Chapter 191

That's true.

"Later, perhaps there was a problem with the design of the ritual itself, perhaps it was because we interrupted the ritual, or perhaps it was because the power of the [silver coin] went out of control, but a massive explosion occurred at the ritual site at that time. Half the mountain was destroyed."

"I was lucky enough to retrieve the Holy Spear during the explosion, but I lost the vast majority of my comrades."

"Before evacuating the scene, I saw that [silver coin]."

"There was a lion carved on the [silver coin]."

The [silver coin] with a lion carved on it.

Then, it is different from the three that Qi Xing currently has in his possession.

[If it's a lion, the serial number is the fourteenth one.]

Sasa, who was lying on top of Qi Xing's head, said thoughtfully—of course, she didn't reveal herself in front of Gwendolyn, just speaking to Qi Xing,

[The concepts represented are—[Power], [Courage], [Will], [Hero]—of course, this is just a way to make it easier to understand.]

Qi Xing nodded, indicating he understood.

"We are not sure exactly what happened at the scene at that time."

Gwendolyn continued,

"But ever since that operation, Nazi Germany must have lost the power of both the [silver coin] and the Holy Spear, and subsequently suffered defeat after defeat."

"Since then, until this year, I have never seen another [silver coin] with my own eyes, and I don't believe anyone else in the Roman Church has either."

"But all sorts of suspicious clues have indeed emerged one after another, so many that we couldn't investigate them one by one, let alone give you examples for each."

Gwendolyn sighed again.

"So, how should I put it? We weren't intentionally trying to hide it from you, although we did have some intention to wait and see… but how can I say this, tell you everything? That would take weeks to explain. Besides, you hadn't asked us before."

Qi Xing couldn't help but look back at Elaine.

He didn't want to personally analyze complex cases and the various archives accumulated over hundreds of years at all. He would certainly have to leave this kind of work to Elaine.

And Elaine was nodding, silently noting down all the details without a single complaint.

Qi Xing took the opportunity to close his eyes, reorganizing his thoughts, and pondering everything he had discovered so far regarding the [Silver Coin Messenger].

Let's organize the intelligence gathered so far.

First, the Yaobikuni he encountered in northeastern Japan, [True Buddhism], and the "White God Believers" — Qi Xing already knew about them before — they should be related to Nazi Germany and the neo-pagan racism that began in the 19th and 20th centuries.

They worship the White God, the True Buddha, the Peacock King, Samael… which is Sasa.

The creator god of this world.

Probably.

Besides Yaobikuni, there are likely several other apostles of the White God and disciples of the Peacock King. Yaobikuni once claimed, "There are many sect leaders like me," so they are probably spread all over the world.

[Greed Demon], however, said his master [Pojun] belongs to a different faction than the White God Believers.

"Then, is [Pojun] another ancient demon king?"

"We cannot be sure of that. The Roman Church's intelligence capabilities in East Asia are relatively weak, after all." Gwendolyn shook her head, "If you are going to start investigating the [Silver Coin Messenger], I do know the direction of another lead, a point of suspicion the Roman Church has had for many years."

"[Master Leipu], which is the most powerful and organized supernatural organization?"

Does that even need asking?

"Isn't it you guys yourselves?" Qi Xing frowned, "The Roman Church."

The largest sect in the world, possessing the greatest international influence; that is something no one can deny.

Gwendolyn nodded, but she wasn't boasting or being arrogant; she just continued to ask, "Then who is second?"

…Good question.

Qi Xing scratched his head; he really hadn't thought carefully about the "second place" question. After all, the first place is easy to name, but the second is always hard to determine.

Just like mortals gathering to form tribes and nations, many residents of the supernatural world also form various organizations for the same reasons: to protect each other and share culture.

The problem is, these supernatural organizations also have all sorts of hidden histories, dark secrets, and unforgivable blood feuds. Everyone has left their own footprints in world history. Cruel wars between countless supernatural organizations are fought right under the noses of ignorant mortals. Even so, some major events are still obvious enough to be noticed by ordinary people.

Who is second? Buddhism? But one of the biggest flaws of the Buddhist system is that they actually lack a single largest sect, a core that could unite all the factions, even if only in name.

Duke Cilianni is the most powerful Buddhist expert Qi Xing has ever met, having reached the realm of a Transcendent, but she is only the leader of one sect. The other sects certainly don't submit to her.

Outside of Buddhism, various Eastern cultivation groups all lack sufficient organizational scale and world-class influence. It's not that they don't have experts, but the organizations are really just too small.

Thinking it over, Qi Xing could only come up with one answer: "…The Hermes Society?"

The Hermes Society, in Qi Xing's view, is something very much like the "Mage's Association" of this world.

The practice of magic and sorcery can be traced back to the earliest stages of human civilization. But it is said that the earliest magic association in this world originated from the era of Alexander.

In 332 BC, when Alexander the Great unified Persia, Greece, and Egypt, he brought diverse cultures together in one place. Numerous mystery schools and Persian religions merged there, giving birth to a unified mystical organization—it is said that this was the prototype of the Hermes Society.

The god Hermes, the deity symbolizing communication, knowledge, travel, and luck, became the patron god of this magical group from then on.

The great mage later called "Hermes Trismegistus" or "Thrice-Greatest Hermes" by the Greeks is the origin of the secret society's name, long before the birth of Christ.

To this day, almost all core symbols and rituals of Western magical traditions—magic circles, triangles, and various geometric figures, wands, staves, and so-called "High Ritual Magic"—can find their source in the system of the Hermes Society.

Widely known mystical organizations such as the "Golden Dawn" order, the "Rosicrucians," the "Illuminati," and even the Freemasons are rumored to have inextricable links with the Hermes Society.

It can be said that it was the Hermes Society that defined the entire Western civilization's understanding of the concept of "magic" throughout history.

"I know the modern Hermes Society moved its headquarters to London. I've been there a few times too."

Qi Xing frowned,

"But aren't they one of the leaders of the righteous path?"

"I am not accusing their entire Society of having problems." Gwendolyn shook her head, "And it's not that the Roman Church wants to witch-hunt again."

"But just as Merlin helped a stable boy ascend to the throne; just as John Dee named Queen Elizabeth's territory an 'Empire' and anchored it in the time and space of Greenwich, the Hermes Society likewise turns the secret wheels of the world."

"After the end of World War II, the Roman Church and the Hermes Society have maintained a relationship that is as friendly as possible, or at least not mutually hostile."

"But to say we have never suspected them of having problems would clearly be a lie."

"Especially, the Victorian era that I saw with my own eyes—that era when the British Empire controlled one-third of the globe and almost conquered the world, I suspect… there might have been a quite ancient [Silver Coin Messenger] pushing things from behind the scenes."

"You should also know that it was during the Victorian era that the Hermes Society moved its headquarters to London."

…Qi Xing actually hadn't paid attention to this history. How could he have noticed so much?

But he did understand Gwendolyn's point.

If [Greed Demon] was right that there are indeed, and only, two or three quite ancient [Silver Coin Messenger]s in this world, then there are currently three possible directions for investigation.

The faction of [Pojun]'s disciples that Qi Xing has seen.

The [White God Believers] faction, who are suspected of worshipping Samael and are related to Nazi Germany and neo-pagan racism, and who might be spread across the world.

And the "Mage" faction that Gwendolyn just claimed she suspects, which Qi Xing hasn't seen yet.

Hmm, is that true or false?

At least Qi Xing didn't intend to accept everything and believe it all. Perhaps Gwendolyn really wants to use him as a pawn, you never know.

"Thank you, I will try my best to investigate."

That said, such an investigation cannot produce results immediately.

"Good luck, [Master Leipu]. I hope God is truly guiding you."

Speaking of which, Gwendolyn tilted her head again,

"By the way—before you find the next target, do you have any plans for the near future?"

"Hmm? Just wait in Rome, cultivate, and wait for some demons or heretics to pop up, and then I'll go kill them."

Qi Xing didn't quite understand why she asked this question.

"You had better get some more rest."

The Paladin frowned,

"If you are always fighting, fighting, fighting, waking up every day to nothing but the next battle, without even the tolerance to rest today or tomorrow, then I find it hard to believe you can create a new world that is better and more loving than the current one."

"…No, you, a Paladin, a real soldier and warrior, have the nerve to say this to me?"

Qi Xing was speechless for a moment.

"It is precisely because I am a soldier and warrior that I am telling you this."

Gwendolyn stood up from the conference table, looking calm and indifferent,

"Don't keep the string wound too tight, soldier; it's very easy to die that way."

"At least, before the next battle comes, enjoy the victory you won by defeating the Demon King, won't you?"

Having said that, she walked away quite gracefully.

Leaving Qi Xing alone in the room, being watched by the three women around him.

A moment later, Rin nodded gently and said thoughtfully, "A very interesting person, and Qi Xing, I think she makes sense."

Qi Xing couldn't help but cover his face and sigh.

Volume 5: Welcome to the █ █ █ Paradise!: 174: Roman Holiday

Rest.

Rest…

What should I do for rest?

Thinking carefully, the things Qi Xing has to do lately have really piled up like a mountain.

The new [silver coin] has just been obtained, and it needs to be studied; he needs to explore how to use it in conjunction with his own martial arts and spells.

Previously in northeastern Japan, Qi Xing successfully used the [Dominator] silver coin to completely elementalize himself—that technique is still far from proficient, and he needs to find time to hone it further.

Furthermore, this time in Tokyo, he first killed the underworld old monster who practiced the evil immortal method, and then killed [Greed Demon], rarely obtaining two pieces of genuine immortal-level material.

Originally, Qi Xing planned to go home and start the furnace to refine weapons, tinkering with a few new gadgets—Heaven have mercy, he is the dignified [Master Leipu], everyone knows he would cut off the █-balls of bad guys to make pills, so terrifying that it can stop children from crying at night.

As a result, almost half the year has passed, and Qi Xing hasn't started the furnace even once; it's really too unacceptable!

And then there is…

…He has many new games he hasn't played yet.

"Space Marine 2" has been out for a long time, and Qi Xing hasn't touched it yet.

He also wants to play "Wilds," heard the greatsword performance was buffed? Heard you can now wrestle with dragons and push them back?

Thinking of this, Qi Xing finally made up his mind:

Rest… Okay, he really should have a good rest.

"Then, Qi Xing, I'll go and look through those archive materials first."

Gwendolyn had already left by this time, and Elaine also stood up from her chair, preparing to go to the archives to dig through some more ancient scrolls and help Qi Xing collect and analyze clues about the [Silver Coin Messenger] and the ancient demon kings.

"Forget it, it's not that urgent."

Qi Xing shook his head at this moment,

"There is one thing I'd like to ask first—what exactly is the 'Messiah of the Germans'?"

"This is the second time I've heard that term. And it sounds like, at the very least, the Nazis really took it seriously back then. Can you tell me more about it in detail?"

Elaine didn't expect Qi Xing to ask about this. But she was slightly stunned, and then immediately began to speak, explaining slowly: "This question goes back a long time ago."

"Around the 8th to 9th centuries AD, the Roman Church initially adopted a flexible strategy to preach to the Germanic people."

"Without blindly forcing the Germanic people to understand the suffering of the Cross, the Roman Church chose to repackage the Gospel, using the language and cultural methods familiar to the Germanic people to tell the stories, emphasizing more of the Old Testament God of War elements in the Lord."

"So later, during the Carolingian dynasty, after the Germanic people compiled these stories, they wrote a long epic-style Gospel book called 'Heliand.' It depicts an image of Christ completely different from common knowledge."

Speaking of this, Elaine couldn't help but smile bitterly, but she still continued to explain:

"—Not the Lord of Peace, but the King of Warriors; both Savior and warrior, the defender of the soul and the motherland, the King of the Germanic peoples."

"His disciples were not fishermen and tax collectors, but sword-bearing retainers, loyal warriors. His preaching was like a holy king issuing laws and commandments."

"For the Germanic people, such a Savior was more flesh and blood, easier to understand, and was a leader they were willing to follow."

"This is the so-called 'Messiah of the Germans'—Heliand, the King of Hell and King of Healing, which is directly extended to mean Savior in modern German. 'Heliand' is one of the most important early works in the history of German literature, and it has had a profound influence on later medieval German religious poetry, heroic epics, such as 'The Nibelungenlied,' and even the modern mythic image of the Christian warrior."