Three days after the end of the fast, Hylan did not give a public speech to the crowd but hosted a small meeting in the cathedral garden. The participants were those who had been seated in the VIP section during the speech and a few of their attendants. The invited guests sat around a large stone table, with their attendants standing behind them. What particularly displeased Jorgen was that directly opposite him and Mardias sat Nehari. To their left, separated by three government officials, was Hylan's seat. His voice had become much hoarser than it had been more than half a month ago.
"I actually wanted to meet with you all yesterday," Hylan said. "But my physician did not allow it. I spent the last six hours of the fast in uninterrupted prayer. I used this method to remind myself that the pain I endured was truly insignificant..."
He spent more than ten minutes discussing his feelings during the fasting process from a faith perspective. These words had no informational value for Jorgen. He used this opportunity to observe the expressions of those present.
Simply gathering the VIPs from that day once again was enough to demonstrate Hylan's influence. His voice, calm gaze, and the subtle details of his gestures all conveyed immense control. He was deeply aware of the power of his personality and knowledge, using them unobtrusively like a sculptor with absolute confidence who would not relax until the work was complete. For Jorgen, this made it more difficult to speculate about Hylan's true intentions. Perhaps he truly acted entirely according to his faith, a conclusion Jorgen often leaned toward; otherwise, he had reached a level similar to the Elder but employed a completely different approach.
In recent days, Jorgen's confidence in Lindy had further diminished. Lindy could hardly conceal his reverence for Hylan. He tried to sit up straight, like a young cleric striving to learn, with his full attention on Hylan's words, occasionally nodding to express understanding rather than agreement. Sometimes Jorgen indeed felt that involving Lindy in this unconfirmed struggle was too rash.
If the real enemy were only Nehari, it would be much better. During Hylan's speech, Nehari clasped his hands on the table, his head slightly turned toward Hylan, but his eyes did not truly focus on anyone. In Jorgen's memory, Nehari was a person who detested competitors, an attitude unlikely to change because he was in the church. Jorgen had no information about the relationship between Nehari and Hylan before Nehari went to the Plaguelands to lead the army.
Unless the nation was in a state of emergency, the Stormwind Council could not directly guide the actions of the church and the MI7. In this selection of the Archbishop, the most important factor for them should be public opinion. Jorgen could sense that the council members present were as focused on listening to Hylan's words as the church members were. Four years ago, the council might have inclined to support Nehari, who had achieved great success in the Plaguelands, but today, they had to first focus on Hylan because he was the first candidate to prove his influence over the people after the earthquake. In these fifteen days, several civil organizations promoted Hylan's idea of frugality and integrity, and two or three pamphlets criticizing some nobles for their luxurious lifestyle during disaster recovery appeared in the market.
Under such circumstances, it was a wise strategy for Hylan not to make another public speech after the end of the fast, as it would appear too ostentatious and conflict with the beliefs he proposed—
This was just Jorgen's conjecture from the MI7's perspective. He could not yet understand how Hylan approached these issues.
After Hylan's self-description ended, some officials began to converse with him. These were trivial matters; these people were too rigid, Jorgen thought, while planning effective ways to gather information. He did not anticipate Hylan's next words.
"Lord Mardias," Hylan said, "I have something to discuss with you."
Of course, Jorgen was not the only one who found this unexpected. Almost everyone present turned their gaze toward Mardias. Although he had appeared in the VIP section more than ten days ago and the MI7 had been involved in maintaining order during the speech gathering, this was the first time Hylan directly engaged with someone from the MI7.
Nehari looked at Mardias, placing his right hand by his side and half-clenching his left hand on the table. His gaze met Jorgen's for a moment before shifting away.
"Please speak, Bishop Hylan," Mardias nodded to Hylan.
"Since your grandfather, Lord Panthonia Shawl, is unwell, I hope that during this special period, the work of the MI7 can still proceed smoothly."
"Thank you for your concern. Although he cannot handle everything personally, he still effectively oversees the key work plans of the MI7."
"Due to the Archbishop's death and the natural disaster, many people in Stormwind are confused; we must not conceal this fact. Some people's confusion exceeds the limits of reason, leading to rumors that disrupt stability in the city, often related to the Archbishop. Investigating and addressing this issue is the task of the MI7, correct?"
"Yes. We must ensure social stability during the reconstruction period."
"I am very interested in knowing what philosophy guides Lord Shawl in leading this work?"
"Sorry, we usually do not disclose our specific work arrangements to those outside the MI7 in such settings. Rest assured, we will not slack off in our work."
"Of course. Rumors, especially those concerning the Archbishop, are indeed distressing. However, unwavering faith in the Light is something that no rumor can shake. The Archbishop always advocated tolerance towards outsiders and their words because the Light has never been a faith that oppresses people."
"I understand. However, we do not base our work on the Light's faith but follow the most reasonable procedures."
"I heard that the actions taken to arrest rumor spreaders have caused some civilian casualties. Is this true?"
Although no one else spoke, everyone knew the atmosphere at the table had changed. Some people unconsciously shifted in their seats. Those who had been distracted refocused their attention on Hylan and Mardias.
Hylan spoke the truth. Four days ago, the MI7 conducted a raid on a residence, arresting individuals who were illegally gathering there. They called themselves the "True Prayer Meeting," believing that Benedictus not only had the plague but that it was a result of his abandonment of doctrine and loss of the Light's protection. They claimed the church's cover-up proved the current faith system was completely corrupt. They formed this organization to spread the "truth" and rebuild the truly pure faith of the Light. During the operation, one member resisted arrest and subsequently committed suicide.
This was the only death resulting from the suppression of rumors. The question was, how did Hylan know about this? While the fact of the death could not be hidden, Jorgen had taken measures to limit the spread of this incident, especially ensuring the church did not find out. Jorgen did not believe Hylan was guessing; he specifically mentioned "death," implying he had a reliable source.
"Indeed, there was a death," Mardias said. "But you must understand, he resisted arrest violently. Moreover, it was suicide. This incident proves that strict measures are necessary."
Good answer, Jorgen thought. Acknowledging the damage without retreating and firmly emphasizing the authority of the MI7. The Elder had always expressed it this way in public over the years.
"So, your grandfather believes that the actions of the MI7 are quite reasonable in the current situation," Hylan said.
"Yes."
"Sorry," Hylan raised his right hand slightly resting on the table. "I cannot agree."
Finally, here it comes. Jorgen wanted to find hostility in Hylan's expression but failed. It seemed Hylan was merely expressing a natural disagreement of views, but the occasion and timing were off. Present were high-level figures from all aspects of Stormwind, and Hylan had not clearly opposed anyone before. He wanted everyone representing Stormwind to see that he and the MI7 were at odds.
"The people have already suffered too much unnecessary pain. You say he committed suicide, but suicide is not only tragic but also pitiable. In this world, the last thing that should happen is people committing suicide due to a loss of faith. Indeed, this is a special period where faith is easily lost, and excessive pressure, controlling speech with violence, is not what Stormwind needs."
"With all due respect, you have been a hermit for many years and may not be familiar with some details of the nation's current situation. However, the MI7 has been protecting the people in the streets and alleys for many years, and the strategies developed through such practice are very effective and widely recognized. It is not appropriate to criticize a work philosophy you are not familiar with based on an unexpected suicide of a suspect."
Aside from showing a bit too much aggression, Jorgen was also satisfied with Mardias's response. The only person visibly displeased by this statement was Nehari, whose expression reminded Jorgen of their conversation in the Western Plaguelands years ago. As for those outside the church present, they still harbored doubts about Hylan, so these words should not cause much negative impact.
Hylan smiled.
"I hope Lord Shawl is satisfied with your succession. However, this question was not raised on a whim. It is easy to infer from my age that I have been familiar with the MI7 since its early days. Even before that, I had contact with Lord Shawl. I must say, I have disagreed with some of his philosophies since then. Even after many years of reclusive scholarly life, the existence of the MI7 forces me to continually ponder what kind of service is best for the people. I would like to take this opportunity to invite Lord Shawl to a dialogue."
"I will ask him about his willingness."
"This proposal is significant and must be realized," Nehari said. "I think everyone here is interested in what kind of conversation two figures who assisted in the early development of Stormwind would have. I am looking forward to a splendid debate."
Nehari's sudden involvement did not seem to genuinely support Hylan but was merely targeting the MI7.
"Public debate is a good idea," said a council member. "The topic, 'Public Opinion Management During Post-Disaster Reconstruction.' We juniors should be able to learn a lot from Bishop Hylan and Lord Shawl."
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," Hylan said. "After all, it depends on Lord Shaw's willingness."
"In that case... if my grandfather agrees, I will inform you immediately."
Mardias raised his voice for this last sentence, but everyone's attention had already shifted back to the founder of the MI7.
Twenty minutes later, Mardias departed in a carriage waiting outside the cathedral. Jorgen was about to mount his horse when Hylan, standing on the stone steps of the cathedral, called out to him.
"Mr. Jorgen," he said. "If you have time, I'd like to talk with you."
Jorgen thought for a few seconds, then stepped up the stairs, stopping one step below where Hylan stood.
"Bishop Hylan."
"Perhaps it's presumptuous of me to say, but I've heard you are Lord Shawl's most capable assistant. For both Lords Shawl."
"I'm just doing my best to complete my tasks."
"That's quite an achievement. Over forty years ago, I already knew it was difficult to work with Lord Shawl."
"Do you have such experience?"
Hylan slightly lowered his head, slowly shaking it. It was more like he was shaking off memories that made him hesitate rather than outright denying it.
"In the eyes of many people, especially those who have only recently met me for the first time, I'm like some rare curiosity, such as a ghost they can communicate with. It's been a long time since I've seen Lord Shawl. In your eyes, what kind of person is he?"
"The leader of the MI7."
Hylan smiled and shook his head again.
"That's an impossible answer. To be honest, I'm not without hesitation about meeting him again."
"Whatever you want to know, I cannot judge my superior. I must go now, Bishop Hylan."