Chapter 356 The Pope's Assistance

"What the Pope wants is the Legion of Christ." Luca murmured while sitting in the water.

At this time, the waiter brought an iron plate, which was carved with exquisite patterns. On it were three silver cups filled with wine. The waiter was very skilled. He squatted slightly and handed the wine glasses to Leo I, Luca, and finally Andrew in turn.

"Try it. The wine of Edessa is a treasure. Ordinary nobles cannot drink such a delicacy." Leo I said. He held the wine glass very elegantly and took a sip gracefully like a true nobleman. Fine wine and warm water, this wonderful enjoyment made him feel extremely comfortable.

He felt comfortable, but Luka was not so happy. He held the wine glass but had no intention of drinking it. It was as if the wine was filled with knives, and if he tilted his head back to take a sip, it would cut his throat and esophagus.

This was an extremely difficult decision. For a legion formed by Christians, who would be the real commander? Luca now regretted that he had told Leo I about his intentions so early. Now, he was the one who felt uncomfortable, but he could not pretend to be embarrassed on the surface. If Pope Leo I saw some clues, the situation would be difficult to say.

"What's wrong, Master Luca?" Leo I saw that Luca didn't move, so he held the wine glass towards Luca and asked him, "What's wrong? It seems that this wine is not to your taste?"

"Oh, no, no, no, how could that be?" Luca smiled, symbolically raised the wine glass to gesture to Leo I, and raised his head to drink the wine in his glass.

“It’s delicious!”

Feeling the wine in the glass slowly flowing down his esophagus, Luga felt completely relaxed after drinking it.

"How are you thinking, Master Luca?"

But this feeling only lasted for a moment, and Leo I's sudden question made Luca's heart tighten again.

"Oh, no." Luca said to Leo I with a smile, "I'm just a little curious. In my impression, Christians should be abstinent and strict with themselves. I didn't expect that the Pope would like bathing or many other hobbies that I don't understand. This gives me a new understanding of Christ."

"It's just a bath, nothing serious." Leo I took another sip from the wine glass and then asked, "How is it, Lord Luca, have you made up your mind?"

"It seems that you are impatient for an army, especially a legion that belongs purely to Christ." Luca said slowly, placing the empty wine glass in his hand on the stone platform, and then looking at Leo I, he said: "I am very curious why you are so eager to have a religious legion."

"Do you really want to know?" Leo I asked, staring at Luca.

"Of course." Luca said.

"Well, after all, I know you inside and out." Leo I shook the wine in the silver cup and said to Luca slowly, "Your Excellency, do you know? I used to preach in Gaul, and I know the general situation there more or less. The current empire, the Roman city-state, is as safe as before, but who knows which barbarian will suddenly appear outside Rome next time. So we need to protect ourselves, do you understand me, Your Excellency Luca?

"Protect yourself?" Luca couldn't help laughing when he heard this. This laugh was not good, but attracted Leo I's strange eyes. He seemed to ask Luca if this sentence was really funny? "Sorry, sorry, Your Holiness!" Luca kept apologizing, quickly restrained his smile, and explained to Leo I: "I heard it, could it be that Your Holiness wants a Christian legion to guard Rome. In this case, it would be better to tell me directly that you want my legion to guard Rome, and there is no need to beat around the bush."

"Haha, I'm afraid you misunderstood my meaning, so you are unhappy." Facing Luca's questioning, Leo I seemed calm. He slowly put the wine glass on the stone platform behind him, turned around, and explained to Luca with a smile: "You can completely control your own army. Of course, I didn't say that the Ninth Legion must become a garrison of Rome after it is filled with Christians. What I mean is to support you in regaining Britannia, of course using the Ninth Legion formed by Christians."

"I understand what the Pope means." Luca said, "Your Excellency is seeking cooperation between the two of us. Your Excellency does not have the right to form an army, but you have money. I have the right to form an army, but I have no money and no people. Your Excellency can use your influence to fill the vacancies in the legion for me, and I need to reconquer and recover Britannia under the banner of Christ, and bring back glorious military exploits and forcibly introduce Christianity into Britannia to expand the influence of Christ, right?"

"Of course, Lord Luca, I don't ask for anything in return. You can take the wealth you plundered for yourself. It's enough for you to just pass on the news of victory." Leo I looked serious and didn't seem to be joking. Luca also understood Leo I's idea more deeply. He paid the money and Luca worked hard to take Britannia and push the empire back to Hadrian's Wall. Then, Leo I and Luca would share the fruits of victory equally. Luca would get the money and Leo I would get the fame and religious influence.

This is a win-win situation, based on the support and trust of Leo I for Luca. Luca is not a fool. He knows what the money he has won means to him. Of course, he can also use this victory to win credit from the Purple Chamber and gain greater benefits. He can completely build his own super legion based on the plundered economy, and no longer need to treat the Senate and Aetius so humbly. Why not?

"It's indeed an attractive idea." Luca clapped his hands slowly, and then asked Leo I: "Then can Your Holiness let me know where the money and troops you have prepared for me are? Your Holiness may not be familiar with military affairs. For the army, especially recruiting and maintaining the army, it will cost a lot of money, and military training also takes a lot of time. In addition, it also takes a lot of time to form combat effectiveness. The investment involved is very huge. Your Holiness should think carefully."

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"Ha, it seems that Lord Luca has agreed to this cooperation." Leo I explained with a smile: "You don't need to worry about this. Just stay here for a few days. When you want to leave, you can leave. The money, people, and armaments are all ready, and we will provide you with everything!"

Hearing this, Luca took a deep breath. What kind of strength does the Church have? They will respond to Luca's requests. On the other hand, Luca didn't believe that Leo I could provide such a one-stop service, which made Luca determined not to trust Leo I. So Luca took Leo I's words as a joke and laughed it off.

(End of this chapter)