Hollow Knight: Hallownest

Once he holds the military, political and financial powers in his hands, his status is no different from the number one bug under the main city's watcher. In addition, Lu Ruien rarely participates in daily politics, so basically, whatever he says is what the main city does. He has already taken half a step into a one-man show.

So it is impossible to say that Sainz is not tempted. That kind of power is what almost all the bugs in the main city dream of, including him of course.

"I'm sorry, Lord Lurien, I can't obey your command."

But he still refused.

After so many years in politics, he is very clear that the power in his hands is not a magic wand. Even if it can indeed bring him many conveniences, once this power begins to expand until it exceeds his actual ability, it is an invitation from the devil.

He can ensure that he will not be corrupted by it for a long time, but what about after that?

Compared to the overwhelming power, he values ​​his life more.

This is good enough for now.

"...I knew you were going to refuse, but why don't you ask me why I said that?"

Lu Ruien's eyes softened, and he walked to the desk, personally poured a cup of tea and handed it to Sainz. The latter was flattered and hurriedly walked over to take it, then said: "Please enlighten me, Lord Watcher."

Lu Ruien looked out the window again and calmed himself down.

"I'm leaving."

Sainz had not yet completely recovered from the shock of the question, and asked blankly: "Are you going to travel outside the main city for a while?"

"Haha, you're right, I do have to travel outside the main city, but it's not me."

"It's my soul."

Lu Ryan smiled and nodded.

These words made Sainz even more confused. He thought about it for a long time but still couldn't understand the meaning of the second half of Lu Ruien's sentence.

Soul travel?

Is this a new way of traveling?

"I don't understand what you mean. What does this soul travel mean?"

Lu Ruien took a deep breath, and then said something that was not enough to scare the hell out of you: "I'm going to die, Sainz."

"Watcher Lu Ryan is about to step down."

Snapped--!

To Sainz, these words were like a bolt from the blue. The teacup in his hand suddenly fell to the ground and shattered into pieces, and his heart was filled with turmoil.

"You...what did you just say?"

"I...I didn't...didn't hear clearly."

He spoke quickly and haltingly, and it took him a while to organize the two short sentences before he uttered them.

Lu Ruien looked down at the debris on the ground and called to the housekeeper in the distance to come and clean it up, but after waving his hands several times, the latter did not respond and just stared at him with a dull expression.

Lu Ruien did not conceal the volume of his words just now, so the butler naturally heard them.

Seeing this, Lu Ruien sighed, moved lightly to the side of the room, and prepared to pick up the tools to clean himself.

Sainz didn't give him the chance, he walked quickly up to him and spoke urgently.

"Master Watcher, what you just said, is it true or false?"

The watcher who built the main city, the watcher who looked after the entire main city day and night, the watcher who carefully held up and protected the Heart of Hallownest...

dying?

"That's right, Sainz, I'm dying."

Lu Ruien's tone was flat, as if he was talking to him about an ordinary government matter.

This time he did not give Sainz a chance to speak again. He told him the general matter of the seal. At the same time, he did not hide it from the butler in the distance. He knew that the latter was very tight-lipped. After serving him for so many years, he should give him an explanation.

"As long as the plague is not eradicated, my Holy Nest will not prosper. I must do this. If I can only sacrifice my life in exchange for the revival of my city, then the price is too small."

"You know, Sainz, I'm sure you would do the same if it were you."

Sainz's face was bitter, as if something was blocking his throat. When he opened his mouth, he could only utter a low "ah" sound, and no other words.

"That's why the main city needs someone who can take charge of the overall situation for me. He must be fair and selfless, must treat the people as himself, and must stick to his original intention."

"He can't let the main city down."

Lu Ruien put a hand on Sainz's shoulder and said in a deep voice, "That's why I asked you, do you want to be the Minister of Military Affairs..."

"Do you want to take over everything in the main city, shoulder this heavy responsibility, and guard this eternal heart for me and for Hallownest?"

"I......"

Sainz wanted to shout, to roar, to tell Lu Ryan loudly—

he thinks!

But when the words came to his lips, his heart seemed to suddenly feel empty. The sense of crisis and anxiety that surged like a tide made him change his words.

"I...I can't do it. Without you, Sainz, I will no longer be that Sainz..."

Sainz had a heavy nasal voice, and from the sound of his voice, it seemed that he was very close to bursting into tears. Amidst the sadness, these words actually touched Lu Ruien's heart.

"You have to do it, Sainz. I think highly of you, so I entrusted you with this important task."

"Goridi is very ambitious but lacks the ability. I can see endless greed in his eyes. I don't know why I appointed him as the Minister of Military Affairs."

Lu Ruien kept shaking his head and looked sideways at the Military and Political Tower with disappointment in his eyes.

"What I said before was to weaken his military power. Otherwise, his personal soldiers will be a great obstacle to your taking power."

"I understand your concerns, but everyone has been there before. Escaping is not something you should consider in your position."

"Before I leave, I will hand over the control of the Knights to you. For the sake of temporary checks and balances and to prevent the outbreak of hidden dangers, I will not order Goredi to give up his power now. But after this conversation, you should think about how to take the military power in his hands into your own hands."

Listening to a series of words from Lu Ruien that sounded like his last words, Sainz felt a little resistant.

He didn't think he was worthy of being the lord of a city. In his own perception, he always believed that he needed a leader.

In simple terms, he thinks he is an excellent team player, but if he is asked to lead the entire team, he will lose confidence for no reason.

Lu Ruien saw this, but he still insisted: "Saiens, there is no other insect qualified for this position."

"This city is like my child. Unless the king takes care of it himself, I will not hand it over to anyone except you."

"From today on, you are also the father of this city."