Sylvester had to stop for a few minutes before he could say anything. He had lost all hope that something like this could be achieved, and he had spent money like it was water on the past hundreds of experiments that Healer Hendrix did.
"Are you sure? Have you tried testing it?" Sylvester asked again, just to be sure.
Hunter Hendrix, usually calm and relaxed, showed a big smile and gave a thumbs-up. "Of course! I tested the treatment on a blind cat, giving that cat the eyes of another cat that had just died. The test was successful!"
"Hisss!"
All of a sudden, Miraj, on Sylvester's shoulder, stood up and hissed in anger. Miraj was likely an experimented cat and knowing another cat was suffering probably triggered the usually good boy.
Sylvester clarified everything. "So you used an already blind cat instead of turning a cat blind?"
"I'm not a monster, Bard. I can't ever hurt those pesky little cute creatures. I gave this cat a new life by giving her new eyes. I'm adopting her now, however." Hunter Hendrix said as he walked over to a covered cage and removed the quilt. Inside it was a pretty ginger cat sleeping finely.
Sylvester patted Miraj discreetly to calm him down and let him go to check on the sleeping cat.
"So, you are ready to try human experiments now?" Sylvester asked, interestedly, already trying to think of where he'd bring subjects for testing from. "And how confident are you?"
Hunter Hendrix scoffed in anger, being easy to annoy. "Boy, I've given my life and high talent to the art of healing instead of fighting. So be mindful of what you ask. Yes! I am confident in healing any man's eyes now as long as I have spare eyes. So if you bring me the human eye, I will test it out."
Sylvester rubbed his chin and thought about it. "We should be testing on normal eyes first, as we can't afford to waste the eyes with Future Sight. Come with me."
Sylvester walked out of the room. The labyrinth was well made at that point with cemented smooth walls, lights and a floor, along with various runes for air, heating and locking doors. There were even many alerting runes for anti-intrusion.
He opened one of the rooms he had access to and allowed Healer Hendrix to enter.
Blink!
As soon as they stepped inside, the various light crystals on the ceiling activated through the numerous runes, revealing the vast walls of dozens of wooden racks with multiple levels. On each shelf were jars of glass with some water inside and... eyes.
"T-This!" Healer Hendrix exclaimed in shock. "So many eyes... There are at least a few thousand. Where did you get them, Bard?"
Sylvester shrugged and walked over to pick a few eyes. "It wasn't just Duke Daemon whose eyes I took back then, Healer. I was angry back then because Daemon had caused someone close to me to lose his eyes."
Healer Hendrix said nothing about it, however. The man had likely seen many other atrocities in his long lifetime, so this was nothing. "What about humans to experiment on?"
"I will speak with the Inquisitors to lend us some blind prisoners. Once we know the treatment works, we will help a few blind people from nearby villages to earn some goodwill. When we have complete confidence, we shall give the Future Sight eyes to Sir Dolorem." Sylvester planned.
Healer Hendrix looked at Sylvester with eyes of confusion. "I thought you'd be interested in attaining them."
Sadly, Sylvester could not. "I wish to, but Daemon's eyes are not golden, and you should know that golden eyes are important to my image. So, I shall give those eyes to the man I trust the most."
"Are you certain he won't backstab you? The promise you gave me and my wife that you will create a world for all to exist in peace -- I don't want you to die before you fulfil that, Bard."
Sylvester chuckled and felt a strange weight on his shoulders. He was but a single man, but the expectations from him were such that any sane man would simply quit and live in seclusion. But he had to do this because he wanted to become the Pope. To earn his peace, just sitting at the top was not enough, as the top seat was just the tool to initiate real peace.
"That man nearly gave his life for me twice, Healer. Anyway, let's get back to the discussion. When do you need these human subjects?"
"As soon as possible, even today if you can. But I reckon it'll take at least a week, so I shall prepare for a mass experiment in the meantime. So, if you have nothing to ask, I shall return to my research room."
Sylvester followed the man and locked the eye room behind him. But he did ask the man something. "Healer Hendrix, do you know how Blood Contracts work?"
The old Healer stopped and looked back. "Why do you wish to know that?"
"In times like these, loyalty is sold and bought for nothing. It's hard to check who's real and who is bluffing." Sylvester replied.
A few seconds later, the old Healer sighed and entered his laboratory. "Come with me if you wish to learn it. Contrary to what people believe, a blood contract has nothing to do with a piece of paper. But it has everything to do with one's blood.
"There are a few limitations to this sort of contract too. For example, a blood contract can only be put on someone weaker than you. That means you can not make a Supreme Wizard your slave just because you tricked them into the contract. They can easily overpower and break the contract magic with their stronger magic."
"How is a blood contract placed?" Sylvester inquired while keeping a portable notepad in his hand.
Healer Hendrix took a parchment and started drawing on it with a charcoal stick. "First, it requires the blood of both parties. Next, mix that blood and draw this specific rune on any piece of paper. After that, the stronger party shall imbue their solarium in the rune and activate it.
"If the rune scheme disappears, it was successful. After that, you can use normal ink to write the terms on the paper and then get the weaker party to sign with a blood print of all their hand's fingers to finish the contract."
Sylvester's mind raced with many ideas. He could use the contract on his servants working in his shop or future subordinates. He could make a contract with most of them except Lady Aurora and perhaps Bishop Lazark if the man was stronger.
"What about the penalty for breaking the contract?" He inquired.
"You write that down too." Healer Hendrix said. "It comes out as a curse instead of something too magical. The curse activates once the contract signer breaks the contract. The penalties can range from death to memory loss."
'This is even better than what I expected. But it does have some limitations, it appears.'
"Can a third party break the contract? Perhaps a wizard that is even stronger than the contract creator?"
Healer Hendrix nodded. "Of course, it's possible. That's why one of the most important parts of the terms is the clause of secrecy."
'Then, Winter Ghost's contract didn't have the secrecy clause as he told me about it.'
There were still a few doubts, so he needed to research it more before trying to implement it.
"Thank you for the help, Healer. I will inform you when I get the test subjects ready." Sylvester bid his farewell and went out to meet with the shop's staff and boost their morale.
...
At the same time, inside the Holy Land, an important meeting was called forth in urgency.
In the Administrative Building, inside the arena, thirty-two cardinals and the Pope sat around a large round table. All had confused faces besides a few, as they didn't know why the urgent meeting was called.
"I called the Supreme Council today." The Pope spoke once everyone had arrived and had taken their seats. "We have convened to discuss the future of the faith, as one of the biggest diseases that plagued our continent has been solved. The barbarians, once so savage and untamed, have been tamed by the hand of the Favoured Child, Bard of Solis, Sylvester Maximilian."
This time, the Pope took an active approach and spoke as a matter of fact instead of a suggestion. His voice alone made most of the Cardinals move in their seats uncomfortably.
"Then, is this meeting about what to do with the northern mountains?" One of the Cardinals asked.
"No, you need to worry about that." The Pope didn't even look at the man. "We are here to vote on the promotion of Sylvester Maximilian -- officially."
Murmurs from some protests came out but didn't become loud as the Cardinals started speaking to the other Cardinals on their sides.
"Ehm!" Suddenly a Cardinal stood up. "Your holiness, if I may have the permission to speak."
"Go ahead, Cardinal Cornelius." The Pope allowed it.
Cardinal Cornelius cleared his throat and started speaking. "Among all of you here, perhaps I spent the most time with the Bard. He was there when I was the Cardinal Suprima of Ironstone. His wits, his magic, his grace and his versatility are unmatched. There has not been a single mission in which he failed as a Sanctum Inspector.
"Not only did he do his tasks, but he also invented things that saved lives and continue to do so. Go to the sick bay in the Holy Land and ask the name of the Bard to anyone. All the healers will speak with joy, for the invention of injection needles and intravenous saline has made saving lives much easier. He has alone saved a village in the desert with new ways of farming -- He solved a plague at the age of five, for Solis' sake.
"If that man, Sylvester Maximilian, does not deserve the promotion, then none of us deserve to sit here. If we object to his young age, then I say this... It's better that a genius be young than old, for the young shall invent for years to come. Lord Bard's young age is advantageous for the church, not the other way!"
Clap!
Clap!
Cardinal Robert Smith, a Cardinal Sylvester placed on the supreme council, started clapping, and many followed suit, including the Pope and the entire Sanctum Council. That move instantly put pressure on all of the Cardinals who were against Sylvester.
"Let us vote then!" The Pope said.
"I vote in favour of promotion!" Cardinal Cornelius raised his hand first, followed by Cardinal Smith.
"I approve!" Saint Seer responded. With him, the rest of the Sanctum Council approved it too.
One after another, even those who hated Sylvester to the core raised their hands and voted to promote him. That way, in a few minutes, all thirty-two votes were cast, and all said yes.
At that moment, one of the Cardinals that disliked Sylvester spoke. "I believe Cardinal Cornelius is right. He has achieved so much. We should encourage him by making him a Bishop."
Thud!
The Pope suddenly slammed his fist on the table, gaining everyone's attention. His face had a big sly smile, but the gaze was deadly.
His voice was heavy and hoarse, and he cleared his throat before speaking. "Wait a moment. I never said I wish to promote young Bard to the rank of Bishop -- I wish to make him an Archbishop!"
And chaos erupted.
1000 GT = 1 Bonus chapter.
1 Super Gift = 1 Bonus chapter.
Ape Together Strong
