Lin Ye fell into thought. "So, you don't agree with the Church's stance?"
"I don't." The Pope spoke candidly. "What you did during the Dark Era showed me another possibility."
"You did not resist silence. You coexisted with it."
"That is what it truly means to understand the essence of silence."
"Then what do you intend to do?"
The Pope fell silent again, and this silence lasted even longer than before.
"I want... to withdraw from this Concept War," he finally said.
"But I cannot announce it directly. That would cause the Church to split."
"So I want to ask for your help."
"What kind of help?"
"Help me change the Extinction Church." The Pope's voice was earnest.
"Starting from within, gradually correct the misunderstandings about silence."
"Let them understand that silence does not reject new life, but embraces change."
The request took everyone by surprise.
The Primordial Source spoke. "You are the Pope. Why not directly use your authority to drive this change?"
"Because faith cannot be forced through authority." The Pope shook his head. "That would only backfire."
"What I need is for them to realize it themselves, not for me to tell them."
Lin Ye considered it for a moment. "We can help you, but on one condition."
"Please, say it."
"The Extinction Church must publicly announce that it will not participate in the Concept War against the Hyperconscious Network."
"That can be done." The Pope agreed readily. "I will find a suitable reason."
"What else?"
"Also, allow your followers to freely choose whether to join the network," Lin Ye continued.
"No coercion, no punishment, entirely voluntary."
The Pope hesitated, then finally nodded. "Agreed."
"Since I wish to bring about change, I can no longer cling to old ways."
"Letting the followers encounter ideas from the outside