12dz Chapter 188 Bishop
Chapter 188 Bishop
"Then I won't stay here today. I'll go back and take care of what I have to do. Once I've finished everything, I can finally calm down."
Earl Hills' voice carried a hint of decisiveness as he straightened his clothes, appearing solemn and dignified.
"That's good. I look forward to your return, Your Excellency."
Hughes bowed slightly, showing respect.
"Will do."
Lord Hills gave a brief reply, then turned and walked firmly toward the door.
Hughes stood there, watching Earl Hills's figure recede into the distance.
His gaze gradually hardened, and a confident smile unconsciously appeared on his face. He felt that his abilities had greatly improved.
Only after the Earl had completely disappeared from sight did Hughes slowly put away his smile, his expression becoming serious and focused.
Then, he turned slightly, bowed respectfully to the deep shadow behind him, and said, "Your Excellency, what do you think of my performance?"
As Hughes finished speaking, a figure gradually emerged from the shadows in front of him.
The man was dressed in a similar red outfit to Hughes, but there were subtle differences.
The figure in the shadows wore a crimson robe embroidered with gold thread, making him appear even more solemn and mysterious.
His face was hidden under his hood, with only a faint ray of light outlining his cold, handsome features.
"Is this what you mean by successful control?"
The man Hughes referred to as the bishop had a cold voice, carrying an unquestionable air of authority.
His words revealed dissatisfaction and doubt, as if an invisible pressure was hanging over Hughes.
Upon hearing this, Hughes was startled and immediately knelt down. His body trembled slightly, and fine beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.
He was well aware of the bishop's strictness and understood that his performance might not have met expectations.
"Please enlighten me, Your Excellency." Hughes's voice was low, full of humility and earnestness.
The cardinal slowly approached, his gaze piercing Hughes's heart like a sharp blade, sending a chill down Hughes's spine.
Finally, he stopped in front of Hughes. Although Hughes couldn't see his expression, the oppressive aura he exuded made him afraid to move an inch.
"It seems you haven't made any progress all these years."
The cardinal's men reprimanded him sternly, their voices filled with disappointment and severity.
His words were like sharp arrows, piercing Hughes's heart: "They were just putting on an act for you, and they actually fooled you."
Upon hearing this, Hughes was shocked. His face turned ashen, as if covered by the frost of winter.
Kneeling on the ground, he lowered his head even further, almost touching the cold ground. His body trembled uncontrollably, and he dared not resist in the slightest.
He finally understood the meaning behind the bishop's words, and a chill ran through him.
It seems that Earl Hills's performance just now, and his seemingly convinced attitude, were all just an act for himself.
What you think you have the other party under control is actually a smokescreen deliberately put out by the other party.
Thinking of this, he broke out in a cold sweat and secretly rejoiced that he had asked the bishop to come, otherwise he would still be in the dark.
"A person can act, but their eyes can't lie."
The cardinal's voice softened somewhat, but it still carried an unquestionable authority.
“When you were influencing him before, even though he seemed to be persuaded by you, his eyes were very firm. It was a firmness hidden beneath his compliance that you didn’t notice.”
"It is my fault for being so foolish." Hughes lowered his head, his voice filled with self-reproach and apology.
His expression was sincere and remorseful, clearly showing deep remorse for his mistake.
"Keep training. I put you in my place, and this is how you've turned things up."
The bishop's voice revealed a hint of disappointment, but more so a reprimanding instruction.
He clearly had higher expectations for Hughes, hoping he could learn from this defeat.
"It was my fault," Hughes apologized again, his voice trembling slightly, expressing his unease and remorse.
"In that case, should we just kill him?"
After some thought, Hughes made an extreme suggestion, a resolute glint in his eyes, as if he had already prepared for the worst.
Are you really stupid, or are you pretending?
The bishop looked at Hughes with a mixture of helplessness and anger in his eyes.
“If I wanted to do this, I would have killed him just now. A count can die, but he can’t die in a church, or be killed by someone of dubious motive. Otherwise, why would I make you go through all this trouble?”
The bishop's words revealed thoughtfulness and strategy; he clearly had a longer-term plan.
"Yes, yes, yes, I was thinking too simply."
Hughes responded immediately, a hint of shame on his face.
He realized how rash and reckless his suggestion had been, completely disregarding the possible consequences and impact.
"It seems I shouldn't have entrusted this task to you."
Then, the bishop sighed, his voice filled with a deep sigh, as if he doubted Hughes's abilities and reflected on his own decision.
"Please give me another chance, I will definitely make amends." Hughes gritted his teeth, his voice firm and resolute.
His eyes gleamed with determination; he was unwilling to accept defeat and wanted to do everything in his power to salvage the situation.
The bishop squinted, his gaze sharp as he scrutinized the figure kneeling on the ground.
His eyes held a complex mix of emotions, a mixture of doubt about Hughes's abilities and anticipation for his potential.
After a moment, he finally spoke, "This is my last chance. I have a lot of things to do, so I won't be staying here for a while. I hope you won't disappoint me next time you come."
"Please rest assured, Your Excellency." Hearing this, Hughes breathed a sigh of relief, his voice deep and powerful. He never raised his head, maintaining a humble posture to express his respect for and commitment to the bishop's decision.
Only after a long while, when he sensed that the person in front of him had disappeared, did Hughes slowly raise his head.
He moved with extreme caution, as if afraid of breaking the silence.
He looked around and only breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that the bishop had left, and the tension in his body gradually subsided.
He was not a real cardinal; he was merely a disciple of a cardinal, an agent chosen to carry out special missions.
Hughes took over the role of the cardinal for two reasons: firstly, to hone his skills and wisdom; and secondly, because the cardinal himself was overwhelmed with other matters, which gave Hughes the opportunity to act in his place.