Ch.133The Beginning of the End (1)

You’re right. Life is unfair. The strong take all the good things, while the bad falls to the weak like us. But there are moments when we too can be strong.

In those moments when we decide how to spend our time and what little money we have, we are the strong ones.

But we’ve been consuming like the weak. We waste our time and money on small rewards, telling ourselves we deserve a break after working hard yesterday and today.

Meanwhile, our enemies, the strong, are building their power and preparing for the future. The gap will only widen. While we indulge in cheap self-comfort, the strong are thinking only of how to squeeze more out of us.

I’m the same. I’ve been consuming like the weak, not the strong. But this can’t continue. How can someone who can’t even control or invest the small amount of time and money in their hands hope to bring down Duche’s power or dismantle the guild’s collusion?

Let’s change things one by one. Let’s not spend money we don’t need to spend. Let’s not do things we don’t need to do. But let’s invest in what will help tomorrow’s revolution. Health. Knowledge. Weapons!

Let’s not sell our future for cheap comforts. Let’s always choose better. After spending a day, a week, a month like this, after building confidence that we can change ourselves, after improving as much as possible! When we still conclude that the world remains full of contradictions and it’s simply unbearable!

That’s when we pull the trigger of revolution.

– Opening remarks by Beatrice Dandolo at the Rose Garden meeting, after having all her assets seized by her father and surviving two assassination attempts.

* * * * *

Milliarium Aureum. The Golden Milestone. The beginning and end point of the Empire.

All roads in the Empire use this as their starting point. All roads begin here and return here. It is the beginning and end of the Empire, the heart of all paths.

Why this place? Because the Emperor decreed it so.

The Emperor does not seek truth. His decision is truth.

The Emperor does not follow standards. He sets the standards himself.

The Emperor does not derive norms. They are defined by his choice, and all things in the world simply follow.

That’s why all Electors want to become Emperor. Even as Emperor in name only, one can define the world.

An Elector cannot do this. Even the Pope cannot do this. Clergy are those who carry out God’s will and spread His teachings, not those who decide on their own what God has created.

The same applies to Cardinal Benedetto, whom the Pope has sent as a special envoy to the imperial capital. But that’s not why the Cardinal is so angry.

Fifteen minutes have passed since the appointed time, and there’s no sign of the imperial representatives. It was the height of rudeness. And why here of all places for the meeting?

He hadn’t expected the ‘Cathedral of Holy Wisdom.’ There are many more neutral places with stronger public connotations than this. The grand conference hall of the palace, for example. The Cardinal would have been satisfied with that much.

But inviting him to this place, the Milliarium Aureum Temple, shows intentions that are too blatant.

Beautiful yet dignified, the epitome of imperial architecture. Traditionally, this place has been used to receive complex diplomatic visitors—allowing for more intimate conversations than the imperial conference room or palace audience chamber while subtly intimidating visitors and elevating the Emperor’s authority.

In other words, it’s the kind of place used to receive pagan envoys from the North or West.

‘So they mean to treat me, the Pope’s envoy, at the same level as Stone-Fire Faith pagans?’

Cardinal Benedetto was essentially a papal diplomat. As such, he understood diplomatic language better than most.

The Cardinal had sent a lengthy letter in advance. In summary, it meant “I have something to say, let’s meet face to face.”

In response, the Emperor had set this place for the meeting. It was tantamount to saying, “I’m not particularly interested in listening, but I can’t turn away an honored guest at my door, so say what you have to say and be gone.”

He had already seen what he needed to see. Still, the Cardinal came to the appointed place. He needed to give the Pope a clear answer about the reasons for refusal. He was already tasting bitterness, and now they were late on top of everything…

Finally, the palace guards arrived. Shamelessly marching in step, they secured the path. “Now they come?” As the Cardinal turned around irritably, he froze in place.

Of course, it wasn’t because of Niki Brien, the former Imperial Army Commander-in-Chief and current Chancellor. It was because of the beautiful woman behind him.

Though in her mid-forties, she still looked youthful. It wasn’t just because of her small frame. Her face showed dignity, her eyes intelligence, and her firmly closed lips showed determination.

Her attire was also unusual. It wasn’t as splendid as the Emperor’s. It was plain and even flat, but the way the fabric twisted with each movement was as graceful as a dancer’s gesture.

‘Why is that woman here?’

After rumors spread that she was a woman with no eye for men, Anna Kommodus had never shown her face at such events. What good could come of a usurper meddling in imperial affairs?

She only appeared for purely social gatherings, to welcome scholarly figures, or to warmly receive foreign envoys. If anything, she was closer to an unofficial diplomat, like other imperial family members who never became Emperor.

“It’s been a long time, Cardinal.”

While he was thinking, Niki Brien greeted him. Anna behind him did the same. The Cardinal, suddenly coming to his senses, responded a little late.

* * * * *

The meeting was private, and everyone except the three of them moved outside the temple. It was truly private, without even attendants. But if voices were raised, they would echo inside the building, so naturally, they had to speak quietly.

Thanks to this, the Cardinal could calmly explain his business. In summary, the Heroes were under attack, so the Holy Grail Knights and the Mercy Knights should be moved to protect those who remained.

Though simple, this one sentence clearly revealed how desperate the Pope was. First, the Papal Office acknowledged that the Heroes were under attack. Second, the current security level was completely inadequate, creating such a crisis that they needed to deploy entire knightly orders to stop it.

If either of these became public, massive confusion would ensue, especially in an already unsettled situation filled with wild rumors.

“His Holiness the Pope hopes that His Imperial Majesty will understand our difficulties.”

“So…” Chancellor Niki Brien slowly opened his mouth.

“You’re saying you want to issue a general mobilization order to the Holy Grail Knights and Mercy Knights scattered throughout the Empire. The knights will pass through imperial direct territories and nobles’ fiefs, and form ranks near the residences of the three heroes.”

“That’s correct.”

“Why not march directly to the northeastern wasteland?”

Though outwardly a calm conversation, the Cardinal and the Chancellor were openly continuing their provocations.

The Empire had experience being backstabbed by the excommunicated Crusaders, specifically the Fourth Crusade. Niki Brien remembered that time vividly.

Yet the Cardinal had declared that he would gather armed groups throughout the Empire who followed the Pope’s will, not the Emperor’s, in one place.

It was clear that people would be agitated even if imperial troops moved, but these were the Pope’s knights. Moreover, they wouldn’t just travel through imperial territories but would have to cross Elector territories as well. Who would like having the Pope’s personal guards stationed in their lands?

The Pope was hoping that the Emperor would quell even that backlash.

Niki Brien’s answer meant, “Stop this nonsense and just go to the northeastern wasteland to cut off the Demon King’s head.” It also implied that they should just announce to the world that the Demon King had been resurrected, and that the Empire wouldn’t clean up the mess, so they should handle it themselves.

That’s why the Cardinal’s fingertips trembled.

“The Demon King’s revival is uncertain. There is still no evidence that he has been resurrected. In such a situation, indiscriminate military action will only cause confusion.”

“I agree that reckless actions cause confusion. I’ve shouted quite a bit from horseback myself. That’s why I’m asking. Do you really not understand what it means to station holy knights around the Heroes?”

The Cardinal also knew that Niki Brien was the former Imperial Commander-in-Chief and a renowned general. So Niki’s question wasn’t really asking because he didn’t know, but was closer to criticizing, “Why are you deliberately doing something so stupid?”

“Chancellor. It’s a simple matter.” The Cardinal raised his hand as if to retreat momentarily.

“Four of the Seven Heroes have fallen. The other three could be targeted at any time. And the rumors circulating are only getting more ominous. Are you truly satisfied only when they fall one by one to evil hands?

We’re not asking to borrow the imperial army. Just open the way and lend us a small piece of land to rest. The Heroes protected us, so now it’s time for us to repay them. That’s all.”

“Leonardo of Charity is in the Eastern Union. Will you make the same request to the Union?”

“Of course. Although the Papal Office has no navy, for an escort…”

At that moment, Anna gave a small cough.

Since exchanging greetings, Anna hadn’t said a word. The conversation had taken place solely between the Cardinal and the Chancellor. The Cardinal had been wondering, “Why did she come out if she wasn’t going to speak?”

But now Niki and Anna’s gazes crossed. Niki leaned back against his chair, and Anna lowered her hand under the table. Her mouth opened quietly.

“His Holiness the Pope is truly merciful.”

“He always has been. And he always will be.”

“Then why did you burn the bodies of Count Bördem and the heretical priest?”

The Cardinal couldn’t collect himself, hearing what sounded like a stone table cracking.

“…What did you say?”

“The two prisoners transferred from the Monastery of St. Georgios. When they passed through the main gate of Magdeburg, both were still alive. But within a day of being imprisoned in the Inquisition’s jail, both were found dead.

You burned them without even a chance to confirm the cause of death. Both reports were received in advance from the city guard and the Inquisition. This means they are official documents, not information collected secretly.”

“We had no choice. They died within a day of being transferred, without knowing why, and the condition of the bodies wasn’t good either. We had to consider the risk of epidemic.”

“So you’re saying you arbitrarily burned the body of an imperial noble?”

“It was only his own claim; there was no evidence anywhere that he was really Count Bördem.”

“No. The real Count Bördem has been missing since then. His servants and even his private soldiers all disappeared at once. I think it’s highly likely that he was the real one, not an impostor. Let’s think logically. If an impostor disappeared, why would the servants and soldiers disappear too?”

The Cardinal was at a loss for words.

“I, I can’t possibly say…”

“Cardinal Benedetto.” The Emperor’s sister looked at the Pope’s representative with cold eyes.

“Do you really intend to pretend ignorance until the end? He was an imperial noble. An imperial noble who managed the Emperor’s territory!

Render unto God what is God’s, and unto the Emperor what is the Emperor’s! What reason could there possibly be to hastily cremate a noble, breaking this fundamental principle?”

“As I said, the epidemic…”

“Then why not release the investigation report?”

The Cardinal’s face momentarily stiffened. Anna didn’t miss the opening.

“The initial investigation report. I’m asking why you won’t release it. Don’t lie and say there was no investigation. If there wasn’t, we would have no choice but to lodge an official protest.

Because the Inquisitor imprisoned two innocent imperial citizens without evidence and left them to die! An epidemic? Where in the Empire has there been an epidemic that only those two contracted?”