Torches illuminating the desolate darkness.
Osilia, who was walking on the hard floor of a gloomy and gloomy underground cavity, stopped with a very distorted face.
“His Holiness… … .”
The Pope’s headless body was slumped forward, and the head of the Pope was leaning against the wall, looking towards us with his eyes wide open, as if he could not believe his own death right before he died.
thud.
Osilia, who fell to her knees as if her legs had lost strength, let out a trembling breath and grabbed the Pope’s head.
“why… … , breath. Haaa… … .”
Reddened eyes and slightly trembling fingertips. She, who couldn’t easily speak, hugged Doukas’ head.
“Because you… , I endured it. Even though I know he’s not that kind of person… … .”
In the end, she shed tears and trembled.
“It’s my fault. I, I… , I should have stopped it. “Because you were strong, I was a fool to believe that you would always come back on your own.”
She stood up.
She took a deep breath, wiped away her tears, and revealed her usual fierce eyes as if she had never done so before.
“Colos… … .”
Name clearly engraved on the floor. He left the underground cavity, thinking about the engraved name once again, as if he wanted to boast about his achievements.
* * *
The Pope’s death became apparent and his body was moved to the catacombs of Panthea.
The death of the Pope spread throughout Bastian. In addition, the news was spread to other cities of the Holy Kingdom, as well as Brillant, Rosaria, and Baran.
The name ‘Kolos’ began to spread widely with him.
An assassin named Colos, who assassinated the Pope and then suddenly disappeared, was wanted throughout the continent, and the Holy Kingdom’s declaration that they would give any reward to those who could find and capture him was spread throughout the continent.
The throne room of the Kingdom of Rosaria.
Queen Melissa Elliot, sitting on the throne, rests her arm on the armrest, rests her chin, and listens to reports from her subjects with a bored expression.
“So, this expedition-.”
Sigh-
A large gate suddenly opens. The royal butler hurries in, takes a bow, and bows his head.
“I ask you to forgive my rudeness. your majesty. Urgent news has arrived, so I decided to do this rude thing in order to deliver it without delay.”
“What’s going on?”
Queen Melissa, who did not hide her boredom, raised her head and asked with interest in her eyes.
“News has arrived that the Pope of the Holy Kingdom has passed away. your majesty.”
At the head butler’s words, not only Melissa but also the nobles lined up on both sides began to mutter, forgetting that they were in front of the queen.
“Are you sure?”
“That’s right. your majesty. Just now, Cardinal Osilia of the Holy Kingdom spoke directly via communication.”
“What is the cause?”
“They say it was an assassination by an assassin named ‘Col Los.’”
“… … “Assassination?”
It was very shocking news. Rather than simply knowing that the Pope of the Holy Kingdom had died, Melissa was even more surprised that he had been assassinated.
The Pope of the Holy Kingdom, Procopius Doukas, was not a man who could be dismissed as just a Pope.
A person so strong that he can almost be called a monster. It’s been a while since I’ve seen Doukas in person, except during the early days of his ascension to the Pope, but if you think about Ducas at that time, he must have become much stronger now that a few years have passed.
If he was the assassin who killed Doukas… … .
“Prime Minister.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Melissa asks the long-bearded old man standing at the head of the table.
“The information that the rich man was killed by the ‘Dark Emperor’ keeps coming to mind. What do you think?”
“Me too. your majesty.”
“Then the ‘Dark Emperor’ killed Corbett Raymond and the Holy Kingdom’s Pope?”
“If the ‘Necklace of Twisted Time’ was taken over by the Dark Emperor of this generation, I don’t think it would be impossible.”
It wasn’t wrong. Because it was suspicious enough. However, no one here knew the true nature of Doukas except for Melissa.
‘It would be impossible for a youngster who had just gained the title of Dark Emperor, no matter how much he obtained the relics of the previous Dark Emperor… … .’
As she was thinking while stroking her chin, she lightly shook her hair and organized her thoughts.
“Prime Minister, focus more on obtaining information about Dark Emperor.”
“All right. your majesty.”
“and… … , Karina.”
The queen’s daughter, Karina, who was quietly listening to their conversation, answers.
“yes.”
“I’m sorry for keeping sending you somewhere else, but would you like to go as a delegation yourself? “There are things you cannot see unless you look at them directly.”
“All right. your majesty.”
When Carina bows her head and says yes, Melissa smiles lightly. He soon lets out a mischievous laugh and says.
“I stopped by Brilliant on the way there. “I personally sent you a letter, but I’m not very happy that I haven’t received any news yet.”
“… … All right.”
“It would be nice if we could bring our ‘future son-in-law’ with us on our way back.”
“… … your majesty.”
Karina, who had been speaking, closed her mouth. This was because he clearly expected that no matter what he said here, his mother would not understand.
“… … All right.”
“good. “Then, let everyone share their opinions on how the situation on the continent will change due to the change in the Holy Kingdom.”
* * *
Not only the Kingdom of Rosaria, but also the Baran Empire, the Brillant Kingdom, and the lords of other small free cities all decided to send envoys.
In particular, among the powerful families and the influential families that maintained close relationships with the Holy Kingdom’s church, the direct descendants of the families directly moved the heavy hips.
And among them was the Arzen family.
“What about the Pope’s death, why should I go?”
“Arhan. “It is my father’s order.”
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“Tch, if it wasn’t for that, I wouldn’t have gone. Having to go to that boring place… … .”
The fifth son of the Arjen family, Rian Arjen, and the sixth son, Arhan Arjen, acted as the leaders of this mission.
“Only by seeing the world will your knowledge broaden.”
“Truly, you just have to use the sword well. “No, bro, did you really say you were going so willingly because of those rumors?”
“If not, there is no smoke coming out of the chimney.”
“What are you talking about? You saw it yourself, right? genius? He is also a genius of the century who knows how to use archery, swordsmanship, and even dual swordsmanship? under! A passing dog will laugh.”
Arhaan shook his head as if he truly did not understand. But Lian’s expression is still serious.
“What if it’s real?”
“what?”
“What if Ren was really a genius? “Then what are you going to do?”
Arhaan narrowed his eyes at Lian’s serious question and lay down on the sofa, shaking his head.
“Oh, I don’t know. “Why worry about something like that when it’s not going to happen?”
“… … “You have to be prepared.”
Lian leaned against the wall and closed his eyes. Then I remembered the rumors about Ren Argen.
‘Archery, double swordsmanship, swordsmanship… … . Even at master level?’
It made no sense. Not only is it not possible for anyone to become a Master, but if Ren had that level of talent, his family would have recognized him long ago.
But I can’t help but think about the one-of-a-kind situation.
Not only was the impact of the rumors traveling around the continent stronger than expected, but the rumors that spread in the shadows rather than in the sun were even more bizarre.
Usually, information that only a few people know in the dark is more accurate. But the rumors about Ren were exaggerated in secret.
Even if you only followed half of the rumors, it was impossible to ignore.
“Stop lying around so lazily and go train. No matter how talented you are, there are people everywhere who are better than you.”
“Hmph, there are people everywhere who are better than me? No matter what my brother said, this is too much bullsh*t, right? “Tsk.”
Not listening to Rian’s words, he lies down and enjoys the rest while humming.
“Be prepared well. “We will leave tomorrow.”
“I understand. “Nagging.”
Meanwhile, as time passed and the royal family of Brillant gradually became more stable, they were busy discussing who to send as envoys to the Holy Kingdom.
The kingdom’s conference room.
The royal family’s new executives sitting around a huge round table all look haggard.
This happened because I had been working without a single day of rest since the last Black Star attack.
The interior of the royal family was so rotten that more than half of the nobles had been cut off, and the remaining work had to be handled by new talent and the remaining personnel, so there was no room to spare.
Alan Hertia, who was sitting at the head of the table, spoke first.
“The Pope’s death is a serious matter. Since all the famous people on the continent will be gathering, wouldn’t it be nice if someone who is at least as good as them goes?”
“If only that were possible.”
1Princess Jane Hertia raised a question.
“The problem is that not everyone can afford to go to the Holy Kingdom.”
“Isn’t it something that can be done if you take the time?”
The newly appointed executive officer of the administration spoke as if refuting Jane’s words.
Although some people could not hide their discomfort, they did not voice their complaints out loud.
After this reorganization of Brilliant, unconditional courtesy and respect for royals disappeared in these meetings.
A system created simply to present and coordinate each other’s opinions on an equal footing.
The royal authority did not disappear, but the authority was not given to the king’s children.
“Others have to suffer twice as much during that time. “I don’t think it’s something to bring up so lightly.”
Ruiz Hertia, who is in charge of the military, is refuting the opinion of the consensus officer.
The consensus officer, who swallowed his silence at those words, could not refute any more and kept his mouth shut.
The strangely divided air in the conference room. There were factions divided around Louise and Alan, but the future of the royal family had not been ruined by keeping each other in check.
They just see each other as competition and improve themselves. Their common goal was ultimately the development of Brilliant.
That motivation was now driving Brilliant’s growth.
“… … .”
“… … .”
A conclusion reached after a long meeting.
“As expected, he is the only one.”
“yes. I guess… … .”
“Well, isn’t he the best known guy on the continent right now?”
Alan nods in agreement.
“I agree.”
Minister of Protocol Terry Burns briefly agreed with the opinion.
“I can think of no one like Lord Ren.”
“If you are my lord, no matter which knight comes, there will be no harm to the kingdom’s reputation.”
Jane and Cohen also agreed with that opinion.
“But isn’t Ren’s opinion the most important thing?”
More than anything else, Louise was most curious about whether Ren would try to represent the delegation.
“… … “You should give me some compensation.”
“I agree. “If you just tell him to go, he will make excuses and try not to go.”
Jane thought about Ren’s personality and shook her head.
“I have to decide what to give.”
Their worries deepened again.
Meanwhile, at the Palace of Panthea, a meeting of cardinals was in full swing.
Those sitting were Osilia, Justin and 5 others. Three of the cardinals scattered across the continent recently returned to Bastian.
“We will hold a ‘conclave’ to elect a new pope. Announce to the entire Cardinals. “Stop all missions and work and return within a month.”
As soon as Osilia finished speaking, the front door of the conference room burst open.
Rem and Arad, who have lost consciousness, fall to the floor with their entire bodies tied up.
Aston followed him in. He poured out various documents, nameplates of distribution evidence, currency, drugs, etc. on the table.
“Aston! “What kind of situation is this?”
“It is evidence of the corruption and corruption committed by the Pope, Rem, and Arad.”
“… … what?”
“I made a deal with the Black Star. They brought the children and saints of the Holy Kingdom to the Black Castle and received tea bags and money in return. And Rem and Arad were involved in it.”
The cardinals’ faces suddenly hardened. Everyone knew that the Pope was doing drugs behind the scenes. I just closed my eyes and moved on.
But the fact that children were being sold to black castles was unprecedented.
“These are transaction details from the Southern Branch of the Black Star and a ledger from Rem and Arad’s secret residence. “Check it out.”
Their expressions hardened and they looked at the evidence. Even the ledger taken from the Black Star branch matched perfectly. It was clear evidence that could not be manipulated.
“her… … .”
“I never thought His Holiness would do something like this.”
The cardinals keep sighing and making complex faces.
“So are you saying we should at least make this public?”
Osilia asked Aston.
“No way.”
“It’s unexpected. Aston, I thought you would foam at the mouth and say that you should tell the whole world.”
Justin says, looking at him hesitantly.
“Who ordered it from behind? What, like Ren Argen?”
The cardinals all cast a questioning look at Justin at the name that came out of nowhere.
“Half right and half wrong.”
Aston smiled lightly and looked back.
“Please come in.”
The gate opens with those words.
“That’s why I called you as a reference.”
Neatly groomed gray hair and neat uniform. The driver with his sharp demeanor calmed down enters the conference room.
“This is Ren Argen.”