CA - Chapter 173

Chapter 173

The Pope's order came suddenly, leaving Audrey completely unprepared. As the golden-haired bishop walked past her, following the Pope's Holy Knights, she reached out and grabbed Tang Qiu's arm.

The Holy Knight paused, turned to glance at Audrey, and said with a frown, "Head Inquisitor Audrey."

Audrey didn't even look at him, her gaze fixed on Tang Qiu. "Don't forget what you just promised me," she said in a low voice.

Tang Qiu gently pushed her hand away, a smile on her lips. She leaned close to Audrey's ear and whispered, "The agreement is canceled. Of course, if you're really that unwilling to let it go, you can just try to catch me again."

Audrey's face darkened shade by shade.

"I hope you'll still have the chance." Tang Qiu winked at her, then walked past her to follow the Holy Knight. After leaving the Inquisition, the smile on her lips slowly faded.

The Pope…

An old man who had long been in a high position, aged but with a profound mind.

What could be more important to him than paving the way for the Holy Son? Tang Qiu had a few guesses as to why the Pope had suddenly summoned her, but she dismissed them one by one.

The Holy Knight leading the way stopped and turned to her. "His Holiness is waiting for you inside, Bishop Grace."

Tang Qiu returned to her senses and thanked the Holy Knight with a smile. Then, composing herself, she stepped into the audience hall.

The hall was vast and empty, making the crisp sound of her footsteps unusually clear. Tang Qiu stopped before the steps, curtsied gracefully to the Pope seated on the throne, and her clear voice became softer as she slowed her speech. "Your Holiness, good day."

The Pope, who had been resting with his eyes closed, slowly opened them. He looked down, appraising the golden-haired bishop below the steps. In recent years, he had rarely managed the Church's affairs. Aside from changes among the Cardinals, he paid little attention to personnel changes at lower levels.

If it weren't for the matter of Eden, he wouldn't be in the mood to deal with a mere bishop in his current state.

Other than her outstanding looks and extraordinary temperament, the golden-haired bishop didn't seem particularly special. The Pope withdrew his gaze, pressed a hand to his forehead, and responded in a low voice, "Good child, did Audrey give you a hard time?"

Tang Qiu shook her head slightly and replied concisely, "Head Inquisitor Audrey was just asking me to clarify a few things."

The Pope said nothing, closing his eyes slightly. The atmosphere in the hall suddenly fell silent.

Tang Qiu frowned imperceptibly. She had been prepared for the Pope to question her about the Gosse Empire, but judging by his attitude, that didn't seem to be his intention.

Tang Qiu waited patiently, her mind racing with various thoughts. After a while, the Pope finally spoke again. "What are your thoughts on the actions of the Black Witches?"

"Darkness cannot dispel the light. I believe the Holy See will allow the light to once again envelop the continent of Statu."

"Suffering is only temporary. The Goddess of Light has mercy on her believers. In the end, darkness will have nowhere to hide."

The rather official answer didn't cause any fluctuation in the Pope's emotions. He gave a faint "mm" and finally got to the point. "Is your friendship with the Elf Queen, Delphine, a deep one?"

"She is currently leading her people in the Gosse Empire."

Tang Qiu's heart stirred. She lowered her gaze slightly and, after a moment of contemplation, replied, "We've only met a few times. She's actually in the Gosse Empire?"

The Pope raised his hand, and a white light lifted a piece of parchment, sending it before Tang Qiu. He leaned back in his throne, rubbing the ring of power on his finger, and said slowly, "The Elves and the Werewolves, out of greed, harbor hostility towards the Holy See and have even initiated several wars. But I cannot bear to see their lines consumed by darkness."

"Vogt previously suggested to me that you be dispatched as an envoy to negotiate with the Werewolves and Elves. As long as they still care for this continent and are willing to fight against the Black Witches alongside the Holy See, the Church can forgive their past sins."

The Pope lifted his eyelids, glanced at Tang Qiu, and asked, "What do you think?"

Asking her what she thought? Tang Qiu's lips curved slightly. If Faye and Delphine heard the Pope's words, they would probably just laugh coldly. She sighed softly in her heart, but her face wore a proper smile as she nodded. "Your Holiness is magnanimous. I am willing to go and negotiate with the Werewolves and Elves."

She agreed at once without the slightest hesitation, which was somewhat surprising to the Pope. The movement of his hand rubbing the ring paused. He looked up and appraised Tang Qiu again. "I will give you two days to prepare. I will send a Cardinal to accompany you."

He was sending a Cardinal with her? Tang Qiu's brow furrowed for a moment before smoothing out. She nodded in agreement. Seeing the Pope raise his hand to dismiss her, she curtsied and turned to leave.

The dazzling light from outside illuminated a third of the hall. As Tang Qiu reached the doorway, she was enveloped in the golden sunlight. Her blond hair shimmered in the light, as if she had become one with it.

The Pope sat on his throne, watching Tang Qiu's departing figure, his brow wrinkling bit by bit.

He fiddled with the ring on his finger, his thoughts unknown, then turned to look at the statue of the Light Goddess behind him. The statue was only a tenth of the size of the one in the square outside, but its details were more lifelike than any other.

The Light Goddess's hands were raised, holding up a pure white staff. The staff was engraved with exquisite and complex patterns, but the spot at its tip where a gem should be embedded was empty.

This was the staff left by the First Pope, known as Cynthia's Staff.

After the Holy War ended, the gem on top of Cynthia's Staff went missing. The First Pope had once prophesied that the gem would one day return and merge with the staff again to protect the continent of Statu.

He, along with the two Popes before him, had been waiting for this day to arrive, but Cynthia's Staff had remained quiet, without the slightest stir.

Was it because the position they held was "stolen"? The Pope slowly withdrew his gaze from the staff, leaned back in his chair, and stared silently into the void, his eyes profound.

In that case, he would be the one to return the Holy See to the God Race.

When Tang Qiu came out of the Central Church, Mario was waiting outside. He walked up to her and said in a low voice, "Archbishop Reese is waiting for you."

Tang Qiu nodded and followed Mario into his carriage, which was parked by the roadside.

Some people from the Inquisition were loitering nearby. They only retreated reluctantly after seeing Tang Qiu get into the carriage.

Inside the carriage, Reese was resting her chin on one hand, staring blankly outside. Hearing the noise, she looked up slightly and watched Tang Qiu sit down opposite her. "What did the Pope want with you?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

Tang Qiu leaned against the carriage wall and said calmly, "The Pope has sent me as an envoy to negotiate with the Elf Race and the Werewolves."

Reese frowned, her expression a little strange. "What does the Pope mean by this?"

He wants to reconcile with the Elves and the Werewolves? That doesn't sound like a decision the Pope would make.

For the Holy See to take the initiative to seek peace with other races? Utterly ridiculous.

One look at Reese's expression and Tang Qiu knew she had misunderstood. She shook her head slightly and explained, "The Pope has unilaterally forgiven the Werewolves and the Elves and is demanding they participate in the battle to expel the Black Witches."

It couldn't be called seeking peace; it was more like sending her to issue an order.

Reese's face darkened, a trace of suppressed anger in her voice. "Is he sending you to your death?"

Given the hostility the Werewolves and Elves felt toward the Holy See, wouldn't they be angry enough to tear the envoy to pieces after hearing the Pope's intentions?

Her face grim, she said, "I'll find a bishop to take your place."

Tang Qiu placed a hand on Reese's shoulder and shook her head. "No need." She paused, then added, "Don't worry, I can handle it myself."

Reese frowned. Thinking of the hidden cards Tang Qiu always kept up her sleeve, some of her worry dissipated. She was silent for a moment, then said coolly, "Then I'll have Mario take some men to protect you."

This time, Tang Qiu didn't refuse, simply smiling in agreement. "Alright."

The carriage swayed along and soon arrived at Reese's manor. As Tang Qiu got out with Reese and they walked toward the manor, she suddenly remembered something. "By the way, the Pope plans to send a Cardinal with me."

Reese's steps faltered. Her eyes narrowed as she asked, "Who is he sending?"

Tang Qiu shook her head. "The Pope didn't say." She thought for a moment, then added, "I suspect it might be Archbishop Vogt."

The Pope had said that negotiating with the Werewolves and Elves was Vogt's proposal.

Reese sneered. "Is the Pope so eager to free up a position for the Holy Son to cultivate his confidants?"

Tang Qiu had no accurate guess as to the Pope's intentions either. But speaking of the Holy Son, she asked with a puzzled look, "Why hasn't the Holy Son come out of seclusion yet?"

So much time had passed. All the bishops were being kept at the Central Church just waiting for the Holy Son to emerge so they could coordinate with him to suppress the dark forces outside.

Reese's expression was cold. She curled her lip and said with faint sarcasm, "Who knows? He's never been good at seizing opportunities."

The Pope had given the Holy Son everything, but unfortunately, he was naturally unsuited for the position.

Without the Pope to protect and guide him from behind, the Holy Son could probably only be a Pope in name, without any real power. Of course, whether he could ascend to the position smoothly was anyone's guess.

The two days the Pope had given passed quickly. Mario, following Reese's instructions, had already prepared an escort convoy for Tang Qiu. On the night before her departure, a Holy Knight from the Pope's side came to Reese's manor to deliver a letter of appointment to Tang Qiu.

Mario brought the letter to the garden and handed it to Tang Qiu. She put down her cup, opened the letter, and pulled out the parchment inside. After scanning it quickly, she froze.

Seeing her strange expression, Reese frowned and asked, "What is it?"

Tang Qiu read the contents of the parchment again, her expression a bit odd. "The Pope has sent Cambecus to negotiate with the Elves and Werewolves with me."

"Cambecus…" Reese couldn't figure out the Pope's intention behind this move. "Does the Pope really want to negotiate with the Werewolves and Elves?"

Tang Qiu put down the parchment. She lowered her eyes in thought for a moment, then a smile touched her lips. "Since it's Cambecus accompanying me, this negotiation is actually something I'm looking forward to."

Reese glanced at her. "What do you mean?"

Tang Qiu beckoned to Reese, signaling for her to lean closer, then whispered a few words in her ear.

Reese's expression shifted slightly. She looked at Tang Qiu with suspicion but said nothing, instead rubbing the cup in her hand as she fell into deep thought.

Tang Qiu picked up her cup and drank her tea, a faint smile gracing her features. Cambecus actually dared to leave the Central Church. In that case, she would show him just how dangerous the outside world was.

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