The melodious bell struck three times, marking the end of morning prayer.
Pope Gregory hurriedly left from the side door of the prayer hall, and walked quickly along the quiet corridor behind the guards.
His brows were tightly furrowed, and his eyes looked towards the west wing of the Holy Light Cathedral from time to time, with expressions of anxiety and anger palpable in his words.
At the same time, Gregory is constantly thinking about countermeasures.
The sudden appearance of Cardinal Nopton caught him off guard, and he had already guessed what the other party wanted to do.
This feeling of being betrayed by his own people made Gregory feel angry.
But besides his anger, he couldn't help feeling a surge of fear.
Since Nopton dared to jump out at this time, it meant that the opponent was fully prepared.
This also shows that most members of the College of Cardinals are already extremely dissatisfied with him.
Why
Don't these people understand the painstaking efforts of what they did in the north
Couldn't they see what the upheaval in the East meant to the church
Don't you know that at this time, the church should be more consistent with the outside world, so as to maintain the church's authority and not continue to slip
A group of selfish idiots!
…
Gregory, who was immersed in his thoughts, didn't notice anything strange around him until a voice suddenly sounded from behind:
"Your Majesty the Pope."
Gregory's heart trembled, and he came back to his senses.
Gregory, who was belatedly aware, finally realized that the guards leading the way had disappeared, and this corridor was a bit too quiet, even the guards who were on duty in the past were gone.
He turned around slowly, and saw a graceful female knight standing behind him.
Her beauty is as dazzling as the sun, making it impossible to look directly at her.
Just standing there, the entire corridor was enveloped in a dignified and sharp breath, as if a slight struggle would usher in a violent storm.
Gregory suppressed the shock and doubt in his heart, nodded slightly, and said with a smile:
"Duke St. Gerian, I didn't expect you to arrive at Yulong City so soon."
"Oh?" Duke St. Grian raised his eyebrows, "So, you knew I would come?"
Upon hearing this, Gregory breathed a sigh of relief.
Originally, he thought that this was also Nopton's arrangement, but after thinking about it carefully, given the conflict between Nopton and Duke St. Grian, it was impossible for the two to join forces.
Therefore, Gregory smiled and said: "Yes, I have actually sent Cardinal Knopton to the west, please come to Crimson Flame to mediate this dispute between the church and the north.
However, it seems that you may have come uninvited before Nopton arrived in the West. "
"You sent Nopton to the western region?" Duke St. Grian sneered, his eyes flashed a little, but he quickly retracted again, and said, "Okay, time is urgent, I don't want to talk nonsense with you. This time I will come Crimson Flame collar is because the army of the Orc Empire has officially sent troops, so this farce between the church and the northern border must stop immediately!"
"The Orc Empire has already dispatched troops so soon?" Gregory was also slightly surprised, and then nodded in agreement, "In this case, it is indeed time to end this farce."
The Duke of St. Grian nodded and said, "I have already met Earl Angelet, the guardian of the north, in Silver Fox City. He promised that as long as the church agrees to two conditions, he will no longer pursue the murder of Duke St. Hilde. one thing."
Gregory shook his head, and said firmly: "The two conditions proposed by the northern border are too harsh, and it is impossible for the church to agree."
"It's not the first two conditions." Duke St. Grian said immediately, "Later, after my mediation efforts, Earl Angelet has agreed not to ask you to abdicate, but as long as the northern diocese is independent."
Gregory's expression softened a little, but he still shook his head and said, "It's impossible for the northern parish to be independent."
"Listen, Gregory!" Duke St. Grian's face became serious, and his tone suddenly became severe, "I have done my best to help you keep the Pope's position, do you really think that you can do it without paying any price?" , can appease the northern border?"
Gregorian's eyes flickered, and he pondered for a moment before he said, "Duke St. Grian, are you really willing to keep my position as pope?"
"That's right. As long as you promise to make the Northern Diocese independent, I can swear on the honor of the Paladin that no one will dare to force you to abdicate!"
Gregory stared into the eyes of Duke St. Grian, and said in a deep voice: "Okay, Duke St. Grian, I believe in your reputation, but I have one last condition."
Duke St. Grian frowned, and was about to reprimand, but Gregory quickly added: "I believe you should be happy to accept this condition."
"Tell me."
"Help me kill Nopton!"
Duke St. Grian raised his brows: "Nopton? Didn't he go to the West?"
"No, he didn't go, but hid in Yulong City, secretly united with the members of the Cardinals, and incited them to impeach me! So, this is actually not a separate condition, because if you want to keep my Pope position, we must stop Nopton!"
Seeing that Duke St. Grian was still hesitant, Gregory encouraged him again:
"Duke St. Grian, I know you have wanted to kill Nopton for a long time, and now I just give you such an opportunity! You don't have to worry about any follow-up effects, because I will make public that Nopton molested your brother back then, Claiming that you are merely purging our Lord of hypocrites who blaspheme His glory."
Hearing this, Duke St. Grian smiled brightly and said happily, "Okay! It's a deal!"
"It's a deal!"
…
In the conference hall, the vote on the impeachment of Gregory has just ended.
Cardinal Knopton cleared his throat triumphantly, and was about to announce the result, but just as he opened his mouth, he was shocked to find that he was unable to speak, and could only make strange hoo hoo noises.
In the next second, the severe pain reached the brain, and Nopton frantically touched his throat, trying to block the hideous wound that was bleeding continuously.
However, a pair of slender hands grabbed Nopton's hair first, and lifted his head up.
The members of the College of Cardinals at the meeting looked shocked, as if they couldn't believe everything in front of them.
Boom!
The Duke of St. Grian placed Nopton's head on the table, smiled slightly and said:
"Sorry, everyone, for interrupting your meeting.
What were you voting on just now? "
There was no sound at the scene.
After a while, Mensay at the side roared tremblingly:
"Duke St. Grian, you actually killed a cardinal in the Holy Light Cathedral! This is a provocation to our Lord and the church. You will definitely become the public enemy of the entire Glorious Empire..."
"Okay." Duke St. Grian waved his hand indifferently, and said, "I killed the blasphemer Nopton to help you clean up the dregs in the church, and the specific reason will be announced soon by His Holiness the Pope.
You go on. "
After finishing speaking, Duke St. Grian walked out calmly, as if he just came to drop in and say hello.
Mensay's face was flushed red, but looking at the bloody head in front of him, he didn't know what to do.
A member of the College of Cardinals in the audience asked cautiously:
"Lord Mensay, the result of the vote just now..."
Mensay sighed with complicated eyes, and said as if he had finally resigned to his fate:
"Just now the voting process was interrupted by...unexpected factors, and the result was invalidated.
Everyone, please re-vote. "
(end of this chapter)