Chapter 90 - 2.51

"..Welcome back, you three." The Cardinal spoke with a tense expression. "Did you have fun in your trip? What were you thinking, trying to escape from the Holy Land like that without discussing it with me first? Do you think that I am just a door mat, someone you can step over?!" He berated them.

The Cardinal's emotions had been piling up ever since he first heard about the several miraculous deeds that Xu Jiaqi had performed. The uncomfortable feeling that had been weighing out in his heart, formed from mountains of doubt and distrust, spurted into the anger that he was expressing right now.

His breath became heavier as he glared at the three. He thought that he would have nothing to worry about with these three people. Ezra was Ezra, he had no desires apart from the Goddess' desires. Ariel also seemed to be someone like Ezra! Faithful to the Goddess and shouldn't need to covet his position. So why was this traitorous behavior showing out of nowhere?

"The Goddess desired for us to go. Ezra and I received a revelation from her, so we went on this trip following her instructions. I don't know why the Cardinal hasn't received one yet.. We are able to converse with the Goddess, she told us about the condition of the people when we had a talk, and she also implored us to go out and help them. Naturally, I thought that the Cardinal would certainly not put us at fault since it's the Goddess' will.." Xu Jiaqi calmly explained.

The correct solution is just to use the Goddess' name all the time! Hide behind the impenetrable shield that is the Goddess and the grace that she had bestowed upon all of them, making it clear that they were favored and that they should be placed in a high pedestal! What would the Cardinal be able to do?

"Y-you mean to say that.." The Cardinal was taken aback by the response. Forget talking to the Goddess, he rose to this spot because of the support that the higher ups had given to him. He had high Holy power, and his personality was manageable. This was why he was placed here! He had never received a single favor from the Goddess, he just had a high innate talent out of nowhere.

"Fret not, my dear leader... The Goddess has also imparted us with another voice that I think you should hear. It is time for you to be relieved of your duties. Along with you, a reform will happen in the Empire as well. I was entrusted with the ultimate task of fulfilling her orders! I am very blissful and content with this."

Xu Jiaqi showed a delirious expression as she announced the grave truth.

"W-what is this nonsense! Quit joking around!" The Cardinal's heart skipped a few beats as he tried to deceive himself that Xu Jiaqi was just fooling around. He was in complete denial.

"Oh, I am not joking in the slightest. My Goddess is right here beside me. Right, Ezra?" Xu Jiaqi giggled. "Dear Cardinal, the Goddess has instructed us to gather in the main hall, and I have sent a prior invitation under her name to everybody."

Although Ezra was still unable to clearly see the Goddess' figure, after the amount of time that he had spent travelling the world, he became more adjusted to the Goddess' energy and was now able to tell her position.

Ezra nodded. The Goddess truly was hovering beside Xu Jiaqi. He felt like if he was able to hear her right now, the Goddess would be cheering for the brave human she chose that was about to thwart the Holy Land.

The Cardinal gritted his teeth. "You dare do all of this without thinking about my opinion?!" He was pissed off through and through. The adrenaline that rushed through him because of his fear of losing his position was too much to handle, that he almost fainted.

Without caring of his situation, Xu Jiaqi walked towards the main hall with the other two and the Goddess following her. Entering the main hall, almost everybody was already gathered there because of how special Xu Jiaqi's invitation was. Xu Jiaqi made sure that each invitation was crafted using magic, and it would show up in front of each person like a status window of sorts.

This kind of thing, it couldn't be ignored easily.

She stepped up to the podium. Although the Cardinal was unwilling, he also followed the group, screaming for them to stop and cease their actions. He was scared. Extremely scared. He rushed up with them.

Xu Jiaqi was already preparing her speech. Within seconds, she began talking.

"Good day to all of you, subjects of my Goddess. A decree has been given down. The Goddess wants to talk with us all! Let us rejoice." Xu Jiaqi coldly spoke. She relayed the same thing she said to the Cardinal.

Within no time, the crowd was buzzing with mixed emotions, and some began to voice doubts. Which was of course, understandable.

Xu Jiaqi then pretended to be talking with someone in the air, nodding with a serious expression before turning her head back to the crowd.

"The Goddess has spoken once again. She asks for all of us to pray before the statue, as you will be allowed to hear her voice for a short moment. She is outraged by the fact that you lots are still not willing to believe me.. as her beloved servant. But that is of no matter, since she will prove right here and now.. let her voice be heard all around the world so that you will not have to banter uselessly after this."

Those words made everyone in the room panic except for the few truthful people who truly served the Goddess not for the dark trades below the surface.

"Oh dear Goddess, please use this humble servant to spread the words of your gospel and decree!" Xu Jiaqi exclaimed loudly as she fell down to her knees.