Somebody Stop the Pope – 149



Episode 149

5.

It’s been 30 minutes since our church’s negotiation team was deployed.

Although Representative Hwang had been through a lot at the table he was virtually meaningless in the face of the activities of a duo that were no different from highway robbers.

The outcome of the negotiations to put it simply was as follows:

“You even took out my underwear.”

It was decided that not only would we hand over an astronomical sum of money to our church but we would also separately pay the daily wages of the clergy we hired.

The amount is secret.

One thing is for sure I was ripped off more than twice as much as I expected.

Archbishop Laparte simply nodded quietly while drinking his tea in response to my exclamation.

“It wasn’t difficult.”

“Even though he is the head of a large guild there must be hundreds of snakes inside him.”

He is a person who maintained his composure even in a situation where he could not help but feel good about the friendly exchange of words between Siyeon and his daughter.

It wouldn’t have been easy to boil a person like that.

But he accomplished that difficult task in just 30 minutes.

If it were me I don’t think I would have squeezed it out like that.

Are experts truly experts?

“According to General Jeong Soo the Race Guild has recently received astronomical amounts of capital from several major corporations. Considering that their coffers are full and they tend to not spare money when it comes to battles… the situation is entirely favorable to our side.”

“Brother Park Ji-won gave me some good information.”

At my words Jiwon Park who was standing next to me nodded with a pleased smile.

“I was just doing what I had to do as a management advisor to the Limen Church. I had to get as much as I could from the guilds. That was something I heard while drinking. I didn’t know I would be writing that information down so quickly.”

A large contract that will allow us to recover nearly half of the amount invested in the first batch of trainees so far.

Of course there was another condition behind that contract.

“Your Holiness the leader of the first batch of trainees dispatched to the Race Guild is Archbishop Leo.”

“It says so.”

I nodded as I looked over the contract that Archbishop Laparte handed me.

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The number of people dispatched is 10 not 5 as initially requested. Leo is also accompanying them as a guide.

This is much better than sending only the first batch of trainees to a guild with no connections.

The racing guild will have to regulate it on its own but it is impossible to predict what kind of accidents will occur in the face of greed.

The first batch of trainees are valuable workers who will lead our church in the future.

I also think it would be appropriate to include Leo if only for their safety.

“If you look there is one more contract.”

“This is…..”

“The contract to dispatch Archbishop Leo is separate. Archbishop Leo is evaluated as being easily above the Disaster level by Earth standards. Even though he is being dispatched as a guide I cannot send him out bare-handed.”

If you include Leo’s contract it’s a contract of truly enormous scale.

It was a contract that required Leo to pay additional money every time he participated in a battle and even that amount was unrealistic.

Even though they had received investment from a large corporation the contract was one in which the pillars could be pulled out.

“Apart from the daily wages of the trainees Archbishop Leo’s income will be returned to the diocese.”

“I think Leo will be upset.”

“That is the position of an archbishop. It is clearly stated in the doctrine. Instead I think it would be better to give Archbishop Leo a generous bonus.”

It was a somewhat conscientious remark but since the person making the remark was Archbishop Laparte it didn’t seem to be a problem.

Leona Luna obediently follows Archbishop Lapart’s words.

That’s why learned fears are scary.

I nodded slightly and Park Ji-won who was next to me added a few words to Archbishop Laparte’s explanation.

“Your Holiness this contract is actually going to be detrimental to us.”

“…They are extorting this much money?”

“The reality is that you can’t hire the returnees who are at the disaster level or higher or the top S-class hunters even if you pay a lot of money. And if they achieve great results in this expedition it won’t be a bad deal.”

but.

So I guess Representative Hwang returned with a bright face.

It was a look of great satisfaction wasn’t it?

“…wait for a sec.”

A man who had initially requested only five priests with healing abilities ended up signing a contract to hire Leo as well.

It’s as if someone came to buy only car tires and ended up buying the car as well.

It’s like striking it rich against the head of a large guild.

Archbishop Lapart who had been observing my expression nodded with a kind expression.

“Archbishop Leo also needs to pay for his meals. Don’t worry Your Holiness. I will make sure to speak to Archbishop Leo. He has contributed greatly to the finances of the church so you should give him some credit.”

“The price of food is the price of food… but this method is completely like that of a used car dealer.”

A method that reminds me of the so-called used car salesmen which I only heard about through rumors.

But Archbishop Lapart smiled as if there was no problem at all.

“What does the method matter Your Majesty? If we are satisfied and the other party is satisfied wouldn’t that be true coexistence? Isn’t that right Jeongsu?”

“That’s right. I guess you could call it a win-win situation. They provided the necessary power and we secured a generous budget for this opportunity. It’s a win-win situation. Haha!”

“Heh heh.”

A scene where the meaning of coexistence seems to be greatly distorted.

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The white terror was indeed a white terror.

The combination of those two seems like it would be enough to squeeze out even the devil’s blood.

Perhaps we could even go further and kill the demons by drying their blood?

“Oh and Your Majesty. I think that through this opportunity we can also inject influence from the religious order into the large guilds. As long as the Limen religious order does not oppose us we can work together at any time. This contract with the Race Guild also contains that meaning.”

“Expand your influence over them?”

“Yes. If we could also expand our influence over the large guilds wouldn’t it be much more useful in creating the world the Limen Church desires?”

Plus it might reduce the influence of the Baekmyeong Church that they are associated with.

I nodded slowly while listening to Park Ji-won’s words.

We will use the war of nerves between the large guilds over the lost lands to further solidify our sect’s position….

It won’t be bad.

Have as few enemies as possible and as many friends as possible.

Because it is also the most efficient way to lead a changing world.

“I believe that the two of you will continue to do well in the future.”

“It is all thanks to the grace of His Holiness and Limen.”

“I will always do my best.”

As expected as expected.

I thought I could continue to leave the work to them in the future. That’s why I said that talented people are important.

I nodded again in satisfaction.

Preparations for the lost land were steadily coming to an end.

6.

Today was another comfortable day thanks to my capable subordinates.

My official duties for today conclude with the transfer of the dark elf elder who was held captive in the basement of our temple to a government-affiliated research institute.

The decision on the Dark Elf Elder was made by the survivors rescued from Hamheung last time.

I accepted their decision without question knowing what they had been through to the Dark Elves.

He is a man who committed terrible acts against humans.

It would be a mistake to grant such a man an easy death.

Since the guy has been sealed so perfectly that he can’t even resist government researchers will probably be able to conduct experiments comfortably.

So I finished all my work and went home.

“My brother is here.”

“Big brother!”

Siyeon welcomed me more warmly than ever.

Of all the expressions I’ve seen of Siyeon recently this was the brightest and cutest.

He looked that happy.

“You didn’t fight with Yuna’s father did you? I’m sorry oppa. I should have endured it a little longer.”

“No we didn’t fight. He actually said he was sorry. So don’t worry Siyeon.”

He deliberately kept his words to himself out of consideration for Siyeon’s innocence saying that he not only received an apology but also took full advantage of it.

Because adults have their own circumstances.

“You can tell just by looking at it that I’ve hit the jackpot.”

-It’s a shame that Siyeon doesn’t know the true nature of the Pope. The Pope is a man who will follow you to hell to pay for your sins.

Two bastards talking to each other as if they were telling me to listen to the demonstration.

I lightly ignored Snow White and Beth’s voices and then spoke to Siyeon.

“Siyeon-ah. It’s not a good thing to hold back. You have to show those friends something spicy every now and then.”

“really?”

“Of course. Wouldn’t that be the only way to come to your senses and become a good person?”

At my words Siyeon smiled brightly.

“But I didn’t say anything bad.”

“You did a great job.”

“lol.”

Originally that kind of joke would be a hundred times more effective if you didn’t mix it with swear words.

And personally it was a very touching scene.

At home she always shows her kind and cute side so I was worried that she would seem easygoing to her friends but after seeing the spicy flavor that Siyeon showed me earlier I realized one thing.

Our demonstration will not go anywhere and be intimidated.

『That’s because the owner doesn’t know yet. Do you know how strong Siyeon is? If you pick a fight with Siyeon you die. There are many strong-willed kids at Siyeon’s school… But in front of Siyeon they just become docile lambs?』

Snow White said bumping her head against my leg.

『Yuna she was also often pressured by Siyeon.』

‘So that’s why you weren’t on good terms?’

『Rather than that the girl named Yuna likes the boy named Hyunsoo who likes Siyeon. It’s easier to think of it as a kind of love triangle.』

Was it an incident that involved a complex romantic relationship?

Somehow it seemed like he was really jealous of Siyeon.

It seems that he struck first because he thought his father was behind him while he was so dissatisfied.

Should I say that it’s something like being childish but not childish at the same time?

Kids these days definitely seem smart.

I patted Siyeon’s head and asked Baekseol a question in a subtle way.

‘Does Siyeon like that guy named Hyunsu?’

『Absolutely. Hyunsoo is a handsome kid but Siyeon has high standards. If he’s not as handsome as Seungwoo… Well. It might be hard for Siyeon to get attention?』

It means that you just have to be careful of Seungwoo.

I understand.

Still it was a fun time because I was able to experience an unexpected side of Siyeon.

“Of all the people who came to school today my eldest brother was the coolest! My teacher really liked him too. That’s right my eldest brother. Isn’t my teacher really pretty?”

“You were pretty.”

“You don’t have a boyfriend either. I looked into it in advance. But I like Seolhwa and Luna too!”

“What does that mean?”

“That’s just it!”

A foxy guy.

It may not have ears and a tail but it acts like a real fox.

While I was having a pleasant conversation with Siyeon Inwook walked out of the bedroom.

“Are you here? How was the observation class today?”

“It was fun thanks to Siyeon. Siyeon was more than I expected…”

“It’s spicy. It’s spicy. The demonstration at school was really spicy.”

…You knew?

Inwook came over and lightly placed a hand on Siyeon’s shoulder. Then he continued talking as if it was nothing special.

“Before I transferred all the boys at my school were killing me. Do you know that hyung?”

“what?”

“Is Siyeon good at fighting? Haven’t you ever seen her? She doesn’t lose when fighting boys.”

“Little brother.”

Siyeon stared at Inwook and Inwook meeting Siyeon’s gaze slowly stepped back.

“You saw it hyung. Be careful Siyeon. You know she looks just like her mom right?”

“Big brother. Go wash up quickly! I need to talk to little brother!”

Is being strong-willed something that runs in my family?

Grandma mom and Siyeon too.

The power of genes really seems great.

I smiled as I took off my outerwear. Then I asked Inwook and Siyeon.

“Shall we all go to the beach together this weekend? Snow White and Beth too. What do you think?”

“What’s going on?”

“It’ll be quite busy once we enter the Lost Lands so we should have plenty of time to play before then.”

You should play as much as you can while you can.

That memorable day was coming to an end.

7.

Two weeks after that.

Munsan-eup Paju-si Gyeonggi-do.

“Okay let’s get started.”

The full-scale northward advance has begun.

Our Pope please stop this