Perhaps it was the inherent nature of an Inquisitor at play.
Li Ye, too, possessed some of the unpleasant habits of an Inquisitor, such as… being deliberately vague.
Or, to put it in more common terms, he was a riddle-maker.
Starting with a seemingly intimidating statement as an opening, then observing the subject's micro-expressions to further gauge their psychology—this was a basic skill every Inquisitor had to learn.
But unfortunately, this time Li Ye met his match.
After hearing the statement, Luo Ji's expression remained unchanged from beginning to end; in fact, he was extremely calm.
"Lord Inquisitor, can you tell me something I don't already know?" After all he had been through, he was no longer the Luo Ji of the past, and the instincts hidden deep within him were awakening.
"Everyone is very busy. Let's not waste time."
He slowly put down his wine glass, his gaze steady and direct, meeting Li Ye's.
The other party's extraordinary calm reaction made Li Ye pause for a few seconds, but he quickly recovered, a slight smile playing on his lips, his eyes showing a strong interest.
"As expected of the last Wallfacer, your calmness and rationality have further elevated my assessment of you."
Previously, when he saw Luo Ji in the hospital, he was still very naive.
But now… he was a completely different person!
Such a significant change in just over a month—no wonder he was "chosen."
"Alright, let's get to the point." Li Ye pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, his smile fading, replaced by a serious and solemn expression.
"First, I need to confirm something: have you met Seal Holder?"
"Is this question very important?" Luo Ji frowned, not directly answering the question.
"Indeed. I can see you are very cautious." A hint of admiration flickered in Li Ye's eyes; far from being displeased, he was quite approving.
"Given the current tense situation, my identity is certainly open to suspicion, and your suspicion is entirely necessary."
Luo Ji watched him calmly.
"You still haven't answered my question, Inquisitor Li Ye."
"Very well, then let me answer your first question."
Li Ye leaned slightly forward, his expression grave, and said.
"My asking if you have met Seal Holder is extremely important."
"Why?"
Luo Ji actually had some conjectures about Li Ye's true identity, but he still maintained a basic level of suspicion.
"Are you aware of the disappearance of Grand Inquisitor Isaac?" Li Ye countered.
"I know a little, but not much."
Luo Ji nodded.
"About ten days ago, Grand Inquisitor Isaac mysteriously disappeared and his whereabouts are still unknown."
After all, this was a High Lord, and it concerned the reputation of the Inquisition!
It had long been widely rumored outside; even if one didn't want to know, it would be difficult.
"To have the ability to make a High Lord mysteriously disappear under the rule of the Holy Terra Alliance… Besides the ETO, I can't think of anyone else who could do it. But what I find strange is, why would they choose Isaac?"
This puzzled Luo Ji greatly.
Was it merely because Isaac, as the representative of the Inquisition, cast a dissenting vote in the High Lord Council?
"Tell me your thoughts, Mr. Luo Ji."
Li Ye was still smiling, seemingly intentionally guiding his thoughts.
Luo Ji pondered for a moment, his brows furrowed, and stated his opinion.
"Doing this carries a high risk. Firstly, Isaac is the Grand Inquisitor of the Inquisition; his disappearance will cause greater chaos. What the ETO wants most right now should be stability, to smoothly implement the peace agreement, not to provoke… the Inquisition.
It is well known that most people in the Inquisition are extremely fanatical madmen.
At this point in time, provoking an Inquisitor is not a wise move!
Hearing this, Li Ye applauded him, smiling.
"You are right. Under normal logic, the ETO should not provoke the Inquisition, but… they have a 'reason' why they must do so."
"What reason?" Luo Ji asked.
"The Final Judgment." Li Ye's brow was low, his face expressionless, his voice carrying a chilling coldness.
"A power unique to successive Grand Inquisitors; when the Holy Terra Alliance is in crisis, the Grand Inquisitor can use the 'Final Judgment' to command the Adeptus Astartes and the Imperial Navy Fleet to forcibly intervene in the High Lord Council, rectify wrongs, and restore order."
"I see." Luo Ji suddenly understood.
"They were afraid… that the Grand Inquisitor would use the Final Judgment at a critical moment."
"Precisely. The 'Final Judgment' is humanity's last 'line of defense'."
Li Ye emphasized, his voice deep.
"In other words, losing the 'Final Judgment' also means… as long as the Trisolarans do not directly attack humanity, then no matter what happens, the Adeptus Astartes and the Martian Machine cult will not interfere in humanity's internal affairs."
Upon hearing this, Luo Ji fell silent. He, of course, understood the implications.
As long as it wasn't a 'direct invasion,' but there were many forms of war, which meant… the Trisolarans had accurately grasped this 'weakness,' and it was the only weakness.
By limiting the forms of 'war' and 'invasion' to 'human civil war,' then the Holy Terra established by Emrys, including the preventive measures he left behind, would completely lose its original purpose.
The Astartes and the Martian Machine cult would not interfere in 'human civil war'—this was their primary principle!
He seemed to already foresee that the Trisolaran Civilization's method of invasion would no longer be overt warfare, but a more clandestine approach.
"Now, can you tell me your answer?"
Li Ye watched him quietly.
"I have one last question." Luo Ji took a deep breath and asked.
"Back then, when you were in the hospital, did you already realize that Zhuang Yan was not an ordinary person?"
"Yes."
Li Ye nodded, calmly stating.
"That Inquisitor had long been on our priority monitoring list. I had been investigating him, and although Zhuang Yan killing him caused the trail to go cold, I never considered holding her responsible."
"I understand."
His answer was also within Luo Ji's expectations.
With the last trace of doubt dissolving in his heart, he looked into Li Ye's eyes and slowly said.
"I… indeed saw him with my own eyes."
A sharp glint immediately flashed in Li Ye's eyes.
"You… truly saw Seal Holder?!" His tone was extremely agitated, his face even flushed.
"Truly." Luo Ji hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
"Excellent! Excellent!" Li Ye couldn't help but slam his palm on the table, fanaticism welling in his eyes.
"A mere Trisolaran Civilization! As long as Seal Holder is still here, as long as he is still here… humanity will not lose, we will not lose!"
Not just him, but all those who were still holding on firmly believed this!
As long as Seal Holder returns, he will be able to turn the tide and save humanity.
Thinking of this, Li Ye asked excitedly.
"Then… did Seal Holder say when he would return?"
"Uh…"
Looking at the agitated Li Ye, Luo Ji twitched his lips.
Seeing his somewhat off expression, Li Ye's heart immediately sank.
"What's wrong? Did something happen to Seal Holder?"
"Not exactly." Luo Ji hesitated.
Li Ye grew even more uneasy, directly grabbing his shoulders and shaking him vigorously.
"Tell me, what exactly happened to Seal Holder?!"
"He… cannot return for now." Luo Ji, dizzy from being shaken, finally managed to break free from Li Ye. In the other's eager gaze, he couldn't help but say.
"But don't worry, he gave me something, saying it can mobilize the Adeptus Astartes and the Martian Machine cult."
Li Ye froze for half a second, the anxious and sorrowful expression on his face vanishing completely.
"Then what are we waiting for?!"
"It's time to send these damned heretics to hell to repent!"
"You… you're not worried about Seal Holder anymore?"
The Inquisitor's change of face was astonishingly fast, leaving Luo Ji momentarily stunned.
"Of course I'm worried about Seal Holder." Li Ye's expression was normal as he said calmly.
"But what's most important now is to send all these damned heretics to hell!"
Luo Ji felt as if he had been 'deceived'.
What loyalty? What faith?
From the very beginning, this bastard wasn't worried about Seal Holder at all; his mind was entirely preoccupied with how to send the 'heretics' to hell. As for whether Seal Holder could leave the snowy mountain… it simply wasn't important!
Alright, alright, as expected of an 'Inquisitor'!
He was indeed quite fanatical… This time, Luo Ji had truly witnessed the style of an Inquisitor!
On an island somewhere in the Pacific, inside a luxurious Villa.
Isaac sat in the dark room, his eyes tightly shut in pain, his mind filled with self-reproach.
If not for his mistake, how could he be trapped in this predicament?
That day, he originally wanted to meet Ecclesiarchy's High Lord, hoping to gain his support and temporarily delay the promotion of the peace agreement.
But what he never expected was that even Ecclesiarchy, which was least likely to be infiltrated by ETO, had also become one of their 'people'!
It was his mistake that led to the current situation.
The Grand Inquisitor, who held the 'Supreme Judgment', mysteriously disappeared, which meant... humanity had lost its last line of defense against the Trisolaran Civilization and ETO's invasion!
"High Lord Isaac, how have you been recently?"
In the dim room, someone suddenly entered.
"Get out."
Isaac kept his eyes closed, his tone extremely impolite.
"I don't want to see you, you dog of a heretic!"
The person who entered was draped in a red robe, elegant and noble, wearing a golden crown. He was the current Cardinal of Ecclesiarchy. He sneered.
"Isaac, you don't understand what 'heresy' is at all. Never mind... I'm not here to argue with you today."
Saying that, he moved aside a bit and smiled.
"I'm here to introduce an old friend to you."
An old friend?
Isaac, who had been sitting with his eyes closed, heard a familiar voice.
"Long time no see, Isaac."
This voice... Isaac's heart suddenly skipped a beat, and he immediately opened his eyes.
Bright light shone directly down from above onto the shadow.
The light illuminated the person. Looking at that familiar face, Isaac felt as if he had been struck by lightning, his mind instantly going blank.
After a full fifteen minutes, Isaac slowly regained consciousness, but his face was devoid of color, even showing a hint of sarcasm and mockery.
"Haha, hahahaha, so... it's you!"
"Allow me to introduce you, this is the leader of our ETO."
The Cardinal smiled slightly and said.
"I'm sure you're not unfamiliar with him, High Lord Isaac."
That person slowly walked a few steps forward, completely under the bright light.
"Isaac, I'm sorry... to meet you in this way." Separated by the sturdy cage, that person's profound gaze held both a hint of apology and a touch of nostalgia.
"Of course, I don't expect you to understand or forgive me, but I can assure you that I won't harm you. After all, in this era, you are one of my few 'friends'."
"Friend? No, I'm not worthy of being your 'friend'."
Isaac did not hide his disgust, saying sarcastically.
"Frederick Taylor... as expected of the former U.S. Department of Defense Secretary, truly deep-minded. A feigned death... that fooled us for two hundred years, impressive! Impressive!"
Under the bright light, the old man standing in front of the cell was one of the four Wallfacers from two hundred years ago... Frederick Taylor!
His thoughts also drifted back two hundred years.
At that time, after the establishment of the Holy Terra Alliance, in view of his status and talent as a Wallfacer, Frederick Taylor was appointed as the Chief of Staff of the military Affairs Department, responsible for coordinating war, logistics, and other matters.
However, during the Luna Rebellion, Holy Terra suffered heavy casualties.
Frederick Taylor, Manuel Rey Diaz, and even Thomas Wade, all died in the rebel attack.
Thinking of this, Isaac's pupils suddenly constricted, and he asked with trembling lips.
"The mastermind behind the Luna Rebellion back then... was it you?"
He suddenly remembered that in the Luna Rebellion that year, the rebels were not only able to accurately strike various military Bases on Earth, but also possessed a large number of Terra-standard equipment, including heavy armor, artillery, and warships!
But unfortunately, the final investigation results did not find any evidence.
Now that he thought about it, only the Chief of Staff of the military Affairs Department at that time, Frederick Taylor, would have had this capability!
Frederick Taylor was silent for a few seconds, then calmly said.
"Since you already have the answer in your heart, why bother asking me."
"It really was you!"
Isaac's pupils were bloodshot, and he glared at him ferociously.
"Why? Why did you do this!"
He didn't understand why his former friend would choose to walk such a path.
Frederick Taylor was a Wallfacer, he was also a pioneer and hero in the old era, resisting the Trisolaran Civilization as a human. Isaac didn't understand why such a person would become the leader of ETO!
"Isaac, I know you resent me in your heart."
Frederick Taylor's gaze was calm, without the slightest anger due to Isaac's sarcasm. He continued in a steady voice.
"But please believe me, everything I have done is for 'humanity'."
"Is it for humanity, or for yourself?"
Looking at this person, who was both familiar and strange, Isaac closed his eyes heavily and asked in pain.
"It is for humanity, that is beyond doubt."
Frederick Taylor said without hesitation.
"Its system is wrong, and will only lead humanity to extinction."
"On the path, I have the ability and the obligation to correct humanity's 'mistakes'."
"So what?"
Isaac opened his eyes and stared at him coldly.
"You keep saying it's 'for humanity', but what have you done? Conspiring in the Luna Rebellion, directly causing a billion casualties, and even becoming... the Trisolarans' 'dog'? Is this what you mean by 'for humanity'?"
"You've misunderstood me, Isaac."
Frederick Taylor shook his head and said.
"Do you still remember Doctor Bill Hines?"
Isaac frowned, he didn't understand why the other party suddenly mentioned Bill Hines at this time.
But he still nodded.
"I remember, what about him?"
"Doctor Bill Hines had a research, the Thought Engraving." Frederick Taylor's eyes gleamed, and he said in a deep voice.
"You should be familiar with this, right? Once a person is implanted with the Thought Engraving, they will unswervingly carry out the ideas engraved by the Engraving."
"What does this have to do with you?"
Isaac asked.
"Of course it does, Isaac."
Frederick Taylor's lips curved upwards, and he said triumphantly.
"After in-depth exchanges with the Trisolaran Civilization, a brand new concept was born, which is... to use Thought Engraving technology to engrave all the thoughts and souls of the Trisolarans into the souls and minds of humans. In this way... humans and Trisolarans will no longer be separate, and we can utilize each other's strengths to jointly enter a brand new era, allowing humanity to evolve again!"
"By then, human thought will be like that of the Trisolarans, achieving complete transparency!"
"The barriers between society and the world will be completely eliminated!"
"From now on, humanity will no longer have civil wars, and we will be able to fully understand each other's thoughts, truly merging into one!"
"I call this plan... the 'Humanity Completion Plan'!"
Frederick Taylor's eyes shone brightly, and he seemed to have fallen into a kind of frenzy.
"Isaac, imagine a perfect world with no more misunderstandings, civil wars, or misinterpretations. This is the true, perfect, and harmonious world!"
"...You, you madman!"
Isaac's face showed horror, and a storm raged in his heart.
He could never have imagined that Frederick Taylor's plan could be so crazy!
To completely merge humans and Trisolarans, from the level of thought and soul?
No, this is too terrifying!
In this way, would humanity... truly still be humanity?