Of course, it could also be used to build up credentials.
Once Dark had said that much, Caleb Norris and the others naturally had no reason to object.
Though they all knew perfectly well that even with three-year terms, the existence of the "Vice Pope" position would still indirectly weaken their authority.
But circumstances were stronger than men. Other than compromise, there was really nothing they could do.
After all, the Holy Church was essentially the Pope's personal domain, and the current Pope was the God, united with divine authority—the highest-ranking Pope since the Holy Church's founding.
If the Pope wished it, even replacing the "Big Three" on the spot would leave no one daring to say no.
With the addition of the "Vice Pope" position settled, it was time to choose the candidates for the first term.
Dark did not waste words and directly selected two people.
Since it was the first term, he did not choose from among the bishops, but directly selected two archbishops.
Those two were Lance Gaskell, the "former Interim Pope," and Sabrina Melville, the "youngest female Archbishop"!
In fact, Lance Gaskell and Sabrina were currently the youngest and second-youngest archbishops in the Holy Church.
For them to become archbishops at such an age could not be explained by background or luck alone. Their own abilities had to be exceptional. More importantly, they were young enough that their hearts had not yet rotted away.
After all, the Holy Church would need to expand its reach among the Demi-Humans in the future. Though some old fossils said nothing aloud, their ingrained prejudices would not be so easily changed.
The younger generation of the Holy Church, on the other hand, was clearly more open-minded. Some, such as Archbishop Sabrina, held absolutely no discrimination against Demi-Humans.
If the