"Hmm, if it's just enslavement and not cooperation..."
After a long period of contemplation, Cardinal Luxiusi let out a difficult sigh:
I don't think there's a problem.
Samuer nodded in agreement.
"Although Blood Corpse are dangerous, it would be a waste to kill them all because of that."
Luxiusi looked at his personal guards, and after a few breaths, managed to utter a single sentence:
"You've changed, Samuer."
"Perhaps it was influenced by those people in the north."
The young clerk scratched his head as he met the cardinal's gaze, trying to make the situation seem less awkward.
"... So that's roughly the itinerary, teacher. Is there anything else you'd like to know?"
After chatting for a while longer, Samuer finally finished recounting his experiences along the way, which sounded as dramatic and fantastical as a fantasy novel.
Luxiusi shook his head and looked at his young student:
"That's all. From this moment on, you will remain my personal attendant. Is that alright?"
"Of course, it's my honor, teacher."
Samuer bowed, preparing to leave, when there was another knock on the door of the small prayer room.
"Come in."
A somewhat clumsy-looking figure appeared in the doorway. He glanced inside, noticed Luxiusi and Samuer were both there, hesitated for a moment, and then said:
"Cardinal Sailesi has instructed me to inform all the archbishops and bishops of the entire Holy City to attend the council chamber this afternoon, saying that there are important matters to discuss, and he has invited you and Cardinal Geliwusi to attend as well."
Luxiusi lifted his eyelids, which had become somewhat heavy with age:
"Just... an invitation?"
"Yes, those are Lord Sailesi's exact words."
"Okay, then please tell him I won't be going this time."
"Yes..."
Sailesi's attendants dared not say anything more, turned around, closed the door, and left the small prayer hall.
Looking at the closed door in front of him, Luxiusi glanced once more at the young entourage:
What's your opinion on this?
Samuer scoffed lightly, his tone revealing undisguised disdain:
"Sucker Punch."
Upon hearing this, Luxiusi first nodded and then shook his head:
"We need to be extra careful as we get closer to the end. Sailesi's abilities are unpredictable and dangerous; pushing him into a corner is not a good thing."
"I see."
Samuer nodded respectfully:
"So, what should we do?"
Luxiusi reached out to stop Samuer from speaking:
"Not 'we,' but yourself."
He pointed to himself:
"The underground of the Holy City is intricate and complex. Geliwusi will not intervene easily. Only I can stand against Sailesi if I want to save the lives of the millions of people in this city."
"However, Geliwusi will inevitably fight Sailesi at the last moment, so his plan is doomed to fail, even though he has already begun gathering those Stained Ones."
Samuer pondered for a moment and retorted:
"Teacher, not all the archbishops and bishops in the Holy City Stained Ones."
Luxiusi nodded:
"But everyone who attends his meetings is definitely..."
As he said this, the old man sighed:
" Samuer, you've just returned from outside and are unaware of the current situation in the Holy City."
"Everything started to change after the first letter from the provincial archbishop was sent more than half a month ago."
"The people of the Holy City are in turmoil; some are afraid, some are worried, some are happy, and some are expectant..."
"My conflict with Sailesi has become public. Don't worry, the bishops who will agree to his attendance are definitely those who have no reason to back down."
Write their names down; they'll be useful later.
"Clear."
Samuer nodded, then asked hesitantly:
Do you think that... Son of God's decision to come to the Holy City is a good plan?
Upon hearing this, Luxiusi fell into deep thought once again:
"It may not be the best, but it is certainly the most effective."
He pondered for a moment and said:
"According to his original plan, the most prudent strategy would be to gradually erode the provinces one by one and eventually encircle the Holy City."
" Sailesi cannot easily leave the Holy City. The 'tentacles' outside are being cut off little by little, which will only weaken his power, but not to the point of hurting him or driving him to desperation."
"As for this plan to directly attack the core of the Holy City, I can only say... it's very audacious."
Luxiusi looked at the World Tree icon hanging high on the wall of the small room:
"However, he should have the confidence."
The cardinal looked at his student, his eyes flashing with an ambiguous light:
"Can you sense it? He... has already reached the High Tier."
Before Samuer could answer, Luxiusi continued:
"In that instant, I could clearly feel something flowing away from my body; that must have been ' Authority,' the Authority belonging to plants."
Samuer paused for a moment upon hearing this, then smiled and shook his head:
"Of course I can't feel that, after all, I'm only an Middle Tier."
"However, will the loss of Authority affect your power?"
"Some, but not many."
Luxiusi indicated to the students that they didn't need to mind:
"Moreover, the weakening caused by the loss of Authority will not only affect me, but also Sailesi and even Geliwusi."
"Oh, that's good... uh, no, that..."
Samuer realized he had made a slip of the tongue, but Luxiusi didn't seem to care at all.
"It's okay, there's something I need you to do."
"Please speak, teacher."
" Sailesi won't win this time."
Luxiusi sighed:
"He's been secretly colluding with the Empire for a long time. I suspect he's planning an escape route to the Empire. Have our people set up defenses along that route. We certainly can't stop him, but at least we can get some information to help track him."
"Okay, I understand."
Samuer, after confirming several times that the Cardinal had nothing more to say, turned and left the small prayer room.
Behind the door, Luxiusi, sitting beneath the icon, let out a long, drawn-out sigh, so long it seemed to release all the pent-up frustration in his heart.
Holy City, Records Office.
The young clerk, covered in sweat, finally knocked on the door of the third cardinal's room and met Cardinal Geliwusi, who was known as a "fence-sitter" and a "smiling tiger."
The old man in front of me was well-proportioned, and there were even a few strands of hair that were not silver.
Compared to the gaunt Luxiusi, Cardinal Geliwusi appeared much more amiable.
The old man then gave a standard, gentle smile to his attendant:
"What? Sailesi wants to see me?"
"Yes, Your Excellency..."
The official repeated what he had just said, and unsurprisingly received the expected reply:
"Oh dear, I haven't been feeling well lately, so I'm having trouble leaving the Records Office..."
"Tell him that Geliwusi is dying and can no longer show his face in his clique."