389: Cardinal Council

He landed the Airship and entered the Grand Cathedral of Holy Radiance, gazing at the tens of thousands of survivors lying scattered across the Holy Radiance Plaza, yet breathing steadily.

A thick layer of confusion settled upon the heart of this experienced veteran Archbishop.

Who was it?

Or what thing could resolve the disaster using the method of “erasure” in such a short time?

And even precisely wipe specific memories, something Reinhardt couldn't resist?

The Divine Existence hidden behind this made the Archbishop feel a chill run down his spine.

"Immediately arrange manpower to treat the survivors and thoroughly purify the entire city," Bishop Aubrey commanded in a deep voice.

"Wake Reinhardt up; I will question him personally. Furthermore, this matter is classified as the Holy See's top secret. No one is allowed to spread word without the Pope's decree."

"Yes!"

The Holy Knights took the order and departed.

Bishop Aubrey stood alone in the empty plaza. The faint light filtering through the Crystal Dome could not dispel the gloom in his heart.

Veloria was saved, but a greater mystery pressed down like a dark cloud.

He vaguely felt that an invisible dark hand had already reached into the chessboard of the Ativi Continent.

The Third God War might be approaching soon... Shang Wan Ning leaned lazily on a Lounge Chair, listening to Tudor report the reaction of the Holy See's reinforcements.

"Not all of the God of Light's subordinates are entirely useless," she commented casually, raising her hand and waving it.

"Go back. The Abyss Church's subsequent plans will proceed as originally scheduled."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Tudor bowed and respectfully withdrew.

Only Shang Wan Ning and Princess Shang Wugou, who was looking around curiously, remained in the Palace.

"Mama, is this our home?" The Little Evil God blinked her eyes. The aura here made her feel comfortable all over, a hundred times warmer than the bottom of the Wangchuan River.

"Mm." Shang Wan Ning replied, her gaze settling on her. "How do you feel?"

"Mmm..."

Princess Shang Wugou rubbed her flat little belly, slightly embarrassed. "It seems... I'm a little hungry again."

The Empress raised an eyebrow, flicking out a Qi Spirit Fruit. "Have this for now. The Underworld doesn't keep idlers. Since you're awake, starting tomorrow, you'll learn the rules and get to work."

Princess Shang Wugou took the fruit with both hands and began nibbling on it.

The sweet and refreshing spiritual energy melted on her tongue, and she happily squinted her eyes. "Mmm~ Fei Fei will definitely study hard!"

Looking at the little fellow's outwardly obedient appearance, Shang Wan Ning's lips curled up slightly.

A Little Evil God with great potential, easy to control (for now), and capable of being "labor"—this deal was a guaranteed profit.

As for the trouble that might arise in the future... killing intent flashed across the corner of Shang Wan Ning's eye.

If soldiers come, repel them; if floods come, block them with earth.

She had plenty of time and means to polish this Little Evil God into a unique "Collection Item" of the Underworld... Central Ativi Continent, Loa Plains, Holy See.

Inside the Cardinal Hall, built of pure white marble, the atmosphere was so heavy it felt like water could drip out.

Twelve Cardinals, draped in Gold-Edged Ceremonial Robes, sat in a circle. Their gazes—some scrutinizing, some indifferent, some hiding calculation—were all fixed upon Reinhardt, who stood beneath the central Pillar of Light.

His face was pale, his eyes sunken, and the Bishop's Robe symbolizing his status could not hide the exhaustion radiating from his bones.

"Bang!"

Vice President Karl Morton's skinny fist slammed onto the heavy Oak Long Table, producing a dull thud.

He stared intensely at Reinhardt, his voice sharp and piercing, as if trying to scrape a layer of skin off someone: "Veloria, an entire Holy City. It was almost lost."

"Reinhardt, as the Archbishop presiding over the Diocese, all you can say in the end is 'I can't remember'?"

"Where is your responsibility, your accountability! Did the Fierce-Haired Dogs eat them all?"

President Aldous Whitman, sitting in the main seat, slowly raised his hand, signaling Karl to calm down.

The old man was very aged, his face covered in wrinkles, but his eyes were still sharp.

He rubbed the Holy Emblem of Light hanging on his chest. "Karl, watch your language."

"Everyone here knows that when the disaster erupted, it was Bishop Reinhardt who immediately raised the Holy Light Barrier, protecting tens of thousands of believers inside the Grand Cathedral of Holy Radiance until reinforcements arrived."

"Until the truth is completely investigated, he remains our loyal colleague and a humble servant of the Goddess."

"Colleague? Servant?"

Karl Morton acted as if he had heard something utterly ridiculous. He stood up from his seat, leaned forward, scanned every colleague present, and raised his voice even higher.

"What kind of colleague can't even describe the enemy, whether it was round or flat? What kind of servant uses a flimsy excuse of 'amnesia' after dereliction of duty?"

"If Archbishop Aubrey hadn't arrived promptly with reinforcements, would Reinhardt even be standing here now?"

"He would have long ago met the same fate as those contaminated monsters outside. I formally propose that all of Reinhardt's duties as Bishop of the Veloria Diocese be immediately revoked, and he be handed over to the Inquisition for the strictest scrutiny."

"Scrutinize a Bishop who protected the faithful during a crisis?" Aldous shook his head and said disappointedly, "Karl, has your heart been blinded by power?"

"We have all read the battle report. If Reinhardt hadn't sensed the anomaly early and spared no expense of his Source Magic Power to reinforce the barrier, Aubrey and the others wouldn't have even seen the survivors."

"The one who truly deserves to be nailed to the Pillar of Shame is Duke Faulkner, who absconded with wealth, abandoned his people, and deserted his post."

"Duke? Ha!" Karl Morton let out a short, cold laugh, placing his hands on the tabletop.

"That idiot fat pig certainly needs to pay the price, but where is he now?"

"He took the plundered gold coins and gems and hid inside the Shidun Kingdom. Is the Church going to immediately declare war on the Shidun Kingdom just for a useless duke?"

"The Cardinal Council is currently discussing severe dereliction of duty within the Church—Reinhardt's incompetence led to massive losses in the Veloria Diocese.

"The Holy See must provide an explanation to all the faithful."

He paused for a moment.

His cold gaze shot toward Reinhardt again, his words implying more: "The Veloria Diocese is geographically crucial and absolutely cannot be left without an Archbishop stationed there for long."

"I believe we should dispatch a more capable and trustworthy Bishop to take charge of the situation, such as my nephew, Eugene Morton."

"He is young and promising, and his faith in the Goddess is firm; he is the perfect candidate."

Aldous didn't even lift an eyelid and immediately retorted: "Bishop Eugene's qualifications are still shallow; he would likely find it difficult to manage Veloria's current complex situation."

"The urgent priority is to investigate the truth and stabilize the public mood, not rush to install your own people."

"You...!"

"Enough."

An aged, even somewhat breathless, reprimand came from the head seat.

Pope Innocent XIII, who had been sitting with his eyes closed as if asleep, finally spoke.