Throne Steps

In mid-April, in the suburbs of Soyang, a tent was stationed.

"No! I am determined not to go!!!"

Wiggins' voice was sharp and angry.It was the first time he was so angry since he became the chief director of the temple. Even when he learned that the black swan was giving away the head at the foot of the temple mountain last year, he was no more out of control than he is now.

However, his resentment was not contagious to the person opposite.

"I know your feelings, but the reality is often so unsatisfactory." Noah was very calm, and from the tone of his voice, he could even be regarded as cold, "All the luggage has been loaded. If you don't want to cherish the present time, hurry up Say goodbye to the head of the Southwest Army stationed in Suoyang, then we can also choose to leave without saying goodbye tomorrow morning."

"I said I won't go!" Wiggins didn't care whether his voice would come out of the tent or be heard by people outside. Anyway, he should be surrounded by his own people, "I said for several days , I can’t do things for the black swan, why don’t you understand?!”

"I have explained the same reason for several days." Noah said indifferently, "I don't want to repeat it again, it's just a waste of time. If you make up your mind not to say goodbye, then calm down first, good night."

After that, Noah lifted the curtain and walked out.

Wiggins stared at the curtain, eyes burning with resentment that seemed to burn through it.

After a while, a female officer came in holding a small metal basin.Her appearance is not top-notch, but she is very attractive. With her friendly smile and gentle voice, it is easy to feel close to her.

Originally, when the curtain was lifted again, Wiggins was still a little eager to tidy himself up, lest his posture just after the quarrel be too broken.Seeing that it was the female officer who came in, Wiggins let out the breath he just mentioned.

She is a senior student under the name of Ye Lian, the first female official of the Ainuma Temple, and is the personal female official of Wiggins when he is away from home. Wiggins basically does not guard against her.

However, what Wiggins didn't know was that she didn't just accept Ye Lian's guidance.She and several other girls were taught by Ye Lian and the first female officer of the Black Swan Khorkina at the same time, and then they were taught almost at the same time.These freshly baked little female officers were sent to work everywhere, and one of them was still the chief executive of the black swan's original resident in the middle.

"Please take a shower before you rest." The female officer put the small basin on the wooden stand, and then walked to Wiggins' temporary berth to prepare for tidying up. "We are leaving early tomorrow morning, and you need a good sleep tonight."

"Amber, I don't want to go." Wiggins looked at his female officer, exhaustion and resentment lingering in his mind, but the regained sense did not allow him to vent his anger, "Why don't you understand?!"

"I really don't understand this, Mr. Chief." The female officer Amber turned her head and smiled at him, and then continued with her work, "But I think you are indeed a kind person."

Wiggins was taken aback.He was talking about whether to help the black swan, but the female officer suddenly began to comment on what he meant?

"It is your kindness that you have worked so hard to travel thousands of miles to pray for the people of Soyang who are suffering. It is also your kindness that you chose to camp outside Soyang in tents in order not to disturb the victims." The female officer turned her back Wiggins, but she can clearly hear her gentle tone, "If the upcoming journey is also your merciful journey, I don't think you need to be so distressed."

"This is not an act of mercy." Wiggins said, "Black swans are tyrannical people. How can helping them be called pure kindness?"

What Wiggins is more worried about is, if he helps the black swan this time, will the world confuse him with the black swan?In his consciousness, even if he and the black swan are in the Ainuma Temple, they are now clearly separated.

"But I heard that this is to find the wanted criminal, isn't it? This should be a good thing for the country and the people." Amber made the bed, straightened up and turned around to look at Wiggins, " Did you decide to sit idly by just because the black swan took the lead in this matter?"

"It's not that I just sit idly by." Wiggins sighed, "I am the chief of the temple, not a mercenary, not a law enforcement officer, and not a royal army. My duty is redemption, not punishment. The arrest of criminals , For the black swan, it is a mercenary mission, but for me as a priest, it may be 'nosy'. If it is another request to rescue others, I will definitely agree without saying a word."

He said this to Amber, but also to himself.Noah persuaded him for several days by breaking the matter apart. He was afraid that he would be easily persuaded, so he could only strengthen his confidence by himself.

But as selfish as that may sound, he was right.On the one hand, he really has nothing to do with this arrest warrant, but asking questions and not participating is normal; on the other hand, he still wants to define his ultimate whiteness in "treating all beings equally, and benefiting all beings" and become the leader of other people. People or "tools" of the royal court are not what he wants.

However, his definition of "extreme whiteness" can only be realized in his mind.

"I seem to understand. You think that hunting down wanted criminals is just a punishment for the wicked. No one needs help, so you don't want to go, do you?" Amber looked into his eyes and replied, "But I think that even Wicked people also need help and influence. Even if we let him go, wouldn’t more people suffer because of his escape? Isn’t capturing him just helping those who are being disturbed by him?”

Wiggins felt that the female officer was simply irrational: "Amber, if you calculate like this, then I will take care of everything in the world."

"Of course there is no end to the affairs of this world, but isn't this something that comes to you?" Amber waited on Wiggins' washing action, and said in a low voice, "I don't know anything else, but the black swan I have also heard about the style of this. If they ask you to find the whereabouts of the wanted criminals, it means that they have not locked the target. If you don’t help, the black swan is likely to use all means to find the target..."

As Amber said, he turned his head to a certain place, which was the direction of Suoyang City: "Since the wanted criminal is a general of the rebel army, I think the black swan will definitely start with Suoyang's people."

Wiggins wiped his hands and replied with a frown: "But all the rebels in Suoyang City should be under the control of the Southwest Army. Can the black swan forcefully break into the barracks?"

"It's okay to ask others, isn't it? For example, the general's neighbors, the taverns he frequented, even his childhood playmates, the dancers who accompanied him..." Amber turned around and said softly, "Even if they don't want to Say, or really don't know, the black swan will probably 'find a way' to tell them to open their mouths."

Following Amber's words, it is not difficult for Wiggins to imagine that with the violent image of the black swan, the so-called "method" must also be bloody and brutal.

Amber continued: "Now the black swan just asks you to find out the whereabouts of the wanted criminals, and you don't need to participate in the pursuit or even the violence. It is an easy thing for you to save those who may be severely tortured. People who are tortured can get the recognition of your ability from the royal court, nobles, and people in the world, so why not do it?"

It was not the first time he had heard such words. Noah had said it for several days, but Amber said it more kindly.

Wiggins was silent for a while, and sighed softly: "It was Noah who asked you to be a lobbyist?"

"Noah did ask me to persuade you." Amber didn't deny it, but she added, "However, I have something to say to you, and Noah's matter also followed the trend."

"Have something to say to me?"

"You and Noah have been talking for so many days, and everyone around you knows why the two of you are annoyed when you say something out of bounds." Amber smiled, "I heard what Noah meant, but actually looking for the wanted criminal , There are a lot of benefits. Although you have no obligation to help, it is actually not a bad idea to help, isn't it?"

This is the truth.If it weren't for this, Wiggins wouldn't have to worry about being shaken.

"In the final analysis, if you were invited by another person or group for this task, you might readily agree." Amber continued, "But my lord, have you ever thought about it, just because the black swan knows your ability, I just asked for your help. This is your chance to prove your ability to the world, and it is also an opportunity to spread the reputation of the Ainuma Temple!"

The Southwest Army also knew about my ability, but they didn't ask me for help... They didn't even turn a blind eye to my letter warning that "there are civilians behind the door".Wiggins thought to himself, but couldn't refute Amber's words.He still doesn't know that the content of his letter of "discussing the military situation" has spread to the royal court, the top nobles, and major intelligence agencies, as long as it is still a secret that only the three parties know.

"To say something that shouldn't be said, the Temple of Ainuma was built by His Highness because of your outstanding ability. However, the performance of the black swan last year in regards to grace made them seem to be the masters of the temple. Do you know , people in Zhuoya Qiumen call the temple the 'Swan Tower'!" Amber said helplessly, "I think that you came to Soyang to pray this time to further let everyone know you and the real head of the temple. Realize what kind of temple Ainuma should be in the name of pure goodness. This invitation from the Black Swan is just the time for you to take a new step and overwhelm the momentum of the Black Swan. At this time, you are hesitant to move forward , it's not like the chief executive who decisively decided to come to pray for blessings."

Wiggins sighed again, but his expression had already relaxed. He didn't know whether he had really accepted these rhetoric, or compromised with Noah and Amber's rounds of bombing.

In fact, he also knew in his heart that what really made him resist was not this task, but the black swan.

Seeing that his expression was relaxed, Amber stopped talking and left him to think about it.After simply tidying up some utensils, the female officer lifted the curtain with the basin and went out.

Ye Shen Xinghui, not far from the torch outside the tent, stood a young man.He stood at the intersection of light and shadow, his face was calm, it was Noah who came out earlier.

As soon as Amber came out, she turned her head and saw him, the two nodded to each other, and Noah turned and left.

Amber made a slight smile, and walked into the night with a water basin.

[The author has something to say]: Now I... must be on the train...