I'm really a serious wizard.

Chapter 216 Double Agent
late at night.

Outside Radiant Square.

Before us stands a magnificent and towering holy church, constructed of chalk rock, nearly 50 meters high, surrounded by a cluster of buildings in the same style.

At its top is a bronze bell of order, whose heavy tolling echoes throughout the entire capital.

Ron had heard that whenever this bell rang, it meant that there was a major change in the Papacy, or that there was something important to announce to the people.

Below the clock tower are twelve spires perched atop the sacred church, their tall arched windows covered with stained glass.

In the middle of the twelve spires, there is a huge, wide platform that can accommodate a ceremonial team of twenty people.

The platform points directly towards the direction of the rising sun, facing the magnificent square below that can accommodate more than 30,000 people, high above and sacred and inviolable.

Silently noting down these prominent locations, her blue eyes subconsciously glanced at the endless rows of white buildings around her.
Even when Ron stood on tiptoe, he couldn't see the end of the road.

Compared to the Stardust Society headquarters, which only occupied one street, the Papacy, located between the inner and outer cities of the capital and with its own independent area, was clearly much more impressive.

"That's absolutely stupid!"

Suddenly, Ron heard Grandma Fiona's disdainful snort.

He glanced at the snake woman discreetly, and seeing that she hadn't noticed anything, he whispered:

"Where is he stupid?"

The adorable cat paw bracelet glittered. "Don't you think the area that gets hit like this is quite large?"

"Although it looks nice, it is incredibly troublesome to use and requires huge maintenance costs every year. It is all show and no substance."

The arrogant senior offered a few criticisms, then immediately added smugly:

"You know, when I remodeled the Mage Association back then, I used spatial magic to expand a small room to accommodate nearly a hundred people."

"Its technological sophistication and visionary approach far surpass this dilapidated church!"

Okay, I know you're focusing on the last sentence.
Ron's lips twitched.

The longer he spent with Fiona, the more he felt that this senior's tsundere nature was exceptionally high.

Not only is he stubborn, but he also has an exceptionally strong competitive spirit.

Ron strongly suspected that the friend she had fallen out with years ago and who had gone to other continents was not as simple as she claimed.

Thinking of this, the blond boy pursed his lips and praised:

"You're amazing, senior."

"Hmph, look at your ignorant attitude, a junior is a junior!"

Upon hearing this, Ron seemed to see Fiona raising her chin and patting her hard chest.

Just then, he suddenly felt the tip of a tail poke his back.

"As agreed in the letter, we can just go up together without any guards along the way."

"Heh, it seems the Pope still cares about his reputation and knows that his dealings with us cannot be seen by others."

What do you mean by "shady dealings"? It makes me sound like I'm doing something wrong.
I'm doing this for the sake of the Holy Light's justice and virtue!

Ron pursed his lips, didn't reply, and pushed open the small door on the side of the Great Cathedral.

Before coming, he deliberately used shapeshifting magic to change his appearance, trying to make himself look different from his original self so that the Pope would not recognize him immediately.

The name and code name were naturally changed as well.

After all, he now represents not only the Stardust Order but also the Order of Pain, a position that inevitably reminds Ron of a legendary figure.

pangolin!
Of course, this pangolin wasn't the one the dead snake spirit had. Ron glanced instinctively at Afra following behind him, then quickly looked away, focusing his gaze on the interior of the Holy Church.

Even at night, there were still many people praying inside the church.

Under the nearly ten-meter-high dome, which is painted with sacred and solemn murals, the surrounding walls are intricately carved with patterns and inlaid with gold, all converging on the statue of the deity at the very center of people's vision behind the preaching platform.

Ron and Afra, having failed to attract anyone's attention, found a small door and quickly made their way up the white stone steps to the fourth floor of the building.

Of the four floors in the Holy Church, the second floor houses the clergy's lounge, the believers' prayer room, and the quiet, private confessional.

The third floor houses the Vatican's classic texts and sacred relics accumulated over countless years, making it a theological museum.

However, this floor is usually heavily guarded and is only open to the public on important holidays.

The fourth floor is where the clergy work, and it is the central hub of the entire Vatican's operations.

The fifth floor is where the highest-level Masses and papal coronations are held, and it is not open to the public on ordinary days.

Along the way, Ron and Afra did not encounter any clergy. When they arrived at the door of a chapel on the fourth floor of the church, he gently pushed open the door and saw an old man with white hair and beard whom he had met once before.

"Ha, we haven't encountered anything along the way. Anyone who didn't know better would think the Vatican had planted five hundred axemen, waiting for the signal to smash the cup to ambush us."

To distinguish himself from his identity as "Gandalf," Ron said, half-jokingly and half-cautiously.

Of course, no one will understand the jokes made in another world.

"Five hundred men can't take down two of them."

"You must be the chosen one of suffering who appeared two months ago?"

Cyrus VII glanced at Afra with his cloudy eyes, then fixed his gaze on Ron, who wore a spiral mask.

His voice was old and peaceful, giving people a sense of reassurance like that of a kind old grandfather next door.

"Yes, you can call me pangolin."

Ron nodded in agreement, then glanced around again, as if still worried that it was a trap.

He stepped on the solid floor and asked:

"Why would the Vatican seek our cooperation? I recall that the Order of the Holy See isn't very familiar with you, is it?"

Upon hearing this, Cyrus VII smiled warmly.

"No, that's not the case."

“Although we worship different gods, we still serve our own Lord. Moreover, God is merciful, and your mistress is compassionate, so why can’t we cooperate?”

The Pope is indeed the Pope; not only is his sophistry unmatched, but he can also speak very eloquently.

At least Ron could see out of the corner of his eye that Afra's tail tip was starting to wag again.

"."

Ron paused for a moment, then got straight to the point:
"I hope your clandestine schemes are as sincere as you are."

"We'll give you what you want, but what we want..."

He hesitated to speak, as if he didn't trust the Vatican, which had always been hostile to the Order.

"Don't worry, the items in the temple are easy to obtain, it just requires a little skill."

"Besides, this is of no use to me. I can guarantee that as long as you can tell me the secret of the reversed god, I can open the temple and help you obtain a part of the divine body of the 'Mother of Compassion'."

(End of this chapter)