Chapter 314: Daughter of a God
This was Qin Chu’s signature move.
Athena had learned it and used it against Airi and Eileen. Eileen had then used it against Loseweisse, Sylph, and Athena. And now, Loseweisse was using it against Cain.
It was a surprisingly effective tactic.
Cain’s face paled, his eyes flickering as he searched his memory for any potential incriminating evidence Loseweisse might possess.
But he was an old hand at this game. His shock quickly subsided, replaced by a forced smile: “Your Holiness, I don’t understand what you mean.”
Loseweisse smiled sweetly.
But to Cain, her beautiful smile was chilling.
“Archbishop, must I spell it out for you?”
Seeing his continued silence, she continued: “Carl, Cronin, Kelly, Albert Pine…”
Each name made Cain’s face darken further, his eyes narrowing.
“If I remember correctly, these sixty-plus boys were all orphans taken in by the Holy See orphanage.”
“What exactly were you planning to do with them, Archbishop?”
Cain swallowed, lowering his gaze, his expression unchanged: “Those children were pitiful, and I saw potential in them. I took them in to nurture their talents, so they could serve the Holy See in the future.”
“I believe this is in accordance with the Goddess of Holy Light’s benevolent will. I haven’t violated any Church regulations.”
Loseweisse nodded slightly: “Taking in orphans isn’t against the rules. However… Douglas.”
As her voice faded, Douglas stepped forward, appearing before Cain, who instinctively retreated.
A heavy pressure emanated from Douglas. He was a man of few words, his aura cold and unsettling. Cain couldn’t understand how such a person could be a part of the Holy See.
But perhaps only someone like him could lead the Inquisition, that place of screams and torment.
Douglas produced several magical images. Cain glanced at them, his eyes widening in horror. They were images of him engaging in… inappropriate activities with Carl, Cronin, and the other boys. He stumbled back, his face a mask of shock and disbelief.
He hadn’t embezzled Church funds, hadn’t had affairs with nuns, and had been careful in his… private affairs. He shouldn’t have been caught.
Where had Loseweisse obtained these images?
The once beautiful Saintess now seemed like a demon to him.
Cold sweat trickled down his forehead. He knew the consequences of these images being exposed.
While such activities weren’t uncommon among the Holy See’s clergy, the Church maintained a facade of piety and virtue, projecting an image of holiness and light to its followers.
His actions were unforgivable.
Far worse than the Vice-Captain’s scandal.
Usually, when such things were discovered, the solution was simple: silence the witnesses. As long as no one knew, his image remained untarnished.
But the witnesses were the Saintess and the Cardinal of the Inquisition. Silence them?
Who would silence whom?
“Archbishop Cain…” Loseweisse walked towards him, her graceful figure approaching, her hand resting on his shoulder. “As you know, magical images cannot be faked.”
“You wouldn’t want these images to be made public, would you?”
“Imagine what the Holy See’s millions of followers would think if they learned of your… depravity.”
“And what about the nuns and priests within the Church?”
Seeing his wavering gaze, Loseweisse’s smile widened. This tactic was despicable, but effective.
Douglas, as the Cardinal of the Inquisition, possessed incriminating evidence on many within the Holy See.
But Loseweisse hadn’t initially considered using it. After all, these weren’t major offenses, easily swept under the rug by someone in Cain’s position.
But Ekaterina’s words had planted a seed in her mind.
The first female Pope.
The title was incredibly tempting.
As Pope, she would command one of the most powerful organizations in the Heavenly Continent, equal in status to Saint Monique and Wadsworth. Resurrecting Jie Luo would be so much easier.
Of course, she needed to remove Augustus first.
She believed she could eventually reach his level of power, but it would take time. However, if she could gather enough support, she might be able to achieve the same result sooner.
So, she decided to consolidate her power, preparing for a coup.
She had approached a Vice-Captain first, not the one Ekaterina had suggested. But he had refused her offer, walking away without even negotiating.
As expected, using mere blackmail to control powerful figures was difficult. But his dismissive attitude had angered her.
So, she had exposed his secrets, causing a massive uproar.
The ensuing chaos had surprised even her. Those who resented the Vice-Captain, those who wanted his position, those who had been wronged by his nepotism…
She hadn’t even needed to manipulate them. They had fueled the flames of public outrage on their own.
While the Vice-Captain hadn’t been physically harmed, the sheer volume of accusations, both true and fabricated, had ruined his reputation, turning him from a respected figure into a despised pariah.
Was someone like that fit to hold a position of power within the Holy See?
The Inquisition, under the guise of quelling the unrest, had arrested him, facing little opposition. Anyone who objected was deemed an accomplice.
And once within the Inquisition’s clutches, escape was almost impossible.
Loseweisse had witnessed the power of public opinion firsthand. Mere words weren’t dangerous, but words backed by powerful forces were a deadly weapon.
Used correctly, they were more effective than any blade or spell.
And the Vice-Captain’s fate served as a warning. The other high-ranking figures she had approached, upon seeing the evidence against them, had quickly submitted.
She believed Cain would be no different.
“Archbishop Cain, you know what happened to Vice-Captain Conrad, don’t you?”
“You wouldn’t want to share his fate, would you? Your crimes are far more serious. Do you think you could retain your position if these images were exposed? Could you remain Archbishop?”
“The Inquisition has… prepared some… tools for you.”
Cain swallowed hard.
He knew Loseweisse was responsible for Conrad’s downfall.
And Douglas’s presence here meant he had no chance of denying it. With the evidence in hand, Douglas could arrest him on the spot, and no one would object.
He was a clever man.
A smile spread across his face: “Your Holiness, you jest. I’ve always admired you. If you have any requests, please don’t hesitate to ask. I won’t refuse.”
He quickly assessed the situation. What were Loseweisse and Douglas planning?
Eliminating him wouldn’t benefit them. So, their goal must be to make him their subordinate?
But what was the point? Douglas was already a Cardinal, and Loseweisse was the Saintess. Even with him as a subordinate… wait… were they aiming for the Pope’s position?
Cain’s eyes narrowed. Considering their close relationship, Loseweisse was clearly the intended candidate. Were they planning to make her the first female Pope?
Even Cain, with his strong will, was shocked by their ambition.
However, he had no loyalty to Augustus. Augustus’s rise from Saint Son to Pope had been unprecedented. The Pope was traditionally chosen from among the Archbishops. No one had expected Augustus to claim the position.
Cain, seeing his opportunity, said quickly: “I’m willing to serve you, Your Holiness, even unto death. I will be your most loyal supporter.”
“You’re a smart man, Cain,” Loseweisse said, pleased with his answer. “Please come to this location in seven days for a small gathering. There will be… like-minded individuals there.”
Cain memorized the address.
Seven days. It was both a preparation period for Loseweisse and a test for Cain. The Inquisition would be watching him closely. Any suspicious activity, and the evidence against him would be exposed.
Seven days wasn’t long, but it wasn’t short either.
Cain remained in his room, not daring to go anywhere.
He had considered seeking Augustus’s help, but he had ultimately decided against it. The maids in his room, the nuns in the hallways, the priests in the cathedral… who knew how many were spies for the Inquisition?
How many Eyes of True Sight were watching him?
If his attempt to contact Augustus was discovered, he would share Conrad’s fate.
Seven days later, he left the Holy See, heading for the designated location. But the hotel room was empty, only a note directing him to another location. After several such detours, he reached the outskirts of the Imperial City.
The abandoned site of the Church of the Earth Mother Goddess. The old church had been demolished, and no one had bothered to rebuild it.
As he arrived, he saw a crowd of people. He recognized many of them.
Three of the Holy See’s nine Archbishops, including himself, and two of the Holy Knights’ seven Vice-Captains.
And seventeen of the thirty-six Bishops stationed in the Imperial City.
They had all been coerced by Loseweisse. Who knew the seemingly innocent and pure Saintess was so ruthless?
His arrival didn’t cause much of a stir. Some ignored him, while others looked slightly embarrassed.
After a while, Douglas and Loseweisse arrived.
Some considered attacking. With so many powerful individuals present, even Douglas and Loseweisse wouldn’t be able to defeat them all.
But they quickly reconsidered.
If they had dared to come here, they must have prepared countermeasures.
The moment they attacked, their own secrets would be exposed.
Douglas, ignoring the hateful glares, walked to the center of the crowd: “Welcome, everyone.”
“This is our first gathering.”
“I apologize for the… less than ideal location and lack of hospitality,” he said, bowing slightly. “But I didn’t want Augustus to learn of our meeting.”
So it’s about the Pope’s position, after all.
While many had suspected it, it still made their hearts lurch.
“Before we begin, there’s something I need to announce.”
Douglas’s face lit up with excitement, his eyes shining with a manic light: “Do you really think Her Holiness is merely a Saintess?”
Of course she is. What else could she be?
“No, you’re wrong.”
“She’s not just a Saintess. She’s a Goddess.”
He spread his arms, his voice filled with a fervent zeal:
“She is the daughter of a god!”
