For a moment, Siegel's eyes were like lightning, staring at Thomas.
"I remember I told you a long time ago that you are not allowed to call me that."
"Really? What are you afraid of? Those who oppose you in the Holy See are gone. It's just a title, what does it mean?"
Thomas remained calm, pulled up a chair, and sat down slowly.
"Besides, isn't this kind of thing very common in this city of Rome and this decadent Holy See?
If I don’t call you uncle, why don’t I continue to call you my majesty? Haven’t you heard enough after so many years?”
"Shut up!" Siegel's voice was much colder, and there was faint anger in his eyes.
Thomas was unafraid and looked at the other person calmly.
"That's all." In the end, Siegel turned his head and stopped looking at each other.
"I know you blame me and blame me for not taking the initiative in your father's matter. But, as a bishop, your father killed his colleagues in front of so many people for prostitutes. How do you want me to help him?
At that time, I had just changed into a red robe.
You yourself have entered the Holy See. Why don't you know your father's sins? Apart from the fact that I was wearing purple at the time, I couldn't save him.
Why do you still have so much resentment?"
"How dare I have any resentment, uncle, no, Your Majesty?"
When it comes to this matter, Thomas is obviously angry.
"If it hadn't been for Your Majesty's intervention, I would still be in a dark street in Rome, trying my best to survive.
No, maybe he died in a street fight or starved to death in a corner.
How do you achieve the power and status you have today?
So, it’s too late for me to thank you, so how can I blame you? You say so, uncle!”
"That's enough!" Siegel's face turned red and he suddenly stood up from the large chair covered with purple silk.
"If you want to talk about old things from back then, then you can leave. Do you really think that you have truly secured your position as chief and can speak to me like this?"
"Maybe. How about you try and see if you can kick me out of my current position?"
Faced with Siegel's anger, Thomas calmed down after replying and stopped continuing the topic.
"I have received news that the vast majority of bishops in the empire do not support our decision, and only a small number of bishops are willing to obey the orders of the Holy See.
I think that after they leave, we will completely lose control of the Imperial Church."
Siegel was silent for a moment, sat down, and nodded slightly.
"Unsurprisingly, since then, as long as the emperor can command the land, the church has always been a foil.
Anyway, we have never controlled the churches across the empire.
What about the Frankish Kingdom? What do the Carolingian kings think?"
"One of the two old kings was drunk and dreaming, and the other was about to die and had no energy to interfere.
Over in the Kingdom of West Francia, it seems that someone from the Green God Cult has infiltrated into the border. At this time, they need the support of the Holy See.
As for the East Frankish Kingdom, the Saxon Bishop Jason did a good job. A powerful principality rebelled, and they must not have the energy to deal with other things."
"The Green God Cult? They have crossed the Pyrenees Mountains? Are they going to launch a so-called holy war again?" Siegel frowned. If this is the case, that is not good news.
"Probably not. I heard from the businessmen that there was no movement from the sultan's court. It was probably just another border conflict.
For so many years, the two sides have been having small fights and nothing major happened."
"Pay more attention. If the Green God Religion launches a holy war at this time, our situation will be too difficult.
The rebellion in the East Frankish Kingdom is indeed just right. Didn’t you say before that Bishop Jason would come to Rome? When will he arrive in Rome?"
"He wrote before that the Duke of Franconia seems to be serious and has the support of the Duke of Bavaria, so he can't get away for the time being. When the time is right, he will come to Rome to see him."
"What about other aspects, what is the situation with the empire and the emperor, are the Bulgarians being suppressed again?"
"Hmm." Thomas shook his head disdainfully.
“From an empire, to a kingdom, now it’s a principality.
Hey, these Bulgarians are really interesting. Maybe it won't be long before they become a military region of the emperor.
Perhaps, we will witness the birth of a Constantine the Great."
"Emperor Constantine...
That depends on how long he can sit on the throne. The palace of Constantinople is more complicated than the Holy See."
"I think the two Roman cities are about the same level of filth and complexity." Thomas shrugged.
Siegel glared at Thomas, did not answer, and continued to ask.
"So, do you think the emperor will declare war on the Holy See after they arrive in Constantinople?"
"It is possible, but not very likely. Although the Bulgarians surrendered, it is said that a new group of barbarians came to the grassland and they were very powerful.
Moreover, those Arabs don’t want to see another wise and mighty emperor come out of the empire.”
"Then, the only thing left is how to control the churches in the Frankish Kingdom. Do you have any ideas?"
"Uncle, didn't you expect this situation before? Do you still need to ask me about this kind of thing?" Thomas looked at Siegel in surprise, a little confused.
Siegel was silent, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but twitch, not knowing how to answer.
After a long while, he spoke again, with a bleak tone.
"Actually, I didn't expect their reaction to be so violent..."
"No way, I could have predicted the current situation, but our most noble majesty didn't predict it?"
Thomas became angry.
Siegel looked at the other party coldly and said nothing.
Thomas spread his hands and smiled.
"In that case, uncle, just cultivate yourself well and concentrate on preparing for the coronation of the King of Italy.
Don't worry about other things, uncle, I have my own way of dealing with them."
After Thomas finished speaking, he looked at the other person and even raised his eyebrows.
"Okay." Siegel said with a smile on his face.
"In this case, I will be relieved if the Holy See is left to you.
Then you can handle the affairs of the Holy See by yourself from now on, and there is no need to come and ask me again."
Thomas was stunned for a moment and frowned slightly, as if he couldn't believe what Siegel said.
"Is there any surprise? I had already planned to leave everything to you, don't you know?" Siegel shook his head, seeming to be a little disappointed with Thomas.
"I thought you were ready from the moment you became chief.
Thomas, my son, you are still too young.
Since you’re not ready, tell me what you think.”
Thomas pursed his lips, gave Siegel a complicated look, took a deep breath, and said softly.
"I am going to change the Chief Archbishop's Conference, and I have also sent bishops to inspect churches in various places, and...
However, I think the most important thing now is to establish a military force that is truly controlled by the Holy See and capable of protecting the strength of the church.
I am going to establish a knightly order called...the Knights of Holy Light!"