There are two laws of computer technology in this world.
One of the laws of computing: There is no unbreakable firewall unless it is isolated by hardware.
Computer Law No. 2: Unless the hardware is physically destroyed, any intrusion will leave traces.
Bishop Langdon in the room slowly pressed the last button, looked at the logic virus that had been injected on the screen, and rubbed his sore temples.
He pushed the keyboard back, then slowly turned the wheelchair, and drove toward the foyer amidst the rapid knocking on the door.
"Please come in," Bishop Langdon said.
The door opened, and the papal guards armed with guns quickly broke in and aimed their guns at Bishop Langdon in the wheelchair. A certain papal guard pulled out an anesthetic needle and was about to inject it into the back of his neck, but was stopped by a voice from behind.
.
"Let him go. He had no intention of escaping from the beginning."
Bishop Varian walked into the room, looked at Bishop Langdon who was being held at gunpoint, and frowned slightly:
"I can't believe...it's really you."
"Are you surprised?" Bishop Langdon said with a smile.
"I should have thought of it earlier." Bishop Varian said regretfully, "You would rather sit in a wheelchair than replace yourself with a pair of prosthetic limbs... You are not only an anti-mechanist, but also an extreme human purist.
, right?"
"I have never concealed my political opinions." Bishop Langdon looked at him calmly, "It's just that you never want to doubt a retired cardinal."
"No." Behind Bishop Varian, a papal guard came up, but the voice that came out of his mouth was Innocent's, "We are not without suspicion."
"I just don't want to accept it."
"Your Excellency Bishop Edan Langdon, you were once a member of the Cardinal Church. Why can't you live out the rest of your life quietly with this honor?"
"Innocent, that's how people are." Bishop Langdon lowered his eyelids. "The older you get, the more conservative you become. The more you worry about whether the foundation you once fought for will be destroyed with contempt and contempt by your descendants.
"
"We are all old." There was no emotion or anger in Innocent's voice. "The future belongs to young people after all."
"But Innocent, have you ever thought about it?" Bishop Langdon asked lightly, "Is the future destined to be created by your young people the same future we were chasing in the first place?"
"Innocent, perhaps I should respectfully call you His Majesty the Holy See." The bishop in the wheelchair unbuttoned his collar and breathed easier. "Although we have worked together for many years... many years, we have developed a deep tacit understanding.
and friendship, but on the most fundamental issues we never agreed."
"You are the son of Earl Trasimon, and you have received a perfect family education since you were young. You understand the law, are proficient in science, and are used to dealing with superior people. Therefore, in your eyes, the world is orderly, traceable, and can be followed.
Solved with ingenious means and tactics."
"But you have never seen the other side of this world. It is dark, chaotic, and crazy. It cannot be solved with any reason, because chaos itself stands on the opposite side of order and can never coexist with each other.
.”
"Langdon," Innocent said, "you are too extreme."
"No, Your Majesty." Langdon shook his head slowly, "You are too naive, as your Christian name suggests."
(The "Innocent" of Innocent III, iius, means "innocent" in Latin)
"Threat level queues are never measured by motivation, but by ability." Bishop Langdon continued, "The reason for this is because they have the ability to destroy the world, and this threat will not change with their subjective will.
.”
"Just like ignorant children holding guns, no one can guarantee that they will not pull the trigger rashly for any reason. The future of mankind should not bear such risks. As the Pope, you should hold on to your authority rather than rashly
Decided to hand it over."
"Bishop Langdon, are you questioning my character as a priest?" Bishop Varian said in a deep voice.
"No, Lord Varian." Bishop Langdon looked at him calmly, "I did not question your intention."
"What's more, our Holy Majesty does not intend to hand over his authority to you." He said a little tiredly, "but he wants to hand it over to your sister, the target with a high threat level, Nora Warren.
Nice Licinius."
Varian was stunned when he heard this, and it took him a while to suddenly react.
Canonization.
Although the Holy See has designated him as the next pope, it also hinted at canonizing his sister.
Which one is higher, the Pope or the Saint?
If the pope is the most respected position among the clergy and is God’s spokesperson in the secular world; then the saint is an “angel on earth” who has completely transcended the clergy system and is the incarnation of God.
It is an existence that can enter the church and be worshiped by believers.
Because of this, in the past saints would only be consecrated to "dead people". Because if a living saint appeared, his prestige in the Holy See would be beyond all imagination, and would even far surpass the Pope.
The Holy See asked his sister to be a saint, and then asked him to be the pope. It was obviously hoping that he would support his sister and ensure that the will of this "angel on earth" could be spread to the Kingdom of Christ through the pope's voice.
Every corner... He didn't know anything about politics. In the past, he was just obsessed with scientific research and didn't think much about it, but now he suddenly understood everything.
"So you are against Nora." Varian suddenly realized.
"No." Bishop Langdon still shook his head, "What I object to is."
"A transcendent person of a high level will take over the supreme authority of the Holy See and become the supreme leader of the technology camp. Is there anything more ridiculous than this?"
"But the devil's tide is coming, Langdon." Innocent's voice also sounded tired, "I don't doubt your belief in technological civilization, but people can't go against the strong wind. That will be very tiring and will be blown away.
.”
"What you and I cannot deny is that after the demonic tide rises, the contrast between the power of technology and extraordinary people will be extreme. This is the trend of the historical cycle, just like a strong wind that cannot be resisted by human power. If we cannot rely on the power of extraordinary people,
What can we do to ensure that the Holy See will not repeat the collapse of the ancient Solomon Empire?"
"Can I interpret your words to mean that you decided to make a deal with the devil because you were afraid of falling into hell?" Bishop Langdon showed a sad expression, "Didn't the ancient Solomon Senate at the end of the Third Age think the same way?
"
"After the first three giants formed an alliance, Caesar, who became consul, forced Bibulus to give up power. The Senate was afraid of Caesar's monopoly of power, so it could only use the power of the military governor in exchange for Caesar's distance from Solomon's political arena."
"However, this led to Caesar quickly taking control of the military, and finally crossed the Rubicon River, counterattacked and captured the city of Solomon. From ancient times to the present, relying on power play and checks and balances to weaken the enemy, when has it really been successful?
"
"You hope that this Licinius can check and balance the others, but if she really becomes the Caesar of the Kingdom of Christ, who will be able to check and balance her then? As an extraordinary person, can you still expect her to betray her origins?
, to help technology destroy the extraordinary?"
"Langdon." Innocent's voice was full of disappointment, "Even if I don't hand over the authority of the Pope, in the foreseeable future, when will technology have the possibility of completely wiping out the extraordinary?"
Bishop Langdon fell silent.
After a long time, he suddenly sat upright in the wheelchair and closed his eyes.
"Yes." His voice trembled, as if he was suppressing some sense of guilt.