Chapter 353: The Formal Arrival of the Prophesized One
A few days later, the main church of the Heavenly Direction received information that they would soon welcome an esteemed guest. The Saintess herself had extended the invitation, hoping that this person could assist the church and heal the Pope.
For the lower-ranked church members who were unaware of the details, questions arose regarding the guest’s identity because the news of the prophesized one circulated only among the higher-ups of the church, while the Pope’s illness was strictly kept secret, known only to the archbishops and a select few knights.
However, the higher-ups were well aware of the guest’s identity because the Saintess herself had informed them of his arrival. He was the prophesized Messiah, as foretold by the Saintess. Stories about the man from the prophecy had been told for the last few years.
That man was, in fact, the mysterious swordsman whose achievements had left many in awe. Because of his deeds, the higher-ups’ faith in him continued to grow, making them more optimistic about the future. Many had already witnessed traces of his presence and his overwhelming power, strengthening their belief that he could truly solve the church’s problem regarding the energy purity and the Pope’s illness.
At this moment, inside Cardinal Carsius’s room, his expression was anything but good. The sudden arrival of the prophesized man had unsettled him. He had not expected the Saintess to invite him so soon, and now, the man was already on his way to the church!
"Let’s calm down for a second. Even if he does arrive, he can’t heal the Pope—the Devil Lord himself said that the curse will never be broken unless the Pope dies. Yes, let’s stay positive. If that person fails to heal the Pope, many will begin to doubt him and even lose trust in the Saintess. Although that would be unfortunate, it’s still better than the Pope recovering and uncovering the truth behind it all," he thought.
He was already in too deep to escape from the situation. His dealings with the devils to secure his position as Pope had already raised suspicion from the Pope himself. Cardinal Carsius knew about this because spies from his faction had informed him of the Paladin Knights’ suspicious movements.
At this point, it was too late for him to try blocking the incoming guest, as doing so would only draw more suspicion. None of the people within his faction knew his true nature, and if he openly opposed the arrival of the guest, they might even start to doubt him.
Right now, the only thing he could do was hope that the prophesized person would make a mistake—something that would cause the members of the church to look at him with doubt.
"Heaven has already chosen me as the one who will lead the church to greater heights. Yes, I have nothing to worry about. Heaven is on my side. No matter what they do, as long as I remain composed, all their efforts will be useless," he reassured himself.
Knock, knock.