NOVPUBThe lofty windows behind Sikder’s throne, several meters high, were shrouded by a thick waterfall-like curtain, nearly preventing any light from the outside world from piercing through. Through the occasional crack, one could catch a glimpse of the misty clouds outside and the silhouettes of distant buildings.
In this space that boasted a luxuriousness akin to a private gallery, she and Lanci, who stood far from her, were locked in a remote stare.
"I am Sigrid, the Bishop of Hegemony."
It was Sikder who calmly voiced these words.
"..."
Despite Lanci’s expression remaining unchanged, his hesitation hinted that he seemed somewhat taken aback.
It was not because he was caught off guard by his first encounter with the Cardinal Bishop of the Rebirth Church.
Rather, he could not comprehend the logic of the woman before him.
A Cardinal Bishop infiltrating the Nirvana Branch as a mole?
It was truly unexpected that the Hegemony Church would resort to such tactics!
However, Lanchi was in no position to criticize the Hegemony Church, because he happened to be doing the same thing. Their operations collided and resulted in such a fortuitous situation.
"That’s the way it is within the Empire right now. In the territory of Protoss, wisdom is everything."
As if she could perceive Lanci’s confusion, Sigrid, the Bishop of Hegemony, spread her right hand out and said,
"Instead of recruiting talents openly and recklessly at the risk of a mole from the Nirvana Branch slipping in, why not personally go to the Nirvana Branch to scout out and snatch their most outstanding talents?"
She never stole what she wanted; she took it directly and boldly.
"So are you not planning to continue infiltrating the higher ranks of the Nirvana Branch to create further disruption?"
With a hint of perplexity, Lanci asked.
"It’s something that only a petty person would do, it’s not my style."
Upon thinking of the constant behaviour of the Nirvana Branch, Sigrid couldn’t help sneer.
With her objective reached, she no longer intended to use her identity as Sikder.
Lanci was taken aback upon hearing her words.
He had thought that the Bishop of Hegemony was playing a grand strategy.
Yet it seemed her motives were simpler than he had assumed.
She merely wanted to snatch away the outstanding talents that the Nirvana Branch had recruited.
Then directly hire Lanci as her personal subordinate.
While Lanci still appeared to remain calm, his shadow had begun to shiver.
"...!"
Just by being at such a distance from the Bishop of Hegemony, the Cat boss was terrified to death.
It had never encountered a bishop-level existence of the Rebirth Church in its life. However, at this moment, such a calamitous life form that could destroy the world stood right before its eyes!
That was a fear arising from the depths of the soul, a dread that could not escape the unknown and powerful force.
Under such oppression, all it could do was tremble helplessly, hoping for the terrifying being on the throne, more terrifying than the legendary Eighth-Order Demon Dragon, to not notice it and give it a chance to live.
"Your shadow is trembling."
Sigrid was patient towards Lanci and didn’t mind his silence. She murmured while staring at his shadow.
Upon her words, Lanci’s shadow distorted even more violently as though it were in shock.
"I’m not interested in harming such weak creatures, unless you challenge me, little one."
Her gaze seemed to penetrate the shadow and see the Cat boss as if nothing could escape her sight despite the physical distance.
"...!!"
After she finished speaking, the Cat boss hesitated for a moment.
The terrified, fur-bristling Little Black Cat finally emerged from the shadow and climbed onto Lanci’s body. Its body curled up tightly, entirely enveloped by a chilling fear.
Only by staying on Lanci’s hand did it feel a sense of security.
It only hoped that in front of this terrifying life form, it would be insignificant enough to survive.
"Don’t be scared, don’t be scared, I’m here."
Lanci cradled the Cat boss gently, softly patting it, trying to reassure it,
"So, has Mr. Bishop taken notice of my performance in the Nirvana Branch assessment?"
Lanci raised his head again to ask Sigrid, respectfully.
He could not entirely confirm whether the Bishop of Hegemony had come to him due to the reformation of the Xi Nan Province or because of the assessment of the Nirvana Branch.
In Xi Nan Province, except for the Silver-armored Priest who had met him personally on Viscount Francis’s ship, none of the other priests had seen his real appearance and had not directly interacted with his real body.
Since Lanci had integrated so thoroughly into the Church, he had only been in the imperial city Herram for few days.
Even if the Bishop of Hegemony had personally taken a trip to investigate in Xi Nan Province, it shouldn’t be so quick to unearth the Silver-armored Priest, let alone find out the true identity of the Pioneer from him.
"That’s correct, although I’m not sure about the results of your first round of assessment, and your performance in the second round is only mediocre, I really like how you performed in the final assessment."
Sigrid raised her hand, pointing at Lanci,
"You are impressive, I want you, come be my personal soldier."
"..."
This made Lanci somewhat troubled.
Back in Ichrite it seemed like nobody had such high expectations of him.
In contrast, he received the favour of a Cardinal Bishop upon his arrival in the Northern Continent.
Although the Bishop of Hegemony did indeed respect him greatly, her benefits were clearly two levels higher than what the Nirvana Branch offered, and even if he requested to observe the tablets, she probably wouldn’t cause him much trouble.
The problem was, he had no interest in observing the [Original Slabstone - Foundation], what he wanted to see was the [Original Slabstone-Sealing]!
And if he officially chose the side of the Bishop of Hegemony, becoming a personal soldier, he can then forget about continuing his operations within the Nirvana Branch.
"If I join, can I continue to infiltrate the Nirvana Branch?"
Lanci inquired.
"...You are calculating, wanting to take advantage of both sides, right?"
Sigrid gazed into Lanci’s jade green eyes, smiling as though she could read his inner thoughts.
"But isn’t it the most beneficial for you if I create havoc inside the Nirvana Branch?"
Lanci explained.
It seemed that the Bishop of Hegemony was heavy-handedly demanding control.
"I’ve already told you, I don’t like to do such things; my personal soldiers should be by my side, obeying my commands and working for me."
The Bishop of Hegemony, after hearing Lanci’s second question, seemed to lose her patience slightly,
"You’d probably die very easily if you go to the Nirvana Branch with ulterior motives. I’m sure a clever guy like you understands what kind of person the Bishop of Nirvana is. Compared to that, staying with me, as long as you’re loyal to me, not only will I not punish you, but I will also protect you with my power."
Lanci stared at Sigrid, Bishop of Hegemony, not afraid of the impending death that may soon befall him, but was calmly contemplating.
"Agree to it, meow... agree meow..."
"Does it matter which side you’re on... obviously, it’s better here, meow..."
The Cat boss, in Lanci’s arms, was trembling and murmuring in a low voice desperately.
At this point, it didn’t care anymore about whether Lanci joined the Rebirth Church or not, it feared that Lanci would disagree with the Bishop of Hegemony!
As soon as a negative response came from him, their fate would be sealed!
