There's definitely something wrong with this murder mystery game-Chapter 772 - 658: His Holiness the Pope Runs Away from Home

Chapter 772: Chapter 658: His Holiness the Pope Runs Away from Home

Apart from the Supervisory Bishop of the Priesthood and his close attendants, there were very few who knew the Pope’s true appearance.

After becoming Pope, the rejuvenation changed not just his age, but also some of his physical features; at least in memory, His Holiness didn’t use to have white hair.

Nowadays, he radiated an Aura of Light all around him, and even his hair emitted a faint golden glow. Held closely in hand, it appeared bright white, but from a distance, it looked almost pale gold, holy and bright.

And as a Church Acolyte serving the Papal up close, in some ways, they were also Church Slaves.

This world had a slave system.

Even in the City of Light within the Capital of the Holy Court, apart from free citizens, there were also those who were slaves.

The Church Acolytes responsible for serving the Papal were raised within the Holy See of Light by people from the Priesthood, especially trained to ensure their absolute loyalty and faith.

Usually accompanying the Papal in and out of the Palace of Light, this Church Acolyte would have inevitably acquired some of the Aura of Light.

Therefore, if he were disguised as the Pope, even the external bishops likely wouldn’t be able to recognize the difference, right?

After Xu Shuo finished scrutinizing him, he noticed the Church Acolyte’s fearful and tense jaw and said with a slight smile, “At noon, I’ll need your help with something.”

The Church Acolyte quickly knelt down to pay his respects, his demeanor reverent and admiring, “I am willing to die for you!”

At this time.

He probably didn’t realize the gravity of the situation.

…

The Supervisory Bishop had never wanted the Papal to leave the City of Light.

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He certainly wouldn’t have wanted him to act alone.

While Xu Shuo was figuring out how to disguise himself, he looked at his long hair that was getting in the way and took out a pair of scissors. After hesitating, he tentatively cut off a lock from the end of his hair.

Then, he watched in astonishment as that lock of hair turned to a deep gray and withered away.

Like a blade of grass dried up from lack of water, devoid of lustre or tenacity, and it crumbled to dust like deadwood when lightly pinched.

Xu Shuo: “…”

What is this, some princess with long hair?

His Holiness’s real age was now several decades, and this body was revitalized by the Power of Light, which meant that any part of his body, once separated from him, would instantly lose its vitality.

After being coronated as the Pope of Light, he probably hadn’t cut his hair since then.

Why just love trimming fingernails then?

If you’re so capable, don’t cut them at all!

Xu Shuo complained inwardly, but this hair that had been blessed with the Power of Light had magic power, so it seemed a waste to cut it all off.

So, he had no choice but to use Little Flying Message to ask Hong Rao for some hair braiding tutorials, and then he piled up all his hair, eventually shortening it to waist length.

Hong Rao: [Hahahaha]

After the bond between teacher and student soared to level two, there were no more limits on Little Flying Message, so after giving the tutorials, she didn’t forget to have a good laugh.

Xu Shuo didn’t know how the players from the past dealt with the Pope, but he thought his current state was quite alright, and then he took off the Clerical Robe and changed into a more convenient knight’s attire.

After doing all this, he tossed the Sun Crown Helmet in his hand and called the waiting Church Acolyte inside.

…

…

At noon.

The well-prepared Holy military was ready to depart.

Xu Shuo wore a Jade Crown Hat, with the hanging sha veiling down to his waist, covering all his silvery-white hair.

After he left the Palace of Light, he expertly navigated around the Holy Court’s halls and towers, avoiding the patrolling Holy military, but as he approached the secret passage, he saw a young girl standing in front of the temple gate.

This is… the location of the Heresy Tribunal.

The young girl stood quietly beside the carved stone columns at the gate, dressed in a light gray Clerical Robe, her greyish-white hair cascading like a waterfall, her figure graceful and ethereal.

On her head, she wore a Sun Crown too, but it was much smaller than the Papal’s, and the light from the halo spread out in only eight rays, mingling with a faint golden light under the midday sun.

The girl was tall and slender, and at that moment, she was slightly looking up, her eyes directly gazing at the sun in the sky without any aversion.

The sunlight spilled onto her face, shining brilliantly like a blooming crystal.

Suddenly, she lowered her eyes, looking towards Xu Shuo’s direction.

From afar, the girl placed two fingers at her brow, her smile serene and respectful, as she gave him a ceremonious salute.

——This was a sign of recognition.

Xu Shuo had no intention of greeting the Holy Maiden of Light; he merely glanced at the young girl, then his figure disappeared into the adjacent arcade.

As for informing on someone?

To tell the truth, the Church Acolyte couldn’t possibly hide from the Priesthood, but the Priesthood certainly wouldn’t publicize his escape after discovering it, only dispatching people to search for him quietly.

And worried about the Holy Maiden being an enemy agent?

Then one must ask His Majesty why he would contemplate rebellion?

Behind the choir of the Holy Maiden of Light lies the Heresy Tribunal. She oversees the Order and judiciary within the Holy Court, is responsible for processional preaching and sacrificial prayers, and is the visible Holy Seat put forth by the church.

The Pope deals with external affairs; the Holy Maiden oversees the internal ones.

The Holy Maiden may not have the power to decide whether to go to war with the Royal power or to mobilize the Holy Court’s army, but she can, on the grounds of faith, deem the King a heretic and subject him to Judgement.

This is commonly known as assassination.

Naturally, this operation would not be kept secret from the Holy Maiden of Light.

Xu Shuo was also aware of the movements of the Heresy Tribunal, as spies from the Royal Capital were always present—if the war were to truly break out, the Varo Royal Family would be attacked in an instant.

However, Xu Shuo did not understand the temperament of the Holy Maiden too well, as His Holiness the Pope had rarely interacted with this current one.

But just as he walked out of the arcade, he faintly heard a voice beside him.

“Don’t forget your own identity.”

The voice was clear, ethereal, and carried a hint of helplessness.

Obviously, his decisive departure, ignoring the Holy Maiden, caught the already waiting Holy Maiden somewhat by surprise.

Holy Maiden: Seeing me, you won’t even come over to say a word?

Normally, if someone realizes their disguise has been seen through, shouldn’t they come over to greet or show some reaction? Why did he just take one look and leave?

Oh, because perhaps he’s not a normal person?

As Xu Shuo was about to leave the Holy Court completely, the Holy Maiden had no choice but to speak out helplessly.

Xu Shuo paused for a moment, responding: “I have my own plans, there’s no need to worry. You just look after the Holy See of Light. Pay close attention to suspicious figures within the Holy Court in this upcoming period.”

Translation: Stay here, handle your own matters.

Now that the Pope of Light had slipped away, the remaining Holy Maiden of Light must not leave the Holy Court at all costs.

The Holy Maiden initially wanted to say something else, but in the next moment, she sensed that the Papal figure had already left.

Her expression revealed helplessness, and she could only shake her head.

She had long heard that this generation’s Pope was extraordinary and eccentric in his actions.

Previously, she found it interesting when she learned that the Pope was obsessed with finding a giant dragon, and just yesterday, she heard that he was planning to seize royal power and was personally leading the charge to the Royal Capital.

And today… His Holiness had slipped away from the entire Holy Court alone.

Holy Maiden: Truly a character.

…

After Xu Shuo finished replying to the Holy Maiden, he opened the secret passageway and slipped inside.

Before him was an exceedingly long corridor, narrow on both sides, winding and completely pitch-black.

The Holy Court’s building occupies a vast area, with the walls alone being several feet wide, and there are many secret passages inside, most of which are built within the walls and connected to subterranean levels.

With no light inside the secret passage, one has to navigate the twisting and turning route for quite a while before reaching an exit.

Xu Shuo purposely traveled a bit further and then felt for the bas-relief carved into the corridor wall, rotating the sun symbol pattern.

A gentle “click” sounded.

A sliver of faint light appeared ahead, and Xu Shuo stepped forward to push open the door. Once out, he manually closed the secret entrance, ensuring the seam of the door was perfectly aligned with the wall bricks.

This spot was a narrow alleyway.

No sooner had he emerged than he suddenly looked up toward a nearby window just in time to catch a fleeting shadow.

Even though the person quickly hid, Xu Shuo knew that they were certainly still watching this area.

Xu Shuo did not make it difficult for the watcher; he raised his palm and a resplendent Sun Crown symbol emerged in his hand, after showing his identity to the Holy Court guards stationed at the secret exit, he turned and left.

Only a bishop of the Holy Court could manifest the Sun Crown symbol.

And, those who knew the distribution of the City of Light’s church secret passages were only clergy of bishop rank and above.

Xu Shuo stepped out of the alley and took in the scene of the City of Light at that moment.

The Papal procession, magnificent and bright, exuded an awe-inspiring holy majesty.

…