Regarding Coletta's question, Rover pondered for a moment. Tapping his fingers lightly on the tabletop, he analyzed methodically: "Antonio and Marco are overly eager for success and prone to flattery. They are more likely to ruin things than accomplish them, and they cannot effectively stabilize the chaos within the Convent."
"Alex is a wily old fox with deep roots, but he is not on the same path as us. It would be difficult to cooperate sincerely, not to mention our past grievances."
His gaze swept over the three people present: "What we need is someone who can stabilize the situation without slipping out of our control—preferably someone capable of reflecting on past mistakes—to take the seat of the Prelate."
"As for the Supreme Priest, we need someone more pragmatic, someone who can effectively execute the council's resolutions."
"Who do you think is suitable?" Cantarella asked with great interest.
"For the seat of the Prelate," Rover said slowly, "perhaps we could consider supporting Breno, the old priest in the council who has consistently maintained neutrality."
"He has the seniority and decent prestige. Though he lacks great talent, his gentle temperament makes up for it. He values tradition but is also open to reform, making him amenable to guidance. He can serve as a symbol of stability during this transitional period."
"As for the Supreme Priest," he paused for a moment before uttering a name that surprised everyone present, "how about Phoebe?"
"Phoebe?" Coletta's eyes widened in surprise, and Cantarella raised an eyebrow.
"She is sufficiently pure and deeply loved by the grassroots believers. Her ascension would greatly pacify the people and symbolize the Convent's determination to turn over a new leaf."
"Furthermore, she has a good relationship with us. Having experienced the vault incident and 'accidentally' discovering those secret documents on the ship, she possesses a profound understanding of the Convent's dark side. She will be highly motivated to supervise and enact change," Rover explained calmly.
"As for her lack of experience and capability, the council can assign a support team to assist her. In reality, the executive power of the Supreme Priest will also be greatly constrained by the council."
The conference room fell silent for a moment.
Francis was the first to laugh: "Brilliant! A symbol of purity paired with the hollowing out of actual power. It pacifies the people while ensuring that authority remains firmly in the hands of the council. Rover, you see things with absolute clarity."
Cantarella also revealed an amused smile: "Sending that little white dove to deal with those old foxes... Hehe, it is indeed very interesting. I agree."
Coletta looked at Rover, her eyes filled with admiration.
He could always find the most precise entry point in any complex situation.
"Then," Coletta concluded, "we shall use this as our foundation and begin operations. It seems a new chapter for Laguna is about to officially open."
Rover nodded, casting his gaze toward the bustling port outside the window.
His holiday in Laguna was drawing to a close. A new journey—the trip to the Seven Hills—and even more complex games of power lay right before him.
But at this moment, his heart was more settled than ever before, because he had left behind deeper bonds here.
This meeting at the Mortari estate concluded smoothly.
However, it acted like an invisible vortex, drawing the attention and anxiety of all factions.
Sure enough, the moment the preliminary rumors regarding the Mortari and Fesale families' nominations for the new Prelate and Supreme Priest were leaked, it was like a massive boulder thrown into a lake, instantly stirring up monstrous waves.
The first to launch an attack was Priest Antonio.
He practically charged all the way into Francis's study. The deliberately piled-on respect on his face was long gone, replaced by anger and disbelief twisted by dashed expectations.
"Francis! What... what is the meaning of this?!" His voice was shrill, completely forgetting his honorifics. "Nominating that senile old Breno? And that... that clueless little girl Phoebe?!"
"We... we exhausted our minds and ran ourselves ragged for the stability of Laguna. Was it all just to toil for another's benefit? The council is humiliating us!"
Immediately following, the Convent's conservative faction led by Alex also expressed intense concern.
Unlike Antonio's blunt fury, Alex's tone was much colder, bearing undisguised mockery: "Priest Breno is highly respected, and we naturally revere him. But Cleric Phoebe... Hehe, she hasn't even hosted a complete Mass, has she?"
"Letting her serve as Supreme Priest, taking charge of the Convent's daily operations and even a portion of its armed forces? This is simply treating Laguna's future like a joke! Has the council truly become a place for certain people to play house?"
Other factions within the Convent also buzzed with discussion. Suspicion, confusion, and dissatisfaction permeated the air.
Even some originally neutral mid-to-low-ranking priests and clerics felt this move was too frivolous.
However, before this wave of opposition could form a larger storm, it was forcefully suppressed by a far greater power with the force of a thunderbolt.
The Mortari family and the Fesale family issued strongly-worded joint statements almost simultaneously.
In the statement, the two major families fully affirmed the council's nomination decisions, emphasizing that Priest Breno's steadiness and Cleric Phoebe's purity were exactly the traits the Convent currently needed most, marking them as the best choices to "end the Convent's internal friction and open a new era for Laguna."
At the end of the statement, the tone abruptly turned chillingly harsh: "Any individual or faction attempting to obstruct Laguna's reconstruction process or destroy the stability and unity at this critical juncture will be deemed a public enemy of all Laguna residents and will surely face the severest of sanctions."
This was bordering on a naked threat. The combined energy of a commercial leviathan and an established ancient family was enough to make anyone tremble in fear.
Meanwhile, the other core protagonist of the incident—Phoebe herself—was scared silly after hearing about the council's nominations from a friendly low-ranking cleric.
Jumping from High Cleric straight to Supreme Priest was a leap of five ranks; even riding a rocket wouldn't be this fast!
(Author's Note: The Convent clergy ranks in this novel are as follows: Trainee Cleric → Junior Cleric → Intermediate Cleric → High Cleric → Trainee Priest → Junior Priest → Intermediate Priest → High Priest (Grand Priest) → Supreme Priest → Prelate)
What's more, although Phoebe was pure and kind, she wasn't stupid. She had a very clear understanding of herself. Having her lead prayers, organize archives, and receive guests was fine, but asking her to become the number two figure in the Convent? Even if it were a pie falling from the sky, she wouldn't dare catch it.
Deathly pale, she stumbled out of the Convent. Running almost entirely on instinct, she charged all the way to Rover's hotel room.
"Lord Rover! No... no way... I really can't do it!" She completely forgot to bow, grabbing Rover's sleeve with tears swirling in her eyes, her voice full of panic and pleading. "I don't know how to do anything... I only know how to pray and organize archives... How can I possibly be the Supreme Priest?"
"I beg you... please ask the council to take back this decision! I can't do it... I really can't..."
Trembling all over and filled with despair, she looked exactly like a little white sheep pushed onto an altar surrounded by a pack of wolves.
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