CHAPTER 546: CHAPTER 56 DIVERGENCE OF IDEAS

The computer technology in this world is governed by two laws.

Computer Law One, unless isolated on the hardware level, there are no firewalls that can’t be breached.

Computer Law Two, unless physically destroying the hardware, any intrusion will leave traces.

Bishop Landeng in the room slowly pressed the last key and looked at the logic virus that had been injected into the screen, massaging his aching temples.

He pushed the keyboard away and then slowly turned his wheelchair, heading towards the hall amidst the rapid knocking on the door.

"Come in," said Bishop Landeng.

The door opened, and the Pope’s Guard wielding firearms swiftly burst in, aiming their guns at Bishop Landeng in his wheelchair. One of the Pope’s Guard pulled out a tranquilizer needle, about to inject it into the back of his neck, but was stopped by a voice from behind.

"Leave him be. He had no intention of running from the start."

Bishop Valian entered the room and looked at Bishop Landeng, who was being aimed at with guns, and slightly furrowed his brow,

"I didn’t expect it... to really be you."

"Surprised?" Bishop Landeng said with a faint smile.

"I should have thought of this earlier," Bishop Valian said regretfully, "You’d rather sit in a wheelchair than fit yourself with prosthetics... You’re not just an Anti-Mechanist, but also an extreme Purebloodist, right?"

"I have never hidden my political stance," Bishop Landeng calmly looked at him, "it’s just that you never wanted to suspect a Cardinal who had retired, that’s all."

"No," behind Bishop Valian, a member of the Pope’s Guard approached, speaking with Innocent’s voice, "we did have our suspicions."

"It’s just that we didn’t want to accept it."

"Your Excellency Idan Landeng, you were once part of the Cardinal Council too, why couldn’t you live out the rest of your days quietly with this honor?"

"Innocent, that’s how people are," Bishop Landeng lowered his eyelids, "The older and more infirm, the more conservative. The more they fear that the foundations they once fought for will be destroyed by the contempt and disdain of the younger generations."

"We’re all old," Innocent’s voice had no hint of emotion, "The future ultimately belongs to the young."

"But Innocent, have you ever considered?" Bishop Landeng asked quietly, "The future that is destined to be shaped by your young, is it really the future we were chasing after initially?"

"Innocent, or perhaps I should address you with the respect due to Your Holiness," the bishop in the wheelchair loosened his collar to breathe more easily, "Although we’ve worked together for many years... so many years, forming a deep understanding and friendship, we have never reached a consensus on the most fundamental issues."

"You are the son of the Earl of Trasimon, brought up with a perfect family education. You understand the law, are well-versed in science, accustomed to dealing with high society, so in your eyes the world is orderly, traceable, solvable with intricate methods and strategies."

"Yet, you’ve never seen the other side of this world, which is dark, chaotic, mad, unsolvable with any form of sanity, because chaos itself stands in opposition to order, never able to coexist."

"Landeng," Innocent said, "you’re too extreme."

"No, Your Majesty," Landeng slowly shook his head, "you’re too naive, just like your baptismal name."

(The name "Innocentius III," in Latin, connotes ’naive.’)

"The threat level queue never considers motivation, only ability," Bishop Landeng continued. "The reason R4 is R4 is because they possess the ability to destroy the world. Such a level of threat does not shift with their subjective will."

"Just like a naive child holding a firearm, no one can be sure they won’t rashly pull the trigger for any reason. Humanity’s future should not bear such a risk, and as the Pope, you should hold the reins of authority even tighter, not rashly decide to hand them over."

"Bishop Landeng, are you questioning my integrity as a member of the Holy Office?" Bishop Valian said solemnly.

"No, Your Excellency Valian," Bishop Landeng replied calmly as he met his gaze. "I meant no such question."

"Moreover, our Holy Throne does not intend to hand over authority to you," he said wearily, "but rather plans to pass it on to your sister, that R4-level threat, Nora Valerius Lysinius."

Valian was taken aback and took a moment to react.

Canonization.

Although the Holy See had already designated him as the next Pope, it also implied that it wanted to canonize his sister.

Which is of higher status, the Pope or the Holy Daughter?

If the Pope is the most revered position among the Holy Office, the spokesperson for God in the secular world; then the Holy Daughter is an "Earth Angel," completely transcendent of the Holy Office system, an incarnation of God, an entity that can enter the Church to be worshipped by believers.

That is precisely why in the past, sainthood was only conferred upon "those who have died." Because if a living saint emerged, their prestige within the Church Court would be unimaginable and would far surpass that of the Pope.

The Holy See wanted his sister to be the Holy Daughter and him to be the next Pope, clearly hoping he would support his sister, ensuring that the "Earth Angel’s" will could be spread to every corner of the Kingdom of Christ through the Pope’s voice... He was not ignorant of politics; he had simply been engrossed in scientific research and had not given it much thought, but now he understood everything suddenly.

"So you oppose Nora," Valian realized.

"No," Bishop Landeng still shook his head. "I oppose the R4."

"An R4-level Transcendent, about to take up the Church’s supreme authority, becoming the highest leader of the Technology Camp. Could there be anything more absurd?"

"But the Magic Tide is coming, Landeng," Innocent’s voice was also weary. "I do not doubt your faith in technology civilization, yet one cannot progress against the gale; it’s exhausting, and one will be blown away."

"What you and I cannot deny is that after the Magic Tide peaks, the gap between technology and Transcendent power will be extreme, a trend of historical cycles, like a forceful gale that human power cannot contend with. Without the Transcendents’ power, what can we use to ensure that the Church does not repeat the downfall of the Ancient Solomon Empire?"

"Can I interpret your words as deciding to make a deal with the Devil, due to the fear of falling into Hell?" Bishop Landeng’s expression darkened, "Did the Senate of Ancient Solomon at the end of the Third Epoch not think the same?"

"After the alliance of the first three big heads, Caesar, who had become Governor, forced Bruce to relinquish power. Fearing the monopolizing power of Caesar, the Senate could only use the power of the military governor to make Caesar stay away from Solomon’s political arena."

"However, this led to Caesar quickly taking control of military power and eventually crossing the Rubicon River, counterattacking and capturing Solomon City. From ancient times to the present, when have strategies of power-play and checks and balances truly succeeded in weakening an enemy?"

"You hope that this Lysinius can counterbalance other R4s, but if she truly becomes the Caesar of the Kingdom of Christ, who then can keep her in check? As a Transcendent, can you really expect her to betray her origins and help technology eliminate the Transcendents?"

"Landeng," Innocent’s voice was full of disappointment, "even if I don’t hand over the Pope’s authority, when has technology ever had the chance to completely eradicate the Transcendents in our foreseeable future?"

Bishop Landeng fell silent.

After a long while, he suddenly sat up straight in his wheelchair and closed his eyes.

"There is one," his voice began to tremble as if suppressing some sense of guilt.

"You will see it very soon."