A Guide to Becoming a God Starting from a Monastery

There is no mercy on the battlefield, and it is easy to die if you don’t have enough ability to hold on.

Even though Thomas had previously tried every possible means to recruit talented individuals and increase the number of official members of the Knights Templar...

But after a battle to defend Smyrna, the number was immediately reduced to less than 300!

This high-intensity elimination process also meant that useless people had no room to survive in the Knights, while outstanding talents could easily stand out.

Absolute fairness is impossible to achieve, but rough fairness is definitely possible.

So overall, the Knights Templar far surpassed ordinary military groups in both moral and ability standards.

Hard to be threatened.

More importantly... the Knights were in high spirits after a series of victories. Simple threats would not only be ineffective, but would only spark widespread rebellion!

Thomas was certain that if the other party had a valid argument, then things would be difficult to predict. Perhaps someone in the Knights Templar would agree.

But if the other party wants to threaten, then they have completely chosen the wrong target.

This is the difference between a qualified diplomat and a hanger-on.

A qualified diplomat, no matter how far-fetched or specious his arguments are, at least makes them sound plausible. They have solid evidence, not fabricated stories.

As for the hangers-on, without the means of threat, they can't even speak properly.

Will Rome be short of diplomats?

Rome may lack other talents, but it will never lack diplomats.

Any charlatan is a master of deception. If he has the right profession, he can easily become a diplomat.

That is to say...

This is also an opportunity.

Let all the Knights see clearly the Pope's intentions, so that they don't have any illusions.

Not all popes are reliable!

"Are you questioning the judgment of the Holy See?"

"I just want to ask, what does the Holy See want?" Thomas said with a half-smile. "I took possession of something that doesn't belong to me."

"The Bloody Cross Banner and the Golem Legion," the other party said. "Those are not yours."

The author says:

Author's words: Thanks to readers Yeye, Shadows Ahead, and Invincible Dragon for their donations.

I may have some special arrangements next week, so I may not have the chance to update online.

An extra section is updated today as a preview.

Chapter 369: Threat 3

Thomas felt relieved.

Although he had long expected the other party to make such a request, he was afraid that what the other party would say was not this.

If you don't ask for the artifact, then it will be troublesome.

The envoy was rude, but he was sent by the Vatican. It would be difficult to pursue the matter.

But once it's said out loud, it becomes truly hostile.

The Knights are not just good guys and girls.

How can we take out something that is legal and reasonable?

Be kind in seeking, and do not take with evil intentions!

If you use coercion to take it away by force, not only will the past kindness be wiped out, but you will also turn your friend into an enemy.

In fact, there is no need to actually take it away.

As long as you show this kind of attitude of demanding, you will become an enemy.

Of course, if the strength of the two sides is really very different, then it would be much easier to take it by force.

That was the only thing Thomas didn't understand.

Why did he only let go of half of the stone in his heart?

That is because he didn't understand what the other party's trump card was.

This gave the other party such confidence that they felt they could make the Knights submit even by using coercion!

Speaking of it, this person is stupid, so he is stupid. After all, there are many stupid people in the world, so it is not surprising.

But the new pope should not be stupid.

A fool cannot be elected Pope.

So much so that the new Pope sent such a person?

Even if they are close confidants...but they don't know how capable their subordinates are?

In other words, the new Pope believes that even a fool can successfully complete this task.

Then there are only two possibilities: this task is too simple and even a fool can accomplish it; or it doesn’t matter whether this task succeeds or fails.

But regardless, this is a great opportunity for Thomas.

Give the Knights Templar an opportunity to give up on the Holy See as soon as possible.

To put it in the terms of our previous life, this is called "demystification."

Regardless of whether Thomas wants to turn the Knights Templar into an independent country in the future, or refuse to obey orders and prevent the Pope from further interfering in the internal affairs of the Knights Templar, this is a necessary preliminary preparation.

Everyone must understand that not every Pope will be reasonable, and not every Pope will give benefits to the Knights Templar.

There will also be a pope who openly oppresses and attacks the Knights Templar.

Other members of the Order might not understand the danger.

But Thomas understood.

Don't think that the Knights are theoretically subordinates of the Pope. They are "one of the Pope's own people."

But in fact, not only can the Pope not only ask for artifacts and personnel (to protect the country), he can even completely destroy the Knights Templar, frame them, and thus uproot the Knights Templar.

Although Thomas wasn't an expert in Western history in his previous life, he did know some things, such as the famous Knights Templar.

The Knights Templar were eventually framed and killed by the Pope and the King of France.

It’s because the Knights Templar were too rich.

Unfortunately, in the end, the Knights Templar refused to give in, and their wealth, which was enough to rival a country, never fell into the hands of the King of France and the Pope (so the legend goes).

In the end, the legend of "the treasure of the Knights Templar" was left behind.

"Those two artifacts?" Thomas said. "I'd like to know why the Holy See thinks the artifacts don't belong to me."

"Grandmaster, as everyone knows, that belongs to the Holy See."

"It's mine now," Thomas replied. "And, if you must, the Order is part of the Church."

He glanced at the knights out of the corner of his eye.

No one had any expression yet.

"Grand Master, I'm not here to play games with you." The envoy was clearly unmoved. "The Holy See commands—you understand, it's an order—that the Knights Templar deliver the two artifacts to Rome immediately!"

Thomas looked at the crowd again. Some of them looked stunned, some glared at him, but others, or most of them, remained silent.

“Why?” Thomas asked deliberately.

"There is no reason! This is an order given by the Holy See to the Knights Templar based on his authority!" said the envoy arrogantly.

Thomas looked again. There were fewer silent people, but still about half.

Obviously not everyone immediately understands the interests involved.

After all, the authority of the Pope, at least in people's hearts, is still very high.

“So, does the Holy See want us to return Smyrna to the Turkish Sultan?” Thomas asked.

"Huh?" The envoy was confused. How could these two things be connected?

"I think you understand why we're now confronting a large nation with a small force. Rhodes Island, a country of earldom, with a knightly order of only about 300 members, is challenging the powerful Turks," Thomas explained. "Ultimately, it's because of the Bloody Cross Banner and the Golem Legion."

"With these two artifacts, the Knights are not afraid of a war of attrition. They are not afraid of a bad battle, a tug-of-war, or any small-scale battle."

In fact, the smaller and worse the battle is, the happier the Knights are.

Because of these two artifacts, the Knights can ensure that they are not afraid of consumption.

After casting multiple spells, even an ordinary soldier can become a superman and easily crush the enemy.

The Knights' soldiers were also at no risk of injury or disability. They would fully recover after receiving treatment after the battle.

Golems are the decisive factor in battles involving thousands of men. Even heavily armored cavalry cannot defeat a legion of golems.

It's difficult to equip a mobile force of hundreds of people with artillery. Wood Golems, on the other hand, are not afraid of anything except artillery! And they can operate on almost any terrain!

"Without these two artifacts, the Turks would only need to send out numerous invading and harassing troops numbering hundreds or even dozens, which would drag the Knights into the quagmire of war!"

"Even if one Knight is killed, ten Turks will die. We can't afford the exchange!" Thomas said calmly. "The Sultan is aware of this and won't dare send a large force to try to attrition the enemy. Instead, he must concentrate his forces for a frontal attack."

"Once we lose the artifact, we will have no choice but to withdraw from Smyrna."

"Rather than having to withdraw after suffering heavy losses, it is better to withdraw now and leave a little dignity."

Thomas spoke calmly to the envoy again.

"Would it not matter to the Holy See even if Smyrna were returned to the Sultan?"

He looked at everyone again.

The Knights poured astronomical amounts of money into Smyrna, as well as the blood and sweat of countless colleagues.

How can I hand it over?

This is unacceptable both emotionally and in terms of interests.

No one! Not even the Pope.

"By the way, does the Holy See have any other requests besides the two artifacts?"

"In addition, the Knights Templar's five protectorate-level knights will go to Rome to receive further job assignments from the Holy See." The envoy noticed the sudden change in the atmosphere and spoke instinctively after a pause.

Chapter 370: Threat 4

As the envoy said this, he felt the atmosphere change further.

Among all the people present, except for Grand Commander Thomas, no one else said a word from beginning to end.

But the malice in his eyes was simply overflowing.

After all, he was a knight who had fought on the battlefield, and murderous intent naturally emerged from him, which made him feel a little afraid.

I instinctively wanted to take a half step back to avoid the sharp edge.

But then he remembered that he was the envoy of the Holy See. If he showed any sign of concession, wouldn't that bring shame to the Holy See?

Thinking of this, he became braver again.

If you want to intimidate these knights, you must use some practical skills!

"Captain Thomas, I urge you not to be ungrateful!" the envoy sneered. "Your support is long gone!"

Rely on? What do you rely on?

"When Leo XI was alive, he helped you sign many secret treaties and attracted many supporters! But unfortunately, the Holy See has announced that it will not recognize any of those secret treaties! Now, all Christian countries know about this!"

Seeing that Thomas was still pretending to know nothing, the envoy couldn't help but continue.

"Grandmaster, the support of all nations, especially Venice, for you has ended!"

Thomas is really baffling.

The support from other countries?

What did they support? Was it the price increase for weapons, supplies, and warships?