Byrne cathedral.
This holy place, located in the center of the red blood castle, was and is the most magnificent and majestic temple in the red blood castle;
Like a sharp sword, all the walls in the church are covered with 13 meter high colored glass, and 48 corridor columns surround the hall. Each of them is decorated with exquisite reliefs. Hundreds of reliefs vividly reproduce the stories in the Holy Cross scriptures and have the reputation of "stone scriptures".
Even among all the magnificent and dazzling cathedrals in the principality, Bain Cathedral can still firmly occupy the top three.
After the "blood order" incident, Byrne cathedral was rebuilt in three years with the donations of believers; Although there are still many broken walls, it is not difficult to imagine how magnificent and majestic she used to be just because of its only remaining parts and empty ruins.
Bishop Byrne''s swearing in ceremony was arranged in the most well restored main hall.
In the middle of the hall, a temporary circular podium was built. 300 priests from all over Bain rushed to vote, like thick and gorgeous velvet tapestries, decorated the surrounding pillars and walls.
Looking at the crowd of priests under the stage, the faces that almost wrote expectation, consternation, jealousy, resentment and contempt on their foreheads, little priest Weber couldn''t help swallowing his saliva.
This is his dream, but it is different from the dream.
"Dear Weber, you don''t have to worry about anything - it''s all taken care of." deacon hilwick still stood behind him and chattered:
"The whole Byrne church, even the whole Holy Cross Church, is standing behind you, and the Duke of Byrne has nothing to do with you - you will become the richest and most powerful bishop in twelve generations!"
"All your wishes will come true, and all your commands will be carried out unconditionally; of course, you can also make your perverse Philosophy... Er, I mean, the understanding of the Holy Cross has become the only truth in Bain, and no one dares to resist you."
"All you have to do is remain absolutely loyal to the archbishop, brother Weber."
The thoughtful little priest did not look at him, but instinctively nodded.
…………………………………………
"So it is."
In the garden of red blood Castle palace, after patiently listening to Loren''s explanation, little priest Weber suddenly realized: "it''s so!"
"That''s what happened." the black haired wizard nodded and could not see that he had just got the news from Charlotte: "the church can''t control Byrne, so they can only compromise - Dear Weber, their goal is to win over you and indirectly control the Principality of Byrne."
"No, I mean, you always knew I was at Byrne." the little priest''s face showed a trace of bitterness, slightly bowed his head and dared not look directly into Lauren''s eyes:
"I always think... I hide well."
"What do you say?"
Blinking, the dark haired wizard continued to pretend to be confused.
"During the imperial court trial, I betrayed you... Betrayed my friends, which is the most terrible sin I can imagine." little priest Weber looked gloomy and suddenly smiled bitterly:
"Hehe... Don''t lie to you. When those church guards came, I actually thought they were sent by you - I told you, ''yes, it''s time''. Now you are Duke Byrne, of course you have the right to revenge me."
"Even if deacon hilwick handed the letter to me and told me ''it''s true'' again and again, I told myself it was just a trap you set up." the lower the priest''s head, the deeper.
"Why?" Lauren continued to ask knowingly, ticking out each other''s words.
"Because I don''t deserve... Not status, not status, but I really don''t deserve it." Weber''s voice was shaking. "Especially what you just said, I''m convinced - I don''t deserve it!"
"What am I? A tool used by the church to threaten you, or the product of Byrne''s compromise with the heavenly palace? I am a puppet, a tool, a weapon - but not bishop Byrne!"
"Everyone - and possibly even you - doesn''t think I have this qualification and ability, but puts me in this position out of ambition and power!"
The excited little priest suddenly looked up and looked extremely painful.
The dark haired wizard who listened silently flashed his smile from the bottom of his eyes.
"Weber, you''ve... Given up your ideals, haven''t you?"
The little priest was shocked!
"He told me that he would never give up his ideal, hesitated and prepared to reform the church, start from the grass-roots level, become a bishop, then enter the imperial capital, reshape the doctrine of the Holy Cross, and let the lost century old Sutra lead the faith of the Empire again..."
Every time the dark haired wizard said a word, little priest Weber''s body twitched violently; Cheeks red, gnashing teeth, open hands supporting knees.
That expression was like fighting and dueling with another self.
"The outspoken said that the church should become the heaven of every believer, not the prison of faith..."
"Let the kingdom of heaven held high in the dome fall back to the ground, and change the priest Weber all over the world..."
"Dead... Right?"
Facing the calm eyes of the black haired wizard, the little priest with red eyes seemed to freeze. He opened his mouth, but couldn''t say anything.
A whole minute.
"I, I..." a simple word seems to have a heavy weight in Weber''s mouth:
"I - I didn''t!!!!!"
Gnashing his teeth, the red faced little priest fell into Loren''s arms, his thin hands clutching his collar, as if he would tear him to pieces in the next second.
The black haired wizard was surprised at first, and then smiled at the corners of his mouth: "that''s right."
In a word, the "Crazy" Weber quickly "degenerated" and recovered his calm.
"Yes, I''m sorry! Sorry, I didn''t mean to, I just..." in a hurry, Weber''s first reaction was still an apology.
"There''s nothing to apologize for, because that''s you," Lauren interrupted, gently gripping the wrist that grabbed his collar and looking at the little priest:
"Because of you, I promised to compromise with the church and rejected the list of candidates given to me by Charlotte Turin - even if I knew those who would resolutely implement my orders and fight the church to the end."
"Well, in your words, they are not bishops Byrne, but puppets in my hands, just tools and weapons against the church."
"Why?" the little priest blurted out.
"Because of your ideals and abilities, you have the responsibility to be bishop of Byrne - you have the responsibility." Loren''s answer is quite straightforward:
"Second... In this power struggle between the two sides, only you have the chance to become a ''worthy'' bishop of Byrne - no one else can!"
Weber still doesn''t understand.
"Let me put it this way - what would happen if I made a... Um, my man bishop of Byrne?" the dark haired wizard patiently explained, "yes, he would carry out any order I gave, but none of them could be carried out."
"Why? Because half of the priests in Byrne church are Archbishop innocent. Even if they only want to fight me, they will oppose all my orders, even for opposition."
"In the long run, the so-called bishop Byrne is nothing but a decoration. The Byrne church is still just a decoration, and the power struggle between the two sides will continue for decades."
Speaking of this, Loren couldn''t help sighing - almost a day and a half ago, he finally persuaded Charlotte with the same words and pushed her hard-working and carefully selected candidate for bishop.
Of course, the consequence is that from yesterday to now, the Countess of red blood castle has never given herself a good face.
"What about me?" the little priest couldn''t help asking, "am I different?"
"Of course, you''re different; you''re the man of the Archbishop of innocent, and they absolutely believe you." Loren said calmly:
"The most important thing... You betrayed me and almost beat me."
"The Holy Cross could never believe that Duke Byrne... Would trust a friend who had betrayed him and almost broke his name!"
The little priest clenched his teeth and nodded slightly with a dark expression.
"Of course, they won''t believe you so easily. After all, you''re too innocent. You''re so innocent that you don''t have any handle to be coerced and manipulated - this is not what they like to see." Lauren smiled:
"Although I don''t know much about the church, I know that the last bishop of Byrne''s annual ''income'' is almost three million in gold coins - not counting his twelve manors, four small chambers of Commerce, three salt mines and one coal mine..."
"He has a total of six mistresses, three of whom are in red blood castle, holding an industry with an annual output of no less than 500000 and shares that can eat interest in the yode chamber of Commerce; several illegitimate children hold important positions in the Byrne church and run a loan business in red blood castle."
"It''s not over yet. Little Yoder of the United Chamber of Commerce told me that the bishop still has a real estate in his hometown. He even spent a lot of money to obtain the title of Royal Baron for one of his illegitimate children, and he is still hereditary, so as to control the real estate and Manor of his hometown; even in the imperial capital Golovin, he has two houses next to a private church he bought Tang; "
"What I want to say is that the bishop of ''brilliant achievements'' still belongs to the kind of'' less greedy ''among the bishops of Byrne in the past dynasties..."
The little priest Weber frowned, and his eyes showed a look of resentment and helplessness.
"And you, Weber, the future bishop of Byrne... You can get more than this bishop if you want." Loren slowly opened his mouth and looked into his eyes:
"In order to control you and win you over, they will spare no effort to buy you off; with your ability, they want to be invincible, enjoy luxury comparable to the supreme emperor, and even let their illegitimate children appear in the church and occupy important positions; or become hereditary aristocrats..."
"The opportunity is in front of you."
"The hole leading to all this is right in front of you."
"Kneel down, get in... Then, everything is yours."
As the voice fell, Loren silently observed the little priest in front of him. He could just force his calm cheeks to twitch constantly, and restrained his anger with great perseverance.
Yes, that''s why Loren thought of the little priest.
No matter how loyal he is to himself, when he becomes bishop Byrne, it is difficult to control all these temptations - in order to fight himself, the church will pay him crazy at all costs.
In this case, the best result is just the birth of a guy who is the same as the previous bishops of Byrne. The Byrne church is still in vain, and the struggle between the two sides will not end.
The little priest Weber, he is different, because his ideal has not died out.
He longed for sacrifice, dedication and change - wealth, status, reputation... For him, it was the mud, dung and disgust on the roadside.
It''s wishful thinking that the church wants to buy him off.
On the other hand, in order to win over the new bishop of Byrne, at least in the early stage, the church will not prevent the little clergy from doing anything, or even try their best to cooperate to block themselves; When Weber came to power, it was too late for them to regret.
This is the reason why Loren insisted on choosing Webber and even did not hesitate to "break up" with Charlotte.
In the current situation, only he can overcome all difficulties and become the real "bishop of Byrne".
Burn yourself and light up the world.
This is a person who is willing to die for his ideal. What he wants most is to die bravely and fall on the road of changing the world.
"Your ideal is the reason why you become bishop Byrne," Lauren said quietly. "If you want to realize your ideal, bishop Byrne will be your first test."
"It''s up to you to decide whether you fall into the quagmire of worldly fame and wealth under the temptation of wealth, interests and power, or whether you are so lonely that you betray your relatives and achieve nothing in the end."
"If you want to change the world and make the church an ideal place for people to rely on spiritually, I don''t object; of course, don''t expect me to agree. I won''t give you too much support. It''s up to you to what extent you can do."
"If you think what I expect is a lack of faith and a world driven by interests and progress is wrong, show me what the world full of pure faith looks like in your imagination."
"So let me ask again... Weber, is your ideal still there?"
Lauren looked at him without squinting.
After a long time.
"I see, Loren."
Little priest Weber raised his head again. This time, there was no excitement, confusion, trance and no measures in his eyes... Instead, there was no calm at all.
Under the silent lake, there is a burning flame.
"I''ll show you."