Chapter 426

“Long time no see, Cardinal Paulus. Seeing you so refreshed, it seems you’ve been having good dreams lately. The future of the Menes Church Order shines as brightly as a full moon.”

“…Priest Staldorf.”

Paulus greeted Lacey with a calm demeanor.

The difference in his expression and tone when dealing with me was stark, indicating that he didn’t seem to like Lacey very much. If it weren’t for Archbishop Gwinnel’s message, a meeting might not have been possible.

“Please call me Acting Cardinal. Cardinal Drexler has stepped down due to health issues, so I will be handling his duties until a successor is decided.”

However, Lacey didn’t seem to mind Paulus’s cold attitude at all, slightly raising the corner of her mouth as she relayed the news of Drexler’s retirement.

“…That’s the first I’ve heard of it.”

It must have been quite shocking, as Paulus swallowed a sigh and spent a while stroking his mustache.

“Drexler’s condition was severe enough to step down from his duties… Then it wouldn’t be strange if he ‘passed away’ at any time. Don’t you think?”

“Not at all. Now that he’s free from the burdensome duties and can rest properly, he can enjoy a long and peaceful retirement.”

A sharp tension flowed between the two.

While it seemed like they were concerned about Drexler’s health, in reality, they were discussing whether to kill or spare him.

Of course, Lacey had confined him but had no intention of killing him. Politically disgracing a rival and outright killing them are entirely different matters.

“Hmm… That’s a relief.”

Satisfied with Lacey’s answer, Paulus let out a light sigh.

While they were publicly at odds with Drexler, having known him for so long as fellow cardinals, it seemed he didn’t wish for his death.

—

Sitting on the sofa in the cardinal’s office, Lacey began to lay out the main points.

The heretics who had infiltrated Hollon, the top-secret information that the leader of the Dream Paradise Society was the heretic Eljure, and even criticism of the current state of the Holy Kingdom.

While Lacey was conversing with the cardinal, I kept a close eye on him, wondering if I could spot any signs of corruption.

My personal belief was that no middle-aged man with a long mustache was entirely sane.

Of course, even as Lacey began to argue for the necessity of the archdiocese, I found no concrete evidence.

“Division inevitably leads to weakness and chaos, while unity of purpose is akin to the first step toward victory. In fact, the Empire’s dioceses united their wills and achieved the great feat of exterminating witches and their followers. You must be well aware of that, Cardinal?”

Lacey placed her clasped hands on the table and leaned slightly closer to the cardinal.

“Unfortunately, we couldn’t find the traitor who informed the witches of the dispatch of the Secret Martyr Apostles, leading them to their deaths. But what’s strange is that since then, there have been consistent requests from the Holy Kingdom to divide the Empire’s dioceses again. For whose benefit is that, I wonder? Surely, the wise Cardinal can provide me with an answer.”

Of course, Paulus was not the type to be intimidated by a girl fifty years his junior. He leisurely sipped his tea and instead rebuked Lacey.

“Well, I don’t know about that… But it’s clear that the Elpinel Church Order hasn’t changed a bit since the religious wars. To face external enemies, all church orders must unite under the name of Elpinel. Do you know how many have died because of that dogmatic ideology?”

“And yet, the Holy Kingdom, even in its incomplete unity, has saved hundreds of times more lives. Unlike now, when power struggles have left even the slums of our own country uncontrolled.”

Paulus’s words seemed to have struck a nerve with Lacey, as her tone carried a sharp edge when she responded.

Well… Honestly, the religious wars were indeed the fault of the Elpinel Church Order.

I heard that the Great Celestial Church, which had its power sky-high after the Empire’s founding, tried to integrate all gods as subordinate deities under Elpinel, leading to the war.

After repeated divisions and reunifications, it eventually escalated to a point where all church orders saw each other as enemies, engaging in a war of all against all.

Even I could see that it was the Elpinel Church Order’s responsibility, though Lacey wouldn’t admit it.

“Hmm. Now you’re trying to lecture me. What do you, who left the Holy Kingdom almost three years ago, know about its current state?”

“At least more than you—”

Uh, she’s about to cross the line.

“—Lacey. Did we come here to argue?”

I reached out to stop Lacey.

Coming here for negotiations and then trying to argue aggressively was unlike her.

Since I’m not a religious person, I don’t fully understand, but was the topic of responsibility for the religious wars that sensitive to Lacey?

“…!”

Lacey shot me a sharp glare for a moment, but then seemed to snap out of it, letting out a deep sigh and making the sign of the cross.

“…My apologies. I regret my rash words.”

“Hmm… No need. I was also out of line.”

Paulus glanced at me with an intrigued look, then nodded and accepted Lacey’s apology.

Good. The heated atmosphere has cooled down, so now we can start the real negotiations…

“Speaking of which, there are three people here, but I haven’t heard Sir Median’s opinion at all. What do you think? Is it right to unify different people for efficiency, or to respect each other’s differences and maintain equal relations? Which do you think is correct?”

…Never mind.

Suddenly, the conversation turned toward me.

And with a very sensitive and significant topic at that.

Honestly, I wanted to ask why they were asking me such a thing… but that wouldn’t do.

So what should I say…?

After a moment of thought, I decided to stick to general principles.

“Well… I’m a noble of the Empire, so I can only answer from the Empire’s perspective. For me, and for the Empire, the most important thing is to strengthen our forces to counter the threats of monsters, other races, and evil-doers. If all church orders unite to lead the charge against humanity’s enemies, there’s no need for intervention… but if they prioritize their own interests over humanity’s, we can’t just stand by. Does that answer your question?”

In other words, if you have the energy to fight for power, go deal with the evil-doers and monsters first.

“Impressive. Truly heroic spirit. I’m moved.”

Paulus nodded with a smile.

Whether it was lip service or genuine praise, I couldn’t tell.

“You flatter me. Then… shall we get to the main point? Of course, the main negotiator is not me, but the Acting Cardinal of the Elpinel Church Order, Elmain Staldorf, who is here.”

“I think that would be best.”

I gave Lacey a slight boost to wrap up the conversation.

Since I had just restrained her a bit forcefully, I needed to restore some of her diminished authority.

It’s just a formality… but still better than letting it slide.

—

After taking a sip of tea to wet her throat, Lacey explained her demands and the price she was willing to pay.

Her demands were simple.

Tolerate the existence of the Empire’s archdiocese, and either support her in the hearing or at least remain silent.

Allow the Elpinel Church Order and the Aushrine Church Order to join the united forces of Kranus-Imela-Menes, and assist in stabilizing the Holy Kingdom.

And in return…

“I will relinquish my candidacy for the Saintess and fully support the Menes Church Order’s candidate for Saintess. After all the chaos is over, I will ensure she ascends to the position of Saintess.”

She was completely closing the path to becoming the Holy Kingdom’s supreme leader, the Saintess.

“…A few years ago, that would have been a groundbreaking offer. But… things are different now. Aren’t you placing too much value on the position of Saintess candidate of the Elpinel Church Order, especially one suspended due to pressure from other church orders? Even if you were to run for Saintess yourself without supporting our church’s candidate, which cardinal would agree?”

In a way, it was a valid point.

Given her current situation, Lacey had to worry about the hearing before even considering reinstatement.

The probability of her being chosen as Saintess now was about the same as me becoming Empress.

In other words, zero.

“Well, that remains to be seen. If I were to dissolve the archdiocese and align with forces opposing the Menes Church Order, how do you think they would react?”

Of course, Lacey had a plan.

Whether to call it a plan or a threat, I’m not sure.

“That is…”

“Currently, only our two church orders have produced Saintess candidates. The Menes Church Order, whose influence has grown, and the Elpinel Church Order, weakened to the extreme. Which candidate do you think the cardinals of other church orders would welcome? It goes without saying, doesn’t it?”

Paulus nodded with a stern expression.

The moment the behind-the-scenes negotiations had successfully concluded.