I’m Going to Destroy this Country

“What a pain in the ass.”

At the Blue family head’s words, everyone seemed flustered. The Pope’s attendant and the Cardinals were no exception.

‘W-What did he just say?’

The Red, Gold, and Black Cardinals, who were kneeling on one knee, looked at the Blue, and the White, who was standing ready for their turn after Blue, also looked flustered.

“Uh, Your Excellency Duke Eshua?”

Looking at Elai who wasn’t kneeling, the Pope’s attendant gave a look as if asking if there was a problem.

Not giving the greeting of loyalty. The Pope stared at the Blue family head.

Feeling that subtle emotion, Isaac smiled as if it was detestable.

Yeah, he must be flustered.

‘As expected, he must have come to confirm Grandpa’s loyalty.’

But this guy isn’t showing loyalty, but rebellion? Isn’t that terribly embarrassing?

But this situation is rather what Isaac was hoping for.

[Master, you said that what you found in the White’s totem was related to the Pope, right?]

‘That’s right.’

[Are you going to blackmail the Pope’s family with that?]

Did you think I was waiting for the Pope for nothing?

[…You were waiting?]

The Skeleton King waiting for someone is 100% a signal that a fight will break out.

But Isaac looking at the Pope chuckled. Well, the reason why the Pope came here was obvious.

‘From their standpoint, it would be troublesome if the Blue is revived.’

But they think that if the Pope intervenes directly, even Grandpa will submit.

Because in this continent, only the Pope can make the high-and-mighty Cardinals kneel.

That’s why even now, Isaac could predict what the Pope would do.

‘He’ll probably say to distribute the Blue’s new recruits to other faiths for the sake of fairness.’

But are they crazy?

To wag their tail like a dog and say ‘Oh my, master, I’ll be loyal’ to those who are trying to strangle them?

‘They should realize that we who have the sacred relic are in the superior position.’

Soon, the Pope’s attendant showed a troubled expression looking at Elai standing upright with the Pope.

He seemed to think that Elai’s behavior was his own mistake, though he wasn’t sure.

So this time, he lowered his body more politely and spoke to Elai.

“It’s the Blue’s turn.”

But again, the Blue family head didn’t move. Even the Pope’s attendant couldn’t help but be flustered.

What’s going on?

Why is he just standing still??

At this point, it must be intentional??

But despite the gazes around him, the Blue family head paid no attention and held his head high.

And instead of lowering his body to prove loyalty, he got straight to the point.

“I hear there were maggots in the totem.”

“!”

“Wasn’t the totem under the Pope’s jurisdiction?”

The Cardinals were shocked at those words.

‘Is the Blue crazy?’

‘Skipping the greeting and going straight to the point?’

At this point, the Blue family head forcibly terminated the loyalty greeting. Moreover, to suddenly point to the Pope as the culprit!

‘What are you thinking, Blue…!’

‘Are you going to rebel against the Pope?’

But at that sight, Isaac inwardly laughed.

‘Well, unless Grandpa is a fool, he probably already knew.’

Who tampered with the totem.

And knowing Grandpa, he might have already guessed.

‘That the Pope is trying to get rid of the Blue.’

And there’s a completely different story between simply guessing and having continuous circumstantial evidence full of intentionality.

‘How could he feel like being loyal to the Pope?’

[But wasn’t Blue’s family head said to be close friends with the Pope?]

Well, I heard they were childhood friends and classmates. Since the Pope was also the head of the Berit family, there must have been interactions as one of the Five Great Families.

‘Well, now they look more like enemies than close friends.’

And that point is rather good for Isaac. He can’t like the Pope either.

Why, you ask?

‘As I thought.’

Isaac’s eyes narrowed as he looked at the Pope. Dark red smoke was seeping out of the Pope’s body.

‘As expected, the mark of .’

It’s a warning about an enemy that must be dealt with or avoided. If left alone, it would endanger Isaac’s survival or indirectly make it dangerous.

Well, this always appeared for Popes even during the Skeleton King era. Even when the Pope’s generation changed, it continued.

So Isaac was a bit curious about the reason, but…

[Did that guy really tamper with the totem?]

‘Of course. Who else could order the Black Cardinal in the first place?’

He was the most arrogant among the Cardinals.

He’s the crazy bastard who made a kidnapping plan as he pleased when the Crown Prince said he wanted to be friends with him.

[Master, you noticed it was the Pope’s doing from the moment you heard there were no new recruits for 5 years, didn’t you?]

‘Well, yes. I wonder why on earth the Pope has had so much grudge against Blue since the old days.’

[Old days? Grudge?]

Instead of answering, Isaac smiled and gritted his teeth.

It would be a lie if Isaac said he had no grudge against the Pope either. Of course, that was a thing of the past, so he tried not to hold a grudge against the current generation, but if they come at him like this, the story changes.

As expected, he spitefully whispered to the White Cardinal, who couldn’t even greet and was left in an awkward position because of the Blue family head.

“There weren’t Infinite Maggots in White’s totem, but there were fleas that are fatal to divine beasts. Fleas that spread epidemics.”

“…!”

The White Cardinal was startled.

She couldn’t help but understand what those words meant.

If Isaac hadn’t replaced the totem, the fleas might have spread to the White priests who were fighting.

And if those priests had come to where they usually take care of the divine beasts…!

“There were traces of His Holiness the Pope left, but I hope you’ll interpret the meaning yourself.”

“…!”

It was a look asking why His Holiness the Pope would do such a thing, but Isaac smiled.

Well, the purpose isn’t my business, but it’s the truth, so what can I do? There really were traces of the Pope. But, I can let their imagination run wild.

Smiling like a devil, Isaac whispered slyly.

“You know? I heard the Berit family is working on a new project, and it seems to be related to divine beasts.”

“…!”

Divine beasts?

I haven’t heard anything about that?

Seeing the White Cardinal’s expression, Isaac delivered the final blow.

“I heard it secretly from Kina.”

“?!”

Isaac grinned.

Yeah, it’s impossible not to fall for it.

It’s not information from just anyone, but from the heir of the Berit family. How could that be groundless information?

“You know I’m very close with Kina. I’m telling you this specially, so please keep it a secret.”

At the same time, as if she had realized something, anger rose in the White Cardinal’s eyes as she looked at the Pope.

‘Could it be that he attacked the White for Gold’s business!’

At that expression, Isaac chuckled.

Of course, it’s not a complete lie. Kina really did tell him about their business.

‘He said let’s go on a trip riding divine beasts together.’

[It might not be a business targeting White, right?]

How would I know?

‘I just gave the information, and imagination is free after all.’

And it’s true that there were harmful bugs in White’s totem too. It’s already over from there.

As evidence, the White Cardinal had a look in her eyes as if she had made some decision. And the Blue family head asked with fierce eyes.

“I’d like an explanation that makes sense as to why there were bugs harmful to Blue in the totem under the Pope’s jurisdiction.”

“…!”

Though the words were polite, it was like saying ‘You bastard, you’re the culprit, aren’t you?’ in a roundabout way…

“Did your bastard pull some tricks?”

No, he’s not even saying it in a roundabout way!

“…is what I asked the Cardinals, but since I couldn’t get a satisfactory answer, I’m asking His Holiness the Pope. Please forgive my rudeness.”

This guy! He’s made up his mind!

Then the Pope, as if saying the greeting was done, spoke about the totem.

“I understand that Blue is upset. I’ll have it investigated.”

“!”

Isaac inwardly laughed.

Ah, I see. He’s planning to play dumb.

‘Investigate?’

Predictably, he’s probably thinking of dragging it out saying there was no culprit or there’s not enough evidence, and then burying it. Since they’re investigating for now, Blue won’t be able to say anything.

Do you think we’ll let it go like that?

Soon Isaac spoke up.

“It’s extremely embarrassing to say this, but isn’t that a problem in itself?”

“!”

Everyone was surprised when Isaac intervened.

“The one who brought the Infinite Maggots would be none other than the Black Cardinal, right?”

Setting aside the rude tone, others were shocked by what Isaac said.

What? Is he trying to pin the blame on the Black Cardinal?

The Black Cardinal also glared at Isaac unpleasantly. Even the Blue family head glanced at Isaac as if this was unexpected.

So he was about to say something, but right then.

“The only one in this Empire who can move the Black Cardinal is the great His Holiness the Pope. You know that, right?”

“…!!”

Those listening froze completely.

We wondered what he was going to say!

Shuri was inwardly screaming. No, you crazy bastard! Are you going to openly point to the Pope as the culprit in a place like this?!

However, Isaac spoke slyly as if he had boiled and eaten a thousand-year-old snake.

“Surely the great His Holiness the Pope wouldn’t have pettily ordered maggots to be put in Blue’s totem. My goodness, this is an issue of impersonating His Holiness the Pope!”

The Cardinals’ faces were worth seeing.

…What? Impersonation?

“Impersonating the Emperor and His Holiness the Pope is a crime of national treason and rebellion, punishable by the highest penalty. Since it’s an act of encroaching on the authority of His Holiness the Pope, it can’t end with just a simple investigation.”

“!”

In other words, don’t even think about letting it slide.

At the same time, Isaac’s eyes met with the Black Cardinal’s. The Black Cardinal seemed to have a lot to say to Isaac, but Isaac chuckled.

Why? You can’t say ‘No, the culprit is the Pope’ here, can you?

Others around also agreed with Isaac’s words.

“If someone impersonated His Holiness the Pope to harm the Blue, this is not a personal issue for the Blue, but a national issue.”

Isaac chimed in excitedly.

“Yes, all priests should be mobilized to thoroughly find the culprit! If necessary, we should catch them even with the help of the Imperial Family! I’m sure His Highness the Crown Prince would be willing to help.”

“…”

Seeing the Pope’s face rotting, Isaac laughed out loud.

Puhah. This is it!

If we escalate the incident like this, even the Pope can’t bury it carelessly.

Furthermore, if all faiths investigate Blue’s totem, everyone will find traces of the Pope. The Pope won’t be able to move recklessly either!

Perhaps reading those intentions, the Pope glanced at Isaac unpleasantly. At the same time, with some thought, he approached Isaac.

“The Blue has obtained an excellent talent. I hear that the Blue’s junior family head revived the vision.”

“Yes. So it seems we don’t need to offer to the Supreme God, and there’s no need to receive the vision. Can we consider the sacred relic we found as our compensation?”

At Isaac’s words, everyone’s pupils shook.

Hey, Blue! Are you allowed to come out like this!

But Isaac smiled. It seems they appeared in front of so many people deliberately to suppress them. But the Pope is in the same position of not being able to move recklessly, right?

The Pope merely made an unexpected proposal as if praising.

“Would you show me that vision too?”

What the…?

Suddenly the vision?

“I can’t believe I haven’t seen Blue’s vision revived after 100 years with my own eyes.”

The moment the Pope held out his hand, Isaac was startled. Dark red smoke was rising from the Pope’s hand.

Isaac quickly noticed the identity of that energy.

‘The energy of !’

Isaac guessed what the Pope was going to do.

‘This bastard, is he planning to do something to my vision?’

This is ridiculous.

Just as Isaac was about to stop him, suddenly the ground beneath Isaac’s feet split as if to interfere with him.

Crack!

‘!’

As a huge hole formed, Isaac was about to fall into it.

And just as the Pope’s energy was rushing in to take advantage of that gap, at that very moment.

Boom!

“!”

Someone blew away the Pope’s energy and swiftly embraced Isaac.

[Master! Are you alright?]

‘Oh, good! I don’t know who it is, but this is even better…’

“Are you okay! Grandson!”

No, shit?!

Isaac was shocked to see the woman holding him.

“It’s Madam Melissa!”

“The Saintess!”

The Pope frowned, looking at Melissa who had interfered with him.

Isaac foamed at the mouth.

‘Damn it, why is Melissa here!’

“I heard you were sick, so I came to see you myself!”

No! Seeing you makes me feel even sicker!

But what was even more dumbfounding wasn’t that.

Flash!

A bright light opposite to the Pope’s rose up.

.

It was the brightest light among all the origin reactions seen so far. Incomparable to Lilai, the family head, the Emperor, or the Crown Princes.

At this level, it’s like a destined partner…

‘No!’

Wish, you’re wrong!

That’s not it! It’s not!