The BBQ gathering went on until very late, and everyone had a great time.
After seeing off the guests, Lette tidied up everything on the first floor by himself.
Such a task should have been left to the maids, but for some reason, the new church girl named Flander hadn't reported for duty.
Lette secretly rejoiced in his heart that she didn't come. Otherwise, if the scene was seen by her, it would have taken some explaining.
There was even more to tidy on the second floor. Lette checked the time and had no choice but to accept it for tonight.
As for Emily, who had no place to stay, Lette sent her to Lilith's room to manage for a night. Lilith liked Emily's soul fragrance, so she was naturally very happy.
Early the next morning, the two humans and one demon all lay in bed until late morning, slowly getting up.
Without care for breakfast, the three of them washed up and got into a carriage heading for the Pope Palace.
It must be said that Lette's estate was in the central area. The carriage hadn't traveled far before they arrived at the Palace gates.
As Lette got out, he saw a commotion near the door of the Red Robe Governance Hall.
Curiosity got the better of him, and he was about to go see when a member of the Pope's Guard stopped him.
"Lord Lette, you can't get close to them!"
"You know me?"
The guard awkwardly smiled, "Your Highness, who in the Pope's Guard doesn't know you! In our first training lesson, every new recruit was given a portrait of you."
At this point, Emily and Lilith had just come over and were covering their mouths, stifling laughter.
Lette coughed awkwardly, "Then... why did you stop me? What's happening over there, causing such a disturbance at the governance hall's entrance?"
"Your Highness, you might not know, five or six groups suddenly appeared at the entrance of the Red Robe Governance Hall this morning, all to register new sects."
"Registering is fine! As long as it's reasonable, legal, and doesn't violate the Holy Light's doctrine, they should be allowed to register!"
"But their new sect names are all called 'Sin Light'! Then they started fighting over the name."
Lette clicked his tongue and fell silent, but the guard continued speaking.
"As they fought, they stopped. They were talking about things like bonds, friendship, and that liking Sin Light doesn't make someone a bad person, then reconciled with each other."
"Reconciliation... isn't that good? Then why are they still arguing?"
"It's about your status in the sect. The radicals think you should be made the founder, while the conservatives think that's too conservative and that you should be made the spiritual totem."
Emily looked confused, "What's the difference?"
The guard sighed, "The last group who did this was called the New Church, and their spiritual symbol was the Light God.
The Red Robed Holy Hall certainly wouldn't allow it, so it escalated into an argument."
Lette rubbed his cheeks, "Let's go, let's go in quickly, before they see us."
He hurried up the steps, with Emily right behind him, heading straight into the Pope Palace.
Emily was glancing around as she yanked Lette's sleeve, "I thought we needed a notification to meet the Pope."
"In theory, yes, that's the procedure."
"Then why are we..."
"But I don't like procedures."
Lette led the two without lingering in the front hall and went straight to the second floor's Holy Light Library.
He forcefully pushed open the large doors, startling the white-bearded old man reading inside.
"Lette! Damn it! When will you learn to knock!"
"After you return the money you owe me, I might consider it."
The white-bearded old man stood up, pulling out a slightly faded Pope's Crown from somewhere and placing it on his head.
"Money, what money? Don't mention such things to the Pope, I long ago shed such worldly desires! I now focus solely on serving the great Holy Light Goddess."
Lette sighed, "Emily, let me introduce you. This money-loving old man before you is none other than the current Pope of the Holy Light Church, His Holiness Paul III.
I'm quite sure his so-called devotion to the Holy Light Goddess stems from the fact that her image is on the Gold Mark."
Paul III completely ignored Lette, gently looking at Emily, "Miss Emily, I presume. The knights from the Black Robed Holy Hall have mentioned you to me."
Emily promptly bowed, showing her respects, "Holy Grant Duchy, Lawrence Family, Emily Lawrence, offers the most reverent greetings to the great Pope.
Your Holiness, may you be well!"
"Good, good... Ah! Following this brat around for so long but still being so polite, truly comforting.
Hey! Brat! Why can't you learn from the young lady!
Don't touch things willy-nilly! I really don't have any money here!
The Pope, I've never seen money as just money!"
Lette didn't even lift his head, "Oh, sure, sure, you don't see money as money, you see it as life!
Three years of dividends, you take thirty percent for doing nothing, isn't that too, well, black-hearted! During your morning prayers, doesn't your conscience hurt?
Spit it out already!"
"Bah! Why don't you talk about your mentor Constant? Every day he just sends a few rookie soldiers to oversee the place and collect money, taking seventy percent!
If he's not troubled by his conscience, why should I be?
I tell you, there's no money! Go ask your mentor!"
Lette chuckled coldly, "Are you so sure I can't find it? Mentor, for the sake of our mentor-student relationship, surrender and we split half."
"Don't call me your mentor! I'm not such a teacher to you!"
Pope Paul III was clearly a little flustered, "There's no money, you can find it if you want!"
"Lilith..."
Lilith sighed, shrugged at the Pope, then pressed the button on the desk clock, and twisted the magic lamp base three times.
Rumble rumble rumble...
Under the Pope's despairing gaze, the south wall of the Holy Light Library revolved, revealing numerous money bags filled with Gold Marks.
At first glance, there were at least hundreds of thousands.
"This, this, this!"
Pope Paul III pointed at the wall full of money, his fingers trembling, "Who, who put so much money in my treasury? It wasn't me! It wasn't me, huh!"
Lette rolled his eyes, "Since it's not yours, I'll just take it. Consider it returning it to the rightful owner!"
As he reached out for the bags of money, the old Pope swiftly blocked him, tightly gripping his wrist.
"You see, it's quite late now, and all this money has fallen asleep. If you disturb them, it might not be good, right?"
"Mentor, does the Holy Light Goddess know you can lie so easily?"
"In any case, you can't take it! It's all mine! Mine!"
The Pope spread his arms wide, standing in front of the high wall, "So much money, I haven't dared to spend a single bit!
When my mentor handed over the Church, there wasn't even a copper peso in the treasury! Terrified me!
You don't realize how costly things are until you run the household! Every corner of the Church needs money!
Today this needs repair, tomorrow that needs funding, all with their hands out, looking earnestly at me.
I say the Church is out of money, and the drunks and gluttons of the Holy Temple start clamoring for a higher Holy Light Tax! Or pressuring the Holy Country for more tributes.
In the end, doesn't it all fall on the believers!
Let me suffer alone, better than making the believers suffer!"
Lette took a few steps backward, somewhat helpless, "I never intended to take your money, just wanted you to be cautious!
If you want dividends, just tell me, can I decline?
A Pope, a Legendary Holy Knight, arguing like amateurs! Even bandits split the loot more professionally!
The Church's public accounts handle this easily. Yet you insist on under-the-table dealings, leaving yourself open to criticism!
Don't think the Holy Temple's guys are quiet, they're just biding their time for a crucial moment.
Then, they'll say the Pope and Holy Knight Order are in cahoots! Embezzling enormous amounts!
Do you know how much chaos that would cause?"
"As long as you don't want money, everything you say is right."
Lette clutched his chest, "Can't any of you be reliable? Lilith, close it up! Mentor, it's all closed, no need to block it.
This matter, I'll sort out the accounts for you later...
Now, take me to see Joanna."