40. Goldmask
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The Tarnished sat at the table, also looking troubled. He was a magician, not a religious man, so how could he handle such a thing?
"Can't we just find someone else to handle this?" The Tarnished looked at Kevin and Xiling. He remembered that Lemuen was from the Theocracy country. Asking for advice there might be better than trying to figure it out here.
Without even looking up, Lemuen said, "If you ask us about something like this, you'll be brought to justice."
In a country that relies on the rule of law, asking about other laws would be considered heresy. It might not be a big deal, but you'd definitely be arrested. Whether you'd be sent to Laterano or elsewhere was another matter. After hearing Lemuen's words, the Tarnished gave up on seeking help from Lemuen's world, but he still said, "Lemuen's words are fine, but none of us three have much experience with these things. What should we do?"
Xiling looked at Kevin and said, "How about we go to your world and look it up online, and use it as a reference?"
Kevin rolled his eyes and said disdainfully, "You should show me some sincerity. After all, the Silver Rule was created by you, right?"
Xiling rubbed his hair in frustration. He had tried his best to think, but he couldn't come up with anything. He couldn't think of anything at all. Although Lemuen wrote quickly, 80% of it was unusable. It was mixed with too many Laterano laws. It's not that it wouldn't work, but some of it was definitely not suitable for this world.
"I think we need to change our approach," Xiling thought, rubbing his chin. Kevin: "It's time to change our thinking. I don't even know what we're holding on to."
Tarnished: "So, what are your thoughts, Xiling?"
Xiling snapped his fingers. "Sure enough, we still have to find someone."
Kevin looked puzzled. "Who?"
"A local."
Xiling's words caused everyone to exchange bewildered glances.
...
After imprisoning his brother Mohg, Morgott planned to report the matter to Xiling, the new king.
Morgott emerged from the dark, damp prison when he saw several soldiers on patrol. It was a perfectly ordinary occurrence, but Morgott noticed something strange about these soldiers.
The difference was clear, and Morgott spotted it instantly. Before, the soldiers were numb and stiff, like the walking dead, but now their faces were etched with determination and anticipation. Morgott also noticed a silvery glow in their pupils. "They embrace new rules." Morgott's hands instinctively clenched, but then relaxed.
There's nothing wrong with that, right?
Morgott saw the soldiers, and they, in turn, saw him. They immediately saluted.
"Lord Morgott!"
Morgott nodded, then asked in confusion, "You're on patrol. Who organized you?"
Even if these soldiers had changed their beliefs, how could they patrol the city without someone to lead them?
A leading soldier stepped forward. "I organized them, Lord Morgott."
Morgott nodded, motioning for the other soldier to continue.
The soldier immediately spoke, "We... embrace new rules."
Morgott remained silent. The soldier continued, "Since the rule changed and the new king hasn't appeared, but many believers of the rule have entered the royal capital."
"As soldiers, we believe it's necessary to maintain basic order, so I organized this patrol. My apologies, Lord Morgott."
Morgott nodded. "...You're right. This area is now yours to patrol."
"Yes!" the soldiers replied in unison, their voices resounding through the air.
...
Morgott ascended to the heights of the palace and surveyed the entire city. He saw countless believers wandering within and beyond the capital, bowing deeply before the Silver Erdtree and dedicating their faith. Their devout faces and resolute gazes stirred a complex emotion within Morgott.
For a long moment, Morgott muttered to himself, "Foolish!"
Just then, a voice echoed from behind Morgott, "That's why they need someone to guide them, like the king."
Morgott turned and looked behind him, then saw Xiling and Kevin descending the stairs. Seeing Morgott turn his head at the door, Xiling immediately extended his hand and waved, "Good morning, Morgott!"
Morgott placed his hand on his chest, attempting to perform the formality of a subject bowing to his king, but Xiling stopped him.
"Stop, stop, stop," Xiling said grumpily. "I'm only acting king. You don't need to bow to me."
"Even as acting king, I owe you my respect."
This was Morgott's respect for the Elden Ring's king.
Reluctantly accepting the gesture, Xiling reluctantly spoke after seeing Morgott regain his composure.
"Thanks for the trip! Tarnished has already explained your situation to me. Just follow your plan. As for the follow-up, we'll discuss it later. I'm busy right now. You should get some rest."
With these words, Xiling and Kevin continued forward, bypassing Morgott and heading down the stairs. Their figures gradually receded, leaving Morgott standing alone, his gaze vexed. After a long pause, Morgott murmured, "Rest early... Yes, perhaps I really should rest." His voice carried a subtle hint of fatigue and relief. He imagined lying on a soft bed, completely relaxing his body and mind, forgetting all the tedious tasks, not worrying about the unknown tomorrow, simply immersing himself in peaceful dreams, waiting for tomorrow's arrival.
...
Xiling and Kevin patrolled their territory like two lions.
Their purpose was to find someone who could help them complete the Holy Scripture. It took a long time, but Xiling, having awakened his hero essence, quickly found his target. Thus, this scene unfolded.
"Master, Master, please speak! Don't be like that. The Golden Rule is good, but our Silver Rule isn't bad either." Xiling grabbed the arm of a thin man, preventing him from leaving.
The man Xiling held said nothing, but there was another person holding Xiling's arm.
"Sir! Please let go of our teacher! Please respect yourself!" Corhyn's voice was strained with the force, and the heavy metal collar around his neck swung with it, making a dull thud.
But who was Xiling?
He was the hero destined to save the world! He was the uncrowned king of the Silver Rule!
What Xiling desired was that the wheel of fate must be turned!
So, Xiling tightened his grip on the golden mask. "No, we're not asking you to change your faith! That would be too unbecoming! It's just a small matter—could you please help us compile a code of laws, a simple model for us to learn from!"
Corhyn felt helpless. He and his teacher had been continuously calculating the melody of the Erdtree, but the changes in the tree sent them rushing to the royal city to investigate. But before they could find out anything, they were stopped by someone. The white-haired man, who exuded a sense of holiness, rushed out and hugged his teacher's arm. He called out to his teacher, hoping he'd write a code of law for him to use as a reference. Events unfolded so quickly that Corhyn had little time to reflect on what was happening. He simply kept trying to pull the men apart.
When Kevin arrived at the scene, he saw this: three men, for unknown reasons, violently engaged in a struggle, their movements tinged with deep emotions.
Kevin shook his head vigorously, trying to dispel the absurd thoughts in his mind.
"I guess I've been infected by that Xiling guy. I've come up with such bizarre ideas," Kevin muttered to himself, placing all the blame on Xiling.
Then he quickly stepped forward, ready to intervene in this inexplicable altercation. When Xiling saw Kevin, her eyes lit up as if she had seen a savior, and she shouted, "Kevin, come help me!"
"Why is there another one?" Corhyn was about to unleash his prayers, letting these guys know they were no pushovers...
Kevin reached out and grabbed Xiling...
Xiling blinked and looked at Kevin with a puzzled expression, as if to say, "Did you...Did you catch the wrong guy?"
Kevin rolled his eyes and said unhappily, "Do you think it's possible?"
Corhyn hadn't expected that the person Xiling had called over was actually here to help him.
He nodded at Kevin and said briefly, "Thank you."
Kevin shook his head, understandingly, "It was our fault. I hope I didn't scare you."
To say he hadn't scared you would be a lie, Corhyn shook his head. Seeing the other party's emotions calm down, Kevin finally spoke, "My partner should have explained the whole story to you earlier."
As Kevin uttered these words, he felt the person being held suddenly stop moving, as if a pause button had been pressed.
Almost instinctively, a thought welled up in Kevin's mind: "Something's wrong!"
As expected, the confused Corhyn shook his head. "I'm sorry, your partner captured my teacher without explaining the reason."
At that moment, Xiling felt a burning aura emanating from Kevin's body.
Xiling turned stiffly and met Kevin's eyes. In that moment, Xiling sensed a change in Kevin, as if he had traveled through time, arriving 50,000 years in the future. His eyes were expressionless, as cold as ice. Facing this ice, Xiling's mouth twitched.
"Actually, I can explain."
Kevin looked at Xiling speechlessly. He must have gone crazy writing the Scripture last night. Now wasn't the time to deal with this disgraceful fellow. He released his grip on Xiling and said, "Explain it clearly to him."
Stretching his arms slightly, Xiling performed a greeting ceremony towards the Goldmask and Corhyn. Then:
"Nice to meet you, both of you. Please give me a moment to introduce myself."
The air seemed to grow thicker, and even the wind stopped.
Xiling spoke at this moment, his words weighing heavily.
"My name is Xiling, and I'm also—"
"—the current Elden King, the Lord of the Silver Rule."
Silence.
Deathly silent.
The air seemed frozen, so heavy that one could almost hear dust falling. Corhyn felt as if his brain had been struck by an invisible hammer.
"The... the current Elden King?! The Lord of the Silver Rule?!" Corhyn's lips moved uncontrollably, repeating the words that completely overturned his understanding.
What was the other person saying?
The current Elden King!
The Lord of the Silver Rule!
Impossible! He instinctively wanted to deny it. The being who had fought a mythical battle with Black Blade Maliketh last night and was ultimately crowned must have been so majestic and sacred, as eternal and sublime as the Erdtree! How could... how could it be this guy who suddenly appeared, behaving like the most impulsive apprentice!
Corhyn's mind went blank, completely frozen. Shock, disbelief, a sense of absurdity, and a touch of bewilderment, intertwined and solidified on his face, making him numb from the sheer contrast. He opened his mouth, but no meaningful sound emanated. All his cognition was forcibly torn apart and reassembled in this moment.
In this suffocating silence, just as Corhyn's worldview was crumbling—
The Goldmask, which had remained still, almost sculptural in its silence, moved.
No words, no unnecessary emotion. His face slowly turned toward Xiling, his movements smooth and precise, as if guided by some unseen law.
He bowed deeply and slowly toward Xiling.
"I pay you my highest respects, Elden King."
"I pay you my respects as well." Xiling also bowed slightly to the Goldmask.
When the two men straightened up again, the atmosphere was completely different.
The previous confusion, shock, and awkwardness gave way to a more solemn and formal atmosphere.
A belated, genuine conversation began.
The Goldmask's said. "You're seeking me."
It wasn't a question, but a statement. It was a deduced conclusion. "Yes, Master," Xiling's voice was clear and firm, brimming with unquestionable resolve. "As I was trying to say, I need your help."
Xiling's gaze shifted toward the silver tree that pierced the sky.
"The Golden Rule is a thing of the past; a new era has arrived. The Silver Order is taking root, and someone must provide guidance..."
Corhyn held his breath. The young man who, not long ago, was held captive by Kevin and acting like a reckless apprentice, now stood beneath the radiance of the giant silver tree, his stature seemingly elevated. That earnestness, that sharp insight that penetrated phenomena to the essence, that weighty sense of the king's responsibility to guide... so real, so dazzling, a stark contrast to his previous image.
The Goldmas remained motionless, like a statue listening to an oracle. He seemed to grasp a deeper chain of logic in Xiling's words. "Therefore," the Goldmask's voice, still like a cold formulaic deduction, accurately hit the core of Xiling's words. "You want me to help you complete the 'Scripture.'"
This was an inference, not a question. He understood the fundamental purpose of Xiling's quest—not power, not the art of ruling, but a beacon of thought, the cornerstone of order.
"Yes! Master, I need your wisdom and your rationality! I implore you to help me complete this 'Holy Scripture,' the foundation of order in the Silver Age!"
"I need to witness the glory of Silver."
"As it should be."