Licinio saw that Ortas immediately went to work to woo supporters. He turned to Vargas to whisper something about needing to gain more support, as he watched the Caledonians gleefully following Ortas, and asked Vargas to speak with the Eiffellanders.
Licinio then decided to take the bull by the horns and turn towards Camus.
"You eminence, sorry to interrupt," he said, as Camus was sipping on a tea after Ortas left. "I know probably that we had some differences in the past, but I do honestly believe that the Church needs to be led through a pragmatic yet welcoming hand, rather than an iron hand. Us Tiburans know how that works, for in the end, the church and the Holy Frankish Empires are the successors of the political structures that Constantine the Great created. What I want to say, is that, we aspire to form a coalition of pragmatists and moderates, and for that, we believe that yourself and the Franks are probably one of the strongest pillars." Licinio knew that there were some alleged corruption accusations against Camus, but he sighed and went forth. "As you know, probably like the Holy Frankish Empire, the Meridian Crows is for centuries sponsoring the development of the Papal States, something that Cardinal Ortas wishes to cut, despite the fact that the aid comes not out of interest, but rather, out of Christian love and piety. If we will manage to get your support and the other Frankish cardinals, I do propose this continues and knowing your excellent administration skills and your piety, I would wish to work with you and offer you the administration of the Papal Bank, should I manage to be voted as Pope," he said.
Linicio then saw that Ortas went to the Eiffellanders and the Hansa, so he decided to go to the Lomaran cardinal.
"Your eminence, Azilia and Meridia have been great friends and we both have seen eye to eye a lot of times. I do hope, Cardinal Leveque, that you understand how problematic it would be if Ortas and his more reactionary ways come to the supreme power of the Papal State and the Church. We need to be moderate and pragmatic, yet filled with piety and faith in God, rather than dogmatic, like the Caledonians. What I propose is to build a coalition of such pragmatic moderates which would lead the Church and the faithful in what feel to be darkening times. I would propose, should you support us, that you yourself would receive the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs of the Papal State, something that would allow you to even start a crusade against antitziganism, and other types of such hateful activities that make the sons of God suffer at the hands of sinners," he said.
As Ortas was approaching now Leveque, he decided to go and speak to the Hanseatic ones. He knew he hit a bit maybe too high with Leveque, but he wanted to keep him as a close friend, because in the next round, he was ready to support him as the face of the moderate faction, and endorse him.
"Your eminence, Cardinal Klossner, I am very sorry to interrupt," he said as he saw the Hanseatic cardinals talking by themselves after Ortas visited them. "I would wish to propose a collaboration between us. You all come from a nation that is as confederated, like Meridia, as it is a mosaic of cultures and faiths. Coming from similar types of nations, we know what it means to exist and to function in an environment where it is for the best to negotiate and compromise, because if not, chaos ensues, compared to monolithic nations like Azilia, something that can be seen in its politics. What I thus want, is to form such a coalition that is moderate and respectful to its members. I understand how the Hansa, being half Catholic, half Lutheran is vulnerable in case all sorts of reactionaries come to power. One only needs to look at the dogmatism of the Caledonians and shudder, especially if it would spill over to Yorck. What I propose is the following. I will offer you the position of Cardinal Secretary of State, that is the equivalent of the Prime Minister of the Papal State, and it will give you ample influence within the Church, so that we can ensure that there is no radical ready to destroy what we and the generations before have built, since the days of our founding father, Saint Peter."
