Master the Abyss, starting from an apprentice priest.

Chapter 711 Audience and Invitation

The moment Lemonster finished speaking, the "Knight of Heavenly Announcement" who had entered the hall to report bowed to Lemonster once more. Then, he stood up, turned and left, and soon the sound of steel boots hitting the ground and soft, rustling footsteps could be heard.

The same knight who had spoken earlier had arrived with the guests from the palace. Lemonster looked up, squinting slightly, and saw a saint who was about his age.

"Holy Deacon" Hubert is well documented in the archives of high-ranking clergy members of the Church that Lemonster just reviewed.

The records show that it was this "Holy Deacon" Hubert who approved Luo Xiu's application to become the "High Priest" and go to Red Maple City. This saint was also one of the saints who had been by Luo Xiu's side the longest since Luo Xiu became the "High Priest".

He is a fifth-degree descendant of the [Radiance], and his profession is "purification holy deacon," which is a common profession among the holy deacons of the [Radiance]... During the long period when he "assisted" and even "followed" Luo Xiu, Hubert served as "acting bishop" several times, handling many important matters on Luo Xiu's behalf.

Hubert must know a lot about Luo Xiu. Things that the Supreme Being knows, and probably things that the Supreme Being doesn't know… Lemonster thought with interest. However, what he wanted to know first was the purpose of Hubert's visit.

Perhaps it was on behalf of the "Radiant Wise King" Rosius Carlos, coming to offer a formal greeting, or perhaps this "Holy Deacon" Hubert had come to "surrender" to him.

Lemonster did indeed have such an experience. He once went to a small border town to investigate some clues involving smuggling and treason by "marquises" at the Imperial Court. As a result, the steward of the person he was investigating came to Lemonster without his master's knowledge.

The butler appeared extremely frightened and terrified. He kept begging Lemonster to forgive him, saying that he would tell him anything if Lemonster spared his life. He then kept saying that his master had forced him to do something—even though Lemonster hadn't asked him anything at first.

Lemonster then agreed not to kill him, and the butler revealed everything he knew about his master. To be honest, Lemonster felt this saved him a lot of trouble; the investigation and preparation had originally taken ten to two weeks, but only three days.

So the steward's master was executed on the spot by the knights under Ramonster's command, and Ramonster kept his promise and indeed "pardoned" the steward who had confessed on behalf of his master. Ramonster generously pardoned his death sentence and even arranged new accommodations for the steward.

Not long after Lemonster left that small border town, a fire broke out at the butler's residence. All the doors and windows were locked, and the butler, along with his mansion, was reduced to ashes.

Such is the oppression of the "Supreme" and the methods of the "Supreme"—Lemonster also knows that this is very convenient and practical for him.

However, he didn't actually want Hubbard to do that, and he didn't want Hubbard to tell him too much at once like the butler, because that would be too boring—in fact, Lemonster knew that he had more expectations and interest in the "Radiant Wise King".

Lemonster knew perfectly well why his father, Emperor Augustusville, had sent him to Red Maple City, to the soon-to-be-established "San Carlos Territory."

To monitor him and to eliminate any potential danger or threat posed by "Rossi Carlos" to the Empire—hence his father specifically ordered him to bring four "Sky Pillar Knights" with him. In an extreme situation, five [Supreme] Seventh-Level Destiny Realms experts would be more than enough to crush a newly promoted Cardinal.

He did have the power to fabricate charges and then personally lead four Sky Pillar Knights to eliminate the "Radiant King" for the most legitimate reason—but that was neither in the interest of the Empire nor in Lemonster's own interest; it was simply to eliminate a potential threat for his father.

That's not what Lemonster wanted to do.

"..."

Before Huber arrived in the hall, these thoughts came to mind for "Imperial Marshal" Lemonster.

Although the arriving Hubert was merely a Saint of the Fifth Destiny, not worthy of Lemonster's much attention, he paid special attention to Luo Xiu—and thus memorized the important Saints around Luo Xiu as well.

Until Lemonster saw the returning Knight of the High Priest, accompanied by the "Holy Deacon" Hubert, enter the hall and stand before him, the Knight of the High Priest first offered Lemonster a respectful salute, while Hubert placed his left hand lightly over his right breast and bowed in homage to Lemonster—

"Greetings, Your Highness Lemonster."

Hubbard's voice was clear and his attitude was neither humble nor arrogant as he addressed Lemonster:

"I am Huber, Huber Ellis, 'High Deacon' of the Red Maple City Church. On behalf of His Majesty 'Radiant Wise King' Rosh Carlos, I welcome you to Red Maple City. His Majesty has just returned to the Church, please forgive any oversight or neglect."

“Originally, His Majesty the Wise King should have paid a visit in person, but His Majesty was too busy with church affairs to do so. Therefore, he entrusted me to deliver the invitation to you.”

"His Majesty the Wise King invites you to grace the Church with your presence at noon tomorrow in the Holy See Hall. His Majesty the Wise King is about to convene the first meeting of the Holy Carlos Territory. Knowing that you are currently in the borderlands, His Majesty the Wise King wishes to hear your opinions and suggestions in order to determine the future plans and direction of the Holy Carlos Territory."

"His Majesty the Wise King also invites you to personally accompany him on a tour of Red Maple City after the successful conclusion of the meeting, and to introduce you to the various scenic spots inside and outside Red Maple City."

"..."

"I have received your invitation."

Lemonster smiled, and after Hubbard finished speaking, he only responded with this one sentence—

Is your 'wise king' really too busy to get away?

But Hubert's expression remained calm. He raised his head, looked directly into the deep red eyes of the chief "Sky Pillar Knight" Lemonster, and said:
"Yes."

"Your Majesty the Wise King is always busy."

“His Majesty the Wise King has far more to consider than we do. Right now, we only wish to share some of His Majesty’s burden, rather than become a burden to him.”

"..."

“You are truly loyal to that ‘Radiant Wise King,’ Saint.”

A smile appeared on Lemonster's face as he gazed at Hubert, his spirituality fully radiating outwards, enveloping Hubert and allowing him to feel the surge of his spiritual energy—

In Rammonster's perception, he sensed that Hubert's spirituality flowed steadily. He didn't seem to be lying, but that was all. What Rammonster could tell from this was that Hubert truly held the young "Radiant Wise King" in high esteem.

"Will your wise king not resist our arrival, Saint?"

With a smile, Lemonster, his spiritual aura enveloping Huber like a blanket, asked Huber—

Wow!
A somber, heavy feeling instantly washed over Hubbard, making it difficult for him to even breathe. It was as if a large hand was pressing firmly against the back of his neck, forcing him to kneel before the Supreme Marshal, before Lemonster.

Not just Lemonster, but a spiritual aura of the [Supreme] Sevenfold Fate.

Right in front of and behind Hubelt, the four Sky Pillar Knights who had come to Red Maple City with Lemonster, together with Lemonster, unleashed a strong spiritual pressure on Hubelt!
The intensely surging spiritual energy, almost materializing, solidified into a massive boulder that pressed down on Hubelt's head, shoulders, and every part of his body. Simultaneously, the voice of Lemonster, rushing into Hubelt's ears, burned like a spark. Hubelt felt his vision blurring, and he could faintly hear the sounds of muscles tearing and bones breaking, accompanied by excruciating pain. Yet, he stood there, staring straight ahead, into Lemonster's eyes, and declared loudly:

"Before my departure, His Majesty the Wise King told me to regard the Supreme as an ally, and to let the Supreme's attitude toward us determine our attitude toward the Supreme."

“As you know, Your Highness Lemonster—this has always been the case, whether it is the alliance between you and His Majesty the Wise King, or between the Holy Court and His Majesty Emperor Augustusville. If you wish to gain more from His Majesty the Wise King, I suggest that you show us the goodwill that you, as the Supreme Being, are showing us.”

"..."

After Hubbard finished speaking...

In fact, his consciousness had become somewhat hazy under the spiritual pressure emanating from Lemonster—but he was still holding on, supporting his consciousness and body, and had not collapsed.

He kept his eyes fixed ahead, on the "Imperial Marshal" Lemonster, and finally, he saw a smile creep onto Lemonster's lips—

"very good."

Lemonster nodded, looking at Hubbard with a satisfied expression.

“Your name is Hubbard Ellis, isn’t it? I’ll remember you.”

He restrained his overflowing spirituality, which suddenly relieved the spiritual pressure that Huber was under.

The gloom and heaviness vanished, and Hubert raised his head to look at Lemonster—

“Go back and tell His Majesty the Wise King that I have accepted his invitation.”

Lemonster looked at Hubbard and said:
"And go back and tell His Majesty the Wise King, Hubert. Tell him that I look forward to meeting him, and that we will have many opportunities to work together."

"You can go back now. Your wise king is very busy, and so am I."

"..."

"Thank you, Your Highness Lemonster."

Once again, Hubbard placed his left hand lightly on his right breast. He respectfully offered a sacrament to Ramunster, then turned and departed from the hall, under the watchful eyes of Ramunster and the four Knights of the Sky Pillar.

……

When Hubbard finally stepped out of the great hall, he finally felt fear and terror surge up from the bottom of his heart like a tidal wave.

Hubbard gasped for breath, feeling his limbs weaken, his legs seemingly disappearing. The leader of the "Sky Pillar Knights," Lemonster Nolan… the pressure he exerted on Hubbard was no less than that of the "Dragonblood Knight Commander," Demosthenes, whom he had previously encountered…

Emperor Augustusville's two sons, Lemonster and Demosth, are both extremely powerful... They can be considered the most powerful "Sevenfold Destiny" Saints in both the "Supreme" and "Radiant" Destinies.

Above that great hall, surrounded by four Sky Pillar Knights, Hubert felt only gratitude for having emerged alive.

It was as if I had been given a second chance at life, as if I had crawled out of a pile of dead bodies.

He walked out of the border town. Although he could no longer feel his legs, his steps became faster and faster. Only when he walked out of the main gate of the border town and came to the streets of Red Maple City did he breathe a sigh of relief. His knees buckled and he sat down on a large stone pillar by the roadside.

Cold sweat began to trickle down his back, but his face wore an expression of relief and liberation. He knew—his performance had passed the test with Prince Ramonster. He had indeed extended an invitation to Prince Ramonster on behalf of Luo Xiu, and he had not brought shame upon the Church or Luo Xiu.

Thus, Hubbard knew his mission was complete. However, he couldn't help but worry—the "Supreme" Prince Lemonster seemed to be even more powerful, more cunning, and more difficult to deal with than he had imagined.

These feelings should be shared with Luo Xiu, so that Luo Xiu can make a more accurate judgment about Lemonster...

"..."

Hubbard thought to himself.

After resting on the large stone pillar for a while, Hubbard felt that he could feel his legs again.

So he stood up and walked toward the church.

Even though he now walks with a limp, almost unsteady gait, he walks very fast, much faster than when he arrived at the border.

He had never longed to return to the church so much.

……

Church, Sacred Affairs Hall.

In the "Between the Bishops"—a room reserved solely for the "bishops"—Rossi had arrived.

He awaited Hubbard's return from the frontier, while his gaze was already fixed on an "Apostle of the Holy Abyss" thousands of miles away.

Count Hayek has returned to the capital and, with the help of the other Holy Abyss Apostles, has changed into a magnificent robe befitting his status.

He arrived alone, cloaked, at the gates of a duke's mansion.

Count Hayek has returned to the Duke of Harcas's residence.

……

(End of this chapter)