Under the steps of the pure white hall, the scorching sun in the clear sky without the clouds was casting a scorching light on the ground of the square, and a figure wearing a long white uniform of the Ring Bureau was quietly holding a black umbrella, he had been standing in the center of the square for more than two hours since just now, although there was an umbrella cover above his head to block the sunlight, but the unbearable heat had already made the sweat-soaked clothes show the marks on the entire back of the young man.

Holy City, Vatican.

In the past world war, when most of humanity was still struggling to support the burning defense of their homeland, and there was no way to deal with the terrifying alien armies, there was already a city that repelled all the invading enemies on its own, and quickly absorbed a large number of displaced refugees, giving them warmth and help to tide over the difficulties. Although poverty and hardship have always been like a dark cloud over this ruined city, one day, when the alliance city from the outside sent a signal for help, the door of this wanderer's gathering place was suddenly opened, and an army with extremely poor equipment but eyes full of unprecedented determination walked out of it, and successfully attacked the alien army on the outskirts of the land for help.

No one knows how those linen-clothed vagabonds are able to use all kinds of amazing and strange spells, and even use them to compete with the monsters of other races, and have a slight upper hand. The siege was breached, and the aliens began to retreat for the time being, and the Union army was joined up with this unexpected reinforcement, and it was only then that the leader of the Union army noticed that these ragged, barefoot, ascetic-like warriors were clinging to the simple crosses in their hands, which was where their magical power came from. It was also on that day that the Alliance finally realized that in addition to weapons, there is another force that can sustain humanity to continue to resist the fate of darkness, and that is the power of faith.

The ragged linen warriors, and the strange men and warriors who gradually sprung up one after another, were all called "Believers" in later generations, and this successful rescue to repel the alien siege army, and it was also the first time in history that a large-scale battle of believers fought in the form of an army, which was recorded in the history books as the "New Crusade Campaign". In the same way, as the largest gathering place of devout believers, the small city that warmed the crowd like a beacon in those dark times was also used as a place of pilgrimage for all believers, and was well-deserved as the "Holy City".

The handkerchief gently wiped the corners of his eyes that were about to be blurred by sweat, Ryan looked down, his gaze quickly glanced between the watches, although his personality was calm and easy-going, but being deliberately ignored like this, there would always be some displeasure looming in his heart, however, no matter what, at this moment, he must stabilize his mind and not do anything out of the ordinary here.

Because, in front of him, at the very end of this great square, on the tens of thousands of marble steps, behind the quiet guard of the paladins, in the pure white hall—

Pope, the service is underway.

That is, "in dialogue with God".

Silence is the most necessary circumstance during prayer, and no one has the right to break the sacred ritual and atmosphere.

As a symbol of the second power of the Empire, as the incoming successor to the Ring, Ryan must come here in person to discuss the matter with the Pope, and listen carefully to the other party's views and opinions on this matter, or in other words, to carry out the other party's opinion completely. Because, theoretically, the Pope's position in the whole empire is even much higher than that of the emperor, and even if he is not in charge of any affairs related to the affairs of the empire, no one would have the courage to question his power and power.

For the people of the United Empire, the words "Your Majesty" symbolize absolute authority. Why do you say that? Because he led mankind to defeat the ugly alien race, because he unified the whole world, and built a huge empire that no one had ever seen before? No, no, most of the people's approval of the emperor came from that pope's announcement to the public-

The emperor is the chosen people of God.

When the Centennial War came to an end twenty years ago, the Emperor's accession to the throne was accompanied by some skeptical cries, and when the Pope stood up and loudly declared to the hundreds of millions of believers around the world that the Emperor was the chosen one of God, the true Chosen King, those chaotic cries were quelled. No one could doubt that the Pope, as the messenger of God's will, would utter any blasphemous words related to a lie, and even if he stretched out his hand and pointed to a beggar covered in sores on the side of the road and said, "This man is the messenger sent by God to save us," the pope would immediately fanatically put him on the throne without the slightest suspicion in their hearts.

"No wonder the director only let me come by myself, I should have forced him to come with me...... Just give him a vacation. ”

It was already hot to the extent that the bangs were clinging to his forehead, and the red and brown eyes were beating slightly, Ryan glanced at the watch in his hand again, although his mood was scorched by the ubiquitous heat, but in front of his eyes, the figure of the desk work gradually emerged, although he was not by Phoenix's side, but the experience of following him for many years told Ryan that the former must still be busy as usual for the follow-up arrangement of the counterinsurgency iris area, as if a work machine that never stops.

I had to keep going.

Someone must share the burden on the shoulders of the director.

Beads of sweat fell under the chin, and evaporated into invisible water vapor in an instant before touching the hot floor tiles, just as Ryan gritted his teeth and insisted, a footstep sounded gently in the distance, he looked up, only to see that on the top of the stairs, a figure dressed in priest's black clothes was slowly descending with his hands behind his back, and the sound of the heel of his leather shoes stepping on the Dali masonry echoed crisply between the empty huge square, Ryan watched the comer slowly walk through the countless steps, and calmly came to himself, and then, a calm voice sounded softly in his ears——

"The service time is over, Lord Lane of the Ring Bureau, you have been allowed to meet His Majesty the Pope. ”

"I can't ask for it. ”

Ryan bowed to the priest with a calm face, then straightened the somewhat wrinkled collar in front of him, and raised his hand and whispered, "Excuse me, please show me the way." ”

"My pleasure. The black-clad priest bowed in return, and on his young, gentle face, a pair of obsidian-deep eyes were piercing the lenses tucked into the bridge of his nose, scrutinizing the young man in front of him who was about to take over one of the most important powers of the Empire.

And at that moment, he also noticed the other party's red-brown pupils hidden under the extremely long bangs.

Really...... As the rumor goes, there is no difference......

"So......" The black-clad priest straightened up and stepped aside as he stretched out his arm toward the majestic staircase of the same pure white temple and made a "please" gesture.

"Please come with me. ”