"Or, does anyone recommend themselves? I will definitely consider it carefully and let you compete with Antonio!"
"Anyone who thinks they are more qualified for this position than Antonio, please step forward!"
No one dared to take a step forward.
Then, Lin Ke continued to speak.
"It is precisely because Antonio is proficient in practical matters, familiar with the Rose Order, and has a high level of magical training that I believe he is the only one who can lead the Rose Order to rapid development by holding this position."
"Besides, church administration and doctrinal interpretation are also his strengths, not to mention that I already know what Antonio was responsible for in the past."
Although there were still some magicians who wanted to argue, they were stopped by Lin Ke.
"I understand how you feel."
He looked around and his voice softened.
"I know that for many of you, the Pope represents more than just a position; he represents your faith."
"You are used to the model when I was in power, so it is difficult for you to accept the change for a while."
He walked over to Antonio and solemnly placed his hand on his shoulder: "But I hope everyone understands that Antonio is not replacing me, but extending my will."
"He will be the Pope of the Order of the Rosary, and I will be the Grand Pope."
This announcement caused an uproar among the members of the sect.
The title of "Grand Pope" has never appeared in the history of the sect, which means that Lin Ke will be above the entire sect system and have the ultimate power of decision.
"The Grand Pope?"
An old wizard muttered to himself, looking confused.
Lin Ke looked directly into the old wizard's eyes and said, "The establishment of the position of Grand Pope is precisely to ensure that the order can always stay on the right path while maintaining its autonomy."
He looked around and raised his voice a little.
"From today on, Pope Antonio will take full charge of daily church affairs, including developing teaching syllabi, recruiting new believers, training great magicians, and handling interactions with other sects and countries."
"As the Grand Pope, I will focus on larger strategic planning and adjudicating specific matters."
"Do you understand everything?"
When everyone heard Lin Ke's words, they just nodded.
Obviously, they accepted all this only after they learned that Lin Ke had become the "Grand Pope".
Lin Ke is still their supreme leader, which is at least the same as their needs.
Then, Lin Ke continued to speak.
"This is not only a necessary change, but also a necessary step for the Order of the Rose to mature."
The room fell into silence, and the magicians looked at each other, unsure how to respond to this sudden and significant change.
Marasia stood aside with a thoughtful expression on her face.
The red-robed female sorceress finally broke the silence, her voice already subservient.
"Grand Pope, do we still need to hold the traditional coronation ceremony?"
“Rituals are necessary, but the form can be simplified.”
"Today, the papal ceremony will be held in the main hall."
"At that time, I will officially give Antonio the Rose Heart Wand, which symbolizes the Pope's authority."
When everyone heard this, they were just slightly stunned.
Because they had already seen that the magic wand had been destroyed by Nan Tong.
"It was repaired by Lord Nantong."
Lin Ke took out a red magic wand about two feet long. The top of the wand was inlaid with a blood-red gem, and there seemed to be flames flowing inside the gem.
All the magicians in the room gasped at the same time, because that was the highest holy object of the Order of the Rose.
"This wand is not only a symbol of power, but also contains the magical essence of all the popes since the founding of the church."
"From this day forward, it will accompany Pope Antonio and guide the Order's path forward."
At this time, a magician stepped forward and bowed deeply.
"Since His Majesty the Holy Pharaoh, no, the Grand Pope has decided this matter, we must obey."
"only......"
Lin Ke leaned slightly: "Just what?"
"I just hope that Your Majesty can regularly inspect the work of the Order to ensure that we do not stray from the right track."
The old wizard spoke cautiously. Obviously, although he was still somewhat dissatisfied with Antonio, he was not as resistant as before.
"Because the Rose Cultists need the leadership of His Majesty the Holy Pharaoh."
"We need your leadership."
The other magicians nodded in agreement, their eyes showing both admiration for Lin Ke and worry about the unknown future.
Lin Ke smiled slightly: "I understand your concerns."
"Don't worry, the Grand Pope is not an empty title, but a real responsibility."
"I will convene a meeting of the Order's senior leadership every quarter and conduct an inspection of the Rose Society once a year."
"In addition, anyone, including the Pope himself, may consult me at any time or complain to me about any major issues you find."
He turned to Antonio and said, "Pope Antonio, do you have anything else to say to us?"
Antonio took a deep breath and took the wand from Lin Ke.
In an instant, the ruby on the top of the wand burst into dazzling light, illuminating the entire room.
Everyone was surprised to find that the color of the gem was gradually changing from scarlet to dark purple, which was a sign that the mark of the previous Pope was being erased and the mark of the new Pope was being branded.
"Great magicians."
Antonio choked up a little with emotion.
"I am well aware that I am still inexperienced and cannot handle this important task."
"But please believe that I will do my utmost to uphold the traditions of the Order and advance its cause, living up to the trust placed in me by His Majesty the Holy Pharaoh, the Grand Pope, and meeting your expectations."
He then bowed deeply to the crowd and said, "From now on, I look forward to working hand in hand with you to create a new era for the Order of the Rose."
"I will definitely devote my life to the Order of the Rose until my death."
The members of the cult looked at each other, their expressions still complicated.
Some looked relieved, some were still worried, but most people had already accepted this arrangement.
After all, in the face of the prestige of the Holy Pharaoh, now the Grand Pope, the voices of opposition seem particularly weak.
Seeing that the atmosphere had calmed down, Lin Ke gave a final word: "I hope that every member of the Order will respect and support Pope Antonio's decisions and policies."
"There can be discussions and disagreements within the order, but in external affairs, absolute unity and loyalty must be maintained."
He paused for a moment and emphasized: "This is not only a respect for the Pope himself, but also a safeguard for our common faith and ideals."
"Any act that undermines the unity of the order will be severely punished."
These words made the members of the order stand in awe. They just put their right fists to their hearts, performing the standard etiquette of the Order of the Rose.
"Follow the teachings, maintain unity, and be loyal to the Pope."
Lin Ke nodded with satisfaction: "Very good."
"Remember this day. Today, we not only welcome a new pope, but also establish a new direction for the Order of the Rosary."
Everyone just bowed down immediately.
"Yes, Grand Pope."
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