Evangelista XI did not respond immediately. His gaze slowly swept across the faces of Lemuen and the other girls, as if to ascertain their attitude towards Han Fei's seemingly absurd words.

The trust and concern in the girls' eyes undoubtedly provided the answer.

"I see..."

The Pope nodded knowingly, his gaze returning to Han Fei with a hint of inquiry, "So, where is this last gate you mentioned located?"

Han Fei took a deep breath and said clearly, "Underground. Underground of the cathedral."

The moment the words left his mouth, the air seemed to freeze.

The Pope's gaze toward Han Fei suddenly became incredibly complex, his deep eyes swirling with surprise, scrutiny, and perhaps even a hint of understanding.

After a long silence, he slowly spoke, his voice low and resonant. "Child, you've really given me a difficult question. Do you know what lies beneath the cathedral?"

"I know."

Han Fei scratched his head. He knew that the area under the cathedral wasn't a place you could just go anywhere, but he figured he had to try, or he'd really be in deep trouble.

"Your Holiness the Pope"

Just as the atmosphere reached a stalemate, Lemuen's soft yet firm voice rang out. She stepped forward and looked earnestly at the Pope: "I am willing to vouch for him. I swear on my honor and faith that I believe in Han Fei and that he would never do anything to harm Laterano." Her voice was filled with unquestionable trust.

Evangelista XI's gaze lingered on Lemuen's face for a moment, then remained silent. He understood Lemuen's perspective. In her eyes, the crypt beneath the cathedral was merely a sacred cemetery where the sages of the past rested, a place of reverence and remembrance, which was why she could make such a promise so readily. However, as Pope, the truth he knew was far heavier than Lemuen's. In that deep crypt, besides the sleeping spirits of the fallen heroes, lay the supreme core of Laterano —the very essence of "the Law." This was the true, absolute taboo, forbidden to any outsider to peek into or touch, the very foundation of the city-state's existence and order.

Lemuen's statement seemed to open a floodgate. Lemuen immediately followed her sister, stepping forward with an unusual seriousness and a hint of urgency in her voice. "Um, I also think my sister is right! Pope, Han Fei is a really good person, he's helped us a lot! We, none of us want to see anything happen to him."

Her bright eyes were also filled with pleading.

The Pope's gaze slowly swept over the people before him— Lemuen's steadfastness, Lemuen's earnestness, Texas's silent support, and the trust in Mostima and Fiammetta's eyes.

An invisible pressure, or rather, a weight stemming from the pure trust these children placed on his shoulders.

"You all trust him so much." The Pope's voice carried a hint of emotion, as if confirming a fait accompli.

"Yes, Your Holiness." Lemuen nodded slightly, her tone steady and certain. "His actions and his choices have already proven that he is worthy of this trust."

The Pope fell into a brief moment of contemplation once more. His aged fingers unconsciously twirled the edge of his robe sleeve, as if weighing the immutable laws of time against the fervent trust of these young lives before him.

Finally, as if he had made up his mind, he slowly raised his eyelids, his gaze refocusing on Han Fei, his tone becoming more serious than ever before:

"In that case... children, I'm willing to give you a chance."

He turned to Han Fei, his gaze sharp as a hawk's, and said, word by word, "I will personally take you underground. But remember, your every move will be under my watchful eye. Do not try to touch anything you shouldn't, do not overstep your bounds, and do not disappoint these children who trust you. Understand?"

The huge weight lifted from Han Fei's heart, and he dared not hesitate or object in the slightest. He immediately straightened up, nodded heavily as if receiving a military order, and said in a resolute tone, "Understood! Your Holiness, I swear, I will only pull the plug, and I will not look at it again, nor will I take another step!"

"Then..." The Pope gave him a deep look, as if trying to imprint his promise in his heart, "Come with me."

He said no more, turned around, and walked with steady, slightly heavy steps toward the hidden entrance leading to the underground in the depths of the church. Han Fei dared not delay for a moment, fearing that this unfathomable old man would change his mind, so he quickly followed, keeping a few steps behind the Pope.

Before long, they descended the dark stone steps into the underground. In stark contrast to the bright sunshine and hymns of the church above ground, the underground passage was dimly lit and cold, illuminated only by Originium lamps that emitted a soft glow, spaced apart on the walls.

On both sides of the passageway stand statues of Laterano saints from all ages, silently gazing down at those who come from the shadows. Their solemn and dignified aura is almost tangible, making it hard to breathe.

Although the underground is free of dampness and decay thanks to a good ventilation system, it is still a place of slumber. The psychological pressure brought about by the eternal silence and solemnity is far more oppressive than the physical environment.

Even the usually kind and talkative Pope was as silent as a statue at this moment, simply leading the way in silence. His heavy footsteps echoed in the empty passage, adding to the mystery and oppression.

After walking in the deathly silence for an unknown amount of time, the Pope suddenly spoke. He didn't turn around; his aged yet calm voice rang out clearly in the silent corridor:

"So, child, where is the 'switch' you need to pull?"

Han Fei's gaze instantly locked onto the only striking green gate marker in his field of vision. He immediately raised his hand, pointing in a certain direction deep within the passage, his voice carrying a barely perceptible hint of urgency:

"It's over there, Your Holiness, about fifty meters away."

The Pope paused abruptly, glancing sideways at Han Fei, and asked, "Do you know where that is?"

"Uh, I don't know."

Han Fei scratched his head and said, "I only know that the switch point is there, but I really don't know what's there."

As he spoke, Han Fei's eyes were full of sincerity.

He did have a general understanding of the cathedral's underground, but only that it was a cemetery where the Laterano's core "Law" were stored.

That's all. As for the more specific route and the exact location of the "Law," he truly had no idea.

Even if you brought in players who are very knowledgeable about the history of Arknights, they would still be completely lost.

The Pope fell silent. He did not look away; his eyes, which seemed to have seen through the vicissitudes of life and could see into people's hearts, were fixed on Han Fei's eyes, trying to catch even the slightest bit of pretense, hesitation, or hidden intentions in the depths of those clear pupils.

The cold air in the tomb passage seemed to freeze, with only the faint light of the Originium lamps casting flickering shadows on their faces.

However, Han Fei had a clear conscience.

His purpose was so pure it was almost "simple"—to pull the plug and leave.

He had no covetousness or desire to explore the location, form, or secrets of the "Law" itself. This purity made his eyes at this moment as clear as unpolluted spring water, almost transparent.

Finally, the Pope let out a barely perceptible breath.

His sharp, hawk-like gaze slowly softened, and the complex emotions surging deep within his eyes—warning, doubt, and weighing—seemed to subside somewhat.

He wasn't completely at ease, but at least in the eyes of the foreign youth before him, he couldn't find any evidence of deception.

"Come with me."

The Pope took another heavy step forward, toward the direction Han Fei had pointed, toward the unknown depths that buried Laterano's deepest secrets.

Before long, a heavy metal door came into Han Fei's view.

And right next to that gate was the power switch point that Han Fei had been dreaming of.

Just as Han Fei was about to go and pull the switch, he heard the Pope suddenly say, "Wait."

Han Fei immediately stopped in his tracks, looked obediently at the Pope, and said, "Is there anything else I need to be aware of?"

P. S.: The bonus chapter for the daytime bounty settlement, up to 0:00 on July 1st, has a little over 200 more monthly tickets, enough for one chapter. Then there are over 50 blades and only 700 rewards. Although it doesn't meet the conditions for a bonus chapter, I will write an extra 1,000 words in that bonus chapter so that everyone's efforts won't be in vain.

Volume 1: Chapter 119 His True Face (Revised)

The Pope fixed his gaze on Han Fei and said, word by word, "Do you know what that sluice gate was originally for?"

"Uh, I don't know."

Han Fei scratched his head. He had no idea about that, just like he didn't know what the switch in the Pontifical Hall was for before he pulled it.

After pulling it, he realized that the thing could unlock those display cases.

The Pope said slowly, "This is an emergency device; once pulled, the door will open."

"Is what's inside very important?" Han Fei asked tentatively.

In fact, as they were talking, Han Fei had already made a rough guess: what was behind this door might be the most important and most secretive thing in Laterano —the very essence of "Law".

"It is indeed very important."

The Pope remained expressionless, his hand beneath his long sleeves already touching the edge of the Guardian Gun. "It's so important that I can't let you see it, child."

His gaze remained fixed on Han Fei, ready to draw his Guardian Gun at any moment should Han Fei make the slightest move.

"Uh, in such an important place, the emergency equipment is installed so casually, is that really okay?" Han Fei asked subconsciously.

"This is the heart of Laterano. Do you think you could have gotten here so easily without my guidance?"

Han Fei's docile attitude eased the Pope's expression slightly, and he then said, "Thieves can't get here. If the enemy's army really breaks into this place, then I think it makes no difference whether this device is there or not."

"That's true."

Han Fei echoed, then asked the crucial question in a low voice, "So, you're not planning to let me cut off the power?"

"Yes."

The Pope looked calmly at Han Fei. "If you wanted to touch another gate, I wouldn't refuse. But this gate is not an option."

"Hiss."

Now, Han Fei was also in a difficult position.

Only by pulling this switch can he leave Laterano. Without this mechanism, he really wouldn't be interested in coming here for this great adventure.

For a fleeting moment, Han Fei even considered throwing two smoke grenades and forcefully pulling the plug.

But upon further reflection, he dismissed the idea.

--Lemuen and the others staked their reputations on me; if I were to forcefully pull the plug here, wouldn't I become a dishonest and treacherous person?

Han Fei didn't consider himself particularly noble, but he still needed to be mindful of keeping his promises.

At least in the Delta Force, he either doesn't answer the signal, or if he does, he won't harm the rats again.

Conversely, the same principle applies; when he's playing the mouse, he never attacks a fully equipped team that has received a signal.

Seeing the Pope's unquestionable expression, a compromise idea came to Han Fei's mind.

With a glimmer of hope, Han Fei asked, "Then, Your Holiness, why don't you try to pull this switch for me?"

A flicker of hesitation crossed the Pope's eyes. "Would this be useful to you?"