Don't Want to Be Ordinary Even Though I'm an Extra Character-Chapter 127: [126] Next Action (4)

Arkan massaged his temples, trying to suppress the headache creeping in from the revelation he had just received. Pastor Hongward, who in the original story was supposed to be the first villain Rainer fought, turned out to be a direct descendant of the Pope—the supreme leader of the largest religion on the continent.

"This is giving me a headache," Arkan muttered, staring at Hongward with an expression of disbelief. The fact that the man before him was not just some ordinary figure within the church, but someone with direct blood ties to the highest authority, made everything feel even more complicated.

Hongward offered a faint smile, as if he was already used to such reactions. "I understand if it’s hard for you to believe," he said in an even tone. "But I’m not an adopted child or a distant relative—I am the Pope’s biological son, the youngest among my two siblings."

Arkan studied him closely, searching for any hint of deception in his expression. Yet, there was no hesitation in Hongward’s eyes—only the calm acceptance of someone who had long made peace with the truth of his own existence.

Leaning back into his chair, Arkan kept his gaze locked onto Hongward. "How did you end up so far removed from your siblings?" he asked, trying to grasp the man’s background.

Hongward exhaled slowly, his eyes momentarily distant, as if gazing into the past. "How, huh... I don’t know. I think I’ve forgotten the beginning of how everything unraveled in my life," he murmured softly. "But there’s one thing I still remember clearly—a simple phrase that shaped who I am today: ’Learn.’ It’s a core tenet of Krisihan, written in the sacred scriptures."

Arkan nodded slightly, digesting the meaning behind those words. To him, it wasn’t just a command to seek knowledge but also an urge to search for truth beyond the confines of rigid dogma. "Hmm, that’s quite deep..." he murmured, stroking his chin. "Alright, thanks for sharing your story. Now, let’s move on to the next topic."

Hongward raised an eyebrow slightly, waiting for Arkan to continue.

"This concerns the upcoming power shift within the Church," Arkan said, his tone turning serious. "Are you well-known among the Krisihan followers? When the time comes for a leadership change, will you have enough influence?"

Hongward gave a small, knowing smile, as if he had anticipated the question. "Not particularly," he admitted. "I’m not as popular as my second brother. He’s the one frequently appearing before the public, gathering support. However, I am known among a select few—those who share my beliefs, those who understand that faith should not be a shackle to human reason and understanding."

"That’s enough," Arkan said, interlacing his fingers atop the table, his expression calculating. "We just need to ruin your brother’s public image. That will be my job, while yours is to step into the stage I prepare for you. So, do we have a deal?"

Hongward remained silent for a moment, then let out a slow breath. "Hmm... Do you also plan to eliminate the Pope?" he asked, his tone unreadable.

Arkan leaned back, his sharp eyes assessing the man before him. "Your father, you mean?" he replied flatly. "That depends on how things play out. If he stands in my way, then I’ll have no choice but to remove him."

Hongward clenched his fists atop his lap, his expression difficult to read. "If that’s the case, will you at least let me speak with him first?" he asked, his voice more serious than before. "Can you promise me that before making any decisions?"

Holding Hongward’s gaze for a long moment, Arkan let silence settle between them. The seconds dragged on in quiet tension before he finally exhaled, as if accepting the new burden placed upon him.

"Haah... Fine," he said at last, his voice calm yet laden with meaning. "If that’s your request, then I promise I will arrange for you to meet him. But whatever happens in that meeting, you’ll have to accept the outcome. Do you agree?"

He extended his hand—a pact that could not be undone.

Hongward stared at the offered hand for a moment, as if weighing something far greater than a mere handshake. Then, with resolute eyes, he reached out and clasped it firmly.

"Alright, I agree," he declared. "If it’s for the future of faith and humanity, then I will accept whatever consequences come."

That day marked a turning point in history—a silent agreement that would shake the very foundation of the world. With a single handshake, the course of the future was set, and there was no turning back.

###

After his meeting with Pastor Hongward, Arkan immediately contacted the Department of Technological Development. He had a grand plan, and for that, he needed talented individuals who could bring it to life.

Among the scientists working under him was a mage who had once been a disciple of Faustus Rugenstein. Faustus himself was a former professor at the Imperial Northern Empire’s Faculty of Alchemy—an unfortunate academic whose research was largely overlooked and who frequently burned through research funds without producing concrete results. Now, after his studies were redirected to chemistry, the man served under Arkan as the head of the Chemistry Department in Lawrence Territory.

But it wasn’t Faustus whom Arkan needed at the moment.

Instead, he sought out a former student of Faustus, someone assigned a more specialized task—refining the newly mined rune stones. Her name was Elara Nacht, a former student of the Faculty of Alchemy who had later transferred to the Faculty of Pure Magic for reasons unknown.

Arkan picked up the newly installed corded telephone in his office—a system implemented just last month—and dialed the number. It didn’t take long before someone answered.

"Hello?" A woman’s voice came through the receiver, sounding slightly surprised.

"Ah, yes... Is this Elara Nacht?" Arkan asked, making sure he had the right person.

"Yes, this is Elara. Is this Lord Arkan?" she replied, her tone slightly puzzled.

A faint smile crossed Arkan’s lips as he imagined the confused look on her face. "Yes, it’s me, Arkan."

"Oh, Lord! Why are you calling me out of the blue?" Elara exclaimed with near-excessive enthusiasm. "By the way, this device you made is absolutely amazing and mysterious! You never even demonstrated it to the public, so only the administrative offices know about it!" Her voice carried pure fascination toward the wired telephone—an innovation Arkan had introduced just last month.

"Yeah, yeah, I get it." Arkan pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to curb her excitement. "Calm down for a second and let me talk."

"Ah, I’m sorry! I just got a little too excited, so..." Elara let out a small, embarrassed laugh. As a former model student, discovering something new always sparked her curiosity.

"Whatever." Arkan let out a short sigh. "Can we talk in private?" he asked, getting straight to the point.

"Eh... My Lord, are you..." Elara’s tone suddenly turned awkward, as if her thoughts had wandered in the wrong direction.

"No, I’m not interested in you," Arkan cut her off immediately, his voice flat.

"Uuh..." Elara let out a small whimper, sounding slightly hurt.

"This is about work. And I need your insight as a citizen of the Northern Empire." Arkan shifted the topic firmly. "I’ll also be contacting Faustus later."

"Eh, that old man too!?" Elara sounded genuinely surprised, her voice rising slightly.

"Haah... He may be old, but he’s not that old, Elara." Arkan shook his head, already feeling a little drained from her reaction. "Anyway, I need us to discuss something important later. Come to the castle after dinner."

"Understood, My Lord." This time, Elara responded with a more serious tone.

Without saying more, Arkan hung up and immediately dialed another number, this time connecting to the Chemistry Department. A few seconds later, a different voice answered.

"Hello?" A deep voice came through—one that belonged to someone more experienced. From that alone, Arkan could tell that the person who had answered wasn’t the one he was looking for but rather one of the department’s staff members.

"Yes, is this Faustus?" Arkan asked in a relaxed yet authoritative tone. He knew well that Faustus was the type to be completely absorbed in his work.

"Hold on a moment..." The voice on the other end faded, followed by the muffled sound of footsteps and indistinct conversations. From that alone, Arkan could tell just how busy the Chemistry Department was under Faustus’s leadership.

After all, the man oversaw the production of chemical materials that formed the foundation of the region’s industry. Without Faustus, many ongoing projects would likely face delays or even outright failure.

A short while later, a familiar voice finally came through.

"Hah... Who is this? If this is about the budget again, I already told the finance department to stop bothering me!"

Arkan chuckled at the weary and slightly exasperated tone in Faustus’s voice. "Relax, Faustus. It’s me, Arkan."

"Ah, Lord Lawrence..." Faustus’s tone eased a little, though he still sounded tired. "What can I do for you? Don’t tell me you’re about to add more work to my plate?"

Arkan crossed one leg over the other, adjusting his sitting position. "You’re the one who said you needed a new challenge, aren’t you?"

"Ugh... That was before I realized managing the Chemistry Department is far more exhausting than I expected." Faustus let out a low grunt. "Alright, just get to the point. What do you need?"

"We need to talk," Arkan stated seriously, his fingers tapping lazily against the armrest of his chair. "Come to my castle after dinner."

"Hmm..." Faustus seemed to ponder for a moment before finally asking, "Is this really urgent?"

"Very," Arkan replied without hesitation, his tone firm. "And it concerns a great deal, so don’t be late."