The Original Vampire

The towering spire of the Holy Light Cathedral radiates colorful light in the morning sun, like a fine oil painting.

In a conference room in the west wing of the cathedral, members of the cardinals are entering one after another.

In the power structure of the Radiance Church, the Pope has the highest status and the greatest power, but at the same time, he is also restricted by the Cardinals.

The appointment and removal of the Pope needs to be voted by the Cardinals. In addition, some important decrees issued by the Pope must also be voted by the Cardinals before they can take effect.

However, the College of Cardinals has only voting rights, not executive powers.

Moreover, under normal circumstances, the group of cardinals will not challenge the authority of the Pope unless the other party really does something outrageous.

What Pope Gregory has done today, although not really to the point of anger and resentment, has indeed seriously damaged the prestige of the church.

In addition, many members of the Cardinal Corps blamed Gregory's inaction for the previous turmoil in the Eastern Territory. big.

Most of the 120 seats in the conference hall have been filled. On the high platform in the center of the hall, only one person is seated in the three cardinal seats.

Cardinal Mensay stared blankly at the door of the hall, where his thoughts had drifted.

Since returning from negotiating with the North, the atmosphere above the holy mountain has suddenly become tense.

Obviously this is all because of the two reconciliation conditions proposed by the North.

Pope Gregory abdicates, and the Diocese of the North becomes independent.

Both of these conditions are extremely excessive, but the senior leaders of the church also understand that in order to appease the northern border, it is impossible to reject both conditions, at least one of them must be agreed, otherwise the negotiation will not be able to continue.

As for which one to promise...

Needless to say, Pope Gregory would not agree to the first one.

But the members of the Cardinals did not want to lose the North Diocese.

As a result, the voice calling for Gregory to abdicate gradually changed from an undercurrent under the water to a storm on the bright side.

To this end, last night, Gregory also specifically sought Mensay and asked him to suppress the dangerous trend that was gradually emerging in the Cardinals.

Mensa Yiben didn't want to help. He actually wanted Gregory to abdicate. As the Pope's successor, once Gregory abdicated, he would have the opportunity to sit on the top of the holy mountain.

But the only thing that makes Mensay a little hesitant is that even if Gregory is forced to abdicate, he may not be the one who will succeed him.

Because since the Eastern Territory Diocese was swept away by the Blood Riders, Mensay's prestige in the church has not been as good as before. If Gregory abdicates now, the successor will most likely be Cardinal Nopton.

Since he can't get his turn, Mensay's mentality is not so urgent, and he even has a leisurely interest in watching fire from the other side.

On the other hand, Mensay is somewhat inclined to maintain the status quo.

After all, the change of the Pope will inevitably lead to turmoil, and the empire at this time is better to be stable...

"Lord Mensay, everyone is here."

The squire's words brought Mensa Yi back to reality.

He nodded, indicating that he knew, then sat up straight, adjusted his collar, picked up the mallet and struck it three times.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

"Okay, everyone is here, let's start."

When the meeting hall gradually quieted down, Mensay picked up the parchment scroll in front of him and read:

"There are three topics for today's meeting, the first..."

"Wait a moment!"

At this moment, a voice suddenly came from the door of the hall.

Mensay was wondering who would dare to disturb the order of the meeting of the Cardinals, but when he saw the face of the man at the door, he suddenly exclaimed:

"Nopton?"

Nopton nodded to the guards guarding the door, and then strode into the conference hall.

Of course the guards did not dare to stop a cardinal, and had to let Nopton go in.

Just after Nopton went in, one of the guards turned around and ran away, and it seemed that he was going to tip off the news.

"Nopton, didn't you go to the west? Why did you come back so quickly?" Mensa Yi looked at Nopton who was approaching, and asked with a puzzled face.

Nopton smiled slightly, but did not answer the question immediately, but Shi Shiran walked up to the high platform and sat down in his own seat.

Compared to Mensay, who was stunned and bewildered on the stage, the attitude of most of the cardinals in the audience was much duller.

No, it's too bland.

It was as if Nopton would appear for a long time.

Mensay's eyes swept across the audience, taking everyone's expressions into his eyes, only then did he realize that something was wrong, and he suddenly realized:

"You didn't go to the Western Territory at all, but you have been hiding in Yulong City, secretly instigating..."

"Lord Mensay, this is the meeting of the Cardinals, please don't talk about other irrelevant topics." Nopton interrupted Mensay immediately, and glanced at the other party with warning eyes.

Mensay took a deep breath, calmed down, and then reminded in a low voice:

"Lord Nopton, I advise you to exercise caution, Gregory is not so easy to deal with, and now is not the right time..."

"East." Nopton suddenly spoke again and said lightly.

"What?" Mensay looked puzzled.

Nopton smiled slightly and explained: "You help me now. After this is done, you will decide who will be the new Archbishop of the Eastern Territory."

Mensay was startled and suddenly moved.

The Eastern Territory is his sphere of influence, but it was messed up by Ke Lin. Now if he can regain control of the Eastern Territory...

It's a pity that Mensay didn't know that the candidate for the East Territory Archbishop had already been sold to Emperor Reinhardt by Nopton...

After thinking about it, Mensay still asked hesitantly, "Have you got the Knights Templar?"

Nopton smiled confidently and said, "Don't worry, if I don't have absolute certainty, I will take risks?"

Mensay just gritted his teeth and said, "Okay, I'll help you this time!"

Boom!

Nopton took the gavel and hit it hard, then said loudly:

"Gentlemen, after consultation with Cardinal Mensay, we have decided to give priority to a vote on an urgent proposal."

Mensay's heartbeat gradually accelerated, and his breathing became quicker. His eyes slowly swept across the audience, and he found that most of the members of the cardinal group showed eagerness, and only a few people were still surprised, as if they did not agree. Don't know what's about to happen.

Nopton's loud voice continued to be heard around him:

"... During his tenure as Pope, Gregory acted recklessly and abused his power, which seriously damaged the prestige of the Church and tarnished the glory of our Lord. Therefore, I propose that the current Pope Gregory be impeached!"

Boom!

Mu Chai rang again.

"Now, start voting!"