Chapter 553

Chapter 553: The Subversion of Voices

“Once upon a time, I was an ordinary priest at Olive Palace, responsible for registering the whereabouts of graduating priests and organizing records.”

“Many might not know, but Sir Cypsis was very outstanding even in his youth. His grades were always among the top in class, and he got along well with his classmates.”

“As graduation approached, he voluntarily stepped aside, allowing his classmates to go to prosperous and stable parishes, while he himself delved into the remote mountains and wilderness to support and spread knowledge there.”

“Even now, one can still find various records from those days in Olive Palace. I am not lying; many elderly members of Olive Palace can vouch for this.”

“But wasn’t he said to have sent his classmates to remote mountain areas?” A weak voice emerged from the crowd.

“This is slander. It’s due to Sir Cypsis’ kindness that such misunderstandings occurred,” sighed the elder.

“There was a priest named Leon who was the same age as Sir Cypsis back then.”

“Leon and Sir Cypsis were good friends, both with excellent academic performance and geniuses. They often exchanged learning experiences and maintained a good relationship.”

“Later, Leon went to the fertile Verdant Empire, serving as a priest in a county seat by the coast. After seven years, he was promoted to bishop. Meanwhile, Sir Cypsis continued to teach in the remote mountainous regions, living a poor and difficult life, even building the church brick by brick.”

“Due to increasingly luxurious and extravagant lifestyles, Leon gradually fell into depravity, having affairs with several noblewomen who confessed their sins in the church, leading to a decadent lifestyle.”

“At that time, because of his outstanding performance, Sir Cypsis was noticed by the Scepter Priest of Olive Palace and transferred to a wealthy place. Yes, it was the territory managed by his former classmate Leon.”

“Over the years, the two had become strangers. Meanwhile, Leon’s chaotic lifestyle was eventually discovered by the local nobility.”

“Finally, on a summer day years ago, he was caught in the act of having an affair in the church and was exposed by the husband of one of those women.”

“To protect his own reputation and position, Leon blamed all this on Sir Cypsis and pleaded with him for help.”

“To save his friend’s position, Sir Cypsis remained silent and was consequently reassigned to a remote and impoverished area.”

“But those who commit wrongs will inevitably repeat them.”

“Without being punished, Leon quickly fell again.”

“Then, the Scepter Priest of Olive Palace recommended Sir Cypsis to Archbishop Fongkin of the Ten Swords Palace. It was then that Sir Cypsis joined the Ten Swords Palace and began to stand out.”

“It was under Archbishop Fongkin’s instructions that Sir Cypsis personally arrested his former friend Leon. As a result, Leon was dismissed and sent to a harsh and remote region.”

The story told by the old priest once again silenced the crowd, cooling the previously heated emotions.

“But these are just your words. How do we know if they’re true?” asked another priest stubbornly.

The crowd murmured again. Although the old priest didn’t seem like he was lying, his lone testimony made it hard to believe.

“I can prove it.”

With a long sigh, a simple gray-robed priest stepped out from the crowd.

“Why should we believe you? Who are you?” people around him wondered, looking at him as if he were a stranger.

“Because… I am Leon.” He seemed ashamed and lowered his head.

“I once made mistakes and dragged down my friend due to cowardice.” His voice was filled with deep regret.

“Scum!” a priest spat in disdain, and others echoed with condemnation.

But as Leon came forward, the rumors about Sir Cypsis began to fall apart.

When one rumor was debunked, others lost credibility, and more people began to believe that Sir Cypsis had been falsely accused.

“Why are such rumors spreading everywhere? Who has deceived us!” cried a frustrated priest, clenching his fists.

“Yes, why did so many suspicious rumors suddenly appear?”

“Why is everyone speaking ill of Sir Cypsis?”

In the crowd, some started whispering, while a few began to look covertly towards Odis.

Odis found himself in a bind. If he withdrew now, it would look like a joke before thousands of eyes.

Tonight, not only were many priests from foreign lands watching, but the Twelve Palaces were also observing from the shadows. If Odis took action against Sir Cypsis with public support and gained prestige, he would naturally become the Pope’s preferred candidate.

But if he backed down, it would completely undermine his image. Unlike the civilian roles of the Twelve Palaces, he was the leader of a violent and authoritative institution. Once his authority was lost, it would severely weaken his control over the knights.

As Odis pondered in silence, more voices began to challenge previous views. For instance, Sir Cypsis was forced into difficult situations, choosing the lesser of two evils, and many branches of the church saw increased revenue due to regulations he implemented.

As the mainstream opinion shifted, those who had called for Sir Cypsis’ downfall slowly fell silent. But the suppressed anger needed an outlet, and people needed someone to blame.

“Odis is a liar!”

A sharp voice erupted in the crowd, causing many to turn and search for its source.

A woman in a hooded cloak removed her hat, pointing at Odis and crying out fiercely, her face filled with pain and anger.

“My son Zweid, and his teacher, Priest Vog, were killed by Odis! Just last month, he personally ordered the execution of them.”

“What did they do wrong? To have all personnel in a remote town’s church exterminated, even refusing to let me see their bodies, burning them on the spot. Oh, my son…”

Her voice choked with sobs as she recounted how she received the news of her son’s death, the messenger leaving hastily without explanation. She couldn’t believe it, staying awake for three nights, wanting to know why such a kind and excellent boy, who had been a priest for only a year, was executed by members of the knight order.

“Because the clergy in that church had all fallen into corruption,” finally, a Thousand-Man Commander stood up.

“Evidence? Are you saying it’s black just because you say it’s black!?” the woman cried, tears streaming down her face, moving everyone present.

(End of Chapter)