Looking at the young red dragon fluttering with dragon wings in the sky of the palace, Deirdre said worriedly, "When did this happen?"

Todd looked helpless: "Aurora told me that she would be able to complete the transformation three months ago. ”

"But she never told me!"

"She just doesn't want you to worry. ”

Dildre bit the nail of her thumb and looked anxious: "There are guards and walls in the palace, and this is the safest place." But now that she's able to fly, how can I protect her?!"

Todd took one last look at the red dragon cub flying happily in the sky, and as he turned to the hall, he said to Deirdre, "Parents can't protect their children forever, sooner or later she must learn to take care of herself." ”

Deirdre looked at Todd's departing back, his fingers crossed tightly, and the back of his hand looked bloodless from the exertion.

Walking into the cloisters of the palace, Todd saw Evie approaching him from a distance.

"A guest has come to the Papal States, and he wants to see you. ”

Evie's words stunned Todd.

"Guest?"

"A cardinal of the Church of the Father. ”

When Todd saw Cardinal Arrborough in the Kingdom Council, his first impression reminded him of a former friend.

Arbrough was over sixty years old, with gray hair and a furrowed face, but he was tall and tall, with a loud voice and witty words.

Terrence, who stood with him, was the same age as Arborough, but he looked even older.

"The Holy King is here. ”

Terrence saw Todd appear, and with Elijah's support, he trembled and tried to get up from his seat.

Todd waved his hand, signaling that the old man didn't need to be polite.

Terrence put his arms on the armrests, stood up and saluted, then sat down and said, "Your Majesty, this is the Arrborough I often mention to you. Back then, most of the credit for me and those students who were able to escape from the capital of Taylor was his. ”

Todd stared into Yarborough's eyes and asked, "Tristan is your ......?"

"Tristan was my student. ”

At the mention of the name, Yarborough's voice was a little hoarse.

Todd sighed, sat down on the throne, looked at Terrence and asked, "If I'm not mistaken, you and Terrence were both members of the Jade Alliance?"

Terrence nodded, reminiscing as he said, "Me, Aarrour, Theodore, and Eliad, the four of us ......."

Arrbrough smiled and said, "Do you remember the laboratory that was built under the monastery of San Sidlo?"

Terrence nodded.

"After we left there, the laboratory was entrusted to a monk for the time being, and after many twists and turns, the owner of the laboratory finally ......"

Yarborough turned his gaze to Todd, who naturally understood who he was talking about.

Todd smiled at Arrborough, "There's no denying that lab has helped me a lot. ”

Arrborough bowed slightly: "Whether it's a tool or a material." Only in the hands of the most suitable people can they make the most difference. ”

Todd touched his chin and looked at the calm, calm cardinal.

Since the other party saw him, whether it was his expression or tone, he did not show any eagerness, let alone humility.

When talking, it's like an old friend who hasn't seen each other for a long time, chatting with each other.

Todd sat up straight and calmly asked Aberrough, "I want to know, are you coming to see me this time for personal or official matters?"

When Terrence heard Todd say this, he turned his face to Arrborough and coughed softly without a trace.

Arrborough looked back at his old friend and said apologetically, "I am very grateful that you are with me, but the topic of my next conversation with the Holy King may put you in a dilemma. ”

"Terrence, go back. ”

Terrence looked at the cardinal's robe on Aarborough's body, thought twice, and finally sighed heavily.

Standing up, he bowed to Todd, and with the Holy King's permission, Terrence left the palace with heavy steps.

Waiting for Terrence to disappear from view, Todd bowed his head and said to Arrborough, "If you are here to be a lobbyist for the Church of the Father, then you can leave now." ”

Arrbrough shook his head: "The church is out of control. ”

Todd was a little surprised that the other party would say this, and asked, "Out of control?"

"The Pope has been dead for many years, no one has been on the throne for a long time, and the Cardinal Council has long been torn apart by internal strife. The radicals in the Church, who have taken full control of the Church's military power, are carrying out a religious purge in the city. Whether you are a prince or a nobleman, or a commoner, as long as you are not a believer in the Church of the Father, then all that awaits you is a prison and torture instruments. ”

Aberrough shook his head sadly: "Two members of the royal family in the secular kingdom of the Papal States were arrested by the church last week on charges of being close to Protestants and going against God's will. ”

Todd frowned and said nothing.

"The five cardinals of the radical wing of the Church, headed by Bishop Jacob, formed the 'Washing Society' and began to suppress all opposition in the country. Within the capital, all entertainment and political preaching were forbidden, and every citizen had to go to church to hear God's voice. ”

"The Cleansing Society issues an order to all members of the Church to report and secretly report statements and writings that are unfavorable to the Church of the Father. It may be just a complaint after dinner, or it may be just a short poem written at random a few years ago, and it may be recognized as a religious reactionary by the church, and then arrested, or even persecuted. ”

Arborough closed his eyes and said helplessly: "The wife told her husband, the student betrayed the teacher, the son reported the father, and the entire capital has been turned into a city with only crying and betrayal under the terrifying control of the church. ”

Todd pondered for a moment and said to Arrborough, "Why did you come to me?"

"I hope that the Holy King, you will put an end to this chaos. ”

"Ending the chaos?"

Abröl took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "On behalf of the royal family of the capital of Taylor, and those of the Church who yearn for peace, I beg you to correct this tragedy caused by religion. ”

With these words, Arrbrough put his hand into his bosom, took out a gold-stamped document from his coat pocket, and presented it to Todd with both hands: "With the help of the royal family and the other bishops, I managed to escape from that city in order to bring this thing to you. ”

Evie took the paperwork from Arrborough, checked it again and again, and after making sure there was nothing out of the ordinary, handed it to Todd.

The latter opened it and saw that there was such a passage written on the paperwork.

"In the name of the Lord Christ, and by my witness, we choose those who are under the rule of God, and I think they should be chosen. The Church of the Father and the Protestant Church are united, and the Church legally elects Todd Fischer as Supreme Bishop, a decision that has been voted by an absolute number of votes, and the voters have clearly expressed and are not reserved. 』

At the end of the paperwork, a long list of names is signed.

They included not only bishops of all levels in the Church, but also kings and nobles of the temporal kingdoms of the Papal States.

Todd solemnly put the paperwork away, handed it to Evie, and said to the latter, "Bring this to Emerson, he knows what to do." ”

Watching Evie leave the hall, Todd turned his gaze to Arrborough: "I don't understand one thing, why do you think that everything will be better than it is now, not worse?"

Aarbrough turned his head sideways and looked in the direction of the plaza outside the hall door: "On the first day I arrived in Twilight City, I visited the pilgrimage stele. ”

"There, I saw the light and the future. ”

。