When the plot-skips players into the game world

Chapter 865: Chapter 240 How Did I Become the Pope?

Chapter 865: Chapter 240 How Did I Become the Pope?

Whether it’s the Pure White Saintess pretending to be attacked, or the “rescue” by the Cardinal Archbishops.

Including their current “questioning” and “answers,” all are part of a pre-arranged plan.

Because this is also in the interest of the Cardinal Archbishops.

Indeed, some among them want to become the Pope.

But the one who most wanted to be Pope was the now deceased Cardinal Loki.

These Cardinal Archbishops don’t vie for the papacy out of a lust for power.

Rather, the “old antiques” among them believe that an Amberficated Saintess is unable to lead the Holy Nation properly.

In other words, she’s not qualified.

However, the Saintess has shown them that Amberficate now has the possibility of healing and restoration…

so, compared to letting another Cardinal, who is in opposition to them, become Pope, it’s better to continue letting the Saintess lead.

If everyone can’t be completely satisfied, at least they can feel “it’s passable.”

But letting the Saintess become Pope carries an unavoidable risk: her Amberficate.

In the common consciousness of the Holy Nation, if an Elf Amberficates, it often indicates a psychological problem.

It’s easy to explain away when common folk Amberficate—who doesn’t have some mental issues?…

But for a leader like the Pope, or the Saintess who is a candidate for leadership, Amberficate is not permitted.

Because it means faith isn’t pure or there’s a moral deficit—how can they lead the Holy Nation forward if even the Pope and Saintess are Amberficated?

It also means they have the “potential to go mad” or the “possibility of dying at any moment.”

Even “the most modernized Elf” is ultimately conservative.

They can’t accept too high a risk.

Therefore, even if the Saintess wins the papal election, there remains the possibility, before her Amberficate is healed, that it could be discovered or intentionally leaked.

—So the Holy Nation chose the Hawkeye Organization to be the scapegoats.

If I Amberficate myself, that’s my moral failing, but if I’m poisoned, then I am a victim.

…No, that’s not right.

Aiwass shook his head, gradually sobering up.

His thoughts became clearer amidst the sudden shock—

According to the ethical standards of the Holy Nation, it’s unlikely to intentionally set someone up to be a scapegoat.

And judging by the extent of Miss Alice’s panic…

she probably knew that the Saintess was going to Amberficate.

That means she knew the effect of Tears of Time and determined beforehand that it would be used on the Saintess!

The person who invited them was now blatantly clear—

It was the now-silenced Cardinal Loki!

Although the Holy Nation found a tiny amount of Tears of Time left among the “relics” of Cardinal Loki…

they couldn’t determine where the rest had gone.

Because there had already been instances of people “suddenly Amberficating,” as well as others, like the current Saintess, declaring themselves “involuntarily Amberficated” to legitimize their long-hidden Amberficate condition…

this resulted in an account of how much Loki used that would be destined to mismatch, impossible to be cleared.

Clearly, one portion ended up in the hands of these assassins from Hawkeye!

One of the Cardinal Archbishops, while investigating Loki’s relics, must have discovered this.

Then, after consulting with Grey, they decided to stage this play.

After all, someone has to become Pope, but besides the most neutral Saintess, any other choice would leave someone dissatisfied.

The path of Dedication is an extremely extreme path.

Because everyone firmly believes that they are walking the most righteous path…@@novelbin@@

such fanatics, when they go mad, are much more frightening than the average person.

With this thought, Aiwass suddenly remembered something from a few days ago…

he saw so much about the Cardinals from Cardinal Cyril.

So many Cardinals, serious, gathered for a meeting, but the Saintess was not present.

And Matilda, the closest to the Saintess, also wasn’t there.

Although they were discussing “warrior” issues, it’s hard to imagine that such an issue could congregate so many Cardinals just two days before the papal election—they must have been considering another plan.

Perhaps to initially shift the conflict onto “warriors,” or some other plan…

But once Aiwass appeared, claiming to be a Cardinal Archbishop, they all left.

Aiwass had only been asleep for a few hours, yet how could a meeting that warranted such serious attendance from many Cardinal Archbishops end with just a few hours of discussion?

These are the Longevity Species who don’t regard time as humans do.

It’s clear, the reason for their assembly had vanished—because they unanimously passed the resolution “to let Aiwass serve as the Temporary Pope.”

—Rather than letting certain Cardinals, who are usually in opposition to them, become Pope, it’s better to choose a human!

Thinking so, they suddenly found enlightenment.

And considering this…

The only one who knew that Aiwass would perform the Lunar Eclipse Ceremony the night before to complete the task of the Lord of Scalefeather was Cardinal Cyril.

He must have been the convener of that meeting…

to let the other Cardinals witness the birth of this “human Cardinal Archbishop.”

Having sorted through these thoughts, Aiwass didn’t feel any further urge to resist.

Becoming Pope—not bad at all.

That’s the most powerful person in the world…

although just a figurehead brought to the forefront, and limited to six months…

but who would refuse such an opportunity?

He must be out of his mind to do so.

——It was as if Aiwass had drunk too much just now; though he didn’t understand, his first instinct was to refuse.

Moreover, this was not any chaotic conspiracy of evil, but rather a favorable matter to maintain order and prevent the schism of the Holy Nation.

Of course, Aiwass wouldn’t continue to voice any objections.

His drunkenness was completely gone.

“But why wouldn’t they tell me…

Oh, maybe because they’re afraid I’m not a good actor.”

Aiwass, now fully sober, finally realized.

In the eyes of these Eternal Theocracy elves, Aiwass must seem like a very honest and good person.

Probably only a few Avalonians and Stibnites knew that Aiwass was not a “good bird.”

——After all, it seemed Cardinal Siegfried was also in the dark.

That guy also didn’t seem very smart…

So, even among the cardinals, not everyone knew the full details of the plan.

Just like Cardinal Favna only knew there might be poison in the wine, but she wasn’t sure if the assassin had already placed the poison in everyone’s wine.

That’s why she had expressly come to give a reminder…

Not to Aiwass but because she worried Cardinal Siegfried might inadvertently get poisoned…

The Holy Maiden had not drunk any wine, so there was no possibility of her pouring more later.

She just needed to be the first to arrive, and then before others came, she could personally pour and test the wine, ensuring that her own glass was absolutely safe…

As Aiwass sobered up and seriously reviewed the situation, the Pure White Saintess suddenly raised her voice, bringing Aiwass back to reality: “If there are no other objections…

then let us proceed to the second round of voting.

“——Those opposed, raise your hand.”

A silence fell over the room; no one raised their hand.

“——Those in favor, raise your hand.”

As she finished speaking, she took Aiwass’s hand and raised it.

All the Cardinal Archbishops raised their hands, consenting to Aiwass as the proxy for the Pure White Saintess in the papal election.

At that moment, the nine o’clock bell also rang out.

Through the windows came the melodious and sacred chime of the bell.

The papal election ceremony formally began.

Without any hint of concealment, the Pure White Saintess opened her eyes wide, showing her amberficated eye boldly to all.

“As the ceremony’s host, following tradition, I submit three papal candidate nominations.

These nominations adhere to the principles of fairness and objectivity, selected through voluntary registration, and chosen by the previous Eternal Pope, confirmed by all the Cardinal Archbishops of the Papal Hall.

“——Aiwass Moriarty.

The deputy of Lord of Scalefeather, newly promoted Cardinal Archbishop.

The only short-lived species cardinal, the only human cardinal…

and a Fourth Level Contributor, at merely nineteen years old.

“——Favna.

The deputy of Candle Master, the only dragon clan cardinal, the leader of the Homeland Faction.

The administrator of the Third Ring.

“——Galatea.

The deputy of Gemini Mirror.

The lone construct cardinal, the leader of the Relic Restoration Assembly, the manager of the Seventh Ring.”

Upon hearing this, Aiwass subconsciously glanced at Belisarius.

And Belisarius slightly averted his gaze.

Favna and Galatea; one belonging to the progressive faction, and the other to the conservative faction.

As the leader of the radical ‘Judgment Core’ faction, Belisarius was supposed to be in Aiwass’s place.

——Not even one from the radical faction had made it into the top three!

This probably also reflected the Papal Hall’s attitude towards the radical faction after Cardinal Loki’s death…

And it wasn’t just ironic or fair…

that none of the three candidates for the next pope were elves, not even one had elven blood!

By now, Aiwass already knew the election result.

After all, the papal election is by open ballot.

No cardinal would want the Holy Nation to split—since all were, in a sense, “good people” doing what they believed was best for others.

In such circumstances, the actions of almost everyone could be predicted.

That is, everyone harmoniously moving toward the “best future” — as long as the path to that future wasn’t blocked.

A group of philosopher-kings who truly sacrificed their lives for others and indeed had the strength to practice their own arguments.

This was the real foundation of the strength of the Eternal Theocracy.

——In this timeline, where the Pure White Saintess’s reputation hasn’t been destroyed by amberfication, Aiwass was bound to be elected unanimously.

That future was a given.

…I’m going to be Pope?

For a moment, Aiwass felt his nineteen years of life were like a dream, almost an illusion.

What a dreamy and illusory world!

Wasn’t I just here in the Holy Nation as an exchange student?

How did it happen that I’ve come to rule the Eternal Theocracy?