Pirate Kingship-Chapter 785 - 494: Hidden: The Fuse of Religious War

However, the angelic names they described to others were never repeated.

The core ritual [Angel's Descent] can channel the power of angels into one's body, slowly transforming their physique.

Making oneself more adaptable to divine power significantly increases the advancement speed of the Order of Sanctity's professions.

Even after three rituals of [The Gates of Heaven], one can transform into a celestial creature living in Heaven, represented by the mythical creature [Angel]!

"Is it this book?!"

Byron's pupils suddenly contracted; he had seen this scripture before.

On Shampoo Island, the holy land of the Bloodthirsty Cult, clergy from St. Peter's Cathedral had practiced this forbidden knowledge.

Just like most forbidden knowledge can be traced back to some Old God, this forbidden knowledge came from the strongest and only god, the [Creator].

Ironically, the Church itself established the Religious Tribunal and launched witch hunts one after another during the Dark Millennium, hunting down black witches all day long.

In the end, it turned out to be a case of the thief crying "stop thief," as the black witch was essentially themselves.

After the shock, Byron couldn't help but fall into doubt:

"What is going on?

Wasn't it said that due to the side effect of this knowledge forcing people to praise angels and convert under their rule, the Traditional Faction wanted to learn it only after obtaining the [Panacea]?

Why are they suddenly expediting the transcription of so many scriptures, and what are they for?" 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

The [Divine Sight] compressed within a hundred-meter range quickly scanned the library filled with all sorts of information.

Soon, he found the answer in a Pope's decree issued three days ago from the Holy See.

"From today, a gag order is issued, forbidding anyone to read the works of Cardinal Archbishop Martin of the Wittenberg Diocese, especially his opposition to the Indulgence Certificate, 'Ninety-five Theses,' violators will be considered heretics and face capital punishment..."

Byron quickly finished reading the decree.

Only then did he realize what earth-shattering events had occurred in the Old Continent during this period, his heart thundering with shock.

Two months ago, when he met the Protestant Paladin [Holy Hammer] Oliver by chance in the Royal Capital of Kingston, the latter was already planning an independent action:

"The Protestant Doctrine is weak and needs more than the Traditional Faction to rely on secular royal power.

Currently, several saints within the sect are scheming to help certain vassals of The Holy Silver Empire, who have been most poisoned by the Traditional Faction, to gain independence." (Chapter 458)

And three days ago, a Cardinal Archbishop Martin within the Holy Silver Empire sounded the attack horn against the Traditional Faction.

He nailed his "Ninety-five Theses," also called "The Debate on the Efficacy of Indulgences," on the gates of the All Saints' Church in Wittenberg.

Over the past hundred years, Protestant ideas had already built a widespread foundation among believers, clergy, secular kings, and vassals, although they had never come to open confrontation.

Now the conflict was explicitly laid bare.

Actually, it had a lot to do with Byron as well.

Because the Kingdom of Castilia was the strongest defender of the Traditional Faction in the secular world.

When they got embroiled in the throne war and couldn't attend to other matters, it was when the Traditional Faction was weakest in the secular realm.

Meanwhile, the sudden influx of vast quantities of cheap sugar cane paper into the market made Protestant leaders see hope that knowledge would no longer be monopolized by the Church and a few elites.

In the Extraordinary World, if knowledge is not monopolized, then power will no longer be monopolized.

So, without hesitation, they decisively fired the first shot against the Traditional Faction's parasites!

Of course, the Traditional Faction, led by the Pope, had to respond.

They first blocked the news; not to mention Byron far away in the Bantaan Archipelago, even forces near the Holy Silver Empire were unaware.

But they also knew that this news couldn't be contained for long, and literary censorship couldn't fundamentally solve the Protestant issue.

So, their second step was to distribute the Forbidden Book "Gospel of Heaven."

Byron sighed as he figured out the cause and effect:

"There really are capable people in the Church who understand the 'art of opinion management' well."

The best way to prevent the growth of crops is to plant weeds everywhere.

Having lived in an era of highly developed information networks, he knew that the best way to handle public opinion was not to refute it, but to first stifle it, then dilute it with another more explosive piece of news.

If the original news is too sensational indeed, then fabricate even more sensational and bizarre versions so that internal hostile factions and many bystanders find them absurd and spontaneously attack you.

Preventing supporters of the truth from forming a united front.

A tactic of "command via surprise," invincible across the world.

And Traditional Faction seeks to unleash those absolutely heretical "angels" within the "Gospel of Heaven" to confuse and mislead.

Equating the not-excessively-radical "Protestant" proposals with heretical ideas.

Then, they can label the original true version as heresy, leading to another righteous... "witch hunt!"

As Byron thought up to this point, new secrets emerged as the ink on the Sailing Logbook spread.

[Hidden: The Spark of Religious War, Historical Influence: 65] Decryption Rate: 15%.

Byron couldn't help but admire the decisiveness of the Traditional Faction:

"These people are ruthless to consolidate their power, this move could lead to the deaths of countless people.

And the price of publicizing the Forbidden Book is...

Just at this moment.

From the nearby scriptorium came the chant of a nun:

"Ah! Praise Death Angel Azrael!"

Whoosh—!

With a gust of Spiritual Wind, a phantom pale angel appeared in that direction.

The figure had four faces and four wings, the body wrapped in fur, and beneath the fur were countless eyes.

It gave a strong premonition, as if each of these eyes watched a person in the world, and when the eyes close, it signifies the moment someone dies.