The Holy See has extraordinary influence throughout the eastern part of the continent. As a religious organization, in addition to spreading doctrines, the Holy See also plays the same role as the peacekeeping force and the Red Cross in the world of Yalin in many aspects, and it has indeed done so. What you should do according to the role you play. For example, during the recent war between the Kalsemmen Empire and Creses, the Holy See planned a church in the war zone between the two countries as a refugee camp to take in wounded soldiers and refugees.
And it is said that after the victory this time, Augusta, the prince of the Carlseman Empire, did not sell the people and captives in the defeated areas as slaves but adopted a tolerant policy to release them. Part of the reason was that Augusta wanted to quickly quell the war in the occupied areas. The strength of the resistance, and another part of the reason is that the Vatican also privately hinted at the king who was going to be baptized.
The Holy See did not degenerate into doing some evil deeds that could be called gangsters, hooligans, and villains under the cloak of 'justice'. Instead, it did everything it should do. The main reason is that the goddess Ishtar it believes in does not exist. There is no corruption. Both the Pope and the pope understand one thing. The gods above their heads really exist and are looking down on everything.
The power of religion has always been great in the human heart. Some cults in the world of Yalin can fabricate a god out of thin air and perform some false and ridiculous miracles. They can even brainwash some people with just one mouth and make them willing to do nothing. , if gods really exist and really have incredible power for humans, then this effect will probably be thousands of times stronger. And precisely because of this, there is no shortage of fanatical believers among the believers in both the Holy See and the Holy City.
Compared with many religions in the world of Yalin who would do anything to win over the upper-class nobility and powerful people in ancient times, the Holy See and the Holy Capital both chose to start with ordinary civilians without exception, because the gods of the former were fictitious, and the Pope considered It is more about their own interests. A hundred poor people are not worth one rich noble. God here is real. The first thing God considers is the power of his faith, because that affects whether his power is strong or even the possibility of continuing to exist. No amount of money is enough for gods. The divine power brought by faith is important. The amount of belief determines the size of divine power, and the size of divine power determines the power of the god and the area it can control. The larger the area and the more believers there are, the stronger the gods will be. In a world where power is respected, money and power are just derivatives.
No matter how wealthy a god's followers are, if he has too few followers and is too weak in power, he will be knocked down by another god and replaced. Then the wealth of the god's followers and even the believers themselves will become the trophies of others.
It is for these reasons that many kings are quite afraid of the concept of the Holy See's divine power over king's power. However, the popularity of the Holy See among ordinary people has an unimaginable influence. Even people in some countries may not know the king's surname, but no one does not know the name of the only Lord in the world.
Augusta also understood this very well. If there was the assistance of the Holy See, the Carlseman Empire would not even have to worry about riots in the occupied area after conquering and annexing a country. The Holy See is enough to appease all the people who live there, and it can quickly make them accept and integrate into the Kalsemmen Empire to become a part of the empire's power instead of being a burden that takes a long time to digest.
This alone can speed up Augusta's plans infinitely, but Ishtar wants to give Augusta more than that!
"I know you are trying to restore the technology of the Overlord Era, but it seems that the progress is very slow, right?"
"It should be said that it has completely stopped now."
Augusta sighed. Almost all the war dividends against the Kingdom of Creses turned into ice crystals under the final blow of the half-elf female mage. Even the angels of the goddess could come from nowhere after purifying the crystallized valley. There are very few things that have been unearthed. It can almost be said that the entire investment has been wasted. Although various data have been backed up, it will be restored unless another fat sheep like the Kingdom of Creses comes to Kalsemmen. The empire plundered. Otherwise, there will be no need to think about the entire plan in more than ten years.
More importantly, the only half-elf female mage in the empire who could crack the ruins was also lost in the battle.
Ishtar smiled softly and said as if to comfort Augusta: "The Holy See can provide you with a sum of funds to quickly resume your plan, and at the same time send an envoy to continue to help you crack the Overlord Various technologies left over from the times.”
"Ha~ The Holy See also possesses the technology of the Overlord Era!? Great goddess, please forgive me for telling the truth. The Holy See under your command is really the greatest liar in the world. While it prevents the world from exploring the technology of the Overlord Era, it monopolizes it. these technologies.”
Regarding the title 'The Greatest Liar', Ishtar still said calmly: "Knowledge has never been divided into good and evil. It all depends entirely on the user┉┉"
"If it refers to the Holy City┉┉I can understand."
Augusta, who gradually calmed down, was no longer as frightened and unable to speak as she was at first. Augusta tried hard to treat the goddess in front of her as an equal negotiating opponent, and tried her best to defend herself without offending the other party. One side obtains more useful information and bargaining chips: "No matter how strong the Kalsemmen Empire's army is, it is still the limit of mortals. If they are attacked by those ┉┉ false god messengers behind the Holy City after entering the territory of the Holy City. Then Goddess, you Will you send your messenger to assist me?"
"This is an obligatory matter. Mortals should return to mortals, and gods should return to gods! I will not allow any extraordinary person to threaten my believers." Ishtar answered quickly and firmly, but the goddess then said meaningfully. : "But Augusta! Your army is conquering the secular kingdom. I allow the Holy See to provide you with the necessary technology, funds, intelligence, etc., but I will not let my envoys directly intervene in the battle between mortals unless There are also extraordinary beings who intervene to break the balance. Otherwise, no matter how big a setback you encounter, you must use mortal strength to solve it."
"To prove that we as humans are the best?"
Ishtar nodded with satisfaction: "That's right! Just like what I said, I want you to defeat the resistance of all foreign nations and holy cities on behalf of mankind, and prove that I have chosen you right. If If my power is involved too much, even if I win the war, it doesn't mean that my choice is correct."
"Although I am always a little sad that I have become a bet in the dispute, I agree with you, Goddess Ishtar! To win this war with our human hands instead of relying on 'cheating', for the entire human race It truly proves that we deserve to be at the top of the world.”
The goddess's perfect face showed an expression of praise: "I can feel your heart burning like a flame┉┉"
"But I'm not a racist, Goddess Ishtar!"
"But you still have pride in being human, Augusta!"
Ishtar spread his hands as if issuing an oracle: "Imagine, this world will usher in a huge change. Human beings will become the real masters of this world and push the entire world to advance at a high speed. In thousands of years, Ten thousand years from now, people will remember this day and remember you as the person who caused this change!”
"I have to admit that you convinced me, Goddess Ishtar! At least now I can't find any reason to refuse." Augusta finally sighed and showed his first smile in this long negotiation.
Instead, Ishtar nodded calmly: "You made a very wise choice, Prince Augusta. I promise that I will do my best to realize your dream, which is also my desire."
"But we have been talking for so long. For your favor and the price you are willing to pay, what kind of reward will my Carlseman Empire have to pay? Eternal loyalty to the Holy See, or legislating your teachings as the state religion? "Augusta is not the kind of person who believes that free pie will fall from the sky. If the goddess is willing to pay so much, she will definitely have requirements for herself.
"Legislate my teachings into the state religion?" Ishtar smiled slightly, stretched out his fingers and waved his fingers gently and said in denial: "You don't need to do this. I firmly believe that my ideas will be recognized by the world if I walk on the right path. Accept it, precisely because it is correct, even if you deliberately hinder your people, they will make wise choices, embrace and believe in my teachings. On the contrary, no matter what you do, my teachings, including myself, will not be rejected by this world. Accepted.”
Astonishingly strong confidence and will, without any doubts about what she does, this is the goddess Ishtar.
Augusta had to admit that in terms of demeanor and mentality, she was really not as good as the goddess in front of her.
"Of course I also have something to ask of you, Augusta! There is only one thing I want you to pay, and that is for you to fulfill your duties as an emperor, follow the example of an overlord, dedicate yourself to your empire, and contribute to the interests of your empire. Above your own interests."
"I don't understand what you mean. What you said should be something that any king would do!" Augusta looked puzzled.
Ishtar sighed: "Not any king can put the interests of the country above his own interests. Over the past ten thousand years, I have witnessed too many kings who ruined their kingdoms for their own selfish interests. In order to control Didn’t you just meet a king who is willing to betray his own country’s interests?”
Kingdom of Creses┉┉
Augusta frowned and suddenly thought of the Kingdom of Creses that she was at war with recently. The foolish king who betrayed his sister in order to ascend to the throne ruined the fate of the entire Kingdom of Creses.
"Answer me Augusta, what would you do if you found that your child was incapable of inheriting the throne?"
This time the goddess Ishtar asked Augusta a sharp question, a question so sharp that Augusta's face turned livid. (~^~)