While Leah and others were working hard to liberate the Duchy of Federro, Germain was not idle.

With the money swept from Randall's treasury, his own brains, and reliable men, he had gone from assistant bishop to bishop.

Now he resides in the capital of the Holy Cult, trying to find an opportunity in the center of that political torrent.

A few days ago, an uninvited guest came to his residence. Brotham Daris, a vampire from the gods, is also a rebel who, like Kashadra, is loyal to the Daughters of Chaos.

Although the other party showed a strong magic power, in the eyes of Germain......

“...... Weak, too weak. ”

He sat down in a chair and casually used a chess piece to defeat his opponent's army.

"Ah...... My lord, my job is to study magic rather than chess. It would be so sad for me to be complained about if I took the time to play such a boring game with you. ”

Fain smiled. Although he was protesting, he didn't seem to be really angry.

"You know I'm not talking about you, Finn. The old bat, as powerful as he looked, always felt like he was just pretending. ”

Thinking back to the day he came into contact with Brothham, although the old mage seemed invincible, he used words to intimidate rather than continuously display strength.

"Then why didn't you kill him right now?"

"Kill him, who should I go to for the papal seat?"

"Your papal seat?"

Finn's eyes lit up. He knew that Germain was not a man who was content with the status quo.

"I've been in the royal capital for so long, and I know the power here. ”

Jermain nodded and used his pieces to make a triangle on the board.

"First of all, the radical faction, led by the Pope, occupies most of the power in the royal capital.

Secondly, there is the conservative faction, led by Archbishop Vanessa.

Finally, there are the fanatics, led by Esfia.

Radicals and conservatives have always been at odds with each other. Although the Pope suppressed Bishop Vanessa with his power. Despite the opposition, Randall waged a long holy war, but as the war progressed, divisions began to appear among the radicals, and more and more nobles believed that the Pope's ideas were wrong, because he had dragged the Holy Church into a bottomless pit. ”

Germain said.

"But it seems to me that the pope's seat is still very secure. ”

Finn shook his head.

"That's right. Even if the internal contradictions of the radicals intensify. I can't help but admire the fact that the conservatives are starting to show their prominence, but the power of the pope is still absolute. ”

"And how are you going to kick him off that secure position? ”

Finn smiled slyly. After arriving in the royal capital, Germain joined the conservative faction and became active as part of the opposition to the pope.

Fein, however, believes that the reason why the other party refuses to join the radical faction is definitely not because the person is not radical enough, but because the person thinks that it is easier to get what he wants as a conservative. That's all.

In fact, the leader of the conservative faction, Archbishop Vanessa, was old and lacking in desire, and soon Germain occupied a position in this pacifist group second only to the Archbishop and the Virgin Marybell.

"Conservatives are like a pool of stagnant water, they don't even move if there's nothing that has to move them. Fanatics are madmen who focus only on dogmas and sacred scriptures.

We need to give them a little bit of a boost. ”

Germain laughed.

"The stimulus you're talking about is probably the old bat. ”

"That's right. Let's see if His Majesty the Pope, who is getting old, can escape the temptation of eternal life. ”

Germain laughed.

"Ahh You're so bad, my lord. As a sign of my admiration for you, let me tell you the good news. ”

So Finn understood Germain's plan.

"Oh? ”

"Vampires usually turn the people they want to manipulate into blood slaves, that is, dolls who only obey orders. Since the old bat didn't do that, it's clear that he's afraid of your power. ”

"It's wonderful. Fane. Your words dispelled my last doubts. ”

Germain's eyes widened, he took out his pocket watch and looked at it, then stood up and said:

"It's time. I must now rush to the Royal Library. ”

"See, that woman, you should spend more time with Kuta and Lhea, my lord. ”

Finn shook his head.

"Come on. Fane. You know what I'm going to do. Also, get me moving. We're about to start our plans, and we must not show any of them, otherwise we're all done. ”

Germain said brightly. The long-cherished wish to become the apex of a country is about to fall into the palm of his hand.

"I'll do my job, don't worry. ”

Finn also smiled, he knew that if this plan succeeded, his master would become the Pope of the Holy Cult.

......

After saying goodbye to Finn, Germain went to the door of the largest library in the royal city.

[It's coming, it's coming.] 】

At the entrance to the Royal Library, a little girl with blond hair and blue eyes dressed in a red and white knight's uniform approached her.

"Good day, dear Miss Esfia, it's a great day to read. ”

Looking at the girl, Germain said with a smile.

Chief Templar, Esfia LaGrange. Within five years, at the age of 15, she was the leader of the entire Templar Order, as well as the leader of the Zealots, a group that in some senses was as fierce as the Templar Grey Rabbits.

"Good day, Bishop Germain, we're meeting again. ”

Esfia smiled and nodded.

Although the man in front of her was once a heretic, Esfia still adheres to the principles of forgiveness and acceptance for the believers who have abandoned the paganism and returned to the embrace of the goddess.

Moreover, the man's enthusiasm for the canon of the Orthodox Church surprised her, and she could see Germain here almost every day at this time. Even if there are some very difficult arguments, the other side will answer them fluently.

If Germaine Bartley is not a qualified bishop, I'm afraid there will be no real bishop in the entire Salman Holy Sect, Esfia even thought so.

"Is there anything you are here for today, Bishop Germain?"

"Ah...... There is a very famous article, "The Coexistence of Divine Punishment and Divine Grace", which I had the pleasure of learning about on the recommendation of Archbishop Vanessa.

Believing in the charismatic arguments is a good education for those radical Divine Punishment factions. ”

Divine grace and divine punishment, conservatives support divine charism, believing that those infidels should be prosecuted. The radicals supported divine punishment and believed that all infidels should be burned to death.

"Come on, Bishop Germain. You know I don't care about your arguments. ”

Even though she still looks like a child, Esfiya accurately grasps Germain's intentions. Although fanatical, Esphia believed that both divine punishment and divine grace were noble as long as they were doctrinal arguments.

"Whether it's the Pope or Archbishop Vanessa, their intentions are noble, and I will not support anyone or belittle anyone. While I will strictly enforce divine punishment with the infidels, I also sincerely hope that more heretics like you will join us in bathing in the glory of God. ”

Esfia said.

"Ah, I didn't mean to turn you against the Pope. I have a doubt, though. ”

"Please. ”

"Debate within doctrine is natural, but what if it is outside doctrine?"

"Needless to say, whether it's the Pope or the archbishop. Those who have fallen into heathen are unforgivable. ”

In an instant, the girl's eyes became cold and cruel. It was the eyes of an executioner, a monster of the Holy See who would only stick out his fangs and claws at the infidels.

"yes, sorry, asked a boring question. I'll take my leave. ”

"Where, I should have left too. ”

The moment the two staggered, Germain turned his head and smiled at the departing Esfia.

Ah, yes, as long as you can't tolerate blasphemy against holy scriptures and dogmas. Then you are destined to be my pawn, the lovely knight chief. 】

Countless encounters, from strange to familiar, are completely a game under the pinch of Germain, in order to get acquainted with the third party of this royal capital, the leader of the fanatics, Esfia.

Now, it's time to take the next step.

[God's pawns?hmph...... Just ......]

Thinking of the weakened Brotham, Germain smiled slyly. (To be continued.) )

PS: Continue to ask for collections, ask for recommendations, and ask for monthly passes to say ~~~

PS: Thanks to Dao Xue-chan's character card: Esfiya ~~~