Chapter 343: Chapter 291: Seeing the Slightest Clue, Aunt and Nephew Join Forces_2
The true disaster hidden beneath the Blood Calamity had already begun. Many regions were massively invaded and polluted by marine creatures, causing the local natives to fall into an eternal slumber.
This coincided perfectly with the prophecy made by Sister Teresa: "The Blood Calamity, the Parasitic Coral; the Luanyan Epoch, awaiting you in dreams."
The Cardinal Archbishop began, "What I want to tell all of you is that, according to reports from our Religious Tribunal, Virgin Strait, the first place attacked in the Bantaan Archipelago, has also suffered the same condition. Furthermore, as barnacles proliferate, the fog and somnolence have begun to spread. The Church suspects the root of this incident is very likely hidden within the Dream Realm. ’This is a test from the Creator for us,’ he declared, ’to root out the mastermind in the dream, a task as crucial as exterminating the ’May Wind’ to resolve the Blood Calamity!’"
He scanned the room, silently hinting to everyone that this was a critically important "extra credit opportunity."
Many small countries had weak military forces. However, they possessed Tomb Sequence Transcendents like ’Medium,’ ’Corpse Collector,’ ’Coffin Bearer,’ and Tribunal Sequence ’Executioner’—Third Order individuals who could enter the Dream Realm. These nations suddenly began to rub their hands in eager anticipation, feeling they too had a chance and believing there had to be a viable path out of the two options presented.
Only Byron and Violet, long aware that the Old Gods’ abode lay hidden within the Dream Realm and desperately trying to avoid it, exchanged glances and began to mourn for the others prematurely.
Seeing everyone’s enthusiasm stirred, the Cardinal Archbishop then pointed to the monastic priests and secular priests sitting on either side of him. His tone took on a profound significance.
"Thirdly, my lambs bathed in the Creator’s grace, whether you end up with the Right to Protect or exemption.
"The Church and I both hope that you will choose collaborators among them to embark on the mission of spreading the sword and the Cross together in the colonies.
"If other illegal missionaries are discovered by the Church, we will have the right to revoke the privileges you enjoy, and even treat the offenders as enemies of the Church."
Everyone present knew full well who he meant by "illegal missionaries." The secular priests were essential allies, while the monastic priests represented the Church’s Direct Lineage. Both were crucial forces they needed to rely on and could not be treated with disparity. As for those in the Church who already harbored leanings towards the Protestant Doctrine, advocating that individuals could contact the Creator directly without going through the Church—such heretics were utterly unacceptable.
As he said this, the Archbishop looked intently at the Governor of Hightins, Byron.
The latter lowered his eyelids, preventing the anger from spilling out of his pupils.
The Lancaster Family’s downfall, aside from being identified with the prophesied rebirth of the Bayfolk, was mainly because they publicly supported the Protestant Doctrine. As an island nation off the coast of the Silver Continent, the Kingdom of Hightins has always had a tense relationship with the Holy See. As early as 1351 of the Silver Era, they enacted the ’Clerical Appointment Law,’ which stipulated that the election of domestic bishops and other clerical roles was not to be interfered with by the Pope. Subsequently, legislation was passed to prohibit ’exercising ecclesiastical judicial authority without authorization,’ forbidding nationals from appealing abroad, with violators stripped of their citizenship rights... Compared to the current Right to Protect, it was clearly confrontational. Mutual discontent hasn’t been a matter of a day or two but has persisted for centuries. Even now, with the Church-backed York Family in power, disdain for Church authority still holds significant popular support within the kingdom. One could imagine that, under the Church’s urging, the York Family would very likely begin to purge local Protestants. Untold numbers of people would face ruin, forced into exile from their homeland. And then they would come to the colonies managed by me, Master Byron, to make a living.
At this moment, the Cardinal Archbishop was giving him an unmistakable warning: don’t play with fire.
Also warned by the Archbishop was the Kalmar Union, a coalition formed by three Bayfolk Nations: the Alborg Kingdom, the Gothenburg Kingdom, and the Oslo Kingdom. Initially, Violet had arrived at the Bantaan Archipelago aboard the ’Flame Rose’—disguised as a Kalmar Union warship—along with ships from the Tribunal. It was the ’Evernight Queen’ Margaret, a convert to the Church Traditionalists, who had personally arranged her legitimate identity (Chapter 179).
Although the Kingdom of Hightins and the Kalmar Union were now both ruled by the Pro-Church Faction, they still needed to be reminded of their place.
Byron, who already had plans in motion, wasn’t overly concerned.
[Secret: The Shadows Behind the Red and White Rose War, Influence 31, Decryption Rate 68%]. One of the shadows behind the wars is the Church. It seems the contradiction between the old and new factions is becoming increasingly intense. This time, it’s not merely a defense of colonial trade routes; it also involves disputes between nations and the Maritime Hegemon, and even between Protestantism and Catholicism. All colonial friction is merely an extension of the Old Continent’s struggles. Otherwise, the always dominant Church wouldn’t have ceded such a large interest to Castilia for no reason. If you find one cockroach in the room, then countless more are hiding in the dark corners. The friction in the colonies has just begun, but in places we cannot see, the struggle between old and new has likely erupted into a savage free-for-all.
Byron, perceptive and insightful, saw through this colonial dispute as if peering into the powder keg situation on the Old Continent.
One year? Or two? At most, three to five years. Just a small spark could set the existing religious landscape ablaze. The turmoil, I boldly predict, will most likely erupt in The Holy Silver Empire, the Church’s stronghold.
He looked up at Sister Teresa, who was sitting opposite him.
To reap enough benefits from that foreseeable major event, this nun is key! It won’t be long before her very being is completely reshaped.
Just as Byron thought the Cardinal Archbishop would, like most leaders from his past life, continue with a second "third point," a third "third point," and so on, he surprisingly concluded after just three.
He finished speaking and left the podium.
The Vice President of the Lighthouse Union, who took the stage next, said only one thing:
"The Zero-Level Sacred Relic, Pharos Lighthouse, will faithfully record everyone’s merits. All you need to do is find the ’May Wind’ and eliminate it along with the mastermind behind the scenes! No means are off the table. Dismissed."
The various parties hurriedly departed, eager to seize the initiative. Of course, amidst their rush to get ahead, they were equally concerned about the enhanced, terrifying contagiousness of the coral disease. The Coral People who had lost their sense of self, the fog that left one in an eternal slumber, the culprits hidden in dreams—all these elements made them extremely wary of this affliction. It was just like when the natives faced the ’Beak-masked Plague Doctors’: a disaster of unprecedented danger.
Byron didn’t rush to leave early through the delegate’s passage. Instead, when Magnyra, also frowning deeply, passed by him, he whispered through a breeze, "Aunt, do you want to win? Let’s meet at the usual place. How about I show you something remarkable and we make a deal?"
Magnyra, who had been assessing her available strength and feeling that victory was unlikely, was immediately invigorated by his words and gave a subtle nod. Having gained a slightly deeper understanding of him, this nephew of many identities seemed to have a knack for creating miracles. She suddenly found herself looking forward to the "remarkable thing" he mentioned.