I don't know how long it took for the fog to dissipate. The sunlight poured in through the dense branches. A little smoke rose from the end of the path, and Bode walked over with all his spirits. Constance was now asleep on his horse again.

A lonely hut stood in the woods, next to a small lake. There is a wooden platform in the middle of the lake that looks like a human being. Bode let the horse go to graze and woke Constance.

"Hmm...... What's the matter......" Constance rubbed his eyes and was helped off his horse by Bode.

"It looks like a place to rest. Please stay here and let me communicate. ”

"With your style, I'm afraid you have to communicate with a sword. Constance remembered the previous conflict at the stables and said to Bode. "Let me go with me. ”

"Unless you change your clothes. Moreover, your appearance is too conspicuous. Bode pointed to Constance's long silver hair.

Bode walked softly to the room and knocked on the door. There was no response from inside the door, but the people on the platform in the middle of the lake heard the voice, turned around and spoke: "What is the matter?"

Pod walked to the back of the hut, stepped on the small wooden bridge, and walked towards the middle of the lake. The man on the other side looked short and wore a cloak, and when he saw Bowde's appearance, he leaned back in some fear.

"Wait a minute. ”

Boud stopped. He saw the person on the other side pull back his hood, revealing his long black hair. This is a petite teenage girl, but there are strange tattoos on her delicate face.

"I'm sorry, we're people who escaped from Frost City, can you let us rest. Bode spread his hands. Indicates that there is no weapon hidden.

"Sir, your companion is ......"

"Ah, it's a noble lady......" Pod turned slowly. But I saw Constance come up without concealment, and his red eyes looked at Bode with some disdain.

"I am not a noble lady, I am the Pope of the Virginians, the servant of the servants, the guardian of the Holy See, Constance II. ”

The dark-haired girl stared at Constance in some surprise. Bode was at a loss, and the awkward silence lasted for half a minute. In the course of half a minute, Bode thought of several methods, including killing the innocent man who had learned the secret because of Constance's pride.

"It is my pleasure to receive you, Your Holiness. The maiden broke the silence.

"I'm Bode. What's your name?" Bod lowered his hand that had unconsciously moved to the hilt of his sword.

"It's good to call me Puer. Pu' Drakuni. Gobert's Lynch sat excitedly and contentedly on the papal throne and watched with interest the discussions in the hall. The yellow and white flags of the Papal States of Virginia were replaced with new black and white striped flags of the Knights of the Sword, and the top officers of the Order sat around the papal throne, while the original episcopal seat was scattered with a few bishops who did not flee or did not have time to escape.

"The False Pope abandoned the city and fled. The electoral process was inherently fraudulent. Therefore, Pope Lynch is rightly the pope of the Virginiates. Grand Master Heidelmann said. The Grand Master looked at the frightened bishops.

"Virginia has not become pope without an election for six hundred years! I demand an election!" said the Bishop of Berlitz.

"Your Excellency, you have not been exonerated of bribery. Deman said with a smile. After the Bishop of Beritz was captured, he was taken all the way back to Frost City by Deman, and was only released to the Bishopric after being extorted by the Knights for a large sum of money. The Bishop of Beritz trembled with anger when he heard this, and fearing that the Knights would raid his home in Frost City again on various charges, and no longer spoke.

"It's a pity. The pope's triple crown and scepter were already there, but the robe was on the false pope. Lynch said slowly. As he spoke, he stared at the Bishop of Beritz.

"Grand Master. Deputy Head Morrsky leaned in front of him and whispered, "Without some ceremonies to fool the people, I am afraid that the authority of Pope Lynch will not be established in Frost City." ”

"Hmm. Grand Master replied. Clamard stood closer, and not only muttered, "Isn't it just a supportive pope, who can afford to spend the Knights' money again." The treasury of the Holy See was eaten up by these bishops. ”

Deman looked at the stocky Clamard, and then at the few bishops sitting behind him tremblingly, and couldn't laugh at it.

Lynch heard Clamalde's muttering, and was a little dissatisfied with the term "supporting pope", and said to the Grand Master: "In view of the fact that the Virginians are panicking in this rape of your knights, we must use the power of the pope to stabilize the situation and prevent people from being half-hearted. Master Heidelman, what's the plan?"

Grand Master Heidelmann looked at Lynch's sly gaze and felt a little uncomfortable. Conquering the Holy See in one fell swoop and suppressing the nobles who clamored for weakening the Order all day long has been the strategy of the Grand Master. The Grand Master has always been the formulator, not the consulted. Pope Lynch was nominally the Lord of All Virginia and the Master of the Order, but in fact the Pope before Lynch had never actually bound the Order.

"The Sword Knights have sent troops to maintain law and order in Frost City, but the Pseudo-Pope is still nowhere to be found, and some people still have hope for the Pseudo-Pope. Heidelmann said, "Only by removing the influence of the false pope will people respect the Holy See." ”

"So......" Lynch smiled, "is it to let the body of the False Pope be ruined for the sake ......of Vegia?

Deman was amazed at Lynch's viciousness. The relatives who were unwilling to be sent to the Holy See a long time ago now exert the smell of poisonous snakes as if they never knew each other.

"Constance of Ilifa is not the only one to deal with her. If she is forced to atone for her sins in this way, I am afraid that it will cause dissatisfaction among people. Heidelman said. Moriskey leaned in again and muttered for a moment. Lynch waited impatiently for the officers of the Order to come up with an idea, completely ignoring the bishops who had been taken hostage.

"His Holiness may be a way to dispel people's superstitions about the false pope. Heidelman said aloud. Deman saw a satisfied smile on Moritsky's lips as he listened to Heidelmann's speech.

"Oh...... Please speak. ”

"Excommunication of the False Pope. ”

As soon as these words came out, the bishops, who had been neglected for a long time, exclaimed. The Bishop of Beritz took the lead in jumping out of his seat. Ignoring the etiquette, he shouted: "Impossible! Impossible! Is even the holy power of the Holy See to be desecrated by barbarians?"

Moriskey walked up to the bishop and pushed him away with disdain. "Old man, are you finished?" Moriskey looked at him fiercely. The Bishop of Beritz was taken aback. Stepping back, he didn't stand still, and fell down the scarlet carpet. The bishops behind him hurriedly pulled the old man up. Moriskey laughed, and Heidelman looked coldly.

"Oh...... It's a good idea. ”

"There has never been a pope excommunicated from heretics, and there is no pope who excommunicates a pope!" cried the Bishop of Beritz with sorrow.

"There are many crimes against the pseudo-pope, accepting bribes, blaspheming the priesthood......" Lynch fingered his fingers. Looking at the Bishop of Beritz said. "Bishop of Beritz, I can also disfellowship you. Now, you can leave the meeting. Your Excellency the Bishop. ”

The Bishop of Beritz stood up dejectedly and stumbled out of the church hall.

Bode opened his eyes and saw a bright sky. Bode got up and went to the lake and washed his face. There are no trees around the lake. Bode took a bunk outside the hut to rest. Constance and Pure were in the cottage. It was dawn. There was no birdsong around, it was a strange place. Bode looked at his own reflection on the surface of the lake, like a down-and-out knight who had lost a battle.

There was a sound in my ears that I was digging wood. Bode followed the prestige, and on the platform in the middle of the lake, Pu Er was holding a knife and carving a small piece of wood. Bode didn't know she was up so early and was a little curious. The strange maiden with the tattoo on her face was so engrossed in carving the wood carving that she did not notice the approach of Bode.

"Good morning. Pod said.

The girl was startled. The small wood carving subconsciously hid it in his arms. "Good morning...... Sir. ”

"I'm not a knight, call me Bode. ”

"Oh...... Mr. Bode. The girl saw Bode as if she was just saying hello. So he took out the little wood carving again.

"What is this?" asked Bord.

"Flamma, the god of flames. Pu Er whispered. Bode looked closer, and it was a monster-like "god". Pod smelled the scent of Pure's black hair, and wondered what this idol was.

Constance had also woken up, and at this moment he was wearing the clothes that Pu Er had left for her, and walked over. Bode bowed his head slightly. "Good morning, Your Holiness the Pope," he said. ”

"Don't dwell on politeness at the moment, Lord Bode. Constance was annoyed for some reason. She caught a glimpse of the wood carving carved by Puer, her face turned pale, and she snorted, "Heretic." ”

"Heretics?" asked Boud, looking at Pur uneasily. The girl lowered her head to look at the wood carvings, not bothering them in the slightest.

"The fire in ancient Wiecchia, Flamma. This pagan deity was recorded in the library of the Holy See. Constance said slowly. "Lord Bode, what do you look at this wooden statue?"

"Like ...... A lizard. Pod said.

"It's Drakuni!" said Pure, a little angrily.

"Isn't that your last name?" said Bode, puzzled by the Wikibian girl.

"Pur Deracuni, servant of the dragon. Constance said indignantly, "Your name is just a disguise." You are the last heretic, and the Holy See should have converted you. ”

"Your Lord is not the god of all Wikibians. Before your Lord walked on the earth, Dracuni of Vecchia ruled the land. Pure stood up and stared at Constance. Constance remained motionless, and his red eyes looked stubbornly at the girl from the forest who came from nowhere. Fearing that the two would clash, Bode slowly stood between them.

After a moment, Constance sighed and said, "The Lord has long since forsaken us who are indulged in the world. But you stubborn heretics have a piety that amazes the Lord. ”

Bode hurriedly interjected: "We have already rested here, thank you Miss Puer for your hospitality." We're leaving. ”

"Wait. "Without a map here, you'll get lost in the Black Forest." ”

Pu Er went to the hut. Bode and Constance followed, and Constance said dissatisfiedly: "I didn't expect there to be heretics so close to the Holy See. In the early years, the missions used burning at the stake to intimidate the infidels, but later the Holy See considered it too cruel and gradually tolerated a small number of infidels. Lord Bode, you don't seem to think so. ”

"For the lords, it is only necessary to pay taxes, and the teachings of the priests only make the peasants more subservient, His Holiness the Pope. Also, I'm not a knight, my lord. ”

"Lords...... Ay. Constance said helplessly, "You are not a knight, Lord Bode...... Well, that's why you're in Castel Sant'Angelo. "Constance was quick to respond.

"Yes, Your Holiness the Pope. Can I ask for your pardon now?" said Boud.

"Now I will only hold the Knights accountable for their crimes. Constance said with a smile. (To be continued......)