137 Episode 33. The One Closest to God (2)
At Rockefeller’s words, Bishop Berkis gave a somewhat startled expression.
“You want to build a new one?”
“Yeah, it’s a new one. Exactly, it seems like an extension would be right.”
The two were located in the central church of the Parish of Lyon called ‘Lyon Cathedral’.
It was also a place without any major flaws as it was built more splendidly and majestic than the churches built in other parishes.
“Do you really need to do that? Even if we do an extension, it doesn’t cost a penny or two.”
Rockefeller said with a laugh.
“Haha, if it’s just money, don’t worry.”
money?
For Rockefeller, money was his power and power to print as much as he wanted.
“In the meantime, while the Bishop waits for us. Me and the Lyon Guild have grown significantly as a union. All the guild members are working together to support me, and the Black Label work has been well done, so there is nothing to expand Lyon Cathedral here.”
From the perspective of Bishop Berkis, extending the cathedral was not as easy as he thought.
Because money was always an issue.
But when Rockefeller told him not to worry, he had to change his mind.
‘If the extension is done at a time like this, it will surely attract the attention of the denomination.’
Bishop Berkis, who was quite convinced, opened his mouth.
“If you help me that much, there is nothing I can do to stop you. Are you really okay with that though? That’s because it’s not a penny or two-dollar business.”
Rockefeller only responded with a smile.
“If it is for the sake of the bishop and John, how much money would that be? Don’t worry about money at all, and I hope that Lyon’s Cathedral will be bigger than it is now, and that your status as a bishop will be widely known.”
Bishop Berkis with a happy smile nodded his head.
“If that is your will, I will.”
“Let’s proceed with the expansion right away. Raising money in the guild is not that difficult.”
Then Bishop Berkis remembered something and asked Rockefeller for something else.
“If it’s okay with you, I’d like to draw a mural like John’s painting while we’re building an extension… … What do you think?”
“Do I have any reason to object? Welcome to me.”
“I heard that there is a very good artist named Andro in the zodiac. He has deep religious beliefs and is rumored to be a master of the empire who produced many masterpieces. I want to call that person to do the mural work.”
“I think I’ve heard of him, too. It is said that he is erudite in many ways due to the talent that God has given him. If I hire such a person, I think I will be able to express John better.”
“The devotees here will love it. How happy would it be to be able to see the person you had in your heart, John?”
“you’re right.”
Then Rockefeller came up with something and made a suggestion to him.
‘I think I got this from somewhere.’
“Sir, Bishop. I just thought of this, how about this? When I paint a mural, I paint the mural on the ceiling, and on it, John, who leads us to heaven, His Excellency, and ordinary believers like me are drawn.”
Bishop Berkis liked it because it was a good idea.
“That’s a good idea. Put a mural painting all over the ceiling… … That’s a great idea. It would be nice to do murals like that.”
While Bishop Berkis likes him so much.
Rockefeller was painting the next thing.
‘Actually, there is a reason why they spread it like this.’
It was no different for Rockefeller to enlarge the Cathedral of Lyon at no cost and to increase his position within the denomination.
It was because it was in his interest to rise to a high position in the denomination.
‘When you become the head of the denomination, my drawings become more perfect.’
A painter named Andro would come to Lyon Cathedral to paint the ceiling murals, but Rockefeller was envisioning imperial society after the Crown Wars.
‘I’ll give you a carrot without a penny. Shall we get to the point now?’
“Sir, Bishop. Soon it will be a crown war. The denomination has nothing to do with the upcoming crown war. If your Excellency goes well and ascends to a higher position, I have a favor to ask of you.”
When Rockefeller broke his luck, Bishop Berkis, who had been happy for a moment, looked at him and questioned him.
“If I do well, can I ask you something?”
“Yes, it is. It’s not that difficult for me to help you to this extent, but… … There is only one thing I cannot change in the present situation.”
Bishop Berkis wondered what he was trying to say.
‘What the hell are you going to ask?’
“What is that?”
At a glance, it didn’t seem like an easy request.
Well, since that’s enough, didn’t you say that you would be willing to pay for the cost of building the church?
‘It doesn’t seem like an easy request. I’ll have to listen first.’
After taking a moment’s breath, Rockefeller began to order him what he wanted.
‘Honestly, shouldn’t this be enough?’
“In some cases, it can be a big deal. In a way, it might not be that big of a deal.”
Rockefeller continued.
“I hope that the denomination will stop the oppression of Ismail, which is currently branded as a pagan, and that the denomination will put some effort into restoring their honor.”
At those words, his secretary, Ellis, who had come with Rockefeller, wavered for a moment.
Her gaze rested on Rockefeller for a moment.
There was Bishop Berkis with a somewhat troubled expression on his face.
“Isn’t that already over? I know that the repression of the church is over, and the war between the families has been resolved a long time ago.”
Rockefeller’s request was rather difficult for Bishop Berkis.
“In this situation, I don’t think there is anything I can do about it.”
“Do you really think it’s over?”
To the questioning Rockefeller, Bishop Berkis was still displeased.
“Because you are, I will be honest. That’s something I can’t do no matter what position I’m in.”
Bishop Berkis was well aware that what he wanted was difficult in reality.
“Where is the church? Especially in a place where there is absolutely no mercy for such a pagan group, just because you want it doesn’t mean I can do anything about it. That’s difficult. No, absolutely impossible.”
“Are you saying that it is absolutely impossible to become a Pope?”
“… … .”
Such words will come out
“I think it will be difficult though… … .”
It didn’t take long for him to change his words again.
“No. If you get to that level, nothing would be impossible in the first place.”
Being the head of the denomination meant that I received strong support from all of the denominations.
He said that there were so many forces following him, so it seemed that he could easily push through nonsense.
because?
Because the will of the Pope was the will of the Church.
“Honestly, if I get to that level, there will be quite a few people who support me, so no matter how savvy the denomination is, it won’t be that difficult.”
“Then you’re saying it’s possible, if you become a pope?”
“Well, that’s it for now.”
As he spoke, Bishop Berkis had a very unwilling expression on his face.
“But in the first place, it’s not that easy for me to become a pope, is it? It seems to me that it is more difficult for me to become a pope than for Ismail to undress as a pagan.”
“Nothing in the world is impossible.”
Rockefeller asked again to confirm.
“Then I will ask the Bishop again. If I could seat you, the Bishop, in the seat of the Holy Father. Your Excellency, will you return the Ismail family to its former position as I wish?”
Before answering, Bishop Berkis had another question.
‘I don’t think there is any relationship.’
“Do you need a reason to save the Ismail family?”
Rockefeller did not hesitate to ask the question.
“of course. The resurrection of the Ismail family is absolutely necessary for me. First of all, only if the Ismail family survives, the second prince I have decided to push will ascend to the throne without any obstacles from the sect.”
Bishop Berkis, who had rekindled his previous memories, gave a rather interesting expression.
“Are you still planning on pushing the second prince?”
“Yes, that thought remains the same today. Your Excellency, think about it too. How much will we actually benefit if the first or third princes, who already have strong support from Tepez and Sinclair, ascend to the throne?”
Bishop Berkis, who had been thinking briefly, shook his head to see if he sympathized.
“Right. You are right. But can the second prince, who has no support for the two prominent princes, go out and win the war for the crown?”
Rockefeller let out a deep smile at those words.
“Why are there no supporters? I am the head of the Lyon Guild, and the bishop who will rise to a high position in the future will not support His Majesty the second prince like me.”
In an idea I never thought of.
The bishop just smiled.
“That is fun. Do I support the 2nd Prince? Even from a higher position than now?”
“Yes, it is quite possible. As you know, I have heard that the current Pope, Pope Felice III, is in very poor health.”
Before Rockefeller could speak, Bishop Berkis intervened with a bad expression on his face.
“I know that, but I don’t have much support within the denomination. No, it would be correct to say that there is none.”
“You don’t have to worry about your supporters.”
“You don’t have to worry about that? What are you trying to force my supporters to do?”
To the question asked like a joke.
Rockefeller responded in a rather serious tone.
“Yes, of course. I plan to create a supportive force from Your Excellency that is not within the denomination.”
“In what way?”
“It’s my job, so don’t worry too much. Your Excellency, you only need to keep your promises to me.”
“Do you mean to change the whole denomination’s position on Ismail? So that Ismail can revive like before.”
“Yes, that’s right. Only then will the empire be created the way I want it to be.”
“Hmm… … .”
After contemplating for a while, Bishop Berkis nodded his head to see if he understood.
“Good. If that’s possible, there’s nothing I can’t do. My promise to you, I swear before John. If you take me to that position. I’ll try my best for you too.”
Rockefeller’s secretary, who was quietly overhearing the conversation between the two, had a lot of feelings for her.
Someone who is not Ismail would do so much for Ismail’s revival.
Of course, he also had his wishes, but apart from that, it was clear that he was Ismail’s benefactor from heaven.