No matter how much he pondered, only one option came to mind: utilizing the darker paths of commerce.
He gestured to Cardinal Jacobo, his loyal left hand, who stood waiting behind him.
"To make up for these losses, there's no other way. Increase the supply of magical elixirs, juvenile magical beasts, and relics of the Outsider on the black market. About five times the usual volume should suffice," the Pope instructed.
Jacobo bowed respectfully and left the audience chamber to carry out the order.
Left alone, Pope Allegro III let out a heavy sigh.
"What is becoming of this world… Radiance, grant us your light."
Though the papacy had hoarded vast wealth over the generations, the idea of tapping into those resources didn't occur to anyone.
King Charles V of the Kingdom of Lania was thoroughly satisfied with the papacy's official letter.
