When the Saintess Arrives, No King Exist
Chapter 38: Imperial Court Conference

Chapter 38: Chapter 38: Imperial Court Conference

Imperial Calendar, September 13, 1444, morning.

Bright sunlight streamed in from outside the window, illuminating the floor of the Stag Chamber in the Pope’s Palace.

Though the walls bore dog heads, it did not hinder this room from being named the Stag Chamber.

For in the Pope’s Palace in Holy Seat City, the Pope’s study is similarly called the Stag Chamber.

The Gulag Monastery remains the Gulag Monastery, but the Gulag Church has transformed into the Pope’s Palace.

Because the great Pope, His Majesty Horn, resides in this palace.

Where the Pope resides, there is the Pope’s Palace.

The hall of the Stag Chamber, three meters wide and six meters long, seemed endless, filled with a crowd.

The entire room was bathed in amber-like sunlight, as if truly within amber.

The newly crowned great Pope, Horn Gallar, was presiding over this room, meeting with his four close Cardinals and two temple knights.

Six chief ministers of the Gulag Papal State stepped forward in turn, brushing kisses over Horn’s hand, then each took their seat.

"Welcome to the Stag Chamber, my dear Cardinals!" Horn had replaced the former rectangular scribe table with a round one.

He had mentioned earlier, a round table signifies equality without hierarchical distinction, allowing everyone present to speak freely.

Despite his words, as Horn surveyed the table, he could still perceive that the seemingly unbreakable alliance of Tangli and others actually divided into three factions.

Tangli, Chervis, and Grampwen sat together, on Horn’s left side.

This faction mainly comprised of Armed Farmers and rogues among the villagers, currently controlling parts of the monasteries and most of the refugee camps.

Madlan sat alone on Horn’s right side. Since Horn’s coronation as Pope that day, it appeared Madlan disagreed with him becoming the Pope.

He should represent the interests of the refugees and Public Register Farmers, but his base was outside the Gulag Monastery, his forces weak, and influence not as significant as the other two factions.

As for across the table, there sat Jeanne and Danji.

Though these two sat side by side, their expressions were unwell, indicating their previous exchange was unpleasant.

Danji’s faction consisted mainly of the clergy and monk groups inside the Gulag Monastery, as well as a few remaining knights and a handful of Night Guards.

According to the intelligence Horn gathered, this Danji was the most peculiar; logically, he should stand with the clergy as their protector.

But in reality, he leaned more towards the civilians outside the monastery, much akin to having one foot in the enemy camp, yet having his heart elsewhere.

Indeed, without factions internally, it’s truly bizarre.

But this just gave Horn an opportunity; an impenetrable alliance would have been the real headache.

"I’ve called you all here today primarily to inform you of one matter — thanks to the grace of the Holy Father, I am completely healed."

"Praise be to our Lord!" The ministers in the hall praised sporadically and unevenly.

"Secondly, we must discuss the future course and how to allocate grain during this period; feel free to speak. What do you think? Let’s discuss it."

With that, Horn leaned back, rested his back against the chair, and crossed his legs, adopting a nonchalant attitude.

"Your Majesty," Tangli furrowed his brow, "yesterday you said you would tell us the course, yet today you want us to discuss it."

"If you don’t discuss, how will I know if my course suits your preferences?"

"If you don’t say, how can we discuss?"

"Madlan, what do you think?" Ignoring Tangli, Horn looked at Madlan, who had repeatedly hesitated to speak.

Madlan glanced at Tangli and the others, nodded, "Your Majesty, I believe electing a Pope was an act of necessity, a means to appease the populace by imitating the Pope.

We can send someone to Kasha County, seeking Dean Juanuo’s assistance. He would surely be willing to shelter and help us clarify the misunderstandings."

"Kasha County is so far, and by the time we find him, we’ll have been annihilated by the Church’s army, distant water can’t quench near thirst," Chervis immediately opposed.

"What fear is there of the Church’s army?"

"Oh?" Horn looked at Danji in surprise, "Commander Danji, what insights do you have?"

"We protect civilians," Danji declared righteously. "In the face of such righteousness, even if the Church comes to attack us, they will melt away like snow under the sun.

We explain first, they will surely understand, but if they indeed attack, I’ll stand at the front, and with a few words, they will retreat in shame!"

The smile on Horn’s face instantly collapsed, did you really think you had some profound insight, divine gold.

"Your Majesty, while Commander Danji’s words are somewhat biased, they do hold valid reasoning.

If you ask me, rather than worrying about whether the Church’s army will crush us, we might as well consider the problem of the refugees’ hunger first..."

"Wasn’t grain distributed just three days ago? Why distribute grain again?" Tangli hurriedly interrupted before Madlan could finish.

"You only release one day’s rations at a time. The warehouse isn’t lacking in grain, so why don’t you distribute more?"

"Can you starve to death if you don’t eat for two days? Huh? Can you starve to death if you don’t eat for two days?"

"How is what you’re doing any different from Durdafer? We helped you break the monastery, not to swap for another Durdafer!"

"What do you mean, are you accusing His Majesty of being Durdafer?"

"Don’t twist my words. When did I say His Majesty was Durdafer? I’m talking about you!"

"You sun-goat pig-herder, fugitive thief!"

"Fatherless horse thief! Bastard! Look at you, no wonder your father didn’t want to acknowledge you!"

"Shut your filthy mouth! Vile thief!"

"You shut your filthy mouth!"

The argument gradually shifted from practical issues to personal attacks and began to escalate. Both sides slapped the table, saliva flying.

In the end, it was unclear who struck first. The two archbishops jumped on the round table, grabbing each other’s collars, circling around it like weeble-wobbles.

"Fighting in front of the Holy Father! What disgrace!"

"Stop it, don’t fight, His Majesty is still here!"

"Come down quickly, the table is slippery! Hey, be careful!"

Horn initially didn’t want to intervene, letting them argue and allowing the conflict to ferment a bit more. But he truly didn’t expect them to get physical.

What Horn didn’t realize was during his unconsciousness, the conflict between the two sides had already fully fermented, lacking only a trigger.

Horn happened to provide that trigger.

This won’t do; Horn picked up the Pope’s Staff and furiously knocked the wooden tabletop.

"Silence! Si——lence——!"

Amidst the clattering sound, the round table flipped over, the tablecloth, candlestick, scroll, and ink all fell to the ground.

In the tearing sound of cloth, Madlan and Tommy fell to the ground tangled together.

Still on the ground, the two clung to each other, continuing to grapple, with Madlan sometimes pinning Tommy and Tommy sometimes locking Madlan.

The two rolled back and forth on the narrow ground, knocking over tables, chairs, and benches; even a dog’s head on the wall fell from the impact.

Before long, their clothes were torn, shoes lost, and eyes bruised. Tommy’s beard had a bald patch from pulling, while Madlan’s rear was largely exposed.

"Quiet!" Horn banged the Pope’s Staff, almost shouting hoarse.

Yet the two wouldn’t stop, swearing and wrestling on the floor.

Perhaps unable to endure watching any longer, Danji stepped forward, grabbed each of them, and separated them.

Looking at them, each standing on opposite sides of the room, still glaring with red eyes and panting heavily like two bullfighters.

Standing in the center of the room, Horn felt for the first time how exhausting this was.

Surveying the high ranking members of the Pope Country:

Archbishop Tommy was a hooligan, Archbishop Madlan was a fugitive, Archbishop Chervis sold fake wine, Grand Archbishop Grampwen was a circus clown, Grand Master Danji of the Holy Grail Knight Order was insane, Knight Commander Jeanne was a witch.

What a gathering of talents.

In Madlan’s grateful gaze, Horn stepped forward and pulled off his own belt to help him fasten his pants.

Leaning on the Pope’s Staff, he turned around, facing the chaos in the Stag Chamber Hall, Horn spoke no enigmas, bluntly saying, "As for future plans, this is my thought: those wishing to seek refuge at Black Snake Bay, go to Black Snake Bay. I have means to ensure your safety.

For those wishing to go to Kasha County, head to Kasha County to find Dean Juanuo, you can go yourselves. Those wishing to stay may remain, and as for the grain, Tommy, release another day’s worth."

"But, His Holiness the Pope..."

"I said, release one day’s rations. What? Do you wish to stay?"

Touching his balding beard, Tommy glared venomously at Madlan, "Fine! I’ll release the grain."

"I’ve met all your demands, and now you must meet mine too, based on this, I propose three conditions." Horn raised three fingers.

"First, I demand that my constituents, namely the villagers of Red Mill Village, have the right to live freely, without interference from you regarding their actions.

Second, I require you to find orphans aged 10 to 14 among the villagers to join my Child Soldiers and become my godchildren, ensuring my safety.

Third, I’ll accept your watch and protection, but demand freedom to move within the Gulag Monastery’s premises."

"I’ve said my piece. Who approves? Who opposes?"