Chapter 599: We... Will Control York City! (4/4)

Chapter 599: We... Will Hold York City! (4/4)

Everything unfolded precisely along the path Bishop Bourne had mapped out the previous day.

First, the leaders of both sides exchanged valuable perspectives, establishing the overarching tone.

Next, their respective subordinates began aligning their work beneath that framework, everything proceeding step by step.

Acting Chief Bishop Dunk acknowledged the vital importance and proactive nature of the Whip of Order's work, offering constructive suggestions for continued cooperation in the future, yet he also pointed out lapses in their execution while tacitly conceding that Bishop Yeder himself was compromised.

Director Harry publicly singled out Minister Bernie, Karen, and Neo for criticism; Bernie was let off lightly, while the brunt of the blame fell on Karen and Neo, with a promise of severe disciplinary action against those responsible for the operational failures.

Then, the five detained bishops would be released immediately, to be escorted from the Whip of Order headquarters by Acting Chief Bishop Dunk and his entourage.

What followed was a simple, mutual exchange of platitudes to close the proceedings, revolving around the political correctness of the two systems working toward mutual success to forge a glorious new dawn for the Church of Order.

When the moderator announced the successful conclusion of the meeting, those upon the stage and those below seemed to draw a collective, long sigh of relief; the storm had approached with ferocious momentum, but it had finally been neutralized before unleashing its truly devastating power.

Instantly, almost every journalist swarmed the edge of the stage, raising their cameras to snap photos of Karen, while the broadcast arrays focused their imagery entirely upon him where he sat.

Perhaps they all wished to use such a scene as the closing cover for this series of reports: a frustrated youth who, in his pursuit of the spotlight, had ultimately caused a fiasco, destroying with his own hands a future that should have been extraordinarily bright.

"Perhaps he should have grounded himself more, focusing steadfastly on his work; that is the proper path a young man ought to walk." ... This from a journalist of their own church.

"I feel deep regret; we may be about to lose him, a man who was meant to shine." ... This, too, from a journalist of their own church.

"Even the sharpest blade cannot ultimately withstand the twilight of Order; he did his best, yet he could not pierce the darkness of Order!" ... This from a foreign church journalist.

"Look, he sits there entirely alone, hands buried in the pockets of his divine robes, so desolate, so wretched; his heart must be filled with loss and despair, for he cannot save a Church of Order destined for decline." ... This, too, from a foreign church journalist.

Karen, who had already inspired countless biographical narratives in the minds of the reporters, silently grasped the token within his pocket and infused it with his spiritual power;

The order was dispatched.

Minister Bernie left his seat and walked over to stand before Karen; he knew Karen’s punishment would be expulsion from the Whip of Order system, but considering the magnitude of the trouble he had stirred up, that could hardly be considered a real penalty at all!

Thus, Bernie came to realize that the fellow before him possessed a force backing and protecting him from behind.

Consequently, having arrived at this point, he felt no joy of victory, nor did he care to engage in any provocation or mockery; for when all was calculated, he himself—doomed to be demoted—was the sole loser, and he could only hope the high lords above would keep their word, remembering to reinstate him once the fervor died down.

Minister Bernie extended his hand, placing it before Karen, and said in a relatively placid tone:

"In any case, it is all over."

Karen gently pushed Bernie's hand aside, and though he remained seated in his chair, he cast a gaze that seemed to look down from a great height:

"In truth, it has only just begun."