When the plot-skips players into the game world

Chapter 837: Chapter 216 Siegfried Chapter 837: Chapter 216 Siegfried Upon hearing Aiwass’s words, the Cardinals within the room showed varied expressions.

Some were visibly shocked, others fell into contemplation, some opened their mouths as if to speak and then hesitated, while a few furrowed their brows tightly.

The first to break the ice and make peace was the host of this place, Cardinal Cyril.

“——Truly worthy of someone recognized by His Holiness and the Candle Master.

Even I did not imagine that you would actually pass the Lord of Scalefeather’s test in merely a week.”

This aged Cardinal, half tree and half Amberficate, casually provided Aiwass with protection in just two sentences.

As the leader of the “Market Supervisor” faction, it appeared that Cardinal Cyril still held some sway.

His moderate and conservative nature meant he was always inclined to resolve emerging conflicts before they became visible—by preemptively bringing up Aiwass’s achievements, it certainly helped to make others a bit more patient.

Clearly, his words were effective.

The middle-aged Elf with short curly tawny hair and a deeply furrowed brow turned to glance at Cardinal Cyril and, in the end, chose to remain silent.

Aiwass could distinctly feel the undisguised enmity from him—that was a desire free from any impurity, quite transparent and fierce, like a refreshing strong liquor, intoxicating in its hostility.

Thereupon, Aiwass turned back and asked directly without any avoidance, “May I ask…

what for I should address you?”

“Belisarius.”

Came the succinct reply.

He was dressed in a white robe, the kind the Parthians favored, with only the left side of his chest exposed.

His entire left chest was transparent, like a meticulously carved diamond.@@novelbin@@

Through that “diamond shell,” one could even clearly see his pure white rib bones and the heart inside that was beating strongly.

After briefly contemplating, Aiwass realized that he truly did not remember this Cardinal Archbishop.

Yet, it wasn’t impossible that this person was a member of the Fame Talent Group.

At this moment, the other party asked in return, “Do you not know what you have done?”

“What?”

Aiwass raised his eyebrow, questioning back.

“——Let me explain, Belisarius.”

The one who took over the conversation was not Belisarius, but the Paladin “Topaz,” who had met Aiwass during the knighthood ceremony.

The young Cardinal Archbishop, with the crystallization of the Path glittering behind his back, nodded slightly, introducing himself with the fervor of a knight, hand over his chest, “I recall who you are…

I am ‘Topaz,’ you might remember me, Aiwass!

You enthusiastically assisted me during the promotion ceremony…

“Oh, my apologies!

I haven’t yet introduced myself——there’s no need to call me Topaz here.

You may call me Siegfried.

The Guardian of the Second Ring, a member of the ‘Mediator.’ I have contracts with the Silver-Crowned Dragon and the Hourglass.”

He even unabashedly revealed the direction of his contracts with his Advanced Divine Arts.

However, rather than him resembling a knight, it was more as if the concept of a “knight” resembled him.

Upon hearing this name, Aiwass immediately knew the true identity of the person in front of him.

Any college student from Avalon should know his name.

——If Aiwass remembered correctly, the original Knights were from the Helasal Empire, the worshippers and imitators of “Knight Siegfried.” Like Helquinn, also a Mediator, Siegfried traveled across nations.

However, his fate took a completely different turn from Helquinn’s.

Siegfried did not have followers like Helquinn did, nor did he emphasize absolute Justice.

He always traveled alone around the world, stopping unnecessary conflicts where he saw them, helping those he took a liking to achieve their desires.

Those words that could morally entangle Helquinn held no meaning to Siegfried——for Siegfried’s belief was “only help those he can see,” “distant tragedies are meaningless to attend to,” “even bringing happiness to just one person has significance,” and “there is no measure of large or small in acts of kindness.”

Later, during his travels to the Helasal Empire, he encountered a group of youths.

They were admirers of Siegfried, yearning for that “freedom to follow one’s heart.”

Siegfried was delighted and stayed for several decades, earnestly teaching them martial skills.

But he also warned them that even acts of freedom must have constraints.

Thus, he established a creed for his disciples—aid the weak, loyalty to the sovereign, steadfast faith, and enthusiastic courtesy.

These gradually evolved into the professional code of conduct for the Knights of Helasal.

In a sense, he could even be called the father of the Knight Nation.

The original Knight, “Knight Zero.”

But in the game, Aiwass had no memory of the other party.

The reason was simple.

Because by the early stages of the 2.0 storyline, when the Holy Nation split, Siegfried had already died—slain during the internal strife among the Cardinal Archbishops.

From another perspective, Siegfried’s death was the result of Cardinal Loki’s conspiracy.

“I remember you.”

Aiwass looked at Siegfried, his lips lifted slightly into a warm and friendly smile: “Nice to meet you, Mr.

Siegfried.”

Although it was already suspected…

Now confirmed, Aiwass couldn’t help but sigh: At that promotion ceremony to fill vacancies presided over by Merlin, the Pure White Saintess’s companions were indeed all Cardinal Archbishops.

“It’s only been a few months…

not even half a year, right?

I remember you were only at the Second Level, but now you’ve mastered Advanced Divine Arts and become a Cardinal Archbishop.

Such a remarkable talent,” Siegfried praised from the heart, “Truly worthy of the person His Holiness has taken note of!

This is the essence of a heart full of Dedication!”

Hearing this, the other Cardinal Archbishops who didn’t know Aiwass instantly changed their expressions and cast serious glances at Aiwass.

As expected, this was scarier than the true identity of “Starlight.”

…

What joke is this, the Second Level?

In just half a year’s time…

wasn’t that just a blink of an eye?

In just the blink of an eye, to leap from the Second Level to the Fourth Level, and even to master Advanced Divine Arts previously unheard of among humans…

Could this person be the reincarnation of an Angel Envoy from the Path of Devotion?

Aiwass was a bit curious about the “His Holiness’ mention” Siegfried spoke of and asked, “May I ask, how did His Holiness evaluate me?”

“Her Majesty, she…”

“—Siegfried.”

Cardinal Favna gently interrupted from the side.

After hearing Favna’s prompt, Siegfried also suddenly came to his senses.

He solemnly explained to Aiwass, “Just last night, an unprecedented disaster occurred in the Holy Nation.”

“…

A disaster?”

For a moment, Aiwass thought it was finally the catastrophe of the Tree and Amber.

But the next words from the other party left Aiwass slightly stunned:

“We are currently referring to this disaster as the ‘Starlight Disaster’.

“Because just last night, about 5% of Elves received ‘warrior’ profession implantation by ‘Starlight’.

“Most of them are from Heirs, which is still manageable.

But there are also some from other Paths, resulting in their career paths being forcibly altered.

Among those affected we’ve counted, there includes an Archbishop.

“And so far, among the Transcendents affected, the ones with the highest Path Energy Levels…

“Are Cardinal Favna and myself.”

Siegfried spoke seriously.