Welcome to Ability Store-Chapter 79 - 78: Historical Figures

After leaving Lin Qing to guard the shop, Chen Xuan followed Joan out of the hall, where a meticulously manicured lawn appeared before them, with a white path paved with square stone slabs in the middle.

He saw a structure resembling a cathedral on each side of the lawn, plus the one behind him, making three buildings in total. The middle one was likely the main hall mentioned by Joan, as its size and sophistication exceeded the other two significantly, and its wall pillars unfolded on both sides like a spire, connected to the main structure by several transverse walls, like wings extended from the hall.

Such a structure neither bears weight nor offers any functional space, serving only as decoration. However, the ability to invest massive resources in such non-functional adornment is a testament to power.

"Where is this place?" Chen Xuan asked curiously.

"Versailles Cathedral," Joan explained while leading the way. "Built to commemorate the victory in war. It’s very close to Paris, so from now on, various celebrations and ceremonies won’t need to be held in Reims City."

Versailles has something like this?

Chen Xuan couldn’t recall at all.

"Hmm? What’s that?"

He was suddenly drawn to three statues beside the lawn.

One was obviously Joan, easy to recognize with her short hair, military attire, and a flag held tightly in one hand. The second was also a woman, cloaked head-to-toe in robes, with many small bags hanging from her waist and she held a short staff in her hand.

But the third one was very peculiar.

It depicted a man wearing a shirt and jogging pants, with fast-walking shoes, and the sculptor had even carefully carved the breathable holes. His arms were open, seemingly holding something, and behind him was a separate stone sculpture resembling a longsword.

Not to mention the vastly different styles of the three statues, the face of the last statue... Why does it look a bit like him?

"Well, how do you find it?" Joan smiled and asked, "I’ve tried to describe your appearance as accurately as possible to the sculptor."

It really is him!

Chen Xuan was shaken, thinking that if this stood for hundreds of years, wouldn’t he become a historical celebrity?

"Why make this sculpture?" he asked somewhat puzzled.

"After the king absolved me, he acknowledged his mistakes and decided to erect a statue for the person who contributed most to the war’s victory, so this story could be forever passed down," Joan explained. "Originally, he only planned to erect the Holy Maiden of Orleans statue, but I felt that winning the war so quickly wasn’t just my achievement, so later the Divine Envoy and witch statues were added."

"And this honored Divine Envoy, of course, refers to you."

Chen Xuan was stunned.

"I think... the statue’s face should still be altered to be more ambiguous."

"Why?" Joan was puzzled.

"Delivering the Lord’s will is not exclusive to me. An envoy must first be a Messenger and then a person, thus he shouldn’t be a specific figure," Chen Xuan replied earnestly.

If the Dimensional Limit Mechanism sends Mad Judy over, seeing this statue would explain everything. So it must be changed, at least alter his facial features!

"I see," Joan pondered. "I will convey this to the king."

The two walked to the main hall entrance, where fully armored warriors suddenly kneeled on one knee, greeting and saluting him.

Chen Xuan couldn’t feign ignorance, as he clearly felt the focus was on him, not the guiding Joan in front.

Seeing his awkward expression, Joan smiled knowingly, "Whether through the Church Court or nobility, our expressions of piety cannot truly reach the Lord’s heart. But please don’t refuse, as this is all we can do."

"Who is this witch statue?" To alleviate the awkwardness, Chen Xuan changed the topic.

"Idal Joy, the chief of the Secret Gathering Hall."

Chen Xuan was truly puzzled, Joan was accused and executed as a witch, and now, only thirty years later, a witch statue is placed in the cathedral as a worshipped hero?

"Are witches no longer considered heretical now?"

"Yes, they all owe it to your blessing," Joan nodded. "But this is a long story, we can chat more after meeting the king."

By now the two had walked through a long corridor and arrived at a broad, expansive hall.

Even the dome was painted with beautiful patterns, while the center of the end wall displayed a prominent golden cross.

A few clusters of people gathered beneath the cross. Those on the left wore black robes, while those on the right were dressed like noble officials.

In the center was likely the King of France, Charles VII.

He wore a crown, a silk robe, and held a ruby scepter.

Indeed, Joan went directly to him, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, this is the honored Divine Envoy. I found his trace in Maria’s Temple."

"No wonder as a Messenger of the Lord you can connect your dwelling to Versailles Cathedral," the King Charles clicked in wonder as he curiously scrutinized Chen Xuan, seemingly wanting to ascertain if he truly represented the Lord, "Your appearance indeed resembles that described by the Wanderer, somewhat akin to people from the Eastern world."

Wanderer? Chen Xuan’s alertness rose sharply, was he referring to the Wanderer?

"May I ask, Your Majesty, who exactly is the Wanderer?"

"Anyone from the East, be they merchants or adventurers, we call them Wanderers... because to reach here, they must cross countless mountains and rivers, enduring many hardships, so the term ’Wanderer’ fits them."

Hearing this, Chen Xuan was slightly relieved.

The fifty-year-old Charles VII stood tall, his eyes were bright, and talked familiarly with Joan. Without witnessing the court turmoil, outsiders might find it hard to believe he had once had issues with the Holy Maiden. As Joan chose to forgive, Chen Xuan naturally wouldn’t say more, "May I know for what matter Your Majesty desires to meet me?"

"Joan told me that twenty years ago you saved her from the verge of defeat and helped her vanquish the evil British invaders, for which I am deeply grateful," Charles sincerely said, "Now the enemy crosses the sea more fiercely than before, and I earnestly request you to aid France once more, pulling the Lord’s followers from Hell’s grip."

Chen Xuan grew suspicious; if France wasn’t defeated, Britain should be substantially weakened, why could they return so soon?

"Can’t you defeat them?" he asked directly.

"Uh..."

Charles gave Joan a troubled look, who immediately explained on his behalf, "If the enemy were only the British army, I would be confident to drive them back into the sea no matter how many times they came, but this is different. They signed a contract with Hell, receiving assistance from non-human forces. Their ships are incredibly strong, almost never sinking. We can’t compete with them on sea, all ports have been blocked, and sea routes entirely cut off."

Non-human forces? Wait... Chen Xuan suddenly realized something wasn’t right, the mention of Hell allies by Joan wasn’t an exaggeration but a factual statement?

"Is it that the omniscient Lord is unaware of such terrifying desecration on earth?" someone from the black-robed group suddenly asked, "Or perhaps, the Lord never set His eyes upon us..."

"Marina!" Joan interrupted, "Do not presume the Lord’s intents."

"...Apologies," the person seemed quite respectful of Joan, immediately changing her tone once she spoke, "As the Honored Divine Envoy appears uninformed, let me demonstrate."

"Fine," Joan nodded, "This saves much explanation."

Marina took some powder from small bags on her waist and tossed it into the air while chanting - the powder suddenly ignited in mid-air, emitting thick smoke; within the smoke, Chen Xuan saw a sequence of blurred images.

A sail warship surged under the sea surface, violently crashing into the ship in the scene. The crew leaped onto the deck, engaging in close combat with blue and white uniformed soldiers.

The crew was almost none human; they were either mermaids or creatures with tentacles, some could even fly, resembling oversized bats with flapping flesh wings.

The images lasted only a few dozen seconds before dissipating with the smoke, yet the content was astonishing.

To Chen Xuan, this was a demon fiend-formed army!