CA - Chapter 208
Chapter 208
The night was hazy. A bright, round moon hung on the branches, and the silvery moonlight poured down, softening the cold night.
Tang Qiu stood by the window, looking down to study the pure white staff in her hand. The staff was cool to the touch. As her fingers closed around it, she could clearly feel the complex and exquisite patterns carved on it. The lines resembled vines or perhaps the leaves of some plant. Tang Qiu's fingers traced the staff inch by inch from the bottom, finally reaching the top where there was a gap. The place that once held a gemstone was now empty.
This staff was given to her by the Holy Daughter. It was said to be the staff of the first Pope, Cynthia.
According to records, the gemstone at the top of the staff went missing after the Holy War.
"Why is Cynthia's Staff in your hands?" Reese, sitting at the table, asked in surprise as her gaze fell on the staff in Tang Qiu's hand.
Tang Qiu half-turned to look at Reese and said with a smile, "The Holy Daughter gave it to me." She held up the staff and asked, "So, is there anything special about it?"
Why would Kama ask the Holy Daughter for this, and specifically request it be given to her?
"Cynthia's Staff. The first Pope used it to drive the Vampires back to the Blood Domain." Reese propped her chin on one hand, thought seriously for a moment, and then gave Tang Qiu a not-so-serious answer, "The special thing about it is probably that it's famous?"
Tang Qiu smiled helplessly. She put down the staff and turned her head to look out the window. The bright moonlight made the blood in her veins slowly begin to boil, but her heart was as calm as still water, her expression lost in thought.
Footsteps sounded, growing closer until they stopped at the door. The door was gently pushed open, and the Holy Daughter walked in from outside, holding a stack of parchment.
She walked over and sat down opposite Reese, speaking softly, "Sorry to keep you waiting."
Reese poured a cup of tea and pushed it in front of the Holy Daughter. Her eyes lingered on the parchment in her hands for a moment before she raised an eyebrow and asked, "What's that?"
The Holy Daughter placed the stack of parchment in front of Reese, then picked up her cup and took a sip of tea.
Reese pinched the topmost sheet of parchment between her thumb and forefinger. She glanced at it, her expression subtle. "...Have you decided to start gathering your own forces?"
Besides her guard detail, the Holy Daughter rarely cultivated other forces. Her authority in the Holy See was not insignificant, but she had too few supporters.
The Holy Daughter shook her head. "This is for you."
"Oh?"
"A batch of the Holy Son's confidants are dead. Take these bishop appointment letters and put people you trust in their places."
This chaotic time was perfect for fishing in troubled waters.
The Holy Daughter's words made Tang Qiu turn her head. She met Reese's upward glance and said, "So, you want us to join forces with you against Gabriel?"
Judging from the situation in Light Square today, the Holy Daughter's use of the Pope to suppress Gabriel wasn't as effective as imagined. To restrain Gabriel, uniting with other Cardinals was indeed the best choice, especially Reese.
Although Reese was still in a "missing" state, she held her forces firmly in her own hands.
If Reese had been in Light Square today, Gabriel wouldn't have been so fearless.
But... what did the Holy Daughter ultimately want? The position of Pope? Tang Qiu sized up the Holy Daughter. Her sky-blue eyes were not as clear as usual.
The Holy Daughter was stunned by Tang Qiu's words. She frowned, confused. "Are you just going to watch Gabriel take power?"
She had thought Tang Qiu and Reese were on the same side as her.
Reese's lips curled. "If you tell me what the Pope's current situation is, I'll answer your question. How about it?"
The Holy Daughter was silent for a moment before saying softly, "Don't worry about the Pope. When the time is right, he will naturally die."
It sounded like the Pope was completely under the Holy Daughter's control. Tang Qiu stored Cynthia's Staff in her Space Gem, then turned and walked to the last empty seat at the table. She sat down and said with a smile, "I can't stand Gabriel's hypocrisy either, but unfortunately, I have to return to Gosse tomorrow. I'm afraid I can't help with restraining Gabriel."
Comparing Gabriel and the Tzimisce clan, the latter was clearly more important. Besides, once the Tzimisce were destroyed, Gabriel would naturally lose his power base.
Reese knew Tang Qiu had found the Tzimisce's hiding place, but she hadn't expected her to leave so soon. "Tomorrow?"
Tang Qiu hummed in affirmation. "When we left the Gosse Empire, the elite of the Elf Race had already set out for the Gru Empire. I need to go and rendezvous with them."
Reese's hand, resting on the table, tapped it lightly. She mused, "I'll give you my personal guard." Her guards were elites she had trained for many years, and their strength was remarkable.
Tang Qiu's eyes held a smile. She gladly accepted Reese's kind offer.
The Holy Daughter looked back and forth between Tang Qiu and Reese, sensing something was amiss. She asked, "What are you going to do?"
"To annihilate Gabriel's backers—the Tzimisce clan." Tang Qiu explained simply. "The Pope, Gabriel, and the others have been colluding with the Tzimisce Vampires all along. You should know that, right?"
The Holy Daughter frowned and nodded. She lowered her eyes in thought for a moment, then spoke in a grave tone, "...But Gabriel cannot be allowed to remain."
Tang Qiu and Reese looked up at the same time, gazing at the Holy Daughter in confusion.
"Don't you think the Black Witches have been too quiet?" The Holy Daughter's expression was complex. "The continent is about to face a disaster. Gabriel must be eliminated before then so the Holy See can focus on dealing with the Black Witches."
"Disaster? What disaster?"
The Holy Daughter pressed her lips together. Although her tone was calm, Reese, who knew her well, detected a hint of frustration. "I only foresaw the disaster, but I didn't see who would cause it."
To be precise, she only saw a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.
Tang Qiu's brow furrowed. She said slowly, "Even if you say that, I can't change my decision."
It was unclear when the disaster the Holy Daughter prophesied would arrive, but Tang Qiu knew that if they continued to delay, her and Lucille's disaster would be upon them very soon.
"However..." Tang Qiu pondered for a moment, then suggested, "You don't have to be too wary of Gabriel. Since you said he won't rebel, if he can't break through on the Pope's front, he will definitely think of other methods."
Reese seemed to think of something and nodded in agreement. She said leisurely, "Since the Black Witches still have a move up their sleeve, let Gabriel deal with them. It would be a waste not to use someone so capable before killing him."
"You mean..." The Holy Daughter was not slow; she immediately understood Tang Qiu and Reese's meaning. "Stabilize him first and make him focus his attention on the Black Witches?"
"He values his reputation so much, he'll surely want to ascend to power in a grand and glorious manner." Tang Qiu smiled calmly and said unhurriedly, "Then give him this opportunity. Let him be the savior. It targets the Black Witches and preserves the Holy See's strength. Isn't that a good thing?"
"As for the position of Pope... that will depend on whether he's still alive to sit in it at the end."
After giving her advice, Tang Qiu went back to rest. After Tang Qiu left, Reese brewed a new pot of rose tea. Seeing the Holy Daughter opposite her still lost in thought, she slowly leaned back in her chair, her probing gaze sweeping over her face. She asked, "What is your goal... Do you want to be the Pope?"
With Tang Qiu gone, Reese didn't need to be polite and asked directly.
The Holy Daughter was taken aback, then shook her head. "No."
She thought of something and sighed. "I am not competent for the position of Pope. I just want to protect the Holy See. I don't want to see the Holy See that Excellency Cynthia built with her own hands be destroyed by the Black Witches and Gabriel."
Because she was a God Race descendant, she knew better than anyone the hardships the first Pope, Cynthia, faced in establishing the Holy See.
As for the position of Pope, to be honest, the Holy Daughter had never really considered it, because she knew the Holy See could never recover its former glory in her hands.
The position of Pope should belong to someone who can reconnect the Elf Race, the Werewolves, and the Witches, and repair their alliances with the Holy See.
Just as Pope Cynthia once did.
The Holy Daughter's words surprised Reese. She watched the gurgling, steaming teapot, mused for a moment, and then slowly said, "I will stay and help you."
The darkness within the Holy See would not disappear with the Holy Son's death. Reese hated this sludge-like filth and wanted to crush every last bit of it.
Leaving Reese's room, the sky outside was already turning white. The Holy Daughter rubbed the bridge of her nose. Instead of going back to rest, she went to the Pope's manor.
Several hundred Holy Knights guarded the Pope's manor, making it impenetrable. The Holy Daughter pushed open the heavy door. A sliver of light illuminated the darkness within, only to disappear as the door closed again.
The candles on the walls lit up one by one in time with the Holy Daughter's steps. In the farthest corner of the room, the Pope lay on the bed, his hands clasped on his chest. His aged face had a grayish pallor, and his white hair had lost its luster.
The Holy Daughter walked to the bedside, took out her staff, and pressed it to the Pope's forehead. She chanted a spell in a low voice. White light gathered at the tip of the staff. A flicker of pain crossed the Pope's face, and then he slowly awoke.
"...Phoenix." The Pope's vision was blurry. He blinked for a long time before he could make out the Holy Daughter, but she was still not clear. "How are things outside?"
He tried to sit up but failed. The Pope could feel a deep exhaustion and weakness in his body. Why had he become like this... He had been severely injured by Eden, but it shouldn't have been this bad.
Why was his life force draining so quickly?
The Pope looked at the staff in the Holy Daughter's hand, his sluggish mind unable to ponder the reason.
"I... I want to abdicate." The Pope tried to touch the ring of authority on his hand, but after fumbling at nothing, he slowly remembered that he had given it to the Holy Daughter. He sighed, "Where is the Holy Son? Summon him back quickly."
He no longer had the energy to pave the way for the Holy Son.
"The Holy Son is still in seclusion. It's a critical moment," the Holy Daughter said flatly, putting away her staff.
"Ah... is that so." The Pope blinked slowly, his voice intermittent and somewhat confused. "Let him focus on his seclusion. He is of the God Race... the God Race... You are of the God Race too." He struggled to look at the Holy Daughter, his brow furrowed as if trying to remember. "A God Race descendant... I am your clan's benefactor, Phoenix."
"Do you remember?" The Pope tried to raise his hand, but failed. "You were so small then. You couldn't even speak when I brought you to the Holy See."
Because the Pope had said these words to Phoenix more than once, he spoke them fluently. "You would hug my leg, interested in everything. Because you liked light magic, I suppressed the voices of opposition and kept you in the Holy See."
"The Holy See has no place for other races, but I made a place for you God Race." The Pope coughed, then gradually fell back into a stupor, but before he drifted off completely, he was still murmuring, "You must be grateful... Phoenix."
The Holy Daughter watched him quietly. Only after he had fallen completely asleep and stopped speaking did a cold voice echo in the room. "Fine."
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