Hirodod displayed so surprise upon hearing this, "That day, I did not participate in the final vote, I rely followed the orders of the Church."
"I know, I know... the punishnts are just for show for those below us. Your diligence over the years has not gone unnoticed by and the other High Priests, but the Church is now facing trouble, and sacrifices must be made."
"Are you asking to take the bla for this?"
"It’s not just , but other Priests think similarly. Of course, it’s not your fault; we all know that. However, under the current circumstances, we have to put you at a disadvantage. We will keep your position as High Priest reserved for you, and once this blows over, you can return."
Priest Reves tried to keep his tone gentle and his expression earnest, but then he saw his disciple laugh out loud.
That was undoubtedly very rude, and a hint of displeasure appeared on the old priest’s face.
"What’s so funny?" he asked.
"Nothing much, I just rembered that Female Priest nad Adelle. You told her the sa thing back then. So, have you restored her reputation yet?"
Priest Reves’s expression gradually darkened upon hearing this, "You have the nerve to say that, when it was your bad idea back then, to send a young priest to challenge rlin in a dical contest. Winning would undermine the Double Rest Sect, and losing wouldn’t be a loss either, but the result..."
"I didn’t say to use the Holy Coffin." Hirodod shrugged, "It was your excessive actions that allowed rlin to catch you out."
"Say what you will, but it was I who mobilized several High Priests to save you. In the end, it was Priest Martina’s disciple who was made the scapegoat."
Priest Reves’s patience was almost depleted as he warned, "Don’t forget who brought you to this position. I can bring you down just as easily as I brought you up.
"Don’t think that just because you beca a High Priest, you’ve grown wings. I’ve sat in this position over a hundred years longer than you. The Church is filled with my allies and disciples. Those who have crossed have never ended well."
"It’s precisely because the Church is filled with people like Teacher that you can’t deal with rlin and his Double Rest Sect." Hirodod spoke softly.
"What did you say?!" Priest Reves doubted his own ears; otherwise, why would his usually obedient disciple dare to speak to him this way?
But what he didn’t expect ca next, as Hirodod’s words grew increasingly rebellious.
"Teacher, you and your friends are like parasites clinging to the Silver Moon Church, a big tree. Every day, you’re busy fighting for power and profit, growing fat and scheming only to gain more for yourselves, yet no one cares about how to make the tree beneath them thrive!"
"You bastard, how dare you speak to your teacher like this!" Priest Reves, outraged, pointed at Hirodod’s nose, "Do you think I’m unaware of your little sches behind my back? The truly insatiable one is you!
"I should have listened to Priest Martina in the first place, not letting a two-faced person like you beco a High Priest!"
"But you couldn’t resist, could you, Teacher? Because obedient dogs like are hard to find." Hirodod smiled slightly, "As I said, Teacher, between the Church and your own interests, you always choose the latter."
"Hmph, since so dogs can never be satiated, I will just replace it," Priest Reves said coldly.
"Unfortunately, this dog has now grown its own fangs and claws."
"Heh, did you think I wasn’t prepared for you? It was my idea to put you in charge of the Guard Squad. Once tainted by darkness, you can only dwell in darkness forever. Others will shun you. How many allies have you made in all these years as a high priest, and how many confidants?"
"I haven’t made a single ally," Hirodod shook his head.
"Then what are you going to use to fight ?" Priest Reves mocked.
"The Guard Squad," the young high priest replied, "I have the Guard Squad."
Priest Reves’s smile froze on his face, "Have you gone mad? The Guard Squad is ant to protect the Church, not to be wielded against one’s own."
"Previously it couldn’t, but now that I’ve trained it, it can," Hirodod said leisurely, "and it’s all thanks to you, teacher, for handing this troop over to ."
After a pause, the young priest continued, "Teacher, do you know what the biggest problem with people like you is? You chase power, you worship power, and you’ve been imrsed in power so long that you can only see power. Thus, you regard power as the source of all strength.
"But you overlook the most basic and purest form of power—that is violence.
"rlin would never make such a fundantal mistake. He’s only been establishing the sect for half a year and has already ford his own ard forces. Admit it, teacher, you are far behind him. At this rate, you’ll never beat the Double Rest Sect."
The old priest thought of sothing, his face turning ugly, but still he forced himself to say, "We have a million believers."
"They can also betray Pisya like the new Family Head of the Arias family, converting to Saturday worship."
"What can you do then?"
"Form our own real army, not relying on those fence-sitting noble lords. Only this way can we truly defeat rlin and his Double Rest Sect," Hirodod said earnestly.
"You will destroy the Silver Moon Church! What do you think has allowed us to stand for a thousand years? Not forming an army is our promise to the noble families of the Western Territories, and it is our foundation," Priest Reves cried out.
"That was then, this is now. Our believers are spread across the Western Territories, numbering over a million. Even if the nobles are dissatisfied, they can’t unite against us. Besides... don’t we now have a pretext?"
The old priest’s eyes widened, his face filled with shock, "Hirodod, you... you scoundrel! Did you do this on purpose, intentionally making the Church lose face in Green Field, how... how dare you?!"
"It’s ti for a change," the young priest said gravely, "I received a divine revelation from the goddess. She is heartbroken over the current state of the Church, so she tasked with rescuing everyone and cleansing the rot from the Divine Tree to restore its splendor. This is the mission she has bestowed upon ."
Having finished, Hirodod took a deep breath and drew the small dagger from his waist.
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