Chapter 231: Righting Wrongs
Time flew by, and three days passed in a flash. Kailun successfully recruited a group of “loyal” bishops, signing short-term cooperation contracts with them.
Although this seemed strange, most of the Cardinals reluctantly agreed under Kailun’s “friendly persuasion.”
Some even suspected that their newly formed group had been discovered by the “Pope” and immediately betrayed their comrades, offering up their names.
After obtaining a more detailed list, Kailun did what he always did: unite some, divide some, and suppress some.
He ignored the rest, letting them stir up trouble within the Temple.
He needed someone to create chaos. Otherwise, his previous efforts would be in vain.
Through his efforts over the past few days, Kailun had, to a certain extent, replaced the Pope.
If someone thoroughly investigated his identity, he would be exposed. But fortunately, the current situation was under his control. No one would be foolish enough to confront him.
“Your Holiness, the team you requested has been assembled. Shall we depart now?”
At eight in the morning, a minister who had previously served the Pope bowed respectfully to Kailun.
Having interacted with the Pope frequently, she had sensed something amiss with Kailun.
It felt like “he” was a different person, which was strange to her.
But she didn’t tell anyone about her discovery, nor did she question the current “Pope.”
Her intuition told her that if she acted rashly, she would die instantly, with no chance to fight back.
Moreover, she had worked for the Temple for hundreds of years and was ready to retire. Now, she just wanted to enjoy her retirement peacefully.
She had dedicated her youth to the Temple, leaving her alone in her old age, with no family or attachments.
“Yes, thank you for your hard work. I’ll leave the future affairs of the Temple, big or small, to you, Vanni.”
Kailun, hidden behind the white light, replied.
This woman held a more important position in the Temple than Helena. If he could make her choose wisely, his plan to control the Pope would go even more smoothly.
As a veteran of the Temple, Vanni had a certain degree of influence.
“But Your Holiness, I’m old and lack the energy to handle such tasks. Please leave the future work to the younger generation. I think Holy Son Paul is a good candidate. He has great potential.”
Vanni shook her head repeatedly. She could retire in a few years. Why should she choose sides and put herself in danger? She had worked for the Temple for hundreds of years and was tired.
To an entity like the Pope, those below her were merely consumables, tools, often represented by simple numbers.
This mindset stemmed from the previous Meggie Liran’s indifference towards her subordinates.
Her recommendation of Paul wasn’t because she favored him, but because she felt that this “unlucky” fellow was a suitable candidate.
Her position wasn’t easy. She often had to take the blame for others’ mistakes. If she made a major blunder, she would be hung on the pillar of shame for a hundred years.
Kailun continued, “I trust your abilities. I’ll have someone increase your resource allocation. There have been many discordant voices within the Temple recently. I need someone as dedicated and responsible as you to keep an eye on them.”
“But…”
Vanni wanted to say something more.
Kailun: “Triple your resource allocation, retire three years early, and I’ll teach you Time Magic to extend your lifespan by a hundred years.”
Vanni’s face lit up. “You’re right, Your Holiness. The situation is special, and I’m willing to contribute to the Temple. By the way, what’s the name of the person you’re planning to capture today?”
Kailun smiled. “His name is Kailun.”
Vanni: “???”
Kailun: “Through our informants, I’ve learned about the places where Kailun might be hiding. Interestingly, several of these locations are related to Cardinals. Isn’t that interesting?”
“!!!”
Cold sweat beaded on Vanni’s forehead. As a veteran of the Temple, she had witnessed countless power struggles. The “Pope’s” tactic felt strangely familiar.
Setting aside the truth of the intelligence, those Cardinals who were “harboring” Kailun would definitely suffer.
Vanni shivered. Thankfully, she hadn’t investigated the Pope’s identity too closely. Otherwise, she might have been implicated in harboring Kailun.
Before Vanni could recover, Helena walked over, leading a woman hidden under a mage’s robe. “Your Holiness, I’ve brought the person you requested.”
Kailun looked at the Pope, who was hiding under the robe, trying to pull her hood down to conceal her face.
For Meggie Liran, if Vanni saw her face, she would be truly finished. It wasn’t just a matter of losing face; she would completely lose her identity as the Pope.
When the “Pope” and Meggie Liran appeared simultaneously, she would only be Meggie Liran for the rest of her life. The title of “Pope” would no longer have anything to do with her.
Kailun’s move was a psychological attack, forcing her to make a choice, to submit to him.
She could imagine that if she disobeyed him, he would likely pull off her hood in front of Vanni.
The thought alone filled her with despair. Without her “aura,” she was just a slightly stronger ninth-rank mage.
“Your Holiness, who is this, she seems familiar?”
Vanni looked at Meggie Liran, hidden under the robe. She felt a sense of familiarity.
Because of this strange feeling, she even almost addressed her as “Your Excellency.”
“I…”
Meggie Liran instinctively used her neutral voice, but she quickly corrected herself. “It must be a mistake. I don’t know you.”
Her mature and sophisticated voice dispelled Vanni’s suspicions. She sighed. “I apologize. I must have mistaken you for someone else. You resemble the Pope, like siblings.”
Meggie Liran: “…”
Who was siblings with that bastard?
If she ever regained her power, she would definitely give Vanni a lot of extra work, making her work 996 every week. (working 9am to 9pm, 6 days a week)
“Wrong, not siblings, father and daughter. Otherwise, why do you think I’m having a conflict with the Empire? It’s all for her future. Once we take over the Empire, she’ll be the new Empress.”
Kailun, seeing the right opportunity, cracked a joke.
Vanni: “Huh?!”
She was startled by his words, but then she realized it was a joke.
Judging from the time the Pope had ascended to the throne, even if he was incredibly capable, he couldn’t possibly have a daughter this old.
Although no one had seen the Pope’s face or knew his true age, he was probably around the same age as the Empress.
Meggie Liran was fuming. She wanted to fight Kailun to the death right now, but the slave collar around her neck restricted her. Even if she tried her hardest, she couldn’t even scratch him.
“Your Holiness, you must be joking.” Vanni took a step back. She felt that the Pope before her had nothing to do with holiness.
Instead, she sensed a strong sense of mischief.
“I’m not joking. Little one, call me ‘father.’” Kailun looked at Meggie Liran.
This was a test of her bottom line. No matter the outcome, he wouldn’t lose.
“Go to hell!”
She snarled. Even if it meant exposing her true feelings, she wouldn’t call Kailun “father.”
However, Kailun wasn’t angry. “Going through a rebellious phase, huh? Sigh, it’s hard to discipline children when they grow up. Let’s focus on the task at hand. Where’s the first location, Pell?”
Helena smiled at Meggie Liran. “Your Holiness, the first location is Cardinal Huallomen’s residence.”
Hearing those words, Vanni’s expression changed drastically. Cardinal Huallomen was a loyal follower of the Pope. His entire family served as her trusted aides.
She suddenly regretted it. This was clearly an attempt to uproot the Pope’s foundation.
Meggie Liran, the real Pope, clutched her mage’s robe tightly. The demon Kailun was capable of such a thing.
If he wanted to completely replace her, the Huallomen family was an obstacle he couldn’t avoid. Given his methods, they would likely suffer a terrible fate.
Moreover, seeing her loyal subordinates suffer because of her filled her with guilt.
This guilt wouldn’t have been so strong in the past.
But today, she felt strangely guilty, as if influenced by Kailun.
“Can they leave first? I have something to tell you.” Meggie Liran gritted her teeth.
Kailun pretended not to understand. “Tell who?”
Meggie Liran: “You!”
“Me? Who am I?” Kailun took a step closer, enveloping Meggie Liran in his “holy” light.
The sacred light didn’t soften his expression. In Meggie Liran’s eyes, he still looked as annoying as ever.
“You, esteemed Pope.” Meggie Liran said through gritted teeth.
She hated him, hated herself for not eliminating him sooner.
“Oh, that’s a good attitude.” Kailun turned to the others. “You two wait outside. I’ll be there soon.”
“As you command, Your Holiness.” Helena and Vanni bowed simultaneously.
After they left, Kailun lifted Meggie Liran’s hood and looked at her beautiful face. “You have one minute. Speak your mind quickly.”
Meggie Liran lowered her head. “If, and I mean if, if I call you ‘father,’ will you spare Cardinal Huallomen?”
Kailun lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. “I won’t budge on strategic matters. But I can be lenient, depending on your attitude. Oh, right, you only have thirty seconds left. Your Holiness doesn’t have much time to be sentimental.”
Perhaps it was a “sickness,” but seeing her hateful gaze excited him.
He had never had any good feelings towards the Temple of the Celestial God, and he even loathed this high and mighty Pope. Don’t forget, it was the Temple that had labeled him a traitor and a human sympathizer.
Now that the tables had turned, he could also give the Pope some interesting labels.
“Fa… Father…”
After another ten seconds, Meggie Liran closed her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling.
“Too quiet. Call me ‘daddy.’”
Kailun pinched her lips, making them form an oval shape.
“Da… Daddy…”
Meggie Liran, pushed to her limit, shed a tear.
Kailun, ever resourceful, caught the tear in a bottle. “Good girl. Now let’s go to Cardinal Huallomen’s residence.”
“You liar!” Meggie Liran opened her eyes abruptly.
Kailun put the bottle containing her tear in his pocket. “Why are you looking at me like that? Can’t I give you a gift?”
“Clap, clap!”
Kailun clapped twice, summoning Afra, who was carrying a gift box. He pointed at the exquisite box in her hand. “See? These are the gifts I prepared. By the way, you don’t have to thank me. I took them from the Temple’s treasury.”
Meggie Liran looked at the gift box in Afra’s hand. “…”
[Meggie Liran hates you to death. Goodwill -2, Total Goodwill -95]
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