Chapter 321: Maria and the Halloween Queen

Within the garden paved with flowers of the four seasons, at the end of a path as white as jade, was a small pavilion.

The pavilion was constructed entirely of marble, and the joints between the beams, pillars, and tiled roof were seamless, as if carved from a single massive block of marble.

Beneath the pavilion, the Halloween Queen, wearing a platinum crown, dressed in a fiery red gown, and with hair as brilliant as the sun, was looking at a photograph in boredom.

It was a photograph of a Knight holding a magnificent Holy Sword, clad in pale silver armor, and revealing a brilliant smile.

To be precise, it was a photograph of Arthur, the most excellent Knight in her heart, though it was a great pity.

The Knight she loved most had sacrificed himself to protect her.

"Queen, Maria requests an audience!"

Beside her, Scathach, dressed in a crisp, form-fitting butler's uniform, suddenly appeared and bowed to the Halloween Queen.

"Heh, she actually has the face to come and find me."

The Halloween Queen sneered, put away the photograph, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and slightly adjusted her appearance.

Scathach maintained her bowing posture, not daring to move at all, ever since the Halloween Queen had returned.

The atmosphere of the entire Heavenly Courtyard was depressingly heavy, as if mourning the sacrifice of Arthur.

Of course, it would have been even better if Shiroyasha hadn't come over to provoke her.

Otherwise, why would the atmosphere here be so heavy?

"Let her wait outside."

The Halloween Queen waved her hand, letting Scathach go down to notify Maria.

A long time later, the Halloween Queen, having changed into a black gown and wearing black hair accessories, sat at the stone table, quietly drinking tea that was about to go cold.

"Let Maria in."

The Halloween Queen set down her teacup and said indifferently.

A moment later, a woman dressed in a black nun's habit, with a full figure and a sorrowful face, walked in, harboring unease.

Maria glanced at the Halloween Queen uneasily, took small steps, and walked toward the pavilion with the attitude of one returning to death, sitting down opposite the Queen.

At this moment, Maria also saw the cup of tea that had long since gone cold on the white tea table.

And at this moment, the Queen, dressed in mourning attire, said with a slightly heavy and somewhat hoarse voice.

"Apologies for keeping you waiting, Mother of God. My Knight has left, and for a moment, it has been difficult to accept."

"I am very sorry."

Maria buried her head deeper; she sighed, picked up the teacup, and took a small sip.

The tea was very bitter; it could almost be said to be the most bitter tea she had ever drunk in her life.

But no matter how bitter the tea was at this moment, it was ultimately not as bitter as her heart.

The Son of God had been defeated, and had even fallen.

For the Cross Religion, the consequences were unimaginable; even if she tried her best to maintain order, she could only stabilize the Angels in Heaven.

At this time, the vast Cross Religion had already split into three factions, led by the canonized saints, the various Angels who had once joined the Cross Religion, Demon Kings, and Devils.

The Hell Faction, led by Satan of Hell.

And finally, the Heaven faction, which she had been struggling to maintain.

When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter; in the current situation where the God had vanished and the Son of God had fallen, past sentiments were not worth half a cent.

In just a few days, the Cross Religion had split into three sides, and there were no telling how many God Groups were coveting the Cross Religion's share of faith, preparing to strike and plunder.

Although the foundation of the Cross Religion was vast, even the Heaven faction she currently controlled had over a hundred Three-digit Archangels, dozens of Breakthrough Angels, and quite a few canonized saints led by Jeanne d'Arc whom she had guided.

If there were no accidents, the Cross Religion might be in turmoil for hundreds of years, but eventually, she would still be able to bring it under control.

But the accident lay in the fact that the only Three-digit Breakthrough Being in Little Garden, the Halloween Queen, might very well seek revenge.

A Knight capable of erupting with Two-digit strength had sacrificed himself to protect her; even she could not endure this.

Facing the Halloween Queen's insane revenge was inevitable and unavoidable.

Thinking of this, Maria raised her head, looked at the Halloween Queen before her, whose face was cold and not at all like her previous capricious self, and could not help but sigh in her heart.

Just what would it take to satisfy the Halloween Queen?

She was truly not skilled at this kind of thing.

Within the Cross Religion, the content she was responsible for was internal faith, guiding the Angels and believers, leading them out of the gloom, and pointing the way for them.

This was also the reason why she could still firmly hold the position of Mother of God now.

The vast majority of Angels and saints had received her grace.

But when it came to maneuvering and scheming with other God Groups, that was not her responsibility; that was the responsibility of the Son of God.

"Regardless, as long as you are satisfied, Queen, the Cross Religion is willing to pay any price."

Maria raised her head and looked at the Halloween Queen very seriously; the determination revealed in her eyes was somewhat surprising to the Queen.

The Halloween Queen arched her curved eyebrows and said in surprise.

"Any price is fine? Then what if I want the Cross Religion to be buried with him?"

Upon hearing this, Maria could not help but frown, and she could not help but say.

"That won't do; I promised Yahweh that I would maintain the Cross Religion."

"Hm? Dystopia? You actually still have contact with Dystopia?"

The Halloween Queen revealed an interested expression; back then, Dystopia had single-handedly hammered the Nordic God Group and the Celtic Divine Group.

If it hadn't been for the fact that the Son of God had become a Two-digit being at that time, the fate of the Cross Religion would have been no better than that of the Celtic Divine Group.

To say their faith was severed would be putting it mildly.

Maria froze.

She felt that she had probably, perhaps, made a huge mistake.

Based on just this one sentence, the Halloween Queen could manipulate the Cross Religion to death.

"Alright, no need to be so nervous; although she and I don't get along, I wouldn't go so far as to use her to threaten you."

The Halloween Queen said with a smile, but her curiosity had been piqued by Maria.

"When that guy incarnated as Dystopia, the first one to get hammered was the Cross Religion, right?"

"Then why did she have you maintain the Cross Religion?"

If one were to say she is the most willful existence in Little Garden, then Yahweh is the existence in all of Little Garden closest to a god.

Not like the Gods and Buddhas, who are similar to humans and only a bit stronger, yet have desires no lower than humans.

Yahweh is like a true god without the slightest desire or any selfish motives.

The only thing that can drive her actions is the wishes of her believers, but her believers are many and varied, which leads to no one understanding the logic of her actions.

Just like now, the Halloween Queen has never been able to understand what on earth possessed Yahweh to suddenly incarnate as Dystopia.

"I don't know; Yahweh didn't tell me the reason. Perhaps Jesus knows, but Jesus..."

Maria shook her head; within the Cross Religion, her role is akin to an ornament, and the Angels below will handle everything well.

"Is that so?"

The Halloween Queen looked at Maria, watched for a while, and then lost interest.

"Fine, I thought I could get a handle on that guy."

Upon hearing this, Maria also breathed a sigh of relief.

Although she couldn't understand the Halloween Queen's thoughts, the Queen seemed more like her former self now, which meant the possibility of reaching an agreement was higher.

It was just a matter of what price would have to be paid to satisfy the Halloween Queen.

And just at this moment, the Halloween Queen suddenly said.

"However, since I lost a Knight who could defeat a Two-digit at a critical moment, so..."

Maria's brows jumped immediately upon hearing this, and she couldn't help but look at the Halloween Queen.

And at this time, the golden Queen's vermilion lips parted slightly, and she spoke.

"I want the Holy Spirit Spirit Status of your Cross Religion."

Holy Father, Holy Son, Holy Spirit—three Spirit Statuses differentiated from the Only God.

Each Spirit Status has the possibility of becoming a Two-digit, just like the Holy Son.

No, the Holy Father cannot; Little Garden Central does not allow monotheism to exist.

But the Holy Son and the Holy Spirit do not have this restriction; given the scale of the Cross Religion, logically speaking, there shouldn't only be one Two-digit.

The Holy Spirit Spirit Status, or rather the Holy Mother Spirit Status, should have long ago accumulated enough Merit to break through to Two-digit.

"Since you caused me to lose a Knight, then compensate me with a Two-digit."

The Halloween Queen said, resting her chin on her hands, looking at Maria with a smile.

She didn't feel at all that Su Nian wasn't worth this price, nor did she feel that she was asking for too much.

After all, if the Cross Religion doesn't give it, she can take it herself, and the effect won't be much different.

She has this justification, and other existences have no right to stop her.

Maria smiled helplessly, the boulder in her heart gradually fell, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

"If this can satisfy you, then it couldn't be better."

Maria did not care about the Holy Spirit Spirit Status; if she had the intention to become a Two-digit, she would have become one long ago by relying on the accumulation of Merit.

But she remembered Yahweh's warning: do not attempt to approach the Only God Spirit Status.

So she did not become a Two-digit, but instead sealed the Holy Spirit's Spirit Status; Jesus was the same, even though the truth had already condensed, he did not choose to become a Two-digit.

It was just unexpected that Judas would swoop in and take the fruit.

"Hmm?"

This time, it was the Halloween Queen's turn to be surprised.

Giving away a Two-digit level Spirit Status just like that? Giving it so readily, she actually started to suspect if there was a trap inside.

"However, if you, Queen, want to use this to bypass the Sun Star Spirit and become a Two-digit, it is best not to use the Holy Spirit's Spirit Status to become a Two-digit."

Maria paused here and said with some hesitation.

"This is what Yahweh once warned about."

Hearing this, the Halloween Queen's brows could not help but furrow.

Is Yahweh your husband? Why do you listen to her for everything?

It actually seems to be your cheap husband.

However, these words of Maria made her indecisive; the position of the Sun Star Spirit was blocked by Baiye.

Unless Baiye recovers the Spirit Status of the Original Star, she will forever be stuck at Three-digit Exceptional.

But it is unlikely to make Baiye recover the Spirit Status of the Original Star; she is clear about how deep the connections to this thing are.

(End of chapter)