"You have been assigned a new title due to your recent victory over a Demon Prince. Your father is very proud to hear about the recent successful exorcisms you have carried out," said an envoy of the Order who had arrived at Jonathan's house a few days after the exorcism.
Jonathan, whose arm was bandaged, looked at the old man and said, "Are all the high-ranking members of the Order in agreement that someone so young should be promoted to a Guardian Bishop?"
To be precise, Jonathan was currently an Exorcist Priest, but if they were going to promote him as a hunter just a few months after he had begun his work as an exorcist, that meant he would become a Guardian of the Order. From now on, he would be responsible for supervising exorcists as well as hunters, selecting good apprentices, and managing missions across many parts of the world.
It must be known that the most experienced guardians usually ascended at the age of forty, and even that meant holding them in extremely high regard. On this occasion, it was very difficult for Jonathan to believe that the entire Order agreed on his promotion. If his power was questioned, that meant many could come to think he was being promoted unfairly.
"Everyone is desperate, Mr. Belmont. After seeing your performance over these past few days, everyone knows you are ready to be a good leader throughout this city. Besides, you will have extra time for all those games that are not related to the Church of Healing."
When this person mentioned that, Jonathan frowned and asked in a cold tone, "Does my father know about this?"
"He knows everything, but he will not interfere in whatever you wish to do, because this is your life… However, he left one condition for this, and that is that you accept the promotion. That is precisely why he has sent me here now."
Jonathan sighed, knowing they were using him in this way. Better than anyone, he knew his own capabilities and firmly believed that being a guardian was the best way to go unnoticed in his other movements. But if there were negative aspects, it was that his responsibilities would increase, and that would bring him many more problems.
"Take this position. The higher you stand within the Order, the better received the decisions you make in the future will be."
"And what do you know about what I will do in the future?" Jonathan asked in a cold tone, his emotionless gaze fixed on the man. Wanting to change the subject, he asked, "By the way, what were the Church's opinions regarding my promotion?"
"They cannot interfere in what the hunters do. We are not under their orders."
At this point, Jonathan looked at a black wooden box, and when he opened it, he saw a necklace with a purple cross that symbolized being a Guardian. Now, he would not only be more deeply involved with the Order, but he would also have around a thousand subordinates moving under his command.
But, to be honest, now that he wanted to do many more things than just exorcise, it could be a good idea, and he would make full use of it, since it was his father's wish.
"Then that is all. Thank you for your visit, and tell my father that I will do a good job," Jonathan said as he looked at the purple cross-shaped necklace.
"He knows that you will do a good job…"
After the envoy left, Jonathan placed the cross over his black suit and sighed deeply, knowing that his actions would no longer be solely his responsibility, but also that of many others—and that in itself was worrying.
Just as he was about to go rest, he received a call from the cheerful Thomas, who had now become an Exorcist Priest of the Order after breaking his vow of chastity, which Jonathan had reported to the Christian authorities.
"Sir, everyone has received the news that you are now a guardian and that you will soon be assigned a team. I would like to be part of that team. I may have only been assigned desk work, but I believe I can do a good job," Thomas said, very excited after reading that Jonathan was now a guardian.
Jonathan was surprised. He walked toward his room and soon saw an announcement on his computer where his name, photo, and information had been published across the entire forum of the Church of Healing.
"Typical of the Association, they are no different from The High Table…" Jonathan believed it was practically the same thing, except that one managed the living and the other managed the dead, the supernatural, and things that are not of this world.
Compared to The High Table, Jonathan knew that the Order was an institution recognized by world governments and even financially supported by them, as they received results from its work.
After being promoted, what he received by message was the exact location of the building where he would operate from now on. His work as an Exorcist had changed a little; he had now ascended to a level that many had never reached in their lives.
"[Base location: Arts Building in the city center.
Operation zone: Open section.
Position: Guardian.
Request: Report to your new subordinates and operate on a larger scale than usual.]"
Jonathan left what he was doing and walked toward the garage, where new cars had been sent to him by his father after learning that his truck had been damaged.
When he arrived at a modern-looking building, Jonathan got out of the car, and a man in a black suit who was at the door quickly approached him to park the vehicle in the area reserved for employees.
"Sir, we have been expecting you."
Jonathan looked at the man in the black suit and nodded. Seeing the weapon at his waist, he could tell he was an external security guard.
Unlike The High Table, the Order has its bases in public places hidden underground. Places such as museums, libraries, or cultural museums were locations where the bases housed research, surveillance, and management departments, along with peace agents.
When Jonathan entered, he walked toward an elevator to descend to the underground base, where he would meet the people who would be under his command.
"Bishop Jonathan, we have been expecting you. Welcome to the city's central base." A woman in a professional suit walked toward Jonathan and handed him a smart tablet.
When Jonathan took the tablet, the woman beside him said, "In your hands you have all the profiles of the new recruits. There are field agents, exorcists, adept apprentices, Agents of the Light, office workers, and private investigators."
Jonathan watched as the profiles appeared on the screen. He nodded his head as they descended to the place where operations were carried out in a more professional manner for the elimination of dark entities.