Chapter 89: Saint Laurent

  Aragorn-Roland, Founder and Creator of the Roland Empire, Great Emperor Aragorn-Roland I.

  Considered the strongest being in a thousand years, hailed as the "Strongest Under the Starry Sky" legendary figure! He cultivates both magic and martial arts, his magical attainments are on par with those of a top-tier magician (Duvie knows that when Aragon left Devil Island, he obtained half of the devil's servant Kris' magical power), while in terms of martial skills, he has also reached the realm of a Holy Knight.

  Moreover, unlike other strong and eccentric historical figures, Aragorn also possessed considerable wisdom and political acumen. He fully utilized his personal strength to create a vast and powerful empire that has continued to this day!

  He is an emperor, the founding emperor!

  What a legendary figure... how did he die in the end?

  As for this point, historical records and accounts have become quite vague.

  Even in the official historical records of the Roland Empire, Aragon's pre-death achievements were naturally praised with the most beautiful words, but as for the passing of this founding emperor, it was only briefly mentioned in one sentence.

  "In XXX year, the founding emperor, Aragon-Roland passed away, and XX ascended to the throne as the Second Emperor of the Empire..."

  It has been like this for hundreds of years, a set phrase in historical records.

  "The chapel of the temple is visited by all holy knights... whether they are loyal to the temple for life or those who have fallen and betrayed." Hussein's tone was quite mysterious: "Do you understand what I'm saying?"

  Do you understand? Of course I understand.

  "Your meaning is: In the Temple's sacred halls, not only are the coats of arms of those glorious knights who dedicated themselves to the faith stored... but also many like yours, the coat of arms of a knight who ultimately betrayed the Temple?" Du Wei smiled bitterly: "Is that so?"

  "Yes." Hussein nodded.

  The sanctuary is one of the most mysterious places in the temple grounds. Outsiders are absolutely not allowed to enter. Only the Pope and a few elders have the qualifications to enter the sanctuary, including the Chief Justice and two or three core figures of the temple grounds. In addition, there are only the holy knights who are about to be promoted to Knight Commander. All together, no more than five people.

  And once the Temple Guardian steps down, even if you were a Temple Guardian before, you are absolutely not allowed to enter that place again!

  The temple grounds are square and solemn.

  "I originally thought the Holy Temple was a place where the souls of holy knights who had sacrificed or devoted their lives to the temple were laid to rest. But later I found out that I was wrong." Hussein sneered: "This is just a cover-up. Outsiders know that the Holy Temple is heavily guarded, with powerful Temple Guardians protecting it, and the most stringent security measures in place... supposedly to protect the souls of the dead from external disturbances. In reality, these are all just tricks to deceive people! The real secret is that the Holy Temple contains many secrets unknown to the public... especially those like me, who ultimately betrayed the temple's holy knights and were cast underground!"

  The holy temple is divided into two halls, the outer hall displays things that cover people's ears. They are the emblems left by those sacred knights who devoted their lives to the temple of God.

  But what's inside... is the real thing!

  In history, those traitors who betrayed the Temple of God, those heretics, left valuable things behind, all of which were stored there.

  "Hundreds and thousands of badges are placed outside the temple, enjoying generations of worship... while inside the temple, it is actually a dark room. No light, gloomy and terrifying, with magic seals on all sides, where thirteen things are stored." Hussein smiled: "In history, there were thirteen holy knights who betrayed the temple. The temple took back their badges and stored them in the inner chamber of the sacred hall. Moreover, those things were sealed by magic, forever cursed! This is what the so-called 'benevolent' and 'loving' temple does!"

  "Thirteen?" Du Wei was somewhat curious: "Thirteen badges? That is to say, in nearly a thousand years, there have only been thirteen traitors in the Holy Knights?"

  "I don't know." Hussein shook his head: "But what I do know is that perhaps, for a thousand years, there have been more than thirteen traitors. However, not all traitors are qualified to 'enjoy' the curse. Only those who have caused great loss and shame to the temple, sufficient traitors, will 'enjoy' this curse."

  Du Wei nodded and felt relieved.

  It's true. If a temple can be destroyed like that, it's usually because of some trivial matter. It doesn't have anything to do with any great abilities.

  "Perhaps your emblem will also be placed in the inner hall." Du Wei sneered: "With your status and strength, you absolutely have the qualifications to 'enjoy' that curse!"

  "It's true." Hussein's face was expressionless: "After they kill me, they'll put my badge in the inner hall. Because that curse is cast by each Pope using the highest magic power! The dead will never rest, even in prison, they will be tortured forever! Every Holy Knight makes a vow with their own blood and soul before becoming a Holy Knight, and that mark remains on the badge! Even if you die, the mark on the badge remains, even if you die, the temple can still punish your soul... Otherwise, do you think I ran so far for nothing? Do you think I'm afraid of death? I'm not afraid of death, but if my soul is to be tortured forever, that's something I don't want!"

  Listening to the knight's cold voice, Du Wei couldn't help but shiver.

  Even death cannot escape, and the soul will still be tormented for eternity... This punishment is indeed too terrifying.

  "Originally, the guardians of the temple were not allowed to enter the inner hall. We could only guard the outer hall and the gate leading to the inner hall. Only each successive Pope was able to open it." Hussein's tone was somewhat strange: "But that night, when I was meditating in the temple, I heard a voice coming from inside... It seemed like a scream, a call. With my level of cultivation, I wouldn't have any illusions. So I immediately stood up and searched around, worried that someone had snuck in... But then, I discovered something astonishing."

  "Is it the inner courtyard gate?" Du Wei guessed.

  "It's open. The inner sanctum door, the one that only His Holiness can open, the magically sealed great gate, opened by itself." Hussein shook his head, his face a complex mix of emotions, unsure whether it was nostalgia or regret.

  Either... or... How about both?

  "Did you go in?" Du Wei sighed and then shook his head, saying in a low voice: "No need to ask, you must have gone in."

  "If it were you, would you go in?" Hussein sighed bitterly.

  Du Wei was speechless.

  Really?

  Of course! A young knight, at the most brilliant age of everyone's life. Strong and vigorous, full of passion for life, full of curiosity about living, and with a strong ability, high skills and boldness... encountering such a strange thing, of course, he will go in to see what it is all about!

  "I still think about one thing to this day: how great it would have been if I hadn't gone in that night. If I hadn't discovered everything inside, I might still be the Grand Knight of the Temple's Holy Knights Order, revered and respected by all." Hussein sighed.

  "No." Du Wei shook his head. He was calm: "If the secret behind that door is really a taboo for the Temple that can't be spoken of, the greatest scandal... then even if you didn't go in, even if you reported it to the Pope on the spot... I guess, nine out of ten, afterwards you would still be silenced by the Pope!"

  Duvivier's conjecture was quite reasonable, so Hussein did not argue.

  Inside the hall, thirteen knight badges and thirteen high-ranking holy knight badges were placed. The style of the badges was very ancient, and at a glance, it was clear that they were from many years ago.

  Hussein narrowed his eyes, recalling the night that changed his life: "I was shocked. I was bewildered, because although I'm not a magician, I could also feel the magical aura in that room, which was absolutely not a blessing or a benevolent spell! It was a kind of magic that made people feel uncomfortable, desperate, and cold just by being there! Dark, terrifying, making one feel a sense of fear from the depths of their soul.

  Then Hussein's face showed a strange smile: "The thirteen badges on the stone table, with the names of their owners engraved on them... Thirteen names in total. Guess who is the first one at the top? Who do you see?"

  Du Wei had already guessed it, he felt a bitter taste in his mouth and said in a low voice: "Aragon-Roland?"

  "It is he."

  Aragon-Roland

  Ever since a series of bizarre encounters, it seems that all strange and legendary things are connected to this illustrious name!

  The strongest under the starry sky!

  Creator of Imperial Territory!

  Founding Emperor!

  The strongest and most sacred knight in history!

  Humans who made deals with demons...

  Wait wait wait!

  And now, before this name, another illustrious title will probably be added:

  The greatest traitor in the history of the temple!

  "It's not over yet." Hussein seems to be planning a big surprise for Du Wei today.

  The knight's face even revealed a hint of malice as he smiled: "You are a noble, a member of the Rorin family, you have received good education, and must have studied history, especially the founding history of the Roland Empire. I believe you must have seen in those history books that the great emperor who founded the empire, Aragon-Roland, had under his command a team of knights who made countless enemies tremble with fear, sweeping across the continent as invincible strongmen! Some records state that every member of that knightly order was a powerful force on the continent, yet they all unconditionally and absolutely pledged their loyalty to Aragon himself, almost as if they were his most trusted private forces! All of them were Aragon's fanatical loyalists."

  "I've heard of it, it's called the 'Holy Roland Knights', this knightly order is Aragon's shadow, his most powerful and mysterious force. However, all documents lack detailed information about it, there are no records of its members... not even their names. We only know that under Aragon's command, there was an invincible knightly order, but we don't know where they came from or who its members were. But they made great contributions to the unification war of the continent and were later given the title 'Holy' in front of their name, becoming the 'Holy Roland Knights'. Throughout the history of this continent, countless powerful knightly orders have emerged, including the current Holy Knights of the Temple, all considered top-notch. However, there is only one order that has ever been granted a 'Holy' prefix in its title, and that is the 'Holy Roland Knights'."

  Du Wei was indeed erudite. In his youth, he had read those historical books and rare documents that recorded valuable things, which were almost memorized by heart. When speaking, he could recite them fluently without any hesitation.

  "Well, I think I can tell you about the Knights Templar now." Hussein chuckled softly, but his chuckle sent shivers down one's spine.

  "That mysterious Knights Templar, actually doesn't have many members, including Aragon himself, there are only thirteen people in total! Thirteen!" Hussein's low and gloomy voice was like a curse: "And... I must especially tell you that those thirteen people, each and every one of them, possess at least the same level of strength as me! They are either Holy Knights or have strength close to that of Holy Knights! Thirteen top-notch strongmen from across the continent, thirteen fanatical loyalists who would die for Aragon!"

  Du Wei felt like he had nothing left to say.

  Inside the temple, the thirteen vengeful spirits, including Aragorn himself, were suppressed by evil curses and magic.

  In history, the legendary strongest knight corps "Saint Roland" that created the empire's war exploits had exactly thirteen members, including Aragon himself! Not more or less, thirteen!

  Taking a deep breath, Du Wei felt his tone was somewhat stiff: "You're saying..."

  "It is so." The knight nodded calmly.

  "The national founding emperor's spirit was suppressed in..."

  "It is so." The knight nodded again.

  "Together with the founding of the empire, those heroic Saint Roland Knights who had rendered meritorious service..."

  "It is so." The knight nodded.

  Dare to suppress the soul of the founding emperor in the holy temple forever!

  Dare to put the souls of the thirteen greatest meritorious officials who founded and expanded the empire in the sacred hall, forever cursed!

  How dare the temple do such a "powerful" thing?

  Damn it! The Temple's got a lot of guts! Aren't they afraid of the Roland Empire's royal family and their desperate struggles? Aren't they afraid that the people of the Roland Empire will riot when they find out how their national hero is being treated? Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! Fucking damn it!

  Du Wei took a deep breath several times, but still felt that he didn't know what language to use to describe his current mood.

  So he could only use the simplest words in his heart that could express his emotions at this moment.

  Du Wei said with an awkward tone:

  "Great! Very powerful!"