“This is a grave matter. Please forgive me, but I cannot make this decision. I will report this to Her Highness shortly and let her decide.”
'Sending troops? What are they trying to do?'
Lola’s heart was racing, even as she spoke to stall for time.
At this moment, the Holy See was still the strongest among the Eight Nations of the Holy Church.
Under a millennium of support from the seven nations, its national power far exceeded any single one of them.
If the other side truly used this excuse to force a military deployment, the Kingdom of the Moon would be completely unable to resist.
The military strength of the two sides was simply not on the same level!
“As Bishop Lola said, this is a matter of great importance. Even if the Saintess of the Moon does not agree, we cannot simply ignore it. Currently, Demon Marshal Zuka’s whereabouts are unknown. If he goes around massacring and corrupting different regions, it will be like a needle in the flesh. It might not be fatal, but the pain will be unbearable.”
He looked calmly at the girl on the screen, the contempt in his eyes clear for all to see.
A teenage girl managing to climb to the rank of Bishop was simply a fantasy!
Since the founding of the Eight Nations of the Holy Church, such a young Bishop was truly unheard of.
A Saintess was chosen by God, ignoring age. As long as she was recognized by God, she could succeed the throne.
But a Bishop was an assistant administrator of a church or region.
Although it was a supportive role, the power it held was immense.
If it weren't for the Saintess of the Moon’s sudden rise and her successive victories over the demon race, he definitely would have gone to question her.
Was such a young Bishop a sign of looking down on the Holy Church?
“Bishop Lola, this is already a Papal Decree. Our army has already set out for the border. This is a notification, not a negotiation. We hope your side understands.”
Lola’s brow furrowed. The Pope of the Holy See had given the order, and the matter involved the demon race.
Even if Her Highness were present, it was unlikely she could refuse.
Was the Holy See truly determined to invade this time?
The man in the mirror had heavy eyebrows that slanted toward his temples, sunken eyes, a wide mouth, and a broad nose.
He was tall and had powerful arms, clearly no ordinary man.
Currently, the Holy See had two Heavenly Punishment Knights, divided into the Left and Right.
The man on the screen was the Right Heavenly Punishment Knight.
Marcus York.
His family was one of the largest among the human kingdoms.
The York family.
This family had branches throughout the Eight Nations of the Holy Church, including the Kingdom of the Moon.
Among the seven great families of the Moon, there was the York family.
“I ask for your understanding, Sir Marcus. I have already sent someone to inform Her Highness. She will be here shortly.”
Lola lowered her head, trying to stall with humility, but Marcus’s expression darkened at her words.
He gave a cold snort!
“Hah! Bishop Lola, are you planning to defy a Papal Decree!?”
Lola kept her head down, her expression grave. At this point, no matter what she said, it was likely impossible to stop this.
“A mere teenage girl dares to hold the position of Bishop. If it weren't for His Holiness the Pope's repeated orders not to interfere with the Kingdom of the Moon’s anti-demon plans, I would have applied for a review from the Holy See long ago.”
The girl with her head bowed narrowed her eyes slightly, listening without saying a word.
“What a joke. A teenage girl? She probably hasn't even been weaned yet.”
“I heard your Kingdom of the Moon is currently targeting the nobility. I am a noble myself. What? Do you want to target me too?”
Once Marcus started talking, he didn't care how harsh his words were and simply continued his lecture.
Lola knew she didn't have the strength to oppose this Marcus, just as he had said.
Her position as Bishop had been personally appointed by Her Highness without any discussion within the Holy Church.
In other words, once Marcus applied for a review, Her Highness would inevitably face pressure from the Holy See.
Thinking of this, Lola remained silent. No matter what he said, she didn't plan to argue back.
But Marcus continued:
“A little girl like you should hurry up and step down. Let the Saintess of the Moon choose someone better. How can the grand Holy Church allow a little girl to be in control?”
“Sir Marcus, did that statement include me as well?”
A foot clad in a white sock stepped in from outside the door.
A girl with long, silver hair slowly raised her crimson eyes, staring directly at Marcus on the screen.
Marcus paused slightly when he heard the voice and instinctively turned his head.
“Who dares to be so... oh, it's the Saintess of the Moon?”
Marcus was stunned. He hadn't expected Luo Li to arrive so quickly.
After a brief hesitation, he nodded, offering a formal greeting.
“How could I dare to speak disrespectfully to the Saintess? It’s just that this person is too young...”
“Insolence!!”
Marcus was jolted. His eyes, as wide as copper bells, were filled with shock.
He never expected a girl of only sixteen or seventeen to dare speak to him in such a manner.
After all, even the Saintess of the Moon was only one rank above a Heavenly Punishment Knight!
Their statuses were almost equal!
“You...”
Luo Li narrowed her eyes, a hint of coldness flashing through them.
“I am the Saintess, a rank above you and chosen by God. You dare address me as 'you'?”
Her small feet, encased in stockings, took a step forward as she stared directly at Marcus on the screen.
“Sir Marcus, I personally chose this Bishop to be my right hand. Why? Do your words imply you are dissatisfied with my decision?”
“This...”
Marcus was stunned again. This series of verbal attacks left him completely unable to respond for a moment.
“I have God’s favor. The person I choose is the person God chooses. You are dissatisfied with me and dare to lecture my Bishop. Do you compare yourself to a god? Do you intend to interfere in my affairs?”
These words struck the heart. Instantly, Marcus broke into a cold sweat.
He immediately dropped to one knee, his expression panicked.
“I... I would not dare!!”
Marcus’s face was filled with not only terror but also a trace of ferocity. Cold sweat dripped down his cheeks.
“You wouldn't dare? It seems to me that you have no respect for God at all.”
“I... I...”
Sweat dripped from Marcus’s chin drop by drop. At this moment, his mind was completely blank.
He had no idea how to respond.
If this matter escalated, a single accusation of 'disrespecting God' from the Saintess could cause him a great deal of trouble.
If things went poorly, he might even be stripped of his title as a Heavenly Punishment Knight!
Luo Li looked coldly at Marcus on the screen.
She had only been awake for a short while this morning when she heard the news of Zuka’s escape.
Luo Li felt like her head was about to explode as she rushed all the way to the communication room.
On the way, she had thought about how to negotiate with the Pope.
How to explain the situation.
How to solve the problem.
But she never expected that as soon as she entered, she would hear someone lecturing her Bishop.
How could she allow that?
Even the Pope himself was all smiles when facing Lola.
Because the Pope was well aware of Lola’s capabilities.
The Pope had never said a word against Lola’s position as Bishop.
Who did this man think he was?
Furthermore, even if the Pope didn't value Lola, who dared to speak ill of her people?
She would tear that mouth apart!
Having been a ruler for nearly six months, the girl had finally gained some confidence of her own.
“Sir Marcus, I want an apology.”
“I... I was out of line.”
One had to bow when under someone else’s roof.
No matter what, the Saintess of the Moon was still higher in rank than him.
As a Heavenly Punishment Knight, he could be arrogant in front of a Bishop, but he couldn't be arrogant in front of the Saintess.
“Not to me, to her!”
Luo Li raised her hand and pointed at Lola beside her.
Then she looked at Marcus on the screen.
“Sir Marcus, I command you in my capacity as the Saintess of the Moon. Apologize!”
“I...”
Marcus instinctively looked up. Already dissatisfied with this Bishop, he subconsciously wanted to argue.
However, when he looked up and met those crimson eyes, he opened his mouth but couldn't say a single word.
“I will say it one more time. Apologize.”
Luo Li spoke in a cold voice and took another step forward. The screen was now barely half a body’s length away from her.
Marcus, currently kneeling on the other side of the screen, could see the girl’s face as if she were looking down on all living things.
She was expressionless, her face as calm as a still lake.
But in that instant, Marcus felt a heart-pounding pressure radiating from her.
He didn't know that this was a form of psychological warfare. Of course, even if he did, he probably wouldn't understand it.
Even though the current Saintess was only a sixteen-year-old child.
Even though her strength was only around level ten.
He didn't dare to talk back.
Even lifting his head felt incredibly heavy at this moment.
“Sir Marcus, I am saying this for the last time.”
Luo Li took a deep breath.
“Apologize!!”
“I...”
Marcus looked up blankly at the silver-haired girl. Finally, with a face full of resentment, he lowered his head.
“Bi... Bishop... Lola...”
His voice was halting. The words came out of his mouth as if they were being squeezed through his teeth.
Even though his lowered head couldn't be seen, one could imagine his gritted teeth.
“I... I am sorry.”
Through the magic stone in the communication room, Luo Li could almost hear the sound of Marcus grinding his teeth as he knelt.
Once the words were spoken, the atmosphere in the room turned freezing cold.
Lola looked up at Luo Li, a hint of warmth flashing in her eyes. Then, pushing up her glasses, she set aside all her emotions and looked at Marcus with a faint smile.
“There is no need for that, Sir Marcus. Actually, you were right. I do lack experience. But please rest assured, I will work hard to learn and become a Bishop worthy of Her Highness’s appreciation.”
The atmosphere was awkward.
If she didn't smooth things over now, there would be no way to end this situation.
It was also the first time Lola had seen Luo Li so domineering.
To be so aggressive toward a Heavenly Punishment Knight.
And all for her sake.
However, Her Highness’s words were perhaps a bit too much.
If the standoff continued, it would truly be impossible to settle.
Marcus didn't look up, but one could imagine how red his old face must be.
His previous condescending lecture had been met with the other party’s humility.
Combined with the pressure from the Saintess of the Moon, he felt an urge to flee.
But if he turned and ran, it would be an act of disrespect toward the Saintess.
If he did that, he would truly be giving the Saintess of the Moon a handle against him.
Luo Li looked down at Marcus in silence.
To be honest, she only snapped back to reality after reaching this point.
What had she just done?!
Good grief, luckily her words had been forceful enough to catch Marcus off guard.
Otherwise, things would have truly fallen apart.
But now, she was in a bit of a bind herself.
Marcus didn't speak, and Luo Li remained motionless.
Of course, she had truly been furious just now.
Others might not know, but she knew very well.
Lola worked tirelessly for the Kingdom of the Moon every day, almost never taking a day off.
From time to time, Luo Li even had to give her a buff.
Without the support of her healing art, anyone else would have collapsed from exhaustion long ago.
Luo Li knew exactly how hard Lola worked.
Lola’s working hours were from five in the morning until eleven at night.
She only slept four or five hours a day and didn't even put down her documents while eating.
What boss wouldn't love an employee with such a work ethic?
If a boss didn't show some temper when such an employee was being bullied, they deserved to see their company fail.
This was her right hand. If it weren't for Lola, would she be able to sleep comfortably until six or seven in the morning?
Could she go to bed at nine at night?
It would be impossible.
Since ancient times, emperors often had short lives.
On one hand, their pampered bodies couldn't withstand the strain. On the other... the workload was simply too great.
Between the harem and the empire, who could handle such a toll?
Even taking restorative pills every day wouldn't be enough.
To be a wise ruler, one had to work hard.
Unless one wanted to be a tyrant, which was much easier.
Just do whatever, the country wouldn't collapse in a single day anyway.
But what Luo Li wanted to see was peace and prosperity throughout the land.
So, she had to be a wise ruler.
And to be a wise ruler while still having an easy time, one needed good ministers.
As a ruler, if one couldn't even protect their own good ministers, then what was the point of being a ruler?
She might as well go home and plant potatoes!
Well, she had done it.
She protected Lola and lectured the other party.
But the current situation made it difficult to find an exit.
Luo Li hesitated, wanting to say something, when a familiar voice suddenly came from the magic stone.
“Oh? What’s going on here?”
As the voice spoke, a person walked into view on the right side of the screen.
He was dressed in a Pope’s robe and crown, and his scepter clicked against the ground with every step.
“Your Holiness, it has been a long time.”
Luo Li bowed her head in greeting.
Marcus, who had been kneeling before Luo Li, quickly turned around and knelt before the newcomer.
“Marcus greets Your Holiness.”
“Rise.”
Diocletian looked at the girl with a smile.
“My deepest apologies. Although I don't know what happened, it seems Marcus must have spoken out of turn. On his behalf, I apologize to you. I hope Your Highness can forgive him.”
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