York's sudden formalities made Bishop Giorgi feel somewhat uneasy. He merely smiled and said, "We are getting old. The world belongs to the young now, but York, I have something to tell you."
York held the document folder and looked at the smiling old man, "Bishop Giorgi, please speak."
Bishop Giorgi smiled, "Consider the consequences."
York smiled back, "I will, Bishop Giorgi."
After bowing slightly, he left under Bishop Giorgi's watchful eyes.
As one era ends and another begins, with Giorgi's retirement, York naturally became the de facto leader of the Norwegian Diocese. Although he still had to answer to the Pope and the Vatican, no one could truly stop him from making decisions within the Norwegian Diocese, except perhaps the Pope himself.
York had an unexplainable feeling that the Pope would likely support all his decisions. For some reason, he felt this was true. The Pope always seemed mysterious to him—why had he adopted him, allowed him to break free from the world's constraints, gain his own power, and enter the world's rift?
From what he understood, York was a fusion of Ning Weize and himself, making him both part of this world and not. This unique nature allowed him to transcend the world's limitations.
Considering that those who could enter the world's rift were usually saints or popes, York speculated, "Could the Pope also be an angel's incarnation?"
Reaching the main entrance, the doors opened automatically, and York couldn't help but continue his thoughts, "What kind of world is this? Why are there so many angels descending? What am I then?"
The doors opened wide, and outside, all the clergy bowed to him.
"Bishop York!"
"Hmm."
York nodded, handed the document folder to Erin, and walked ahead, addressing Father Cameron calmly, "Provide full support to Flom if needed."
"Yes, Bishop York!"
"Arrange a private jet for me to the Vatican."
"Yes!"
With each command from York, he ensured the necessary preparations were in place. Except for Flom, he did not make any other significant arrangements, choosing to keep things steady.
After all, he wasn't insane; he wasn't about to risk the entire Norwegian Diocese falling into hell.
Hell was a vast realm, much larger than the human world. It extended infinitely, composed of multiple layers, each stretching out like an endless maze. Every layer had its own environment, similar to the concept of the eighteen levels of hell in Chinese mythology, each inhabited by various demons, devils, and other evil beings. Some even had territories ruled by malevolent deities.
The number of these creatures was vast, possibly exceeding the human population, making it impossible to count. No one knew exactly how many demons and evil beings resided in hell. Without knowing a demon's true name, blindly searching in hell would be fatal.
That's why York had asked for Baalberith's true name before destroying its incarnation. He relied on the true name to pinpoint its territory in hell, ensuring a precise confrontation.
His plan was to invade Baalberith's domain, engage in a fierce battle, and retrieve the souls of Father Diego and Lady Mehliban, proving that the human world had protectors and weapons capable of bringing death to demons.
He intended to submit a proposal to the Vatican, requesting the formation of a specialized team to investigate supernatural incidents and ensure any demon taking lives and souls would face retaliation. This would require knowing the demon's true name, but York believed that implementing this strategy would significantly reduce clergy casualties.
With Hilly's research bearing fruit, York felt it was time for the church to evolve.
Orders were given and quickly passed down.
Soon, York was at Oslo International Airport, the largest in Norway, with two parallel runways, a terminal building, 64 check-in counters, 34 air bridges, and 71 parking bays, ranking as the second busiest airport in the Nordic countries.
Oslo International Airport served as a hub for Scandinavian Airlines and Norwegian Air Shuttle, and a key airport for Sterling Airlines and Widerøe. It offered flights to most European airports and some in North America and Asia.
Thus, he could directly fly to the Vatican.
The church's private jet, bearing the church's insignia, was ready, guarded by church personnel.
"Bishop York."
"Hmm, thank you."
Hearing the respectful voices of the clergy, York nodded and boarded the plane with Erin.
Erin was his assistant, and without her, York felt something was missing. Habit was a terrifying thing; he realized he couldn't do without her.
Without Erin, he would have to deal with the many documents and issues she usually organized for him.
York headed to his seat while Erin stayed back, coordinating with the plane's staff.
Watching her, York sighed and looked out the window at the clergy still outside, silent.
These clergy likely knew about the events in Flom and Father Diego's exorcism. He hadn't hidden the incident, openly declaring his intent to counterattack hell.
"First, let's improve my own strength. The mental/holy power attribute should break through 600."
York shifted his thoughts, focusing on his personal panel.
He had come a long way, now vastly different from before.
[York]
[Race: Human]
[Occupation: Priest, Archbishop, Pharmacology Professor, Doctor…]
[Overall Constitution: 201]
[Life: 601/601]
[Mental/Holy Power: 597/99000000 (Consumable) - 597/99000000 (Consumable)]
[Magic: 401/401 (Note: Recovers 1 point of magic per minute)]
[…]
No matter how much he consumed, the one-time holy power from the decayed world hadn't reached its limit, providing York with some reassurance.
Even if a stronger demon appeared, he could expend all his holy power at once.
"Maybe then, I can attract God's attention."
York shook his head and looked at the available attribute points. He had accumulated four points, which could be added to his mental/holy power, breaking the 600 threshold.
Recalling the changes when his life value surpassed 600, York felt a sense of anticipation.
Without further thought, York moved the four available points to his mental/holy power attribute.
In an instant, before the system's feedback reached his ears, York's pupils contracted, and his vision doubled. He felt as if the entire plane was a toy he could manipulate at will.
He sensed he could disassemble the seat in front of him to the molecular level, and control the air in the cabin, freeze it, or conjure storms at will, as if he could influence the world's natural laws.
"Is this the evolution of telekinesis?"
York blinked, smiling.
He had previously categorized his telekinesis into several levels, with the highest being the Telekinetic Field, where he could defy physical laws, change the position, speed, and state of objects, create new spaces and dimensions, and influence others' minds.
Now, it felt like he had transcended further, as if he could do anything, akin to a higher-dimensional perspective.
If this world was the third dimension, he had ascended to the fourth dimension, viewing the world as humans watch TV or write a script. The world was the script, and his mind the writer.
"Am I truly free now?" York wondered, smiling.
While reveling in his newfound power, York chuckled, "Now I should be able to see the Pope's true form. Whether he's an incarnation or not, he can't hide from me."
Looking at Erin approaching, York could see her differently now.
She was a radiant being, her soul purer than any other clergy present. He could see who stood behind her.
In a beautiful field of flowers, resembling his holy domain, a woman carrying a basket of flowers suddenly stopped and looked his way.
Her crystalline eyes, surrounded by golden rings, showed a hint of surprise.
"Interesting!"
York smiled at the woman, who looked exactly like Saint Lucia, also known as Saint Lucy. Legend had it that God granted Saint Lucia double vision, allowing her to see the truth of the world more clearly and understand divine miracles.
The woman, looking like Saint Lucia, also smiled and nodded at him, surprising York further as she performed a perfect curtsey.
She bent her knees slightly outward, one foot behind the other, and lifted her skirt.
"Bishop York, we're ready for takeoff."
Erin's gentle voice broke the vision, bringing York back to reality.
He blinked and looked at the curious Erin, finally seeing her true nature.
Her soul was pure white, and all information confirmed that Erin was indeed the incarnation of Saint Lucia, meaning Saint Lucia was with him all along.
"Bishop?" Erin's delicate eyebrows arched.
York opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but he shook his head, "I'm fine. Let's take off."
Erin's confusion remained, but she nodded.
"Yes!"
She left, and York watched her retreating figure, feeling a strange mix of emotions.
"Dammit! Why did that woman, who looks exactly like Saint Lucia, curtsey to me?" York felt increasingly perplexed.
The curtsey was a form of respect shown to someone of higher social status.
Thinking this over, York smiled bitterly.
The situation was so absurd he didn't know where to begin.
But then, a thought struck him.
Erin had been placed by the Pope himself, someone York initially wouldn't have accepted.
"If Erin is Saint Lucia's incarnation, then who is the Pope?"
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