Chapter 1582: Sophistry

At this time, in Europe.

A speech held by Teresa had already gathered many refugees.

Under the leadership of Liu Zheng, these refugees organized protests and marched on the streets, protesting how filthy the current Catholicism was.

They demanded that the current Catholicism return the wealth that belonged to them.

Teresa stood at the very front of this procession, looking at the Holy See, the glorious and holy colors already gone from her eyes.

Instead, all Teresa saw was a smear of ugly white.

"We only want to take back what is ours; the Lord loves all people."

"Give it back, give it back!"

The voices of the refugees were earth-shattering, shaking the Archbishop deep within the Holy See, his face looking extremely unsightly.

Yet, facing such a group of refugees, he had not the slightest Method.

Douglas was busy with matters of the invasion of Prussia, and the Holy Cross Army he left behind simply could not hold back the massive, surging crowd of refugees.

These refugees did not lose their reason due to impulse; they did not choose to initiate a direct conflict with the Holy Cross Army.

Instead, they adopted the method of protest to pressure the Holy See.

"Rebellion, it's all rebellion!"

The Archbishop roared inside the Holy See.

Watching the church being surrounded so tightly that not even water could pass through, the Archbishop's expression immediately collapsed.

"These heretics!"

A Priest stood to the side and frowned, saying: "Bishop, now that General Douglas is away and Prince Soubise has already entered Saxony, we have no army at our disposal."

"Why not distribute a portion of the grain to first appease the anger of these refugees."

The Archbishop's face changed; he turned to stare at the Priest and said coldly: "Are you mad!"

"If we give them grain for disaster relief now, wouldn't that be admitting that we were wrong before and they are the ones who are right."

"If we do this, not only will it ruin the status of Catholicism among the people, but what will we do when these refugees become even more insatiable—must we take everything out and return it to them!"

The Priest was scolded into silence, not daring to speak.

The Archbishop looked at the refugees through the window, took a deep breath, and calmed his anger.

"Change my robes; I want to see exactly what these refugees want to do."

"Yes."

The Priest went down, and soon several beautiful nuns helped the Archbishop put on the white robes representing glorious holiness and brought the Scepter symbolizing divine power.

He walked out slowly.

Outside, countless refugees watched the Archbishop walk out from the church, a solemn yet gentle smile hanging on his face.

These refugees were all believers of Catholicism, and even if they wanted to take back what belonged to them now, they had never thought of betraying the Lord.

At this moment, the Archbishop was like a Messenger sent to the human world, noble and holy, losing none of his solemnity.

Seeing this, the voices of the crowd stopped abruptly, and faith in the Lord rose once again in their eyes.

Seeing this scene, the Archbishop said gently: "The Lord loves you, and now the Lord needs you."

Hearing these words, the firm hearts of the refugees wavered; the Archbishop of Catholicism was telling them that the Lord needed them.

This was undoubtedly the greatest reward for a Catholic believer.

Teresa saw this scene and frowned slightly.

She saw that the current state of these refugees was just like her former self.

It was the same; back then, if not for Liu Zheng's help, she too would have fallen into the Archbishop's bewitchment.

Teresa shouted loudly: "The current Catholicism can no longer be considered servants of the Lord."

"Don't forget their greed, which has swallowed up so many of your people."

"We have come today because we want Catholicism to return what it has taken from us."

Hearing these words, the refugees' wavering expressions gradually dissipated.

They were dyed with firmness once again.

Seeing this, the Archbishop let out a cold snort and glanced at the person who had spoken—it was one of those who had caused a scene at the Holy See that day.

Seeing this scene, the Archbishop let out a cold snort and glanced at the person who had spoken, who was precisely one of the people who had caused a scene at the Holy See that day.

"This lady, I do not know why you would make such remarks."

"For the Lord's believers to help the Lord, is this not a supreme honor?"

"Even if they return to the Lord's embrace because of this, is that not the most beautiful ending?" the Archbishop said indifferently.

Teresa looked at the Archbishop from below the platform and questioned: "Bishop, there is one thing I do not understand."

"If the Lord needs the help of believers, then is the Lord willing to see the human world turn into a scene of purgatory?"

"Countless people starving to death and becoming refugees."

"Vast stretches of fertile land forced to be abandoned from cultivation due to man-made famine, and by next year, these refugees will surge in number."

"When that time comes, will the Lord appoint his Messenger, just as recorded in the Bible, to save every person who harbors kindness in their heart?"

Hearing these words, the Archbishop's face stiffened.

If they were to save these refugees, they would need to expend countless energy and financial resources.

The money they would lose from this would be more painful than having their own flesh eaten.

The Archbishop finally said: "If they are without sin, the Lord will provide them with guidance."

Hearing this, Teresa smiled and said: "If all of this was caused by Catholicism, then will Catholicism take responsibility for it?"

"Catholicism does not cause any disaster," the Archbishop said coldly.

"Catholicism will not cause any disaster," the Archbishop said indifferently.

Teresa turned to look at the refugees behind her and asked, "May I ask why you have ended up in your current state?"

A refugee said, "I donated all my property to Catholicism, and the last bit of food I had left was also donated after being coerced and enticed by a Catholic Priest."

"We have nothing left."

"In order to support the Holy War, we donated all our property."

"If we didn't donate, those Priests would join forces with other believers to ostracize us."

"Donations should be voluntary, but that doesn't seem to work here; if you don't donate, it seems you are in the wrong."

……

Hearing the words of these refugees, the Archbishop's expression became ugly to the extreme.

Teresa stared at the Archbishop's face and questioned, "Archbishop, I believe you must have heard it all—how these refugees came to be."

"Catholicism should be held responsible for this matter!"

"Yes, responsible!"

The shouting in unison shook the very sky, and the Priests, seeing this scene, were so frightened they retreated again and again.

"Archbishop, why don't we return those things?"

"If they keep making trouble, we have no army; if a riot breaks out, we might have to go meet the Lord."

The Archbishop's expression was terrifyingly gloomy, and beneath that face, there was a trace of panic; his heart was hesitant and indecisive, for if he truly returned the items, it would be an admission of their crimes.

Following that would be countless voices of rebellion.

Now is the critical moment of the Holy War; if Catholicism is labeled as demonic.

Then what awaits them might be a counterattack from Protestantism!

A dilemma!

Just at this moment, a troop of Cavalry appeared on the horizon in the distance.

The Archbishop's expression brightened with joy.