Chapter 706 705. A New Title Acquired
"Pope… If I can kill you, will I rule the world?"
"Do I rule the world?"
"…Leyon—please remember this name, Your Holiness."
The first time Sylvester met Leyon was some time ago on that battlefield. Just a young soldier conscripted into the army to fight a battle he didn't want to take part in, for a man who was their King, but in reality, a greedy bastard.
On the surface, the talks happened, but in Leyon's mind, he saw visions that came from Sylvester himself. Visions of all the atrocities across the world that Sylvester had seen personally, atrocities that may happen in the future too. It was proof that as long as there were noble lords, there would be mindless violence for some land, women, or gold.
With his teeth clenched, Leyon silently retreated back to his brothers, but with a greater, new aim—an aim to eradicate nobility from the world, an aim to bring peace.
Yet, history would remember him as a great Conqueror, a great mind that brought all of Sol to its knees.
…
Present Time,
Thud!
Leyon's head was severed away and fell on the floor, while blood sprayed everywhere.
Every noble, commoner, and Clergyman felt their breaths were stuck in their throats at the sight. Just like that, it was over. How quickly and easily, the man who had spread fear and chaos across Sol was now dead. The great military campaign ended with a single swing of the spear.
"All hail Emperor S—"
"Silence!" Sylvester roared before someone from the crowds could foolishly complete his chant. "I am no emperor! There shall be no emperor, ever again! Only light and its servants fulfilling the Lord's will—that is the true direction this realm will take. One law, enforced and overseen by the Holy Land, holding Solis as witness."
He looked at the still kneeling four monarchs of East Sol, and raised his bloodied spear at them. "Speak, kings and queens of the East. Do you surrender your rule to this holy authority?"
Sylvester's golden gaze felt so heavy and overbearing that Isabella, Kaecilius, King Highland, and Xylena felt utterly small and powerless.
"I surrender my authority to His Holiness." Queen Isabella was the first to salute with crossed arms.
"I accept the rule of the lord." Kaecilius did the same.
King Highland did the same after that. "My wife will be upset if I don't do this."
"Anything for fathe… I mean His Holiness!" Xylena was the last one, and the most excited one. After all, she hated being the Queen, as it gave her no time to do what she wanted. It was boring to her, and now she was free to travel, train, study, or play around.
'This girl.' Sylvester almost smacked her on the head for nearly calling him father there.
Clank!
Sylvester slammed the butt of his spear onto the marble flooring, making it ring and silence all the chatter. "In this auspicious year of the Lord, I, Sylvester Maximilian, the Supreme Pontiff of the Church of Solis, pronounce the establishment of the Sol Theocracy! May this realm see the light of prosperity for eternity to come. In this land of light, may the ones lost find themselves a warm, welcoming home."
"Amen!" chanted the crowd in the Holy Court.
At last, Sylvester's gaze fell on Leyon's dead body, and a silent sigh left his mouth. "Leyon of Sol may have been a conqueror, but what he did was merely the role he was born to play. Like all of us, he came, fulfilled his destiny, and left us—I pay respect, for we are now more united than ever because of this man. He was an Emperor, and he shall be given the funeral of an Emperor—with complete holy rituals."
After that historical moment, Sylvester didn't say anything and silently left the Holy Court. He needed to appear mysterious and troubled for some time, to make sure nobody believed that he planned it all; That this massive responsibility wasn't his desire, but an unwanted burden.
…
Soon, the massive printing press in the Holy Land, with thousands of machines, started to print the posters for the next day. The big words were only a few, but very important.
"War Ended! Sol Is United!"
Furthermore, there was the announcement of the abolishment of nobility. Of course, it caused panic among all the noble lords and ladies as they had no idea what would happen to them. Were they now commoners? Do they still hold authority over the people in their land?
But one thing was clear, the majority of the realm was delighted, as it consisted of commoners who were usually jealous of their lords and ladies. But more than that, the revelation that the Holy Land was now the main governing body of the entire Sol came as a shock and delightful surprise.
Sylvester was the most famous man in the world and, at the same time, the most loved and respected. Various bards across Sol had spread hundreds of Holy Hymns and stories about him, while the newspapers carried word about him, or from him, almost weekly. Almost every single household in Sol had the newspaper cut-out image of Sylvester in their homes, which they framed and hung right beside the insignia of the Holy Land.
But those in the west were the happiest as they had suffered at the hands of one nobility after another. First, the Masan Empire, then the warring kingdoms, then came Leyon, and now finally, the one ruler they wanted was overseeing them.
The prices of commodities also started to come down as soon as the Holy Army, Inquisitors, and the various Clergymen started to take charge of security and administration. The trust in the Holy Land that was already high reached the levels of fanaticism.
And the wall separating Sylvester and the faith of Solis started to slowly show cracks.
"May the Holy Light enlighten us" saw an addition and change to the phrase. "May His Holiness send blessings upon us" became widely used.
And it all happened in three days' time, after the establishment of the Sol Theocracy. Everything was perfectly curated and executed, just as how it was meant to be.
…
Back in the Holy Land, Sylvester sat in his office, filled with the entire Sanctum Council and the Guardians of Light. Sylvester himself was in his battle armor, as he chose to address instances of riots, violence, and unruly nobles himself.
"Your Holiness, what will the new hierarchy of the social order be?" Gabriel asked with a notepad ready in his hands, his eyes wide open, but the dark circles under them betrayed how restless and exhausted he was.
Sylvester opened his table drawer and placed sheets upon sheets of paper on the desk. "There is no social hierarchy, Gab. Solis made everyone from the same blood and flesh as all others, so we are born equal. The difference is what we made, not God. So, from today, be it me, the commoners, or any ex-noble, are all equal in the eyes of the law. But of course, some people are important and may require extra protection.
"As for the nobility, they are all now commoners. All the noble lords are allowed to retain five percent of their lands, their castles, and five percent of the businesses operating on their territory—the limit is equal from Baron to Duke."
Just then, Julius raised his hands. "What of the monarchs? Do you really want to turn them into commoners?"
"No, they will remain kings and queens, just their titles will be ceremonial. I believe the ruling families have legacies that go thousands of years in history, so it's unwise to remove them. Even the other noble lords will retain their titles, but will hold no power. But different from them, the kings and queens possess a vast number of properties that require management, so they will receive a little amount from their Kingdom's taxes to maintain their livelihoods." Sylvester elaborated on the basic structure of the ruling class that was now powerless. "Everything is detailed in this paper, so read them carefully afterward."
Thud!
Inquisitor High Lord stood up from his seat, his staff making a heavy sound. His aura was still as fearsome as ever. "Your Holiness, this new achievement of yours has brought the faith to a new height. But at the same time, you must select a new title for yourself that will resound right. You are more than the Pope now—a leader of mankind to whom all bow."
Sylvester agreed, and rubbed his chin while trying to think about a word for himself. After all, he was going to be the first and the last of whatever title he would choose. "It cannot be related to a King, Emperor, or something similar."
'President? But it holds no meaning to this world.' He tried to brainstorm.
"May I?" A hand made of bone raised high in the crowded room. It was none other than the Emperor Lich, Raz. "I have a suggestion."
As every eye looked towards the undead Lich, Sylvester allowed him. "Go on, First Guardian."
Scratching his skull face, the stylish lich rose from his chair and jovially spoke. "Since you are still the Pope, and only your rule has extended, why not title be… Holy Sovereign?"
"Holy Sovereign?"
"Interesting."
"Impactful."
"I can feel the goosebumps…"
The members discussed it among themselves and finally waited for Sylvester's decision.
But Sylvester remained silent for a long time, as he was busy hearing the little fluff ball on his shoulder whispering a suggestion into his ears.
"Maxy, since you're above everyone, why not just be Big Pope? Like Big Mum?"
"..."
"Approved!" Sylvester abruptly bellowed.
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