Chapter 427 Key
This is a spacious room with gorgeous decoration and a strong religious style. Carpets with intricate patterns are laid on the floor, and large busts of different priests and nuns are hung one after another. A huge bookshelf almost fills up one wall, tall candlesticks with burning candles stand in the four corners of the room, and small angel sculptures are placed on both sides.
In the middle and back of the room was a huge desk with countless documents piled up on it. A figure was sitting on a chair behind the desk.
This is a mature woman who looks to be around 27 or 28 years old, with a distinctive three-dimensional face and long light blonde hair. She is wearing a loose and intricate red robe. She is lying on a chair with her eyes closed, taking a nap. There is an undisguised fatigue between her brows. On the desk in front of her are scattered pens and a whole page of letterhead paper written in beautiful handwriting.
In the quiet room, the woman in red, who seemed to have just gone through high-intensity work, was resting with her eyes closed. Suddenly, she seemed to sense something and slowly opened her eyes. Her dark blue eyes looked at the empty space in front of her desk, and then a faint shadow slowly emerged from that space.
It was a ghostly, semi-transparent human-shaped phantom, showing the image of a pale and blurry nun. As soon as the nun's phantom appeared, she looked at the woman sitting behind the desk, and then spoke slowly in a cold voice.
"Antonio reported to Ivigo Parish half an hour ago that a pilgrim ship escorted by the Third Escort Fleet of the Holy Sacrament Knights was hijacked. The hijacked pilgrims, crew members, and Knights sailors totaled 1,625 people."
After listening to the report from the nun's shadow, the woman in red on the chair did not react immediately. After a pause, she spoke slowly.
"The Third Escort Team of the Holy Sacrament Knights... I remember that they encountered a large-scale dream world interference incident in Navaha not long ago."
"Yes, before this they also encountered the sinking of a cruise ship involving the Sea Abyss Cult. At present, the incident in Navaha can be preliminarily determined to be related to the Shadow and the Black Dream Hunter Group."
The shadowy nun continued to report respectfully to the woman in red. After listening to her words, the woman rubbed her temples, then picked up several other pieces of information about the escort fleet on the table beside her and said with emotion.
"In just over a week, this fleet has encountered so many things in succession. Did it touch upon some kind of fate? So...what exactly happened to the hijacking this time? How much damage did the fleet suffer? Do you know who did it?"
"According to the news from the Ivig Diocese, the hijackers used the sea fog and water currents to bypass the escort warships and hijacked three pilgrim passenger ships alone. Apart from the loss of the passenger ships, there was no other loss. The hijackers have sent a threatening letter to the Church of the Pure Heart. They claim to be the residents of the conquered Xiashu Islands on the sea. They demand that the Ivig Suburbs stop the forced religious reform against them and promise to respect their beliefs, otherwise the safety of the pilgrims cannot be guaranteed."
The nun's virtual image continued to report attentively to the woman in red. After listening to her report, the woman in red couldn't help but frowned slightly.
"Natsuki? I remember them well... they seem to be the remnants of the original fertility believers."
"Yes, there are many surviving rich faiths on the many remote islands in the southwest waters of Kno Island. In recent decades, the Ivig Diocese has placed its main educational tasks in that area, and many islands have successfully returned to the guidance of the Three Saints.
"Due to the long-term stability and deep faith of the richness here, the Ivige Diocese has taken many coercive measures in the process of education. According to data, in the nearly 30 years when the former Archbishop of Ivige, Justin, presided over the presidency, there were 43 purifications and 42 forced relocations in the southwestern islands of Kno Island, and only 7 successful conversions.
"Compared to other suburbs that are in contact with primitive beliefs, this is a very high number. Because in this area, there is widespread resistance to the church, and Xia Shu is the main force. The current Archbishop Antonio has advocated a more gentle and conciliatory policy in the two years since he succeeded Justin, but no substantial results have been achieved so far."
The nun's virtual image watched the woman in red continue to report. Listening to the nun's words, the woman holding the document couldn't help but sigh.
"The previous conflicts have accumulated so deeply, how can there be any effect in such a short time? If Antonio wants to make some achievements, it is not too much to give him ten years. But now it is good. Such a thing suddenly appeared, which will seriously interfere with his original plan."
The woman in red sighed and said, the shadowy nun paused for a moment and then spoke.
"This is probably what Sir Hilbert expected."
"This is naturally what he wants. A small matter, a small matter picked out by those pagans of the ancient faith themselves, a small matter that he can use to make a big fuss and expand his influence. Haha... I guess he will make a big fuss about this in front of the Holy See tomorrow."
The red-dressed woman responded in this way, with fatigue revealed in her eyes that she could not conceal, as if to her, this incident was not what she wanted to see.
"I think this hijacking incident is a bit strange. According to the current intelligence, the Sacrament Third Escort Team was hijacked by Xia Shu right after the replacement of the commander due to the Navaha incident. This incident tonight can be used as a bargaining chip for Hilbert to put pressure on you. Considering the relationship between Mr. Hilbert and the Inquisition, could this be his secret..."
The shadowy nun spoke to the woman in red in a speculative tone. The woman raised her eyebrow at the nun's words and then spoke immediately.
"Don't make random guesses about a cardinal. The risk is too great. Hilbert doesn't need to take the risk... Compared to him, this matter is indeed suspicious, but I suspect that this is Haiyuan's work more than Hilbert."
"Haiyuan Church... Do you think that there is the shadow of the Abyss Snake believers behind this incident?" Listening to the words of the woman in red, the shadowy nun frowned slightly and said, and the woman in red answered in the affirmative.
"Of course, one-third of the problems that have arisen at sea are caused by them, and one-third are related to them. Besides, it is also beneficial for them to intensify the conflict between the natives and us.
"Since Justin became Archbishop of Ivig, he has adopted tough measures against the natives of the distant islands for decades. Many of those islands have indeed converted. However, in contrast, the frequency of activities of the Sea Abyss Church in the corresponding waters has also increased significantly. According to the statistics of the official secret agencies of the countries on the northern coast of the Conquer Sea, there were 542 extraordinary events involving the Sea Abyss that could be confirmed throughout the year, which is more than 100 more than the year before."
"Our teachings will not strengthen the cultists' power..."
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