——Although they are allies who would betray each other at any moment.
Both sides were fully aware that this was a relationship of mutual use. Yet, such an alliance was ironically more stable——because neither party could afford to face the jeopardy of resistance from three parties at once. And although they despised each other and saw each other as their greatest enemy, they also acknowledged that each other's plans had some degree of feasibility...
Russell had said that if his plan failed, then the "Great Fusion" would be a backup.
Although the Pope did not say it outright, Russell also believed... that a person like him would surely have a backup plan.
His aversion to the core of Russell's plan was simply because he couldn't bear to leave the highest power in this world permanently in Russell's hands. But that was, after all, much better than destruction or fleeing in disguise.
