Chapter 208 Gossip
Although Callisto ordered that everything that happened in the Plaza de Luminosity that day be blocked, the news of the attack on the Son of God still spread quickly.
At the same time, more malicious speculation spread like wildfire.
"The Truth of the Plague", "The Rebels" and "The Dark Saints" appeared along with the name of Saint Son Rant.
Rumors could not be suppressed. Once they started, they spread by word of mouth among the people. In just a few days, they swept across all the areas where the Church had a presence on the continent of Isaiah.
The voices of doubt and suspicion grew louder and louder, and rumors spread like wildfire, pointing the finger at the holy city of Katifan.
"…Bishops in various city-states have reported that many excited believers have spontaneously gathered to protest. This is especially true in remote city-states where the disease had previously broken out. The emotions of believers and the public have become even more intense, and their behavior has also shown a certain degree of aggression."
The cardinal put down the scroll in his hand and said with a worried look on his face.
Callisto's expression remained unchanged, and he could not tell whether he was happy or angry. He asked, "What do the archbishops think?"
Several cardinals standing together looked at each other, and after a moment one of them hesitated and said, "Public opinion is already very serious. Now is not the time to solve the problem by forcibly suppressing it. We must formally respond to maintain the prestige of the Holy See."
The archbishop beside him shook his head and disagreed, "The Holy See is not some messy civil organization, and its prestige does not need to be maintained by compromising with the people. The more you pay attention to rumors, the more those rabble will push them further. Just deal with it coldly."
Another archbishop had a serious expression and said in a deep voice, "...But what if Xia's accusations are all true? Have you overlooked that this is the most crucial and important part? Lanter's divine blood has revealed the power of darkness!"
"Bishop Kelsen, you can't say such things!" an archbishop immediately retorted.
"Whether I said something wrong or not is not something you can just judge with one sentence. Xia grew up in the Vatican, and I don't need to say much about what kind of person he is. If Lant didn't really have a problem, why would he do something like this to ruin his future?"
"You and I both know what kind of person he is. There is no need to say more. On the contrary, it is Rant, who is problematic in your words, who has been falsely accused by you." Bishop Kale said coldly.
——Since the day when the Holy Son of Rosenjord was crowned, Bishop Calais followed Pope Callisto back to Cardiffan and took over the position of the Central Cardinal again.
"I made a false accusation? I've seen many people like Lant who are eager to get ahead!" Kelson said sarcastically with a smile, "During the Holy Son Selection Tournament, I had a brief contact with him as an examiner. I won't comment much on his talent for light, but I really can't agree with his character. In my opinion, Lant should be..."
"I also cannot agree with what Bishop Kelson said." Bishop Kalai interrupted, "How long have you been in contact with Lant? At most half a day, right? But I stayed with him in Luo Saiqiao for more than a month, fighting side by side in life and death. I know what kind of person he is better than you."
As Kale spoke, he lifted his outer robe and knelt on one knee in front of Callisto, saying earnestly: "Your Majesty! Saint Son Lante stood up in the face of danger without caring about his own life. The Church cannot let the Saint Son feel disappointed!"
Callisto did not respond to their endless argument at all, and only raised his eyes when Kalai brought the war to him.
But Callisto's reaction was not directed at these archbishops.
He raised his head slightly and said to the Templar at the door: "Open the door, there is someone outside."
The bishops in the hall suddenly quieted down. When the door opened, Rant was standing upright outside.
For a moment, a subtle look of discomfort flashed across Kelsen's face.
Callisto smiled at Lante and said, "It just so happens that the protagonist you were discussing is here too. If you have any questions, you can ask him directly."
A certain cardinal who had been silent for a long time suddenly said, "I think everyone's ideas make sense, but what we can agree on is that the Holy See must respond, or rather, Saint Son Lanter must respond."
Lu Yi calmly asked back: "Then what kind of reaction does the Archbishop want me to make?"
The cardinal said briefly: "It's simple, baptism with holy water."
Dark magic cannot be hidden from the Holy Water of the Church, and all hidden filth will be exposed under the baptism of holy water. If Lant is wrongly accused, the baptism of holy water will only increase his magic power, which is beneficial without any harm.
Sure enough, as soon as the term "holy water baptism" came out, most of the bishops showed their approval, and even Bishop Kale no longer spoke out against it.
So everyone's eyes were focused on Lant, and everyone waited silently for his answer.
Lu Yi said with a relaxed expression: "If this is what the Holy See means."
The cardinal asked tentatively, "Your Highness, do you agree?"
"Yes."
The originally tense atmosphere suddenly relaxed, and many bishops smiled, as if they had successfully solved some difficult problems.
"God of Light, I will not disturb Your Majesty and Your Highness. I will take my leave now."
"Me too."
"Then I will withdraw first..."
A group of bishops filed out.
As Bishop Kalai passed by and left, Lu Yi said softly, "Thank you."
[“Bishop Kalai is a really nice man. It’s a pity that Rand will disappoint him this time.”]
[Kalai will understand in the future.] 857 consoled.
Bishop Kale looked straight ahead, as if he was not the one who had just stood up for Rant.
Only after all the archbishops in the hall had left did Callisto order the knight to close the door again.
"You all go down too," said Callisto.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
For a moment, only Callisto and Lante were left in the empty hall.
There was a hint of smile in Callisto's eyes, "You performed better than I thought, Lanter."
"I only said two or three sentences. Can that be considered a good performance? When did the teacher's requirements become so low?" Lu Yi said neither lightly nor seriously.
"Of course it's not just these two or three sentences. There was also the day of the make-up lecture... How long have you been awake? Where's Paso?"
"I came to see you right after I woke up. As for His Majesty the Beast King..."
Lu Yi lowered his eyes, "I talked to His Majesty for a few words and successfully persuaded him to return to the Orc Forest."
Callisto raised his eyebrows and said unclearly: "Rant, don't do unnecessary things."
Mios made no secret of his determination to take over the Orc Forest, and Callisto naturally knew his next plan for the Orc Forest.
Korant had to remind the Beast King to return to the Orc Forest at this time.
Lu Yi did not feel guilty at all, and said frankly: "He can't stay in Kadifan forever. Returning to the Orc Forest is just a matter of earlier or later, and this difference is meaningless to us."
"I originally thought that Paso was just being wishful and one-sided, but it seems that's not entirely the case."
"Your Majesty the Beast King is a friend I recognize."
Callisto asked with interest, "Just friends?"
Lu Yi calmly replied: "Just friends."
He had the urge and need to have sex with Ares, but not at all with Paso.
If he had to force a closer relationship, Lu Yi would reluctantly acknowledge the little wolf as his pet.
"Well, just know it in your mind. After all, no matter what, the ending of some people and things is already determined." Callisto said lightly.
"I originally thought that the teacher had a good relationship with His Majesty the Beast King..."
Callisto chuckled, "But that doesn't affect anything, does it, Rant?"
Lu Yi didn't want to comment on this kind of value that everything can be used or discarded, so he changed the subject abruptly and asked, "Is the bishop who proposed holy water baptism also a teacher's man?"
"You should ask which bishop is not one of my men."
"If I ask the teacher, will he tell me?"
Callisto pretended to think for a moment, then smiled and said, "Maybe not."
"Teacher, don't you trust me?" Lu Yi asked knowingly.
"I don't trust anyone, including myself." Callisto replied with a smile.
"All right."
Lu Yi was successfully convinced by this answer, secretly criticizing Callisto's inhumanity.
"The holy water baptism is scheduled for three days later, still in the Square of Light. Is there anything I need to prepare for you in advance?" Callisto took the initiative.
"No…it sounds like fulfilling a dying man's last wish."
Lu Yi joked, easing the atmosphere between the two of them at the right time.
Callisto also laughed and followed up his words: "You are right in a way, but Saint Son Lanter will eventually rise from the dead and ascend the throne of glory again."
"That day, everyone will mourn and weep for having slandered you."
…
…
On the fourth day when the rumors had already caused panic among the people, the Vatican finally came forward and issued a proclamation in a leisurely manner.
The baptism of Saint Son Lanter will be held in the Piazza della Signoria in three days, which is the seventh day after the accidental ordination ceremony.
At that time, Pope Callisto will personally baptize Saint Son Lanter to prove his innocence.
All the rumors will end on that day.
The response from the Holy See immediately calmed down a large number of excited believers. Although some people still had other thoughts, at least on the surface, the situation was calm.
The waves beneath the calm were foreseeable, especially for Callisto and Lu Yi, who were the ones who made all of this happen.
Callisto stood in the temple and asked, "Rant, are you nervous?"
Lu Yi blinked, "I remember the teacher asked me the same question on the day of the sermon."
"Yes." Callisto smiled, "Are you nervous now? You are about to step into the execution ground..."
"Maybe a little." Lu Yi also gave the same answer with a smile.
Countless people are eagerly waiting and enthusiastically taking on the role of judge.
Whether it is witnessing the piety and purity of Saint Son Lanter or pulling the rebels down from the clouds, it is a lively scene that people are happy to see.
On the day of the baptism of the Son of God, the Guangming Square was crowded with more people than usual. There were not only believers who were eagerly looking forward to the result, but also many irrelevant people who were just joining in the fun. The crowd was all crowded together, arms close to arms, and the Knights Templar could only move through the crowd with great difficulty to maintain law and order.
Guangming Square has never been so noisy.
Everyone was loudly discussing the very controversial Saint Son Rant. Some were vigorously defending him, while others were trying to take advantage of the situation.
But no matter what the crowd thought, all they could do at this moment was to wait.
——Waiting for the moment of judging Saint Son Lant to come.
"Look!" someone in the crowd shouted.
"The Holy Son Lanter is out!!!"
The author has something to say:
Look up, the Rand is going offline
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