Before returning from the front, Kallen had already planned how to cash in his military achievements.
In his original expectations, however, he would receive a ministerial position within Whip of Order Headquarters. Whether it would be a powerful department was still uncertain.
Judging by what Andilao had indicated earlier, the position the Whip Bearer offered him was most likely Minister of the Discipline Inspection Department. Combined with Kallen's age and record, that position could hardly fail to become powerful. That alone would have been a very satisfactory return.
What Kallen had not expected was that the Whip Bearer would use this opportunity to establish him as his political successor.
Being this successor did not necessarily mean becoming the next Whip Bearer, since Fudeng himself had no authority to name his successor to the office directly. It did, however, guarantee that Kallen would remain a strong contender for the next Whip Bearer's position, and the one after that.
The dignitaries before him, led by Cardinal Kreid and including Fudeng, had all belonged to the High Priest's original core team. Though not all of that team was present, there were enough to give their witnessing this significance.
Their recognition might not appear to offer him any tangible benefits, but without it, he would not qualify to participate in the game whose rules they set.
To perpetuate their privileged position, vested interests would inevitably establish a system of rules that served their interests, then tacitly work together to suppress outside competitors.
From schools and hospitals to secular nations and then churches, even several wars among the gods in the Previous Era, this same logic had played out again and again.
Even someone as powerful as the God of Order had initially stood with the Light Faction, only splitting away in the middle period