Chapter 350 (1/2)

Chapter 350: Passing On (Part II)

Translator: Meh/TransN Editor: – –

Mayne froze and stared at the old man in front of him, hoping to see something in his eyes.

But he saw nothing other than lifelessness.

The Pope’s eyes were no longer as penetrating and authoritative as they used to be. Perhaps, he still possessed the wisdom passed down from previous Popes, as well as the knowledge obtained from the Canon, but… nothing escaped time.

“His Holiness wasn’t kidding,” Mayne realized. His journey was reaching its end.

Mayne’s eyes started to blur.

He knelt once again, with his forehead touching the floor. This time, His Holiness did not ask him to stand up, but instead waited until he completed the entire action before saying, “Follow me.”

The attending guards helped the Pope on to a cart and wheeled him towards the gate of the Pivotal Secret Area. Mayne followed closely behind, and the party left the Pivotal Secret Temple, turning into a long and narrow tunnel. On the smooth stone walls of the tunnel was embedded a luminous crystal at every ten steps’ distance. Looking down the tunnel, one couldn’t see the end.

After walking for a long time, Mayne finally left the tunnel and entered a well-lit room. Beneath his feet, the floor had turned into flat slabs, and he was able to see the edges and corners of the walls, as well as the chandelier that hung from the ceiling. Apparently, the tunnel had led into an underground chamber.

“We’re underneath the cathedral of the old Holy City.” Perceiving Mayne’s bewilderment, the Pope clarified. “The design of this place is identical to the cathedral, except that it is built upside down. I call it the Reflection Church.”

“Underneath the cathedral?” Mayne exclaimed. “I never expected there to be a basement.”

“It’s not a basement indeed, because the two aren’t mutually accessible.” O’Brien smiled. “This place is only accessible through the underground tunnel of the Pivotal Secret Area. The roof is made of an extremely thick mixture of slab and clay, which is impossible to break through using conventional methods.”

“Why… is such a design necessary?”

“To guard a secret, without completely burying it.” He replied. “Before a Pope ascends the throne, he must come to the Reflection Church to witness the establishment, development and expansion of the Church, and at the same time, learn by heart the goals of the Church.”

“To defeat the demons,” Mayne said solemnly.

O’Brien did not nod in agreement, but instead said softly, “No, child. To win the smile of God.”

The Archbishop was briefly at a loss. “What?”

This time, the Pope did not respond, but instead commanded the guards to continue moving forward. According to the direction of the stairway and the ramp, they were moving upwards. Soon, the party arrived in front of a grand hall. By recognizing the designs in the surroundings that he was familiar with, Mayne identified the place as the Prayer Room of the Reflection Church.

The thick wooden door of the room was pushed open with a creaking sound. Although it seemed that the Pope had not visited this hall for a long time, there wasn’t a smell of dust… Evidently, someone had been keeping this place clean at all times.