"...Just be there on time."
Han Jingchuan didn't argue with him, and the fluctuating atmosphere soon returned to normal.
...
After a while, at the cathedral.
Compared to the previous small meeting, this one was much grander – in addition to all eleven Knights Templar being present, many priests and clergy who held real power in the Papacy, and even nuns from almshouses across the country, were also in attendance.
The once empty church was now packed with people; anyone who didn't know better would have thought it was some kind of unprecedented religious assembly.
The presiding person was no longer the pure and innocent Holy Maiden, but the Pope himself, who had long lived behind the scenes.
The old pope also changed into the highest-level attire, which softened his aged appearance and gave him a more vigorous look.
"Gentlemen."
The old pope spoke slowly, "You probably already know why I have summoned you here today."
"yes."
The crowd responded in unison. Many of them were leaders of other churches stationed in other cities and were not allowed to enter the main city without orders.
Therefore, the reason for summoning them was naturally written on the letter.
The Papacy's position has been threatened! It could even be described as severely damaged!
Being away from the main city doesn't mean I'm not paying attention to what's happening there. Many observant people actually knew a long time ago that a group of outsiders from overseas have been making a lot of big moves here recently. They've not only made a fortune by buying and selling Poseidon Stones, but they've also bypassed the Papacy and the Royal Family to establish direct contact and create a new sect.
If it were only the former, then these out-of-town managers would at most feel a little regretful—many people had already sensed the considerable profits behind the Poseidon Stone trade, but unfortunately, when they were also preparing to enter the market and make their mark on their own turf, the flame had already been extinguished, and the opportunity to make money naturally vanished.
In terms of finances, churches in other cities are generally self-sufficient, and the main church will only provide assistance in special circumstances... Although it is generally impossible for them to lose money, missing such an opportunity would be a pity for anyone.
but.
If it's the latter, the situation is quite different.
First of all, the current state religion of the Hualan Empire is the Holy Fire Cat Cult, which makes them appear as unorthodox and illegitimate.
This trend was not as easy to stop as the Sea God Stone trade. Amidst various rumors, these churches in other regions also suffered a certain blow. Some neighboring counties even began to build churches for the Cat Cult. After all, with the support of the royal family, the expansion speed was much faster than everyone imagined.
Including the measures previously taken by the Vatican to counterbalance the Cat Cult, these measures will inevitably be implemented in other regions—otherwise, they would just be a superficial project, and focusing on one aspect at the expense of another would only backfire.
To be fair, compared to the main city, it is the poor people in the surrounding counties who suffer more.
While this operation salvaged some of the Vatican's reputation, it was the self-sufficient priests and clergy who suffered. The funds and supplies for helping the people naturally had to come from their own pockets, increasing expenses several times over. It would be a lie to say they weren't resistant.
Compared to the days when one could easily make a fortune by casually handing out a few measly gifts or simply displaying indulgences, few people are truly willing to do something so laborious and time-consuming.
"We all know, those despicable barbarians from out of town have really gone too far!"
Some hot-tempered individuals couldn't contain themselves any longer and immediately stepped forward to declare, "His Holiness the Pope wants us to purge heretics? I'll be the first to step forward!"
"Me too!" "Same here!" "Hey hey hey!"
Seeing the atmosphere instantly become lively, Lu Baiyan rolled his eyes inwardly.
He didn't know what to say... Everyone knew that most of these people's motivations were probably no longer about "serving the gods," but were simply so agitated because Xu Shi's actions had damaged their own interests.
But this is probably also the brilliance of the Vatican: it binds people together with spirit and faith, but often uses tangible benefits to motivate them. It is a win-win situation, and the effect is not bad.
"Gentlemen, please calm down."
The old pope stood in the center of the platform and gently pressed his hand down. "I know how you all feel, but heretics are cunning and now they are involved with the royal family. One move can have far-reaching consequences. We must not act rashly."
"So what does His Holiness intend to do?"
Some people were thinking to themselves, "He's just a few outsiders. With so many of us, we could drown him with a single spit from each of us..." But faced with the highest authority of the Holy See, they wouldn't be so impulsive as to disobey his words.
"Find its weakness and defeat it in one blow."
The old pope said slowly, "Jingchuan, tell me your discovery."
"yes."
A man in a black robe and black armor, whose entire body was covered except for his eyes, stepped forward from the stage.
This is Han Jingchuan in person. Just like his abilities, you can tell at a glance that he is an intelligence worker.
“These days I have been deploying eye worms near Xu Shi’s residence to monitor his movements.”
His voice was deep and hoarse. "In terms of actions alone, he basically only goes to the Cat Cult's church and the palace. In many cases, he doesn't even go to the church. He leaves most of the management to his subordinates."
"Get to the point."
Park Guk-chang urged.
"..."
Han Jingchuan was helpless, but too lazy to argue with him. "The point is, I seem to have discovered that he has developed a rift with one of his wives, which has led to a very bad atmosphere between them now."
This may sound like gossip, but no one will take it lightly—a small leak can sink a great ship, and sometimes a minor problem can be fatal.
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
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