“Many thanks for your support, Your Holiness!”
Soren’s face was filled with joy.
With Altes’ promise secured, what did he have to worry about when it came to becoming emperor?
Previously, the imperial family of the Saint Luo Empire had always wanted to use the Holy Land’s influence to handle matters for them.
However, they also did not want the Holy Land’s status within the Empire to be able to shake the imperial family.
Therefore, they had always been cautious.
If he truly became emperor with the support of the Holy Land, then he would definitely no longer be able to suppress the Holy Land like before.
However, none of that mattered.
In the face of whether he could become emperor in the future, everything else was secondary.
“Congratulations, Big Brother. You can become emperor now!”
Kaiso could no longer contain the wild joy in his heart and quickly stepped forward to congratulate him.
“It’s still early, Kaiso. We haven’t taken action yet. Don’t be so hasty,” Soren smiled. “Since we have the Pope’s support, we can begin the plan.”
“First Prince, may I ask how you intend to obtain the throne?” Altes inquired.
“As for that, we plan to fabricate evidence of Damian’s rebellion. Before Father issues any orders, we will take action first and eliminate Damian,” Soren revealed his plan. “Neither Father nor Damian knows that I have already planted an insider by Damian’s side many years ago. At the critical moment, he will be able to serve my purposes.”
“So the First Prince was already prepared.”
“Of course. After all, I realized many years ago that Father has always been excessively biased toward Second Brother. Sooner or later, he would abandon me.”
“However, simply dealing with Damian probably won’t be enough, right? The actions taken by the First Prince will inevitably provoke His Majesty the Emperor’s fury. At that time, he will definitely deal with you and the Third Prince,” Altes analyzed. “I don’t think His Majesty the Emperor would still acknowledge you as the heir at that point.”
“Mm, I am very clear about this point. Therefore…” Soren’s expression was as dark as water. “The coffee we give to Father has always had something secretly added to it. If necessary, we can make Father fall seriously ill and become unable to handle state affairs.”
“Oh?” Altes seemed thoughtful and glanced at Kaiso.
Kaiso felt somewhat guilty. “This… This… We can only blame Father. If Father had honestly chosen Big Brother as the heir, that serious illness would never have come!”
“Hehe.”
Altes merely smiled and said nothing more.
He already understood clearly.
As expected, the imperial family was not completely united either. There were all kinds of open and secret struggles.
“Your Holiness, do you think our method is feasible?”
“It is feasible. However, to others, this series of events would seem far too coincidental. It could easily arouse suspicion and even invite opposition,” Altes said. “If you force His Majesty the Emperor to abdicate and someone opposes after you announce your ascension, what will you do?”
“We will simply kill them.”
“It’s possible that the more you kill, the more opposition there will be.”
“I know. However, there is no other choice.” Soren was very helpless.
He was also very clear about these matters in his heart.
“Then, how about letting me lend you a hand here?”
“What do you mean, Your Holiness?”
“Imperial authority can be granted by the gods,” Altes slowed his speech. “If, at a time when the nation falls into chaos, the all-knowing and all-powerful Lord God descends with a divine oracle designating you as the new emperor, would that not be both reasonable and legitimate while also silencing the endless gossip?”
“This… Can it be done?” Soren’s eyes widened. He became excited.
“Of course.”
Altes raised his staff and tapped the ground twice.
“Come here.”
Soren heard footsteps echoing in the church.
He and Kaiso turned around together and looked in the direction of the sound.
They discovered a delicate figure slowly emerging from the darkness.
Sophie, with an expressionless face, walked up to Altes and bowed.
“It is the current Saintess, Sophie Shirleyford!”
“The Saintess?”
Soren felt somewhat surprised.
He felt that the current Saintess seemed somewhat different from before?
She was no longer as lively and spirited as she once was.
She looked as if she had lost a great deal of emotion.
Her entire temperament was like a frozen lake.
Her originally rose-like beautiful eyes had also turned a sacred golden color.
They had lost their human quality and gained an ethereal, divine nature.
“There is no need to be surprised. Recently, the Saintess accepted the angel’s inheritance and awakened divine power. As a result, some changes occurred.” Altes explained.
“So that’s how it is.”
“First Prince, at the moment you need it, Sophie can make a divine miracle descend before the eyes of the world. She can make everyone realize that you are the Saint Luo Emperor designated by God.”
“If it truly can be like that, then after Father falls seriously ill, my inheritance of the throne will also be in accordance with the will of heaven!”
Soren could no longer suppress the upward curve of his lips.
The two problems he worried about the most — military support and the legitimacy of his succession — had both been solved by the Holy Land.
“Saintess Sophie, if it truly reaches that point, I hope to receive your assistance. Your becoming the emperor of the Empire is already a foregone conclusion!”
“Mm.”
Sophie nodded and gave a brief response.
“You are the Saintess currently recognized by the entire human race. Whether nobles or commoners, they all believe you can communicate with the gods.”
“Thank you.”
Soren felt that everything was already secure.
As expected, taking the risk to seek out the Pope of the Holy Land had been the most correct choice.
Damian, oh Damian.
Although you truly have ability and can also obtain Father’s favor, you should never have looked down upon the power of the Holy Land.
The excited First Prince was already impatient to see the regretful expression on his second brother’s face.
“Let us end things here for today, First Prince. I will send someone over later to discuss the detailed matters of our cooperation with you,” Altes suggested. “If you stay here too long and someone with ill intentions catches wind of it, it could ruin our plans.”
“Very well, Your Holiness. Then I will take Kaiso back first and await your messenger.” Soren nodded.
Soren left the church with Kaiso.
“Hmph.”
Altes let out a cold laugh.
He had still been somewhat troubled about how to gradually infiltrate the imperial family.
After all, that fellow the Emperor had always been wary of the Holy Land.
Now it was perfect.
The First Prince had delivered himself to their doorstep.
By supporting this person to become emperor, the Holy Land would become the state religion of the Saint Luo Empire.
It probably wouldn’t take long for the Holy Land’s influence to completely cover the entire human world.
At that time, his harvest plan could finally begin.
Thinking of this, the Pope of the Holy Land turned his head and looked at the expressionless Sophie.
“So far, no problems have appeared. It seems the fusion is going very smoothly.”