After several days of intensive planning, Todd finally ushered in the day of the St. Victory throne election ceremony.

Early in the morning, after washing up and having breakfast, Todd returned to his room and activated his soul space. He arranged tactical communications for both Twilight City and Froststone Camp, and also coordinated with Rachel on cooperation with the Alien Association.

After finishing these tasks, Todd returned to his room, walked to the window, looked at the dense clouds in the sky, felt the slight cool breeze, and said softly, "A storm is coming."

Donning the church robes, Todd went to the cathedral's backyard and faintly heard a sharp voice.

“You and your teacher are both apostates under the Father’s rule!” Cardinal Jacob, his expression grim, roared at Tristan. “You must be hiding something!”

The latter, fearless, puffed out his chest and said, “Your Excellency Jacob, please watch your words. I am fine with it, but to speak ill of another cardinal is against the teachings of the Church.”

Jacob was about to say something more when he saw Todd slowly approaching. He swallowed his words, glared at Tristan resentfully, and turned to leave the backyard.

Todd walked over to Tristan, glanced at Jacob's retreating figure, and whispered, "Trouble?"

“Just a barking dog.” Tristan glanced around, tugged at Todd’s sleeve, and led him to a secluded corner. He whispered, “I don’t know what your relationship with Muxi City is, but there’s some information that might interest you.”

"Intelligence? What is it?"

Tristan said directly, “At today’s election ceremony, the Church will relinquish its support for Her Highness Mathilde.”

Todd was slightly startled.

Tristan continued, "I don't know the specific reason either, but this information comes from internal church channels, so it should be reliable... How about that? Surprising news, right?"

Todd smiled and nodded.

He was indeed somewhat surprised, not because of the church's decision to abandon Mathilde, but because Tristanken had told him about it.

“Tristan, thank you,” Todd said sincerely. “You’ve done me a huge favor.”

Tristan waved his hand with a smile: "It's nothing serious. If you can get in touch with the Muxi delegation, tell them to be careful."

Todd patted the other man on the shoulder and walked toward the carriage at the back gate.

——————————————

Saint Guard City is a rather peculiar kingdom. Although it is under the rule of the Heavenly Father, it still retains traces of barbarian tribes in many of its customs.

Take the election of the throne, for example. In other diocesan kingdoms, the king would simply designate one of his children to succeed to the throne, invite the church to preside over the abdication ceremony, and that would be the end of the matter.

However, in the Holy City, the successor to the throne must first gain the approval of the majority of nobles, a process somewhat similar to the succession of a barbarian tribal chief, where the new ruler must obtain the consent of most of the tribal leaders. The election process is known in the Holy City as the "throne of sord."

Todd stood in the royal palace of St. Defence, looking at the hundreds of people around him, the bustling crowd making the place incredibly crowded.

Looking toward the Muxi delegation, Todd first exchanged a glance with Mary.

The latter, amidst the chaos, was pale-faced and clenched her fists, but the moment she saw Todd, her stiff body slowly relaxed.

Todd then turned his gaze toward the throne, where a weakened Leoric slumped listlessly, his eyes fixed on the distant void.

Beside him stood a tall man in a gray robe, his face obscured by a black hood, and a chain of bird bones hung from an oak staff that was taller than a man.

Todd focused intently, carefully observing the gray-robed man's every move. To his surprise, the man remained completely still, his breathing barely registering.

"Everyone, please be quiet!" A nobleman of high status walked to the foot of the throne and called out to everyone in the hall, "It is time to choose a new master for Holy Guard City!"

This nobleman did not even bother to seek Leoric's permission before unilaterally proposing the start of the election ceremony, his words and actions suggesting that he completely disregarded the old king.

Faced with this scene, Leoric sat on his throne, his eyes still fixed on the distance, his body completely still, as if everything that was happening in the hall had nothing to do with him.

Another nobleman stepped forward, tilting his head and spitting on the ground: "Let's get this damned thing done quickly! I can't wait to see the new king of Holy Guard City!"

One nobleman after another joined in the chanting, and people cast approving glances and flattering words at the two princes in the center of the hall. No one remembered that an elderly man was sitting on the throne.

Amidst the clamor of the crowd, two large wooden frames were carried out.

One was placed on the left side of the throne, and the other on the right side.

Sinclair first took off his sword and placed it on the wooden shelf on the left; while Mathilde placed his sword on the wooden shelf on the right.

Someone shouted, "Let the election begin! What are we waiting for?!"

"Wait a minute!"

Just then, a person suddenly stepped out from the church community.

Cardinal Jacob, holding a gold-leafed sacred text, walked to the throne under everyone's gaze. He slowly opened the document and proclaimed, "In the name of the Father, Pope Alexandria, in order to respect the traditions of the Holy Guard and ensure the fairness and impartiality of the election, has decided to revoke the secular holy orders previously granted to His Highness Mathilde..."

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