The First Vampire

Chapter 545: Arrangement_1 of 543
 

Dragon City, Holy Mountain.

The melodious sound of bells, carrying a marvelous force to soothe people’s hearts, spread to every corner of the Holy Light Cathedral.

Cardinal Mensai, dressed in a red robe, passed through the tranquil long corridor and walked into the prayer hall.

In the hall, another Cardinal, Noputon, was praying in front of the statue of the Lord of Glory.

Hearing footsteps behind him, Noputon ended his prayer, turned back to look at the slowly approaching Mensai, and nodded a greeting.

Mensai didn’t mind the other’s somewhat indifferent attitude. The three Cardinals of the Glorious Church were all candidates for the next Pope, so some competition was inevitably present between them, and their relationship couldn’t be described as harmonious.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Upon hearing the news of Turennes’ death in Dragon City, both Mensai and Noputon were somewhat ambivalent.

Firstly, sorrow and surprise were inevitable sentiments when a comrade fell, but apart from that, they couldn’t deny a certain sense of relief; after all, one less rival meant an increased chance for each of them.

Furthermore, given the current situation, it seemed doubtful that Gregory could continue to comfortably sit on the Papal throne, which stirred up some thoughts in Mensai and Noputon that they would usually suppress.

But such thoughts could only be buried deep in their hearts.

The two Cardinals stood in silence in the open prayer hall, quietly waiting for the arrival of the Pope.

Perhaps finding the atmosphere somewhat awkward, Mensai broke the silence, whispering:

“I heard that Turennes’ remains were nailed to a cross by the St. Hilde family and placed on top of Winterfell City.”

Noputon shook his head, sighing, “Such a blasphemy!”

“Count Angler claimed this is to make Turennes atone for his past sins. And, next to Turennes’ body, there is another empty cross, rumored to be prepared for the Pope,” Mensai said indifferently, his facial expression betraying no emotion.

Noputon laughed lightly, refraining from discussing this point.

The prayer hall fell into silence again. The eternal Holy Light shone down directly from the glazed dome, casting a sacred glow over the two silently standing Cardinals.

After an unknown period of time, Pope Gregory finally entered the prayer hall.

Mensai and Noputon quickly bowed in salute.

Gregory waved his hand casually, not saying a word. He first went in front of the statue of the Lord of Glory, praying quietly, and then turned to look at the two Cardinals, asking emotionlessly:

“You both are aware of the incident in the North Territory, yes? Let’s hear your opinions, how should we handle it?”

Mensai and Noputon exchanged a look, both somewhat uncertain.

However, it was clear that Gregory was determined to hear their opinions. He let the atmosphere in the room become more and more tense without saying a word.

Under such pressure, Mensai finally couldn’t help but clear his throat and speak:

“Your Holiness, I believe that the dignity of our Lord shouldn’t be provoked. The actions in the North Territory can’t be tolerated. A strong deterrent must be used to suppress it. Only then can we deter other nobles who have an itch to act.”

“And how will you suppress them with this ‘mighty thunder’?” Before Pope Gregory could speak, Cardinal Noputon questioned him directly.

“Of course, it is to immediately declare the St. Hilde family and Agani as blasphemers, send out the Temple Knight Regiment to the North Territory and call on devout believers to join in this Holy War to exterminate these blasphemers.”

“And what’s your reason for declaring the St. Hilde family and Agani as blasphemers? How certain are we that the Temple Knight Regiment can defeat the North Territory allied forces? As for calling upon believers to aid the fight, most lords will only watch from the sidelines. And the fanatical farmers you recruit, are you sure they will be an asset and not a liability?”

“Reason? The Pope is the spokesperson of the Lord in the world, does he need a reason to declare some as blasphemers?

As for the Temple Knight Regiment’s ability to defeat the Northern Allied Army, Noputon, when did you start losing faith in the guardians of the Lord’s glory?

When this military force that symbolizes the will of the Lord arrives in the North Territory, I fear that the soldiers of the Northern Allied Army won’t even dare to pick up their weapons in their presence.”

Noputon sneered, shaking his head coldly, “Mensai, if the Lord’s reputation were truly so invincible, how could there be nobles with ulterior motives, and how could there be the blasphemy of the North this time?

As for the Temple Knight Regiment, even if they can defeat the Northern Allied Army, won’t the ensuing civil unrest within the Empire provide an opportunity for the Orc Empire?”

Mensai grunted discontentedly, “What better suggestion do you have then?”

“I believe that at this critical moment, we must make every effort to avoid infighting that culminates in disastrous consequences! We should send people to Winterfell City, to appease the St. Hilde family, as long as their demands are not excessive, we can be a little flexible.”

“Flexible?” Mensai angrily retorted, “Your weakness will only make the North even more aggressive! It will also make other nobles think that the Church can be easily bullied, thereby seizing the opportunity to greatly weaken our control in the secular domain!

Don’t forget, the lords of the North have already brazenly withheld the Tithe Tax, do you want this disastrous action to spread throughout the Empire?”

“Flexibility is not weakness! Unyielding hardness is what will truly plunge the Empire into an irredeemable abyss…”

“In the face of threats, never retreat, this is the steadfast belief of a true believer…”

Watching the fiercely arguing Cardinals, Pope Gregory silently sneered.

He, of course, could see that despite their facade of being earnestly devoted to resolving the current crisis, the solutions they proposed were in fact obvious nonsense.

They argued for ages, purely emotional venting, but there was not a hint of any profound insight.

Gregory fully understood, under the current circumstances, perhaps these two cardinals were secretly delighted, eagerly anticipating him to step down under the pressure of the North, thus vacating the papal throne.

These two old foxes who wanted to see him make a fool of himself were unlikely to offer genuinely useful advice.

“Enough!” Gregory exclaimed.

The originally heatedly arguing Cardinals, as if a pause button had been pressed, instantly switched to their serene masks, bowed their heads obediently, and waited for the Pope’s admonishment.

Gregory’s cold gaze swept across the faces of the two Cardinals before giving his instructions:

“Mensai, you will leave for the North immediately, probe the attitude of the St. Hilde family, ask what their demands are?”

Mensai frowned, but before he could speak, he saw the Pope’s gaze had already turned to Noputon, instructing:

“Noputon, you’ll go to the Westlands immediately, meet Duke St. Gregorian, tell her that the Empire is now facing the danger of civil unrest, that might present an opportunity for the Orc Empire. Ask her to help mediate and prevent the outbreak of chaos.”

“Yes!” Both Cardinals bowed in obedience.

The Pope’s arrangements seemed to be preparing for peace talks with the North. Strangely though, he was sending Cardinal Mensai, who advocated for a hard-line approach with the North.

And to the Westlands, he sent Cardinal Noputon, who if understood from his past, served as Archbishop of Westlands for only three months before being promptly transferred.

It was said that during his tenure as Archbishop, Noputon had disagreements with the St. Gregorian family… and now, he was being sent to the Westlands again.

After giving his instructions, the Pope did not offer any explanations and left the prayer hall.