Volume 1 Chapter 174
by Need_More_SleepVolume 1 + Chapter 174: Rising Above The Entire Empire
After seeing Vivian off, the faint smile that had lingered on the Pope’s face quickly vanished completely, replaced by a profound and stern expression. He narrowed his eyes, a flicker of an inscrutable emotion passing through their depths, as if contemplating something.
He raised his hand slightly, a small movement yet carrying unquestionable authority.
Almost instantly, a petite figure hiding in the shadows darted out, moving with light, almost skipping steps to the Pope’s side, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
“Your Holiness, you called for me.”
Her crisp voice held a trace of eager delight.
The girl lifted her head slightly, an innocent, harmless smile on her face. Yet her overly bright eyes hid a shrewdness that didn’t match her age.
Seeing her, the Pope’s stern expression softened somewhat, his gaze becoming gentler. If Vivian were still standing here and saw this little girl who had intentionally hidden in the shadows to eavesdrop, she would likely be greatly surprised.
After all, this girl had always viewed Vivian as an idol, looking up to her with reverence, and she was also the youngest Cardinal Deacon in the Church…
She had just been holding Vivian’s arm, chatting warmly with her moments ago.
“Sasha, as you said, Vivian is no longer on the same path as us.”
Hearing the Pope’s words, the girl called Sasha immediately broke into a smile, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly, a hint of smugness showing between her brows.
She stood before the Pope with her hands clasped behind her back, chest puffed out, embodying the self-satisfied confidence of someone who had long anticipated this outcome.
“I told you long ago she wasn’t suited to be the Saintess, I am far more suitable.”
Sasha gently shook her head, seeming to carry a touch of coquettish willfulness, but the firmness in her words was unmistakable. “Moreover, I specifically noticed last night, she went to the cemetery. The one where that witch is buried. She never set foot there before, but this time, she went.”
The Pope’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, clearly pondering the significance behind this. Sasha continued, her tone growing even more assured. “Right now, the Imperial Princess despises her, many within our Church are utterly disappointed in her. Only the Holy See still holds her in favor, solely because she once reported a witch.”
She pursed her lips, as if weighing the pros and cons, falling into a moment of thought. The Pope’s gaze also gradually deepened and grew colder.
“But if this time, the Holy See’s mission is handed to me to complete, the Holy See will surely see Vivian’s disloyalty to the Church. By then, their favor towards her will inevitably plummet.”
Sasha gave her head another slight shake, a confident smile on her lips, her tone certain and composed, as if already in control of how the situation would unfold.
She looked up at the Pope, a hint of cunning flickering in her eyes, and continued, “Plus, the fact that she privately visited the witch’s cemetery can also be made into a big deal. When the time comes, with the Imperial Family’s ostracism, Your Holiness’s behind-the-scenes maneuvers, and the Holy See’s trust in her gradually eroding, I believe it won’t be long before we can rightfully pull her down from the position of Saintess.”
Her voice, soft and mellifluous, carried a note of elation and a hint of a coquettish plea as she said sweetly, “Your Holiness, when that time comes, you must save the Saintess position for me.”
Hearing this, a wave of satisfaction washed over the Pope. Listening to this coquettish voice, mixed with that unique tone, a smile appeared on his face, softening his gaze.
He nodded almost without hesitation, his tone doting and certain. “Naturally.”
After all, this girl before him was far easier to control than Vivian.
With that, he retrieved a token from his sleeve. Its lustrous sheen shimmered faintly under the candlelight, a magical aura flowing imperceptibly across its surface, drawing one’s gaze unconsciously.
He gently stroked the edge of the token before slowly handing it to Sasha, a meaningful smile on his lips. “This token, I secretly applied to the Holy See for one more as an additional safeguard. It’s exactly the same as the one in Vivian’s hands.”
Sasha reached out without hesitation and took the token, excitement in her eyes.
However, unlike the caution and hesitation Vivian had shown when she first received the token, there was not a trace of doubt in Sasha’s eyes. She simply fondled the token in her hands with delight, completely immersed in her fantasies of the future.
After all, she had never learned how to discern the authenticity of magical artifacts like Vivian had.
In fact, for most people, when faced with an artifact emitting such a strong magical aura, their first instinct wouldn’t be to doubt its validity.
It was like an exquisitely packaged luxury item, its price wouldn’t be easily questioned.
The same went for magical artifacts.
“If you can complete the mission before Vivian, successfully breach the Empire’s wall defenses and let those magical beasts in, then the primary credit for this matter will naturally be yours.”
The Pope spoke slowly, his tone unhurried yet carrying an irresistible authority and certainty.
His gaze drifted downward, looking out the window. The imperial capital was just past noon, sunlight streaming through the gold-edged glass, casting bright, warm patches of light on the floor.
In the distant streets, people came and went, nobles still holding forth in loud discussion, vendors hawking their wares, everything seemed so tranquil and pleasant.
However, ownership of this pleasantness did not belong to him.
A cold glint flashed in the Pope’s eyes, the corners of his mouth curving into a faint smile.
In his view, as the saying went, “No destruction, no construction.” Only by completely tearing all this apart and reshaping it according to his own will could he truly seize the empire’s power.
“The Imperial Family must be in complete disarray by now.”
He withdrew his gaze and said slowly, undisguised scorn in his tone. “If news of the Emperor’s demise is confirmed, it will inevitably trigger severe turmoil within the entire Empire. Such chaos is our best opportunity.”
“The Imperial Family loses order, the monarch perishes, and magical beasts invade in force, causing countless casualties among border civilians.”
“How melodious it sounds!”
His fingers tapped lightly on the desktop, the sound soft yet exuding an air of controlling the overall situation. “What I told Vivian was merely to let the magical beasts in. I didn’t tell her the plan for what comes after.”
He narrowed his eyes slightly, the curve of his lips deepening, as if already foreseeing the future situation. “Once the magical beasts invade and the Empire’s order nears collapse due to the chaos, then, at the most opportune moment, our Church will intervene and take control of those beasts.”
He paused, his tone intensifying, his voice gradually lowering, carrying an almost fanatical obsession. “The incompetent Imperial Family, the people driven to desperation, the suffering, the struggle, the despair… And our Church will descend like divine soldiers, saving them from peril at the most critical moment.”
“By then, everyone will witness the Imperial Family’s incompetence, and the Church’s greatness and power will be forever etched into people’s hearts.”
The Pope’s voice was low and distant, as if he already saw the decline of the Imperial Family and the future where the Church ultimately rose above all.
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