"Deputy Pope? Why? Aren't you enough?" Gabriel jumped up from his seat. "I'm not even a Grand Wizard… How can I…"
"Calm down, Gab." Sylvester poured a glass of water for his friend. "You won't be a Pope in the true sense but merely my proxy. I have no idea what I'll find once I get to the Demon Realm. We don't even know how big that world is, smaller than here? Bigger? Or similar? There are too many unknown variables, and we can't afford mismanagement in the Holy Land when I'm gone. Especially not now, when we are the direct rulers."
"What's the scope of my power?" Gabriel asked.
"Pope."
"..."
Almost on the verge of flipping the table, Gabriel sat down. "That's going to be a lot of work. Are you sure you're not just doing this to reduce your workload?"
"That's true," Sylvester straightforwardly confessed. "I need time to train and plan for whatever is approaching us. With so much going on, I can't be spending all my time inside this room, signing papers. I can, at best, help in decision-making, and the development of new inventions that can make life better for everyone."
"What about me?" Felix inquired. "I'm the Saint Viceman, and I still have no idea what my job description is."
"It's almost the same as the Deputy Pope. But, where Gabriel will handle the administration, the Holy Court, and the rest of internal decision-making, you, as the Saint Viceman, will be taking care of the security aspect of the whole continent. You can't wage wars, but you can investigate crimes, corruption, and conspiracies, and ensure a smooth decade of the world's development," Sylvester explained the distribution of responsibilities.
Over the past few months, he had seen that Felix was utterly wasted in administration and Holy Court, but his prowess in fieldwork was rather masterful. So, making them his right hand and left hand was the best possible solution.
"A decade?!" Gabriel exclaimed.
"I'm not planning on vanishing for that long, Gab. But after so many fundamental changes we've brought to the world, I feel like we need this much time for everything to normalize and become a way of life—"
"Absolutely! I never expected to be able to go to an Inn in Maximilia city and get hot, running water for a nice shower. I can even wipe my ass with hot water. And the royal bathroom in Isabella's castle is just…" Felix interrupted and kissed his finger loudly like a chef. "Our baths together are wonderful."
"..."
"..."
Sylvester and Gabriel both felt like kicking their dear friend in the balls, so he would stop talking about his married life. But, they held back at the pity, for the Gracia and Sandwall families needed revival.
"Go now. I'll make the official announcement to make a Deputy Pope in a few days. Focus on promoting peace, business, and public welfare. Remember, everyone is equal in the eyes of Solis, even those across the sea." Sylvester dismissed the two men and got back to work.
He had to consider every worst-case scenario and make counter plans for them, and more counter plans in case the previous ones failed, or gave an adverse aftereffect. The written material could be what would help Gabriel and Felix work when he's not there.
'Alrighty, Section One: How to kill someone without killing them. Sub-Section One… The Plot…'
It was a bit mundane for a Pope to spend so much time in his office, but with the changing world, this was precisely what the world needed—Competent Administrators.
At least until he decided to visit the two other southern continents.
…
Riveria, Southern Duchy, now known as the South River State, was filled with noise that day. The Trade Corridor, the secret behind Riveria's massive wealth, was about to see a new miracle of mankind, and the blessing of the Pope.
With the help of dragons and all of the dwarves combined, the lack of steel was changed into a surplus, and that meant an increased pace of construction. With earth elemental wizards being used and many more guilds based around construction using magic appearing, the developments of various projects picked up the pace.
However, the first modern miracle was about to be witnessed by the people after more than a year's worth of trials and testing.
For a long time, people of the South River State had seen wizards working to lay down strange metal lines with concrete blocks in between them. Heck, the entire track was built on an elevated track on viaducts as it passed through the busy places of the Trade Corridor.
But not just the people, even King Kaecilius and the newly appointed State Councilman of the South River State, Cardinal Cornelius, had appeared. The place was the Forge City of the Trade Corridor, a place filled with the constant sound of industrial activities. With new methods of forging and the dawn of techniques of using magic crystals to automate various tasks, the output had increased more than what roads and carts could handle.
"Do you know what it looks like?" Cardinal Cornelius asked excitedly. Being someone who had followed Sylvester for so many years, he knew firsthand it was something to be excited about.
"I have seen it once in the trials," Kaecilius stoically replied. "It's long, heavy, but surprisingly not as noisy. Its horn is quite something, however."
"Horn?" Cornelius instantly imagined a massive spike on the steel carriage. "Why a horn?"
"To keep the people away."
"Ah, makes sense. Scaring away people so they don't die." Cornelius still thought it would be a 'horn' like an animal.
"It's here!" Someone in the crowd shouted, and following that, the crowd at the station curiously turned to look.
The sounds continued to grow louder, confusing at the beginning, but soon it began to sound like thumps. Heavy and fast, it kept on coming closer. But eventually, they all noticed a steam cloud in the distance coming down from the viaduct.
Cornelius was at the forefront with the King and saw everything clearly. He turned into a happy little child in the excitement of the incoming metal beast, spewing out clouds of smoke, pure white in color.
However, he soon got confused as he failed to notice something. "Where is the horn?"
Choooo!
"Ah!" Cornelius realized at that point what horn was being talked about. "I still do feel scared."
Slowing down with time, and its clouds of steam calming out, the train eventually reached the station and proceeded to stop. Behind it were ten long and big carriages, out of which only two had places for people to sit, and the rest held goods.
"Interesting," King Kaecilius exclaimed and waited for the staff that came from the Holy Land to set up the inauguration ceremony for the train. Being a ceremonial King, Kaecilius was to cut the ribbon so the official operations on the train line could start.
The engine was painted deep black in color, while the passenger carriages were given wooden brown color, and the rest were boxcars for goods, similarly black in color. Some of them even had a little extra height, holding the ice elemental crystals, effectively turning the boxcars into cold storage.
Thud!
All of a sudden, all the eyes moved towards one of the strange boxcars. It was the only one with windows and double doors. However, soon the crowd sucked in a fearful breath, and anyone who had the slightest guilty conscience stepped back a few paces.
"L-Lo…" Even Cardinal Cornelius felt weak before this giant of a man clad in red armor, a red cape, and his massive metal staff. "Lord Inquisitor! Welcome to the South River State… May the Holy Light enlighten us!"
Lord Inquisitor looked around at the vast crowd of people. Surprisingly, there were faces of various Beastkins as well. From foxkins to lionkins, all standing shoulder to shoulder with humans.
'Only one man could have brought this. For such a man to be born in my lifetime—such bliss.' Lord Inquisitor's eyes, behind the visor, shined bright red, scaring the crowd.
"I'm here too, you know," a feminine voice came from behind Lord Inquisitor.
Cardinal Cornelius almost choked and bowed respectfully. "Guardian Aurora, how can I forget a respected one like you? I… I was just uninformed about this visit."
"You don't know anything about this train, so His Holiness sent us to give a speech and inform the masses of its uses," Aurora explained and snapped her fingers. A few Inquisitors traveling with them immediately came and placed a wooden podium near the steaming engine. "Lord Inquisitor will say a few words now."
The Inquisitor High Lord solemnly walked forward and faced the crowd of modern Sol with great reverence for Solis and respect for Sylvester in the heart. He raised his metal staff towards the crowd and started as his eyes burned in worship.
"Blood! That is what it costs to push this realm to greatness. To the history in the making, you stand here as a witness. Not a mere gadget but a blessing from the Pope. Not a tool, this is a culmination of all your hopes," Lord Inquisitor sounded utterly rageful, and his words began to take effect, filling the hearts of everyone there with pride and worship. "Merely a beginning, you were born in the most auspicious time. Do not waver, do not fall to the devil of mind, never commit a crime.
"For if you were to be a hindrance, I will be there to remind you of the cost of your interference. Beyond species, I stand indifferent. But I will not tolerate a world made by His Holiness—so magnificent. Now rejoice for this invention so refreshing—come and accept this blessing."
As soon as his last words came, the masses stood in attention as if they were soldiers, and some even clumsily saluted in the Church's way. Even the ones who didn't follow the faith of Solis strictly felt like throwing their life away and pledging to celibacy.
Aurora awkwardly kept smiling. 'Father, you were supposed to tell them about the train but… I guess this works too.'
Thank you for reading. Gifts and GT votes are highly appreciated.
