The arrival of the Pope is a great thing for any country at any time. It is even greater than the ascension of the new king. On the one hand, because there is only one pope on the mainland, but there are twenty-three countries. On the other hand, because the Pope is generally seventy years old, or even eighty years old, and it is difficult to accept a long journey like an expedition. Therefore, the Pope will not leave the Holy See until he has to. It is unheard of for a thousand years to travel with seventeen cardinals and a thousand Knights Templars.

Although Gray had tried to do what he could think of, Isaac, who was poor and weak in the country, obviously could not support such a great celebration. Gray did not allow the people to lose money at this time. The entire welcome ceremony seemed to be huge, but in fact it was just that there were enough people and had a big reputation. The money spent was far worse than what Benedict II had held for Gray at the time.

Of course, compared to the important negotiations that are coming, which affect the entire continent, no one will care about this small matter.

After walking around the Lion King for a week, the carriage arrived at Pierce Cathedral.

Out of courtesy, Gray gave the entire Pierce Cathedral to the Pope, the seventeen cardinals who accompanied him, and other clergymen. The Templars strictly controlled the entire Pierce Cathedral, and even a fly could not fly in.

"The food, and all the supplies needed for life, are ready, please ask the Pope and the Bishops to take it for themselves."

"No need." A cardinal whispered: "The Pope will not use anything foreign, we have all brought our own."

"Then, please." Gray saluted respectfully: "When will the formal interview be held? Will it be tonight?"

The pope stood quietly, with his back to Gray, looking up at the magnificent statue of the gods in Pierce Cathedral.

The Cardinal who blocked the Pope and Grey continued, "Of course it's tomorrow. Tonight, the Pope must rest. Not everyone can sleep like your Silver Moon Knights."

"I understand." Gray saluted respectfully again: "If there is anything else, please feel free to give me instructions."

The Cardinal nodded.

Standing aside, there were a whole row of cardinals, including the senior Bishop Anthony III of Isaac. After a year of separation, he saw Gray again at this moment, and he was very mixed.

After saluting again, Grey quit Pierce Cathedral.

After Gray left, the Pope, who looked at the statue of God, whispered: "Do you think he is different from what you imagined at the beginning?"

"There are some differences, much more friendly than I thought. At least they are polite. Although he was not even willing to take off his cover when he kissed his hands, he said.

Another cardinal said: "I thought he would be a very powerful man. After all, he never wanted to take off his cover, which reminded me of the legend about the Elf King more than a decade ago. He thought he was a man who was so arrogant that he looked down on anyone."

"Grey has never been that way. In fact, he is a very friendly person." Anthony III sighed and said, "He is friendly to everyone, even to the enemy. Unless the other party's philosophy is hugely different from him. But I don't think it is irreparable. The person I have ever seen who makes him angry the most is Benedict II, but he has now returned the power to Benedict II. Although the crown was taken away by him."

"Are you talking to him?" asked the cardinal.

"No, I'm just talking about the matter." Anthony III replied softly.

A Templar hurriedly walked in from outside the door, carrying a clergy with a little ragged costume. When entering the door, the two Templars guarding the door searched him all over.

The man was bald. Although his eyes were already deep, he had no less fat on his body.

"Pope, Bishop, and clergy from the former Lion King Capital are asking for a visit!"

"I've failed so much, but I still dare to show up?" After a glance, a cardinal whispered: "Let him come here."

"yes!"

The fat pastor who had just been searched bowed, walked over with a smile, knelt on the ground and kowtowed.

"See Pope! See all the bishops! I, I have a very important thing to report!" As he said that, the fat pastor took out a copy of "The Lich Paladin" from his pocket and presented it with both hands.

The Cardinal, who was originally planning to pick him up, glanced at him and shrank his hand that was stretched out: "What are you doing with this? One book?"

"This is not as simple as a book. It is very likely that the truth of the Paladin! Paladin Gray is actually a lich!"

"Are you kidding me?"

The other cardinals next to them laughed out loud: "Hold a book and say this is the truth?"

"Can you stayed in the Lion King Capital and became hungry after a few months?"

"Although it's weird that he's always wearing a mask, if he's really a lich, how could people know that he's a lich? What's more, it's written to sell?"

"We understand your desire to make a difference. The failure of the Isaac Church may have caused your spirit to collapse. But the Holy See is a serious place, not a place where you can testify with a book."

"No, sirs, please listen to me!" The bald fat priest said quickly: "The author of this book said that it was written by Paladin Gray himself! We are very sure that Paladin Gray summoned him and was with Benedict II! So he is by no means nonsense!"

"That's even more bizarre. If he was really a lich, why did he ask someone to write such a movie? There are only three possibilities for this matter. One is that you talk nonsense, the second is that the author talks nonsense, and the third is that it is simply a trap. Paladin Grey talks nonsense!" The cardinals still didn't believe it.

However, the Pope, whose back is facing the bald fat pastor, stretched out a hand at this time: "Come on, I'll take a look."

"Sir, what's so good about this kind of book?" The Cardinal, who was standing next to the Pope, smiled awkwardly.

"Take it." The Pope repeated again.

All of a sudden, all the laughter disappeared, and the cardinals all opened their eyes and looked at the pope.

The bald fat priest excitedly handed over the Lich Paladin in his hand to the Cardinal standing in front of him.

Taking it, the Pope flipped through it and whispered: "So far, we have made too many mistakes, all because we inferred based on common sense. However, it turns out that Gray is not a person who can infer from common sense. The last message that Master Andrew ** sent back before he defected to him tells us that Paladin Gray is most likely a necromancer. No one of us believed it at that time."

After a pause, the Pope turned around and looked at the Cardinals and continued, "Later, Levi proved this. Through the observation of the angels, we confirmed that all the Paladin Grey's men were dark creatures who converted. Even succubus. He also said that there was at least one lich in the Silver Moon Knights because the entire Silver Moon Knights are undead knights. That was not something that human power could do. And from the beginning to the end, he had never seen that lich. If this Lich who had never appeared was the same person as the Paladin Grey who had never taken off the cover, there was actually a skeleton in his armor? Don't forget that his past has always been blank. No one knows where he is, who his parents are, and how he grew up. It's not just that it's as simple as never taking off the cover."

All of the Cardinals present were stunned.

...

"I don't know if he is upright and kind, but I think he is at least a sensible person." Gray commented.

"Then what are you going to ask him for? I think the most important thing about his trip is to return four paladins. Under what circumstances will you agree to release four paladins?" asked the Black Cat.

"If he agrees to strictly restrain the four Paladins, then I can agree to release them. Of course, he must also promise to move the Holy See in a better direction. Many things, such as the selection of Paladins, are essentially problematic. There must be reforms, and I must participate. I do not want to carry out large-scale reforms immediately, but at least it should be gradual and not stagnant."

"I think it will be difficult for you to negotiate by exchanging conditions." Black Cat yawned and said, "If you want to reform and you want to participate, what extent should you participate? The decision is given to you? This is obviously impossible. If you do this, it means you become a pope, even more powerful than the pope. It is equivalent to the Cardinal. Even if the Pope agrees, the Cardinal will be a problem. But if you don't give you the decision, it is very likely that the reform is equivalent to not changing. You actually just get the right to know, and even if they delay indefinitely, you can't do anything about it. Catherine, what do you think?"

"I think... maybe we don't need to think too much." Catherine said softly: "Since it's a peace talk, then trust between each other is very important. If we can't trust each other, then even if the negotiation is done, it may soon break down. Although the Pope did not satisfy us, it may not be his own problem. After all, the Cardinal's power is greater than him, and he can't change anything. If he does not do well, it does not mean that he wants this. And if he can become a pope, he must be a powerful person. If we can win his support and let him understand that what Grey wants, perhaps everything will be much simpler than we imagine."

Vivian tilted her head aside and thought.

Grey nodded silently, and the black cat was also thinking.

"Since that's the case, my negotiation strategy tomorrow should be to first win the support of the pope and let the pope understand what I want. Instead of negotiating terms with him, right?"

"Smart, that's it!" replied Black Cat.
Chapter completed!