Chapter 19: Saga Must Not Die

“Bastard!” Aiolia’s fist smashed into Saga’s face, sending him flying like a broken kite and crashing heavily against the wall.

Saga didn’t defend himself at all; he took Aiolia’s punch head-on.

The Pope Shion’s betrayal prompted Mu, the Aries Saint, to rebuke furiously, “Why!”

All the Gold Saints erupted in anger. Capricorn Shura was especially furious; grabbing Saga by the collar, he yelled, “Was it you who gave the order to hunt down Aiolos back then?!”

Blood trickled from Saga’s lips, but he didn’t bother to wipe it away. Instead, he replied, “Yes!”

“Bastard! You’ve insulted the goddess’s most loyal saint—you’ve ruined me!”

No one was more enraged than Shura. If he could have remained uninvolved before, now he had completely lost all reason.

Shura began raining wild blows on Saga, and the others, equally incensed, looked as if they might tear him apart.

Seeing this, Feng Zhe simply closed his eyes. All his efforts at coaxing and intimidating had been rendered meaningless the moment Saga confessed.

He took off the regalia symbolizing his role as Acting Pope, discarded it on the ground, leaving only the Altar Cloth, and quietly began to retreat.

Just as the other Saints seemed ready to beat Saga to death, Camus of Aquarius, famed for his calm and elegance, stepped in front of Feng Zhe, blocking his escape.

“Alex, as Saga’s disciple, don’t you have something to say right now?”

At Camus’s words, Mu and Aiolia both turned to look at Feng Zhe. The hatred in their eyes was barely concealed.

Sweat trickled down Feng Zhe’s face. Now that Saga had confessed and surrendered, seemingly ready to accept his punishment to atone for his sins, there was nothing Feng Zhe could say to change things.

Saga might be seeking death, but Feng Zhe certainly was not.

Yet in this situation, anything Feng Zhe said would be too late.

Aiolia and Camus, one in front and one behind, had cut off all his escape routes.

Just as the situation teetered on the edge of chaos, an aged voice resounded.

“Saga was bewitched by an evil god, which led him to betray the goddess and stab the Pope in the back. Alex was ordered to stay by his side and, using Athena’s Shield, drove the evil from him, allowing Saga to confess the truth.”

At this critical moment, Master Dohko’s calm voice echoed through the hall.

“Master!”

“Master Dohko!”

Aiolia and Camus hadn’t expected Dohko to intervene. As the only survivor of the last holy war and the strongest among them, with Pope Shion dead and the goddess missing, Dohko was the highest authority in Sanctuary.

Even Shura, who had been beating Saga, stopped at once, though the hatred in his gaze remained.

Mu of Aries glanced at the battered, silent Saga, who now seemed genuinely repentant.

Yet Mu spoke, “Master, even so, Saga cannot be the Pope’s successor.”

On this point, Aiolia, Camus, Shura, Milo, and Aldebaran all nodded in agreement.

Feng Zhe surveyed the current situation. The Cancer and Pisces Saints who supported Saga had fallen silent with him, and Shaka of Virgo, the one closest to divinity, had closed his eyes, lost in thought.

Though the Gold Saints were divided, on the matter of Saga becoming Pope, they were united.

“I propose, since Alex is acting as Pope, that until the goddess returns, he should continue as Pope.”

Dohko’s suggestion startled Feng Zhe, and the other Gold Saints looked again at the Altar Saint before them, lost in thought.

The “aquatic duo” immediately voiced their support; with Saga disqualified, backing his disciple posed no issue.

Feng Zhe shook his head repeatedly. “Master Dohko, I am but a Silver Saint and Saga’s disciple. I am truly unfit for this.”

He turned to Mu. “Mu of Aries, you were personally taught by Pope Shion and revealed Gemini’s treachery with your own hands. I suggest you become the Pope’s successor.”

In both wisdom and strength, Mu was undoubtedly suitable. He had endured in silence despite Saga’s power, then made his move at the key moment. His courage and resolve were proof of his worth.

But Mu simply shook his head. “I am not the right person.”

Deathmask sneered, “Mu, without absolute strength, is far from capable of ruling Sanctuary on par with Saga.”

Aphrodite added, “Exactly. If Saga hadn’t confessed himself, Mu would never have been able to expose him.”

Clearly, the aquatic duo had no confidence in Mu. Among all the Gold Saints, only Aiolia had not opposed the idea.

Now a strange situation arose: any choice would leave another faction dissatisfied, and the division of Sanctuary would become inevitable.

At that moment, Shaka of Virgo spoke. “Alex may only be a Silver Saint, but he is the only one we can all accept. I agree with Master Dohko—let him continue as acting Pope.”

The other Saints exchanged glances; indeed, Feng Zhe was the only acceptable option for now.

Aiolia looked at Feng Zhe. “Alex, I only care about the warrant for my brother Aiolos. Is it still in effect?”

Without hesitation, Feng Zhe replied, “Since all of this was the doing of Gemini Saga and Sagittarius Aiolos never betrayed Sanctuary, the warrant is naturally revoked.”

At this, Aiolia’s tears fell. At last, he was no longer the brother of a traitor.

“Brother…” Aiolia’s longing for his brother returned, and he lost all interest in the question of the acting Pope.

Mu then asked, “What of Gemini Saga? How shall he be dealt with?”

Mu’s meaning was clear: as acting Pope, Feng Zhe’s first duty was to decide Saga’s fate.

Feng Zhe’s face darkened—Mu had handed him a dilemma.

If he punished Saga too harshly, the aquatic duo, already wary since Feng Zhe was Saga’s disciple, would be displeased and might turn against him.

Too lenient, and Mu and Aiolia would never forgive him; his leadership in Sanctuary would be impossible.

He looked at Saga, kneeling motionless on the floor, and found himself trapped by the problem.

Every Saint was awaiting his answer, and this decision would be crucial.

“I will go to the prison in the Sniwang Strait and await death, to atone for my sins!”

Once more, at a critical moment, Saga spoke first.

“No! You cannot die! The Holy War is coming—we cannot lose the strength of a Gold Saint!”

This was Feng Zhe’s bottom line: Saga must not die!