The great hall was silent, and every cardinal had their eyes wide open, cautiously watching Gray.
The statue’s face flickered in the shifting light.
Levi lay quietly, panting.
The three Holy Knights, clad in armor, sat quietly in the back, arranged similarly to the cardinals.
Gray stood in the center of the hall, leaning on his Longsword.
"I heard that there are three candidates among you for the papacy," Gray took out his two votes from his armor, placed them on the table, and continued, "Now, I’ll give you a chance to campaign. Each of you will explain your agenda to me. If someone satisfies me, I’ll cast my vote for him. However, if this person fails to fulfill his promises after taking office, I will execute him for breaking his word."
"Ex... execute?" The cardinals present were in an uproar.
"Must every point be fulfilled?" someone asked in a low voice.
"Of course," Gray replied softly, "A promise must be kept. Otherwise, what’s the point of calling it a promise? Do you disagree with my viewpoint?"
The great hall fell silent again as the cardinals collectively shrunk their necks, speechless. Only Anthony III accidentally let out a laugh.
Indeed, the Lich was that serious. If you dared to make an empty promise to a Lich, you had to be prepared for the risk of a Lich slitting your throat. That’s why the Lich Council had never had a leader.
Carl entered from outside, bringing several Silver Moon Knights, while escorting six or seven panicked clergy members with pens, paper, and ink.
"Lord Holy Knight, the people are here."
"Good, thank you for your hard work."
Gray waved, and Carl and the Silver Moon Knights placed down the pens, paper, and ink they had brought and then retreated. The six or seven clergy members stood cautiously to the side.
"Now, let us have a fair and just election." Gray slightly raised his voice and said, "What you say will be recorded, then signed and sent to the bishops in various regions for voting. Does anyone have an objection?"
The hall remained quiet.
After a while, someone tremblingly raised his hand. It was a cardinal with graying hair, thick eyebrows, big eyes, and a noble air with a little mustache.
"Lord Dominique, you are also one of the candidates. If you have any objections, please speak." Gray said respectfully.
This respect was something Dominique could hardly bear.
Leaning on the armrest of his chair, he awkwardly stood up and said softly, "This...this is too absurd. No election has ever been conducted under such circumstances."
"And no Lich has ever become a Holy Knight or a saint, right? There’s always a first time for everything."
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the hall began to whisper. Gray, however, seemed not to have heard any of it.
"Could it be that Lord Dominique’s agenda can’t see the light of day? Cannot be known by others, or, in fact, not intended to be carried out?"
"No, it’s just... just... never mind, I have no objections." Dominique forced a smile and obediently sat back down.
"Does anyone else have a different opinion?" Gray shouted loudly.
His voice echoed in the hall.
"Is he directly admitting he’s a Lich?"
"My God... doesn’t he think there’s anything wrong with this?"
"Why would the Holy Light allow him to do this?"
The cardinals whispered amongst themselves, but no one dared to stand up and directly challenge Gray.
"Gray." Catherine’s voice rang out in Gray’s mind.
"Catherine? Aren’t you supposed to be at Salted Fish Port?"
"I just received the notice and rushed over... you remember your agreement with the Holy Light, right? As soon as your identity is revealed..."
"To be hunted by humans, followed by the Holy Light?"
"Yes. I don’t think this agreement is a joke. You have now... practically admitted it."
Ignoring Catherine’s advice, Gray continued loudly, "If no one has any objections, then the election officially begins."
His voice slowly echoed in the hall.
Tiny sparkles, resembling Holy Light, began to appear in the moonlight shining on the statue’s face.
However, the wind rose.
Right above the hall, dark clouds quickly gathered, and lightning began to rage, roaring like a beast and completely eclipsing the moonlight.
The people outside the hall were all stunned, their mouths agape.
Gray’s soul fire burned fiercely.
In the thundering noise, the people present gradually quieted down.
*Gray, you... you are using force to control the entire church. The Holy Light will not support you in doing this.* Catherine continued to advise Gray in his mind.
*But they didn’t oppose it, did they? Just as they didn’t oppose the church’s corruption.* Vivian sneered, *I don’t see any problem with this. Gray is just presiding over an election. Does a saint not have the right to preside over a papal election?*
"Alright." Gray, as if he hadn’t heard anything, continued loudly, "Now, as a saint, I announce the start of the papal election. Who wants to be the first to explain their agenda?"
The hall was very quiet, and the cardinals lowered their heads, carefully observing every move around.
"The order doesn’t really matter, as everyone will have ample time to speak." Gray scanned the crowd, finally resting his gaze on another candidate, Angelo II.