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*****
Three days later, as George watched the trainees drill on the plaza, a faint vibration emanated from the magic mirror in his pocket. He knew it was the Crystal Saint attempting to contact him. After finding a secluded spot, he instantly teleported back to his stone hut.
He pulled out the mirror and swiped its surface. A projection shimmered onto the stone wall, revealing the face of the Crystal Saint.
"I have regrouped with Hyoga. The Saint sent by the Pope has been dealt with..." the Crystal Saint reported.
The Pope had sent the strongest of the Sanctuary's Bronze Saints, the gargantuan Docrates, to seize the Sagittarius Cloth. Though Docrates's Cosmo was only at the Bronze level, his nearly three-meter stature and immense physical power made him peerless among his rank. Peerless, that is, except for George, who had previously beaten him into a pulp during a challenge.
When Seiya and the others had just managed to defeat Ikki and the Black Four Heavenly Kings, Docrates had ambushed them with a squad of Sanctuary soldiers. Fortunately, the Crystal Saint arrived in time. With the power of a Silver Saint, he helped the group successfully repel Docrates and his men.
Through their subsequent discussions, the Crystal Saint confirmed that George's intel was accurate: Saori Kido was indeed Athena. Consequently, Saori and Seiya's group learned the full truth of the situation—and of George's existence.
"Ola, I didn't think you were hiding such depth. You even lost to me on purpose last time! When we have time, we must have a proper rematch!" Seiya's head suddenly popped into the frame, grinning. He recognized the original identity of George's host, though they weren't close. He naturally assumed that when Ola had previously intercepted him on Shaina's orders and was "easily" injured, it had all been an act.
"Fair enough," George replied with a smile before briefing them on the recent developments in the Sanctuary.
Saga's mental state, influenced by the evil spirit, had become increasingly unstable since discovering Athena was alive. He had turned tyrannical, dispatching Silver and Bronze Saints to carry out military sabotage in nations that defied his orders. He had also instituted brutal punishments for any in the Sanctuary who dared question him. Daily training for the soldiers had devolved into "death drills" where a single mistake could cost a life.
"At this rate, the Sanctuary will be ruined!" the Crystal Saint said, his face darkening. With the arrival of Athena signaling a new Holy War, the Sanctuary needed its strength more than ever. Saga's purges were severely weakening their forces.
"That is why we must reach the Sanctuary as soon as possible. We cannot let this continue," Saori said, stepping into the frame wearing modern attire, her expression solemn.
George shook his head. "Wait. The Sanctuary is currently under Saga's complete control. Coming now is a death sentence."
Saori clearly hadn't fully awakened her consciousness as Athena yet, nor could she wield her true power. Arriving too early would make it nearly impossible to gain the trust of the Gold Saints. In George's view, they didn't even need to march on the Sanctuary; they could simply wait for Saga to send his forces out in waves. In a Holy War, aside from a few elite Silver Saints, the Bronze rank was mostly cannon fodder; the Gold Saints were what truly mattered.
In the original timeline, Athena would have been killed by Saga long ago if the "Bronze Five" hadn't been so unnaturally resilient, constantly standing back up and burning their Cosmo to the ultimate level. George suggested waiting until Saori's Athena-consciousness fully awakened; once it did, no explanation would be necessary. Every Saint who felt her Cosmo would instantly recognize her and flock to her side.
"My advice is to contact every Saint you know, tell them the truth, and gather them to protect Miss Saori. Based on the intel I've gathered, Saga is likely to send Silver Saints to seize the Sagittarius Cloth and assassinate her within the next few days."
The more Saints gathered around Seiya, the stronger the force Saga would be forced to deploy. If George could trick Saga into sending several Gold Saints away, the Sanctuary's internal defenses would weaken, giving George more room to maneuver.
After some deliberation, the group agreed with George's logic and began to mobilize.
Ikki accompanied Shun to Andromeda Island to find Shun's master, Albiore of Cepheus. Although a Silver Saint, Albiore had awakened his Seventh Sense and possessed an Ultimate Cosmo; his true strength rivaled that of a Gold Saint. Having suspected the Pope's corruption for years, Albiore had already stopped attending meetings at the Sanctuary. Once informed of the truth, he would surely bring his disciples to guard Saori. (Fortunately, Milo of Scorpio and Aphrodite of Pisces were still at the Sanctuary and hadn't yet been dispatched by Saga to eliminate Albiore.)
Shiryu and Seiya headed to the Five Old Peaks and Jamir, respectively. Shiryu's master, Dohko of Libra, already knew the Pope was an impostor—he and Shion were old comrades-in-arms, after all. He also understood the current generation of Gold Saints well. He had remained silent only because he needed to watch over the seal of the Specters and because Athena wasn't in immediate mortal danger. Mu of Aries in Jamir was in a similar position; as the former Pope's disciple, he sensed the change but lacked the evidence and support to expose it without risking the Sanctuary's stability.
Notifying them ensured that if Saga sent Gold Saints that Seiya's group couldn't handle, the veteran masters would be ready to intervene. Meanwhile, Hyoga and the Crystal Saint stayed to protect Saori, moving to a hidden location.
George remained in the Sanctuary as the mole, monitoring Saga's movements and the deployment of the Saints.
"Ola! The Pope summons you!"
Just as George ended the call, a knock sounded on his stone door.
"Saga wants to see me?" George stroked his chin, forming a few theories.
Opening the door, he saw the Heat Saint of Fornax, a man who constantly followed Chief Gigas.
"Follow me." The Heat Saint tilted his chin up, signaling George to follow. Despite George's reputation, he held no formal rank, while the Heat Saint was Gigas's most trusted subordinate and viewed himself as superior.
George didn't take offense. Under Saga's thirteen-year reign, the hierarchy in the Sanctuary had become rigid and elitist. Many Saints possessed power but lacked character; the Heat Saint had been a street thug in Athens before joining the Sanctuary. He sought power and wealth rather than peace and justice. This was a common sentiment among many current Silver and Gold Saints; only a minority were truly loyal to the Sanctuary's ideals but deceived by Saga.
Upon arriving at the Pope's Great Hall, George found a crowd already assembled, led by Chief Gigas.
"It seems Saga is getting restless."
Aside from Gigas, George recognized most of the men: Misty of Lacerta, Moses of Cetus, Asterion of Hound, and others. They were almost all Silver Saints. In fact, except for Marin and Shaina, nearly every Silver Saint in the Sanctuary was present.
The Silver Saints looked at George with surprise. They had heard he had defeated every Bronze Saint in the Sanctuary without a Cloth, earning him the title of the Sanctuary's "Number One Bronze," but they didn't believe he truly possessed Silver-level strength. The gap between Bronze and Silver wasn't as vast as the gap to Gold, but it was still significant; it was commonly held that all the Bronze Saints together couldn't defeat even the weakest Silver. However, they remained silent, respecting the Pope's summons.
"Ahem! His Holiness has summoned you for an important mission," Gigas began, detailing the task. "The Kido Foundation in Tokyo has come into possession of the Sagittarius Gold Cloth, belonging to the traitor Aiolos. Instead of returning it, they have used it to hold a 'Galaxian War.' The Pope previously sent Docrates to retrieve it, but the Kido Foundation conspired with renegade Bronze Saints and the traitor Crystal Saint to kill him. This is a direct provocation against the Sanctuary!"
Gigas slammed his staff onto the floor. "Your mission is to go to Tokyo and annihilate the traitors. Bring back Saori Kido and the Sagittarius Gold Cloth."
"Chief, there is no need for such a large force. I can handle a single Crystal Saint and a few Bronze brats by myself," Algol of Perseus said confidently, stepping forward. The others nodded. Algol was currently considered the strongest Silver Saint in the Sanctuary—not necessarily because of his Cosmo, but because of his Medusa Shield, which turned anyone who looked at it into stone.
"It is not that simple," the Pope (Saga) said, appearing from the shadows in his ceremonial robes and mask. He sat upon the high throne, looking down at them. "The Crystal Saint is powerful, and there may be other traitors in the shadows. You will complete this task together. Whoever brings me Saori Kido and the Sagittarius Cloth... I will personally guide them in awakening the Seventh Sense so they may become the next Gold Saint of Sagittarius."
After Docrates failed, Saga suspected Saori Kido was the human incarnation of Athena. He longed to go himself to eliminate the threat, but he needed to maintain his facade in the Sanctuary, where several Gold Saints already suspected him. Instead, he sent a massive force—including nearly all Silver Saints and George, whom he suspected of having Silver-tier potential. He reasoned that if someone could break his Genma Ken on the Crystal Saint, Saori likely had more than just one Silver Saint backing her.
"The Sagittarius Gold Cloth!" The Silver Saints were energized. The promise of the Seventh Sense and a Gold Cloth was the ultimate prize.
"However... if you fail, do not bother returning!" Saga's terrifying Cosmo erupted, nearly forcing them to their knees.
"It seems you truly do possess Silver-level strength," Saga said, locking his gaze onto George. Under his overwhelming pressure, the Silver Saints were struggling to stand, and the Heat Saint was already flat on the floor. George was trembling, but his back remained straight. This proved his Cosmo was on par with any Silver Saint present.
"Then I bestow upon you the Silver Cloth of Crateris!"
At Saga's command, attendants brought the Crateris Silver Cloth into the hall. George immediately feigned an expression of overjoyed surprise.
"Thank you, Your Holiness!"
While a Silver Cloth was no match for a Gold one, and his strength didn't strictly depend on it, having another suit of armor wasn't a bad thing. Using the authority of the Error pathway, he could instantly make the Cloth recognize him as its master.
He hadn't expected to be sent to Tokyo, but he realized this was an opportunity. If he played his cards right, he could be "officially" promoted to the Sagittarius Gold Saint by Saga himself. Only by becoming a Gold Saint could he legitimately claim the papacy.
"Go and prepare. You depart tomorrow morning under Chief Gigas's command!" Saga waved them off.
As the crowd filed out, two figures wearing Gold Cloths emerged from the shadows of the hall.
(End of Chapter)