stonecrandall Chapter 988 Afterwards.
Chapter 988 Afterwards.
......
He gazed at the broken throne before him.
Clemenceau couldn't help but recall the afternoon they met—
On a certain day in the past, somewhere within the territory of Ironblood.
The meeting had ended long ago, and the small conference room now felt rather empty and desolate.
Only two seemingly disparate individuals remained in their seats, leaving absentminded scribbles in their notebooks.
Marco Polo looked over and said, "I say—you must be Clemenceau of the Vichy Church?"
"Yes, Your Excellency Marco Polo, hello." Clemenceau nodded slightly.
Marco Polo rested his elbows on the table and asked, "Frederick the Great has been gone for quite some time now, why aren't you leaving yet?"
"While my memory is still sharp, I'm taking this opportunity to reflect on and summarize the key points of the meeting."
Clemenceau's words always sounded half true and half false.
Marco Polo chuckled, “'Reflecting on and summarizing the spirit of the meeting'...you really know how to use official jargon.”
Then, a glint flashed in Marco Polo's eyes.
He lowered his voice slightly and asked, "You didn't say anything at the meeting just now. Do you also not get along with Frederick the Great?"
"How could such a thing happen? The Vichy Church and the Iron Blood are an unbreakable alliance—"
Marco Polo, no longer wanting to listen to Clemenceau's bureaucratic jargon, waved his hand to interrupt, saying, "Alright, alright, there's no one else here."
"Stop giving me that bureaucratic talk; my observation skills are excellent."
"To tell you the truth, me too."
"Since her plan doesn't appeal to you, why don't you listen to mine?"
"Let's work together and accomplish something great!"
The memory is complete.
Clemenceau stepped outside and looked at the world under the calm night sky, as if nothing had happened.
She shook her head slightly and sighed.
"The Sirens have proven to everyone..."
"They have absolute control over this world."
Even in such a massive disaster...
Are we being protected, or are we being observed like lab rats encased in glass?
"Bound...lost freedom..."
"This feeling is really unpleasant."
"But if she really intends to use oppression, when will the resistance begin?"
"Even with Marco Polo's strength, he couldn't do it yet, so who could?"
......
The day after the battle ended...
The Kingdom of Iris, Reims Cathedral.
The bright sunlight streamed in through the church windows, illuminating the centuries-old decor.
The dust that had accumulated over the years was swept away during the long-awaited cleaning, and the ancient church was given a new lease on life.
Like this land that has just experienced disaster...
Ship girls from all factions gathered together, awaiting the upcoming ceremony.
"I never imagined I would be invited to witness such a momentous occasion as a representative of the White Eagle..."
Essex was a little nervous in this atmosphere.
She considered herself a junior member of the fleet and believed that someone with more seniority should participate instead.
Aurora smiled slightly. "Given your performance in the previous battles, Miss Essex, I believe you deserve this honor."
"Commander, Ms. Zhenhai, I never imagined that we would not only resolve the crisis on the European continent together, but also witness this moment together."
Zhenhai sighed, "And all of this happened in just one day. Truly, everything in this world is subject to the interdependence of fortune and misfortune, and is ever-changing."
Prince Eugen agreed with Zhenhai's words, "Yes...isn't it a bit too hasty to hold such a major ceremony only one day apart?"
"While I can understand your urgency..."
She looked at Radiance beside her, "What do you think, Ms. Radiance?"
Glorious shook his head slightly, "A ceremony of this caliber as the Iris Coronation should have been attended by His Majesty in person."
"But time is really tight..."
"Since Iris has decided to make this arrangement... I will have to convey His Majesty's blessings to Bishop Richelieu and Iris on his behalf."
Veneto smiled and said, "Then on this memorable day, let us all give the iris our sincerest blessings."
Amidst the chattering of the ship girls.
Xiao Meng approached Zhenhai and asked, "Where is Jiang Mengyue?"
Zhenhai shook his head slightly, "That child said he wasn't used to this kind of situation and couldn't be pulled away no matter what we said."
"but..."
Zhenhai raised his head slightly, gesturing for Xiaomeng to look in a certain direction.
Xiao Meng looked towards that spot with a hint of speculation.
really.
Behind a semi-transparent stained glass window above the church, there is the shadow of a fox's head.
Zhenhai smiled slightly and said, "Of course she also said that she wouldn't be absent from such a big event."
......
After a long wait, the church doors finally opened.
Richelieu, dressed in a long robe, walked slowly until he knelt on one knee under the crown of the Holy See.
Standing on the platform, Clemenceau raised the crown of the Holy Throne and read aloud.
“In the past, Cardinal Richelieu was entrusted with a critical mission, and went out to seek help from allies when his country was in danger.”
"Due to the chaotic times, this secret order was never known to the world, nor was it recognized by the subsequent illegitimate Vatican."
"However, despite the countless misunderstandings and criticisms, and despite the fact that I have no fixed abode overseas."
“Bishop Richelieu has not given up.”
"It was her consistent and correct actions over many years."
"Only then can the divided theocracy be successfully reunited under the same banner at the most critical moment."
"Only then could we achieve such a hard-won and significant victory."
"Therefore, on behalf of the Holy See, I acknowledge the many contributions Bishop Richelieu has made to the Iris Kingdom."
"I hereby rescind all previous accusations and punishments imposed on Bishop Richelieu by the illegal Vatican."
"At this moment, the Holy Throne Crown—the most sacred relic of the Holy Kingdom—is in my hands."
“Bishop Richelieu”.
"Are you willing to live up to the expectations of the people and lead our war-torn motherland forward?"
"Are you willing to receive the Holy Crown of the Church here?"
"To assume the position of the next Holy See of the Iris Theocracy here?"
Clemenceau remained on the platform, holding the crown of the Holy See aloft, looking down at Richelieu, awaiting her answer.
Richelieu took a deep breath and then exhaled steadily.
At this moment, she had made her decision.
"A crown...a crown..."
“I’ve been thinking about what the Holy Throne Crown really means to us, to Iris.”
"Is it a precious sacred object?"
"Is it a memory of history?"
"Is it a symbol of legitimacy?"
"Indeed, the crown of the Holy See carries many meanings, each of which is of great significance to us."
"The goal of an ambitious person."
"A tool that is being used."
"A product of Siren technology."
Jiang Mengyue, who was listening upstairs, suddenly perked up her fox ears.
“That’s right. Sometime in the past, our sacred throne and crown were switched by the Sirens.”
“We have always worshipped a dangerous Siren creation as a sacred object.”
"Until it plunged us into crisis and nearly destroyed everything we cherished."
"So I can't help but wonder, do we really need it?"
"I will become the Holy See."
"Because I have vowed to restore the glory of the Holy Kingdom."
"What put me on the throne was not a crown, but the people."
"A king should choose the crown, not be controlled by it."
"therefore--"
Richelieu raised his head and looked firmly at Clemenceau.
She accepted the crown of the Holy See and stood up.
"I choose 'the people' as my crown!"
"I choose 'Uncrowned King' as my crown!"
To the astonishment of almost everyone, Richelieu gently tossed the crown into the air and swung his sword at it.
Accompanied by a wisp of red and black smoke, the crown turned into dust in the wind.
The gasps of surprise almost pierced the church's stone walls, but eventually subsided.
Meanwhile, Jiang Mengyue, who was on the other side, missed Richelieu's crown-splitting moment because she was texting on her phone.
"What happened? What's going on?"
Jiang Mengyue peeked around and looked left and right, but could only regret that she seemed to have missed a wonderful scene.
“Richelio, my sister…”
For what seemed like an instant, a barely perceptible smile appeared on Clemenceau's lips.
Richelieu turned to look at the crowd.
"My fellow irises."
"After many hardships, freedom and unity have finally returned to our motherland."
"We shed many tears and a lot of blood."
"But today, we can say with certainty that not a single tear or drop of blood was shed in vain."
"From this moment forward, the Iris Theocracy will no longer be riddled with cracks."
"The Liberty Iris and the Vichy Church are once again under the same banner."
"Glory to the Kingdom of Iris."
"Long live the Iris Theocracy!"
The coronation ceremony concluded amidst applause.
This also signifies the beginning of a new day for the Iris Theocracy.
Jiang Mengyue, who was hiding above, took out a Polaroid camera and took a picture of herself and this scene.
"Great, great, we've witnessed history."
At the same time, Jiang Mengyue thought the scenery was quite nice, so she took a few more photos with her Polaroid camera.
With flashes going off everywhere, almost no one noticed Jiang Mengyue's flash.
But a person's aura cannot be hidden.
Jiang Mengyue's presence was an open secret among all the ship girls.
As the arbitrator who averted the disaster and saved their lives.
She didn't want to show herself, and the ship girls didn't force her; everyone had their own reasons.
But afterwards.
The switched Holy Throne Crown successfully appeared in Jiang Mengyue's mainframe space.
It was placed in front of the wall where she had hung her photo.
It was encased in a simple protective box made by Tiancheng.
Jiang Mengyue missed the moment when Richelieu cut the crown because she was sending a message to the observer.
Jiang Mengyue, her collecting desires stirred, wanted the real Holy Throne Crown.
After the ceremony, the observer sent it to Jiang Mengyue.
They even asked Jiang Mengyue if she wanted to try it on, and the observers could act as photographers and take some pictures of her.
However, out of respect for the sacred artifacts of the Iris Theocracy, Jiang Mengyue declined the observer's offer.
Let her keep the Holy Throne Crown safe and sound.
......
On the night of the ceremony.
Jiang Mengyue then found Xiao Meng.
It's the holidays, and the incident is over, so why not look for Xiaomeng?
Jiang Mengyue lay down beside Xiaomeng's bed, her tail wagging back and forth.
She continued watching videos, while Xiaomeng was reviewing reports from various parties.
"Seriously, you never give yourself a break."
"I have to look at this stuff right before bed..."
Xiao Meng sighed softly and adjusted her body to a comfortable position.
"What can I do? I'm doing this for the sake of my vacation. The sooner I finish this, the sooner I can have peace of mind."
"besides..."
Xiao Meng looked at Jiang Mengyue's swaying fox tail and asked, "Why are you showing your tail now?"
Jiang Mengyue rolled over on the edge of the bed and hugged her tail.
"It's a new habit, doesn't it make me look cute?"
Xiao Meng guessed that Jiang Mengyue had developed this habit over the past few days with Xiao Tiancheng.
This was a trivial matter, and Xiaomeng thought it was pretty good; she could pet the fox's tail tonight.
"Perfect timing... since we're dealing with official business anyway, I'll ask you a few serious questions."
Xiao Meng put down the documents in her hand, sat up, and straightened her back.
"Marco Polo...is she dead?"
Jiang Mengyue answered without hesitation, "No."
She continued scrolling through her phone.
He doesn't seem to care much about this matter.
This also put Xiaomeng's mind at ease, which had just become tense.
It's good that Jiang Mengyue doesn't care.
"So, given that Marco Polo did such a thing, have you considered how to deal with her?"
Jiang Mengyue gave the same answer: "No."
She put down her phone and thought for a moment.
"But I think this is a good opportunity."
"Cough cough."
Jiang Mengyue sat up.
"In my opinion, we Sirens knew that the disaster on the European continent would happen ahead of schedule, but we did not stop it in advance. Instead, because of my personal opinion, we let the events develop and eventually the disaster broke out."
"Furthermore, this incident is also closely related to the Sirens, so it cannot be said that it was entirely the ship girls' doing."
"Therefore, I, the person in charge of this experimental field, hereby declare that we will not delve too deeply into Marco Polo's life."
"I don't care what you want to do to Marco Polo, the Sirens will still do whatever they want."
"But the fine will still apply."
Jiang Mengyue's true intentions were revealed.
"The Ironblood and Sardinian Empire must take responsibility for this."
"You'll have to say a few words for me then..."
Jiang Mengyue moved closer to Xiao Meng.
"Hey hey hey..."
"I don't want money, since the money came from White Eagle anyway. I want the Mind Cube."
"As for the quantity, they can give whatever they think is appropriate."
"oops..."
Xiao Meng reached out and flicked Jiang Mengyue on the forehead.
Jiang Mengyue immediately lay down next to Xiaomeng.
"Alright, you're not going to act anymore, Commissioner Smith."
"At first I thought you were going to say something serious, but you're just like me."
"They still want to rob us."
"All right..."
"I'm confirming one last time: your words from now on will also represent the Actor, Tiancheng."
"Will the Sirens maintain their original stance and leave Marco Polo's problem to the ship girls?"
Looking at Xiaomeng who was serious.
Jiang Mengyue nodded slightly.
"Of course, I don't want any ship girl to have her life in danger, even if she makes a big mistake because of it."
Jiang Mengyue breathed a sigh of relief, "Phew... Of course, it's something I can't do."
"I cannot arbitrarily judge or sentence others to death."
Humans and ship girls are obviously not comparable.
In this small room, the two casually decided Marco Polo's fate.
PS: Still two chapters combined into one, keeping the number even.
......