Holy Land Administration Building.
"Are you sure, Archpriest Felix? Once you do this, you will not be able to undo this decision. Therefore, I suggest you take a few more days to think about this."
"No, respected Saint Wazir, I have thought about this a lot and have made up my mind. This decision comes from my logical thinking and understanding of my limits." Felix respectfully talked while standing in front of Saint Seer's table.
The old man sighed and eventually stamped his seal on the application. "I wish you a great future, son. You may just be an Archpriest right now, but I can see you easily becoming a Cardinal one day… But I've heard you wish to leave the clergy one day?"
Felix embarrassingly looked down. "I… Saint… I do wish to have a family of my own someday."
"Haha, then there is no need to be ashamed of, Archpriest. After all, if all you strong ones become celibate, how will the strong bloodlines spread? But even then, you can surely become a Holy Grand Marshal of the Holy Army with your talents and lead the armies under the name of the Holy Father."
Felix saluted with his arms crossed. "Of course, respected Saint. My body and blade are always ready to move to ensure that the Lord's Light never diminishes. I have not and will never forget my oath."
Saint Wazir smiled heartily and gave back the parchment. "Good, I am happy to see young blood so motivated. You can go now. I'm sure you wish to see your brother in faith. He's inside room six-zero-nine on the sixth floor of this block."
"Nice! Thank you for giving me your time." Felix bowed his head and respectfully left the room.
After that, with a big smile, Felix climbed the stairs and soon arrived at Sylvester's office. It was a small room, and the name on the door clearly said Sanctum Inspector Sylvester Maximilian.
Felix had no shame, and he slammed the door open. "My brother from another beautiful mother! I have arrived. Now entertain me!"
"..."
Felix's shoulder fell as he noticed that Lady Aurora was also there. She was looking at him with her jaw half open and a piece of biscuit half in her mouth.
Sylvester grunted and called him in. "You know, I can legally call the guards and throw you out of this building."
Felix smiled and shut the door behind him before carelessly taking a seat. Then, he threw a parchment towards Sylvester. "Here you go, Max. No need to worry about me anymore."
Sylvester unfolded and read it in silence. His brows furrowed soon after, and he stared at the black-haired bloke, smiling widely as if feeling immense pride.
"Are you sure, Felix? Your father will not like this."
Felix scoffed and folded his arms. "He can eat my horse's ass. He is never satisfied, no matter what I do. I remember once I won the local melee tourney at the age of seven, defeating five new squires of some knight. My father shrugged and left, saying the men were nobodies and I shouldn't celebrate."
Sylvester still didn't feel it was right. "You should have at least waited a bit more. Taking back your name from the race of God's Favoured, you worked hard for it for nine whole years."
Felix shrugged. "Oh, I know I'm not favoured at all. Your head bloody shines when you sing. If you're not the true Favoured One, then I guess we should all just slit our throats and die. Don't think much about it, man. Just go and defeat the other three blokes too and take that Bishop rank."
Sylvester kept staring at Felix, knowing very well that the latter was doing it so he could move forward. 'This boy, he's too goofy most of the time, but when he does something good… It's too good.'
"Why the hurry, though?" Aurora asked. "It's not like you need to become the Pope tomorrow. Your number will likely come after the retirement of the next Pope. So, I'd say you still have nearly two hundred years to grow."
"What if I become a Supreme Wizard at an early age?" Sylvester asked in reply. "What if I'm still stuck at the rank of Bishop when that happens?"
Lady Aurora rubbed her chin. "Hmm… That's quite possible for you, seeing your speed. Then, perhaps, we might see a hundred-year-old Supreme Wizard, the youngest ever. Indeed, if that happens, then you not being the Pope would mean an insult to your power and prowess. After all, currently, the entire Church only has the Holy Father as a Supreme Wizard, so if you were to become one, that'd be a direct stride to the top throne."
'Actually, I was thinking about the age of twenty-five… But whatever.' Sylvester kept it to himself, knowing that he'd only be laughed at as he didn't know how he could become a Supreme Wizard so fast.
"That's why I wish to rise. Not to mention, according to my current achievements, I should already be an Archbishop, at least, and yet I am undervalued. It's like having a sword that can cut heads of the strongest foes and using it to spread butter on bread." Sylvester said and focused back on Felix.
"I called Lady Aurora today for you and Gabriel. She will be training you two when I'm busy with my work. I want Gab to reach the Diamond Knight rank as fast as possible and for you to reach Archwizard and Platinum Knight ranks. She's going to beat you, break you and then rebuild. Use as many Solarium Crystals as you need. Also, Lady Aurora, can you train mum and Isabella later? Both women are healers and losers when it comes to fighting." He requested her.
Lady Aurora grinned while looking at Felix and cracked her knuckles. "Oh, I get to punch a few bags? Hmm… I'm sure I will quite like training these two boys. As for the two ladies you mention, I will be as soft as a feather to them."
"I… I want feathers too." Felix muttered.
Aurora shook her head. "Are you a lady as well?"
Felix grunted and cursed at Sylvester. "Go to hell, Max! I shouldn't have come here."
Sylvester waved his hand and bid farewell. "Bye now. Please train well and rise in the ranks alongside me. I need friends I can count on… if I want to maintain peace."
Felix's expression turned serious for a few seconds. "Fine… Do whatever you want with me, my lady. I shan't mind… My body is all yours."
"Alright, let's have the tolerance training first," Aurora said as she started to leave.
"What's that?" Felix asked.
"Simple, I will punch, and you have to try not to cry."
"..."
"That's just abuse!"
"Part of the training, youngling. Come now, or I might forget to hold my strength back."
"..."
Sylvester knew Felix was cursing him as he left, but he didn't worry about him much. He knew that Aurora was… likely… joking. So, he focused on his work.
The interaction between him and the Pope left him feeling that just knowing the map won't do anymore. So, he went to the special library. From there, he picked as many books as possible recommended by Aurora and a few others to learn about the world's history.
"But… I'm afraid this has to wait. The appointment with that slave seller is in an hour." He told himself and started packing all his items to throw them into the extra-dimensional bag.
"Chonky, stop sleeping all the time, or you'll truly get fat. Now, move. We have a human to purchase… and free. We'll also see a patch of land near the entrance to the Holy Land to buy."
Officially, he was going to check the Holy Land's entrance and exit as he was responsible for overseeing that part of the Season of Solis.
This time, he used an official work stagecoach that was heavily decorated and appeared posh.
'Hmm… I'm close to finishing up Devil's Manifesto. But I can certainly not ask someone to make hundreds of its copies as that'd take a lot of time. Is it time I build that crude, first mass printing press machine—Gutenberg's printing press? Building it is absolutely simple, as is the ink… But how to keep it a secret and operate it? I can't allow the world to know I've got something so revolutionary, or I'd be seen as Church's enemy number one.'
As he thought, his eyes fell on Miraj, who slept on his lap. "Chonky, want to increase a banana per week?"
Miraj opened his eyes slightly and looked at his face. "W-What must I do?"
"Nothing much, just the use of your amazing devouring belly. Both of us are going to change the world with that, trust me." He cheered up the cat.
Miraj merely yawned and went back to sleep. "Anything you say, Maxy."
Sylvester, elated with the agreement, looked forward to this land visit. He hoped to get it done as quickly as possible and start building the house so that he could conduct his 're-education' activities from underground.
Soon, he arrived at the exit gates where the long line of pilgrims was as evident as a few days ago. But, this time, everyone saluted his carriage as it officially belonged to the Administrative department—The bosses of all other departments.
'I'll look at the gates after returning.' He made a mental note and proceeded as he had planned the meeting.
So, just after crossing the tunnel out of the Holy Land, he turned left onto the Gold Road. However, the carriage stopped merely a kilometre after turning to the left. On one side was a patch of forest, and on the other was the Gold River.
Yes, he was looking at an empty patch of land very close to the entrance to the Holy Land. And the one selling him was none other than the Baron of the region—Lee Da Loveland—The artist.
The old, white-bearded man in a beautiful silk tunic was waiting for him by the road on a horse. And the moment Sylvester appeared, he happily chirped. "Greetings, Lord Bard… I'm quite pleased to make your acquaintance for the third time."
"May the Holy Light enlighten us, my lord. And I'm afraid I will soon be disturbing you regularly. So, shall we go and check the land parcel? How far into the forest is it?"
Baron Lee Da Loveland chuckled and presented a patch of empty land visible beside the dense forest right from the road. "You're looking at it, Lord Bard. This patch was made clear by me to sell to a trader once, but the deal never went through. Everyone is afraid of taking it since it sits too close to the Holy Land's entrance, and we know how powerful the people who pass by this patch are—Every buyer is too scared."
However, where fear prevailed, Sylvester's greed was unveiled. 'This is bloody perfect! Close to the Holy Land and far enough to do my work. This is brilliant!'
The Baron continued. "Forgive me for my next words, but I am a trader by nature, so the best discount I can gi–"
"I'll buy it!"
"..."
"What? But the cost is fifty thousand Gold Graces!"
Sylvester shrugged. "Did I stutter?"
500 GT = 1 Bonus chapter.
1 Super Gift = 1 Bonus chapter.
Ape Together Strong
