CA - Chapter 207
Chapter 207
The news of the Holy Son's death, secretly spread by Gabriel, quickly fermented and spiraled out of control. The arrival of darkness hadn't much affected the Holy See's nation, but this news cast a pall of gloom over the entire country.
The Pope's continued absence deepened the gloom several times over. With the return of Cardinals like Vogt and Gabriel, the situation in the Holy See became even more complex. No one knew what variables would arise or what waves would be stirred in the next second.
Panic spread, and undercurrents surged.
Of the six Red-robed Archbishops, only four remained. Except for Gabriel, the other three returned to the Central Church and shut themselves in their manors, awaiting the Pope's summons.
In this situation, given the personalities of Cardinals like Vogt, they wouldn't rashly step forward without a suitable opportunity, fearing they would arouse the Pope's suspicion.
But Gabriel wasn't afraid. He was delighted by the current situation.
Not only was he unafraid of arousing the Pope's suspicion, but he also intended to force the Pope out. At a time when everyone was uneasy about the Holy Son's death, seeing a Pope so weak he was on the verge of death would undoubtedly be like adding frost to snow.
He wanted to openly take that position. He wanted the Pope to watch with his own eyes as he, Gabriel, became the successor supported by the people, not his arrogant and foolish son.
Only he could lead the Holy See back to its peak.
Gabriel wanted to seize power amidst the chaos, waiting for the right moment to take the lead and force the Pope to make a decision. But unexpectedly, before he could act, an order came from the Holy Daughter, summoning the Red-robed Archbishops and Bishops to Light Square to listen to the Pope's teachings.
Light Square was only used for major events in the Holy See. It was used for the prayer to the Light Goddess held once every decade or for the enthronement and abdication ceremonies of new and old Popes.
A statue of the Light Goddess, over ten meters tall, stood at the forefront of Light Square. The statue's facial features were blank, but a pair of compassionate yet merciless eyes appeared in the minds of everyone in the square, making them submit involuntarily. A sacred aura filled every corner.
Gabriel stood at the bottom of the white steps, his hands clasped before him. Facing the statue of the Light Goddess, his expression was pious; no one could detect a trace of disrespect or falsehood.
Including the four Red-robed Archbishops, hundreds of people stood in the square, all with their heads bowed, praying quietly while waiting for the Pope's arrival.
But in the end, it was the Holy Daughter who arrived.
The Holy Daughter ascended the steps and stood before the Pope's throne. She lowered her gaze slightly, her eyes sweeping over the faces of the four Red-robed Archbishops, taking in their expressions. She said in a deep voice, "The Pope is already aware of the Holy Son's passing. The Black Witches are rampant, daring to strike at the successor chosen by the Light Goddess. The Pope, amidst his grief, is extremely furious. This is a blasphemy against the light, a disrespect to the Light Goddess."
"As the most devout believers of the Light Goddess, we should not let innocent humans suffer this disaster. His Holiness the Pope hopes that you can all temporarily forget the sorrow of the Holy Son's passing and focus on dealing with the Black Witches, driving the darkness back underground, and bringing the light back to the continent of Statu."
After the Holy Daughter finished speaking, the square fell silent. Vogt exchanged a look with the person beside him and frowned, saying, "Since the darkness descended, the Holy See has suffered heavy losses. Two of the six Red-robed Archbishops are gone, and even the Holy Son has met a tragic end. At a time like this, is His Holiness the Pope going to continue his seclusion?"
The Pope had been in seclusion for too long. Not appearing at a time like this was truly suspicious.
Vogt agreed that suppressing the darkness should be the top priority, but at a time when people's hearts were already wavering, if the Pope didn't come out to stabilize morale, the Holy See's forces could easily fall apart.
"A few days ago, His Holiness the Pope received guidance from the Light Goddess and foresaw a great disaster about to befall the continent of Statu. His Holiness is old, and his spirit is sometimes weak. He is in seclusion for this disaster so that he can be in the best condition to resolve it." The Holy Daughter's tone was indifferent, without a hint of fluctuation. "This concerns the survival of humanity and the Holy See. Archbishop Vogt, do you think this matter is unimportant?"
Vogt opened his mouth but said nothing. Gabriel, who had been listening quietly, curled his lips slightly. Facing the statue of the Light Goddess, he said piously, "Since it is an instruction from the Light Goddess, we should also be fortunate enough to witness it. The duty of a Red-robed Archbishop is to solve problems for the Pope."
"I am willing to give my life for the Holy See, willing to use the power of light I have cultivated my entire life to resolve the disaster." Gabriel's tone was incredibly sincere; no one doubted his sincerity. He raised his head slightly to look directly into the Holy Daughter's eyes and said with a smile, "I wish to receive His Holiness the Pope's guidance in person."
As his words fell, a neat chorus of voices echoed from behind him, "We are also willing to give our lives for the Holy See and receive His Holiness the Pope's instructions in person."
Half of the several hundred bishops spoke up, their voices so loud it was as if everyone had participated. Gabriel turned his head slightly, glanced behind him, and the corner of his mouth lifted imperceptibly.
The Holy Daughter waited until the voices stopped before speaking, "His Holiness the Pope is in seclusion and will see no one."
Gabriel smiled faintly and said calmly, "Is that His Holiness the Pope's order, or yours?"
The Holy Daughter frowned, looking at him expressionlessly.
Gabriel didn't even look at her. He lifted his foot and started forward, intending to go around the steps. Behind Light Square was the Pope's residence.
The sound of neat footsteps surged from all directions. Holy Knights in golden armor, holding longswords, blocked the path to the Pope's residence. Their swords were half-drawn as they stared solemnly at the crowd in the square.
The Holy Daughter stood before the ranks of Holy Knights, looking at Gabriel who had stopped. She said in a deep voice, "Are you planning to commit insubordination, Gabriel?"
This was... the guard unit that protected the Central Church, which could not be mobilized without the Pope's order. Gabriel narrowed his eyes and shouted, "Phoenix, what have you done to His Holiness the Pope?"
As he spoke, a staff appeared in his palm. The group of bishops at the back of the square split into two factions. Gabriel's supporters had already begun chanting spells, and the aura of light rapidly condensed in the square.
Vogt and the others watched the rapidly changing situation, their expressions changing. They exchanged glances, none of them moving, but their minds were racing.
A sigh echoed across the square. The sound wasn't loud, but it captured everyone's attention. A golden phantom appeared on the throne behind the Holy Daughter. At the same time, a pure power of light enveloped the sky above the square.
"Before the statue of the Light Goddess, what are you all making a fuss about?" The Pope's head was bowed, and though his voice was low, it was full of vigor. "Do you not understand my orders?"
The Holy Daughter stepped aside, using the power of light to destroy the scroll she had unfurled in her sleeve.
Gabriel was slightly stunned when he saw the Pope's phantom. He sensed something was wrong. After observing it carefully for a moment, his lips moved slightly, and a golden arrow shot towards the phantom. Just as it was about to hit, it was blocked by an invisible barrier.
"What are you doing, Gabriel?" Vogt stared, rebuking him.
The phantom seemed to look down, but surprisingly, it said nothing. He seemed truly exhausted. He waved his hand, "I am tired. All affairs of the Holy See will be temporarily handled by the Holy Daughter."
With that, the phantom slowly dissipated, giving Gabriel no further opportunity to cause trouble.
A phantom of unknown authenticity had changed the situation. The bishops who had been observing just moments ago had already drawn their staves, faintly confronting Gabriel's supporters. Vogt also stood on the Holy Daughter's side, questioning Gabriel, "What were you doing just now?"
Gabriel looked at the Holy Daughter with a blank expression, his eyes dark. He had truly underestimated this woman.
The Holy Daughter took out a ring. She didn't put it on her finger but held it out towards Gabriel, saying coldly, "Return to your position, Gabriel."
"Are you trying to rebel?"
This ring was the ring of authority that the Pope always wore. It represented supreme power.
When Gabriel saw the ring of authority, his brow furrowed for a moment before slowly relaxing. He broke into a smile and said, "A misunderstanding. I was just worried about His Holiness the Pope." With that, he turned and returned to his position.
The Holy Daughter gave a look to the Holy Knight Captain behind her, and the captain led the Holy Knights away.
"The Holy Son has been killed, and there is no one to lead the suppression of the darkness. I must remain in the Central Church to assist His Holiness the Pope with affairs. Therefore, the sealing of the dark formations can only be handled by the several Red-robed Archbishops."
Even when the Holy Son was around, the process of sealing dark formations and expelling dark creatures was mostly decided by the Red-robed Archbishops themselves.
However, now there were only four Red-robed Archbishops left... Reese's team had no one to take over.
One of the Red-robed Archbishops raised this concern.
The Holy Daughter nodded at him and replied, "His Holiness the Pope has already made a decision on this matter. The position of Red-robed Archbishop is eminent in the Central Church, and of course, it cannot remain vacant for long. After careful consideration, His Holiness the Pope has decided to promote a new Red-robed Archbishop."
Gabriel frowned, a bad premonition rising in his heart.
"By order of the Pope, the position of Archbishop Cambecus will be inherited by..." The Holy Daughter paused before continuing, "...Bishop Grace of the Gosse Church."
The name Grace wasn't particularly famous in the Holy See yet. Some knew of her relationship with Reese, but most were still a bit bewildered upon hearing it. However, once the prefix was added, no one was unaware of this bishop's glorious deeds.
The Gosse Church was the first to react after the darkness descended, and it was also the first to seal almost all the dark formations and drive out the darkness.
Even the Elf Race, which held a grudge against the Holy See, came out of their territory to live in the Gosse Empire and help the Gosse Church deal with the darkness.
The difference in the Gosse Church was evident through comparison. In other countries, Red-robed Archbishops also personally led people to expel the darkness, but until now, they had only completed about a third of the task.
A tall, slender figure appeared at the side gate of Light Square. The power of light in the sky above the square had not completely dissipated, and the faint white light shone on her, seemingly cloaking her in a halo-holy and noble, elegant and gentle.
Tang Qiu nodded slightly at the Holy Knights on both sides. Her sky-blue eyes were clear and held a faint smile. Her pure white robe was embroidered with exquisite patterns of red thread mixed with gold thread. The collar and cuffs were trimmed with gold thread, and a red belt cinched her slender waist. Her long golden hair fell smoothly over her chest, and a scarlet cape, representing her status as a Red-robed Archbishop, trailed on the ground.
Although her footsteps were not loud, they were enough for those who were paying attention to hear. Gabriel, Vogt, and the others turned to look and were stunned to see Tang Qiu. Though their expressions varied, they all carried a sense of inquiry and scrutiny.
The Holy Daughter watched Tang Qiu walk over and nodded, saying, "His Holiness the Pope knows that Grace is deeply trusted by Archbishop Reese and is exceptionally capable. His Holiness is very relieved to have her take over the task of expelling the darkness."
Tang Qiu walked to a position directly in front of the Holy Daughter at the foot of the steps and stopped. A perfect smile was on her face. She curtsied slightly and said in a soft voice, "I am honored by His Holiness the Pope's trust."
Gabriel clasped his hands behind his back, narrowing his eyes at Tang Qiu's back. That long golden hair reminded him of Reese. He was in a bad mood, and his expression grew profound. He spoke up, "This is against the rules. As everyone knows, the appointment of a Red-robed Archbishop requires deliberation by all. How can it be so hasty?"
"These are special times, Archbishop Gabriel."
"Oh?" Gabriel said lightly, "Then aren't there many other bishops who are more qualified and more loyal than her?"
Hearing this, Tang Qiu turned her head to glance at Gabriel, her brow furrowing slightly. She said with a hint of sadness, "Archbishop Gabriel, how can you question my piety to the Light Goddess?"
She mimicked Gabriel's earlier tone, speaking with exceptional sincerity, "After all, like you, I am willing to dedicate my life to the Holy See."
Gabriel's face darkened, and he said nothing.
Bruce looked at Tang Qiu, then at the Holy Daughter. Just as he was about to say something, he was stopped by Vogt. Vogt shook his head at him, then took a step forward to stand beside Tang Qiu. He said, "Since this is the candidate His Holiness the Pope has decided upon after careful consideration, I am willing to support the Pope's decision."
He extended his hand to Tang Qiu, showing a slight smile for the first time. "Congratulations, Grace."
Tang Qiu looked up and met his gaze, her sky-blue eyes tinged with a faint smile. She raised her hand to shake Vogt's and said softly, "Thank you."
After Vogt stated his position, Bruce and the other Red-robed Archbishop followed suit.
The great opportunity had been ruined. Gabriel was silent for a moment, then suddenly curled his lips. "Congratulations, Grace." Although he was smiling, the smile didn't reach his eyes. "Welcome to... the Central Church."
Tang Qiu turned her head to meet his gaze, her sky-blue eyes clear and bright. She gave a faint smile and said softly, "My honor."
Gabriel sneered, flicked his sleeves, and left.
After Gabriel left, the others also gradually departed. Soon, only Tang Qiu and the Holy Daughter remained in Light Square.
Tang Qiu took off the cumbersome cape and stored it in her Space Gem. She caught a glimpse of the Holy Daughter walking over and said in a flat tone, "That phantom of the Pope was too fake."
It could fool Vogt and the others because they didn't know the Pope's true condition. But for people like Tang Qiu and Gabriel, they could see something was wrong at a glance.
Because the Pope's condition couldn't possibly support the appearance of that phantom.
"By pushing Gabriel like this, aren't you afraid he'll rebel?"
Judging from the response he got earlier, Gabriel's supporters made up almost fifty percent, which was no small number.
If pushed too far, he might just rebel, and his chances of winning would be quite high, especially with the Tzimisce clan behind him.
The Holy Daughter shook her head slightly. "He won't rebel."
The Holy See couldn't afford an internal conflict right now. If Gabriel seized power through rebellion, he would inherit a Holy See that was severely weakened and couldn't even deal with the Black Witches.
He would have to be crazy to choose that path.
Tang Qiu shrugged. She brushed the hair from her shoulder to her back, then took out a piece of parchment and handed it to the Holy Daughter. "Kama asked me to give this to you."
The Holy Daughter unfolded the parchment. On it was a crooked, stick-like object drawn in black ink.
"What is this?" Tang Qiu had looked at it for a long time but couldn't guess what Kama had drawn.
The Holy Daughter folded the parchment, the coldness in her brow softening slightly. "A staff."
The Cynthia's Staff that the Pope had always treasured.
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