Chapter 707 706. The Sol Theocracy
"Approved!" Sylvester abruptly bellowed but corrected himself right after that, "Holy Sovereign sounds brilliant, First Guardian. I shall be holding complete authority over every aspect of Sol and its administration from now on. Every law that is proposed must pass through me, with my signature. As for the kingdoms, there shall be none anymore. Sol will be divided into various districts of varying sizes according to the population."
Furiously, almost every single member present started writing down whatever Sylvester said. But some of them still had utterly great memories and didn't bother with writing it.
"Your Holiness... I mean Holy So—"
"My designation is Holy Sovereign, like the Pope. You are still to call me His Holiness." Sylvester corrected Aurora before she finished.
"Yes, Your Holiness. I was wondering who will be managing these districts. A Clergyman?" She inquired.
Sylvester shook his head and pointed at the map of Sol behind him on the wall. "Just like the Judge examination, an Administrative Service Examination will be held to pick candidates to work as administrators. At the lowest levels will be the various overseers of departments, and in the middle levels will be the Magistrates who will administer whole districts, with its security forces under their limited control. On the higher levels, there will be Division Chiefs, who will oversee a cluster of districts.
"All of the previous duchies will be called States from now on, and a senior Clergyman personally appointed and evaluated by me will be at its help. All the Magistrates and Division Chiefs will report to the said Senior Clergymen, who will be called State Councilmen."
One after another, they all narrowed down the list of matters that needed to be solved at the quickest. What sort of structures would the various essential departments, such as Road Construction, Agriculture, Waterways, and Water Supply, have?
"From now on, a new Tax Department will be created in the Holy Land, which will work under the leadership of the Saint Keymaster. It will be responsible for focusing on District-level Tax Sub-offices, and collecting tax throughout Sol. All that money will gather here, and will then be distributed across the realm as per the need in focus," Sylvester announced and concluded the short meeting with the clergy, as there was another group desperate to meet him there.
"I will be here for the next seven days with no break. Come to me at any time if there is any confusion, or if you encounter a problem that requires further expansion of departments." He dismissed them and called his pretty and bubbly assistant in. "Mother Anya, call the kings and queens waiting outside." This content originates from n0v3lbin•
Sylvester moved the chairs around his table in the meantime, as the major crowd had left.
The place had undoubtedly become a playground for Miraj as he jumped around and tried to catch the sunlight's reflection in the room. He wasn't dumb, just playful, despite knowing what it was.
Bam!
"Chonky, stop messing around. You'll break the portraits." Sylvester was quick to scold the bored cat. "If you're so bored, just go home to Mum."
"We just need to find a suitable groom for you now," Sylvester teased her where it hurt the most.
"Hmph, as if there's anyone good enough for I, Xylena Sor Maximilian Blackhart," she proclaimed proudly, puffing her chest out and flicking her ashen-black hair with one hand.
"..." Sylvester lacked the words. "When did you add my last name to yours?"
"Just now, of course. I'm a queen, I can do anything." Xylena replied, taking a softer and more emotional tone. "If not for you, I wouldn't be alive, nor would I be a Queen. I owe you a debt of life, and as a daughter in all but blood, I wish to slowly repay it... somehow."
'If you are the key that was foretold, you've already repaid the debt and done much more, Xye.' Sadly, Sylvester couldn't say it aloud.
"Then make sure you study hard and work directly under me. Due to its past tragedies, the Blackhart Kingdom requires the most work oversight." He sternly instructed her and moved on.
Next, Isabella signed her name on the agreement. "This is the greatest marriage gift I could have hoped for, Your Holiness."
Sylvester simply smiled and let her sit again, for King Highland and Queen Trinity to come and sign their names. It appeared the two held the rank of monarch equally, instead of just one.
But when Kaecilius showed hesitation, King Highland slammed his fatherly palm on the man's back. "Just go and sign your name, boy. I know what you've done in your life. Surviving those slave-fighting pits for so many years was no small deed. You led the uprising, and the people of Riveria unanimously supported you. You still have a duty to them—to ensure they get the best."
'My old Spartacus.' Sylvester reminisced about the time he plotted to have this man loyal to himself. The schemes he had to play to lure him over. 'Without any power to oppose me, you will certainly be a decent King.'
"King Highland is right, Kaecilius." Sylvester gave the last push.
With that, the burly, strong man, now showing signs of age, rose and signed his name on the accession agreement. But he went further and wrote down another clause in it. "After my death, I want my family to return to being commoners, Your Holiness. If my children have enough talents, they will make a name and life for themselves."
'And that's why I chose you.' Sylvester nodded, affirming his own choice.
Sylvester picked up the papers again at last and signed on each of them one after another, and as a witness, there was space left for Gabriel to sign later. But unknown to any, a secret witness had already signed.
A little paw mark was present at the corner of each historical paper—a mystery for historians to ponder for eons to come.
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