Chapter 144

Since Gena Kozmo said he would think about it, Cyrus gave him all the chocolates she had made.

The chocolate is made entirely from cocoa. The initial product was a bit bitter, but it became sweeter later on. If there weren't so little cocoa, Cyrus would have liked to create even more flavors.

Gena Kozmo prefers chocolate with a slightly bitter taste, but he doesn't dislike chocolate with a slightly sweet taste either.

The very next day, he came to see Cyrus and said he agreed to the collaboration.

"Once the cocoa plants are fully grown, the first batch of chocolates I produce must be supplied with priority by the Bovell Kingdom."

Cyrus naturally agreed to such a request.

He produced a contract and said, "Verbal promises alone cannot guarantee anything; let's sign an agreement..."

"But I must also state beforehand that cocoa is a new type of plant that Samuel brought back from the New Continent. It has never been grown here before, so naturally we have no experience in cultivating it..."

"So, if the cocoa cultivation fails, this agreement will be void, okay?"

"Can."

"Okay, then please sign and leave your fingerprints."

After concluding the collaboration, Gena Kozmo lightly rubbed the red mark on his thumb and said, "Recently, some things have happened within the Saint Airo Empire. I wonder if the lord has heard of them?"

Cyrus told Judas to put the contract away, then turned and asked, "What does Your Majesty mean?"

"The affairs of the royal family of the Saint Airo Empire."

Gena Kozmo said, "The lord should also have heard that the third prince Kashu, plotted to seize the throne, but in the end, his conspiracy was exposed by the eldest prince."

"The king rebuked the third prince and imprisoned him in the Tum Tower, forbidding anyone from visiting him."

Cyrus nodded; he had indeed heard the news.

Moreover, shortly after the imprisonment of the third prince, Kashu, the king also fell seriously ill. Subsequently, the eldest prince began to rule the Saint Airo Empire and handle various affairs within the imperial capital.

What does Your Majesty wish to say?

Gena Kozmo: "I wonder if the lord is interested in the territory of the Saint Airo Empire?"

He didn't beat around the bush, but asked directly.

Cyrus was not surprised by the ambition of this male supporting character in the original book.

After all, before meeting the female lead, this male supporting character in the original book had always been ambitious to make Bovell Kingdom the only country on the Western Continent.

Now, although the plot of the original book has deviated a lot, Gena Kozmo's ambitions do not seem to have changed.

Cyrus said, "Even if I were interested, I wouldn't start a war at this time."

First, the timing wasn't right; second, he had many things he needed to accomplish first—such as the crop harvest and oil extraction.

"I understand Your Majesty's meaning."

Gena Kozmo adopted a listening posture.

Cyrus said, "The Black Death has only just passed, and almost every region has been significantly affected, especially the Saint Airo Empire..."

"I think the Saint Airo Empire's national strength is not what it used to be, and in addition, the Bovell Kingdom is located in the Far North, in a remote location, making border closures timely..."

"The impact of the Black Death on the Bovell Kingdom was negligible."

"But the Saint Airo Empire was once one of the two most powerful empires. Even if its strength has declined, no one can be sure that an old wolf on its deathbed won't make a desperate comeback..."

"Moreover, the Saint Airo Empire is not yet in its twilight years."

Furthermore, the Saint Airo Empire contains Warner Gales, the male protagonist from the original book.

He is now slowly relinquishing power from the king's hands... and in the original book, when the male protagonist and the male supporting character are paired up, no matter how you look at it, the winning side is not on Gena's side.

Gena: "The Anas Empire has vanished, and the Saint Airo Empire may not last forever."

Cyrus smiled, "But at least, there are some people in the royal family of the Saint Airo Empire who aren't stupid..."

"Your Majesty might consider this: is it a coincidence that the King fell seriously ill right after the Third Prince, Kashu, was imprisoned?"

Gena smiled without saying a word, but his meaning was clear.

He said, "Since the lord believes the time is not right, this matter can end here."

There was plenty of time ahead, and he wasn't in a hurry.

"I believe that one day, the lord will stand with me."

Cyrus smiled and said, "Who can say for sure what will happen in the future?"

The bulk purchase of Vodka has been finalized, and Gena Kozmo is about to leave the Desinia Territory and return to the Bovell Kingdom.

Before leaving, Gena's subordinate, Coliford, tried one last time to make a move.

He tried to approach the Ice Cream and stopped where Ice Cream wouldn't turn away, holding the Snow Wolf he had brought with him by the hand and talking to Ice Cream for a long time.

Coliford's mouth was dry from talking.

However, the Ice Cream remained seated, its icy blue eyes showing no emotion.

After Cyrus walked over, Ice Cream got up and affectionately brushed his ankle with her big tail.

Ice Cream let out a soft moan and gently bit Cyrus's sleeve, pulling him towards the bed—meaning she wanted to go out and play.

Gena was drawn to the Ice Cream's cleverness.

Coliford couldn't take his eyes off it. He said, disappointed and distressed, "This is the youngest and most beautiful Snow Wolf I've chosen from the pack. Why doesn't the White Wolf like it...?"

Cyrus hugged the Ice Cream's big head and kissed it, telling it to wait a little longer.

Then, he offered a consolation. "It's probably because Ice Cream wants a partner with the same white fur."

Coliford was speechless. "Well... they really don't have any."

Gena sighed, "Then let's leave it at that for now."

"Coliford, don't be discouraged. After all, the White Wolf is different from ordinary wolves. It is unique. We can meet it, but we can't force it."

That makes sense.

Cyrus couldn't help but glance at him.

But then Gena continued, "Since the White Wolf doesn't like this Snow Wolf, perhaps the lord could take the White Wolf to the Bovell Kingdom as a guest."

"My wolf pack has many female wolves; there's bound to be White Wolf who likes me..."

Cyrus: "..."

In the end, Gena left without taking a single wolf hair with him.

I've been too busy lately.

After Gena Kozmo left, Cyrus was finally able to catch her breath and get some rest.

It's also worth mentioning that he hasn't seen His Holiness the Pope much lately.

--Archbishop Paul recently visited the Desinia Territory, and since then the Pope has frequently visited the church in Visas, I wonder what he's been up to.

That night, just as the moon was hanging in the sky, Cyrus saw His Holiness the Pope from a large French window overlooking Par Lake.

He leaned against the railing, gazing up at the star-studded night sky. His long, slightly wavy hair, falling over his shoulders, fluttered gently in the night breeze. Dressed in black, he seemed to blend into the glittering starry sky, yet was also accentuated by the darkness of the night...

Cyrus: Very charming.

Under the stars, everyone looks good.

He walked over and asked, "Your Majesty, aren't you going to sleep yet?"

Segalot turned his head, his golden eyes seeming to take on a captivating tenderness in the moonlight, and asked, "Why aren't you asleep either?"

Cyrus: "Not too sleepy yet."

I want to play for a while.

Segalot: "Want a drink?"

"I can drink wine."

It can also help with sleep.

After Cyrus had Judas bring him wine and glasses, she told him to go and rest.

Then, he and His Holiness the Pope sat by the window and admired the beautiful moonlight.

Cyrus swirled his wine glass. He drank, but not much, and had very few favorite types of alcohol, with wine being one of them.

The wines inside the castle are all homemade, with a mellow and rich flavor. When the cork is opened, a rich aroma of wine wafts out.

Cyrus's mood improved, and a smile appeared on her face, her eyebrows curving like beautiful crescent moons.

Segalot subtly averted his gaze, took a sip of his drink, and said, "There are many other things to learn in your territory, and I've been busy with something lately."

"What's up?"

Cyrus was surprised that His Holiness the Pope would bring it up, so she turned to look at him.

Segalot: "Orphanages and shelters."

"The Black Death had a devastating impact on the people of the Saint Airo Empire. Although the epidemic has passed, most people are homeless and displaced."

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"The King failed to make a timely decision or introduce any effective policies, therefore, this matter will be handled by the Holy See."

Upon hearing this, Cyrus sat up. "What does Your Majesty intend to do?"

Segalot: "During the pandemic, the initial framework of relief centers had actually been established within the Empire. However, after the pandemic subsided and everyone withdrew, the relief centers gradually fell into disuse due to the lack of supplies."

"Even more so, the church previously relayed information from its investigations throughout the empire, revealing that some areas remain chaotic and disorderly, with many people going hungry..."

Even adults have a hard time surviving, let alone some children who are not yet adults.

Segalot seemed to be very concerned about this matter.

But as Pope, Segalot didn't actually have much compassion.

He can remain indifferent to everything and observe detachedly, but there's one thing...

Segalot: "I remember you said not long ago that it would be great if all children could be taken care of."

Cyrus was surprised.

The day before, he went to the orphanage in Visas to check on some of the sick children; it was also the first day that the alchemists were examining the children.

He saw that the children, who were still very young and should have been naughty and pampered, were now in the orphanage, suffering from illness because they had lost their families and parents. Although they were uncomfortable, they waited obediently... It was truly heartbreaking to see them like that.

Cyrus couldn't help but feel a surge of emotions.

He thought, at least the children in the orphanage have enough to eat and wear, but elsewhere...

Cyrus casually remarked something on a whim, never expecting that His Holiness the Pope would remember it, and even...

Cyrus pursed her lips, a strange emotion, like a mellow wine, slowly spreading from her heart.

He didn't know what to say.

Segalot then picked up his glass and said, "No need to thank me, because this is not your responsibility."

After he finished speaking, he touched his glass to Cyrus's.

Cyrus raised her eyebrows and, without saying a word, returned the toast.

Then, overestimating his alcohol tolerance, he vaguely felt himself nestled against a warm chest and heard someone whisper, "Going to sleep?"

Cyrus hummed in agreement.