Celia looked at the hall, which had fallen into a deathly silence, and a blatant sneer played across her lips.
Watching this scene, Ansu couldn't help but want to laugh as well.
Celia's attitude was crystal clear; she didn't care about complex disputes.
Instead of solving the problem, it was better to simply solve the person who raised it.
"Elder Barnes?" Celia's gaze landed on the man as she sneered, "Is the problem with you?"
"Of course not..." Elder Barnes felt like prey locked in the sights of a venomous snake, and he forced a stiff laugh.
"Celia, you know... the Council of Elders has long-standing traditions.
Even the bylaws alone are enough for us old men to debate for quite a while.
Don't be in such a hurry; any problem can be solved through discussion..."
As he spoke, he subconsciously looked toward another elder beside him.
This elder was also a master of deflection, and he offered a sycophantic laugh in agreement.
"Yes, exactly! Let's talk it over properly.
I never said your lineage would prevent you from entering the Council of Elders, did I?
It's just that the position of cult leader is of great importance and truly requires a proper and cautious discussion..."
Celia turned her gaze toward the other elders.
"Then are you the problems?"
"Not at all, not at all..."
The elders waved their hands in denial one after another.
Even the hardliner who had just been telling demihuman jokes kept his mouth shut, not daring to utter a word.
In this situation, anyone who dared to stand up and object was truly seeking an early grave.
However, a sense of resentment still lingered in the hearts of many elders.
They were finally about to escape the shadow of that lunatic Samantha, only to find themselves facing someone even more terrifying and insane to lead the cult.
Alas...
Was the thousand-year heritage of the Echoes of Truth truly going to decline like this?
Ansu saw the disappointment in the elders' eyes and gave Celia a look.
Celia let out a faint chuckle, finally stopping her aggressive pressure on the elders.
"Elder Barnes, I came here today primarily for two things," Ansu said with a smile.
"The first is my proposal from earlier, and now I'll mention the second..."
Elder Barnes frowned and suddenly interrupted, "Wait, a proposal?"
"Yes, a proposal." Ansu looked at everyone with feigned surprise.
"According to the ancient bylaws of the Council of Elders, such major decisions regarding the cult can be proposed and fully discussed by the council.
What? Am I not being a rule-follower?"
Elder Barnes's mouth twitched involuntarily as he subconsciously glanced at the faintly smiling Celia.
What kind of 'rule-following' is this?
If everyone's knees hadn't been so soft just now, that mad witch probably would have slaughtered them all.
"When I say it's a proposal, I mean it's truly a proposal." Ansu looked at the man's shifting expression and said calmly, "We aren't forcing you to actually choose the next cult leader today, are we?
I will give you time to think until the next meeting of the Council of Elders."
"Give us time?" Many elders wore expressions of shock.
They began to whisper among themselves.
"How can there be such a good deal? Isn't he afraid we'll end up choosing someone other than Celia?"
"Something's not right; I smell a conspiracy..."
One elder's gaze was dark.
"Could he be trying to stall for time so he can secretly eliminate the dissenters one by one?"
"If I wanted to kill you, would I really need to go through all that trouble?" Celia glanced at the elders with a hint of impatience, feeling it was a complete waste of time.
Elder Barnes quickly suppressed the elders' discussions, forcing a friendly smile from behind his gold mask.
"Since the Hermit has put it that way, then giving us time for discussion is only fair.
I do not doubt your respect for the cult's traditions, and your broad-mindedness is truly admirable!"
After hearing Elder Barnes's impeccable platitudes, Ansu subconsciously looked at Celia's phantom with a playful glint in his eyes.
'See how well he speaks?'
Celia rolled her eyes at him; she hated such hypocrites most of all.
"In that case, I'll move on to the second matter." Ansu smiled as he sized up Elder Barnes, whose attitude was indeed beyond reproach.
"From today onward, the cult's intelligence network must be open to me.
I must have the authority to access the information gathered by executors from all regions at any time."
In truth, this second matter was also very important.
The informants of the Echoes of Truth were spread throughout the Empire, forming an incredibly vast intelligence network.
Once mastered, it would be like having an all-seeing eye.
"The cult's intelligence network..." Elder Barnes was slightly surprised, but upon further thought, it made sense; after all, they were competing with Samantha for control of the cult.
"That is certainly possible... however, there is still that old problem..."
Elder Barnes looked troubled.
"Only members of the Council of Elders have the right to access core intelligence... but Hermit, you are not an elder of the cult."
"That's simple." Ansu didn't mind at all.
"I'll just become a cult elder."
"This..." Elder Barnes subconsciously looked at the others, and the elders' gazes were all complicated.
"Is there a problem?" Celia's calm, cold voice suddenly rang out.
"No problem..." Elder Barnes had been smiling stiffly all morning, and now his smile looked worse than if he were crying.
"Then let us congratulate the youngest elder in the history of the cult.
Lord Hermit has officially entered the central power of our Echoes of Truth..."
Elder Barnes stared silently at the composed Ansu.
"May you join us in realizing the great ideals of the cult, exploring the truths of the world, and restoring the brilliance and glory of the Ancient Magic Era...
Long live the Echoes of Truth, long live the God of Magic..."
This oath, which should have been powerful, was recited by him with a lack of energy, carrying a sense of resigned exhaustion and helplessness.
Those among the elders who were better at reading the room hesitantly began to clap for Ansu, and sparse sounds of agreement echoed through the hall.
Only David clapped the loudest and hardest, seemingly trying to drive the atmosphere.
Those middle-ranking members of the cult, whose seniority and status were much higher than his, watched David's display and exchanged meaningful looks.
Everyone was assessing the situation, constantly evaluating the probability of the Hermit's faction rising to power.
In the end, they realized... this might be their last chance to pick a side and show their loyalty.
Damn it, this kid David has a sharp eye! He managed to latch onto Lord Hermit's coattails without making a sound.
Thus, the scattered applause gradually grew dense as more and more people congratulated Ansu.
"Congratulations, Elder Hermit!"
"I always said Lord Hermit had potential! I've favored him ever since he first joined the cult!"
A faint, superior smile appeared on David's face.
Heh... thinking of picking a side only now? It's a bit late for that!
The position of Lord Hermit's number one confidant will definitely be mine.
...
Ansu took in the entire scene.
He didn't care much for the congratulations and flattery.
After simply completing the cult elder certification process, he tucked away the magic emblem that symbolized the Council of Elders, granted numerous privileges within the cult, and allowed him to mobilize the vast intelligence network.
He walked out of the wine cellar and looked at Celia, who had been silently watching him.
"Congratulations, Elder Hermit~" Celia said with a smile, looking at Ansu.
"The youngest elder in the history of the cult! Truly young and promising, with limitless potential~"
Compared to the flattery from those irrelevant people, Ansu still preferred hearing the witch praise him, even if she was being a bit teasing.
"Well... the youngest elder is impressive, but it still can't compare to the youngest cult leader." Ansu joked, "I should congratulate Cult Leader Celia in advance~"
"I don't care about those things." Celia pursed her lips and then asked, "Though you can command those intelligence personnel now, I'm a bit curious...
If our orders conflict with Samantha's orders... what should they do?"
Ansu chuckled.
"Doesn't that give them a chance to choose a side?
However, I think rather than the intelligence personnel having a headache, the one who will truly want to go mad is Samantha herself, right?"
Rate on N.U.
