"My original intention in coming to the Northern Continent was just to complete an academic project. Reaching this point has truly exceeded my expectations, but as for becoming a Cardinal, let's pass on that."
Lanqi continued with an amused sigh.
When he had seized a [Proof of Resurrection] back in the Southern Continent, it had been for the sake of infiltrating the Northern Continent's Resurrection Church. Agreeing to work with Sigrid early on had also just been because he found her quite congenial, but he had never once considered actually joining the Southern Continent's Resurrection Church.
At least the Pink Sacred-tier [Proof of Saint] could be unbound, but an Orange Epic-tier [Proof of Bishop] would stick with someone for life.
"Sigh, should I call you greedy, or overly devoid of desire?"
Sigrid shook her head, offering her assessment.
The biggest difference between her and the Holy Son was that she possessed boundless ambition, whereas the Holy Son's career drive only surfaced in proportion to the degree of chaos around him.
If everything were peaceful and stable, he would turn into a slacker who didn't want to do a thing.
"You should know that a [Proof of Bishop] is an Epic-tier item that many powerhouses covet. It evolves based on you into a seal exclusive to you, serves as a material exceptionally well-suited for your class inscription, and is indestructible. Don't blame me for not telling you,"
Sigrid added.
Epic materials were treasures money couldn't buy. Apart from tracking down extremely convoluted leads in the real world, one's only other option was searching inside the Shadow World, where finding materials suited to oneself was even more arduous.
"Can't I just go into a Shadow World to take one?"
Lanqi considered it and asked.
"If you are exceptionally adept at Shadow Worlds, of course you can."
Sigrid hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
Although Shadow Worlds weren't the main focus here on the Northern Continent, the Holy Son had actually used the word "take," which suggested he truly was remarkably good at them.
In any case, the Holy Son was still far from the seventh tier, and he hardly dedicated any mind to boosting his personal strength through cultivation. If he wanted to reach the seventh tier, he would basically have to rely on Shadow Worlds.
"By the way, what other conveniences does a [Proof of Bishop] offer?"
Lanqi had only seen her silver moon crown seal radiating an orange glow back when Sigrid had captured him, but he hadn't been able to appraise its specific effects.
So far, he had seen ordinary [Proof of Resurrection]s and already possessed the Holy Son's [Proof of Saint], but he had never learned about a genuine [Proof of Bishop].
Boss Cat pricked up its ears as well.
Normally, there was no chance of prying into such intelligence in the Southern Continent. Even the Southern Continent United Kingdom Council likely didn't understand the exact details regarding a [Proof of Bishop]. Yet right now, a Cardinal was sitting right beside Lanqi, chatting casually with him.
Wait, why was it currently being cradled in this Cardinal's hands?
Lately, it had almost forgotten that Side was that terrifying Bishop of Domination!
It didn't want to be the Domination branch's mascot!
"First of all, a Cardinal gains an extremely potent bonus against holders of lower-tier [Proof of Resurrection]s and can pinpoint the approximate locations of clerics within their own branch. In addition to crafting various tiers of [Proof of Resurrection] for one's branch, one can also discern the authenticity of [Proof of Resurrection]s displayed by other branches, making it very simple to determine whether someone is a Resurrection Church cultist. It is a vital tool for commanding power and exercising organizational control."
Sigrid shifted a bit closer and explained without reservation:
"Furthermore, a Cardinal can open the Bishop Council Chamber, entering a higher-dimensional space to hold meetings. However, the Southern and Northern Continents are currently cut off by magical disasters. Across the continents, one can barely see blurry silhouettes and cannot transmit any information at all. For now, Bishops located in the Southern Continent can only hold meetings with fellow Southern Continent Bishops, and Bishops in the Northern Continent can only do so with other Northern Continent Bishops. Beyond that are the Death Arena and the bishop election ritual."
"Then that's far more impressive than sixth-tier communication magic, even if it can only reach designated targets," Lanqi said in surprise.
Most higher-dimensional communication could only be initiated through divine magic, and came with numerous restrictions.
"Indeed. If I went to the Southern Continent and suddenly popped into the internal council of the Bishops over there, it would probably give them quite a fright. That said, Cardinals on the Northern Continent rarely hold meetings, aside from those convened by the Pope that we are obligated to attend."
Sigrid recalled seeing those few silhouettes of Southern Continent Bishops in the Bishop Council Chamber space.
In short, they knew of one another's existence, but had rarely interacted.
The factions among Southern Continent Cardinals tended to be fairly dispersed, and they might even engage in occasional cooperation. Here on the Northern Continent, relations among Bishops were truly not good at all; there were even mortal enemies like Askesan and Sigrid. While cooperation between Cardinals wasn't impossible, in most cases everyone did their own thing.
As for the Pope, he had ventured into a ninth-tier Shadow World alongside the era's other ninth-tier powerhouses last year. He had not shown himself for over a year, and no one knew when he might return.
In a ninth-tier Shadow World, one could obtain legendary ninth-tier magic cards, or even materials of unknown rank. Once one opened, ninth-tier practitioners would immediately seek an opportunity to enter in pursuit of greater power.
Moreover, if a ninth-tier Shadow World went unaddressed or ended in failure, the resulting natural disaster would be on par with the magical miasma over the sea separating the Southern and Northern Continents, or the Calamitous Wasteland in the far north.
The vast majority of living beings had no wish to see a catastrophe of that scale befall the real world.
That was precisely why someone had to clear Shadow Worlds.
"Understood. The Resurrection Church's seals and authorities truly are extraordinary divine artifacts."
Hearing this, Lanqi nodded. The other bishop functions involved power struggles among Bishops and were matters of public intelligence.
The bishop election ritual meant that Cardinals could initiate a vote to elect a new Pope, which was also the sole way any Pope assumed the position.
Once one became Pope, the wielder of the [Pope's Authority] gained the ultimate damage bonus against all holders of a [Proof of Resurrection]. Under conditions of roughly equal initial strength, once any Cardinal's [Proof of Bishop] evolved into the [Pope's Authority], no other Cardinal would be a match for them, and the new Pope would exert total dominion over the Resurrection Church.
Every new Pope's ascension was accompanied by a bloodbath, thoroughly purging rival Bishops and their respective branches.
Sigrid was obviously an ambitious figure who aimed to become Pope.
As for the Death Arena, it was a fight to the death where one staked their [Proof of Bishop]. Once the Death Arena was initiated, it could not end until victory or defeat—and life or death—was decided. However, it required both parties to initiate it and was strictly prohibited by the Pope, who did not allow a single Bishop to possess multiple Proofs of Bishop.
"How about it? Any urge to become a Cardinal?"
Sigrid nudged Lanqi with her shoulder again and asked.
Boss Cat felt its heart jump right into its throat.
It was terrified that Lanqi might be swayed by Sigrid!
"Not at all. I can't do that; my Southern Continent ID would get revoked."
Lanqi still shook his head resignedly.
"Sigh, and here I was thinking that one day you might become a Cardinal too, and we could gallop across the Northern Continent as twin Bishops. But I'll respect your wishes."
Sigrid sighed in disappointment, though she didn't want to force the Holy Son. Or rather, having the Holy Son remain as her Holy Son wasn't bad either.
"Still, if you want to become Pope, I'm willing to keep helping you,"
Lanqi smiled and said.
Chapter 464