Volume 1 Chapter 172
by Need_More_SleepVolume 1 + Chapter 172: Underhanded Dealings
“Therefore, our strategic layout must be far-reaching. We must prepare for a rainy day and make long-term plans in advance.”
The Pope stood on the podium, his voice authoritative and resounding as his gaze swept over the people below, carrying an air of unquestionable firmness.
“This matter shall be entrusted to Vivian, the Saintess of our Church, to take charge of.”
He paused briefly, his tone growing even more solemn. “If this matter can proceed smoothly, it will undoubtedly be a profoundly meaningful and highly influential measure for the entire Church. Therefore…”
“Vivian?”
The Pope, who had been eloquently expounding his grand plan, suddenly noticed that Vivian below appeared drowsy, looking as if she might slump over in her seat at any moment.
He frowned slightly, then deliberately raised his volume, a hint of displeasure in his tone.
“Huh?!”
Vivian jolted, suddenly wide awake. In her haste, she didn’t even process what had happened. She only felt a gentle push on her shoulder, and the next second, she reflexively stood up, her movements so swift it was as if she hadn’t just been asleep at all.
“Y-Your Holiness… the Pope?”
She barely steadied herself, blinking her bewildered eyes. Her voice carried a trace of fatigue she couldn’t quite conceal. “Do you have any instructions?”
She truly was exhausted.
Last night, she had wandered near the cemetery for hours, investigating many secrets hidden in the darkness and uncovering quite a few shocking discoveries.
She had spent almost the entire night searching for clues. Only when she was utterly drained, both physically and mentally, did she reluctantly head back temporarily, planning to rest a bit during the day before continuing her investigation at night.
If there was one greatest gain from this investigation, it might be discovering traces of recent human activity in that abandoned gravedigger’s hut.
However, she was simply too tired, she had just moved house and spent all day unpacking yesterday, then immediately began investigating at night without pause. The continuous exertion had pushed her almost to her limit.
She had originally planned to catch some sleep during the day to recharge for the night’s continued investigation. Who knew that as soon as she set foot on the road back, she ran right into the Pope’s motorcade and was dragged here to attend this lengthy, tedious meeting.
The meeting seemed to be mobilizing for some important matter, but Vivian hadn’t listened at all, her mind had long been occupied by drowsiness, leaving no energy to pay attention to the lofty discussions.
Now that the Pope had called her name, Vivian felt for a moment as if she had returned to her school days. The embarrassing scene of being called out by a teacher for dozing off in class was replaying in almost exactly the same way.
She froze instantly, her heart seemingly skipping a beat. It couldn’t have been more awkward.
But, thankfully, she quickly realized that no matter how authoritative the Pope was, he still had to consider her status. After all, she was the Church’s Saintess, a symbol of the Church’s glory and faith.
In front of so many people, even if the Pope was dissatisfied, he wouldn’t reprimand her on the spot to avoid damaging her authority.
Therefore, the Pope merely composed himself slightly, suppressing some of his displeasure, and looked at her with feigned seriousness, asking in an unhurried tone, “Do you have any objections?”
Hearing the Pope’s words, Vivian rolled her eyes inwardly, what objections could she possibly have at this point?
Did she dare voice any objections?
What a joke.
She almost instinctively shook her head vigorously, even rousing her sleepy head a bit, immediately adopting an attitude of reverence and obedience.
“None. I absolutely have no objections.”
She lowered her voice, trying to make her tone sound devout and firm. “I unconditionally comply with the Church’s arrangements and will strictly adhere to Your Holiness’s instructions.”
Of course, what she thought in her heart was completely different, this old geezer Pope really… asked such a stupid question it made one want to roll their eyes. At a time like this, could she even say “no”? What a pointless inquiry.
However, the Pope obviously didn’t probe her inner thoughts. Seeing her obedient stance, he nodded with satisfaction, then raised his hand slightly and said calmly, “Good. In that case, this matter is entrusted to you, and your full responsibility.”
With those words, he retrieved an object resembling a token from his sleeve and casually handed it to an attendant beside him. The attendant respectfully accepted the token, then stepped forward and presented it to Vivian with both hands.
Vivian lowered her head to look at this token now placed in her hands, her eyes pausing slightly, only now did she belatedly realize she seemed to have been inexplicably pushed onto another point of no return…
This token bore the distinct insignia of the Church, not just this Empire’s Church, but representing the entire Church organization…
The Church system was immensely vast, covering almost all human nations across the continent.
Only within this Empire was the Church’s presence the least noticeable and its strength the weakest.
Due to the suppression by the Imperial monarch, the higher-ups rarely paid much attention here.
Vivian felt as if she hadn’t seen such a Church insignia in a long time.
“What is this?”
“Saintess Vivian, you were asleep just now, weren’t you?”
The young female Cardinal Deacon from last night lowered her voice and whispered.
After all, she held favorable feelings toward Vivian. Knowing that Vivian was usually very busy and severely lacked rest, falling asleep in such a situation was understandable.
So she lowered her voice and repeated the plan the Pope had just outlined.
“This token from His Holiness was issued from the higher-ups. It can mobilize demonic beasts near this Empire.”
“His Holiness wants you to use this token and the Church’s internal resources to coordinate from within and without, breach the Empire’s border defenses, allow a portion of demonic beasts into the Empire, and eradicate the cultists.”
Hearing the Cardinal Deacon’s words, Vivian instinctively widened her eyes, looking at the young girl before her with an incredulous gaze.
Eradicate cultists? What a joke… Did she not know how terrifying those demonic beasts outside were?
Those demonic beasts possessed little to no intelligence, their minds were filled only with slaughter and feeding. To them, humans were the finest meat. Before the border walls were built, incidents of demonic beasts harming humans were common.
Those beasts employed extremely cruel methods. Some even preferred to eat humans alive, some specifically targeted children.
Using demonic beasts to eradicate heretics… What a joke? Once a breach appeared in the city walls and demonic beasts were let in, the result would undoubtedly be a massacre with a death toll no less than tens of thousands!
Moreover, demonic beasts inherently lacked intelligence. How could they possibly obey the command of a mere token?
Vivian stared in shock at the Pope seated high above. She knew very well that this guy was once again about to engage in some underhanded, shady dealings under the banner of a righteous cause.
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