I impersonated God in America

"After all, we have had experience with supernatural beings since the snake-man incident."

"Our extensive experience can fully guide their actions."

【guide……】

Tsk tsk.

Colbert placed the coffee cup on the console.

"Sir, you should know that the Italians have now blocked the coastline."

“I know, but you don’t need to worry, our diplomatic efforts are already underway.”

"The White House now has only one requirement for you: maintain a state of combat readiness."

"Our fleet may not enter Italian territorial waters, but we must let those Italians know we are here."

"Only in this way will they feel pressure."

The call ended.

"Sir, what should we do now?"

"No rush, let the gentlemen at the State Council continue arguing. We'll act after they've finished."

------------

Washington, D.C., White House Situation Room.

The long table in the conference room was filled with people.

"The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs just spoke with us, but their stance is tougher than we expected."

"The other side believes that the events in Sardinia are an internal affair of Italy. Moreover, they have sufficient troops to handle the crisis and do not need joint intervention from NATO."

"So, did you offer any suggestions on how we could help them?"

"Tsk tsk."

"It seems they are unwilling."

"Indeed, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs was tougher than we expected this time."

Everyone's memory of Italy is still stuck on the pro-American faction of the past.

After all, the Italian government's dependence on energy is extremely high, far beyond normal levels, so energy exports from the United States are very important to Italy.

Furthermore, Italy also has a high demand for American military equipment.

So this situation was even more unexpected for them.

This is completely unlike the Italian style.

unless.

"They must be betting that the creatures discovered in Sardinia can be used as military-grade assets."

"Then let's continue to apply pressure."

------------

Sardinia, temporary command tent of the military police.

Captain Calabresi stood at the table, on the phone with General Cavalli, the Minister of Defense.

"Hey soldier, you are now in full command of the entire armored platoon of the Cagliari Military District. The patrol boats nearby can also be handed over to you. You should know that the cave next to you is currently the Italian government's top priority military operation area."

"You don't need to worry about pressure from the United States. We will stand up to them."

You only have one job right now.

"That means we have to get that damned stone slab out of the cave before everyone else."

Calabresi stared at the hand-drawn map on the table.

"But the general's previous military action plan was still being adjusted based on the Stone Serpent."

"Forget about that damned snake. Now, prioritize the stone slab. It would be best if we could drag that snake out of the cave, but if not, blowing it up is fine too."

"We can then proceed with the recycling."

"clear."

Calabresi put down the phone and turned to open the cave registration list on the corner of the table.

[Bishop Paul, the on-site head of the Pontifical Archaeological Commission.]

His finger paused for a moment next to the name.

"During the retreat, the team must have gotten separated and is still inside the cave. Since the snake's tail is blocking the cave entrance, they probably haven't come out yet."

The young military policeman looked at the map.

Should we send a special team in?

"No need."

The young military policeman was stunned.

Without looking up, Calabresi ruthlessly erased the markings indicating the directions of the branching tunnels on the map with the side of his pencil.

“Under normal circumstances, if the bishops of the Papal States had this problem, I would definitely send people to take charge and bring them out of hiding, whether they are alive or dead.”

"But times have changed."

"The pressure from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is greater than expected. As for the bishop in that side cave?"

He wrote a note next to Bishop Paul's name.

[Tentatively listed as missing]

"What if the stone snake becomes wary when we try to rescue it?"

"So we should save people if we can, but we can't let that interfere with our primary goal."

------------

Caves, side passages.

Unaware that he had been unilaterally disappeared, Bishop Paul pressed his back against the cold stone wall, where a vibration would come from above his head every few seconds.

It was the sound of a snake scraping against the stone wall.

They were the group that got separated.

They originally planned to go deeper into the area for archaeological work, but unexpectedly they got trapped inside.

To avoid being accidentally injured, the only option was to continue exploring further inside.

“Bishop, over here.”

A young priest squatted in front of a stone wall at the end of the passageway.

His fingers kept groping along the wall.

"It feels like it was sealed off by man, and the material of the sealant is completely different from the surrounding stone walls."

Paul leaned closer, put the flashlight in his mouth, scraped off a small pinch of powder with his fingertip, and examined it in his palm.

"Open."

three minutes.

A groove pried out using a portable shovel and a Swiss Army knife.

Shine the flashlight inside.

What comes into view is a ceramic vase.

next moment.

"It's been so long since I've had any fresh air."

Upon hearing the unfamiliar voice, everyone exchanged glances.

【They're not one of ours?】

So who is actually speaking?

Wait, isn't that the bottle?

Bishop Paul looked warily at the earthenware jar in front of him.

"who are you?"

After a while, a name slowly emerged from the bottle.

"Me? Let me think... um... perhaps you can call me..."

"Sibir".

Chapter Twenty: Veteran

"What do you think a single report can do?"

"Pacco, your report made the headlines, aren't you happy?"

"It has been reported that Estein committed suicide in prison."

late at night.

Reporter Pacco tossed and turned in bed for an unknown amount of time before finally getting out of bed.

I stood in front of a combination lock cabinet.

A few days ago, he heard a sound while taking pictures of birds on the coast.

Then, based on the sound, they found an ancient gold coin.

At that time, the other party tempted him to ask if he needed power.

Because it looked too much like a demon, he initially wanted to leave, but then felt he would regret throwing it away, so he took the ancient gold coin home.

He originally thought he would take this secret to his grave.

But now.

A figure flashed through my mind.

He wanted power.

He got up, opened the box, and looked at the ancient gold coins in front of him.

"You mean, you come from an ancient Greek magic academy?"

A familiar voice came to mind.

Of course, I've lost many memories, but I haven't forgotten who I am. Also, if my memories aren't deceiving me, you might be able to call me by my name.

Tom Riddle

----------

The air inside the caves of Sardinia seemed to freeze.

Everyone was chewing on the name that the bottle had revealed.

Sibyl.

The name comes from the city of Erythrae in Asia Minor.

Legend has it that she was a priestess of Apollo, living in a cliffside cave along the coast, and that prophecies would travel from her tongue through the sea breeze to Cume, and then from Cume to Rome.

Apollo had promised her anything she wanted, and she grabbed a handful of sand and said, "I want as many lifespans as there are grains of sand in this handful."

Apollo agreed, but she forgot to ask for eternal youth. So she lived, growing older year by year, from a young girl to an old woman, and from an old woman to a withered, empty human shell, ultimately trapped in the bottle, unable to die.

Bishop Paul recalled the name.

"Your Majesty Bishop."

The priest's voice trembled.

“If she really is that Sybil, then wouldn’t the other party be the prophet himself who has lived from before the time of the apostles to the present day?”

Bishop Paul reacted instantly.