Chapter 483 - 103: Preaching
The hall fell instantly silent. All assenting murmurs came to an abrupt halt.
The expressions of reverence, understanding, and humility on the faces of the eight Cardinals all froze.
"What is the Church Court pursuing with its new policies? Efficiency! Speed! Precision!" Murphy’s voice resounded in the quiet council hall, every word sharp and clear. "I was wrong. I was late! I wasted a full hour of your time! That is an established fact! As Cardinals who run the various departments of the Church Court, you of all people should understand the importance of time! You should be keenly aware of how a pointless delay drains the efficiency of the entire system!"
"Each of you has countless matters to handle. When I issue an urgent summons, you must drop everything and rush here. But after arriving, you just sat here, waiting for a full hour! What does this mean? It means your planned work was disrupted and delayed. It means your subordinates were kept waiting and related affairs were brought to a standstill. It means that in this one hour, the administrative efficiency of the entire Church Court suffered a needless loss!"
"Wrong is wrong, and a waste of time is a waste of time!" Murphy’s voice grew even more severe. "But instead of pointing out the problem, you all spout platitudes like, ’You speak too gravely,’ ’It is only right,’ and ’It is our duty’? Is that the attitude of someone who wants to solve problems? Is that the attitude of someone who pursues efficiency? Or is it that you’re all actually displeased but don’t dare say so, using these hollow courtesies to mask your true feelings, even complaining inwardly?"
Fine beads of sweat broke out on Adrian’s forehead as he hurriedly tried to salvage the situation. "Your Excellency, please calm your anger! That was not our intention at all! It is just... we know that when you and the Holy Throne act, there is always a deeper meaning. This delay must have been due to a more urgent matter, one concerning the bigger picture, that required your priority. We... we were simply trying to be understanding..."
"Understanding?" Murphy cut him off without ceremony, letting out a cold laugh. "Do I need your understanding? The rules and efficiency of the Church Court require clear feedback and timely correction, not some unprincipled ’understanding’! Ambrosius, do you think so as well? That I was justified in being late, and you have no regrets about waiting idly?"
Ambrosius’s face paled slightly. "I was too dull to grasp the profound intention behind Your Excellency’s push for new policies and strict efficiency. It was indeed our oversight, failing to offer our counsel sooner..."
"It wasn’t an oversight. It’s a habit!" Murphy shot to his feet, his voice as cold as ice. "It’s the habit of watching the faces of your superiors before you speak! The habit of first considering how to be ’tactful’ and ’avoid mistakes’ when a problem arises, instead of first considering how to ’solve the problem’ and ’improve efficiency’! Have you still not purged yourselves of that old-era style of flattery, of guessing at your masters’ intentions and whitewashing problems?!"
His piercing gaze swept over everyone present. Regardless of whether they belonged to the new or old factions, they were now silent with fear, their heads bowed, daring not to meet his eyes.
The younger Cardinals of the new policy faction grew even paler.
"All of you, remember this," Murphy’s voice lowered, but the chill within it did not fade. "While you sit in these seats, your first priority is to properly manage the affairs of the Church Court, to enact the ideals of the Holy Throne, and to push this world forward. It is not to ponder how to make me ’comfortable,’ or how to keep the Holy Throne ’satisfied’! Whoever dares to bring that superficial nonsense from the old Church Court into this council hall and delay official business again, don’t blame me for being ruthless!"
The harsh reprimand plunged the temperature of the entire council hall to the freezing point.
The eight Cardinals were like wheat before a frigid gale, bowing their heads in unison, their very breaths becoming cautious.
Murphy observed their reactions, then sat back down. His tone was calm again:
"Now, to business."
He paused, his gaze once again sweeping over them. This time, it was devoid of emotion, yet it made each of their hearts inexplicably clench.
"I have observed that talent on this Continent lies buried, difficult to unearth. Many who possess Extraordinary gifts, a sensitivity for Elemental Perception, or unique minds are prevented from ever touching true power and knowledge. Whether due to their birth, their region, or the shackles of old ideas, they live out their lives unable to contribute their potential to the progress of civilization." Murphy’s voice was clear and calm, as if he were stating the most ordinary of facts. "This is a tremendous waste. Therefore, I have decided to establish the ’Tower of Aofa’ in the Holy City to select suitable candidates and teach them the path of the Wizard."
The moment he finished speaking, time in the council hall seemed to freeze once more.
The eight Cardinals, still reeling from the aftershocks of his thunderous fury, snapped their heads up in unison. All color drained from their faces, their eyes wide with incredulous horror and fear!
From the elder Adrian and Ambrosius to the three younger Cardinals of the new policy faction, everyone’s expression was frozen in utter shock.
The path of the Wizard!
To establish the Tower of Aofa in the Holy City and teach it publicly!
’This is... this is simply insane!’
’This is blatant blasphemy!’
’It is a mad act that will shake the thousand-year foundation of the Church Court and betray the faith of Oriane!’
"Your... Your Excellency!" an Old Faction Cardinal with white hair and a white beard was the first to cry out involuntarily.
He shot to his feet so abruptly that he knocked over his chair, which hit the floor with a loud CLANG.
His face flushed crimson, his chest heaving violently as he pointed a trembling finger at Murphy. His voice, shrill and distorted by extreme agitation and terror, cried out, "Do... do you know what you’re saying?! The path of the Wizard! That is the evil path explicitly condemned as Heresy in the Holy Scripture! A path the First Pope and generations of saints have given their all to suppress! It is the fount of corruption that putrefies the soul, beckons disaster, and abandons Oriane! You... how could you... how dare you..."