Chapter 1419 - 654: Pyrenees Empire, World War I (Part 3)

City of Seven Hills, Holy See of the Saint Peter Cathedral.

In the solemn Great Hall, a grand "Emperor Coronation Ceremony" is underway.

"My soul magnifies the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has regarded the lowliness of His handmaiden. From now on all generations will call me blessed..."

A choir composed entirely of boys sings the opening psalm, "Hail to the Lord."

Ethereal and sacred singing resonates with the Holy Light, filling the cathedral and overflowing into the entire City of Seven Hills, offering everyone a spiritual purification.

Few people, however, care that these singing boys essentially have nothing to do with holiness; rather, it is quite profane.

Since a male voice cannot sing soprano, no one knows which genius clergy decided to castrate certain promising boys... artificially creating sopranos.

The highest voice utilizes the falsetto of castrated boys, eventually forming standard four-part harmony with soprano, alto, tenor, and bass, creating such a perfect choir that amazes listeners.

And because the voices are indeed beautiful, this special type of [Singer] gradually became popular in the secular world of the Silver Continent, poisoning the material world for hundreds of years.

The bigwigs naturally don’t care about such trivial matters.

Pope Francis IV wears gold-threaded priestly robes, dons the [Papal Tiara], and sits on the highest papal throne, wearing the Fisher’s Ring of Authority.

He looks down at thousands of clergy, holy knights, vassals, nobility, ministers, guardsmen... filling the Great Hall, and extending magnificently far outside the cathedral.

Halfway through the ceremony.

The Pope suddenly frowns, receiving information conveyed by the [Silver Law], a slight ripple appearing on his solemn and kindly face:

"Saint Byron is not only alive but has left the West Coast unscathed?

The intelligence personnel didn’t even find any signs of an attack on him?

Even though I prepared two plans from the start and didn’t place all hope on the notorious [Mountain Elder] Assassin claiming a hundred percent success rate.

But what is going on now? Could it be their attempt wasn’t made in the Fire Worship Empire?

Once Saint Byron is let go, and he reaches the sea, who in this world can match the Pirate Emperor who saunters around daily wearing a Navy Marshal Uniform, exuding banditry?

Seeking death is not done in this way."

Numerous speculations swirl in his mind, yet very quickly he regains calm.

They had a second plan prepared long ago, so even if the most straightforward and effective means failed, it wouldn’t affect the ultimate strategy.

After launching the "Church Meridian," formulating a strategy to oppress and eliminate the North Sea Empire and Byron personally, they immediately went all in on Castilia.

Hence today’s Emperor Coronation Ceremony.

The protagonist is none else than Queen of Castilia, [The Unblemished] Saint Isabella I.

The Pope lowers his gaze to the hall.

Tap, tap, tap...

Led by seven saints, the beautiful queen, who appears to be in her early twenties, walks through the Great Hall in full regalia, receiving everyone’s salute.

Her golden hair is styled into an updo at the back of her head, her face, neck, hands, and other exposed skin are shimmering white, clean and bright, even emitting a faint jade-like halo.

She appears entirely impeccable despite having bathed only once in her life.

Even if one bathed daily like the nobility of the western coastal nations, one couldn’t achieve such perfect skin.

"It is truly a divine miracle!

"Her Majesty Saint Isabella is the beloved servant of our Lord, bestowed with miracles from God upon her.

"Under Her Majesty Saint Isabella’s leadership, our orthodox church will surely eliminate Protestant heresy, especially the one who founded the so-called Royal National Church, Saint Byron..."

According to the Creator’s Church doctrine, bodily desires are viewed as original sin, and enjoyment of secular matters is seen as pollution of the soul.

Bathing is considered an indulgence for the body, potentially inciting the physical desires and fall of believers.

Thus, the dirtier the body, the cleaner the soul.

Based on this, the church canonized someone who never bathes throughout life.

This filthy teaching naturally lacks reason, yet in the case of Isabella, it seems to have truly manifested as a divine miracle.

This queen not only has exceptional prestige within the church and the secular world; after being crowned queen and successfully turning the vast kingdom into her own diocesan territory, she smoothly ascended to Fifth Order Legendary Level [Sun Crown Priest].

Obtaining the qualification to wear the [Ring of Saintly Authority].

Though there is no extra Ring of Saintly Authority in the church now, the Pope against much opposition utilized the church’s thousand-year accumulation of substantial resources, elevating the Kingdom of Castilia to a colonial empire, and officially proclaimed her as a true Empress!

As the leading maritime power, it is qualified.

Since Isabella I married her cousin, King Fernando II of Aragon, the two countries have formed a closely bound dual-monarchy alliance.

The Kingdom of Aragon’s power should not be underestimated, known as the East Intermaritime Sea Overlord.

The realm extends from Catalonia westward to Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily, Naples, and even to the frontline Malta Island.

Possessing both manpower and financial resources.

Even after years of naval warfare with the Star Moon Empire, it can always hold its ground.

Now, the husband and wife dual-monarchs respectively govern the two kingdoms, naturally unifying the entire Pyrenean Peninsula, propelling the leading maritime power’s influence to a new peak.