Gabriel’s words caused the entire venue to fall silent, and everyone looking at Ye Xunhuan and Victoria regarded them with increased hostility.
Gabriel had been with Pope Louis III when they visited Ye Xunhuan’s kingdom, so he was most knowledgeable about what events transpired there and the situation at the time.
It could be said that Gabriel’s single statement now had practically thrown Ye Xunhuan onto the fire for roasting.
Simultaneously, Gabriel didn’t claim that Louis III had been killed by Ye Xunhuan, only that Ye Xunhuan was an accomplice. When considering the various questions Nicolas previously raised and Ye Xunhuan’s responses, it’s easy for people to speculate further.
This is precisely Nicolas’s cleverness, as he doesn’t assert certainty but merely presents his suspicions, leaving the truth or falsehood for others to judge.
Nicolas now leads public thought, and subsequently lets Gabriel speak, thereby thoroughly guiding people into the depth of suspicion and achieving his purpose.
Clearly, Nicolas has succeeded, as nearly everyone now starts questioning Ye Xunhuan.
Ye Xunhuan exhaled slowly, saying, "What a ploy to pin blame on me, why not just say that I killed Louis III instead?"
"We in the Church have always spoken truthfully and absolutely don’t frame others!" Nicolas said boldly.
Upon hearing Nicolas’s words, Ye Xunhuan felt like slapping this man twice immediately.
This is utterly shameless—if you truly spoke the truth and never framed others, could you be this arrogant?
To Ye Xunhuan, Nicolas was comparable to some self-proclaimed righteous yet despicable figures who want to steal from others while justifying it as benevolence!
Ye Xunhuan scoffed coldly, "Nicolas, what exactly do you want to do?"
Ye Xunhuan no longer wished to circle around with Nicolas; it was pointless. Open threats are easy to avoid but hidden traps are difficult. If he continued on this path, it might result in falling into Nicolas’s trap again.
"Marshal, what do we want to do?" Nicolas sneered, "Don’t you think you owe us an explanation?"
"The Pope met his end in your kingdom!"
"An explanation?" Ye Xunhuan scanned Nicolas back and forth with his eyes and said again, "Fine, I’ll give you an explanation!"
"I’ll find the big boss and avenge your Pope; is this explanation enough?"
"Marshal, words are no proof!"
"Then, what do you want?"
"Marshal, if you want us to believe you, it’s simple—hand over the Tai Chi Seal you possess to our Church, await the slaughter of the big boss, and vindicate yourself; then return with the head and we will gladly return your Tai Chi Seal, how about that?" Nicolas said forcefully.
Michelle’s face changed drastically upon hearing Nicolas’s words.
If Michelle couldn’t realize by now that Nicolas was targeting the Tai Chi Seal in Ye Xunhuan’s possession, she might as well be dead.
However, Michelle couldn’t believe or accept that Nicolas would target Ye Xunhuan’s Tai Chi Seal; does he not understand the current state of the Church?
Even if the Tai Chi Seal falls into their hands, what good would it do?
Moreover, could Ye Xunhuan possibly hand over the Tai Chi Seal?
"You finally show your true colors!" Ye Xunhuan’s eyes slowly squinted, a chilling light slowly shooting out from within, directly at Nicolas, like two sharp swords almost piercing Nicolas’s heart.
"Marshal, why not, aren’t you daring enough?"
"Those who are innocent remain pure; those who are contaminated remain stained. Nicolas, your words mean nothing since they come from your mouth!" Ye Xunhuan said coldly. "You’re dreaming if you think I’ll hand over the Tai Chi Seal!"
"Marshal, it seems you are indeed deceiving us!" Nicolas said coldly. "Our Pope’s death truly involves you!"
Victoria could no longer tolerate it!
"Nicolas, you shameless bastard, if our King wanted Louis III dead, he would have done it himself; why proceed through others?" Victoria said coldly. "Now you flaunt authority using pretenses only to covet the Tai Chi Seal from our King!"
"If you want it, take it yourself!" Victoria said heavily. "Playing tricks here is utterly useless."
Victoria’s words mirrored precisely what Ye Xunhuan wished to say, thus Ye Xunhuan did not stop her, simply staring at Nicolas quietly.
Nicolas snorted softly, then shouted, "You’ve finally admitted wishing harm upon our Pope; it seems our suspicions were correct, you simply stood by, watching our Pope tragically die!"
"Though you did not act, you are more detestable than those who did." Nicolas said heavily. "Moreover, we invited the Pope over, yet you are indifferent to his death. Now that you’ve come to our Church, without giving a clear explanation, don’t dream of leaving!"
"Cardinal Grand Master and twelve Knights, surround these two!"
With Louis III dead, besides Michelle, Nicolas’s words carried the most weight within the Church. Now, as Nicolas spoke, scores of Cardinals and twelve Knights surrounded Ye Xunhuan and Victoria, each glaring at them with eyes full of deadly intent.
Michelle saw the situation and her heart trembled fiercely; if a battle broke out with Ye Xunhuan here, certainly many would perish. Ye Xunhuan was no soft touch—in life and death, he would show no mercy, and even her standing here would be ineffective.
If Ye Xunhuan launched a slaughter, the Church would undoubtedly face a massive catastrophe.
"Nicolas, what do you intend to do?" Michelle’s face turned blue as she spoke. "And you Cardinals, twelve Knights, do you not see me as the Saintess?"
As she spoke, Michelle exuded a terrifying presence!
"Saintess, we understand your connection with the Marshal, but this concerns the Pope!" Nicolas showed no fear, meeting Michelle’s gaze. "Measure wisely the gravity, Saintess, and do not chill everyone’s heart!"