Chapter 1076: Chapter 1019: The Sixth Duke Conference

Xie Li had imagined many times the scene of meeting Horn.

Perhaps it would be in prison, or at the gallows, or in the old Royal Palace of the Thousand River Valley.

But he never imagined that the scene of their meeting would be Horn holding the Holy Cabinet, slowly walking towards him.

The Holy Cabinet, which had been missing for over a month, and which the County Governor of Hotam County had dived for a month to recover without success.

Unexpectedly appeared in Horn’s arms just like that.

There was no wind in the monastery, yet Xie Li was already in a whirlwind of confusion.

"Hello, Mr. Xie Li."

"You, you, you... the Holy Cabinet, how, how..." The first words Xie Li imagined himself saying were vastly different from now.

"Are you talking about this?" Horn raised the briefcase-sized Holy Cabinet with a smile, "I was fishing and accidentally caught it."

Caught while fishing?

For a moment, Xie Li was left speechless; they’d been fishing in the Nao’an River for a month without catching it.

Yet this Holy Grandson just randomly cast a net and immediately brought up the Holy Cabinet.

Could it be that Miseria truly favored this country boy so much?

After Horn and Xie Li introduced themselves and sat at the round table in the break room, Xie Li’s unease finally settled down.

In retrospect, a hint of a skeptical smile appeared on his lips.

Thinking carefully about what Horn just said, accidentally catching it, was it intentionally accidental, or accidentally intentional?

Previously, this Holy Grandson had pretended to perform miracles to deceive the villagers.

This time, it was nothing more than the Holy Cabinet having already been caught and then specially hung on the fishing net for Horn to "uncover."

Xie Li felt he had guessed the truth.

"Have you read the Pope’s will?" Horn asked as he poured Xie Li a cup of coffee.

Sitting by the modest circular tea table, Xie Li nodded: "I have read it. Besides proclaiming the divine decree and naming you as the successor, it encourages the Empire to unite and reclaim the Holy Seat City.

Then it hopes you will diligently safeguard the sacred relics transported from the Holy Seat City, including the Holy Cabinet, the Saint’s remains, as well as the Angel’s Tear Candle."

"The Angel’s Tear Candle?" Horn paused his coffee pouring, "What is it used for?"

"One prays to it, and if the reasoning is justifiable, an angel will descend to slay the enemies of the church.

If the Tear Candle burns out, the angel will return to the sky, and even if another Tear Candle is lit, he will not appear again."

"Hmm, I’ve met the angel." Horn remained expressionless, crossing his legs, "May I ask, what happens if all the Tear Candles burn out?"

Looking at Horn oddly, Xie Li pointed a finger skyward: "We speculate that that would signify the arrival of Judgment Day."

Horn did not dwell on this question, after all, he had an angel locked away in his backyard’s basement.

"So, can I use them?" A mysterious glint flickered in Horn’s eyes.

Xie Li felt something amiss, but still replied truthfully: "Yes, but be cautious, if your reason is unjustified or insincere, the angel will not descend."

Horn nodded to himself, seeming both to have listened and not listened.

"Alright." Xie Li’s words carried a touch of sadness, "I’ve delivered the will and the sacred relics, please allow me to leave."

"Not so fast." Horn pressed Xie Li’s shoulder, "Have you heard about my upcoming debate with Grandiva in three months?"

When this topic came up, Xie Li’s initial downturn and sadness suddenly vanished: "I saw it in the newspaper, Mr. Horn, I must remind you, this Grandiva is not a gentleman like you..."

When talking about Grandiva, Xie Li was eloquent.

He thoroughly discussed the strategies to deal with Grandiva, the usual tactics employed by the Falan Pope, the main doctrinal directions he researched, and any possible moves, sharing everything with Horn.

Horn barely got a chance to chime in until Xie Li’s mouth went dry. "Mr. Xie Li hopes you won’t let Grandiva win the debate, doesn’t he?"

"Of course!"

Xie Li had worked tirelessly, traveling far without accepting any bribes, facing numerous dangers, and enduring hunger without yielding.

The driving force for delivering the Holy Cabinet and the Pope’s will to Horn, besides the recognition from two Popes, was chiefly to prevent Grandiva from obtaining them.

Though Horn had caused significant trouble for the church, indirectly leading to the fall of the Holy Seat City,

both Xie Li and Puliano held little animosity towards Horn.

The criticisms of him, aside from the Holy Grandson title, were primarily centered on academic disputes over theological ideas.

After all, Horn had defeated them honorably both on the battlefield and in scriptural studies.

There’s no denying it, a win is a win, and a loss is a loss.

Others are indeed stronger, and they do so openly and honestly, there’s no point in being dissatisfied.

Xie Li and the others can verbally claim victory, but deep down, they know they have lost.

They even have a bit of admiration and respect for Horn, after all, the contrast between the integrity of the Holy Alliance and the Church is evident.

Despite Xie Li and other bishops continuing their greed, at least for those who are not greedy, they harbor both hatred and admiration.

But Grandiva is different, this scoundrel is thick-skinned and dirty-handed, unable to get things done himself yet preventing others from doing so.

Confronting enemies, Horn advances openly, writing articles to debate in the newspapers.

Grandiva appears to be forthright on the surface, but behind the scenes, he is full of tricks.

Whether the former Pope or Puliano, or even Xie Li himself, have suffered losses in this aspect.

"Between you and me, there is only public enmity, not personal hatred. Although you are an enemy, you are an admirable one." Xie Li took a sip of the bitter coffee.

It must be said, Horn and his priest group do not drink alcohol but bitter coffee, just this ascetic monk style makes Xie Li feel the Holy Cabinet was given to the right person.

But he didn’t notice how Horn several times held a tin can of milk and a pottery jar of white sugar, hesitating to speak.

"But Grandiva..." When saying Grandiva’s name, Xie Li almost spat out each word from between his teeth.

"I’ve never seen such a hypocrite who incorporates ignorance with arrogance, and insidiousness with baseness and vulgarity all in one person.

What’s he even worth? He uses sleight of hand to pretend he’s descended with the Holy Spirit, pompously deceiving the villagers!

And he became Pope? Is he worthy? Was his coronation elected by the Red Cardinal Group?

No, just shamelessly assuming the position himself, would you believe such a villain, a shameless person, as the Pope?"

Horn’s face suddenly darkened somewhat: "... Can’t believe it."

"That’s right. If Grandiva were in front of me right now, I would pull out a glove, slap him in the face, and duel him!

I want to thrust into his murky and infinitely narrow mind the blade of revenge and the expectations of countless believers!"

The higher-ups of the Church are not idle chattering, Xie Li began speaking with lengthy and complex rhetoric.

"Don’t you want to see me remove the papal crown from his head?"

Xie Li’s eyes glimmered: "You have a way to do that?"

Horn didn’t speak, merely handing a draft of an open letter to Xie Li.

"The ’Confession of the ry Court Barracks’? What is this?" Xie Li muttered as he began to read the text under the title.

But as he read, his eyes scanned faster and faster, flipping to the end, he suddenly closed his eyes and after a long pause, he looked at Horn:

"You, you’re convening the sixth Great Duke conference?"

"Hahahahaha." Horn laughed heartily, "Isn’t Grandiva trying to challenge me? I say, when it comes to fighting, naturally the more the merrier.

You give me the papal will and Holy Cabinet, the Imperial People won’t accept it.

They would think I forged the will, or just deny it behind closed doors.

The Holy Cabinet and will are only the names of the Imperial Pope, not the reality of the Imperial Pope, what I want to do is make them match in name and reality.

The winner of this debate will be the next Pope, with you as the notary and judge, how about it?"

"If I forcibly favor you, it still won’t convince others." Xie Li knows Horn speaks the truth, but it’s too risky.

"The more reason is debated, the clearer it becomes, the name of Pope belongs to the one with reason, if Grandiva is more deserving than me, what does it matter to give it to him?"

Horn’s emphatic words had just finished when a knocking sound came from the door.

"Excuse me for a moment, while you consider it." Horn stood up and left, but Xie Li’s gaze stayed fixed on Horn’s back.

Is it self-confidence or arrogance?

Though Grandiva is a villain, his theological level isn’t low, especially in the Three Transmissions.

As for this Holy Grandson, he has proposed many innovative doctrines and interpretations, but all are based on the presumption that the Holy Alliance can freely question the scriptures.

Horn’s philosophical level is indeed good, but that doesn’t necessarily mean his theological level is high.

While Xie Li hesitated, Horn had already opened the door, not avoiding Xie Li: "Where’s the letter from?"

"From Gospel Court Falan, Grandiva submitted it through Thousand River Valley Valley Trading Company."

Looking at the Gospel Court monk’s urgently delivered letter in his hand, Horn couldn’t help but let out a chuckle.

"What’s the matter, Your Grace?" Xie Li heard a snigger, and promptly raised his head to inquire.

"It’s nothing." Horn suppressed his laughter, "Since Grandiva wants to debate ’Saint Rania’s Life’, then ’Saint Rania’s Life’ it is!"