A month after Fabio and the Emperor had their secret meeting, the Cardinals, Archbishops, and Bishops of the Toscani Empire gathered at the Florence Cathedral.

While everyone silently sipped their coffee and sighed, the Cardinal cautiously spoke up.

"How do you all feel about the imperial decree, where His Majesty intends to exercise the power of appointing clergy? Speak honestly, without holding back."

At those words, Archbishop Apia suddenly jumped to his feet and protested.

"Even though the Deous Church's position is no longer what it once was due to the war in the Holy Empire, this is a disgrace! Did not Deous leave the worldly affairs to the secular, and entrust the service to Him to us, the descendants of the apostles?"

Had they truly adhered to these words, Fabio would not have needed to challenge the Deous Church.

However, they had continuously interfered in secular matters, always adding that “Deous desires this” or “Deous disapproves of that.”