The capital of the Papal State of Terro, the episcopal ceremonial hall.

"Kerren VI of the Kingdom of Byron announced last week that he had left the Church of the Father and converted to Protestantism. ”

A cardinal with a withered face and an elderly person, looking at the other colleagues at the table, said slowly and heavily: "This is the ninth king in the past month to renounce his Heavenly Father's membership......"

Bishop Jacob, who had a falcon face, slapped the table and exclaimed, "The majesty of the Father is inviolable!

Someone questioned: "Let them repent?!!How to do it?!The Church army has been badly damaged since the Battle of the Holy Acropolis and has not recovered to this day." Without an army, what are we going to do to capture those apostas?!"

Another sighed: "Not only the army, but also the believers in the Papal States are terrified...... Crown Prince Paget, the secular royal family of the Papal States, even made it clear in public a few days ago that he would have Protestant elders officiate at his wedding. ”

The old cardinal, who had spoken at first, glanced at the bishops who were talking, and then moved his gaze to the old man beside him: "What do you think, Abel?"

The cardinal, whose name was called, only frowned and did not say a word.

"Aarbrough, I can understand your feelings. Three years ago, Pope Alexander made a grave mistake by not only defining you as a heretic, but also personally ordering the burning of your most proud disciple, Tristan...... It was a disaster, a nightmare. ”

Arrborough's face was like water, and he said calmly: "Bishop Arnold, I can understand all this. The Father will give His devout believers the most cruel test, and we should be happy to do it without resentment. ”

Bishop Arnold shook his head and sighed faintly: "No matter how unbearable the past was, after all, we are all servants of the Heavenly Father, and we have the responsibility and obligation to ensure that Bi will have an unshakable position in people's hearts. And now, Heavenly Father needs His servants to rid the Church of evil, and we need your wisdom to maintain the Church. ”

Arnold's words were not answered, but simply asked, "Do you know why Protestantism has attracted so many followers in just a few years?"

Someone said, "The foolishness and ignorance of the world!"

Someone else said: "The threat and persecution of the Protestant army!"

Jacob, who had a bad face, stared into Abraurah's eyes and said with a sneer: "You don't want to say that it's because of tithes and indulgences, do you?"

Abramel smiled and said, "It's because of the kingdom of heaven." ”

Hearing Abram's words, all the bishops present exclaimed in amazement.

"Heaven?!"

"The kingdom of heaven that is known as the place of judgment, the ladder to heaven?"

"Whoever you are, I have heard that just touching a pillar will allow the soul to enter the kingdom of heaven and visit it freely. ”

"I heard that there are angels there who are responsible for judging the souls of the dead!"

......

In the midst of the people's discussions, Bishop Jacob, who could not bear it, took the case: "What heaven?!What judgment?! These are just Protestant tricks used to deceive peasant women and fools!"

Abrel looked at Jacob, who was furious, and said quietly: "If only those commoners were deceived, then it would be fine, but those well-informed kings and scholars, after visiting the kingdom of heaven, also asked to convert to Protestantism, are they also stupid people?"

"Those are a bunch of heretics who are not firm in their faith!" Jacob roared with a wave of his arms and a red face, "They cannot see through the tricks of the devil, because they are not pious!

Arnold interrupted Jacob's roar with a wave of his hand and asked Arbrough, "What do you think about the Protestant kingdom of heaven?"

Arrborough replied: "Without personal experience, there is no right to speak." I want to go to the city of Twilight and see for myself what Protestants call the kingdom of heaven. ”

"Can't let him go!" Jacob exclaimed angrily as he pointed his finger at Arrborough, "His relationship with Twilight ......"

"Shut up!"

Bishop Arnold roared, and Jacob froze in place.

Because of the anger of the right people, the old Arnold, coughed loudly, and his face showed fatigue and pain, and while patting his heart hard, he said: "Arbrough, if the Protestant kingdom of heaven is a hoax, how sure are you that you will be able to expose them?"

"I have traveled across the continent, studied alchemy, and been exposed to the science of truth in the Royal Academy. Abrel bowed his head and said, "I can say that there is no one in the whole church who knows those tricks better than I do." ”

Arnold nodded vigorously, "Okay, I'll arrange a carriage to send you to Twilight City as soon as possible......"

"There's a better way to deal with those Protestant heretics!" a resentful Jacob looked at Arborough with devouring eyes: "Let those demons taste the flames of hell!"

Arnold had a bad premonition: "What are you talking about?!"

Jacob spread his hands and said, "I have organized the financial institutions under the church and purchased weapons from the Southern Empire in large quantities......"

Arnold's eyes widened, and he shouted vigorously: "Who gave you the power to use the assets of the church?! What's more, as a believer of the Heavenly Father, you dare to collude with that group of infidels in the south?!"

Jacob raised his head and said impassionedly, "It is the duty of our servants to sweep away evil and bring peace to the Lord's rule. It doesn't matter what kind of means are used, what kind of props are used!"

Arnold struggled to get up from his chair: "You daredevil maniac! This is ...... betrayal"

Before the old man could finish his words, he was suddenly shocked to find that several more cardinals got up from their seats and walked to Jacob's side.

"What are you doing?!"

In the face of Arnold's accusations, a cardinal standing next to Jacob said in a deep voice: "The church has reached a critical point of life and death, and it is tantamount to self-defeating to cling to doctrine and scriptures. At present, the only way to continue the Church of the Father is to use all possible means to combat Protestantism. ”

Another bishop said, "As long as our purpose is pure and our wishes are good, the Lord will forgive us, even if the means are more radical!"

Looking at Arnold, who was trembling with anger, and then at the other stunned church members, Jacob exclaimed: "From this day on, you can stay here and watch the Protestant demons eat away at the glory of the Lord little by little, and those brave believers who have sacrificed and self-sacrificed, please stand with us, raise the weapons in our hands, and fight together to defend God!"

With that, Jacob and a group of bishops stepped out of the door of the ceremonial hall without looking back.

At this point, the Church of the Father was completely divided into two factions—conservative and radical.