Flora only needed a minor intervention, and the two priests who had long sat in their offices would follow in the footsteps of Priest Simon and resign on their own accord, due to their eye-wateringly poor performance at the front lines.
Moreover, Flora truly had the means to orchestrate it, having arrived in Lundan a day early and pinpointed the coordinates of the Death Knight. She just needed to activate the magic to locate the Death Knight’s hiding place, and she could oust the two priests from their positions at any time.
The reason she hadn’t made her move was to wait for the right moment, an opportunity to send Hefei packing in one fell swoop.
Besides, as a Frank, she wasn’t well-received in Lundan; a century-old friendship wasn’t just lip service after all, and even her status as the Holy Maiden couldn’t cover it up.
To reverse this disadvantage, Flora needed to establish a persona, a presence so formidable that it would make everyone subconsciously forget that century-old friendship.
An idol route was definitely out of the question; a mere idol couldn’t sustain box office appeal, and as the former Holy Maiden, she was already a frontline idol of the Naturalism Church.
If one aspires to total market acceptance as an idol, they must shed the burden of idolhood, switch to a prowess-based approach, and silence the critics with their own strength.
To get back on track, Hefei and Flora were currently in close collaboration, jointly monopolizing the upper echelons of Lundan Headquarters power, a period one could call their honeymoon phase.
But at the grassroots level, both of them were somewhat helpless with a large number of vacancies. Despite their reluctance, they had to employ those from Sidney’s faction.
Hefei made promises to Wayne at noon and started ordering an investigation into Joy Dobin upon returning to her office. Due to the lengthy process, she hadn’t received definitive news yet, only knowing that Joy had fled in fear of punishment, leaving his home empty.
Hefei was ready to make a move on Sidney!
Ding-a-ling-a-ling~~~
The phone rang, causing Hefei’s heart to skip a beat. Just as the situation was improving, she prayed it wouldn’t take a sudden nosedive.
Hefei said a little prayer before picking up the phone.
"Hello, High Priest, this is Dean Plank from the Red Leaf Forest Asylum."
Hefei was slightly taken aback and then exchanged pleasantries; she had always intended to visit this venerated figure of the Magic Realm at the Asylum, but had been too busy to make time.
"High Priest, I bring you good news today."
"Sidney has gone mad, he and the Void Lord have always been in connec..."
"High Priest, I know you are pleased, but if you keep laughing , it’s hard for us to continue our conversation."
"No, no, Dean Plank jests, I’m not at all pleased. Sidney was a believer of unwavering faith, his contributions to Lundan Headquarters are unmatched. To hear such bad news about him, I’m too sad to even begin to express it!" Hefei said, pounding her chest and trying to calm herself down, but the damn corners of her mouth insisted on turning up.
Good news, incredibly good news!
Sidney, prudent and deep-thinking, both powerful and influential, was the biggest stumbling block to the High Priest consolidating power. Hefei had been worrying about how to uproot his faction entirely, to the point where she even considered showing her roguish husband a semblance of kindness.
And unexpectedly, before she had even taken action, he went mad.
Madness never looked so good, oh how marvellous!
Hefei was overjoyed, almost not knowing how to thank Dean Plank!
"Dean Plank, how long will Sidney need treatment?"
Hefei held her breath, Goddess above, hopefully, ten years, even five would do, she wasn’t picky.
"At least thirty years!"
"That’s wonderful, cough, I mean how regrettable, after all, Sidney is such a... heh heh heh."
On the other end of the phone, Plank didn’t speak, waiting for Hefei to finish laughing.
After laughing for quite a while, with tears coming out, Hefei realized she had lost her composure and almost beyond redemption. She decided to salvage what she could, saying sternly, "Dean Plank, thank you for notifying me in time, saving the Naturalism Church from a significant loss. Honestly, I don’t even know how to thank you."
She still owes me thanks!
Plank chuckled modestly, casually stating, "No thanks are necessary, but if the High Priest insists on showing gratitude, it’s simple. I’ve taken a liking to a follower of the Naturalism Church, a mere Mage apprentice. He’s slow-witted and not very bright, and I plan to take him as my student. I hope the High Priest will allow it and let him go."
"For him to become your student would be his honor, there’s no need for me to facilitate that. Just go ahead and... wait a moment, what’s that Mage apprentice’s name?"
"You old bastard, do you know what you’re saying? He’s my student! I tell you as the High Priest of the Naturalism Church, it’s impossible, absolutely impossible!"
Hefei cursed out loud. She knew it; she’d been having a streak of bad luck lately, so how could there possibly be any good news.
Here it was, a Legendary Mage was at her doorstep, ready to steal her student!
The scene shifts to 13 Manor Avenue in the West District.
Wayne sat upright on the living room sofa, playing with corn kernels and entertaining a white dove.
In the neighboring study, Hefei and Plank were locked in a heated debate, occasionally punctuated by a few timeless F-bomb proverbs.
Wayne looked over and whispered, "Could you please stop fighting? If you want to argue, go to the dance studio."
Hefei, with a stern face: "Dean Plank, I am aware that you are a Legendary Mage, and if Wayne could become your student, his future would undoubtedly be limitless."
"If that is so, High Priestess, why are you unwilling to let go?"
"Because he is already destined for boundless prospects!"
"I admit that, but the High Priestess must also recognize that what you can teach Wayne, I can too, and what I can teach him, you might not be able to." Unlike the forceful Hefei, Plank was noticeably more composed.