Chapter 93 Hope Blue Diamond (Ten)

◎ Differences (Part 1)◎

A frenzy of enthusiasm swept through Florence.

This trend can be traced back to more than a hundred years ago, when the powerful Papal States that stretched across the world still existed.

As the world's religious leader - and also a de facto political giant - the rise of the Holy See has not been smooth.

On the most taboo bookshelf in the Vatican's library, there is a brief record of the rise of the Holy See. In the first year of the Catholic calendar, it is said that was the year when the incarnation of the Holy Lord was born. But hasn't anyone ever wondered what the world was like before the first year of the Catholic calendar, when the Holy See did not yet exist?

The ancient and tattered cowhide records cruel and naked facts. At that time, faith was a confusing and ambiguous word. Everyone could use it to make profits for themselves. Various religions and sects were mixed together like soft vegetable leaves and rice grains stewed in vegetable porridge. They greedily and fiercely bit each other to compete for believers and the wealth in their hands. The Holy See - which did not have this name at the time, was just one of them.

But there were some clever men among them, some special geniuses - thieves, magicians, eccentric doctors, and sophists.

These professions were born much earlier than the powerful ancient Roman Empire. They came together and suddenly came up with an idea in their difficult lives.

Maybe it was just to get the necessities of life, maybe it was just to kill the long and boring time. In short, one of them had a flash of inspiration and said something that changed the world - or a lie.

"Let us create a God," they said.

A thousand years later, the Holy See built on this lie became a behemoth. They spread the name of the Holy Lord and spread His glory to every corner of the world. When the Syracuse Peninsula became a vassal state of God, all kings prostrated themselves under the Pope's seat. The succession of each monarch needed the approval of the Pope to be legal. All wealth and interests were completely divided up, and people turned their eyes to the distant ocean to the east.

The Assyrian cavalry has conquered the continent at the end of the Black Sea. They are eyeing the Syracuse Peninsula covetously. The doctrines they believe in have had the same deterrent power as the Holy See over a long period of time. Even the high degree of aggressiveness in the Assyrian national characteristics makes them eager to reach out to the Black Sea. It is like two tigers in their prime staring at each other, and one day they will have to decide the winner.

In response to popular expectations, the monarch on the Holy See launched a campaign that swept across the entire Syracuse Peninsula.

History calls this massive war, which lasted for nearly half a century, the "Sacred War."

The blade of war was aimed at Assyria on the other side of the Black Sea. Under the banner of eliminating pagans, spreading the holy name, and saving the suffering people, the war began vigorously.

The Knights held up the golden lily flag of the Holy See and trekked across mountains and rivers to the sea. Soldiers from other countries continued to join them along the way. The king brought his guards, the duke led his personal guards, the lord brought his knights... This was a carnival for the entire Syracuse Peninsula, where the secular and the sacred were strangely integrated and unified. All differences and contradictions disappeared in the face of greater interests. Their only goal was the rich empire flowing with gold and honey.

The half-century-long "Holy War" did not produce a definite outcome, but it brought a large amount of gold and mineral resources to the Holy See and the Syracuse Peninsula, and further promoted the technological development of the Papal States. Gas lamps and railways were invented at this time and quickly entered the homes of wealthy people. Steam armor also had a rough prototype at this time and became an invincible killing weapon on the battlefield.

With the help of the "Holy War", the Holy See quickly became the undisputed spiritual leader of the Syracuse Peninsula. No monarch dared to confront the authority of the Pope. At that time, the orders issued from Florence were more powerful than those of the king. The Pope actually brought people food to fill their stomachs and property to make life more comfortable. Even in the most remote villages, people loved the Holy See as they loved their fathers. They might not know who was sitting on the throne, but they would never not know what the title of the Pope of Florence was.

Not only the lower-class soldiers who participated in the war, but also the nobles gained countless things from it. Many poor people joined the gentry class through the Holy War, and the reshuffle of power also allowed many people to stand at a higher position - most of the big figures who are still active on the stage in this century are the beneficiaries of that war.

Naturally, they were eager to experience another battle like this so that they could gain the same glorious glory as their ancestors.

Unlike the previous sacred war, they now do not need to face a unified and powerful Assyrian Empire. Their enemy is unprecedentedly weak. The country is in chaos and fragmentation, but it possesses rich resources that are unmatched by the Syracuse Peninsula. The gold and minerals accumulated by the empire for hundreds of years attract them like the cream on the cake. The huge wealth is enough to drive every rational person crazy.

Not to mention, they now have a legitimate reason to send troops - this is the decisive factor that urges them to take that step.

"This must be the will of the Holy Lord." Someone proudly declared at a family banquet.

This sentence quickly became a consensus among many people. ↘

Weak enemies, abundant wealth, appropriate reasons, everything is just right, to the point that it would be ignorant not to reach out and pick the fruits.

"Go to Assyria!" This slogan began to spread in the Papal States.

"We want a sacred war! We want to wash away the shame of the past!" This was the response of countless people.

Julius caught the abnormality of this frenzy. It was originally created by him, but there was another hand fanning the flames behind the scenes. That person cleverly proposed the sacred war, distorting the concept of "Assyria and the Papal State are as close as one family" that he originally wanted to instill in people into hatred and war. Driven by interests, war is obviously more popular than being as close as one family.

It is easy to imagine who wanted to stop Raphael from owning both the Papal States and Assyria.

Julius sneered and ignored the crazy muttering and fanatical shouting.

He pondered for a while, and a cold tide appeared in the deep purple pupils behind the lenses. This tide belonged to the patriarch of Portia who single-handedly sent the abandoned son of the exile to the throne of the Pope. After cutting off all the thin emotions, there was only the coldness of carving out every inch of interests and putting them on the scale for careful consideration.

If there were someone here now, they would find that this look is so similar to that of the monarch on the throne.

Julius opened the drawer and pulled out a thick piece of letter paper. He dipped his feather pen into the peacock green ink and wrote a line of fluent and gorgeous cursive on the paper. The special invitation paper was very thick and the ink quickly seeped into the fibers. Julius signed his name at the end, stamped it with his personal seal, and raised his hand to knock on the gold bell on the table.

Footsteps were heard at the door. Julius, without even looking up, put the invitation on the table and pushed it over. He said to his secretary, "Sprinkle it with gold foil and send it out this afternoon."

He waited for a while, but there was no movement nearby, the letter was not taken away, and there was no response from the secretary. Julius paused, slowly raised his head from the document, cast a serious gaze at the person who came, frowned, and then replaced it with a reserved and cold smile.

"…Your Excellency the Knight Commander."

Julius lowered his eyelids and quickly scanned Leshert's body, assessing his physical condition, and then politely asked, "You don't look like you're fit to get out of bed yet. I'm sorry I didn't visit you in time - but I think you should have received the condolences sent by the Portia family - what did the doctor say?"

His words were polite and gentle, the kind of rhetoric most commonly used by the Secretary General of the Papal Palace, and were not considered rude in any occasion, although where no one could see, Julius' hand had already reached for his belt - there was a sharp dagger inside.

It wasn’t that he was suspicious, but Lesherte’s current appearance was too abnormal. Even Julius, who was familiar with the Knight Commander’s nature, couldn’t help but be surprised.

It was obvious that Leshet's injuries had not healed yet. When Julius was taking care of Raphael who was in a coma due to a high fever, he also received a report from the doctor of the Knight Commander. The doctor confirmed that the Knight Commander had many wounds on his body. Although these wounds did not constitute a fatal factor due to the Knight Commander's good physical fitness, they were enough to keep him in bed for a month.

But now only half a month has passed, and it is still far from the time when Leshert can get out of bed and walk freely.

Not to mention that his face was extremely pale, just like Raphael's. The fitted shirt wrapped around him concealed his muscle lines, and he was not wearing armor but only a long stiff silk coat, shirt, and breeches.

The Knight Commander looked no different from any other nobleman of good family background, except that his outstanding abstinence and self-discipline made him stand out, especially with his blond hair and deep green eyes...

Julius had to admit that after taking off the Knight Commander's cold and ruthless aura, such a Knight Commander would still have an enduring reputation even among the arrogant Florentine ladies.

It’s just that the handsome knight commander’s face now looks very ugly—not only is it pale due to the illness, but also because of the depression brought by emotions.

Praise the Holy Lord, Julius sighed in his heart. He is indeed a pious and upright knight commander who holds himself to the strict Ten Laws. Even when he is angry, he is so polite.

“You seem to be in a bad mood. Is there anything I can help you with?” Julius deliberately put himself in a position of knowing nothing, and at the same time began to frantically think of the reasons that could make the good-tempered and tolerant Knight Commander rush to his office despite his illness.

After some thought, I found nothing.

This made Julius feel somewhat puzzled.

“I need the truth, an… answer.” Leshert placed one hand on Julius’ desk. His voice remained unchanged, even as gentle as usual. However, the gentler it was, the more one could sense the unquestionable sense of oppression.

Julius leaned back in his chair calmly, clasped his hands together, looked at him for a long moment, raised his hand and gently swung the chair across the table: "This sounds like a big topic - please take a seat, sir."

Leshert rejected him coldly: "This is not a very complicated issue, Mr. Secretary General."

"Just answer two questions for me."

Julius kept his warm smile and uttered a single sound from his throat: “Hmm?”

"First," Leshert asked, "Your Majesty, is he the illegitimate son of Saint Vitalian III and Queen Amenra?"

He looked at Julius steadily, not wanting to miss any tiny change in his expression. Julius was even more calm than him. The Secretary General did not even hesitate or pause for a moment: "Your description is wrong, Your Excellency. As the spokesperson for the Papal Palace, I need to correct you on one point."

Julius said: "Your Majesty Saint Sistine I, his biological father is Vitalian III, and his biological mother is Queen Amenra. Before he was born, the two Excellencies had signed a marriage certificate, so the Holy See is undoubtedly their legitimate eldest son."

Leshert looked at him, his deep green eyes like a foggy forest in the early morning. The morning mist felt cold against one's skin. "Second question, is there a war?"

Julius' eyelids twitched, and he narrowed his eyes slightly, examining Lesherte: "Who told you what?"

Leshert still had that stiff expression.

After a moment of silence, Julius replied, "Perhaps, but this is something that only the Holy See can decide."

Leshert looked at him. "For what?"

Julius: "For everything he deserves."

The Secretary General of the Papal Palace asked calmly, "Why don't you ask His Majesty these questions? He is the one who has the most correct answers."

The Knight Commander stood up straight. Long-term rigorous training had made the upright posture engraved in his bones. Even a casual movement made him have a hardness that was completely different from that of a noble like Julius.

The upright and compassionate Knight Commander whispered: "I don't know, I might..."

The voice behind him became vague, and Julius did not hear it clearly, but he saw the struggle that flashed in Leshert's eyes.

I might be a little scared, thought the always fearless Knight Commander, I am a little scared to hear an answer that is not what I expected, I am scared to hear plunder, desire, killing, greed.

The Knights Templar are the Pope's shield and spear, but as the person who wields this weapon, he actually began to fear it.

This does not mean that his devotion to the Pope has been shaken. On the contrary, he is more afraid than anyone else that he will be shaken.

Julius observed him quietly. The Portia patriarch, who was always good at analyzing human nature, didn't know what he saw from his silence. For a moment, Julius' eyes were colder than ever before, and there was even a hint of murderous intent in them, which quickly disappeared before Leshert noticed.

“You seem to be doubting yourself,” Julius said in a calm voice, and a cold smile appeared on the corner of his lips. “I suggest you go to see His Majesty and ask him your questions. If you are really as you say, firm, upright, and always dare to face your inner fears, knight.”

There was a certain hardness in his tone, and before Leshert could even react, Julius rang the bell on the table again—this time it was finally his secretary who came in.

"Tell Your Majesty that His Excellency Knight Commander Lesherte wants to see you immediately, and I think it is necessary for Your Majesty to meet him."

Julius' tone was cold and hard. He had Leshet half-supported and half-forced out of his office with an unyielding aura. During this process, for some reason, Leshet did not refuse.

So, with the smooth path opened up by Julius, Leshert successfully met the Pope who had been secluded for more than half a month.

The young Pope was sitting by the fountain, basking in the sun. The golden sunlight sprinkled on him, and the light spots that passed through the tree branches danced lightly on his hair. The water droplets from the fountain were like jumping pearls, splashing vividly in the pool. The Pope with his eyes closed was like a sleeping elf, quietly waiting for someone who could wake him up from his dream.

Leshert's pace slowed down.

He suddenly remembered that it was a similar situation when he met His Majesty once. The young Pope was sleeping quietly in front of the oriel window behind the curtain, waiting eternally and peacefully for a voice that could wake him up. Who has the honor to be that person? Someone who is unique and considered an exception?

If this person exists, he will definitely be envied and even hated by everyone.

This thought flashed through his mind quickly, and then he met the beautiful lavender eyes. The Pope woke up from his doze, and there was a thin layer of water in his eyes, as if a cat who had just woken up was lazily looking at the world, arrogantly thinking about whether to condescend to put down his feet.

The author has something to say:

Tomorrow is my death day. Morning reading, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven classes, plus two and four in the evening... Is this a feat that a human can accomplish? ! !