"Get lost! Who allowed you to approach?"

The sergeant kicked over the beggar picking up rice crumbs from the crevices of the stone tiles, sending the little beggar, just over ten years old, tumbling backwards.

A few vagrants immediately surrounded the young beggar, dragging him back into the dark alley amidst his low sobs.

In the shadows of the alley, beneath disheveled hair, pairs of bloodshot eyes watched the splendid Feiliu Castle Great Cathedral.

The pure white stone spire soared into the clouds, and from the narrow alleyway, one could not see its entirety, only the gold-threaded terrace and the gold and silver statues of saints in the niches.

Between the niches, through the clear white sand glass, one could see priests clad in black and white priestly gowns coming and going.

Below the niches, there were twice as many guards as usual.

These guards were different from the militiamen from the High Castle; they were solid armored soldiers, each with strength close to a foot knight.

Watching Sergeant Hamishill return from the square across the street, a guard softly asked, "They're on the other side of the square, is it necessary?"

"Who says it's not necessary." Sergeant Hamishill blinked his bulging fishlike eyes, "Wasn't Bishop Resite from White Water Castle killed by beggars before? Many illustrious bishops have to pass in front of the square."

"But that was in North Mangde County, that's the Female Grand Duke's territory."

"Who knows if there's a short-haired one among these vagrants." Sergeant Hamishill took a long halberd from his companion and leaned it on his shoulder, "Valent Taylor and his followers are everywhere. Why are you defending them? You're not a short-haired one, are you?"

"Of course not." The guard, a citizen by birth, explained, "You can't say that everyone who neither supports nor opposes is a short-haired one, right?"

"Hard to say."

"Nonsense!"

Seeing that the atmosphere had become tense, a priest standing under the shadow of the cathedral door quickly ran out, "What are you talking about?"

The two guards exchanged a glance and both turned their heads away, unwilling to discuss further. The topic was sensitive, and the atmosphere around Feiliu Castle had been tense lately.

"Don't start trouble when there's none, making noise will get you punished!" After warning the chatting guards, the portly priest turned around and walked into the cathedral.

The guards at the door quieted down again, but the boring task of standing guard got the better of them soon enough, and they started whispering once more.

"What's going on lately, why is the control so strict, not even allowed to talk?" A guard gently nudged his companion's rib and asked softly.

"It's still about that Holy Relatives Army group."

"Haven't they been much quieter lately? Why so tense?"

"Hey, you wouldn't know," the citizen guard whispered, "those holy aunts and uncles have come up with a new amusement."

"What now? Didn't they just declare Valent Taylor as a Pope?"

Hamishill interjected, "Those foolish villagers, that's not all!

The day before yesterday, they held a Believers' Assembly in Iron Gate Town, where they independently declared Abbot Ludvik of Blago Monastery as the Southern Guardian Pope, declared Valent Taylor as the Western Border Guardian Pope, declared Grand Duke Moliat as the Northern Guardian Pope, and declared Saint Jeanne as the Eastern Guardian Pope."

"Ha! Now our Thousand River Valley has four Popes."

"Four? Five!" The citizen guard covered his mouth with his right hand, "They promoted Horn to be the Pope above all Popes, calling him the 'Grand Cosmic Supreme Pope'."

"Wow." The guards buzzed like mosquitoes, "Five Popes in Thousand River Valley, one in Falan, with Leia, the Empire currently has no Emperor, but there are seven Popes."

"Now everyone can be a Pope."

Though everyone was chattering like crickets, there were still some righteous people who couldn't help but ask: "How do you know about such a secret affair?"

"The coachman of Priest Dodelsen told me," the sergeant replied.

"How did Priest Dodelsen's coachman know?" the righteous old guard inquired again.

"He was told by Bishop Banifus's coachman," the sergeant answered immediately.

The righteous guard was even more puzzled: "And how did the coachman know?"

Before the sergeant could answer, a guard suddenly snapped to attention and stood straight with his halberd vertical, whispering through his nose, "Silence, silence, Bishop Matteo is here."

Dressed in a dusty gray silk priest's robe, Bishop Matteo, face full of dust, jumped impatiently from the carriage without even the assistance of an attendant, quickly taking the steps two at a time.

He didn't even notice the whispering guards, rushing eagerly towards the cathedral interior.

After passing through the gold-gilded lily-covered arch gallery and bypassing the flower-filled garden, Matteo pushed away the attendant who tried to guide him, grabbing the handrail, and ran up the spiral staircase.

His target was Deputy Bishop Banifus's study in the Thousand River Valley, and he rushed straight there, pushing open the door: "Bishop Banifus, I have urgent battle news!"

Banifus looked at the intruding Matteo in surprise, and said to the bishops beside him, "We'll stop here for today, you can talk to the abbot lords later, let's get through the current crisis first."

After speaking, he faced Mateo.

To be honest, Banifus did not like the hard and straightforward character of Mateo, but he had no choice but to use him, because in these troubled times, this blade was indeed useful.

Recently it has indeed been a troubled time, or in other words, it has been a troubled time since last year.

First, there were the Short Hairs and the Saint's Grandson, then Moliat and Catherine, and recently the chaotic Holy Relatives Army emerged, raiding several churches near Feiliu Castle.

Especially that Valent Taylor, taking advantage of the absence of the main knights, launched attacks everywhere, plundering people, money, and women, specifically targeting churches without strong fortress protection.

To prevent himself from becoming the next victim, a large number of bishops gathered at Feiliu Castle, seeking the protection of the Imperial Knights, resulting in the current stern and crowded situation.

At the instigation of Blago Monastery, a large number of monks wrote letters to the Holy See like snowflakes, demanding the replacement of the Bishop Council to appease public grievances.

Unfortunately, whether it was Pope Grandiva from the south in Falan or Pope Puliano from the north, there was no response as they were still arguing over matters of orthodoxy.

Banifus was having a headache over this matter, risking his life to take Constans' position; now he had yet to enjoy the fruits but had to bear the consequences, how could this be?

Fortunately, with great courage, he urged Knight Arman of Rapids City, and they were about to capture Rapids City.

As for the North Mande battlefield in the north, Banifus spared no effort in sending supplies externally and suppressing mobs internally, resulting in peace and safety in Hotam County, where doors need not be closed at night.

Although he was previously frightened by Valent Taylor, causing the incident of the twelve Golden Peacock Feather Letters, fortunately, Arman was about to capture Rapids City.

As long as he could share some credit with Arman, deal with a few people, and write a little more in his reports, he could cover up this affair.

Nothing could hinder his progress.

One must know, what he was doing for the Thousand River Valley Bishop was within his capability, achieving it brought no merit, failing it had faults.

But for the "limited capability" High Castle Bishop Banifus, it was a significant achievement.

Perhaps in the future, the Holy See might send a new bishop to replace him as Deputy Bishop, but the credit was substantial, saving him ten years of grinding.

If he could endure this period, Banifus was confident he could at least secure a position as a Metropolitan Cathedral Priest, if not more!

Just wait and see, within ten years, the position of Thousand River Valley Archbishop would still be his, and perhaps, he might even have a place as a Cardinal.

Once becoming a Cardinal, no common woman or farmer's daughter would catch his eye; only a daughter from a knight or even a count's family could have the honor.

Composing himself and retracting his fanciful thoughts, Banifus walked quickly to Mateo's side.

"Why so urgent, what's the matter?" Banifus asked discontentedly, seeing Mateo panting, hands on his knees, without any manners.

"Your Excellency, Your Excellency..." Mateo rasped, out of breath, "Urgent report from Damp Dock, Arman has died in battle, the Rapids City Church army is completely wiped out!"

"What did you say, what did you say?!" Raising his voice, Banifus's hair stood on end, "Say it again."

"Knight Ailard's urgent report, the Salvation Army defeated Knight Arman of Lai Xi River, annihilating over a hundred Imperial Knights, the entire army routed, currently at Damp Dock and Mosby Castle."

Knight Ailard said, Rapids City is upstream of Feiliu Castle, one could reach it by boat in an instant, requesting reinforcements.

Salvation Army defeated Arman... Annihilated Imperial Knights... Instantly reachable...

Banifus's body began to tremble, each word causing stars to flash before his eyes.

By the time Mateo finished speaking, the Deputy Bishop of Thousand River Valley was seeing not just stars, but the fallen Feiliu Castle and the impending gallows.

If they came via water from Rapids City, they could arrive by next week!

Rigid in place, Banifus stared blankly ahead, a gargling sound emanating from his throat, terrifying the attendant monks and Mateo into immobility.

"Bishop Banifus?" Mateo probed.

"Gah—"

After a full five seconds, he suddenly let out a "gah" and fell straight backward, his attendants rushed to catch him.

But looking at Banifus's face, his eyes were tightly shut, jaw clenched, face ashen, with no breath from his nose.

"Bishop Banifus!"

"Bishop Banifus, what's wrong?"

"Quick, get the monks, use the Divine Art!"

"Too late, bring water," Mateo decisively commanded, splashing water on Banifus's face.

But Banifus did not wake, so Mateo gritted his teeth, rolled up his sleeves, and slapped him twice, causing the Deputy Bishop's eyelids to twitch slightly.

Upon opening his eyes for the first time, Banifus touched his burning face in a daze, then shrieked with a voice that could shatter glass: "Quick, write a letter, with the Golden Peacock Feather Letter, and ask Prince Kongdai to mobilize troops for reinforcements!"

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