Leo XIII, who was sitting on a stone bench in the garden reading a book on one side, pursed his lips and smiled slightly, repeating Ernst's words very casually: "100,000 pounds? ”

"That's right, I hope you'll give me £100,000 when I 'leave' the Vatican. Ernst said this with a serious face.

"No problem, if you can give me a good reason."

Leo XIII still didn't care, but by this time he had already closed the book in his hand and looked at Ernst with a very kind face, but Ernst, who knew him well, understood that Leo XIII was already a little unhappy.

There was no fear, and there was no need to be afraid, for Leo XIII was not destined to dare to do anything to Ernst, because many ascetics would not necessarily be on Ernst's side, but they would not allow Leo XIII to harm him either.

"The reason will be given to you, but not now, I hope you will be able to agree to my request, 100,000 pounds, you should not care."

"You threaten me?"

There was still a smile on his face, but his eyes were cold, but Ernst looked at him like this until ...... Leo XIII smiled and shook his head, his expression softened.

"I'll give you £100,000 while you're away, but I want ...... There are some things that should not be said casually, even if no one will believe them. ”

Ernst, who got what he wanted, also smiled slightly: "I know what to do, this thing is written off, and I never have that thing in my mind." ”

After saying this, Ernst left the garden, looked at his back, and Leo XIII murmured inwardly, "A very clever little fellow, but what should I do with you?" ”

At the gate of the garden, the two Germanic guards looked at Ernst very nervously, until he smiled and waved his hand, and the two of them completely relaxed, and the little murderous intent in the heart of Leo XIII, who saw this scene in the distance, disappeared immediately.

"Kurt, maybe we'll get out of here in two days."

"We will always follow you, His Royal Highness Prince Ernst."

Archduke Ferdinand was the crown prince of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and although Ernst had no right of succession, it was understandable to be called a prince. The main reason for this title was that Ernst did not want the title of the Son with strong religious interest, and the guards, who had not found a suitable title, gradually began to like to call Ernst in this way.

"Prince Ernst? Soon you will call me Lord Count, Lord Lord of Moravia. ”

The corners of his mouth were slightly raised, Ernst was very yearning for his future earl career, but before that, did he want to go back to visit his crown prince father and poor mother?

"Your Highness...... Shall we go to Archbishop Eugène, Lord Count? ”

"Archbishop Eugène...... I almost forgot about him, but I am my guide here, and he should have given some gifts when I left!"

100,000 pounds is a lot for 1900, after all, at this time, a British capital ship (dreadnought) was only about 2.5 million pounds, and a cheaper 1.3 million pounds could be built.

100,000 pounds, large merchant ships around the world, the cargo of that ship is only tens of thousands of pounds, and the profit is only thousands, and each one takes half a year or more to come back, and the possibility of accidents on the way is also very high, which shows the value of 100,000 pounds.

As if not surprised by Ernst's arrival, Archbishop Eugène poured a cup of coffee and invited Ernst to sit down, the last delicate wooden box in front of him.

"You seem to know I'm leaving."

"You're a clever little fellow, but Leo XIII is a cunning old fellow, and we, the bishops, have been informed of your imminent departure."

Archbishop Eugène not only guessed the purpose of Ernst's arrival, but also had a sense of joy and farewell to Ernst's arrival, and Ernst was the biggest uneasiness in the hearts of their generation of bishops, because they used Ernst to deceive many believers and strengthen centralized power, and Ernst's departure from the Vatican was undoubtedly the greatest spiritual forgiveness for them.

It was for this reason that Archbishop Eugène, far from displeased Ernst's act of asking for gifts, took the initiative to prepare a generous gift for him, and when he met them again in the future, it would be the relationship between the worldly nobles and the bishop of the church, and nothing else.

"He seemed to be worried that I wouldn't leave."

Archbishop Eugène Ernst teased Leo XIII with a hint of suggestion, to which Archbishop Eugène smiled slightly and did not answer, to which Ernst had to sigh that no old guy in the Vatican was simple.

Because the purpose had been achieved, there was no need for Ernst to continue chatting, and he left to return to his luxurious carriage, and when he opened the gift box and saw the ticket stubs of the Bank of Rome inside, he was very happy, how could the cash of 16,000 gold marks (about 8,000 pounds) not make him happy.

Ernst then visited the bishops one by one, and in a few days Ernst had 30,000 pounds in his hand, and the 100,000 pounds promised by Leo XIII had also arrived, and Ernst also had about 150,000 pounds in his hand, including some deposits in recent years.

More than 100 fine white military horses, more than 100 sets of well-made Austro-Hungarian military uniforms, more than 100 pairs of leather military boots, and more than 100 ...... On the whole, Ernst fully armed his 132 guards, all of whom were the most advanced weapons at this stage, and a series of equipment such as horses, knights' uniforms, and military boots.

In fact, these things alone are worth thousands of pounds, but the number is relatively small, and the Vatican has not completed the delivery in the slightest with the intention of letting Ernst leave earlier.

The letter had been sent to Austria-Hungary through the post office, explaining that he intended to go to the territory as soon as he returned to see them, rather than staying at the palace all the time.

The other nobles had to worry about the landlord bullying the young lord by the domain administrators, Ernst had no need to worry about it, because he had in his hands the most loyal guards, which the old monks had brought back to the Vatican since they were eleven or twelve years old to train and guide them to lifelong allegiance to Ernst.

What's more, Archduke Ferdinand is still alive and has the support of a crown prince's father, I believe there will not be any rebellion such as stewards and territorial administrators! As for deception...... Was Ernst really a six-year-old child?

If the administrators really thought so, then his death was not far off, and the guards had personally experienced the killing, and the prisoners they had secretly executed were the fate of the administrators.

(Note: Gubastov, the Tsar's representative to the Vatican, wrote in July 1903 that Catholics from all over the world contribute an average of 600-7 million francs per year to the Vatican, and as much as 10 million to 12 million francs in the Holy Year.) Before Leo XIII's death, his personal savings were estimated at 30 million --- 40 million lire. ）