Unlike the cardinals, the Pope didn't look awkward. It wasn't the kind of awkwardness that came with a smile.
Instead, he had the open-mindedness of someone his age.
He was over ninety years old. When he entered the legendary 9th Rank, he had already been in his seventies.
So even if he could live another hundred years or so, he would still look like a frail old man.
The open-mindedness of someone who had accepted the limits of life.
Lina, the Bishop of Chastity, was a member of the Ria Family and Lina's aunt, so she walked closer to Ria, the Saintess.
Sigris and Lucia weren't among those who had come.
The smiles on the faces of the Bishops of Tolerance and Diligence were the most strained.
After exchanging greetings, the Bishop of Tolerance was the first to speak.
"Chairman Lynn has spearheaded many meaningful initiatives: abolishing the Judgment Court, establishing the Defa Court, and rebuilding the Judgment Court. We take your visit to the City of Light very seriously."
"It's just a group of free people reclaiming their rights," Lynn said coldly. "And cleaning out the vermin."
"Many years ago, the Church forbade slavery, but later changed its stance. Over the past millennia, how many of our regulations still follow the stories in the Holy Scripture of Light?"
The two sides clashed, their words barbed.
Everything Lynn said implied that the Church of today wasn't fit to call itself a church.
He was also espousing a people-oriented philosophy.
The Bishop of Tolerance was about to say something, and the Bishop of Diligence tried to back him up, but the Pope reached out and pressed down on both their hands first. "Heh. The Church's purpose lies in teaching and fellowship: instructing the faithful and bringing them together."
"If someone needs