Pope Augustus

It's better to act than to be tempted; when there's profit to be made, those family members won't go easy on each other just because they belong to the same family.

After an unknown number of generations, there's no longer any blood relation to speak of.

The internal strife within the Borgia Family was intensifying.

At the same time, due to Faol's series of actions, when the city gate caught fire, the fish in the pond suffered.

Many small and large businesses and related industries in the areas where Borgia Family members resided were also affected.

Anyone with a discerning eye could see that someone was targeting the Borgia Family.

Some smaller capitalists who had originally been dependent on the Borgia Family scattered when disaster struck, breaking away from the Borgia Family's control to seek new opportunities, with some even taking the opportunity to bite back.

For the Borgia Family members who had suffered heavy losses, this was undoubtedly adding insult to injury.

For larger capitalists who were not directly targeted, the losses caused by this ripple effect were still bearable.

Those who were already in competition with the Borgia Family naturally wouldn't miss this heaven-sent opportunity to kick them while they were down.

Many who had previously kept to themselves and not interfered with the Borgia Family couldn't resist wanting a piece of the pie.

However, for the majority of smaller capitalists, this was a complete and utter disaster.

Except for a few who were too weak and directly declared bankruptcy, the others were all struggling for survival.

These small capitalists, on the brink of despair, were left with only their survival instincts.

As long as they could preserve a breath of life, considerations like how great the risk would be, whom they would offend, or whether they would face retaliation afterward were completely out of the question.

Under the pull of external forces, they quickly set their sights on the Borgia Family, which was being pushed down by everyone.

With their capital strength, they could only pick up scraps, but even so, for them, it was more than enough to maintain normal operations.

Some of them tasted success and, as a result, became uncontrollable, their greed growing immensely; instead of being annihilated in the wave of crisis, they literally gorged themselves to death.

Borgia Family members who were not targeted did not extend a helping hand to other family members.

They could have watched from the sidelines, but once they got involved, they could easily be dragged into it, or even become direct targets of attack.

Furthermore, the Borgia Family itself did not have a unified voice; powerful family members all wanted to gain higher positions within the family.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, they could accumulate capital and plunder resources.

Their actions towards family members in crisis were far more ruthless than towards outsiders.

Gaspard's lineage was originally one of the most powerful within the Borgia Family, but because they suffered the most severe blows, their losses were also the most devastating.

However, Gaspard's lineage had deep roots and would not face complete annihilation in the short term; to completely destroy it would take three to five years, and during this period, various unpredictable factors could emerge.

Seeing that the time was ripe, one morning, Faol went directly to Gaspard's residence and knocked on the door.

Soon after, the door opened, and a servant walked out.

"This is Gaspard's residence, may I ask who you are?" The gatekeeper, who was accustomed to his daily duties, always had good judgment.

Gaspard's residence was in a secluded area, and few idlers came to visit; most were wealthy or noble.

The person before him was well-dressed and behaved gracefully, not like a commoner, so the servant politely stepped forward to inquire.

"I am Faol, here to visit Mr. Gaspard; please inform him."

Faol paused, then continued, "Oh, and I am the Pope's Chamberlain."

"Very well, please wait a moment."

With that, the servant turned and left.

Inside the bedroom, Gaspard was sleeping.

These days, his own businesses were losing money one after another, and though he racked his brains, he was powerless, so he simply handed everything over to his subordinates to manage, becoming a hands-off boss.

Thus, his life was reduced to eating, dancing, drinking, and sleeping, wanting to be out of sight, out of mind.

Even so, those idiots under him would constantly bother him with trivial matters, treating them as major crises.

And it was all bad news: this factory had no raw materials, that one couldn't pay its workers and requested funds, this competitor was causing trouble again, that family member was backstabbing him again, making Gaspard extremely irritable.

A brief knock on the door woke Gaspard from his sleep.

"What is it now? Has the sky fallen?" Gaspard asked with extreme impatience.

"Sir, a man named Faol is at the door asking to see you."

"Faol? Who is that? I don't know anyone named Faol, tell him to get lost!" Gaspard roared.

"Oh, right, he said he is the Pope's Chamberlain.

Since you don't wish to see him, I will ask him to leave."

As a servant completely removed from politics, he wasn't fully aware of the Pope's Chamberlain's significance.

"Wait a moment!"

Upon hearing "Pope's Chamberlain," Gaspard instantly sobered up considerably, and his brain began to work.

He had no prior acquaintance with the Pope's Chamberlain, and behind the Pope's Chamberlain was the Pope, but the new Pope and he had no past grievances or recent animosity.

At this time, why would the Pope's Chamberlain come to see him?

Gaspard had not been without suspicion that the mastermind behind his current predicament was the Pope.

But it was only suspicion; nothing had ever been found, and this conjecture was completely unfounded.

Moreover, even if it could be confirmed, what then? If the Pope denied it, what could he do?

If it were the Borgia Family in its heyday, they could contend with the Pope, and even replacing him would be possible.

But now, the Borgia Family was a target of public criticism externally and fragmented internally; they had no power to fight, not even to go down fighting.

If the Pope was indeed the mastermind, then this was undoubtedly an olive branch extended; if the mastermind was not the Pope, then the Pope's Chamberlain's personal visit at this time showed sufficient sincerity.

Although he didn't know the reason, if an agreement could be reached, the Pope's influence would definitely be a very powerful external aid.

"Quickly invite him in! You idiot, can you not take such big gasps when you speak, and still miss the point?

It's a good day today, so I'll let it go, but if you do that again, you're fired!"

"I…" The servant was speechless; he had just been thoroughly scolded, and now it was a "good day" again?

How was he supposed to know what his so-called "point" was?

Faol just said that.

Muttering to himself, he quickly walked towards the door.

Adjusting his emotions, he forced a smile and approached Faol.

"Mr. Faol, Lord Gaspard invites you in."

The servant made a welcoming gesture and led Faol to the living room.

After quickly dressing, Gaspard was already seated properly in the living room, waiting.

When he saw Faol arrive, he greeted him with a beaming smile.

Faol had good composure and was not amused by his fawning manner.

He was the one who had put Gaspard in this predicament, yet Gaspard still had to greet him with a smile.

"Mr. Gaspard, you're too kind!"