Xingyue, is Xiaokai also considered Kai?

therefore--

"I...I'm so...useless..."

Upon entering, the silver-haired boy saw the enchanting girl and sighed softly once more before making a suggestion.

Can I comb your hair for you?

Bavan Shi didn't speak, so Favia took it as a tacit agreement.

He approached the fairy girl, adjusted her into a position where it would be easier to comb her hair, and secretly touched her hair from behind.

Then she took out a comb and started tidying her hair from the ends.

One touch was enough to tell that her hair was in good condition, but it was also tangled in many places and covered in dirt accumulated over time, turning its bright red color into a dry one. Favia was a little puzzled as to why she didn't use magic to clean it, but then she thought that since it was the first time she had helped her wash it, she might as well try it herself.

"No...don't do that..."

"Ok?"

"Everyone, you don't want me to be like this..."

"Let me be clear."

Favia remained unmoved and said this.

"This is not a request, it's a demand. You should pay back the money you owe me before you give me any feedback."

"......it is good."

Bawan Xi nodded slightly.

But to be honest, she wanted to make things difficult for him, but she didn't dare.

So, as Bavan Shi silently accepted having her hair washed by Favia, she suddenly looked towards the window of the room.

The light streaming in from the window made the dust motes floating in the air sparkle. For some reason, she felt very comfortable with the smell, or rather, she really liked it.

At this moment, it seemed as if time itself had stopped in this room, and the boy was simply trying his best to move the comb for the fairy girl.

The following day, Bavan Shi returned to London with Favia.

Upon arriving at the Clock Tower in London, Favia found the atmosphere within the association somewhat tense. He then learned that the current Pope had ordered the Inquisition of England, along with the Inquisitions of various European countries, to confront and destroy the Byzantine Empire and occupy Albania, which was separated from Rome only by the sea from the Ottoman Empire.

The pope in question is Alexander VI, who is considered one of the most controversial popes of the Renaissance.

203: The Corrupt, Degenerate, and Unscrupulous Pope (2k5)

The city of Rome.

It was a magnificent cathedral with an exterior made of pure white marble and shimmering gold decorations.

The towering spire points straight to the blue sky, symbolizing the steadfastness and purity of faith.

Sunlight shines on the church's spire, making the golden decorations glitter and sparkle. The church windows are inlaid with colorful stained glass, through which sunlight shines, casting a dazzling array of colors and illuminating the entire interior of the church in a dreamlike way.

Through the windows of the cathedral, one can see the city, which has stood for many years, bathed in the setting sun, while this place remains filled with magnificent lights.

It was incredibly luxurious, and among them, an elderly man in a high position was squinting his eyes slightly.

Although the old man was very old, he was burly, with thick black eyebrows, bulging eyes, thick lips, a slightly protruding long nose, and a short chin that looked as if it had been cut with a knife, making him look like a ram when viewed from the side.

"Does Leonardo da Vinci have any objections?"

Suddenly, the old man spoke up and asked a question. The guard beside him, seemingly used to it, quickly spoke up as well.

"Yes, he seems somewhat... somewhat... towards the church now."

At this point, the guard seemed to be struggling with whether or not to continue.

"Hmph, that old bastard, I rescued him from those French bastards, fed him well, gave him a peaceful life, and he still keeps nagging all day long."

The old man seemed very dissatisfied with France, and he immediately launched into a classic swearing remark, but his facial expression remained unchanged, and the guards beside him didn't dare to breathe loudly.

"Never mind, have those bastards in England replied yet?"

"The clock tower has not yet responded..."

"Damn it, they're still dragging it out. If those Ottoman bastards find a chance to invade Rome from Albania, even if I lose Rome, I'll twist the heads off those damned magicians before I commit suicide to atone for my sins."

The fifteenth and sixteenth centuries were a time of exceptionally fierce conflict between two of the world's three major religious sects.

On the one hand, Spain's reconquest was coming to an end, and the Sultanate of Granada was building fortresses in the rugged mountains of southwestern Spain, barely clinging to life.

On the other hand, the rise of the Ottomans put pressure on the whole of Europe; in 1453, the ancient city of Constantinople was captured by Mehmed II the Conqueror.

In 1479, Albania was conquered, and in 1480, Mehmed II attacked Otranto, causing panic throughout Italy.

Fortunately, Mehmed II died in 1481, and the leaderless Ottoman Empire had to withdraw its troops from the Apennine Peninsula. However, his successor, Bayezid II, continued to exert enormous pressure on the whole of Europe.

Countries across Europe are in a state of heightened anxiety, where even the slightest spark could ignite a massive firestorm of religious persecution.

"Should we continue to request assistance from the three monarchs of the Clock Tower and El-Melloi?"

"...Forget it, I didn't have much hope for those selfish bastards anyway, but it doesn't matter. Just keep a tough stance, as long as they hand over ownership of the Inquisition in England."

"Yes, your will."

"Oh right, I heard there's a magician who's been going around healing people for the past few years... what's his name again?"

“Von Holmhein Paracelsus”.

"Hmm... that's the name. I understand. You may leave now."

"Yes, His Holiness the Pope."

The old man was the contemporary Pope Alexander VI, whose real name was Rodrigo Leansol di Borgia. He was the first pope in the Holy Church to publicly acknowledge having children with his mistress, and he was also Spanish.

Rather than a religious figure, Alexander VI was more of a politician. In 1493, he drew a line for the colonial expansion of Portugal and Spain, known as the "Papal Meridian."

Alexander VI is generally regarded as a symbol of the corruption and decadence of the church during the Renaissance, and the most dissolute and unscrupulous pope.

He also had extraordinary political ambitions and was notorious for his lavish wealth accumulation and his scheming plots to seize power for his son. However, he was not the originator of these misdeeds, after all, his predecessors set a 'good example' for him.

Aside from political and religious evaluations, the patronage of the family, led by Leonardo da Vinci, for the arts is commendable. They patronized artists such as Binduricchio, Bartolomeo Veneto, Michelangelo, Tizziano, and Hieronymus Bosch, and Leonardo da Vinci even helped his son build war machines.

It is worth mentioning that her uncle, Pope Christian III, personally exonerated Joan of Arc in his second year as pope.

While the efforts of Joan of Arc's mother and the head of the French Inquisition were indispensable, the approval of Charles III was undoubtedly extremely important, as he forcefully demanded her rehabilitation despite widespread internal reluctance.

Since the 'Captivity at Avignon,' the Church has generally harbored resentment towards the French. After all, the pope who was captured by the French was humiliated and beaten by men sent by the then-French king, which led to his death a few weeks later.

This explains why, when Joan of Arc, the French heroine who saved the nation, was declared a 'witch' by the English-controlled Inquisition, not a single person within the organization stood up to refute her. Some even lamented that it would have been better if these two damned countries had continued fighting, since only a little over twenty years had passed since the end of the schism within the Catholic Church, and the hatred had not been eliminated.

It should be noted that the Church was weakened due to the Great Schism and the Avignon Paschal. Taking advantage of this opportunity, various European countries seized control of the Inquisition in their respective countries. When Joan of Arc was betrayed, the English appointed Bishop Pierre Cochrane, who was subservient to England, as the judge and conducted a unilateral sentencing ceremony.

Although the reigns of these two popes, who were uncle and nephew, were marked by corruption, debauchery, and murder that cast a shadow over the Church, both were, on a personal level, deeply respected the Church and were exceptionally gifted in oratory and evangelism.

As time passed and night fell, the Pope once again squinted slightly, as if he were resting. The guards beside him had already withdrawn, for although he was old, he still possessed considerable strength.

At this moment, he was the only person in the entire hall, as if it had been prepared solely for him.

Having become Pope at such an advanced age, he served five popes in total, including his uncle, thus accumulating ample experience, influence, and wealth. However, since the humiliating 'Captivity at Avignon,' the position of Pope has lost its sanctity over the centuries.

Alexander VI rocked back and forth in his chair, a gentle, intoxicating drowsiness descending upon him. He softly closed his eyes, and the 84-year-old pope recalled the words his uncle had spoken to him when he became pope:

"That Frenchwoman named Joan of Arc was a true saint."

“But she’s already dead. There’s no need for us to exonerate her anymore. The church can’t afford to lose face any longer, Uncle.”

"Yes, it's completely unnecessary, but it's not entirely unnecessary. Her mother feels that her child is living a miserable and tormented life because her child shouldn't be living such a miserable life, and that's enough."

"But wouldn't this definitely jeopardize Uncle's plan to unite various countries to attack the Ottomans? Constantinople has been lost for so many years..."

After a moment of contemplation, with his gaze drifting over the distant scenery, King Galisi III slowly began to speak.

"My reputation is bad enough, it doesn't matter anymore, and besides—"

Then, amidst the devout praises heard throughout the city, the wicked old man walked into the city.

It disappeared from the sight of the young Alexander VI.

When the 84-year-old Alexander VI opened his eyes, all around had already returned to silence.

But the long wait continues, and we wonder when the church will be able to regain its former glory.

Over the years, countless people have come, countless people have bowed, and countless people have left with salvation.

The sky outside the Eternal City was as warm as spring, clear and serene.

Throughout the entire process, the icons hanging in the church quietly bore witness to everything.

"I'd rather go to hell for the sake of the church."

Alexander VI murmured softly, knowing he was no saint; many innocent people had died directly or indirectly at his hands.

Even knowing this, he would never stop. He was willing to sacrifice everything to reclaim what once belonged to the Holy Church.

204: The Purest El-Melloi? (4k5)

In a room of the Clock Tower in London, the warm, drowsy glow of the setting sun filled the room.

Despite being exhausted from the day's journey back to London with Favia, Bavan Shi, whose mind should have become sluggish, was as active as it had been in the morning, simply because she saw the man talking to Favia.

His long, smooth, black hair fell to one side of his shoulder, and his handsome, gentle face, along with his composed and elegant demeanor, undoubtedly exuded the elegance of someone from a prestigious family.

A sudden surge of inexplicable irritability and inferiority overwhelmed the fairy girl, leaving her with nothing but her head down, fiddling with her fingers.

Compared to before, her beautiful red hair has returned, and the bruises and scars on her face have disappeared. The only things that haven't improved are her throat and her inner attitude.

"I see. Favia, you want me to treat Bavan Shi's damaged throat?"

Paracelsus tucked his hair behind his ear and casually patted his slightly wrinkled white coat.

"But to be fair, you're perfectly capable of doing it yourself, aren't you?"

"I don't have much experience."

“Actually, it’s not a very troublesome matter. Fine, I’ll do as you say. But the problem now is, Favia, since you brought Bavan Shi back, you should at least give her a place to stay.”

She currently lives with me.

"Hmm? Are you staying in the same room?"

Paracelsus's tone brightened slightly upon hearing this, and he even unconsciously raised one finger slightly while holding the water glass.

He hadn't expected that Favier, after being asked to go to the Scottish Highlands, would bring back a young girl, and judging from the way Bavan Shi kept stealing glances, the answer was already quite obvious.

"Anyway, I'll have to trouble you to treat her later."

Favia ignored the man's teasing and took a tool from the tool bag on the table, handing it to Paracelsus.

"I'm going out for a bit, I'll come pick you up tonight."

Although the silver-haired boy didn't say these words to the fairy girl, she still nodded subconsciously, then looked up and watched him leave.

"Although he has a magical talent far exceeding mine, he is still the same as when we first met. He always likes to participate in the production and trade of woolen fabrics, or the textile industry, retail industry, or shipbuilding industry in various parts of London. In this respect, he is the same as me, who likes to meet all kinds of people."

Upon hearing this, Bavan Shi looked at Paracelsus in confusion. She saw him take a few steps toward the window, and not knowing what to say, she could only mutter a soft "hmm".

"By the way, Bavan Shi, what do you think of Favia?"

To the fairy girl, the man named Paracelsus seemed to have a gentle, star-like glow when he mentioned Favia, and a pleasant smile would appear on his lips, as if he were talking about a friend with confidence and tenderness.

Therefore, although she still felt irritable and inferior, she could only say softly while looking down and playing with the things in her hands:

"friend......."

"friend?"

After a pause, Paracelsus smiled. Although he didn't answer directly, he could understand the fairy girl's feelings, but he just felt that the term "friend" was a bit too ambiguous.

Paracelsus, a magical genius and teacher at the Clock Tower, immediately noticed the unusual sight at Bavan Shi's heel and recalled the vampires, one of the fantastical creatures living in Scotland, as described in the books.

Thinking about this, Paracelsus roughly deduced the cause and effect of the previous 'vampire incident' in Scotland. It was probably caused by this Bavan Shi in front of him. However, he could also tell from Bavan Shi's undisguised inferiority that the incident was probably just a misunderstanding.

But since Favia hadn't directly revealed Bavan Shi's true identity to him, Paracelsus felt there was no need to insist on exposing it.

“For Favia, there are quite a few people in the Clock Tower who simply want to be his ‘friends,’ and some don’t even care about family background.”

Paracelsus joked.