webnovelfull Chapter 258 Declaration of Complicity
Chapter 258 Declaration of Complicity
Chapter 258 Declaration of Complicity
The taste of death is like eating a piece of fallen cheese.
The putrid smell will slowly dissipate in your mouth and then gradually seep into your stomach.
No one truly desires to face death, especially a second time.
This naturally includes Kendrick as well.
Even though he understood that every human being would eventually die.
However, this experience made him cherish his life even more.
That day, he jumped out of the Pope's window.
At that height, there is indeed a possibility of falling to one's death.
Kendrick was prepared; he used his limbs to cushion the impact of gravity, and besides, his body was already more robust than that of an average person.
Kendrick did break a few bones, but he did not die on the spot.
However, he lay on the ground pretending to be dead.
And quietly, he took out a capsule.
The capsule's outer shell can be dissolved by gastric juices, releasing the alchemical agent stored inside.
The officiant, Zygmunt, told him that this alchemical potion would put him into a state of suspended animation.
However, if this drug cannot be neutralized quickly, it will become a fake and cause his real death.
As Zygmunt said, the current situation can only be resolved with Kendrick's death.
To perfectly resolve all the hidden dangers, Kendrick has no choice but to face death.
Their plan was this: they would only terminate the investigation if the investigators sent by the Pope obtained results immediately.
Therefore, Kendrick must be captured by them.
If Kendrick is captured alive, his fate will be unpredictable.
This requires Kendrick to become a physical body in advance.
It can be said that if Zygmunt had not been able to provide that alchemical potion, there would be no perfect solution to the current situation.
Of course, the details of executing the plan are quite complex.
Kendrick deliberately allowed himself to be discovered in the archives to give himself something; otherwise, his arrest would have seemed too suspicious.
He also had to retaliate, leaving wounds on the guards to prove that he was the murderer who killed Felix.
An expert should be able to easily determine from the wounds on these guards, as well as the knife marks Kendrick left on the statue of the Lord, that they were both done by the same person.
This would allow investigators to conclude that Kendrick was the assassin that day, and that his real purpose was to steal a file.
The investigation into the case will also be suspended.
Everything was going well until Kendrick took the medicine.
As for what happens next, it all depends on Zygmunt's actions.
If Zygmunt was lying to him, and the capsule wasn't some kind of fake death drug but a poison, or if he never intended to save Kendrick, then Kendrick would undoubtedly die.
Kendrick didn't seem to care much about it.
It wasn't that he wasn't afraid of death, but rather that he was currently a deeply sinful person, and he believed that such a death might be a form of redemption for him.
The only regret is that he had very little time to spend with Margaret.
He didn't even understand the only person who could look at him with all his heart.
If he could, he hoped the gods would give him more time so he could have some contact with Margaret.
Fortunately, Zygmont wasn't a liar like Felix; he truly kept his promise and did his best to save Kendrick. Kendrick, sitting perfectly still in the living room of Zygmont's private residence, is the best proof of that.
Of course, Margaret also lived in this house.
Margaret told Kendrick that when Zygmunt brought him back, she initially thought he was dead.
Margaret was somewhat relieved when Zygmunt told her that Kendrick was still alive.
However, the Pope attached too much importance to this matter, and it took Zygmunt more time to figure out how to get his hands on Kendrick's "body".
If it had been any later, Kendrick might have actually died.
Margaret described the scene with trepidation, and Kendrick could sense her worry and anxiety.
Kendrick wondered why he was so lucky, despite his sins and lack of good looks, to receive special treatment from a beautiful woman like Margaret.
His heart had never felt so full before; he could truly perceive himself and the existence of the world.
"Last time Lord Sigmund said he would be returning today,"
At that moment, Margaret was sitting next to Kendrick and said softly,
"I think you probably have a lot of questions you want to ask him, and you can ask him those questions later."
"Yes, I will," Kendrick nodded.
"Especially regarding your physical condition, you must tell Lord Zygmunt," Margaret instructed solemnly, "in case this medicine has any side effects—"
All alchemical drugs have side effects, and these side effects are uncontrollable.
Therefore, even if Zygmunt provides this alchemical elixir, he probably wouldn't know what its side effects are.
Unless, of course, this alchemical drug has some additional, fixed side effect.
However, one thing is certain: the more potent the alchemical potion, the greater the probability of experiencing stronger side effects.
This ability to induce a state of suspended animation is extraordinary, so Kendrick suspects that its side effects are likely quite severe.
However, he didn't want to reveal it before he was certain, lest he frighten Margaret.
Therefore, Kendrick simply nodded.
The two sat quietly in the living room, chatting intermittently.
Finally, in the afternoon, Zygmunt arrived.
He sat opposite the two of them, and Kendrick asked directly:
"Your Excellency, what's the situation outside?"
"The city has been open for a few days now," Zygmunt said. "The censorship has eased a bit, and I think you can consider leaving the city after tomorrow."
Is anyone still investigating this case?
"Although Rodel, the Thorn of Light, believes that this case is not so simple, he thinks that the break-in into the archives and the assassination of Felix are not necessarily related, which means that there are at least many things that have not been investigated."
Upon hearing this, Kendrick realized Zygmunt's unspoken meaning:
"Does anyone disagree?"
"Yes, His Majesty Nicholas rejected his proposal immediately," Zygmunt said with a smile. "I think you can guess what His Majesty Nicholas was thinking, right?"
Kendrick nodded: "He cares more about the face of the Vatican than who the criminal is. Although it may be disrespectful to Your Majesty to say that, in my opinion, he makes almost no difference who the patriarchs under his command are."
"Yes, it would be the most unacceptable situation for him if this assassination case remained unresolved," Zygmunt sighed. "This grand investiture ceremony has attracted the attention of powerful figures from all sides."
"But another patriarch has died," Kendrick said. "Is the patriarchal conferment ceremony about to begin?"
"Not this time," Zygmunt shook his head. "The reason this initiation ceremony was so grand is mainly because the Vatican needs to regularly promote its influence to the world in order to consolidate the status of religion."
Kendrick nodded and said nothing more.
At that moment, Margaret nudged him with her elbow.
Kendrick immediately understood her implication, so he had to ask:
"Sir, I would like to ask about that medicine. What kind of effects will it have?"
Zygmunt stated, "Alchemy is uncertain, but it does have a clear negative impact."
Upon hearing this, Kendrick held his breath, and it seemed Margaret did too.
Zygmunt continued, "You have died once. Although you have been resurrected, your body has been affected by death. Your body's resistance to disease has been greatly reduced, and there is also a risk of decay."
"Corruption?" Margaret suddenly asked.
“That’s right,” Zygmunt nodded. “After a person dies, the body will slowly decompose, but this is generally impossible to happen to a living person.”
Margaret frowned and quickly pressed for an answer:
"So what should we do to prevent this from happening?"
"Take more baths," Zygmunt said. "Although the water in the secular world is already polluted, which may exacerbate this situation."
But you can try washing it with alcohol.
"I see,"
Margaret nodded vigorously, as if she herself were the one affected.
Kendrick then asked another question he was concerned about: "Sir, I've always been curious, why do you want to help us?"
Zygmunt paused for a moment before speaking:
"Margaret came through an introduction, so I will naturally help her with her request."
"But I also heard her say that you are not a member of the Firstborn Church."
"That's certainly how it appears to outsiders."
"What do you mean?"
Zygmunt then said, "I shouldn't have told you this, but you've gotten so involved. The Firstborn Church has been controversial since its inception, so the selection of its leaders has always required a strong sense of crisis."
"From the very beginning of its founding, the Firstborn Church has been preparing for crises so that it can preserve the flame of resurgence at any time."
"And I am one of the sparks. To the outside world, I am a fundamentalist and I do not believe in any sect, but in reality, I am a devout follower of the Firstborn Church."
After hearing this, Kendrick wasn't surprised, or rather, he had somewhat guessed it.
From the moment he met Bishop Simpson in the basement of the orphanage, Kendrick realized that this was a cautious sect.
Kendrick felt that it shouldn't be surprising what kind of contingency plans they had prepared in advance.
Kendrick had one last question: "So, will you become the new leader of the Firstborn Cult?"
"It depends on the situation," Zygmunt said. "I must not expose myself until it is absolutely safe."
"What constitutes safety?"
Zygmunt smiled and said, "In that respect, you've given me an opportunity."
"What opportunity?"
"Although it may sound blasphemous, because you assassinated Felix, a patriarchal position has become vacant, and as one of the three chief ministers, I will be a strong contender."
Kendrick immediately understood what Zygmunt meant: he had to have an absolutely unshakeable position.
Afterwards, Zygmunt asked them when they planned to leave Seichen.
After discussing it for a while, Kendrick and Margaret set the date for tomorrow.
Gregory was currently a place of trouble for the two of them, and they couldn't wait to leave.
Zygmunt instructed that before leaving, one only needed to inform the housekeeper and then return the keys to him.
As for finding a car, you can ask the housekeeper to take care of it.
Margaret expressed her gratitude on behalf of the two to Zygmunt for his care over the past few days, and Zygmunt, as always, offered a few words of polite humility.
He seemed very busy and soon left the house.
After Zygmunt left, Kendrick immediately began packing with Margaret.
The next day arrived in the blink of an eye, and the two of them successfully left the city and boarded the same carriage.
The carriage began to move, and Margaret finally sighed:
"Hmm, it's finally over—"
"Yes," Kendrick nodded. "In fact, things have turned out quite differently than Bishop Simpson had anticipated. But the outcome is good. According to Lord Zygmunt, the Firstborn Church seems to have the potential to rise again."
Kendrick didn't care about the First Cult, but since Margaret was so eager, he hoped her wish would come true.
Margaret's expression now seems to have finally relaxed.
Margaret suddenly turned her head: "You're looking at me?"
Upon hearing this, Kendrick suddenly turned his head:
"sorry."
But Margaret didn't seem angry; she placed her hand on the back of Kendrick's hand.
"Is it pretty?"
"Um--"
"Um, Kendrick, I just remembered, we don't seem to have ever talked about the two of us."
Kendrick lowered his head: "I can't bear to think about it, even though I haven't yet recounted all my crimes to you—"
But I think my sins will surprise you.
"You might be surprised, but there's one thing I'm certain of right now!"
Hearing this, Kendrick cautiously looked at Margaret again:
"What's wrong?"
"I am willing to share your sins."
Kendrick was stunned by what he heard, and when he came to his senses, tears streamed down his face.
He covered his face with his other hand: "Why, why are you so good to me?"
"You saved me, but not out of gratitude. Through our interactions, I've discovered many of your virtues."
Your kindness and sincerity touched me.
"But I'm a murderer."
“Yes, that’s your past, and the past can’t be changed,” Margaret said, “but the future can be written. However, Kendrick, I still’t sure how you see me.”
"I value you very much. You are more important to me than anyone else. I—I've thought about it a lot, but I feel I must restrain myself. Like you said, the future can be written. I intend to atone for my sins in the rest of my life."
"Let me help you."
"Huh?" Kendrick was stunned.
"No matter how many crimes you have committed, I accept them. I see the true nature of your soul, and I am willing to share your sins, if you do not believe me—"
Margaret stared intently into Kendrick's eyes.
"Kendrick, let's get married."