A man in a shiny white robe exclaimed in surprise. He is frozen with his mouth hanging open.
"That ......."
"...... that's solid information, isn't it?"
"Yes. The other day, there was a military review ceremony in the Kingdom of Thana. Both Cardinals Ammard and Kaiserhoff, who were invited to the ceremony, saw it.
"Armand and Kaizawaf ......"
They are both trustworthy men.
"Okay. If they say so, then it must be true. I'll think about the rest. Stay back."
With these words, the man sent the visitor back.
"...... sister."
His voice was a complex mixture of relief and hatred. And the owner of that voice was Cassel himself, who had been appointed Pope of the Church of Crimiana a month before.
Immediately after the battle between Agartha and the Kingdom of Thana, the Kingdom of Thana reported the destruction of the Agarthan army. The Agarthan king Linos was killed in battle and Vieille was reported missing. Cassel and the other members of the Church of Crimiana did their utmost to search for Vieille, but his whereabouts were unknown.
At that time, Cassel thought. Perhaps my sister is no longer in this world.
However, this was soon overturned by the report that Linos, King of Agartha, was still alive. It was a while after Cassel was nominated as the next Pope by the former Pope, Jouvancel Sain. To his surprise, Linos proudly attended the opening ceremony of the newly built university in the capital of Agartha.
The university to be built in Agartha was an expansion of the Agartha Medical Institute, which had been highly acclaimed before its opening, and was to be a comprehensive university. It is said that as soon as it was announced, there was a flood of applicants for admission to the university. As a result, the University of Agalta attracted excellent researchers from all over the world. However, everything that the university did was against the Crimiana cult.
The first thing that was announced was the president of the university and other professors, all of whom had disobeyed the Crimiana Order. In particular, the fact that the name of Gralina was inscribed on one of the professors added fuel to the fire of anger of the Church of Klimiana.
In addition, Meilias, the queen of Agartha, who had been announced as the rector, proudly called herself a saint, and other supposed Poseidonians were given honorific titles such as "God Hand" and "Giant of Knowledge". Whether they were saints or goddesses or godhands, they naturally did not have Klimiana's permission, and this made the self-proclaimed servants of God very nervous. The bishops who prepared the report had taken the liberty of adding the honorific titles as if Agartha herself had spoken them.
Cassel took this opportunity to send a letter to all the countries in the world that believed in the Crimean religion, and started a general attack on Agartha. Soon after that, however, the Church was overrun by those who opposed his pontificate, and Cassel became involved in the struggle for power with them.
Just as he had finally defeated his political opponents and secured his inauguration as Pope, Vieille suddenly appeared at the inauguration party and announced that he would leave the Crimiana and start a new religious order.
However, Vieille, whom I had not seen for a long time, was beautiful. For a moment, Cassel was almost captivated by her beauty. But when he thought that this beautiful sister was being violated by Linos, the king of Agartha, who offered her body to him every night, a fierce jealousy welled up in his heart. He knew that he had to get her back, no matter what it took.
Vieille soon disappeared, but Cassel ordered the whole world to search for her, as if in pursuit of her shadow. My sister is alive. He will make that sister kneel before him at any cost. ....... His heart was filled with her.
Months of searching. On this day, he finally received a report of the discovery of Vieille. Cassel was shocked to find that it was in the Kingdom of Tana. The Kingdom of Tana was the country Cassel relied on the most militarily, and it was the center of the Crimiana cult army.
For a moment, anger and shock almost made him forget himself, but he quickly regained his composure. He immediately turns his attention to the map of the world on the wall of the Pope's office. Aphrodite, the capital of the Kingdom of Tana and the Crimean Nation, can be reached in a few days by ship. With this in mind, he calmly analyzes the current situation of the Crimean and Tana armies.
"...... need to hurry."
He muttered to no one in particular, and left his office at a brisk pace.
"...... Oh, isn't that Cassel? How can I help you?"
He was greeted with a beaming smile by the former Pope, now Pope Emeritus, Jouvancel Sain. He greeted Cassel from the comfort of his chair.
"Yes. As you may have already heard, the whereabouts of Sister Vieille have been revealed.
"Hmm. So?"
He smiled softly, but behind his eyes, he himself knew very well that he was calmly pricing Cassel out of the market. Cassel sighs a little and turns to face him, for although he is the Pope, the final say in the affairs of the Crimiana Order is still in the hands of this Pope Emeritus.
"I think I will try to defeat him."
"Defeat ......"
Pope Emeritus looks wide-eyed and surprised. Cassel, however, does not pay any attention to him and speaks his opinion at once.
"I believe that since Vieille is in the Kingdom of Tana, she is here, in Aphrodite," said Cassel. I believe that she will not take action until she has made all her plans. Perhaps the recent review ceremony was a preparation for the invasion of our country. Now, they are probably preparing their troops and food. When everything is ready, my sister will make her move. We must be the first to attack the Kingdom of Thana.
"I understand your story, Cassel. Can Aphrodite's current army defeat the Kingdom of Thana? The total army of that country should be over 100,000. ......"
"Don't worry about it. I have ordered the Sil'enai, Naraybutz, Katwatallo, Höheins, Zakari, and Geylang to have a constant supply of troops ready to be mobilized. Each country has 20,000 to 30,000 soldiers, but if we combine those soldiers with the 40,000 soldiers we have here in Aphrodite, I believe we will be able to fight Tana's army at least on equal terms.
"I see. ....... However, isn't the command of Tana's army under the leadership of Lord Viru? Can you beat Ville, the god of war, whom you have recognized?"
"I am not concerned. Perhaps Mr. Viru will not appear.
"What do you mean?"
"I don't think that the Lord Ville, a devout follower of the Crimiana religion and a lover of the Lord Goddess, will be entrapped by my sister. I think that she is locked up somewhere. Therefore, I believe that the actual command of Thana's army will be taken by sister Vieille.
"I see. ....... I see that Vieille has a better chance of winning the war than the experienced Ville. ....... I understand, Cassel. I'll leave it to you. Do as you please."
"Thank you. Your Holiness the Pope Emeritus.
"However..."
Jouvencel rises to his feet with great ceremony. Then he turns his soft gaze on Cassel.
"Vieille must be captured. Bring him here to Aphrodite alive.
"I am afraid, Your Holiness, that it is not allowed to do any harm, is it?"
"What do you mean?"
"For example, if you resist violently, you will inevitably ......"
"Well, in that case, there is no choice. But taking a life is forbidden."
"Awe, sir. I will bring your sister to you as beautifully as possible.
With these words, Cassel left Juvencel's apartment with great energy. Then he let out a grin, imagining what it would be like to capture Vieille.