I am the one
who decides when it is ENOUGH!
The words echoed in the Grand Master’s mind, a bitter reminder of the pope’s unwavering resolve. He understood the pope held the final play in this high-stakes game.
Their two formidable forces were locked in stalemate. The global “chess match” had reached a nerve-wracking impasse.
The Templars, guardians of Solomon’s treasure, remained steadfast in their refusal to surrender it, while the pope was hell-bent on claiming the treasure no matter how many lives it cost. The Grand Master knew this battle of wills was far from over. The contest was destined to reignite at some future date.
Chapter 80
March 12, 2000
Sunday 11:23 a.m.
Rome, Italy
Mario had been sent reeling—it was all too much for him. Could it really be that World War II had been nothing more than a clandestine duel between two unseen superpowers vying for world dominance? Was the horrific loss of millions of lives mere collateral damage in the pursuit of a mythical treasure that might not even exist?
Dominic reappeared, finding Mario visibly drained after his deep dive into the secret annals of World War II. “Were you able to decipher the Grand Master’s cryptic notes?”
Mario shot Dominic a look of frustration, his mind struggling to process the high-stakes game of cat and mouse that had been playing out between the Vatican and the Templars. “Was this all for Solomon’s treasure?” he demanded.
“Indeed. The pope manipulated Hitler and the Nazis using the Jews as pawns in his ruthless quest for Solomon’s treasure.”
“Was it worth the massacre of millions?” Mario spat out, repulsed by this revelation. Millions of Jews dead, all in the name of acquiring some stupid treasure. This didn’t even account for the countless lives lost on the battlefields of Europe and the Pacific.
“We swore an oath to safeguard Solomon’s treasure from corrupt leaders incapable of handling such overwhelming responsibility,” Dominic retorted, reiterating his Templar vow to protect the treasure.
Mario shook his head in disbelief. The grief he felt over World War II’s casualties was too much to handle. Dominic fell silent, allowing Mario time to process his shock.
“Is this duel still going on?” Mario said, his voice barely above a whisper.
“I regret to inform you that it is. The Vatican, under papal leadership, continues its relentless pursuit of Solomon’s treasure to this very day.”
Mario exhaled deeply and sank back into his chair. “If all this is true, why did you stand by and let millions of Jews be slaughtered by the Nazis? Weren’t you supposed to be the protectors of Christ’s followers, the Jews, God’s chosen people?”
“We were left with no other option,” Dominic defended, his voice rising in defiance.
“No other option?"
“Try to see it from our perspective. The Vatican had been gearing up for this war for decades. It took us six years to put an end to it.”
“Then you failed spectacularly, allowing the Nazis to exterminate six million Jews.”
“The Vatican exploited the Jews! They were our Achilles’ heel, a means of blackmailing us for Solomon’s treasure. Our only recourse was to end the war because surrendering the Treasure was unthinkable.” Dominic crossed his arms, his glare unwavering on Mario.
Mario scrutinized Dominic, attempting to empathize with the Templar’s predicament.
“Let me pose a question to you, Mario. Would you entrust an organization like the Vatican—a proxy organization led by the Black Nobility and their pet the pope, who, by the way, encouraged the abduction and murder of millions for ransom—with the stewardship of the most invaluable treasure on Earth? Do you think they would stop there?”
Mario sat in silence, wrestling with the difficult decision. The Templar allowed him to ponder these grave questions. Dominic felt incensed having to justify his forefathers’ decision, especially after rescuing the young priest from the very entity that sought to assassinate him.
His gaze bore into the priest. “The Bible states, ‘The love of money is the root of all evil’, 1 Timothy 6:10. If the Vatican was complicit with King Philip IV in rounding up and executing our brotherhood on October 13, 1307, all to gain possession of Solomon’s treasure, what makes you believe it would be a responsible custodian of Solomon’s treasure? We’re not the villains here, Father.”
“Please, don’t call me Father,” Mario requested, his head bowed in shame at the title ceremoniously bestowed upon him by the Catholic Church. His faith had been shattered, all because he’d accidentally discovered Pope Pius XII’s journal. Perhaps Father Benedetti had met a more merciful fate when he was executed by the very institution he trusted.
“I apologize if I insulted you,” Mario said, leaning forward, his elbows resting on his knees, mortified by his outburst accusing the Templars of not doing everything in their power to prevent the Holocaust.
Both men fell silent for a few minutes, mulling over their words.
“Why don’t you reveal this to the world?” Mario asked, still hunched over with his head bowed.
“If we expose the Vatican and all their malevolent deeds, then they expose us. If we get exposed, then we’ll have to reveal the location of Solomon’s treasure. We don’t do this as a professional courtesy among adversaries—it’s a necessity. Safeguarding the other’s secrecy preserves a tenuous balance.”
“But why? The cost of this treasure has been paid with millions of lives. Doesn’t that hold any weight?” Mario’s voice held a note of desperation.
“Believe me, Mario, it’s for the best that Solomon’s treasure remains a secret to the world.” Dominic’s own voice held firm. He would not waver in his conviction.
Mario fell silent.
“Look at me, Mario.” Dominic’s tone forced Mario to meet his gaze. “You must not reveal this secret to the world. The fallout could be catastrophic, costing yet many more millions of lives.”
Mario said nothing.
“Do you comprehend the severity of this?” Dominic pressed.
