Galahad continued to ask. From Shermans' recent question, it seed he didn't believe Lawrence would just die so easily. This reaction was strange and caught Galahad's attention.
"Because he is a Demon Hunter, rember Cantrella?" Shermans said.
"The position of Dean is not so easy to take. To ensure that Demon Hunters are stably controlled, they are not given any power."
"But he beca a Cardinal... as a Demon Hunter." Galahad said.
"Yes, that's the cause. Actually, Lawrence is older than , but the Secret Blood extended his lifespan. I'm almost dead from old age, while he's still vigorous..."
Shermans deliberately slowed down his speech, his voice filled with greed.
"He was a Demon Hunter during the Golden Era, a contemporary of Cardinal dici. At that ti, all of Florence was under the rule of Cardinal dici.
The Pope was rely his puppet. His control over all of this was almost comparable to that of the tyrannical Poison Duke, perhaps even more so, since Cardinal dici's thods were much gentler. Under his reign, everything advanced positively, heralding the arrival of a powerful Golden Era."
His voice paused, then sounded again.
"Saint Nalos Cathedral, Seven Hills, Florence, and indeed the entire Holy Evangelical Pope Kingdom, all were in his grasp. Do you think he would not extend his reach to the Demon Hunting Order?"
It was then that Galahad realized the connection between the two.
"Lawrence is one of Cardinal dici's n?"
"More or less, by now, you should understand the status of Demon Hunters. They are praised but denied power. They can only tightly grip the aid of Cardinal dici and beco his puppets. This is why Lawrence did not die. Cardinal dici was human; he didn't have Secret Blood, nor did he have the lengthy ti to train another Dean.
So, with Cardinal dici's help, Lawrence beca a Cardinal and was spared from death. Don't think it's impossible. At the ti, Cardinal dici's power was at its peak. He could even dismiss the Pope at will. He... he was practically a god on earth."
Shermans once witnessed the fall of that Golden Era. For that great man, he praised and admired him extrely, but suddenly his fervent expression faded, leaving Shermans looking desolate.
"But he was not a god. He was human, and humans grow old."
He sighed, seemingly telling the story of Cardinal dici, but mostly expressing his own discontent.
"Ti treats everyone equally. Cardinal dici suddenly abandoned power, devoted himself to faith, and distanced himself from all disputes, transforming into a devout believer. The end of the Golden Era ca so swiftly that no one reacted, except for Lawrence.
This was his only chance, and the Demon Hunter seized it. He was different from mortals, still considered young then, possessing strength. He relied on his lengthy accumulation and the status of Cardinal to solidify his own position. Thus, he survived in the crevices until the Night of the Holy Arrival."
Shermans adjusted his emotions, sat upright, with a solemn expression.
"Now, back to business. On the Night of the Holy Arrival, Cardinal dici also died, the cause unknown."
Galahad was taken aback, seemingly not expecting such a legendary figure to have such a quiet end. But he imdiately questioned.
"Does this have anything to do with our issue?"
"Of course, it does. You could say that everyone familiar with Cardinal dici is dead, except Lawrence. He witnessed the rise and fall of Cardinal dici. If anyone truly understood him, it would only be Lawrence."
Shermans suddenly hesitated, unsure if he should unveil these words, but upon reflection, taking those secrets to the grave seed pointless, and opening up seed better.
"Actually, this is our conjecture after the Night of the Holy Arrival regarding the cause of Cardinal dici's death—he was secretly killed by Lawrence."
"Revenge?"
If it were revenge, all of this would be easily understood. After so much patience, Lawrence finally killed the one who once controlled him. This was a revenge and betrayal accumulated over decades, with all desires fulfilled in that night.
"No, we suspect he was after Cardinal dici's secret..."
Shermans suddenly smiled eerily, a bit madly, as if possessed.
"The truly worthwhile sacrifice, the dici family's treasure, his treasure..."
"Everyone was fooled by him; how could that guy possibly show weakness?
Lorenzo de' dici was a great man who initiated a Golden Era; do you think he would really be willing to perish in the flood of ti?"
His speech quickened, as if reciting so dreadful spell, and with his murmuring, sothing in the darkness stirred, seeking to escape.
"For that splendid Golden Era, Lorenzo de' dici devoted his life; how could he willingly let it end this way?
We speculate, after the fall of the Golden Era, Lorenzo de' dici still ruled over Florence, only he beca the emperor in the shadows. He already possessed everything a mortal could attain—gold, status, praise, power... What else could he desire?"
Galahad watched this mad old man, his mouth suddenly uncontrolled, murmuring as if soone was using his body to answer this question.
"Immortality..."
Chilling coldness covered Galahad's body, as if this uncertain tale had beco true, and sowhere in this world, those cold eyes still watched.
"Of course, it's just a guess, rely speculation. They are all dead, Lawrence is dead, Lorenzo de' dici is dead, everyone is dead, and the dead don't speak, making it impossible to verify the truth."
The voice carried a lightness, entirely different from the cold oppression earlier, but Galahad paid it no mind, just pondering.
If... if all this were true?
He raised his head in fright, only to find Shermans gazing at him expressionlessly, like a statue, devoid of all vitality, neither pleased nor angry.
In his deeply shadowed eye sockets was pitch darkness, akin to a silent abyss.
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