Chapter 674 - 1: Pope
Like a benevolent father.
If there was one thing that didn’t quite fit, it would probably be his neck.
Though covered by the collar of his white robe, it was still faintly visible that Gregory III had a scar on his neck, seemingly a knife wound.
The existence of that scar was like a hidden past, an untold story.
No one knew who had left that scar on the neck of this iron-blooded Pope; no one ever dared to ask.
"Is the progress in East Asia going smoothly?"
Gregory III slowly put down his hand, looked at Lamar Aihai, and said peacefully, "Although Hecate was somewhat reckless at first, causing damage to the Church’s reputation, the follow-up actions were decent, taking advantage of internal conflicts to occupy the mysterious Kunlun pantheon...
Although I haven’t personally witnessed this divine system, it’s probably no worse than the Roman pantheon.
I am quite interested in it, especially after the so-called Celestial Punishment Weapon emerged, capable of nurturing someone like Xia Yue, nurturing a weapon like the Celestial Punishment, the Kunlun pantheon..."
Looking at Gregory III becoming more engrossed in his speech.
Even though he repeatedly warned himself not to tremble.
But Lamar Aihai couldn’t help it, his whole body trembled as he spoke, interrupting shakily, "Your Holiness the Pope... Hecate has failed."
"..."
Gregory III abruptly stopped speaking.
His gaze focused, slowly turning toward the bowed head of Lamar Aihai, eyes seemingly piercing through his flesh straight to his heart.
In an instant.
Lamar Aihai felt as if his heart and Stone were being fiercely grasped by an invisible large hand.
He couldn’t help but breathe heavily, "I beg Your Holiness the Pope for forgiveness."
Gregory III remained silent for a moment, then calmly asked, "What do you mean... failed?"
"Hecate, Karen Otting, Schneider... are dead."
Even in fear, Lamar Aihai could only tell the truth, "Igli Saba has been sentenced to death by human law... and will be executed within seven days."
"..."
Upon hearing this, Gregory III fell silent once again, then asked, "Why?"
"...I don’t know."
Sweat was pouring on Lamar Aihai’s forehead, trembling more violently, "What happened during the process, no information has come out; all that is known is that the Holy Coffin Knights were completely annihilated.
And one person, one name, has become the hero throughout the Celestial Strategy Mansion... Chen Lusi."
"Chen Lusi... the rumored creator of the Celestial Punishment Weapon?"
"Yes."
"He defeated Hecate?"
"Not only... Hecate herself, but also Hecate’s Source Canon confirmed to have fallen."
"..."
Gregory III maintained a benevolent and kind demeanor... even upon suddenly hearing news of failure, he remained calm and serene.
But at this moment, hearing this, he finally couldn’t help it, his pupils slightly contracted.
Lamar Aihai lowered his head even further.
At that moment.
He wanted to kill Hecate once more.
Twice!
Twice!!!
The first time, confidently assured that the invasion would present no issues, yet led to Igli Saba being captured alive!
The second time, confidently assured of mastering the Kunlun pantheon, yet resulted in complete annihilation!
A total of five Holy Coffin Knights!
And the prosecution was carried out smoothly!
This is beyond mere failure!
...The invincible golden body of this iron-blooded Pope, has already been shaken!
He wanted to ask more than Gregory III.
Why?
Damn it!
Why with all the advantages of time and place, still end in failure!?
Are you a pig!!?
"Lamar."
After a brief silence.
Gregory III finally spoke again.
He calmly asked, "You should know what this means, right?"
Lamar Aihai snapped back to his senses and replied with difficulty, "...I understand."
But Gregory III seemed not to hear Lamar Aihai’s words, speaking to himself, "First, many ignorant believers will think the Church is not omnipotent, they will hesitate, will shirk, will think I’m old."
"...Yes."
While Gregory III could pretend not to hear, Lamar Aihai could not. He had to muster the courage and speak with extreme difficulty, "They’ve already done so... before I came, Bern had told the diplomatic affairs team to delay advancing the Roman Catholic Church as the state religion.
Clearly, they have already heard the news... learned of Hecate’s complete annihilation in the distant East."
But Gregory III still seemed not to hear Lamar Aihai’s words, continuing, "Secondly, the most powerful country in America will again lean towards the Hebrews.
Because we did not solve the Celestial Strategy Mansion as promised... even failed, tarnishing the reputation.
In contrast, the Hebrews, who did nothing and made no mistakes, are more favorable."
Lamar Aihai shivered: "..."
"Then."
Gregory III calmly continued, "The credibility and sanctity of the entire Roman Catholic Church will suffer a major blow, after all, if even the Holy Coffin Knights can be judged by human law, then I, as Pope... might also be judged."
Lamar Aihai’s head was already as low as possible, completely silent.
"Lastly."
Gregory III paused, "Those remnants of the old Roman pantheon who have fallen to the mortal world will see hope, feel they’ve found ’backers’, and will rebound more madly.
Lamar.
All of this... everything I have created over nearly twenty years, is on the verge of collapsing due to your failure."
Lamar Aihai prostrated directly on the ground, in a trembling voice, "I beg... for Your Holiness the Pope’s forgiveness."
"..."
Gregory III looked down at Lamar Aihai, gently touching the scar on his neck, lost in thought.
Lamar Aihai’s forehead was pressed firmly against the ground, not daring to make any sound.
After a long time.
Gregory III finally moved his gaze away, turned, and said, "Messenger."
The head guard, who had initially stopped Lamar Aihai, immediately stepped forward.
"Go to Bern, and kill all the Empowerers within Bern, regardless of age or status, not leaving a single one."
The guard, dressed in a brightly colored uniform, responded without any expression, "Yes."
Gregory III continued to instruct, "Next, go kill the Anointed One of the Hebrews in North America, inform the diplomatic affairs team, I want to visit North America."
"Yes."
"Let the Evangelism Department prepare to temporarily suppress this incident, not allowing too much noise in the short term."
"Yes."
"Lastly, inform the Holy Pardon Institute and the Eastern Church Department, have the former locate the remnants of the old Roman pantheon Jupiter and Minerva as quickly as possible, and have the latter prepare a list, a list to replace Hecate and others."
"Yes."
"..."
After giving all the instructions, Gregory III turned back to look at the Cardinal Lamar Aihai.
Lamar Aihai, trembling, sensed the gaze but still did not dare to move, prostate on the ground.
He had heard everything just now.
In a few words.
An entire city’s Empowerers, an Anointed One, had become sacrifices.
Always the same.
No matter how amiably Gregory III acted, in essence... remained the iron-blooded Pope.
He would never allow anyone to challenge him, to challenge the Roman Catholic Church.
"Igli Saba... that black fellow, will be executed in seven days, is it too late?"
"Yes... the Celestial Strategy Mansion has already accomplished its goal, it won’t make any high-profile moves anymore, even if I go personally, I might not be able to stop it."
"Hmm, then let him proceed to the Celestial Kingdom."
Gregory III nodded, then touched the scar on his neck again, casually saying, "However, Igli Saba can die, but as a symbol, the Holy Coffin Knight Black Sun cannot die, you choose one.
Ise Jingu... or Mujin New Church, let one of these organizations be the price, and then, in the name of Black Sun Igli Saba, welcome the Great Angel’s descent.
Go tell the world that the Holy Coffin Knight Black Sun Igli Saba did not die because of judgment, he will, in the near future, represent the Celestial Kingdom and deliver judgment."
"..."
Upon hearing this, Lamar Aihai’s face changed dramatically, but he still managed to suppress a shout, merely lowering his head, "...Yes."
Gregory III slowly put down the hand touching his neck and gazed eastward, "So now... let’s talk about Chen Lusi, who is about to face judgment."