CHAPTER 116: CHAPTER 107: THE CHURCH’S SECRETS

Seeing Balakli fly out, Lu Shuai’s mind was buzzing, a bit dizzy, and his body felt exhausted. However, with the wild cheering, the entire crowd shouted his name. Lu Shuai, who was about to collapse, suddenly didn’t know where an endless stream of power came from that surged within him. He raised the long sword in his hand and once again received a resounding wave of cheers.

Celestial City yearns for another grand figure like Luthor.

Lu Shuai completely understood why so many people were desperate to become stronger. This sensation was truly intoxicating.

Zhao Qing’s expression shifted from sunny to gloomy. He allowed Lu Shuai to go up to use Luthor’s fame to highlight himself and elevate his own honor, but he didn’t expect Lu Shuai to win, ... Does this mean the overall strength of Saint Grace isn’t that strong?

The third match was Luo Xue’s turn. She faced the vice-captain, Lancer. However, this match was extremely tough. Luo Xue’s strength was clearly above Lancer’s, but the two fought for the longest time. In the final moment, Luo Xue resorted to using the Eye of Secrets to take down Lancer, who did not use the Eye of Secrets and eventually lost.

Celestial Capital Canon Law School swept Simmons-led Saint Grace Canon Law School three to zero. There were only a few who truly understood and were willing to question the event, most were greatly approving, even extremely satisfied, with an atmosphere full of excitement. It was truly a grand festival.

Luo Xue, who clinched victory, wasn’t too happy because throughout the process, she was a mere side character. This was Zhao Qing’s plan; he took down the strongest Simmons, while she tangled with the opposing vice-captain till the end, with the situation turning multiple times. It was fought with extreme difficulty. Even though her match was of the highest quality, how many people actually knew?

Zhao Qing couldn’t hide his smile any longer. This was the purpose he painstakingly achieved after spending a fortune organizing this competition. If only Luo Xue had submitted to him earlier, she could also bask in the glory, but unfortunately, this woman didn’t realize her place.

Li Xin was also in the Canon Law School’s formation, just behind the substitutes’ section. Arranged by Luo Xue, he could see an energy forming when the arena was highly charged, swirling continuously. Seemingly, those around didn’t perceive it, not knowing if it had anything to do with the so-called "glory".

Even though he was far away, Li Xin could still see Archbishop Matthew in the VIP seats.

Matthew’s attention wasn’t on the competition, he seemed to have been focusing on this energy. Beside him was Zhao Xun. Ever since suspecting Matthew, Li Xin couldn’t suppress this thought, even trying to refute himself. Matthew not saving Luo Jin was, at most, disloyal, but in reality, it wasn’t that simple. Because Luo Jin’s ability helped him oversee the Night Patrol, which was the Church’s blade, and Luo Jin was still his student with whom he had maintained a very good relationship. There was no reason really, so what kind of leverage did Zhao Xun have to sway him?

The archbishop didn’t care about his status, nor over reproach when marrying a widow, let alone threats, which were laughable.

Could it be that Matthew and Zhao Xun were already on the same path?

No kidding, if you reason it like this, then many things really do make sense. As for why they’d put on an act, it’s not hard to understand. It’s to show some people the balance of power between divine rights and the Council, secretly colluding together.

Then comes the question, as Church members, they should stand against the Abyssal Fallen, far beyond secular interests. This is the contradiction Li Xin cannot fathom.

The natural conclusion from such a situation is that Matthew has fallen, allying with the Evil God or such. Yet from his observations, including his insight, Matthew doesn’t emit an aura of corruption, and he also passed Chris’s trials, ... Suddenly Li Xin recalled a point, Zhao Xun was also unaffected by Chris...

Could there be some secret method that can avoid detection? Miss Aries did say it would surely manifest, but everything also has its counter, maybe Chris isn’t as formidable as she claims.

At this point, this is definitely a plausible hypothesis.

The match ended, Zhao Qing was accepting an interview with the Hex Bird Report, talking incessantly. Lu Shuai was also there, while Luo Xue’s interview had already concluded. She glanced at the silent Li Xin, thinking that he was dissatisfied with her plight, sighed in her heart as there was nothing she could do, moreover, she herself was now in a very dangerous position. If the next match continued this way, she would entirely lose her presence, either stepping down gracefully or being ousted.

Simmons, whose match had ended, refused an interview and came in front of Li Xin, "Brother Li, this trip to the Celestial City is over. Tonight we set out back to Moncalleta, you’re welcome to visit Saint Grace Canon Law School."

Li Xin looked at Simmons, "Really welcome?"

Simmons paused for a second, ... he was just being polite, but could only awkwardly nod, then glanced at his team, "Ahem, the team members are waiting for me, till we meet again."

Simmons left with his team without looking back. To outsiders, it appeared they were just losers, indeed too ashamed to stay.

Simmons still held a fear for Li Xin, the instant he was defeated created a temporary memory loss, completely powerless, even under his heightened alertness. Furthermore, he sensitively perceived that Li Xin was contemplating and preparing other things, entirely focused elsewhere. The fact that someone capable of such feats occupied his mind was something he didn’t even want to imagine.

Similarly failed, members of Tessis Canon Law School didn’t leave because they had two severely injured team members who couldn’t move. This is commonplace in Canon Law School battles, their opponents were ruthless, but not against the rules – they could only blame themselves for inferior skills. Actually, with reversed strength, everyone would go all out against Iron Blood too.

No one likes the Lickers.

Today undoubtedly was a refreshing and exhilarating victory, bringing long-lost excitement and honor to Celestial City. Next up is tomorrow’s main event, the battle between Celestial City and Iron Blood. Both sides crushed their opponents, but Celestial City did so three to zero, slightly ahead. It can only be said that the new generation led by Zhao Qing, Luo Xue, and Lu Shuai is indeed different.

In brightly lit Celestial City, every household was in a festive atmosphere, except for the odd ones out, such as the Night Patrol.

No one is very worried because, after all, there’s the Archbishop above. Without his consent, City Hall cannot do anything to the captain.

Right now, the most important thing in Celestial City is the Four Nations Tournament. The issue with Luo Jin has been temporarily put aside. Almost everyone available in the Night Patrol has been mobilized to look for Hao Ye, yet he seems to have vanished without a trace. Several places of the Zhao Family are closely monitored by the Night Patrol.

"Sister Casey, have you eaten yet?" Li Xin asked Kathy, who had a face full of worry, and couldn’t help but think that old Luo is really a lucky man.

"I have eaten." Kathy’s expression relaxed a bit upon seeing Li Xin, but her eyes were still filled with deep concern. "So far, there’s no trace of Hao Ye."

"The Canon Law School doesn’t have any traces of him either. Since he was involved in this, he surely knows the seriousness of it. If he hasn’t left the city, he will find an absolutely safe place to hide," Li Xin said.

"Could he have gone to the Underground City?"

Li Xin wasn’t too sure because his dice indicated he was still in the city. But who knows if he left afterwards?

Seeing that Li Xin wasn’t certain either, Kathy understood they could only take things step by step. Escaping to the Underground City is no different than escaping out of the city. "Today’s big victory has elevated the Zhao Family’s influence to a higher level. If he successfully gets elected as a member of the Council, he really can’t be moved."

Li Xin knew everyone had gone out to act and said to Kathy, "Sister Casey, I’ve been thinking about a possibility lately. It’s a bit shocking. Do you think the Archbishop and the Zhao Family might have been cooperating?"

Li Xin was a bit worried that Kathy might not accept it, but Kathy wasn’t surprised. She looked at Li Xin, sighed lightly, and said, "That’s what I fear the most."

Kathy came from a noble family. She had seen too much of this. Nobles would sacrifice anything for profit, let alone someone like Luo Jin.

"Sister Casey, what I want to say is, is it possible that the Archbishop has been cooperating with the Zhao Family from the very start? I feel that regarding the Moncalleta matter, the Bishop didn’t really exert effort. Before City Hall intervened, he had many opportunities to use magic potions or abilities to force Moncalleta to reveal his true form, but he strictly followed the rules. Even we could determine that Moncalleta is definitely problematic, so why couldn’t he?" Li Xin said, "Given the Archbishop’s position, even if he did something, who would dare to question him?"

Luo Jin did something, and it became utterly unforgivable. And Matthew represents the highest power of the Moon God Church in the Celestial City, fundamentally opposed to evil. Even if he did something, even if it was a bit rough, so what? After all, Moncalleta is an Inhaler. The world doesn’t have such heavy procedures.

But in reality, it almost pushed Luo Jin to despair. If Li Xin hadn’t found Chris, Luo Jin would have faced a backlash from power, no matter what trick he used.

Kathy was silent, not having thought about this before, but having experienced everything, Li Xin’s words made her deeply fearful.

"There’s another matter. Someone who can clearly understand old Luo’s financial movements surely wouldn’t be Zhao Xun, otherwise, he wouldn’t have waited until today. Who do you think it could be?" Li Xin asked.

"Besides me, it’s only the Archbishop." Kathy said, many things Luo Jin didn’t hide from Kathy, and the situation of the Night Patrol couldn’t be hidden from Matthew. Both of them were capable of keeping track of Luo Jin’s movements and actions.

"I asked Qi Badao to investigate, and indeed there was an account book kept in the Underground City, but it was never intended to be used. This time it was used because Uncle Luo suddenly broke the rules and asked for an additional fifty thousand Lira, which infuriated them, but more importantly, someone was backing him—a significant figure." Li Xin continued, the gangsters in the Underground City might act tyrannically, but they wouldn’t oppose the city’s big figures, they’re not stupid.

At this point, both of them felt a chill in their hearts. If the Archbishop had always been playing a double act with the Zhao Family, then everyone would become a joke.

"Back then, there was something highly unusual about the Lin Family incident. Someone passed information to the Night Patrol with incredible precision, timing it to almost wipe them out. Old Luo arrived and captured a live one. We all know, Lickers are not Inhalers. They don’t like operating in broad daylight, let alone collectively. That kind of sudden situation was more like someone implanted a worm in them and induced a loss of control with flesh and blood," Kathy said. "But the living Licker died as soon as it entered the Church. At that time, old Luo was still a squad leader, wanted to investigate, but was ordered to stop by the higher-ups. He’s never forgotten this case over the years."

Li Xin knew that old Luo’s attitude toward him wasn’t just simple appreciation but also guilt—guilt toward the Lin Family, which is why he refused the first family banquet invitation. When Li Xin said the second one was Aunt Fei’s invitation, he attended, when even Matthew’s promotion banquet he had refused.

"Sister Casey, do you think with Luo Uncle’s character, he would so recklessly trust Hao Ye?"

"In a normal situation, I don’t think so," Kathy said.

"I think so too. Uncle Luo must have had his own plan," Li Xin remembered the look of Luo Jin when he saw him, indescribable, but certainly without a hint of regret at being plotted against.

"If Zhao Xun and Matthew were in it together, then Zhao Xun arranging for Hao Ye to be bait makes sense." Kathy’s expression gradually became calm. "We were all watching the Zhao Family, while for the Archbishop, hiding a person would be too easy."

"Sister Casey, I have a question: Can clergy raise worms?"

This troubled Li Xin. In this world, the power of gods truly exists, and there are secret laws. The Bishop is a Preacher, a messenger of the Moon God, and an arch-enemy of the Abyss. Can they fall without restraint and not face backlash?

Kathy looked at Li Xin, as if making a certain determination, gritted her teeth, and said, "The Church does raise worms."