The Lich of Glory Knight Spirit: Moving towards Krimasha!
Chapter 176 - 08: Turbulent Night (3)_2

Chapter 176: Chapter 08: Turbulent Night (3)_2

That was an elderly man with a gaunt face, a long beard, and graying hair.

"Lord Angelo, why don’t you go first?"

"Me?" Angelo II, already drenched in sweat, was startled.

"Originally, there were only two candidates, and you suddenly joined the race at the last moment. Don’t you want everyone to quickly understand what changes the church would undergo if you were elected?"

"Of course I do, it’s just... just..." Angelo II swallowed dryly and muttered softly: "I am not prepared yet."

"Not prepared, or unwilling to let me know?" Gray pressed further.

Angelo II responded firmly: "Not prepared."

Gray wasn’t ready to let it go, continuing: "If that’s the case, why don’t I ask questions and you provide the answers? Let’s start with what you think about my southern church tax reform?"

Angelo II’s expression stiffened noticeably upon hearing this direct question targeting core issues.

Meanwhile, his two competitors, Darren IV and Dominique, weren’t in much better shape, sweating profusely as well.

"I..." Angelo II swallowed dryly again: "I think it’s... good."

"Are you sure? If you think it’s good now, but change your mind after becoming Pope, I would consider it a betrayal of your commitment."

"Yes, I think it’s good." Angelo II forced a smile: "If... if I ascend to the position of Pope, I will ensure the smooth implementation of the church tax reform."

"And what about you, Lord Darren?"

"I... I agree with Lord Angelo’s viewpoint."

"But that’s not what you told me earlier."

"Earlier?" The cardinals present were immediately stunned: "He secretly contacted Gray?"

"Indeed!" Darren IV gritted his teeth, stood up abruptly, and shouted: "I did express to the Holy Knight earlier that the current church tax system is inappropriate! It shouldn’t be enforced in the south, nor should it be enforced in the north! There should be no difference between the north and south! It’s normal for clergy to have opinions, but faith in the Holy Spirit and spreading belief shouldn’t be motivated by money! We should guide them to view this issue from a different perspective, instead of yielding to them and reverting the original right reform! As the messengers of the Holy Spirit on Earth, we must overcome challenges, not flee from them! The path to sanctity has never been an easy one!"

His words were utterly resolute, and immediately, the cardinals in the hall widened their eyes and stared at Darren IV in shock.

Darren IV’s face turned red, but he still forced himself to straighten his chest and glare around the room.

Looking at the righteously indignant Darren IV, Gray spoke calmly: "I thought Lord Darren didn’t understand this principle. It seems you do understand, but simply choose not to act on it. Is that right?"

"Uh... comprehension always takes time." Darren IV nodded awkwardly, smiling as he sat back down.

"And Lord Dominique?" Gray’s gaze shifted to the last candidate.

Dominique’s hand trembled slightly.

...

"This is practically a farce, don’t you think?" Baton approached Jones by the door and handed over a piece of dried sweet potato.

Jones lifted his visor to glance at Baton: "I don’t eat this."

"What a pity." Baton chewed the sweet potato casually and said, "Put a sword to their necks, and I bet these so-called ’Lord Bishops’ would agree to anything we ask. Even if we demanded them to declare faith in the Holy Spirit illegal, they’d comply."

"That just proves, on another level, that none of them are fit to be Pope." Jones looked at the distance where a fire had been extinguished, leaving smoke billowing from the structure that appeared on the verge of collapse. "Lacking resolve, and not even daring to voice their own thoughts—what kind of Pope is that? They’re no better than you."

"No better than me?" Baton froze for a moment, then laughed: "Maybe I should go in and throw myself into the election?"

As he spoke, he straightened his posture, mimicking a bishop’s demeanor, and said to Cross-Eyed standing beside him: "May the Holy Spirit bless you."

The dwarves burst into laughter at once.

Jones and Dora watched expressionlessly.

Even Belinda, floating distantly, couldn’t bear to look anymore. She covered her forehead helplessly.

"Quite entertaining, isn’t it?" Zeda suddenly appeared beside her, wearing an expression of delight as he said, "Our dear Demon Envoy always manages to surprise us. If these cardinals had the courage to stand by their beliefs, Gray probably wouldn’t be able to do much. But as it happens, none of them dare to persist. That puts your Holy Spirit in quite the bind, doesn’t it?"

Belinda turned her face away without responding.

Before long, the three platforms were completed, along with Gray’s attached letters, and they were delivered to Carl. Carl, in turn, distributed them to the clergy, using pigeons specially trained by Heaven to carry them to churches across twenty-three human kingdoms and to the five legion commanders stationed in the sacred lands.

Under the rolling thunderclouds, twenty-eight pigeons glimmering with crystalline droplets soared like meteors in all directions, creating a spectacular sight.

The four Holy Knights, corresponding to their four Guardian Angels, including Julian, remained obediently standing outside the hall.

...

"Now, let us quietly await their responses." Gray remained in the center of the grand hall and spoke softly: "I will not interfere with the integrity of the election, nor will I permit anyone else to do so. However, I doubt it matters who is chosen. After all, the three platforms are nearly identical. Regardless of the winner, I will ensure implementation. If someone violates these platforms, the runner-up will replace them, followed by the third-place candidate. I trust no one will have any objections to this plan. Now, fill out your choices and begin voting."

A box was placed in the center. Pens were distributed to the cardinals, who began to fill out their choices, then lined up to place their ballots in the box.

The entire process unfolded in utter silence.

The three cardinal candidates slumped into their chairs as if drained, sweating profusely. Whether driven by greed, ambition, or the desire to make a difference, a moment ago they desperately wanted the position of Pope. Now, none of them could escape the regret of entering the race. Winning seemed more like a nightmare than an achievement.

To claim victory was to willingly place one’s neck under Gray’s blade.

The situation was evolving in ways none of them had anticipated.

Gray didn’t run in the election, but he had seized the position of arbiter, which was entirely reasonable given his saintly status. Of course, what mattered most was the truth backed by undeniable force.

"Gray, I truly feel that what you’re doing is wrong..." Catherine continued to plead earnestly.

"Which part do you believe is wrong?" Gray finally responded: "I’ve given them every opportunity to express their viewpoints and ensured fairness and transparency throughout the election. Not once have I used force to make anyone vote a certain way."

"But you have exercised force; everyone saw it."

"Force, isn’t that what it’s meant to be used for?"

"But your level of power completely surpasses theirs—you can draw upon the Demon Lord’s strength."

Gray fell silent for a long moment before he spoke softly: "That’s what separates me from you all, isn’t it? For as long as we’ve existed, our understanding of sanctity has differed. Our stances have never been entirely the same. You can stand by and watch a carriage plunge into an abyss and do nothing—I cannot. I have to act to stop it. Having power means using it; it’s a responsibility. If they cannot summon the courage to oppose me, how could they possibly be fit to be Pope? Starting today, I will unwaveringly fulfill my duties as Church Affairs Supervisor."

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