Chapter 82 – Clash of Factions
Gideon lifted his head slightly, but he didn't rush to speak.
From the moment he entered the room, he sensed that something was off.
Combining this with the information he had previously received from Huang Ren, Gideon immediately understood: this was another power struggle.
Looking back over Western religious history, such conflicts were a long-standing tradition.
From the 11th century, when Pope Gregory VII issued the Dictatus Papae, to the Crusades of the 13th century, the Church had been engaged in a constant game of influence with secular rulers.
By the 16th century, during the Reformation, even internal divisions began to emerge.
Wherever there are people, there will be struggles for power—this truth has existed since ancient times.
Externally, the Church preached love, mercy, and celibacy.
But rules? Everyone understood the unspoken reality.
Publicly, they issued proclamations. Privately, everyone knew better.
After all, in a swamp of ambition and politics, maintaining absolute purity was a kind of error.
This was why Levi had not attacked Sasha for her status as a "bishop's illegitimate child."
How many in the Church's upper echelons had not done the same?
Levi himself had fathered a dozen children and planned for them to inherit his Church assets in the decades to come—otherwise, his years of accumulated influence would be wasted.
Besides, quarrels aside, no one would tear each other apart over a single parish bishop's position.
If they did, Fabio would retaliate, and the scene would devolve into petty finger-pointing:
"You have too many illegitimate children!"
"And you take in boys every day!"
Such a scene would be utterly humiliating.
Gideon quickly analyzed the stakes.
Objectively, he leaned toward Sasha's side. Not out of personal friendship, but because the reward he had been entrusted with came directly from Bishop Julius.
If Julius were removed from power, Gideon's efforts would be wasted.
And as for whether the Church would still grant the reward after punishment… Gideon shook his head. There were no guarantees.
Besides, his friend Huang Ren was still working at St. Jehovah, providing him with many practical advantages.
On the surface, Gideon had little reason to hesitate.
But another cleric was seated across the table, watching silently.
Gideon looked to the left side of the table at the man resting his chin on his hands.
He had neatly combed slick hair, a youthful face in his thirties, and his cuffs embroidered with a golden lion guarding a cross.
Since Gideon and Sasha entered, the cleric had remained silent.
Yet the fact that he occupied this seat indicated that his rank within the Church was comparable to Fabio and Levi.
His opinion could influence the final outcome of this investigation.
Until Gideon understood which side he favored, it was wise to remain cautious.
These thoughts passed in mere moments.
From the onlookers' perspective, the priest seemed surprised to be addressed so quickly, which explained his brief pause.
"Gideon, from the West District Community Service Church," he replied promptly, answering only the question and nothing more.
"Community Service Church?"
Fabio was momentarily taken aback; he had not expected someone from a local parish.
But this was even better.
His confidence grew. A local parish was the lowest rung in the Church hierarchy; to rise from there required not only talent but also backing.
Fabio spoke gravely:
"Excellent. As an ordinary cleric, you assisted Sister Sasha in completing an exorcism."
"You safeguarded the faithful while carrying out the Church's proclaimed values of love and responsibility."
"A cleric of your caliber deserves an honor badge and a chance to showcase your talents on a larger stage."
Gideon raised an eyebrow.
"Directly offering conditions," he thought.
Hearing that Gideon came from a local parish, both Levi and Fabio shared similar thoughts.
"Exactly. The Church has always valued clerics who are honest and loyal to the Lord," Levi added.
"As long as your report is objective and truthful, the Exorcism Institute will treat you fairly."
Levi also laid down conditions, adding the caveat of "objectivity."
He had already verified the situation through inside channels.
Sasha, like many Church illegitimate children, had no exceptional talent.
Thus, the matter of her "going out to perform exorcisms" was nonexistent in reality.
This was why Levi was confident in his position.
"Archbishop Levi, I believe it is my turn to ask questions," Fabio interjected, clearly displeased at interference from his rival.
"Oh? I was merely expressing concern for the Church's talents," Levi replied.
"Surely that does not violate any rules."
"Given the recent high mortality rate in the Exorcism Institute, 'concern' seems a rather inappropriate term," Fabio countered sharply.
Fabio and Levi clashed head-on.
"All of this is to uphold the Lord's will! Haven't the clerics of the Scholarly Order often endured hardships in silence, forcing people to remain inside for decades?"
"Where did you hear such rumors? We have always respected individual choice," Levi shot back.
"The Exorcism Institute is now the dominant force in the Church. The Scholarly Order is nothing but a relic of the old era."
"Nonsense."
"Mind your words, Archbishop Fabio."
In their bid to sway the young priest on the opposite side, the two men had begun arguing fiercely.
Gideon twitched at the corner of his mouth.
He had not expected internal Church disputes to be so intense.
From this perspective, taking sides seemed to offend one faction; remaining neutral could also be considered a "sin," since it would harm the interests of both parties.
"So this is power…", Gideon thought, shaking his head. It was an eye-opening experience.
Meanwhile, the two archbishops, unable to gain the upper hand, turned their attention to Gideon.
"Let the priest report the situation first," Levi said, adjusting his collar and choosing to end the pointless argument.
"But there is one thing you must understand," he added with a smile, staring at the young priest across the table.
"Falsifying facts is considered 'blasphemy' and will result in imprisonment in the Land of Suffering. You should know what kind of place that is."
The "Land of Suffering" was referenced multiple times in historical texts—a nightmarish place feared by many clerics.
"You needn't heed threats," Levi continued. "As long as you think carefully before speaking, I will ensure your fairness."
Fabio quickly intervened, blocking Levi's aggressive tone, and emphasized certain words for weight.
"Your words sound threatening…" Levi interjected again.
Seeing the two about to argue once more, the third cleric at the table finally spoke up.
"Gentlemen," Jolan Borha rubbed his brow.
"You've been arguing for long enough. Can we let this priest finish reporting the exorcism first?"
Jolan belonged to neither the Scholarly Order nor the Exorcism Institute.
He came from a more independent institution—the Holy Court—which answered only to the Vatican and was originally established to protect sacred sites.
In terms of rank, Jolan was equal to the other two archbishops, and due to his proximity to the Church's core, his influence was arguably even greater.
Jolan had not volunteered to participate in this interrogation; he had been drafted temporarily.
Prior to this, he had been assigned to investigate a series of recent incidents—the disappearances of children and severed limbs—which seemed to point toward the Church's primary adversary, potentially connected to the calamities foretold in the Holy Word.
Thus, Jolan had been busy investigating, but with few clues, his efforts had stalled.
When the incident at St. Jehovah occurred, and the factions' feud escalated, the Vatican leadership naturally had to intervene to stabilize the situation.
Hence, Jolan had been summoned—to maintain order and allow the investigation to proceed.
Left unchecked, the two factions might have argued endlessly; there was precedent—a month-long debate during the Great Holy Festival.
Seeing the Holy Court emissary finally speak, Fabio and Levi immediately fell silent.
"Phew."
Jolan exhaled, finally bringing some calm to the room.
"You may call me Archbishop Jolan. Now, speak."
All eyes turned once again to the young priest.