They are all characters I control.

The other two are the archbishops of the 'Eastern Alliance' and the 'Oasis Province', one of whom appears to be very shrewd and the other to be very taciturn.

These four archbishops, together with the three acting saintesses, control the 'Holy Council' which decides important matters of the Goddess Church.

"Speaking of which, it's still your fault." Isabelle glared at Claire with a hint of resentment.

The reason why the position of archbishop was vacant was because one of them was killed by Claire a hundred years ago.

The archbishop who was killed was the one who managed the imperial diocese.

Of course, he also had conflicts with Claire. Seeing his interests being eroded and swallowed up by Claire's reforms, he overturned the table and persuaded the other archbishops in the 'Holy Council' to condemn Claire's mastermind.

After that archbishop died, the position of archbishop of the imperial diocese remained vacant.

"Me? It's none of my business. I just got beaten up and fought back." Claire shrugged calmly.

"Sigh, let's not talk about the past. I wasn't the one who beat you up. If I were the acting saintess back then, I would definitely have stopped the attack on you."

Isabelle looked at Claire very seriously, and it was clear that she really thought so.

That's why Claire said she considered her a friend.

It wasn't just because Isabelle had large breasts, but also because of her friendly attitude towards him, after all, she was the substitute saint he had 'raised' since childhood.

"So you're worried about the 'Holy Council'? You're worried that the situation like when they attacked me back then will happen again?" Claire blurted out what Isabelle was really worried about.

Naturally, the number of seats in the 'Holy Council' has also decreased by one. Originally, there were five archbishops, but now there are only four, while there are three acting saintesses.

With a score of four to three, it seems the archbishops still have the advantage.

However, the relationship between the archbishops was not as harmonious as others thought. This seemingly narrow victory could be reversed at any time. After all, although the acting saintesses would fight among themselves, they were absolutely united in the 'Holy Council'.

Therefore, if a new bishop is promoted to archbishop, then as a result, the archbishops will be able to better suppress the acting saints in the 'Holy Council'.

Who knows, just like last time, they might use votes based on the number of people to coerce the entire Goddess Church into waging war against someone, thereby seeking their own interests.

Although the previous archbishop of the Imperial diocese is dead, the Church of the Goddess has indeed gained better control over the Empire.

The new empire is now being controlled by a mere bishop named Simon.

Of course, His Majesty Darian would only begin to have some designs on Bishop Simon after his chances of being promoted to archbishop disappeared.

Otherwise, before that, the royal family of the new empire would never have dared to cause any discomfort to Bishop Simon.

"Yes, Bishop Simon of the Empire had previously attempted to seize the position of archbishop, but I just happened to have a very good reason to put him back."

Isabelle's aversion and suppression of Bishop Simon was not only because his 'new tax system' was a vile product of exploiting believers and ordinary people, but also because she was trying to suppress the selection of a new archbishop.

In her view, the best situation was to leave the position of archbishop of the imperial diocese vacant.

However, after Bishop Simon, who seemed to be a strong contender to become the new archbishop of the Imperial diocese, lost his chance, a new archbishop was brought out faster than expected.

Isabelle's concern was precisely this: what if the new archbishop candidate succeeded in becoming archbishop?

The 'Holy Council' will likely be hijacked by the interests of the archbishops, forcing the Church of Goddess, including the acting saints, to act for their own selfish interests.

The last such action created Claire, the 'Evil Emperor,' and a new empire that appeared compliant but was internally more turbulent, even though everyone knew what terrible consequences the next one would bring.

“You can’t decide these things. Even if you manage to stop one, the archbishops will soon bring up the next one. The archbishops don’t want the current balance between them and the acting saintess to continue.”

Claire's point is very clear: Isabelle is not a 'saint'.

If she doesn't want a new archbishop to emerge, then no one will elect one.

Since the archbishops see a vacant position, they will definitely try their best to fill it with someone, so as to increase the influence of their archbishop faction in the 'Holy Council'.

Since the defeat of Claire and the death of an archbishop, the acting saintesses have gradually increased their power.

Isabelle's anger alone was enough to completely ruin the future of a candidate for archbishop.

While this certainly confirms that the status of the acting saintesses is indeed much higher than it was a hundred years ago, it also makes the archbishops feel threatened, and they no longer treat the acting saintesses as mere ornaments like the 'saintesses'.

The immediate election of a new archbishop is undoubtedly a struggle and a counterattack by the archbishops.

So no matter how much Isabelle opposes or tries to stop it now, it will only provoke a more intense backlash from the archbishops, and new archbishop candidates will emerge in droves like cockroaches.

"You! Really, aren't you worried about the Empire?" Isabelle blushed a little at Claire's words, and she clenched her little fists to accuse Claire.

Although this guy has left the dungeon, he has been kept as a pet by Ophelia.

But his personality remains as infuriating as ever.

Now that Claire is smaller, she looks cuter, and it's not as infuriating when he annoys you.

"The Empire? What do I care? I haven't been back to the Empire for a hundred years, and no one from the Empire has come to my rescue. Why should I save the Empire?"

Claire shrugged, her words tinged with resentment.

"Really? So you mean you're not going to stop the selection of the new archbishop?" Isabelle curled the corners of her lips, her tone becoming more serious.

She was quite conflicted about this matter, and her contact with Claire was partly to seek her opinion.

"Stop what? I'm asking you, who proposed this new candidate?" Claire threw out a question.

"The new candidate nominated this time is from the East... Oh! You mean to let the archbishops fight amongst themselves?"

Isabelle wasn't stupid; she understood immediately.

Chapter 42: A Look Back at the Old Territory

“That’s right, you don’t need to reject any new archbishop candidates.”

Claire spoke slowly and deliberately, and Isabelle listened attentively.

"But you can stall for time and let the archbishops argue amongst themselves. Since you can't prevent a new archbishop from emerging anyway, why not just remain neutral?"

“As long as you remain neutral and do not interfere, the other archbishops will stand up against the candidates nominated by the other archbishops for their own benefit.”

"The archbishops also have their own agendas. Whoever becomes the new archbishop means that they are closer to them. Although the archbishops' dioceses are separate, their borders are connected. They often fight each other for territory, let alone the archbishops of an entire imperial diocese."

Claire had already realized this from her previous experience of controlling Leah's body to attend Bishop Simon's victory banquet.

Witnessing the attitude of Grove of the 'Grand Duchy of the South Sea', one can see that it was this archbishop who was praising and flattering Bishop Simon at the time.

While the archbishop of the 'Northern Kingdom' was relatively supportive, the archbishops of the 'Eastern Alliance' and 'Oasis Province' dioceses remained silent, seemingly uninterested and indifferent.

That's enough to explain the problem.

“I see! I understand!” Isabelle was pleased to hear Claire’s opinion.

However, this time Claire didn't speak as subtly as she had in the dungeon before, nor did she deliberately say the opposite of what she meant.

Of course, Isabelle prefers Claire as she is now.

After all, you don't have to put in the effort to think for yourself, and you'll just get ridiculed.

Thinking of this, Isabelle couldn't help but ask a question.

"How are you doing with Ophelia?"

"It's alright. Nothing much to do every day. I can sunbathe, but I'm still being watched as always, only now there are more people watching me," Claire said with a shrug, seemingly unconcerned.

"Even though she takes baths a lot, why does Ophelia like taking baths so much?"

"They haven't given us any food. We can't get anything to eat or drink Imperial beer anymore."

After hearing what she had just said, Isabelle felt a little disappointed.

Claire clearly preferred the sun now, when he could bask in it; he couldn't get any sun while he was in the dungeon.

However, in the latter half, Claire's complaints made Isabelle very happy. It was clear that Ophelia's care did not satisfy Claire, and Claire would still miss the days she spent with her.

"Then I'll bring you some food and beer, since nobody drinks here anyway," Isabelle said, feigning nonchalance.

"Delivering alcohol? Sure, but can you even get it in here?"

Claire sat up from her chair.

Once Ophelia knew he was immortal, she stopped providing him with any food or drink.

Anyway, he doesn't really need to eat, but he still has a craving for food. What's the point of living if he doesn't eat and drink?

“Of course, even Ophelia’s black-robed nuns can’t stop me; this is the ‘Holy City’,” Isabelle replied matter-of-factly.

Anyway, it's pretty much a showdown with Ophelia now, and Ophelia has found Claire, whom I'd been hiding.

That way, I won't have to hide anymore, worrying that Ophelia will find out that I'm looking for food and wine.

Besides, Claire is with Ophelia now, so there's nothing to be afraid of if she just sends the drinks over. If Ophelia doesn't want her to send them, then she'll go up herself.

If it weren't for the fact that Claire has been turned into a little boy by Ophelia and needs Ophelia to undo the transformation, and also to avoid causing a riot by fighting over Claire, Isabelle would have already resorted to force.

Of course, Ophelia knew this, which is why she didn't hide Claire and instead let Claire stay in her room.

Since Isabelle isn't here to take Claire away, but only to bring her some food and drinks, Ophelia probably won't try so hard to stop her.

"In that case, why don't you help me find someone while you're at it?"

Claire said.

"Hmm? Looking for someone?" Isabelle was a little surprised.

After all, Claire, this evil god emperor, actually needs to find someone?

A hundred years have passed, and most of the people who saw Claire, this evil god emperor, are probably dead by now.

There are very few people who even know that Claire is alive.

"Who is it? The other person is probably already dead, after all, a long time has passed."

"It was taught by the Goddess Church."

Claire's words made Isabelle even more curious.

They're from the Church of the Goddess? Besides herself, there are other people Claire knows besides Ophelia?

"He was a church knight, and if I'm not mistaken, his name was William..."

“Okay, I understand.” Isabelle wrote down the name.

She turned to look at Claire with some curiosity, glancing at the furnishings of Ophelia's room behind Claire.

"Why don't you ask Ophelia? Is it because she doesn't care? Or did she offer you some conditions?"

It seems Isabelle knows Ophelia quite well.

However, Claire did not hide it.

He shrugged: "Ophelia said she'd see how I perform and then help me find someone. I think she's going to be a tough one."

"That's right! That guy is definitely going to be tough! He'll definitely ask you to do something else!"

Isabelle wore an expression that suggested she had expected this, as she already knew about Ophelia's wicked nature.

“So now I’m counting on you, Isabelle.” Claire looked at her with a trusting gaze.

"It's okay, of course!"

Isabelle nodded happily, like a child being praised.

Just like Ophelia likes to compare herself with Isabelle in everything she does, hoping to be stronger than Isabelle.

The same feeling applies to Isabelle as well.

"Alright, I need to contact the archbishop and the others. I'll be going now."

Isabelle went offline because of the matter of the new archbishop.

Claire wasn't particularly interested in the new archbishop; whoever it was, as long as they could disrupt the empire's situation, that was fine.

Just as he was thinking this, the system's comments popped up in front of him.

[Lia: Guiding God! Are you there?]

Claire sighed.

Troublemaker is here.

Come to think of it, it has indeed been a while since I last contacted Lia.

[Claire: Yes, what's up?]

His tone softened this time, which reassured Liya considerably.

[Lia: Great! You finally replied! I thought you were ignoring me! You hadn't responded for so long!]

Claire: Stop rambling and get to the point.