In a very quiet room in the Palace of Potico, the Pope summoned Alexander alone.

The room was very interesting. When I first came in, Alexander thought he had entered a small museum.

The furnishings in the room were a bit chaotic, and both the closets on the walls and the tables placed in the room were filled with all kinds of strange toys, models, tools and even some small wooden machines. Some of these things were assembled, and some of them were broken up and seemed to have not been completed.

Alexander saw some familiar things in it, such as a double-spoke water wheel that was widely used in this era. This small water wheel is placed in a pool model with low front and high back. The water wheel draws water into the higher pool above, and then flows down a small ramp next to it. The rapid water flow hits the water wheel's sway leaves and continues to work, which allows the model to move continuously.

Alexander looked at this small water conservancy project with interest. He was not curious about how this thing was made, but was a little surprised that the Pope was actually interested in these things.

Whether in the descriptions of historians or the Pope he had seen with his own eyes, Alexander VI gave people the impression that he had not had much other impressions except greed and extravagant. Perhaps this man was a cunning and successful diplomat. This can be seen from the fact that he used the Papal Meridian created by the disputes on the Iberian Peninsula, or a ruthless conspirator. This can be seen from those opponents who had already entered the graves of many of his subordinates who had already entered the grave. However, no or few people have mentioned that the Pope was actually a Vatican leader with a high appreciation of art and a tolerant attitude towards new things.

In fact, Alexander vaguely remembers hearing that although the reputation of the Holy See was degenerate during Alexander VI's reign, during this period, the constraints on the people's thoughts of the Holy See were the most relaxed in the past century, and even the fearful religious trials far away on the Iberian Peninsula had vaguely criticized them.

"Do you like this place?" The Pope signaled Alexander to sit down. He looked at Alexander through a bunch of messy things on the table, his eyes like beasts staring at prey in the depths of the jungle.

Alexander reminded himself not to be confused by the things in front of him, thinking that the old man opposite would be easy to talk to. In fact, this person is a cold-blooded conspirator who can watch his son-in-law drink the unique Canterrera poison of their family at the family dinner. Now he seems to be the guy who inherited the unlucky Giovanni Sforza who has become a dead ghost.

“It’s very chic.”

"I like it very much because these gadgets can make me forget a lot of troubles for the time being," the pope tricked the next wooden villain, and the villain began to swing his arms and hit a small bronze bell in front of him until he slowly stopped. "Do you know, most people are like this puppets, in fact, they are just toys in other people's hands, just like this waterwheel. It's amazing to see that it is indeed moving constantly, but have you ever thought about it? Did it move like this from the beginning? Where did the power that makes it move come from, or what made it happen?"

Alexander nodded silently. He knew that the Pope would certainly not discuss with him the so-called "first driving force" such an eternal puzzle that even 500 years would be unanswered by the world's smartest human elites. The Pope was actually telling him that he was just the puppet who could only be controlled and promoted by others.

But Alexander obviously didn't think so. He walked around the table and came to the Pope to look at him.

"You have a daughter with Lucrezia, or you think I will allow you to do whatever you want because of this, then you are wrong. You must know that I can let my grandson enjoy everything she wants while allowing her father to go to hell because of his own wisdom." The Pope's merciless words made Alexander again confirm that this person was indeed the head of the Bogia family, known for its ruthlessness.

"But you won't do that," Alexander didn't care, "because I'm still useful to you."

"Is it because of that exchange?" The pope glanced at his cheap son-in-law. "The copper price has fallen so much that many people have lost their fortunes. I even heard that someone has committed suicide, which is against God."

"If you make money in business, you will lose money. It would be too bad if those people can't even figure it out." Alexander would not feel sorry for those who have lost a lot of money. In fact, even if he doesn't do it, someone will slowly figure out this way in Venice and the lowlands. He just made a while in advance or made all kinds of money-making methods that will take a long time to find out suddenly. "The Fuguer family is about to be in trouble soon, or they are already in trouble now. They will bear the debts that the entire family will lose money because of large loans and sudden plummeting copper prices. The emperor they always support will be in trouble because no one provides him with finances."

"Is that so, is this your reliance?" The Pope asked calmly. He had heard a lot about the exchange from many people, especially the turmoil caused by the decline in copper prices, and even the fluctuations in various other commodities caused by this made Alexander VI secretly frightened and also excited.

The Pope keenly realized that this was a good opportunity to make a fortune, so he had ordered people to take the opportunity to acquire the goods and other property in the hands of bankrupt merchants at a low price. Moreover, due to the decline in copper prices, this even caused fluctuations in the value of currency, and the Pope's private warehouse was filled with it in a short period of time.

This forced the pope to admit that it would be great if Alexander was allowed to be the Vatican's financial officer. At least his methods of making money made the pope feel really good.

But this is obviously not enough. Alexander VI was able to sacrifice Giovanni Sforza, a son-in-law with a deep background and backer of the Sforza family without hesitation. If Alexander could only make money for him, he would not be able to impress him at all.

"There are Pisa, Montina and Florence," Alexander took out the chips in his hand little by little. He noticed that the Pope's expression was slightly moved when he heard these places, which made him more certain of his conjecture. "My Majesty, I know what you want, but I will not hand over Romagna."

Pope Song's bare eyelids suddenly moved, and his eyes that had been calm all the time became severe. He stretched his chin that was slightly protruding forward and then asked slowly: "What are you talking about? Do you think anyone would think of conquering Romagna?"

"Of course there is, hasn't this been Giovanni's dream all the time?"

Alexander's words made the Pope, who had been calm, move as if he had been gently whipped.

He knew that Alexander was talking about his son Giovanni, and that he once was the pride of the Borgia family, whom he had great hope.

"If Giovanni wanted to get Romagna, I might not compete with him, but if it was Caesar, it would be another matter."

Hearing Alexander expressing his disgust and hostility towards Caesar so clearly, the Pope's expression became more severe and cold. He looked at Alexander coldly as if he was looking at a dead person. At this time, he no longer concealed what he thought in his heart, and even seemed so clear: "Do you know that this is challenging me, you want to be an enemy of the Bogia family?"

"It's Caesar." Alexander shook his head. "I will not give him everything here. If he must be an enemy of me, I will fight back without mercy and even completely destroy him, even if he has the support of the French."

The Pope looked at Alexander unexpectedly, not understanding how he dared to say such things. You should know that no one is not worried about the invasion of the French. Even in the city of Rome, he could hear all kinds of concerns about the future that might arise everywhere, but Alexander seemed to be not worried about this at all.

This cannot but arouse the Pope's suspicion. After all, judging from what Alexander has done so far, he has never done anything to suffer.

The Pope has noticed that the results of his seemingly disadvantaged or passively driven actions will actually only bring more benefits to him. Sometimes, behind his seemingly helpless compromises, there seems to be more profound meanings.

So what is he going to do this time? He came to Rome to challenge himself?

Alexander VI did not think that his cheap son-in-law would do such a meaningless thing.

Sure enough, Alexander looked at the pope and said in a gentle tone, "Your Majesty, Estreth is the Duke of Pisa, and she is also the co-lord of Florence. I must protect her interests, both as a father and as a regent of Pisa. Therefore, at this time, anyone who tries to invade my daughter's territory and rights is my enemy, even Caesar."

The pope looked dark. He was not surprised how Alexander guessed Caesar's ambition for Romagna. In fact, since the day he voluntarily announced his resignation from the priesthood, many people have known Caesar's strong pursuit of secular power, and his unconcealed expansion of the pope's army proved this.

However, when Alexander taught Caesar a lesson in Livorna in a nearly completely destructive way, he became much more cautious, which also made people think that the pope's son was already discouraged after a setback. However, only Alexander VI knew that the crushing defeat not only did not defeat Caesar, but instead made him have greater fighting spirit and ambitions.

Alexander's victory made Caesar realize the disadvantages revealed by the Vatican army, especially the performance of the knights who once made them proud in the war made Caesar doubt their past glory.

Alexander VI remembered that Caesar once mentioned the deep impressions left by Alexander's army more than once in an excited tone. Among them, the strict discipline that was definitely not comparable to that of the mercenaries, which made Caesar seem to have found the trick of how to train a powerful army.

Caesar had great ambitions for Romagna, and he hoped to become the Duke of Romagna, but now it seemed that Alexander did not want him to do so.

Alexander VI stood up slowly with a look of discomfort. He has inevitably shown an old look in recent years. This made Alexander suddenly think that the reason why he ignored his reputation and even made the city look spoiled Julia Farne. Perhaps it is more important to make others think that he is still in his prime and has not aging.

After all, a healthy pope can make many people who are ready to move have some concerns.

But the Pope did not seem to want to hide the fact that he was old in front of Alexander.

"Can't you satisfy your ambitions as a member of the Bogia family?" The Pope said slowly, "You can be Caesar's arm, you can help him realize his ambitions, and at the same time achieve your goals. Isn't this better? Don't forget that we are a family."

Looking at the Pope with anticipation, Alexander felt that if someone had no idea about this Borgia, he might have considered it a good suggestion. After all, having the support of a father-in-law as the Pope's father-in-law would be enough to bring him enough benefits.

Just when I thought of the family's surname Borgia, all the excitement turned into a sarcastic smile.

"Your Majesty, Caesar wants to be the master of Romagna, which I absolutely cannot accept, so there is no compromise between us, and you know this, but you still make such suggestions..."

Speaking of this, Alexander suddenly stopped. He silently looked at the smiling expression on the Pope's face, and his expression slowly became serious.

"Caesar?" Alexander suddenly said something as if he was asking questions.

"Yes, Caesar is here."

Seeing that Alexander seemed to finally understand something, Alexander waved his hand gently. As he slowly raised his hand, a hidden small door on the wall of the room slowly opened, and a figure slowly walked out of it.

The embroidered gold patterns on the dark black outer cover looked complicated and gorgeous. The belt on the boots tightly wrapped around the somewhat fat crimson edge trousers. The outer sheath of the conical armor-breaking sword that Alexander was familiar with on the belt slightly slapped the outside of his thigh.

Caesar Porgia was holding a cute little hat with a gem in his hand. Seeing the hat, Alexander's pupils instantly shrank.

"Alexander Juliant Kombray," Caesar slowly walked to Alexander not far away. His lower lip, which had been wearing this short beard, moved slightly. Seeing the gloomy look on Alexander's face, he sighed. "You should promise my father, as he said, we are family. But it is too disappointing that you reject our kindness, but Lucrechia is always a Borgia, and I cannot help but admit that your daughter is really cute."

As he said that, Caesar raised the small hat and gently turned it in front of Alexander.
Chapter completed!