Chapter 88 Chapter 87

Langdon walked across the courtyard of the Belvedere Palace to the fountain outside the security center of the Swiss Guard Battalion and looked at his bloodstained watch: 9:41 p.m.Even though my hands were no longer bleeding, it seemed worse than it looked.When he arrived, it seemed like everyone was there at once—Oliveti, Rocher, the Pope's chamberlain, Victoria, and a few guards. Victoria rushed forward immediately. "Robert, you're hurt." Before Langdon could answer, Olivetti walked up to him. "Mr. Robert, I am assured that you are well. My apologies for the jamming signal from the Archives."

"Jamming signal?" Langdon demanded, "You actually know, and..." "It was my fault," said Rochelle, stepping forward, regretfully. "I didn't know you were in the Archives. Some of the electrical circuits in the public area crossed those in that building. We were expanding our investigation at the time." .It was I who turned off the power. If I had known..." "Robert," Victoria said, holding his wounded hand carefully, "the Pope was poisoned. The Illuminati killed him." Langdon heard what she said, but didn't understand what it meant.His mind was filled with this information.All he felt was the warmth of Victoria's hand.

The Pope's chamberlain pulled out a silk handkerchief from his robes and handed it to Langdon to wipe the blood.He said nothing, and his blue eyes seemed filled with a new kind of anger. "Robert," Victoria demanded, "you say you know where the next cardinal will be killed?" Langdon had mixed feelings. "Yeah, I know, it's going to be..." "No," interrupted Olivetti, "Mr. Langdon, there's a reason I told you to stop talking on the intercom." He turned to the line of Swiss guards. "Stay out of the way, gentlemen." The guards went back to the security center.No one was being rude and offended, everyone was just following orders.

Olivetti turned again to face the rest. "It actually pains me to say that the murderer of the pope was helped by someone among us. For safety's sake, don't trust anyone, including our guards." When he said these words, it seemed it's painful. Rochelle was anxious. "Internal collusion means..." "Yes," Olivetti said. "Your investigation appears to have been compromised, and that's the bet we have to make. Keep watching." Rochel seemed about to say something more, but changed his mind and walked away. The pope's chamberlain took a deep breath.Before he even said a word, Langdon felt his sternness, and things seemed to have turned around.

"Commander," the voice of the pope's servant was unquestionable, "I intend to suspend the secret meeting." Olivetti pouted, scowling. "I advise you against it. We have two hours and twenty minutes." "That's not enough!" There was something defiant in Olivetti's tone. "What do you want to do? Do you want to evacuate the cardinal by yourself?" "I want to use the strength God has given me to save this church. What I do is no longer your concern." Olivetti straightened up. "No matter what you want to do..." He paused, "I have no right to stop it. Especially as the head of the security department, I have obvious dereliction of duty. I just ask you to wait a little longer, wait another twenty minutes ...wait until ten o'clock. If Mr. Langdon's information is accurate, I still have a chance to catch the killer. We may still be able to maintain the norm,"

"Standard?" The Pope's servant sneered, "Commander, we have already surpassed the scope of the norm. Maybe you haven't noticed, but this is war." A guard came from the security center and shouted at the Pope's chamberlain: "Sir, I have just been informed - we have detained the BBC reporter, Mr Glick." The Pope's chamberlain nodded. "Take him and the female photographer to meet me outside the Sistine Chapel." Olivetti's eyes widened in shock. "what you up to?" "Twenty minutes, Commander. I can only give you twenty minutes." With that, he left.

Olivetti's Alfa Romeo sped out of the Vatican, this time with no unmarked vehicles following.In the back seat, Victoria retrieved the first aid kit from the glove box and bandaged Langdon's hand. Olivetti stared straight ahead. "Okay, Mr. Langdon, where are we going?"