Leo turned and ran.
He eventually ran all the way back to the hotel. It wasn’t that he feared vampires, but he had just provoked the Royal Faith’s Order of Knights. There was no need to get entangled with vampires too, making it even harder to leave England.
Under the curious gaze of the hotel receptionist, Leo took the elevator upstairs and returned to his room.
The battle at Westminster Abbey had left Leo disheveled. The first thing he did was take a shower and change into clean clothes.
Placing the Holy Scarab and Holy Nail on the coffee table, Leo frowned, feeling a bit troubled.
He had obtained the treasures, but now the question was how to get them out of England.
Carrying them on his person or in his luggage was risky. Not only might these items emit some Holy Power detectable by the church, but getting them through security was another issue.
Being in a foreign country, Leo couldn’t come up with a good solution despite racking his brains.
Should he contact WONDER for help?
That didn’t seem reliable either.
The most scientific approach seemed to be hiding these two relics in London and retrieving them later when things calmed down.
With a plan in mind, Leo decided to find a place to hide the treasures after dawn.
Meanwhile, in a small chapel near Edward’s tomb inside Westminster Abbey.
The chapel had no seats, and at the front stood a tall Stations of the Cross on a pedestal.
A burly man in a red robe stood silently before it.
His face was calm and dignified, exuding an aura of authority even from a distance. His sharp eyes made it hard for anyone to look at him directly.
This man was Cedric, president of the Anglican Communion, cardinal, and leader of the Royal Faith’s Order of Knights.
As Cedric turned, two men entered-Berger and Bill.
Though they had changed into clean clothes, their faces were still grim, especially when looking at Cedric, like students facing their principal after making a mistake.
Berger and Bill knelt before Cedric. Berger said, “Mr. Cedric, we failed to catch the thief. We accept any punishment.”
Cedric’s face remained stern as he raised his hand and spoke in a deep, magnetic voice, “The opponent was too strong. It’s not your fault.”
Berger and Bill stood up slowly, their faces filled with shame, avoiding Cedric’s gaze.
At this moment, seven more men in knight uniforms entered from the side door of the chapel. They held Cross Swords in their right hands and had calm and resolute expressions.
They saluted Cedric and then stepped aside.
The Royal Faith’s Order of Knights consisted of nine members: Berger, Bill, and these seven newcomers.
Bill wanted to say something but was interrupted by Cedric: “Berger, Bill, your Holy Cross Swords must be damaged?”
Both nodded, looking even more ashamed.
For a true knight, the Cross Sword was a symbol of honor. A damaged sword meant lost honor.
“Give them to me.” Cedric showed no anger; it seemed like a trivial matter to him.
Berger and Bill summoned their Holy Cross Swords and handed them to Cedric.
Cedric waved his right hand from left to right, and the swords vanished from their hands.
“The base of Edward Chapel Icon has been opened, and the relics inside are missing. You fought him; did you see who he was?” Cedric’s deep eyes became sharper.
Berger replied respectfully, “He is from Atraria. We haven’t identified his exact identity yet.”
Cedric fell silent. He didn’t seem anxious to find the thief who stole the relics.
The nine knights remained silent, creating a heavy atmosphere.
After a while, Cedric walked out of the chapel and said calmly, “Follow me to the altar.”
The knights formed a line and followed Cedric towards the altar.
The Anglican Communion’s altar was in a restricted area of Westminster Abbey. It resembled a half-cut pyramid.
In the center was a rectangular stone platform about half a person’s height.
The platform was engraved with mysterious patterns and had some red patches resembling blood.
Cedric paused beside the platform, gently brushing its surface with his left hand. Two Cross Swords appeared on the previously empty platform-Berger’s and Bill’s swords.
Cedric then extended his right hand and grasped the air. A golden cup appeared in his hand.
This cup was no ordinary vessel but one of Christianity’s relics-the Holy Grail.
During the Last Supper with his twelve disciples, Jesus used his body as bread and his blood as wine for everyone to consume, establishing the Christian Eucharist ritual.
The cup represented Jesus’ body, and the wine represented his blood.
The cup Jesus and his disciples used was the Holy Grail. After Jesus was killed by pagans, their leader used this cup to collect Jesus’ blood.
Many legends claim that drinking water from this Holy Grail grants eternal youth and life.
Another theory suggests that the Holy Grail is not a literal cup used by Jesus but a metaphor for Mary Magdalene, symbolizing the sacred feminine. She was pregnant with Jesus’ child before his death, leading to debates about Christ’s divinity and humanity.
If Mary Magdalene were indeed the Holy Grail, it would challenge Christ’s divinity since God cannot have descendants. If true, it would be one of history’s greatest deceptions-Jesus was not divine but an extraordinary Jewish man.
The golden base of the Holy Grail was adorned with 28 pearls, 2 rubies, and 2 emeralds. An Arabic inscription that no one could fully translate was engraved on its base. Different translations include: “Gift to bring glory,” “Praise Mary,” “Merciful Lord,” “Prosperous Lord,” etc.
Legend has it that water from the Holy Grail has miraculous healing powers and can judge a person’s trustworthiness.
Cedric placed the Holy Grail on the platform and said in a deep voice, “Berger, Bill, step forward and offer your sacrifice.”