The Cardinal of Coins prepared to leave. He stood up and gave a small nod toward the entire group before walking away from the couch.
However, when he was about to walk out of the hall, he stopped and turned toward Ning.
"Actually, I feel really bad for having you come all the way here without you getting what you want," the Cardinal said. "So, if you can tell me why you want the handshake in a way I can understand, I will give it to you. Forgive me, if I failed to realize what you wanted beforehand, I'm known to be a bit... blockheaded as my mother liked to call it." "I'm looking for someone," Ning said. "To kill someone
precisely. I don't know what he looks like, or who he currently is. The only thing I have a guess on, just because of its high possibility, is that he would be someone
influential."
"I came to meet the pope because he is one of the most influential people on the planet, so I wanted to see if he was the person," Ning said.
"And why us too?" the man asked.
"Because you guys are quite influential as well," Ning said. "That's all."
The Cardinal paused for a moment, thinking about something. "When you say someone influential, you do not just talk about religion, right?"
"No," Ning said. "I have many people on my list."
"How many have you crossed from the list?" the Cardinal asked.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"Actually, this is the first place I came to, so not at all really," Ning said.
"I see. And what characteristic would this person have that you would recognize them in just a single handshake?" the Cardinal asked.
"I cannot tell you," Ning said. "I'm not trying to hide anything by saying that. I truly cannot tell you how I would figure it out. I wouldn't even know how to begin."
"Do you use a treasure?" the man asked.
"No, it is just something that I can do," Ning said. 'No treasures."
"Ah!" the Cardinal of Coin slowly returned back into the hall, approaching the table again. "So you are a chosen of the great lord Zurnius as well?"
Ning took a moment to take in what was said just now. "Sorry, what?" he asked.
"A chosen, of the great lord Zurinus," the man repeated.
"Yes, I heard you the first time," Ning said. "What do you mean chosen?"
"Oh, you must not be aware then," the man said. "I wonder how you aren't aware. Is it not public information? I'm usually bad with those."
"Cardinal Elias," Cardinal Farsas suddenly spoke. "Let me handle this."
"Hmm? Oh, ok. Thank you," the Cardinal of Coins said.
The Cardinal of Justice turned toward Ning and started explaining.
"From time to time, Zurinus chooses someone young to bless with powers that one would not have normally. They are very rare and very hard to find, but they are there."
"It is said that those that were chosen by Zurinus to receive these powers are people who Zurinus wants directly under him," the man said. "And because of that, one of the main rules to anyone becoming the Pope is that they must be chosen of Zurinus."
Ning's eyes widened slightly. He didn't have information on this part of this world's energy. He wondered if it was really Zurinus doing this or just another thing he took wrongfully credit for.
Ning's eyes slowly moved back to Tim, who was slowly realizing the same thing as well. He was blessed as well. As for Zurnius or not, Ning would have to wait and see.
For now, these people here believed that he was blessed in the same way. Could he exploit this in any way?
"Do you believe I can be a pope then?" Ning asked.
"Popes remain the pope until the day they die," the Cardinal of Coins said. "And his holiness still has many years ahead of him. But you can get started in the church in preparation for becoming the pope in the next many years. You are young, so you wouldn't be losing too many years either."
Ning thought for a moment and didn't know how to answer.
"Here!" the Cardinal of Coins said something, grabbing Ning's attention.
Ning turned around and saw the Cardinal leaning next to him with his hand open in front of him, gesturing for a shake.
Ning moved to shake his hand and stopped, looking up at the man. "Are you sure?" he asked. "I can find some other way to get you to shake my hands."
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"No, this is fine," the man said. "In fact, I insist."
Ning gave a weird look and grabbed the hand before shaking it. As he had imagined, the man wasn't Zurinus either. He was just a random human once again.
"You are quite brave to do this after I said that you could die," Ning said.
"Am I dying?" the Cardinal asked.
"No, you're safe, absolutely," Ning said.
"I thought so," the Cardinal said and stood up straight. "There is no way our god Zurinus would send one of his chosen to kill us. You are here to help us."
"Zurinus has a vision for you, and you will see it finished."
"Okay..." Ning said softly. "I guess I'm a puppet now."
"Chosen, not a puppet," the Cardinal of Coins said quickly and seemed to suddenly be lost in thoughts. "I must tell the pope about this. Another one of the chosen hasn't been found in a long time. This is great information."
He turned to all of them. "I will leave for now. I will see you later," he said only to Ning and left.
"See me later?" Ning asked and looked toward the Cardinal in front of him.
The Cardinal nodded. "As one chosen by Zurinus, you have a chance and right to meet His Holiness and get his blessing to officially become one of the chosen ones!"
"Oh," Ning said with an excited look on his face. "Does that mean I'm meeting the pope?"