Chapter 143: If the Holy Pope Selena Is Unhappy, I’m Unhappy Too! Understand?

​A sharp, reverberating slap shattered the hush that blanketed the office.

​Sylvia staggered, clutching her cheek in stunned disbelief. As the Cardinal of Divine Oracle, the reality was that she was little more than a glorified bureaucrat; her level hovered just above sixty-one. For an instant, fury surged through her veins—but almost at once, the forced calm of stunned pain swept in, making her senses reel.

​But when the twin currents of agony rippled across her cheek and ear, and that infuriatingly familiar voice—so like her own when she had scolded subordinates—barked at her, the pressure burst anew, and indignation nearly swallowed her whole.

​“You dare lay a hand on me? A low-ranked cleric striking a Cardinal of the Holy See?!”

​Her shriek rang against the walls; rage stormed through her so fiercely that her whole body shook.

​“When Selena first arrived as a mere Saintess-in-training, I was already a Cardinal. Even if she were here now, she’d offer me basic respect! And you? What are you but an insignificant insect, daring to strike me in the very heart of the Holy See?”

​“I’m calling the Retribution Knights! I want Vice Commander Guga to drag you to the Tribunal! I want Selena to see exactly what kind of trash she’s allowed to serve beneath her banner!”

​“For the love of the gods, be silent already, you old crone.”

​Lin Wei didn’t pause. His hand flashed out—a second ringing slap cut through the Cardinal’s outburst with the finality of a blade severing silk.

​Now Sylvia clutched both cheeks, her world ringing with redoubled pain, her tirade dying in her throat. Lin Wei’s gaze was cold and disdainful; his voice flat but brimming with contempt.

​“The Holy Pope is the living avatar of Goddess Alicia—her rank ordained by divine oracle, the vessel of the Goddess’s will on earth, the very embodiment of the Holy See’s authority.”

​“Selena only spared you out of respect for your tenure as her former superior. But now that she is Pope, who are you to presume to lecture her?”

​“Only Lady Alicia herself has that authority. Or are you suggesting, as clergy, that you are dissatisfied with your station, or plotting to usurp the Goddess herself? You, with your pitiful worth? Don’t make me laugh.”

​Those words, at once cold and unprecedented, left every clergyperson present utterly stupefied.

​A thick, suffocating silence pressed down on the office. Yet the severity of Lin Wei’s reprimand was keen enough to draw the attention of the staff outside.

​Within moments, a dozen curious onlookers had gathered in the corridor, craning for a better view.

​No one could have foreseen that Sylvia—a seasoned elder in the church—would face such public disgrace.

​“I never said I wanted to be the goddess…” Sylvia stammered, her voice unsteady.

​“Then tell me, what gave you the right to instruct Her Holiness, Pope Selena?” Lin Wei shot back, every syllable razor-sharp.

​It was obvious—Lin Wei had set the stage for exactly this moment of public humiliation, drawing all eyes.

​Had they not been within the confines of an office, Lin Wei would almost certainly have slapped her where the entire See could witness her fall.

​“I’ve heard talk that certain elderly clergy have been making life difficult for Her Holiness, hiding behind the shield of seniority,” Lin Wei continued, undeterred. “I always thought it was just gossip—who could imagine there were still such people here in headquarters? Now, I finally see why Pope Selena chose to invite me to the Holy See’s capital.”

​Sylvia’s face contorted with rage and bitterness. As Cardinal of the Holy Oracle, she had never endured such humiliation. But stricken by this avalanche of blows, fear smothered every last ember of resistance.

​Now, stripped down to a mere clerk, the words died on her tongue.

​“Listen closely, Cardinal of the Holy Oracle,” Lin Wei intoned.

​“Not long ago, after resolving the See’s logistics crisis and helping drive back the Cult of the Evil God, I was personally given temporary command by Pope Selena. For now, I act with her full mandate, her proxy. Until further notice, every order I give carries the same authority as her own decree.”

​Those words weren’t directed at Sylvia alone—they were a warning for every official in the building.

​“Even Duke Ous of the Empire,” Lin Wei’s voice rang out, clear and unyielding. “If I give the word, he’ll be hauled to the Tribunal before the sun sets.”

​“Anyone who disrespects the Holy Pope Selena in my presence, or clings to seniority to shirk her assignments—let’s remember: Commander Meilin of the Three Grand Commanders owes me a favor, and Vice Commander Guga fought by my side only yesterday.”

​“The Pope stands with me. Saintess Yalis and I go way back. If I felt like it, I could strip you of your Cardinal rank this very instant, and not a soul would dare object. So, answer me—do you have any complaints?”

​Lin Wei had never been shy about asserting himself. In fact, he was a master at it.

​Sylvia’s face twisted until it was barely human—her rage burned so fiercely it churned her stomach.

​And yet, faced with that overwhelming aura, her words stuck fast in her throat. Her lips trembled, but she dared not utter a sound.

​It wasn’t until she glimpsed how every subordinate in the room stared at her—how even external department staff peered in with wide eyes—that the old instincts of a career Cardinal spurred her to muster one final scrap of courage.

​“My post was personally appointed by the Archbishop!” she choked out.

​“Without his leave, not even Selena—Her Holiness—can remove me!”

​“Oh?” Lin Wei arched a brow. “Not even Pope Selena can dismiss you?”

​Frankly, Veya had never mentioned this internal arrangement before.

​Lin Wei glanced at the intern nearby. Peri, already icy with anxiety from witnessing the whole exchange up close, jumped as Lin Wei’s eyes landed on her.

​Several long seconds ticked by before she realized a reply was expected.

​“Um... that’s technically correct. Core administrative appointments in the Holy See are handled directly by the Archbishop,” Peri stammered, fingers knotted together. “Whether or not the Pope has direct power to dismiss me, I–I’m not sure. But from what I know, if the Pope requests it, the Archbishop nearly always agrees, so...”

​It seemed the Holy See—established by Goddess Alicia herself—had purposefully placed constraints on the power of its highest authority.

​Tch... So that’s how the Holy See maintains the illusion of co-rule between mortals and divinity.

​Not just an instrument of divine will, but something that keeps mortal buy-in and agency.

​Still, that hardly mattered today. If someone wanted an underling removed from office, there was no shortage of methods.

​“Oh, I see. So in theory, I could just beat you half to death, let you recuperate at home, and keep at it till you resigned on your own.”

​“Otherwise, I could just keep beating you down until you surrender. Which, in practice, isn’t all that different from firing you.”

​“You—! I am a sanctified Cardinal of the Holy See! How dare you threaten me—!”

​Sylvia had, at last, salvaged a shred of composure, only to be left utterly dumbfounded once again.

​She stared at Lin Wei as though seeing a madman. In all her years in the Holy See, she could never have imagined someone would speak so brazenly to her in these sacred halls.

​But more terrifying still was the realization that her adversary stood truly unassailable at this moment.

​Her own removal required the Archbishop’s direct intervention; for now, she could only bide her time.

​But if Lin Wei chose to invoke “insulting the Pope” as a pretext for violence, there was not a soul in the entire compound able to stop him.

​“Commander Alfron is still out chasing the Cult of the Evil God—not in residence.”

​“The Sacred Light Knights are on the frontlines, and Commander Meilin is out investigating cult activity.”

​"And if Vice-Commander Guga, stationed at headquarters, counts among his allies... then, in truth, not a single person in the Holy See could intervene.”

​This was... truly hopeless.

​“So? Want to try me?”

​This madman—no one even knew where he’d come from!

​Had Pope Selena finally lost her patience and summoned some lunatic to clean house?

​Sylvia’s panic was plain as she shrank back, step after desperate step, like a pressed reed in a gale.

​Outside in the corridor, the various clergy watched, their thoughts a maelstrom as they witnessed the unfolding drama.

​For two years, nearly all in the Holy See had quietly looked down on Pope Selena.

​To be frank, it was because she seemed weak—a pushover. No matter the infraction, some feeble excuse would see her turn the other cheek.

​Thus, a mood of slackness and irreverence blossomed among her staff. Unless you crossed the line, there was no risk at all.

​But now—now she had loosed a mad dog in the central See itself, let her loose on Sylvia, who’d once been Selena’s own superior.

​If anyone claimed there wasn’t a deeper meaning behind this, the staff would never have believed it.

​“I—I accept Pope Selena’s assignment,” Sylvia finally stammered.

​At this point, she had no doubt this lunatic would make good on the threat—beat her so badly she’d have to quit.

​A rogue official, protected by the Pope herself—what else could you call him but a monstrous, rule-breaking anomaly?

​Fear froze Sylvia’s heart. Best to yield, at least for now. The Archbishop’s injuries were said to be nearly healed; he’d return in a few months.

​When that happened, she’d have him leash this wild dog. Even Pope Selena’s cronies wouldn’t escape unscathed.

​“Oh, so now you want to work? Too late.”

​She had barely finished yielding when the madman gave her a flat refusal.

​There was no remorse in Sylvia’s expression—only cold, instinctive terror for her own skin.

​After all, Lin Wei had no intention of leaving such a time-bomb behind in the Holy See while he was absent, even for a few days.

​“I have the distinct sense you harbor many opinions on Pope Selena. That’s why these tasks won’t fall to you,” Lin Wei said, voice ice-cold.

​He let his fingers tap lightly on two documents lying atop the desk, then turned his attention elsewhere. His gaze softened.

​“Intern, have you mastered the workings of the Holy See’s administration yet?”

​The sudden shift caught Peri off guard. After moments of nervously shrinking into herself, she found herself at the center of attention.

​Peri finally met Lin Wei’s gaze. Only seconds earlier, Lin Wei’s bearing had been like sharpened steel—now, surprisingly, something gentle flickered beneath the surface.

​It was oddly soothing. She took a breath, steadied herself.

​“Yes, I’ve memorized all the administrative procedures. It’s just... I’ve never independently authored and published a report before.”

​“Then now’s your chance,” Lin Wei replied with a small, genuine smile.

​He didn’t truly know this intern well, but one thing was certain: Peri was a hundred times easier to trust than someone like Sylvia, the Cardinal of Divine Oracle.

​“Two reports need filing. One concerns Secretary Rennie; the other pertains to frontline logistics—supplies have arrived outside the city-state of Brook.”

​“If you handle these well, I’ll speak to the Pope and see you promoted to full clergy status. So? What do you say? Up for it?”

​This… was a windfall beyond imagining!

​A rush of incredulous joy swept through Peri, leaving her dizzy.

​Just moments ago, the prospect of single-handedly drafting two high-profile reports had her wringing her hands in dread. But now—now she was being promised a direct, official appointment. Her breathing hitched, heart fluttering.

​Within the Holy See, everyone knew how impossible it was for an ordinary intern to secure promotion to full clergy—especially here, at headquarters. Even winning such an internship took exceptional effort and credentials.

​As for remaining on, rather than being sent to some distant province—such opportunities were rare as phoenix feathers.

​And yet… just like that, a few sentences tossed out casually—

​Could this really be happening?

​“Lord Lin Wei, are you serious?” she blurted, unable to help herself.

​She honestly didn’t know what office he held, but her instincts told her to address him with all due respect.

​“Of course I’m serious,” Lin Wei nodded. “You focus on the reports—I’ll handle everything else.”

​Lin Wei had absolute faith in Peri’s potential. After all, it took true capability to reach the core as an intern. Only those forged by hardship, not connections, could have grit like this.

​But he really was in a rush, with no time to spare in ceremony.

​The details he’d sort out with Veya later; for now, the decisions had been made.

​“The Pope has entrusted me with full authority to handle any and all matters in her name.”

​“In turn, I delegate a portion of that authority to you. If you meet obstacles in your investigation, you can directly approach the Pope.”

​“Anyone obstructing you is obstructing the Pope herself. And if someone dares oppose the Pope… well, that will make me very unhappy. And when I’m unhappy… whoever caused it had best start digging their own grave. Isn’t that right, Cardinal of Divine Oracle?”

​There was not a trace of subtlety in the threat.

​With those words, Lin Wei skewered Sylvia with a final, icy glare.

​All traces of Sylvia’s defiance were gone; for the first time, she seemed utterly cowed.

​Whatever resentment she nursed, she dared let not a hint show.

​“N-no… I… have no objections.”

​“Good. Then I’ll leave the rest in your care, Miss Intern.”

​With that, the sorting of Divine Oracle affairs was complete.

​Beneath a host of wary, anxious stares, Lin Wei gave a casual wave and strode out.

​Those left behind could only exchange uneasy glances, unable to look away from his receding form.

​Only once he had gone did the whispers begin in earnest, curiosity flickering to life.

​Just what was Pope Selena planning now?

​◇

​The Study.

​As always, the Holy Pope Selena worked late into the evening.

​Lin Wei should be on his way by now. Even though I granted him use of the teleportation array, I have no idea if the journey is smooth…

​I hope he returns safely. But why is my heart beating so fast?

​After a moment, Veya understood the source of her anxiety.

​“Your Holiness!”

​Her secretary—who by rights should be on medical leave—rushed in, breathless and wide-eyed.

​Her complexion, so pale and faint only hours ago, was now flushed with color. Clearly, emotion, not recovery, was the cause.

​“What is it, Secretary?”

​“Lin Wei—Lin Wei struck the Cardinal of Divine Oracle!”

​The words nearly made Veya drop her pen.

​“What?”

​“And, um, Lin Wei came to see me as well. He asked me to deliver this letter to Your Holiness.”

​She lowered her head, voice soft, a glimmer of emotion in her gaze. Just when she’d managed a moment’s rest, she’d found Lin Wei at her door—checking on her, of all things.

​He really is the sort of adventurer people envy, she thought, but deep down, he cares.

​“He requests that you issue a formal announcement and punishment—for assaulting Cardinal Saint Oracle. He asks that you chastise him harshly before the clergy… and then lock him up for several days to reflect.”

​He’s willing to act the villain, just so I can play the kind one?

​Veya’s eyes widened, suddenly understanding Lin Wei’s intent.

​Would he really go to such lengths…just for me?

​So this is what it’s like to have a husband who stands unwaveringly at your side.

​Such thoughts moved the great Pope Selena, even as her secretary cast her a curious, sidelong glance.

​But in the end, she couldn’t suppress the gentle, radiant smile that crept onto her lips.