Samsara Paradise: Dream Weaver of Connections.

Lin Yi could obviously see what was wrong with Alex's body. It was less of a curse and more of an effect brought about by his bloodline.

It seems that there is a problem with the royal bloodline of this empire. Alex's condition is actually similar to a normal person reverting to their ancestral ways.

Alex's ancestors must have included an extraordinary person like Xu Xian, otherwise such strange characteristics would not have appeared.

As for why there is no reproductive isolation, Lin Yi said that even strange races like stone men and plant men can appear in the void, so ordinary humans and beasts are nothing to be surprised about.

However, since the empire's second prince has come to his territory, Lin Yi naturally wants to find a way to bring himself more benefits. At present, the entire Bloodclaw Fortress is in dire need of reconstruction, and Lin Yi will not let this opportunity pass.

"Your question... I seem to have seen it recorded in my grandfather's notes." To reassure Alex, Lin Yi pretended to ponder for a moment before slowly speaking.

"Really?!" Alex's voice suddenly rose, but he quickly suppressed his excitement and sat up straight again.

"Well, in my opinion, this is more like a special illness than a curse," Lin Yi said in a reassuring tone.

“The illness…” Alex murmured, his eyes suddenly becoming vacant, as if he had thought of something.

"However, that notebook is hard to find in the short term. Besides, curing your illness will probably require a lot of effort."

Alex immediately understood the implication—when the notes could be found, whether they could be found at all, and even the progress of subsequent treatment would all depend on what price he could offer.

"Bloodclaw Fortress is in dire need of rebuilding. All the previous lord left behind were starving people, crumbling defenses, and menacing neighbors. I need food, a large amount of food to stabilize the people's hearts. I also need clear authorization from the Imperial government to recognize my legitimate rule over Bloodclaw Fortress and to grant me certain autonomy, especially in handling 'special matters' within the territory."

Seeing Alex's knowing look, Lin Yi directly stated his terms: "Of course, in exchange, I will do my best to find the notebook left by my grandfather. What do you think?"

"I will immediately allocate the first batch of food and funds through secret channels to relieve your urgent needs. Subsequent supplies will continue until Bloodclaw Fortress can be self-sufficient. As for the imperial authorization document, I will personally write to my father and the prime minister, explaining your achievements in dealing with the underground necromancers and fighting for your legal status and as much autonomy as possible."

"As for 'special matters'... as long as they do not openly violate the laws of the Empire and the fundamental doctrines of the Holy See, I guarantee in my own name that Bloodclaw Fortress has the right to handle them!"

"Deal." Lin Yi extended his hand.

Alex reached out his hand, and the two hands clasped firmly together across the desk.

"During this time, I'll trouble you to lead the men to clear out the bandits outside the town. Those guys are like cockroaches; kill one group and another pops up. I'm currently overwhelmed with other tasks, so I can only ask you for help." After reaching an agreement, Lin Yi immediately assigned tasks.

“Sure. It’s a rare opportunity to get out and about, so I’ll just treat it as a chance to relax.” Alex’s voice carried a hint of disdain.

“I will have Leonard lead a squad of combat-ready guards with you, so they can see some blood and get some practice.”

Alex nodded slightly, said nothing more, and turned to leave the study.

After Alex left, Lin Yi sat back down, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips.

The so-called "grandfather's notes" was naturally a fabricated excuse. If that old guy really had such abilities, why would he only make a golden mask to present to the royal family?
As for Alex's bloodline mutation, Lin Yi didn't consider it a big deal at all.

To be honest, Alex's problems are not as serious as those bloodline mutation patients that Lin Yi encountered on Terror Island.

Those guys have almost become non-human due to the erosion of the ancient god's bloodline. Compared to them, Alex's problem is indeed a minor flaw.

The next morning, just as Lin Yi put a piece of tender and juicy mutton into his mouth, the old butler, Barton, appeared silently at the restaurant entrance like a shadow.

He bowed slightly, his voice low and respectful: "My lord. The Mercenary Guild and the Vatican have arrived."

Lin Yi continued chewing slowly and deliberately. After swallowing his food, he picked up a napkin to wipe his mouth and calmly ordered, "Let them in."

"Yes," Old Patton replied, and quickly and silently withdrew.

Outside the lord's mansion, Carlos, the mercenary guild's local leader, stood side by side with Ram Sidney, a priest sent by the papacy. Their entourages had been temporarily housed in the only reasonably inhabited inn in town.

When they received Lin Yi's letter yesterday, which was sincere in its wording but detailed the territory's predicament, they had some doubts, thinking that the description in the letter was just the new lord's self-deprecating words.

Only when they actually set foot on the land of Bloodclaw Fortress and witnessed the decay of this border fortress did they truly understand the weight of every word in the letter.

An indescribable aura filled the air, pressing heavily on their chests, making the two, who were used to the holy and bustling atmosphere of the Holy City, feel suffocated.

The entire town resembled a dying patient, shivering in the cold wind.

The doctors' association acted even faster, setting up temporary stalls in the small square in the town center to provide free medical care for sick citizens. As a result, only Carlos and Ram came to visit the lord.

"Gentlemen, the master requests your presence." Old Patton appeared, dressed in a crisp butler's uniform, and gestured for the two men to follow.

Carlos and Ram exchanged a glance and silently followed old Barton through the corridors of the mansion, which were equally dilapidated but had been cleaned to a reasonable degree.

Soon, they were led to the restaurant where Lin Yi was dining.

"Have you eaten? If not, sit down and have a bite?" Lin Yi put down his silver knife and fork, a relaxed and easygoing smile on his face, and pointed to the two empty chairs opposite him, indicating that the two did not need to stand on ceremony.

Ram Sidney paused slightly when he looked at Lin Yi.

For some reason, he felt a strange affinity from this young lord, a feeling he had only ever experienced with the Pope.

This was naturally Ram Sidney's misconception. Because Lin Yi had successfully resolved the "Crystal Devouring" issue and gained the recognition and protection of the world's will, he was now, to some extent, almost the world's "darling" or "pseudo-world's child."

One of the effects of this blessing is that most people who meet him for the first time will instinctively feel goodwill and trust.

"You two must have had a long journey, and you must have seen the sights you encountered on your way here." Lin Yi's voice broke the silence, his tone calm and undisguised. "Bloodclaw Fortress's current situation is more than just 'difficult.' However, you don't need to worry about funding."

As he spoke, Lin Yi casually placed the two heavy money bags on the table, making a slight clinking sound.

When Carlos opened the bag, he couldn't help but gasp. Instead of the imperial gold coins he had expected, the bag contained crystal-clear gems that refracted a rainbow of colors in the morning light.

These gemstones are of extremely high purity, with almost no impurities. Each one is a masterpiece, and their value far exceeds that of gold of the same weight.

Although Ram Sidney was not as knowledgeable about market prices as Carlos, as a member of the Papacy, he was still quite knowledgeable.

Upon seeing these high-purity gemstones, his expression instantly turned serious.

It is rare to see such a large quantity and quality of gems taken out at once, even in the treasury of the cathedral in the holy city.

"Is that enough?" Lin Yi asked casually, noticing the shocked expressions on their faces.

"Enough! That's enough!" Carlos quickly gripped the money bag tightly, his rough fingers unconsciously rubbing the tough leather opening, as if to confirm that this sudden windfall was not an illusion.

“Very well, then I will not directly interfere with the renovation and reconstruction of the abandoned church in town. The funds have been handed over to you, and the specific planning and use are up to your Vatican. As for the manpower needed for the repairs, I believe the townspeople will be happy to help as long as they are fed. You can recruit them yourselves, and the wages will be settled at market price, which will come from these funds.”

"As for you, Mr. Carlos, I need you and your men to accompany one of my subordinates to completely wipe out those bandit strongholds entrenched in the mountains and forests near the town. This will be the first official mission the Mercenary Guild has taken on in Bloodclaw Fortress."

Carlos looked up at Lin Yi, a hint of caution flashing in his eyes: "Lord, clearing out the bandits is no problem, but as far as I know, the banditry around Bloodclaw Fortress is not simple. Rumor has it that some bandit gangs are backed by certain forces, and may even be connected to the Dark Cult. If we act rashly, will it invite even greater trouble?"

As a member of the Mercenary Guild, Carlos was naturally very well-informed about certain matters, so he was well aware of how troublesome the bandits at Bloodclaw Fortress were.

He was afraid that Lin Yi was unaware of what was going on behind the scenes, so he gave Lin Yi a very subtle hint, lest Lin Yi be tricked without even realizing it.

Otherwise, the Mercenary Guild would have killed these bandits long ago; they wouldn't have survived until now.

"It's alright, just do it. Anyone who dares to reach out their hand, don't blame me for chopping it off."

“…Yes, sir!” Carlos breathed a sigh of relief. Since the lord had such confidence, he was naturally happy to take the plunge.

He had long disliked those wicked and backstabbing bandits. Now that he had the opportunity to openly and legitimately eliminate them, and earn a hefty commission for the association, why not?
"I urgently need a large amount of food and basic building materials from the Vatican. The quantity must be sufficient, price is not an issue, but speed is crucial, the faster the better."

"My lord, what exactly do you mean by 'enough'?"

"Enough to allow the people of Bloodclaw Fortress to survive the winter. At the same time, these building materials should be sufficient to carry out preliminary repairs and reinforcements to the outer walls of Bloodclaw Fortress, at least enough to withstand the attacks of ordinary bandits during the winter. Of course, if the Holy See can provide special building materials such as holy silver or blessed stone, I will pay extra."

Holy silver is a precious material for crafting sacred artifacts, and blessed stone can only be processed by archbishops. Its strength and self-healing properties far surpass ordinary stone, making it the core material for building top-tier city walls.

"This..." Ram instinctively wanted to politely decline.

He might be able to apply for a small amount of holy silver, but blessed stone? That was simply beyond the reach of a mere resident priest.

"No rush to make a decision. Old Barton, go and fetch Sister Arya."

"Yes, sir." Old Patton accepted the order and left.

Looking at Lin Yi's composed demeanor and then at Ram's ever-changing expression, Carlos was filled with curiosity.

This lord always seems to have some unexpected trump cards up his sleeve?
A moment later, old Barton led Arya into the dining room. She was carrying a book that exuded a faint, dark aura, causing Ram to instinctively frown.

"This is an item Sister Arya brought out from the underground ruins," Lin Yi said, pointing to the book. "Would you mind using it to exchange for the materials I mentioned earlier?"

"Excuse me, could I please have a closer look at the contents of this book? I need to ascertain its nature and value before I can make a judgment."

“Of course.” Arya stepped forward and carefully handed the heavy book to Ram.

Just as Ram's fingers were about to touch the black leather cover, the pages began to turn on their own without any wind, as if some dormant consciousness had been awakened.

Ram didn't care at all; this wasn't the first time he had come into contact with items imbued with powerful dark energy.

With a solemn expression, he steadily took the book with both hands, a faint, holy white light emanating from his fingertips, forming a weak protective layer, before opening the cover.

The restaurant fell into absolute silence for a moment, with only the rustling of pages turning.

Carlos watched with bated breath and curiosity, while Lin Yi picked up his knife and fork again and slowly continued to enjoy his breakfast, seemingly confident of the outcome.

Ram read very quickly, but his expression grew increasingly serious as he delved deeper into the book.

The book is filled with fanatical praises and blasphemous prayers for evil gods, and is full of madness and distortion.

Between these nauseating cult texts, he saw many familiar names, places, and events!

Time passed slowly, and about fifteen minutes later, Ram suddenly slammed the book shut with a dull thud.

He raised his head, his face unusually solemn, his eyes filled with shock.

Although most of the book is blasphemous descriptions of evil gods, the records about the early history of the Papacy interspersed within it are highly authentic!
In particular, the detailed descriptions of several key events in the youth of the legendary saint Anselm fill a huge gap in the study of papal history!
This book is clearly the fragment of the "Chronicle of the First Expedition," which the Papacy lost for over seven hundred years and which countless scholars have searched for in vain.

The Chronicle of the First Conquest records the epic journey of the saints in their arduous struggle against darkness at the beginning of the establishment of the Papacy, and its historical value is immeasurable.

Ram clearly remembered that just last year, a baron on the border of the empire had attracted the Pope to his small territory and bestowed upon him unparalleled honor and rewards simply for presenting three pages of what was confirmed to be a fragment of the "Chronicle of the First Expedition".

The book before us... is a hundred times thicker and more complete than those three pages of incomplete manuscript.

The authenticity of the account is verified by the Vatican's own specialized institutions and divine arts, but Ram's knowledge and intuition told him that it was very likely true.

“Sister Arya, how many purification missions have you carried out?” Ram looked up, her gaze sharp.

"the first time."

"You no longer need to participate in the purification missions."

These words left Carlos, who was standing next to him, dumbfounded, almost thinking he had misheard.

Although the Vatican's purification missions are dangerous, they are also an important way for lower-ranking clergy and nuns to accumulate merit and improve their status.

What does Father Ram mean by this?
Ram's next words were like a thunderbolt to Carlos's ear!
"The position of the next Holy Maiden of the Holy See belongs to you without a doubt!"

"Hey! Ram!" Carlos couldn't help but pat Ram on the shoulder, his voice trembling. "Do you know what you're saying? The Holy Maiden needs to be elected by the entire College of Cardinals and finally appointed by His Holiness the Pope! How can you, a regional priest,..." Carlos couldn't help but pat Ram on the shoulder again, wondering if Ram had been influenced by that evil book.

“I am fully conscious.” Ram took a deep breath and began a solemn prayer in a low voice.

A dozen seconds later, a semi-transparent, majestic figure materialized before him.

"Greetings, Your Holiness the Pope!" Ram immediately knelt on one knee.

This is an emergency communication right that every officially ordained clergyman has only once in their lifetime, used to report major discoveries concerning the foundations of the faith to the core of the Vatican!
"Rise, Ram Sidney." The phantom of the Pope seemed to be interrupted from his meal, his gaze sweeping across the room.

Old Patton instinctively took a half step back, and Carlos held his breath, facing the projection of the Pope's will—no ordinary experience.

"What is so urgent that you would resort to the sacred word to connect us?"

“Your Holiness!” Ram stood up, his voice still trembling with excitement. He respectfully stepped aside and picked up the black book in his arms. “We discovered a fragment of the ‘Chronicle of the First Expedition’ in Bloodclaw Fortress.”

"What?!" For the first time, the Pope's calm and composed voice showed a noticeable fluctuation, and even through the phantom, one could feel the shock!

"The Chronicles of the First Expedition? Are you sure?!"

“It is absolutely true, Your Highness! It contains key events from Saint Anselmo’s youth! However, the lord has set conditions for the exchange, which involve holy silver and blessed stones in enormous quantities. This is far beyond my authority, and I can only implore Your Highness to make the final decision!”

As he spoke, Ram stood up and stepped aside, and the Pope's phantom gaze fell on Lin Yi.

Lin Yi calmly put down his silver fork, elegantly wiped his mouth with a napkin, as if the person in front of him was not the supreme being of the Holy See, but an uninvited ordinary visitor.

He nodded slightly as a gesture of greeting.

"Good day, Your Holiness the Pope." Lin Yi's voice was calm and steady, without the slightest hint of emotion.

A barely perceptible hint of surprise flashed across the deep eyes of the Pope's phantom.

He had seen countless reactions to him—awe, fanaticism, fear, even hatred—but the calm indifference of this young lord was truly rare.

"The fragments of the *Chronicle of the First Expedition* have been lost for a long time; they are priceless relics concerning the origins and historical lineage of the Papacy's faith. The deeds of His Excellency Anselm should not be forgotten in the dust of history. Thank you for your willingness to return it to the Papacy; this merit will be forever remembered."

“Your Holiness is too kind. This book is of little practical use to me. If I could exchange it for holy silver and blessed stones, it would be best if we could each get what we need.”

"Father Ram Sidney, keep the original copy of 'The First Expedition' safe. Tomorrow, Archbishop Angel will personally lead a part of the Knights Templar and a team of scholars to Bloodclaw Keep with the first batch of supplies for handover and preliminary identification. You must do a good job of receiving and protecting them."

"I will obey the holy decree!" Ram bowed again with excitement.

As soon as he finished speaking, the illusory figure vanished. (End of Chapter)