The Lich of Glory Knight Spirit: Moving towards Krimasha!
Chapter 159 - 39: Face to Face (2) (Second Update)

Chapter 159: Chapter 39: Face to Face (2) (Second Update)

The arrival of the Holy Father, at any time and in any country, was a significant event. It was even more significant than the ascension of a new king. On one hand, there was only one Holy Father on the entire continent, but there were twenty-three countries. On the other hand, a person who became the Holy Father was usually already over seventy or even eighty years old, making it difficult for them to undertake long journeys like an expedition. Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, the Holy Father would not leave the Vatican. Moreover, traveling with seventeen cardinals and a thousand Temple Knights was unprecedented in the past thousand years.

Though Gray had tried his best to make the most grandiose arrangements he could think of, the impoverished state of Isaac couldn’t support a remarkable celebration. Gray did not permit extravagant spending at this time either. The entire welcome ceremony looked grand in scale, but in reality, it was only because there were many attendees with big names. The money spent was far less than what Benedict II had spent for Gray back then.

Of course, compared to the upcoming negotiations, crucial to the entire continent, this minor issue naturally didn’t concern anyone.

After circling around Lion King City once, the carriage arrived at Pearce Cathedral.

Out of courtesy, Gray had given over the entire Pearce Cathedral to the Holy Father, the seventeen cardinals who were traveling with him, and other clergy members. The Temple Knights had tightly secured the entire Pearce Cathedral, not allowing even a fly to enter.

"Food and all daily necessities are prepared. Please, the Holy Father and the bishops, feel free to help yourselves," Gray said.

"No need," a cardinal said softly, "The Holy Father will not use anything from outside. We have prepared everything ourselves."

"Then please, as you wish," Gray bowed respectfully, "May I ask, when will the formal meeting take place? This evening?"

The Holy Father stood quietly, his back to Gray, looking up at the majestic statue in Pearce Cathedral.

The cardinal standing between the Holy Father and Gray continued, "It will be tomorrow, of course. The Holy Father needs to rest tonight, not everyone can be tireless like your Silver Moon Knights."

"I understand," Gray bowed once more, "If there’s anything else, please feel free to command."

The cardinal nodded.

Standing aside was a whole row of cardinals, including the former Bishop Isaac, Anthony III. After a year of separation, seeing Gray again at this moment, he had mixed feelings.

Gray bowed again and exited Pearce Cathedral.

After Gray had left, the Holy Father, still gazing at the statue, said softly, "Do you think he is different from what you imagined?"

"A bit different, I suppose. Much more amiable than I imagined. At least he is polite. Though, when he performed the hand-kissing ceremony, he was unwilling to take off his mask," one cardinal said.

Another cardinal spoke, "I thought he would be an extremely arrogant person. After all, he has never been willing to take off his mask, which reminds me of the legends of the Elf King from centuries ago. I thought he was someone who looked down on everyone."

"Gray has never been like that. In fact, he is a very kind person," Anthony III sighed, "He is kind to everyone, even his enemies. Unless there is a significant conflict in ideology. But I don’t think it’s irreparable. The only person I’ve ever seen make him the angriest was Benedict II, yet now, he has returned power to Benedict II. Although he did take the crown."

"Are you speaking on his behalf?" a cardinal asked.

"No, I’m just stating facts," Anthony III replied softly.

A Temple Knight hurried in from outside, bringing with him a slightly tattered priest. As he entered, the two Temple Knights at the door searched him thoroughly.

The man was bald, and though his eyes were deeply sunken, his body was still very plump.

"Holy Father, Bishops. A clergyman from the original Lion King City requests to see you!"

"Failed so miserably yet still dares to show up?" one cardinal glanced and said softly, "Let him come."

"Yes!"

The fat priest, freshly searched, bowed and walked over with a grin, kneeling and prostrating.

"Greetings, Holy Father! Greetings, Bishops! I, I have something very important to report!" the fat priest exclaimed, taking a book titled "The Lich Knight" from his pocket and presenting it with both hands.

The cardinal who was about to take it took one look and retracted his hand, "What are you bringing this for? A novel?"

"This is not just a novel. It’s highly likely that it contains the true story of the Holy Knight! Holy Knight Gray is actually a Lich!"

"Are you kidding me?"

The other cardinals burst into laughter, "Bringing a novel to claim it’s the truth?"

"Has he been starving in the Lion King City for months and lost his mind?"

"Although his constant mask-wearing is indeed strange, if he were really a Lich, why would he let people know he is a Lich? Moreover, writing about it in a novel to sell?"

"We understand your desire to accomplish something. The failure of Isaac Church might have affected your sanity. But the Vatican is a serious place, not a place where a novel can serve as proof."

"No, Please listen to me!" the bald fat priest quickly said, "The author of this book claims that Holy Knight Gray personally ordered him to write it! We are very sure that Holy Knight Gray summoned him, and along with Benedict II! So he is definitely not spewing nonsense!"

"That makes it even stranger. If he were really a Lich, why would he let someone write such a novel? There are only three possibilities: you are talking nonsense, the author is talking nonsense, or it’s a trap and Holy Knight Gray is talking nonsense!" the cardinals still did not believe.

However, at this moment, with his back to the bald fat priest, the Holy Father extended his hand, "Bring it, let me see."

"Holy Father, what’s the point of reading such a book?" a cardinal standing next to the Holy Father laughed awkwardly.

"Bring it," the Holy Father repeated.

Suddenly, all the laughter disappeared, and the cardinals stared at the Holy Father with wide eyes.

The bald fat priest handed "The Lich Knight" excitedly to the cardinal standing in front of him.

Taking the novel, the Holy Father reviewed it while speaking softly, "Until now, we have made many mistakes, all because we judged by common sense. However, facts have proven that Gray is not someone to be judged by common sense. The last message from Grand Master Andrew before he joined Gray told us that Holy Knight Gray was likely an Undead Mage. At that time, no one believed it."

After a pause, the Holy Father turned to the cardinals and continued, "Later, Levi proved it. Through the observation of Angels, we confirmed that Holy Knight Gray’s subordinates are all converted dark creatures. Even Succubi are among them. He also said that there was at least one Lich in the Silver Moon Knights because the entire Silver Moon Knight Order consisted of Undead Knights. That is not something human strength alone can achieve. And throughout, he never saw that Lich. If the unseen Lich was the Holy Knight Gray who never removed his mask, what if there was just a skeleton beneath the armor? Don’t forget, his past has always been blank. No one knows where he came from, who his parents are, or how he grew up. Never taking off his mask is just part of it."

All of a sudden, all the cardinals present were stunned.

...

"I don’t know if he is righteous and kind, but I think he is at least a rational person," Gray commented.

"So what are you planning to ask from him? I think the main reason for his visit is to retrieve the four Holy Knights. Under what circumstances would you agree to release the four Holy Knights?" the Black Cat asked.

"If he agrees to strictly restrain the four Holy Knights, then I can agree to release them. Of course, he must also promise to lead the Vatican in a better direction. There are many things, such as the selection of Holy Knights, that fundamentally have issues. Reforms are necessary, and I must be involved. I don’t intend to initiate large-scale reforms immediately, but at least it should be gradual and not stagnant."

"I think if you negotiate by trading conditions, it will be difficult to reach an agreement," the Black Cat yawned, "If you want reforms and must be involved, to what extent should you be involved? Decision-making power given to you? That is obviously impossible. If that happens, you would effectively become the Holy Father, with even more power than the Holy Father, almost equivalent to the Cardinal Court. Even if the Holy Father agrees, the Cardinal Court would be troublesome. But if the decision-making power is not given to you, the reforms might practically remain unchanged. You’ll only have the right to know, and even if they delay indefinitely, you would have no leverage. Catherine, what do you think?"

"I think... perhaps we don’t need to overthink it," Catherine said softly, "Since it is a peace negotiation, mutual trust is very important. If we cannot trust each other, even if the talks succeed, they might break down quickly. Although the Holy Father has made decisions that disappoint us, perhaps it’s not solely his fault. After all, the Cardinal Court holds more power than him; he alone cannot change much. Poor performance does not mean it is his intention. And he became the Holy Father, so he must be a remarkable person. If we can gain his support and make him understand what Gray wants, perhaps everything will be much simpler than we imagine."

Vivian tilted her head, pondering.

Gray nodded silently, and the Black Cat was also lost in thought.

"In that case, my strategy for tomorrow’s negotiation should be to first gain the Holy Father’s support and make him understand what I want, rather than negotiating terms with him, right?"

"Smart, exactly!" the Black Cat replied.