Chapter 46

More than three months had now passed since the selection of mayors and other officials.

After the new "Urban Management Regulations" began to be implemented in every city of Desinia Territory, there had been obvious improvements and development in all areas.

The results had been especially outstanding in terms of urban environmental sanitation.

After all, no one wanted to be fined two copper coins for relieving themselves wherever they pleased.

In addition, Watermarked Paper was being widely sold throughout various regions by the Thorn Merchant Guild.

After Xia Zuoyi and the others developed and manufactured this new type of paper, it was initially given to priests for compiling laws, then used to print textbooks and question banks.

It was then sold through the merchant guilds in every city.

At the time, sales of the new paper were not particularly good, and it only spread within a small circle, since parchment and papyrus already existed.

More importantly, due to the lack of culture, paper saw extremely low usage across the Western Continent. Hardly anyone went out of their way to buy it.

When Watermarked Paper was first sold, people almost mistook it for papyrus.

At first, they merely found it a little strange and surprising, feeling as though papyrus had somehow changed.

Soon afterward, they discovered that this paper was clearly different from both parchment and papyrus.

Whether in the texture beneath their fingertips, the grain of its surface, or its thickness, it could easily be distinguished from the other two types of paper.

Books made from the new paper by the Thorn Merchant Guild would not easily be damaged when their pages were turned, nor did they require the delicate care needed for papyrus.

People quickly realized that this paper was clearly sturdier than papyrus.

Before long, Watermarked Paper began to receive effective promotion throughout various cities through the Thorn Merchant Guild.

From the moment Papermaking was developed, Xia Zuoyi had begun arranging the construction of paper mills, including hiring workers and preparing large amounts of raw materials.

By the time the examinations to select mayors and officials ended, the paper mill construction plans had been completed.

Before the mills could produce enough to supply the entire territory, however, only a very limited quantity of paper was sold through the merchant guilds.

After all, most commoners and slaves would not spend money on paper that was of no use to them whatsoever.

Commoners and slaves could not read.

They had not needed papyrus before, and naturally had no need now for Watermarked Paper, which cost slightly more than papyrus.

Even though Watermarked Paper was of better quality, it was already very cheap compared to parchment.

After the examinations to select mayors and other officials had completely concluded,

Xia Zuoyi's previously prepared paper promotion plan began to unfold. Following an effective publicity campaign, sales of Watermarked Paper gradually increased...

Moreover, Xia Zuoyi was slowly putting certain plans into action.

Aside from residential districts, he intended to first construct public buildings.

For example, administrative buildings that served the people living in the territory, schools, and facilities converted from the former aid stations into nursing homes and orphanages, with their functions clearly separated.

Desinia Territory was undergoing different changes and developments every day.

Inside the church of Gaina's royal city.

Within the vast hall stood a statue of the Creator God. It should have been a solemn and sacred place, yet it was now steeped in an intense aura of murder and bloodshed.

Knights had heavily sealed off the church, while two clearly opposing groups stood within the hall.

On one side stood the faction led by Bruno Green.

The other faction was led by the eldest son of the First Prince—Light Green.

This eldest son, Light Green, was the person most likely to inherit the throne.

Yet rumors that he liked men had previously spread through Gaina's royal city, delaying the matter of succession until now.

Today, the two sides confronted one another within the church.

A male corpse dressed in servant's clothing lay sprawled across the floor in the center of the hall. Blood still slowly flowed from his chest, gradually staining the ground and the man's now cold yet still handsome face red.

Light's jaw was tight, his lips pressed together as he forcibly suppressed the turbulent emotions in his heart.

He forced himself to look away from the corpse, then concealed the turmoil in his eyes and looked at the person seated before the statue of the Creator God.

He appeared young and strikingly handsome, with a pair of exceptionally beautiful, unusual golden eyes. They were slightly lowered at the moment, while his right hand rested casually on the arm of his chair. His posture was relaxed and leisurely, yet the air about him was impossible to ignore.

From the moment he entered the church until Light and Bruno Green began arguing, he had remained like this. His expression never changed; he was calm and composed, but had not said a word.

Yet the bishop and priests of Gaina's church stood behind him with utmost respect, while tall, burly men wrapped entirely in black robes stood on either side of him, carrying a cold and murderous presence.

Light could not help clenching his hands, unable to tell whether the situation before him favored him or not...

Because both he and Bruno Green had already guessed the young man's identity—the Pope, Segalot Wozhuasi Augustus.

He was the person whom the previous Pope had exceptionally permitted to succeed him from his youth.

During Segalot's reign, his wisdom and methods had made everyone, including the immensely powerful cardinals, submit to him. Even if voices of opposition arose, they would be ruthlessly suppressed the moment they began.

He was the favored child blessed by the Creator God.

Seeing that the Pope had shown no reaction, the bishop of Gaina spoke to Light from behind him. "Prince Light, you do not admit to being in a relationship with your servant, do you?"

Light's expression darkened. "My servant has already proven it with his death. Isn't that obvious enough?"

"This is all Bruno's scheme. He framed me in order to ascend the throne."

Bruno was not as handsome as Light, and his face was more gaunt.

His expression remained faint as his gaze swept discreetly over the Pope before he looked directly at the bishop. "The servant's death does not necessarily prove that he had no connection with Light."

"It is also possible that he killed himself out of fear of punishment, to conceal the fact that the two of them had violated social norms."

After speaking, Bruno looked toward Light again, the corner of his mouth slowly curling upward. "I remember that this lowly servant used to follow my elder brother constantly, behaving intimately with him."

"He seemed less like a servant and more like... But after rumors spread that you liked men, he disappeared without a trace. Could it be that you hid him away, Elder Brother?"

Bruno swept an indifferent glance over the corpse on the floor. He had gone to great lengths to find the man, only for him to end up dead.

Light answered with a sneer. "I would not allow a servant to remain by his master's side forever."

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"If he did something wrong, he would naturally be punished. I sent him elsewhere. What, is your generosity so great that you would allow a lowly servant to behave disrespectfully toward you?"

Bruno's expression immediately darkened.

He was certain that the man who had just become a corpse had been Light's intimate lover.

Even if they were not lovers, Light spent all day mingling with commoners and behaved improperly.

On that basis alone, Light could not possibly compete with him.

Bruno had plotted against Light. Once the news spread, Light would never again have the chance to ascend the throne.

Yet for some reason, events had not unfolded as he expected.

He did not know where things had gone wrong, causing the rumors to remain mere rumors instead of becoming reality.

Bruno's assassination plan against Light had also been disrupted.

Light had only lost a few knights, while he himself remained completely unharmed.

After that,

Bruno clearly sensed that Light had begun quietly dealing with him. Until they confronted one another in the church, the most crucial "evidence" had died...

The bishop could not help looking at Bruno, his gaze flickering.

He said, "We previously investigated Prince Light. Multiple sources have proven that although Prince Light was close to his servant, he is indeed a man with normal desires... not someone who violates common norms."

"Prince Bruno, the servant you brought has died. The evidence you have pointed to is insufficient on its own, so..."

The bishop of Gaina could not help feeling bitter inside.

Bruno Green had bought him off long ago, and he was supposed to stand on Bruno's side at a critical moment.

But he had never expected the Pope to arrive in Gaina during his travels, nor had he expected the Pope to take such a strong interest in the two princes' struggle for the throne.

What he had expected even less was for Prince Light to somehow receive the news and arrive at the church in time. During the confrontation between the two sides, this servant had used a weapon he seized to kill himself before anyone could react.

Now that neither side had conclusive evidence, the bishop did not dare to show favoritism so casually before the Pope.

Upon hearing this, Bruno's chest rose and fell continuously, his gaze shifting uncertainly.

He was unwilling to let things end like this...

At that moment, Segalot happened to shift slightly.

He opened his eyes. His golden gaze swept casually over Bruno without lingering for long, yet it made Bruno's heart tighten. His heartbeat accelerated, and he unconsciously wanted to lower his head.

It was as though the Pope had seen through everything about him.

Clearly... he was merely a young man far younger than Bruno...

When Segalot changed his posture, the bishop tensed as well and said, "Since Prince Light is innocent, it is only natural for him to inherit the throne."

"Therefore, the church will hold a coronation ceremony for Prince Light in three days..."

The bishop bowed forward and whispered near Segalot's ear, "Your Holiness, would you be willing to..."

Segalot said, "I will leave Gaina tomorrow."

The bishop respectfully replied, "Yes, Your Holiness."

Bruno could not help clenching his hands below.

The Pope had arrived at an inopportune time, and his departure made Bruno even angrier... The Pope's arrival had, to a certain extent, helped Light.

Although Segalot had not openly interfered in any affairs of Gaina's royal family,

as long as he remained here as the Pope, the bishop could not possibly show Bruno any favoritism. Otherwise...

Bruno finally returned to his territory with his people, deeply unwilling.

Inside Gaina's church.

Segalot stood alone before the window in his room, turning a small, exquisite bird whistle between his fingers. His expression was tranquil, as though he were considering something.

Before long, there was a knock at the door.

"Come in."

A black-robed man pushed open the door and entered. "Your Holiness, everything has been prepared. We can depart early tomorrow morning. Where would you like to go..."

Segalot said, "To Gada. No, it should now be called Desinia Territory."

As he spoke, a trace of amusement appeared in his golden eyes, as though he had remembered someone or something interesting.

The black-robed man was clearly puzzled. "But, Your Holiness, didn't you just leave from..." There?

Why did he want to go back now...

Segalot turned around, his expression faint. "Have I ever been to Desinia Territory?"

The black-robed man's heart tightened. He immediately lowered his head and said, "No, of course you have not, Your Holiness. Your decision is beyond question."

Segalot said, "Leave."

"Yes, Your Holiness."

The black-robed man silently withdrew once more.

Segalot raised the bird whistle before his eyes and murmured almost inaudibly, "...I'll go back and see you again, little rose. As expected, you did not disappoint me."

Three days later, Prince Light inherited the throne of Gaina, and the news was delivered to Desinia Territory as well.

Xia Zuoyi learned of it soon afterward.

At the same time,

a document from the Holy Church of the Saint Airo Empire was delivered into Xia Zuoyi's hands.

The document stated that the Holy See wished to rebuild churches and temples of the Creator God within Visas.

It claimed to be a request, but in truth, it was a demand that could not be refused.

After all, the Holy See was powerful. Once it made a request, no country or territory could directly reject it.

Xia Zuoyi could not help thinking of the date when the churches and temples in Kaies had been destroyed... Then he considered the time when the Holy Church's document had been delivered...

Xia Zuoyi murmured, "Judith, did he guess from the very beginning that I would win...?"

This document should have begun to be prepared as soon as Judith left Kaies. The time it was sent and the time it took to travel from the Saint Airo Empire to the territory were almost exactly the same...

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