Who hid My Corpse!

"Are the Bone Knights just eating without working!"

Outside the Sky Tower, countless gathered people also started discussing, and Gerard's appearance even made them temporarily forget Oliver's previous earth-shattering remarks.

...

While Oliver was looking at Gerard, Gerard was also looking at him.

Likewise, a person he hadn't seen in ten years.

But Oliver's state was completely different from Hallman's back then.

He still looked so solemn, so grave, not at all like someone who had soaked in Thought Amber for ten years.

All this caused Gerard a bit of unease.

But at the moment he had no way out, he simply nodded slightly, "Yes, it's been ten years, Bishop Oliver."

"You look much older than you did ten years ago," Oliver said without reservation, letting everyone in Lyra hear his conversation with Gerard, his tone very relaxed, not like he was facing Lyra's most wanted criminal but rather an old friend, "Of course, I also know what you've been through, and for that I am sorry... You should have been a hero of Lyra, yet you've carried too many curses."

...Should have been a hero of Lyra?

This short phrase also brought shock to the countless people present, including Gerard himself.

He had thought of countless things Oliver might say upon seeing him, but he had never expected this.

"What do you mean by that?" Gerard asked.

"Exactly what it says, I know you're not a criminal, you are a hero," Oliver slowly said, "No one knows this better than I do, because it was I who sent you to the Pollution Zone, who had the Night Star Team carry out that mission..."

He paused.

"It was I."

"I had Hallman find you."

"I personally selected you as the leader."

As he spoke, Oliver's eyes gradually softened.

"These years, you and your Night Stars really suffered, Gerard."

"But it's okay, I will reveal all the truth."

"You are still heroes of Lyra."

With that, Oliver suddenly clapped.

"Night Star, please allow me, in the name of the Archbishop, to offer the highest tribute to you and your team members."

He spoke solemnly, and then applause in the hall rose like a tide.

...

Ina clutched the handle of the Blazing Fire Sword tightly, hearing that voice from nowhere, feeling her body tremble.

The truth... the truth she had been chasing for ten years.

She always wanted to seek justice for her brother.

At this moment… did it really happen?

In this manner?

Ina felt incredibly unreal.

...

At Rim Station, a woman who looked mad suddenly knelt on the ground, crying out loud.

While crying, she also screamed.

"I said it! I said it! My husband is not a traitor, he's not a traitor!"

But there was no one around her.

...

Outside the Sky Tower, Ju once again clenched her collar.

But there was a trace of confusion in her eyes.

...

And inside the hall, Gerard, hearing the applause like a tide beside him, also felt somewhat at a loss.

What was this?

The truth revealed?

Injustice cleared up?

The thing he had been wanting to do for the past ten years, was it achieved just like that?

Was this... the result he had earned by persisting until now?

But why,

couldn't he feel happy at all?

Yuri saw all this, he was about to remind Gerard, but Gerard had already responded first.

The next second, the gigantic chainsaw sword had already been placed against Oliver's neck.

In an instant, applause ceased abruptly.

People's expressions turned to fear once again.

Cheers immediately switched to curses.

"Bastard! What do you think you're doing to Lord Bishop!"

"Devil Knights over there, why are you just standing there? Are you planning a rebellion!"

Only Oliver remained calm.

"Are you underestimating me?" Gerard's voice was as cold as a sharpened sword, "Do you think that will make me back down?"

Oliver let out a gentle sigh.

"You misunderstand, Gerard. I had no such intention... Moreover, I know why you have come." He slowly lifted his head, looking towards the Purification Source Crystal surrounded by the Devil Knights. He lightly chuckled and said, "You think I've been contaminated, don't you? Otherwise, why would I commit such an act of desecration? And you want to expose me in front of all of Lyra, right?"

Gerard said nothing, just coldly stared at Oliver.

"I really do understand," Oliver said, "especially after what you've been through... Ah, it's pointless to talk more. If you just want to prove it, I can certainly show you."

Hearing this, Gerard's sense of unease multiplied.

He watched Oliver calmly step down from his seat and walked towards the Purification Source Crystal under everyone's gaze.

Then he slowly raised his hand and reached toward the Purification Source Crystal.

At that moment, Gerard held his breath.

Many images flashed through his mind like a carousel, finally settling on the words the dying Ian said to him that night.

Then, Oliver's hand gently rested on it.

But nothing happened.

The Purification Source Crystal showed no reaction as if it were dead.

Gerard was stunned.

"See, Gerard." Oliver said with a smile, "I'm not infected... I never was."

...How is that possible?

How could he not be infected?

Something must be wrong!

Gerard did not speak. He silently stepped forward and, under the gaze of hundreds in the hall, began inspecting the Purification Source Crystal.

Yuri, too, didn't just watch, but also directed his subordinates to examine the Purification Source Crystal.

However, no matter how they inspected it, the Purification Source Crystal had no fault; it still could purify the pollution sources carried by the Devil Knights, but it could not react to Oliver at all.

"...Why is that?" Gerard murmured.

At that moment, Bai Wei's voice finally sounded.

"He really isn't contaminated."

Even Bai Wei said so.

Gerard's body swayed.

"Why is it so then?" Gerard asked, "Ian was contaminated, why wasn't he?"

"Don't you understand yet?" Bai Wei sighed softly, "He and your son are not the same."

"Your son wanted to kill Lyra because he was contaminated."

"But him."

"He just wants to kill Lyra."

Gerard stiffened. He slowly turned his head to look towards Oliver, standing beside him with a smile, suddenly feeling an infinite chill from that seemingly amiable smile.

"Why?"

This time, Gerard wasn't asking Bai Wei but was asking Oliver.

He stared intensely at Oliver, his eyes murderous.

"You are neither insane nor contaminated!" he said, inching towards Oliver, his barely concealed anger palpable to everyone in Lyra, "Then why would you do such a thing?"

"It's simple." Oliver spoke indifferently, "As I said before, this city needs a better tomorrow."

"And that weak and defective god can no longer satisfy our need for revolution. We need a god who is stronger, more complete."

"So, it is right for Him to die." Oliver said unabashedly, "Everything I have done these last ten years, has been for this cause, for Lyra, for… a better future."

"...And what about those who died for this?"

Oliver answered calmly.

"We ought to praise and forever remember them."