The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 857: Chapter 4 Judas of the Foreign Office

Nightingale Mansion, the room on the third floor was decorated to resemble a stone-built courtroom.

Although limited by space, it was impossible to fully recreate the ancient Jerusalem courtroom, but it was clear that the construction company responsible for building this had seriously invested in the interior decorations.

The courtroom walls were meticulously stacked with gray stones and carefully sculpted to mimic the deep marks left by the passage of time.

The courtroom door was heavy and rustic, with large wooden doors inlaid with iron ornaments, appearing solemn and inviolable.

As the door slowly opened, it creaked, as if whispering the voice of history.

Beyond the door was a miniature courtyard, with the floor paved with neat stone slabs and a small fountain in the center, bringing a hint of tranquility to the stern courtroom with the sound of flowing water.

Inside the courtroom, rows of benches were neatly arranged, enough to accommodate many spectators.

Oil lamps hanging on the walls emitted a soft glow, illuminating the entire space.

The high ceiling displayed detailed carvings and frescoes of religious and legal themes, showcasing the sanctity and authority of the place.

The ladies playing the religious leaders sat in a semi-circle, their eyes full of suspicion and hostility. The blond lady playing the High Priest Caiaphas sat in the center, her gaze as sharp as a blade, waiting for the answer from the lady playing Jesus on the stage.

The air was filled with tension and unease, as if every breath could trigger unpredictable consequences.

“Are you the King of the Jews?” Caiaphas’s voice echoed in the courtroom, her question full of sarcasm and provocation.

The graceful ‘Jesus’ stood calmly, her eyes deep as if they could see through the depths of the human heart.

“You say so.”

Her voice was calm and firm, yet it struck each person’s soul like a heavy hammer.

The judges exchanged complicated glances, knowing that the answer to this question might provoke the wrath of the Romans.

In their eyes, Jesus’s existence itself was a threat to the status quo, her words and actions had already aroused the hopes and expectations of the people, something they couldn’t tolerate.

“He claims to be the Son of God!” accused one judge, her sharp voice filled with anger and fear.

Jesus did not avoid, she looked directly into the judge’s eyes and said with a gentle yet powerful voice: “When you lift up the Son of Man, he will be lifted up and draw all people to God.”

At that moment, unnoticed by the others, a trembling middle-aged man sat in the spectator’s seat, covering his face, his eyes full of terror and despair. His name was Auguste Schneider from the Foreign Office… No, wait, it’s not time to list the cast yet, his current role should be Judas Iscariot.

But regardless, at this moment, the betraying Schneider looked at the scene unfolding before him and understood that he had sold his master to death.

As the verdict was about to be pronounced, Judas could no longer bear the torment of his conscience.

He raised his trembling hand, letting out a hoarse cry that shocked everyone, “Caiaphas! He is innocent, please release him!”

The tall Schneider pushed through the stunned crowd.

His face was ashen, haggard, and sweat poured down his temple. He rushed to the bench, throwing the thirty pieces of silver he received for betraying the master before the High Priest, kneeling and clutching Caiaphas’s robe, hugging her white thigh, and begged her to release Jesus.

The blonde High Priest Caiaphas kicked him angrily to the ground, and Schneider lay there shouting, “I have betrayed innocent blood, I am guilty!”

The startled Caiaphas adjusted her priest robe that Schneider had pulled off her shoulder, disdainfully saying, “What is that to us? You bear it yourself!”

So, Schneider prostrated himself at Jesus’s feet, opening in trembling reverence, “You are the Son of God, save me, forgive my sins.”

However, Jesus did not condemn him with a single word, only looked at Judas with compassion and said, “It is for this time that I have come into this world.”

Schneider knew that pleading was no longer of any use, so he rushed out of the courtroom, distraught and shouting, “Too late! Too late!”

Outside the courtroom, the disciples who were ready to judge this traitor were already waiting: “Judas, you betrayed the master, causing him to be crucified alive!”

Schneider, in extreme fear, said, “I will go and hang myself, cleanse myself of sin with my life by hanging from a tree outside Jerusalem.”

The disciples sang in unison: “You have three charges; first, for thirty pieces of silver, you revealed the master’s whereabouts to the High Priest and the Elders, allowing them to arrest him. Second, you were in charge of managing the disciples’ money but often stole public funds. Third, after realizing that your actions led to Jesus’s death, you felt despair, returned the silver, and intended to hang yourself outside the city, this is disrespectful to the life that God has given. Judas, even now, do you not repent?”

Schneider covered his face, kneeling, saying: “Now, how can I atone for my sins?”

The disciples sang loudly: “Your soul has been blinded by greed, your choices have led to this tragedy. Your actions have exceeded the bounds of forgiveness, you must pay for your crimes! Come with us, your guilt has been judged, you will face the punishment of flogging under the gaze of the faithful!”