"Nyaaa nahaha…"
Sylvester's eyes opened the following day to the strange noise of Miraj's laughs. He quickly looked to his side and noticed the furry white boy was still sleeping. But there was a grin on his face.
"What's he looking at in his dream? That smile does not seem very family friendly." He wondered. But he didn't bother him and got up to freshen up and make breakfast.
Being a man from the modern world where scam food such as cornflakes was considered healthy, he really appreciated the diet in this world. Everything was natural. Just eggs, good hobaked bread, real fruit juice, and of course, Sylvester's cocaine—Honey.
"Honestly, if I wasn't in the race to beco the Pope, I might have opened a restaurant. Haha, I wonder what life would have been then." He talked to himself while cooking.
He made three servings, and by then, Isabella and Xavia had also woken up. Isabella even brought Xavia to the dining table in her wheelchair.
Xavia apologised the mont she saw Sylvester. "I'm sorry, dear. You have to do all this. I know you wanted to relax at ho after harsh missions."
Sylvester shrugged and put plates on the table. "Believe it or not, mum. I really feel relaxed with what I am doing right now. Cooking, and building a pool for ourselves is very relaxing."
"I hope you're not lying just to keep happy," Xavia muttered.
Sylvester put food on her plate, a little extra. "Hush up now, little one. You're the baby, so just eat. Do you want the birdie to fly to your mouth as well?"
Sylvester played around by picking a spoonful of chopped fruits towards Xavia's mouth.
She scoffed and looked away jokingly. "Stop treating like a child, Max."
Sylvester chuckled and let her eat on her own. "By the way, I was thinking of bringing Zeke here and letting him live with us. He's a simple man and has no family or friends. Also, he's pretty strong and needs my guidance. He will also be studying at the School of Dawn with Isabella. So he can be her loyal protector. We have empty rooms anyway."
"Why would I say no to such an amazing plan, dear? Zeke saved my life that day and killed the two attackers. He even injured his arm in the process. If anything, he's like a son to now." She responded happily.
Though Isabella seed reserved. She knew Sylvester and Xavia very well, but to have another man in the house.
Sylvester slled her emotions and reassured her. "Don't worry. Once you et him, you'll treat him like a little brother. He's charming and naive, but his loyalty is unwavering."
Then Sylvester quickly gobbled whatever was on his plate and stood up. "Alright, I'll be leaving now. Isabella, a trainee Bright Mother by the na of Anya Moller, will co later as caretaker of mum."
Isabella chirped in all smiles. "Got it, Sylvester. And don't worry about Mother Xavia. I will take care of her."
"I know. I'll go and pack my bag."
Sylvester went into his room and changed his clothes. Though first, he looked at the wound on his thigh that he had opened to fix the magical blockage temporarily. 'Why is my body so weird? How do my wounds heal so fast?'
"Chonky! Wake up. It's ti to go." Sylvester patted the sleepy cat.
"Umh… Two more ow ow only!"
Sylvester folded his arms and stood by the bed. "Oh! What's this? A giant, juicy, succulent banana?"
Woosh!
"Where?!"
"..."
Sylvester took out a regular banana from the bag and handed it over. "Get up now. We have many places to be today—And pray for soone special."
Miraj's interest was piqued. "Who? Grandpa Monk? Shane? Markus or…"
"Stop talking and eat fast."
"Aye, Aye!"
…
It was still early morning when Sylvester left the house. This ti he didn't take any friends or companions along. Just him, his horse and a hungry cat. He had decided to spend so alone ti today.
But, still, he had one thing to do, sothing he had promised to soone so ti ago. So, he travelled on horse to the Holy Land's weapons research division. It was also situated on the Pope's Peninsula since the departnt was crucial.
"Good morning, Lord Bard!"
"May the light bless us!"
Sylvester saw many people on the way. So faces he had seen, and so were new. But they all seed to know him as they greeted him with worship and respect.
"So strange how it started with being called Lord's Bard, and now they simply call Lord Bard. Well, I'm not complaining." He talked to himself as he enjoyed the soothing morning breeze on horseback.
Soon, he arrived in the heavily restricted area. Thankfully, with his identity as a Sanctum Inspector, he could easily enter after naming the man he wanted to see. Still, he was restricted from the primary research and production base.
So, he sat by the seashore on a bench and waited for the man he wanted to see. He also had a small flask full of tea with him as this was his relaxing ti.
'I should focus on those cardinals who voted against in the council. Once I have dirt on them, I can bury them or make them my slaves. But how do I ensure that loyalty remains unwavering?'
"Y-You called for , Lord Bard?"
Quickly, Sylvester stood up and looked at the man. It was a simple, black-haired, stubble bearded man with a thin build and height shorter than Sylvester. He wore work clothes, including a tunic, pants, boots and a leather apron.
However, the man's rank was not so simple. "Greetings, Cardinal Robert Maxim. I am surprised to see a Cardinal who looks as young as you."
(A/N: The man was first ntioned in Chapter 207.)
The man appeared to lack confidence as he stuttered while speaking. Sylvester quickly caught onto it and created a complete character profile in his mind.
"I… I am honoured to be in your p-presence, my lord. I'm but a re human with no talents, magic o-or knightly. All I have is a decent alchemical talent that earned the rank. D-Did I commit sothing wrong?"
'Good god! What mad genius is he to be able to get this rank?'
Sylvester waved his hand and took a seat. He was in a pleasant mood today, for it was an important day. "No need to be nervous, your eminence. I'm not here to investigate you as a Sanctum Inspector nor here to preach as a bard. I'm just Sylvester Maximilian, a random bloke from the neighbourhood. So please, take a seat and share a cup of tea with . I made it myself… It has honey in it."
The Cardinal nervously sat down and took the cup of tea Sylvester extended. "What is this about, Lord Bard? I… I've never t you before."
Sylvester shrugged and took a sip. "And now you have, on a nice warm day with nice tea. I also have a letter for you. When I went to deal with Duke Daemon, a woman gave it to ."
"My sister?"
Sylvester nodded and handed it over. "Why have you not replied to her? She was so distressed when she ca to looking for help. She didn't even ask for anything other than the request that I give this to you."
The Cardinal looked at the letter. "M-My lord, forgive ! I have sinned! I took the vow to forget the ties that make us families by blood. Yet I used my influence to send the money directly to the school to allow my nephew and niece to study."
"..."
Sylvester was taken aback by the confession. "What? What sin? That's not a sin. Your eminence, the money is not reaching them. When I saw them, your sister had patched up, dirty clothes, and your niece and nephew looked malnourished, dirty, sad and hopeless."
Thud!
The cup of tea fell from the Cardinal's hand as his face filled with horror. "H-How is that possible? She's married to the Master of that land."
Sylvester waved his hand a few tis to use wind elental to clear the spilt tea from the bench and filled the glass again. "That's why you should have read the letter. Her husband died, and before he died, he took a second wife—The daughter of another master of land nearby. That woman threw your sister out and took her husband's property."
Cardinal Maxim's shoulder fell as the realisation of his failure hit him like a bull. His hands shivered as he opened the letter and read it. In no ti, as he read her desperate pleas for help, tears fell from his eyes.
"I… I just didn't want to break the rules and appear corrupt. I thought… I need to stay away from my family as per the oath."
Sylvester added a few words to the man's character profile in his head. 'Super genius, hence lacks so comprehension and common sensical abilities. Too loyal to the faith.'
Sylvester patted the Cardinal's shoulder. "Your eminence, you're mistaken. The oath tells you to draw a line between your family and duty, but it never tells you to ignore their plight, for that's a sin in itself. In fact, the oath is not ant to be absolute. Its main target is the high-ranked clergy with great decision-making powers who may have kids and later try to push them to a high rank in the church—Nepotism, basically.
"Heck, there are old priests outside in backwater monasteries who have married and even have grandkids. That doesn't an they are not clergyn—That only destroys their chances of ever-rising high.
"Cardinal, not everyone is lucky to have a family of their own. You have so left, so cherish them. Or else, once you lose them, you'd only be filled with regrets and pain—And mark my words, it will never go away."
The Cardinal nodded and wiped his eyes. "H… How do I help her, my lord? I don't know anyone, and my senior said only to focus on work."
"Then perhaps you should stop listening to your seniors. And don't worry, now you know . Ask for help anyti. I may not be very high-ranking, but I know people all the way to the top, and thankfully, my words are valued.
"But, you need not worry for now. I gave your sister money and sent her to the undergarnt factory run by Bright Mother's Economic Aid Association. She now has a job, and her kids are in school. So, be sure to write to her, and rember, if you ever need help, find ." Sylvester replied and started to pack his stuff.
However, as Sylvester stood up, the Cardinal stopped him. "L-Lord Bard… Can you help bring her here?"
"Sure. Send her a letter to arrive at Guild Peninsula. I will ask soone to handle it from there. Now, I must say my farewell. I have a few places to be. May the holy light enlighten you and stop you from ignoring more letters." Sylvester saluted and walked away.
Cardinal Maxim kept watching his back. But eventually, he gathered so courage and asked. "L-Lord Bard! You don't know , and I never t you before. Then… Why go out of your way to help soone?"
Sylvester stopped and glanced back. A big smile shone on his face as the bright sunlight fell on his golden blonde hair. "A long ti ago, soone told —That sotis, the best way to help yourself is to help soone else first—Take care, Cardinal."
'Of course. The more I help you all, the farther my na will spread—The legend of the Bard of the Lord.'
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