“Then, Ning Cuo Qing, you are the winner of this competition.”
Nero wasn’t very good at expressing emotions like this.
She simply changed the topic stiffly.
As for Jeanne and Tole who had also helped, no one in the presence dared to utter such nonsense.
The relationship between a monarch and their vassals had always been one of unity.
Moreover, the bulk of this battle was clearly conducted by Ning Cuo.
Logically speaking, these two vassals were the ones who were unqualified.
“Bring me my favorite horse!”
She had originally planned to choose one from the palace.
But Ning Cuo’s words really struck a chord with Nero.
She simply decided to give him her favorite as a reward.
It was a powerful warhorse with a blood-red body, immediately catching Ning Cuo's eye upon its arrival.
The tall steed stood over two meters high, with a robust and symmetrical build, its body even covered in scales.
It seemed extremely powerful yet elegant and arrogant.
Anyone with discerning eyes could see that this was a horse with the bloodline of a beast.
Having lived in this world for so long, Ning Cuo’s understanding of it could be considered quite comprehensive.
The physical fitness of ordinary people in this world was equivalent to two or three times that of ordinary people in the previous world.
So Ning Cuo often jokingly referred to them as "mule-horse people."
Trained soldiers were even stronger.
But they were still within the realm of flesh and blood.
From a normal perspective, it was simply a super-enhanced version of ordinary people in the previous world.
If they sustained a fatal injury, they would still die without treatment.
But at the level of "Hero," they seemed to unlock the powerful strength within their bloodline, and could no longer be called human.
Strong individuals could almost match demigods in strength.
Therefore, even the weakest "Hero" was an invincible existence in the face of ordinary soldiers.
As for beast mounts, they were a different kind of strange and rare creatures. While few in number, some did have mixed bloodlines.
These mounts were collectively known as beasts.
Just by looking at its appearance, Nero's previous steed was one such beast.
It thundered like a clap of thunder as it ran, its momentum overwhelming, its stamina endless, and its combat cooperation should be extremely formidable.
It was absolutely a Ferrari among horses!
At this time, one couldn't be the least bit polite.
Otherwise, if he regretted it later, Ning Cuo would definitely slap himself.
He quickly walked over, his eyes filled with admiration.
He gently placed his hand on the horse's mane and stroked it up and down.
To cultivate their bond.
“Be careful, Lord Ning Cuo, this horse has a temper.”
A knight seemed to want to speak, but before he could finish his sentence.
He saw the horse lower its head and gently nudge Ning Cuo's chest with its large head.
The kind-hearted knight who had wanted to remind him felt so embarrassed that he wanted to hide in a crack in the ground.
Is this the treatment a "Hero" receives?
“Your luck is indeed good. It is yours now. Give it a name. Don't disappoint me.”
Looking at the blood-red horse before him, Ning Cuo's mind raced with ideas.
But in the end, its strange shape and eye-catching color combined.
He thought for a moment before deciding to call it.
【Red Hare】
The moment Ning Cuo decided, the system's voice rang out in sync.
【Congratulations on uncovering the truth of the world: Prelude】
【The Singularity is constantly eroding this world, and you, as the starting point of it all, what will you do? Your choices will lead to different endings.】
【Bloodline Awakening has begun after slaying the Great Sword Zombie.】
【Congratulations on gaining authority: I am the Sun: As long as you are under the sun, no matter how serious your injuries are, you will be able to slowly recover.】
【Congratulations on winning first place in the competition】
【Reward issued: Papal Staff】
【Staff Aura·Papal Authority: My words are the truth of the Bible, this is the Pope.】
…
As the night banquet in the wilderness ended and the sun rose again.
Everyone in the wilderness camp began to bustle about.
Nero, after all, was the emperor, and after being out for so long, she had to return to the palace to handle some affairs of state.
The knights under her command began to repair their equipment.
They re-erected their family flags.
They fed their warhorses, displaying their prowess as Royal Knights.
The maids who had accompanied them packed up all the things used for cooking in the wild and placed them on the supply wagons.
Woken by the commotion, Ning Cuo pretended not to care and rode his horse around, watching the busy crowd.
As if he was searching for something.
But until everyone had packed up their things and Nero’s royal carriage was ready to depart.
Ning Cuo could only ride back to the camp.
However, after just one night.
Ning Cuo had already accumulated a lot of connections. At least, as soon as he appeared, all the knights in the presence greeted him enthusiastically.
Whether it was because of his status or his respect for his martial skills.
Ning Cuo had established himself in the circle of knights and nobles.
Just as he returned to his resting area, he heard a voice beside him.
“Lord Ning Cuo, I found this around. I don’t know what it is.”
Jeanne, with some confusion, pulled out a beautifully crafted golden box from under her tent.
It was adorned with intricate patterns and studded with gemstones.
It looked incredibly luxurious and divinely sacred.
Upon seeing this.
Ning Cuo, who had been searching all over the place for half the night and all morning, felt a black line appear on his forehead.
He couldn't believe that the system's reward, the Papal Staff, had been placed under Jeanne's tent.
No wonder he couldn't find it no matter how hard he looked.
Seeing everyone's eyes drawn to it.
Ning Cuo's heart sank.
He dared not open this thing in public.
The meaning behind the Papal Staff was just too great.
In the religious world, it was practically equivalent to the Jade Seal of the Realm.
Without further explanation, as if he didn't care at all.
Ning Cuo glanced at it and told Jeanne to put it in the luggage.
“Put it away. Don’t lose it.”
Jeanne immediately understood and discreetly glanced at the people around her.
Then she turned back to the tent, wrapped it tightly, and carried it close to her chest.
“Sir, I have finished packing. This… what is this thing exactly? Should I let Brother Tole hold it?”
“Heh, it’s not that important. You hold it.”
He had already attracted the attention of some people.
The more he seemed to care about it now, the easier it would be to trigger other chain reactions.
If Nero even started to get curious.
Should he open it or not?
The camp was being packed up in an orderly manner.
It was time for them to part ways.
Ning Cuo was about to ride forward to greet Nero.
But fate had other plans.
The knight on the outer perimeter who was responsible for vigilance roared.
All the knights immediately dropped what they were doing and mounted their horses, preparing to meet the enemy.
Even the maids who had come out to serve everyone were on high alert.
They pulled out all sorts of weapons from somewhere.
The only one who didn't make a big fuss was still Nero, lying in her carriage.
She seemed not to care at all.
And the reason for all this commotion was because, not far from the camp where everyone was able to rest and make repairs.
A large group of Church knights were at the forefront.
Holding white lances in their hands.
Behind them were large and small flags representing many religious families.
These flags were all made of copper rods, with incense burning on them.
As they walked, smoke billowed around them, enveloping the whole group.
One could vaguely see a figure dressed in golden feathers and a white robe, seemingly sitting in the middle of the palanquin.
It looked ethereal yet carried a strange sense of holiness.
Seeing this, Ning Cuo frowned.
He couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.
He was naturally familiar with this group.
Christianity was actually divided into three major denominations.
Ning Cuo was in the most influential of the three, Catholicism.
The current Pope was John XII.
Unfortunately, her ascension to the throne was full of twists and turns, and she did not have a papal staff, a symbol of papal authority.
As a result, the other two denominations were also becoming unruly.
And the ones who had arrived were the Eastern Orthodox Church, another major denomination.
There was also a more mysterious Protestant denomination.
The Patriarch of the Eastern Orthodox Church could also be called the Pope.
Each generation was known as Saint Peter.
This generation of Saint Peter had not shown their face for a long time.
He couldn’t believe that they had suddenly appeared here today.
It was obviously not a good thing.
As the saying goes, “A fellow traveler is an enemy.”
And especially in religion?
The differences in beliefs had led to constant friction between the three denominations.
Therefore, in the presence of outsiders, the three denominations would maintain a basic harmony.
They usually wouldn’t appear at the same time.
Besides, Nero's royal flag was standing here.
They didn't report it first, but instead charged directly towards the camp with their army.
This was tantamount to challenging the authority of the Roman Emperor.
And as everyone knows.
Nero loved to save face.
If you didn't give her face, she would overturn your stall.
As he pondered.
A knight holding a white flag charged out from the group of knights rushing towards them.
He galloped forward, took a deep breath, and then spoke with fanaticism.
“The Shepherd of the Shepherds, the Pope of the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Mercy of the World, the Mother of All Things, Saint Peter, is here-”
Ning Cuo was not surprised by the long list of titles.
After all, the Popes of this era would give themselves a string of titles, in order to deceive those who didn’t understand.
But he couldn’t help but click his tongue inwardly.
Did it seem like this generation of Saint Peter from the Eastern Orthodox Church was a woman?