Alternatively, if Holy Knight Randy were to respond by advocating for Cardinal Juke's excommunication or execution, he would be perceived as vindictive and petty, solely driven by a desire for revenge against a fellow Church member, rather than genuinely caring about the Church's reputation.
With that consideration in mind, Holy Knight Randy swiftly devised a plan that would not only highlight his commitment as a Holy Knight of the Holy Church of Light but also serve his long-term objectives.
After taking a moment to contemplate and finalize his decision, Holy Knight Randy adjusted his posture and looked up at the Pope, who gazed down at him from his throne, scrutinizing him intensely.
Feigning a momentary sense of intimidation by the Pope's gaze, Holy Knight Randy responded: "Your Holiness, in light of preserving the Church's reputation, I believe it would be prudent to avoid excommunicating Cardinal Juke, even if he has committed blasphemy by disregarding the Church's principles. Instead, it would greatly benefit the Church's standing to offer him an opportunity for redemption.
I propose temporarily demoting him from his position as Head of Cardinals to the rank of the lowest Cardinal. In the meantime, Cardinal Zaul, the second-ranking Cardinal, could assume the role of Head of Cardinals."
"..."
The Pope was pleasantly surprised by Holy Knight Randy's astute response, devoid of any ill-intent or personal grudge toward Cardinal Juke, who had blackmailed him and attempted to tarnish his reputation as an honorable Holy Knight.
Naturally, as Holy Knight Randy was not Zolat Grant, he harbored no grudge or enmity toward Cardinal Juke, who had orchestrated Zolat Grant's excommunication from the Holy Church of Light, as well as besmirch his reputation irreparably.
However, the Pope remained unaware of this fact and could only interpret Holy Knight Randy's solemn words as those of a compassionate and selfless individual, willing to set aside personal grievances to uphold the principles of the Holy Church of Light.
After a brief moment of silence, the Pope finally spoke, wearing an amicable smile.
"As expected of the one I chose as my son. Your words are well spoken. To willingly forgo an opportunity for revenge against Cardinal Juke for the greater good of the Church is precisely what I would expect from my son and the Captain of the Holy Knight Crusaders."
Satisfied with Holy Knight Randy's stance, the Pope explained further: "Prematurely eliminating the Head of Cardinals from the Holy Church of Light at this juncture would not only draw the attention of the masses but also prompt intervention from the Royal Family, who typically do not involve themselves in Church affairs.
Due to their recklessness and arrogance, fueled by their success in clearing a few dungeons on their own, these self-proclaimed geniuses ventured into the Trial of Challengers without adequate preparation. The outcome was tragic, with most of them perishing and those who survived left with severe injuries that traumatized or disabled them.
As a consequence of these incidents, prior to their ascension, apostle candidates no longer had any interest in challenging the Trial of Challengers, despite receiving the esteemed "Challenger" title. Why risk their lives for a mere trial when they could easily ascend through their talents alone?
Moreover, the nature of the trial and reward for passing the trial remained unknown. What if the reward did not outweigh the inherent danger? Would they not have risked their lives in vain?
After all, different survivals stated different accounts regarding the events and challenges in the trial. In other words, the trial was not fixed. Instead, it was random and unpredictable. With these considerations in mind, the apostles abandoned the trials. As a result, only those warriors identified as having potential through compulsory selection were approached to volunteer for the trial.
At some point, the Pope snapped out of his wandering thoughts and realized that he had drifted away from the present situation, neglecting Holy Knight Randy who patiently awaited his attention. Despite his prolonged contemplation, only a few moments had elapsed in his mind, so little time had passed in reality.
When the Pope redirected his gaze downwards, he observed Holy Knight Randy still standing resolute before him. It was at this critical juncture in their discussion that the Pope resolved to be frank and open with Holy Knight Randy.
"My son, I deeply apologize for the unjust treatment you have endured at the hands of Cardinal Juke. Your unwavering faith and loyalty to the Church are truly commendable. There was no need for me to test you." The Pope abruptly stated.
He continued: "Your stance on how to handle Cardinal Juke's blasphemous acts has earned my trust and my sympathy. A warrior of faith like yourself should not be subjected to such injustice. Therefore, I would completely understand if you decided to seek your own form of retribution for the wrongful blackmail."
"Your Holiness, as a warrior and a Holy Knight, revenge is not in my nature. I do not wish to stoop to the level of Cardinal Juke."
Holy Knight Randy responded solemnly. He sensed that the Pope was trying to ascertain the authenticity of his previous response. Therefore, he chose to remain consistent with his stance.
As expected, the Pope smiled approvingly and remarked: "Your compassion is truly admirable, my son. Your actions embody the true teachings of the Church. You are a shining exemplar of righteousness."
Holy Knight Randy bowed his head gratefully and replied: "Thank you, Your Holiness. Your words hold great significance to me."
Once again, the Pope rose from his seat and approached Holy Knight Randy, placing a projected hand of light on his shoulder. With a solemn voice, he declared: "From this moment onward, I shall treat you as my own son and as a loyal and compassionate knight of the Holy Church of Light. If you ever need anything in the future, do not hesitate to come to me."