North America 1849, from Gold Rush to Warlord

Chapter 297 Her Majesty the Queen of Hawaii

That night, Azu met a long-lost "friend".

"Lilith, I thought you would go to Europe to lay low for a while, but I didn't expect you to choose to hide in Panama!"

In the top suite of the luxury hotel in Cologne, after a passionate encounter, Azu held Lilith, whose skin was as smooth as silk, and took advantage of the post-coital period to have a good chat with her.

A contented Lilith nestled lazily in Azu's arms, her slender fingers slowly tracing circles on his chest.

"Europe? That's the heartland of Freemasonry!"

Lilith, her eyes alluring, replied, "For a Freemason traitor like me to hide in Europe would be like walking into a trap."

“Panama is your territory, and neither the Freemasons nor the federal government can reach here. I’m hiding here, and no one would suspect a thing, right?”

Azu said, "Indeed, if you hadn't contacted me, I wouldn't have even known you were in Panama!"

"However, are you sure you've been exposed?"

"Who else knows that the president's death is related to you?"

Lilith replied, "The Freemasons of America are completely finished. I don't think anyone would care about or investigate my whereabouts anymore."

"As for that matter, don't worry, I've cleaned up the mess. No one will know that I was the one who did it."

"So, you're completely free from now on!" Azu laughed.

"Hehe!" Lilith chuckled softly, "Although I left the Freemasons, haven't I fallen into your hands again?"

"As long as you're alive, there's no such thing as true freedom! As long as I'm happy from now on, that's enough, isn't it?"

Ah Zu wholeheartedly agreed: "That's right. From now on, you can live happily and do whatever you want. No matter where you choose to live or how you choose to live, I will arrange everything for you."

Lilith snuggled closer to Azu, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist: "But, my master, I don't want to leave you!"

"But I already have enough women!"

"I don't care!" Lilith hugged Azu tighter and tighter, as if she was afraid that if she let go, she would never see him again.

"Alas!" Ah Zu sighed softly, "But!"

"There are no buts. I don't want any title or status. I'm very content with things as they are."

Lilith whispered in Azu's ear, "I don't want to be your wife, I only want to be your mistress!"

"Hiss!" Azu gasped, looking down at her alluring and seductive face in surprise: "Are you serious?"

"of course it's true!"

Lilith buried her head in Azu's chest, listening to his strong heartbeat, and felt so at ease.

She said slowly, "Compared to your young wives who are only in their twenties, I am too old. Moreover, due to the special training of the Freemasons, I have lost my fertility and cannot have children for you."

"And you are destined to become the most powerful and most eye-catching man in the world!"

"Therefore, I am not worthy to be your wife, and I cannot become a stain on your reputation!"

As she spoke, two clear tears involuntarily streamed down Lilith's face: "I'm already more than content to be your lover as things are now!"

"Sigh!" Azu sighed softly, reaching out to stroke her shimmering, waist-length wavy hair. "Are you serious? Won't you regret it?"

"Yes!" Lilith nodded. "In my thirty years of life, I have never felt so relaxed, so happy, so carefree!"

"As long as I can continue to live like this, as long as you can spend time with me from time to time, I will never regret it!"

"Since this is your choice!" Azu said, "Then let's leave it at that, it's fine!"

"However, Panama is a vital passage to the Americas, with a large flow of people and a lot of people looking at it. Moreover, it is located on the edge of the rainforest, which is not a place to live for a long time."

Lilith looked up and asked, "Then where do you think would be more suitable for long-term living?"

Azu thought for a moment: "How about Hawaii?"

"Hawaii in the middle of the Pacific Ocean?" Lilith frowned slightly and asked, "Why there?"

Azu replied, “Hawaii has sunshine, sandy beaches, palm trees, stunning scenery, and a comfortable climate. It doesn’t have as many mosquitoes as Panama. It’s a natural vacation paradise.”

"The important thing is that Hawaii will soon become my territory as well."

“That island group, isolated in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, is of great strategic importance. I need someone of my own to keep an eye on it for me.”

Lilith asked curiously, "Do you mean you want me to keep an eye on Hawaii for you?"

“Yes!” Azu nodded, reaching out to lift her smooth chin with his finger: “My Queen of Hawaii, Her Majesty Lilith!”

"Queen Lilith, Your Majesty, of Hawaii!"

Lilith's eyes grew brighter as she spoke: "It sounds... really good!"

Ah Zu smiled and said, "Then, would you like to go?"

"Although I could take over the Kingdom of Hawaii by force."

“But that would definitely cause controversy. If you, Lilith, are willing to go and take Hawaii by more peaceful means, that would be even better.”

"A crown you seize with your own hands is more meaningful to wear, isn't it?"

Lilith looked at Azu's face and said, "Is this yet another task you've given me?"

"No, no, no!" Azu shook his head with a smile: "I told you, you will be completely free after you complete the three tasks."

"Whether you want to go, whether you want to do it, and how you want to do it is entirely up to you. Apart from providing sufficient support, I will not give you any other tasks."

When Azu subdued Lilith, the priestess, they made an agreement about three tasks.

The first task was to get Lilith to incite the Freemasons to assassinate President Fillmore and Vice President Lincoln.

This mission ended with the assassination of President Fillmore and the ascension of Lincoln as his successor.

The second mission was for Lilith to lead the 18th Division agents to blow up the Freemason headquarters building and eliminate almost all of the Freemasons' core members in one fell swoop.

As for the third mission, it was, of course, to assassinate Lincoln!

The three tasks were executed almost perfectly, not only completely eliminating the Freemasons, a seemingly powerful and invincible enemy.

Moreover, by eliminating two U.S. presidents, California successfully launched the Civil War several years ahead of schedule, ushering in a golden age of rapid development.

Although all three tasks were planned and arranged by Azu, Lilith, as the executor, also made significant contributions.

Lilith's body lay on top of Azu, her long, slender legs raised and swaying back and forth, making her look so playful and lively.

"Let me think... Hawaii, isn't that even further away from you?"

Azu thought for a moment and said, "Hawaii is about four thousand kilometers away from San Francisco, which isn't too far."

Lilith thought for a moment and then asked, "Will you come to see me often?"

"If we travel by our warships or high-speed merchant ships, it will only be a five or six-day voyage. Moreover, Hawaii is a necessary stop on the East-West shipping route, and since you are there, I will have many opportunities to visit."

"It won't be less, so how much is it?" Lilith asked playfully, winking.

"At least once a year!"

"No, then I'm not going!"

"So, once every six months?"

"That's still too little, I'm not going!"

"Once a quarter?"

"Hehe, that's more like it. By the way, if I really became the Queen of Hawaii, would you kneel down and call me 'Your Majesty' when you see me?"

"Well!" Azu helplessly rubbed his nose: "Calling me Her Majesty the Queen is fine, but kneeling is out of the question, unless!"

"Unless what?"

"Unless this is the case!"

As he spoke, Azu stood up, picked up the silky smooth body, and began to fondle it.

"Giggle, giggle, no, no, no, my master, oh!"

After a night of debauchery, I woke up the next day feeling refreshed and invigorated.

Lilith, on the other hand, was still fast asleep. She had been thoroughly exhausted last night and needed to rest.

After washing up, I had just stepped out of the suite when I saw Zuo Zongtang pacing impatiently outside the door.

"Mr. Zuo, so early?"

Azu greeted him with a smile.

When Zuo Zongtang saw that his ancestor had finally come out, he quickly stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "Boss, something terrible has happened!"

"What is it?" Azu raised an eyebrow slightly.

Given Zuo Zongtang's personality, any major event he mentioned must be extremely significant.

"We just received news that His Holiness the Pope of the Vatican passed away more than ten days ago!"

"What?" Azu raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure? How did he die?"

"Confirmed! This is a message sent by our people in Europe at top speed."

Zuo Zongtang replied, "According to our sources, His Majesty died of a myocardial infarction!"

"This is truly unexpected news. Pius IX was a decent old man, only in his early sixties. How could he suddenly be gone!"

"Who says it's not?"

Zuo Zongtang replied, "I have heard that His Holiness the Pope's health is not seriously affected by obesity, and he has always been quite healthy."

"But once people get old, they can just disappear without warning, and no one can say for sure when."

Azu pondered for a moment and said, "It doesn't matter that His Holiness has passed away, but the next Pope will be elected!" Zuo Zongtang quickly replied, "All cardinal cardinals, as long as they are in good health, not over eighty years old, and have not been stripped of their right to vote by the Vatican, are eligible to participate in the election of the next Pope!"

"Therefore, theoretically speaking, Cardinal Evan also has a chance!"

"But unfortunately, Cardinal Evan has only been an ecclesiastical for two or three years, and has not yet established enough prestige and connections within the Vatican. Alas, if only His Holiness had passed away a few years later!"

"Hehe!" Azu patted Zuo Zongtang on the shoulder: "Mr. Zuo, why are you so concerned about this title of Pope?"

Zuo Zongtang said solemnly, "Ever since my last trip to Europe, when I met His Holiness the Pope in the Vatican, I have deliberately studied the religious history of the West."

"It must be said that although the strength and influence of the Vatican have been declining."

"But throughout the West, the Pope's influence remains considerable."

"If we can take control of this position, it will be of great help to our cause."

Ah Zu nodded and said, "Great minds think alike!"

“I share the same thought as you, Mr. Zuo. Since we have this opportunity, we must do everything we can to seize this position.”

"This is our real chance to establish a foothold in Europe, and we can't miss it!"

After thinking for a moment, Azu said, "How about this, Mr. Zuo, you immediately arrange for the fastest ship to go to Washington and bring Cardinal Evan to Cologne."

“We’ll meet here, discuss everything, and then send him directly to the Vatican to participate in the election.”

"it is good!"

Zuo Zongtang was about to go down and make arrangements, but after taking a few steps, he stopped, turned back, and asked suspiciously, "Boss, can you be frank with me? Is this also part of your scheme?"

"Oh? Why do you ask that?"

Zuo Zongtang said, "Because the boss's reaction was too calm, and his expression and actions were too confident!"

"Hehe!" Azu didn't answer, but just waved his hand: "Mr. Zuo, go and make the arrangements. We can talk about it after Uncle Evan arrives!"

"Alright!"

For the next ten days or so, besides personally inspecting the various construction sites along the canal and checking on all kinds of supplies and logistical arrangements, Azu spent every night with Lilith.

Because of the fact that all of his wives had become pregnant and given birth one after another in the past year, and they had to be very careful in everything they did, Ah Zu hadn't been so unrestrained in a long time.

In addition, Lilith's extremely professional skills and profound abilities made it impossible for Azu to stop playing with her.

Of course, Azu was not to be outdone. He had never missed a day of daily training and exercise over the past few years, and his body had become increasingly strong. Although he still couldn't catch up with Shi Dakai and Feng Zicai, he was already far beyond the average person.

It was a battle of equals, a clash of titans. The two fought for hundreds of rounds, a thrilling and exhilarating experience that defies easy description.

More than ten days later, Cardinal Evan, weary from his journey, finally arrived in Panama with a small number of bishops and priests as quickly as possible.

He had barely settled down and hadn't even had a chance to catch his breath when Cardinal Evan pulled Azu aside and asked, "Does this have anything to do with you?"

Azu spread his hands: "Uncle Evan, do you believe me if I say I have nothing to do with this?"

Evan shook his head firmly: "What a coincidence! You wanted to make a move against His Majesty, and just when you had everything prepared, he went to see my Lord himself? How can I trust you?"

“Sigh!” Azu shrugged. “Since you are so convinced that I did it, it won’t help if I say that I have nothing to do with it, so I might as well not say anything.”

"Uh!" Cardinal Evan said, embarrassed. "Then you should tell me, at least it will make me feel better and less guilty!"

"Ahem!" Azu said seriously, "Uncle Evan, I really have nothing to do with this matter. It's all just a coincidence!"

Cardinal Evan stared at Azu and nodded, saying, "Alright, I believe you have nothing to do with this!"

"Huh?" Azu exclaimed in surprise, "Didn't you say you absolutely didn't believe it?"

Cardinal Evan sighed deeply: "Although, my reason tells me that it was most likely you who did it!"

"But deep down, I still want to believe you. It really wasn't you who did it."

"At least that's how I comfort myself, and the guilt doesn't feel so bad."

Azu grinned: "You charlatans, you're all so mystical, it's all that idealism!"

Putting the facts aside, I believe you are a good person!
That's pretty much the logic.

Azu continued, "Uncle Evan, how His Majesty died is not important. What is important is how to ensure that you can ascend to that supreme throne!"

“This!” Cardinal Evan rubbed his hands nervously, appearing very unsure of himself: “In the past two years, although I have had your strong support and have been trying to build connections, the time has been too short and the progress has not been ideal.”

“It’s alright!” Azu replied, “Uncle Evan, your own efforts are not that important. I have prepared everything for you.”

Upon hearing this, Evan's face twitched violently, and he suddenly felt like he was being fed while lying down.

Azu continued, "Of the forty-three cardinals who are eligible to participate in the election, we have already taken care of most of them for you."

"Right now, Uncle Evan, your main opponent is His Excellency Antonelli, the Secretary of State of the Papal States."

"He has served as the Secretary of State of the Papal States for a long time. He is deeply entrenched and has a strong network of connections. It is not an easy thing to surpass him."

"Moreover, His Excellency Antonelli also commands the Papal States' military forces! Although they are rather weak, they are more than enough to deal with you defenseless clergy!"

Cardinal Evan's face twitched violently again.

If he weren't her own nephew-in-law, hmph!
Azu added, "Although we have already taken care of most of the cardinals in advance, once we get to the Vatican, which is Antonelli's home turf, we can't predict what will happen."

"But one thing is certain: His Excellency Antonelli will do everything in his power to strike down any potential competitors and to win over the hearts and minds of the cardinals."

"Therefore, we still need to be fully prepared."

"What perfect preparations?" Cardinal Evan asked curiously.

Azu smiled and said, "I'm prepared to send an army to escort you directly to the Vatican!"

"What?!!"

Evan's eyes widened instantly.

"Are you... are you serious?"

Azu nodded: "Of course I'm serious!"

"Is there some law in the Vatican that prohibits cardinals from leading a knightly order of followers to the Vatican?"

"This!" Cardinal Evan desperately tried to recall all the doctrinal rules he could remember, but it seemed that there really wasn't one.

"Maybe, it seems, there really isn't!"

Ah Zu clapped his hands and said with a beaming smile, "Then that settles it!!"

"Uncle Evan, the army you lead is certainly not a foreign army, but a Knights' Order of Volunteers formed under the influence of your powerful personal charisma!"

"The purpose of this Order of the Defenders is, firstly, to ensure the personal safety of all cardinals, including you."

"Secondly, it is also to demonstrate the authority and power of the Holy See and to deter all villains."

"Thirdly, it is to protect the territorial security of the Papal States, resist all external aggression, and suppress all those with ulterior motives!"

The more Azu spoke, the more solemn and dignified Cardinal Even's face became.

Clearly, he took Ah Zu's words to heart.

"Li, just how large is this Order of the Holy See?"

Azu thought for a moment and said, "Uncle Evan, before you become Pope, the size of this Order of the Holy See should not be too large, otherwise the commotion it causes will only have the opposite effect."

"So, let's start by forming a thousand-strong knightly order!"

A thousand-strong knightly order, equivalent to two battalions, isn't too many, but it's enough to ensure Evan's personal safety.

In the past ten days or so, Azu has already assembled this so-called "Knights of the Faith".

In addition to an infantry battalion, a cavalry company, and an artillery company, there are more than a hundred special talents.

Among these hundred-plus people were secret agents from the 18th Bureau, specializing in intelligence gathering.

There were also personal guards specifically responsible for Cardinal Evan's personal safety.

Throughout history, quite a few popes have died under mysterious circumstances!

There are at least a dozen people with clear records!
John VI was assassinated with a poisoned dagger; Stephen VI was strangled and his body thrown into the river; John X was suffocated with a pillow; Benedict VI was hanged; Clement IV was poisoned; Sycamore V was poisoned, and so on!
As for those without clear records, it's even more difficult to say how many there are.

In addition to the secret agents of the Eighteen Divisions and the guards of the Royal Guard, there are also several enhanced "Hidden Knights" who specialize in doing the dirty work!
The leader of this team is Zhou Hongwen, who has just returned to California!

He resigned from his position as deputy director of the U.S. Secret Service after Lincoln's death.

Now, there is someone even more important who needs his protection.

Then Azu continued, "Uncle Evan, we will support you, both openly and secretly, to ascend to that supreme throne."

"Once you become the true Pope, the size of this knightly order can naturally expand many times over."

"The Papal States are currently beset by internal and external troubles and are in grave danger. They need a powerful armed force to suppress all lawlessness."

"Furthermore, we can rely on this powerful armed force to forcibly promote internal reforms and transform the Papal States into a modern nation."

"If you think the Papal States are too small, Uncle, you can expand its territory and unify Italy!"

"ha?!!"

Cardinal Evan's mouth was agape!

These words left him in a state of utter shock.

He thought becoming pope was already like a toad trying to eat swan meat, but he never expected that his nephew-in-law had even greater ambitions!
Unify Italy?!

This is something that successive popes have wanted to do but could not achieve. Can it really be done?

However, Cardinal Even could not have imagined that tiny Italy was not Azu's real target.

He intends to use the Papal States as a troublemaker to completely disrupt the situation in Europe!
(End of this chapter)