Chapter Fifty: The Pope of Light

"Miss, the way you treated Jack and the others—I'm afraid that when we return, Bishop Ryan will make trouble for you again," the middle-aged priest, who had remained silent until the two warriors left, cast a worried glance at Vivian.

"It doesn't matter," Vivian replied with a careless wave of her hand, her vacant eyes gazing out the window. She assured the priest, "As long as we can persuade Mr. Zhou Tian to join our Holy Church, the merit I gain will certainly attract the attention of the Church's upper echelons. Then, even if Bishop Ryan wants to target us again, he'll have to consider whether the Pope or the Saintess will notice."

The priest opened his mouth as if to speak, but after a faint sigh, he left his thoughts unspoken. He looked at Vivian with concern one last time, then quietly withdrew.

When only Vivian remained in the room, a small venomous snake slithered out from its hiding place beneath the ground, unseen outside her chamber...

—Dividing Line—

After a brief rest, Zhou Tian and his companions were invited to the City Lord's mansion.

Following a period of hurried preparations, the City Lord hosted a banquet. Amidst flattery and praise, not only Vivian's party but even Zhou Tian—whose beastly presence unsettled many—was seated at the place of honor.

"Mr. Zhou Tian, if you agree to join our Holy Church of Light, you can enjoy food like this every day. Surely that's better than hunting magical beasts alone?" Vivian ignored the crowd's continuous sycophancy, nibbling delicately as she leaned in to whisper her persuasion into Zhou Tian's ear.

Zhou Tian nodded noncommittally, offering no reply. He swallowed an entire roast suckling pig in one bite, then, under the varied gazes of those around him, calmly climbed off his chair, declared, "I'm full," and departed without another word.

Such rude behavior naturally changed the expressions of those present. The local residents took it in stride, but the two warriors accompanying Vivian shot Zhou Tian hateful glances. If not for their concern over Vivian’s reaction, they would likely have confronted him long ago.

Thanks to Zhou Tian's presence, the banquet was a failure; everyone ate only a little before dispersing.

The next morning, before dawn, Vivian 'invited' Zhou Tian from his bed. Amid his grumbling, she picked him up and left the cathedral. After entering a teleportation array with her group, they departed the city through spatial transmission...

—Dividing Line—

"Is this the Holy Church of Light?" Zhou Tian exclaimed, marveling at the nearly hundred-meter-tall citadel. He followed Vivian and her companions into the headquarters of their Holy Church.

"Good morning, Miss Vivian!"

"Miss Vivian, you've returned!"

"Vivian, did you bring us anything fun?"

"Vivian, did you encounter any danger while adventuring this time?"

...

"You seem very popular here," Zhou Tian remarked, slightly surprised as nearly everyone they met greeted Vivian. He knew her temperament was unusually amiable, but the scene still amazed him.

"It's nothing—just ordinary greetings," Vivian replied.

"Ordinary greetings? Then why doesn't anyone greet those beside you?" Zhou Tian grumbled at her calm demeanor, but ultimately held his tongue, following the group to the main hall of the citadel.

"Vivian, Captain of Squad Eight of the Demon Extermination Guard of the Inquisition’s Holy Legion, requests an audience with His Holiness the Pope, along with all squad members," Vivian respectfully saluted the knights guarding the door and made her request.

"Please wait a moment," one knight returned the salute and promptly entered to report.

After about ten minutes, the knight reemerged, saluted Vivian, and respectfully announced, "His Holiness will see you now."

With a nod, Vivian and her party followed the knight through several chambers. At last, Zhou Tian came face-to-face with the Pope of the Holy Church of Light.

Just one glance, and Zhou Tian couldn't even make out the Pope's features, so overwhelmed was he by the aura radiating from the figure that he struggled to lift his head.

Straining to open his eyes, Zhou Tian found the person before him blurred and indistinct. His heart tightened. He knew that in this other world, no Pope was ever a simple character, but he had not imagined the Pope of the Holy Church of Light would be so terrifying.

The sheer aura alone pinned Zhou Tian; he needed no further proof of the Pope’s immense power. Faced with such strength, Zhou Tian doubted his ability to escape the heart of the enemy's domain unscathed.

"You are Zhou Tian, correct?" After a brief silence, before Vivian and her group could report, the Pope of Light spoke, addressing Zhou Tian directly.

Vivian and her companions were astonished by the Pope's initiative, while Zhou Tian, the object of attention, broke out in a cold sweat, unsure how this formidable figure knew of a 'nobody' like him.

Swallowing nervously, Zhou Tian cautiously replied, "Yes, my name is Zhou Tian. But how did you know my name?"

The Pope smiled mysteriously, but did not answer immediately. Instead, he waved his hand and gently commanded Vivian and her group, "I am already aware of your affairs. Zhou Tian will remain; the rest of you may go and rest."

"Yes, Your Holiness!" Though Vivian's team were curious about the Pope's decision, they dared not question him. Receiving his command, they respectfully saluted and quietly withdrew.

Truthfully, Zhou Tian did not want to stay. The thought of the Pope’s terrifying power made him anxious, but since the Pope himself had asked him to remain, Zhou Tian could not refuse. Regardless of his own status, the Pope’s command left him with no grounds to object.

Once Vivian and her party had left, the Pope withdrew his overwhelming aura, revealing his true face to Zhou Tian. As he spoke, Zhou Tian felt another cold sweat break out.