People in Terra, governing a bizarre little country

They are some kind of mysterious creature (questionable), who extract the key words from your speech and then resend them to you. It's best not to attempt a conversation with them without being mentally prepared, otherwise you'll have a conversation experience that will leave you trembling.

"I'm so sleepy, I haven't slept all night." "Aren't you sleepy if you haven't slept?"

"I'm sleepy." "Don't be sleepy."

"I'm tired." "Don't be tired."

"I don't want to live." "Don't live."

In short, there's always one that suits you: one that will make you laugh to death or one that will make you furious.

Federico is a Lateran-made humanoid machine that is extremely rare.

To be fair, when Ernst first heard about Lateran, he thought that a religious country like Lateran, with its renowned reputation, would probably be like the stereotypical Papal States: serious, pious, conservative, and old-fashioned.

But later, it turned out that Ernst's idea was a bit off. He reversed all those keywords, and that's what Lateran really looked like to the outside world, emphasizing contrast.

Just as Ernst was getting used to this Lateran, Federico appeared.

It's hard to say whether Zero's personality is orthodox or unorthodox. Objectively speaking, he's clearly different from almost all Laterans; his purely rational logical thinking makes him seem like an emotionless computer. But from Ernst's subjective perspective, this image does somewhat fit the general impression of a civil servant in a religious state.

Of course, if Ernst had to choose, he would prefer to deal with the more lively Laterans.

“Mr. Federico, please stop for a moment.”

Lu Ernst interrupted Federico's attack.

Federico actually stopped abruptly, his words abruptly cut off, leaving a strange and awkward feeling.

This is also one of his few strengths in interpersonal relationships—he is genuinely obedient.

Ernst organized his thoughts and reminded him:

“Mr. Federico, I fully understand your suggestion and am very grateful for your kindness.”

"However, you seem to have forgotten that I invited you two here not for interrogation, but merely for questioning."

Ernst's gaze swept over Arturo, who remained silent and only smiled, before returning to Federico.

"And, Mr. Federico, you are also one of the people being questioned."

Ernst paused.

If it were someone else, they would probably ask, "What do you want to ask?" or "Why do you want to ask me?"

Federico simply nodded calmly and mechanically replied, "Understood."

“Aren’t you going to ask why?” Vina, who had been spared from being kicked out, stepped forward and asked from the side.

"His Holiness the Pope has instructed me to fully cooperate with Mr. Ernst's work. As an executive officer of the notary office, I am obliged, according to Lateran law, to cooperate in carrying out all orders issued by His Holiness the Pope."

Vina was momentarily at a loss for words, unsure where to even begin to complain.

Federico's words were undeniably politically correct, so correct that you couldn't refute them from any angle. But it was precisely this correctness that made even someone as patient and shrewd as Vina unable to resist challenging him:

"What would you do if the Pope ordered you to commit suicide?"

Of course, while she thought about it, Vina didn't actually argue. Given Federico's personality, the answer to this question was almost predictable; he would most likely just reply, "Yes, sir," or list some Lateran law that Vina didn't know to refute the Pope's command.

Thinking about it this way makes it even more troubling. Because both the former and the latter are enough to show that Federico's loyalty was not to any particular person, country, or ideology. Rather, it was to be a pure "slave to the right."

But who gets to define what is correct?

The specific context defines what morality and justice are, and thus morality and justice will appear differently in the eyes of different groups of people.

In Federico's view, the only one who can define this is the law itself.

Such a person is dangerous. If one day the Law suddenly issues an order to destroy a country in Terra or exterminate a race, would Federico carry it out without hesitation?

This is not entirely impossible. Although Vina does not know, Ernst is very clear that the [Heavenly Pivot] itself is a weapon, and it is fully capable of granting Federico the force to carry out this plan.

Although the formal inquiry had not yet begun, Ernst already had some considerations and decisions in mind.

Federico was indeed unsuitable to be a saint.

Extreme correctness is also a great threat. Talulah's black-and-white thinking almost led to the demise of the Tundra Guerrilla. She still has limited abilities. Federico, on the other hand, is a ticking time bomb. He may be on Ernst's side now, but in the future, if Ernst has to deny the ideals of Heaven's Pivot or even close it down, Federico will become the biggest obstacle.

Admittedly, Ernst could gradually change Federico's situation through education and guidance, helping him to abandon his almost obsessive pursuit of "correctness," but this would take time. Ernst was mostly busy, and he didn't have any special relationship with Federico. The first impression Federico left on him wasn't very good, and he wasn't being paid. There was no need for Ernst to force himself to become Federico's teacher and create unnecessary trouble for himself.

Teaching one of them is more troublesome than teaching ten Vina and Raphsini, and it's as troublesome as teaching three Talulahs!

Having made up his mind, Ernst said:

“Mr. Federico, please wait outside for a moment. I’ll start with Arturo.”

Federico frowned slightly, but nodded silently and turned to leave the room. Vina, seeing this, also gave Ernst a look.

"I'll go out and keep an eye on things, make sure he doesn't cause any more trouble."

This wasn't just polite talk; she was genuinely worried that Federico might cause some misunderstanding by standing guard at the door. The people gathered in the Kjerag exhibition hall were all celebrities and big names from various fields, and Federico was completely inarticulate. If he inexplicably offended someone again, it wouldn't be good for either Kjerag or Lateran.

It's always better to avoid these kinds of troubles.

Vina followed closely behind, and Ernst then looked at Arturo.

Arturo had remained silent, seemingly indifferent to what was happening around her. Her gaze was fixed on Ernst, and although her hands were handcuffed behind her back, she tried her best to keep her posture upright. Although her posture didn't appear particularly graceful, she did her best to maintain the elegance and poise of someone who considered herself an "artist."

Seeing Federico and Vina leave, she finally parted her thin lips, her tone slightly teasing:

“Mr. Ernst, please forgive me. My unpleasant brother always speaks like this. If he has offended you, please forgive him.”

"If you were to say that, he probably wouldn't agree with it."

Ernst shrugged.

"As far as I know, your relationship with your brother isn't exactly great, is it?"

"indeed so."

Arturo, however, didn't lie or hide anything in such an obvious place. She shook her head with a sigh, like an older sister troubled by a disobedient younger brother:

"Federico and I got along quite well when we were kids, but unfortunately he became a bit cold-hearted as he grew up."

“I don’t really believe that he is completely devoid of emotion, but unfortunately, every time I try to play the melody in his heart, he always points a gun at my head first.”

As Arturo spoke, he even tried to point to his forehead. But his wrists were tightly handcuffed, so he could only give Ernst a helpless smile.

“Mr. Ernst, ask me anything you wish to ask. Or, if you are also curious about the emotions you are suppressing, you can untie my knots. I would be happy to play a piece for someone like you.”

Arturo's tone was exceptionally sincere.

"Please believe me, it is my honor."

"But that's hardly an honor for me."

Ernst shook his head slightly.

Ernst couldn't quite put his finger on what emotions he was suppressing. Emotions are complex things; they are indeed an indispensable part of being human, but often they are not necessarily good things.

What's buried deep underground isn't necessarily treasure; it could also be nuclear waste.

Ernst was quite curious about this, perhaps a little, but certainly not to the point where he felt compelled to dig deeper. Besides, what kind of place was this? The Lateran World's Fair. Ernst was always restrained and had no penchant for revealing his secrets in public.

Even if Ernst were genuinely curious about his own deepest instincts, he wouldn't have allowed Arturo to "perform" it.

A secret is a secret because it's something you cherish most. What's the point of letting others touch it, understand it, and even "play" it according to their own interpretations so easily?

If he absolutely had to confide in someone, he would rather share with Vina, Holhaya, and Christensen.

"I have a reason for looking for you."

Ernst Road,

"You should know who you are, right?"

"What do you mean?" Arturo asked knowingly. "The notary office's most wanted criminal on a serious charge? The dangerous individual designated by the Three Nations Summit for suspected involvement in terrorism? Or a prisoner you accidentally arrested on the street?"

"Or are you referring to the title Lateran bestowed upon me?"

"saint?"

Ernst ignored Arturo's provocation. He focused on visualizing Federico's poker face, blurring Arturo's voice, which seemed to be born with Originium Arts, and calmly said:

What are your thoughts on this identity?

Arturo glanced at Ernst with some surprise, unusually lost in thought. He crossed his legs, seemingly wondering if something had gone wrong with his Originium Arts, or if there was a problem somewhere else.

After a moment, she shook her head slightly:

"I was also surprised that the law chose me."

"If you were to ask me what I think about this, I'd be very curious: what does the 'Law' look like? Does it also have hidden, unknown, beautiful melodies?"

"If I had the chance, I would really like to perform it."

"Mr. Ernst, have you seen the [Law]? Can you answer this question?"

Ernst felt that Arturo was indeed a bit problematic.

How could a normal person have such a desire for a large machine? Are you a member of the mechanical cult?

Oh, right, although Arturo is a saint, she has never seen the true form of the [Law], and she doesn't know that the [Law] is actually a super calculator.

That would be even more perverse, wouldn't it? Since Arturo hasn't seen the true nature of the Law yet, and hasn't demystified it, shouldn't the Law be sacred, holy, and inviolable in the mind of a Sarkaz?

Then why are you still so... well, it's hard to describe.

Ernst was momentarily at a loss for words, unable to find a single word to describe Arturo's desire to play the law.

A bit obscene/transfer: Erjiulingzishanwuliudu.

Are all the people of Laterano rebels?

Andorn was a rebel against the Lateran system, Federico was a potential rebel against the Pope, and Arturo was a rebel against Lateran ideology.

And each one is completely different!

"The law is not a person, nor is it something that can be played."

Ernst let out a long sigh.

"If you ask whether it has any hidden secrets, perhaps it does, but that's beyond your knowledge."

Arturo tilted his head:

“But Mr. Ernst, am I not a saint?”

"Don't all saints have the right to see the law?"

Why are you so sure I wouldn't know?

Ernst glanced at her:

"This is my decision."

"Can you represent Lateran?" Arturo countered.

"I can."

To Arturo's surprise, Ernst nodded openly and without any hesitation.

Arturo was stunned.

Although she was imprisoned in a special cell and under close surveillance, out of the least respect due to a saint, Ivangelist XI arranged a reasonably decent life for her and never blocked her access to information.

She can use a terminal in her cell to connect to Lateran's intercity network, obtain the latest issue of the Lateran Daily from the guards, and even request classified information from the Papal Court if needed.

She has everything except freedom.

Because she was a saint chosen by the Law, and Evangelista XI could not defy the will of the Law, practices such as restricting freedom and conducting censorship were already his limit.

Therefore, Arturo actually knew a lot about Ennster. (Lu)

After all, this was the person who personally captured her in Letania and sent her to Lateran prison.

If it weren't for the intervention of the law, Arturo would probably be in jail for life.

She was naturally curious about Ernst, a man who was somewhat "unapproachable" and "seemed completely uninterested" in her.

She had met quite a few rulers; the Electors of Letania, because of her music, her beauty, and her Originium Arts, often treated her as an honored guest. Leaders of other countries mostly didn't care at all about the so-called "crimes" Arturo had committed.

People's moral standards are quite flexible; they don't care much as long as the dead aren't their own people. Even if the dead are civilians under their rule, they are happy to "forgive" Arturo as long as they can confirm the uniqueness of Arturo's Originium Arts.

Only Ernst, after Arturo revealed her identity, brought up the Elector, and hinted at her Originium Arts, still handed her over to Laterano without any mercy.

After learning more about Ernst's life, she felt that she had a general understanding of Ernst's character.

He shouldn't be such an "outspoken" person.