Chapter 315

Fortunately, Ryan left the manor, and Lista noticed that Ryan didn't seem to have any particular ideas... they must be discussing serious matters. He comforted himself, thinking that although two hours was a bit long, it was important after all.

Lista's mood improved upon thinking of this. Then he received a message from his men saying that Ryan had returned, followed by another message that Archbishop Helen had gone to the manor.

"It's just a business meeting, nothing to worry about. Once this is over and we get back to headquarters, I'll confess my feelings to Miss Helen."

Lista thought to himself.

Helen received news of Ryan's return and immediately rushed to the manor.

However, she didn't get to see Ryan right away because he had gone to break through with the fragments. Adele was there to greet her instead, along with the witch K. Miss K had completed her mission—although she was a little frustrated, feeling that she hadn't played any role at all this time.

But since they succeeded after all, and she was in a good mood, Ms. K was having tea and admiring the flowers with Adele.

Helen walked into the garden and saw Adele sitting with the witch K in the distance, with a maid standing beside them.

At Adele's invitation, Helen sat down, took a sip of black tea, and seemed somewhat absent-minded, her gaze occasionally stealing glances at the witch K.

Adele dismissed the maid.

"Rider has something to take care of. If you're looking for him, you can tell me first."

"It's nothing urgent, just about the church cooperation. I wanted to ask what Mr. Rider's plans are going to be."

"Oh, this..." Adele blinked. "I heard from Rider recently that there seems to be a change in the cooperation with Gate of Janus."

"A change of plans?" Helen frowned slightly. "What do you mean? Does the Primal Church want to back out?"

"Of course not, but Rider said that your Saintess is coming to the Southern Continent soon. He said that the Saintess may be in charge of the follow-up work on our cooperation, so he told me not to rush into agreeing."

Adele spread her hands. "He didn't want me to tell you this, but Helen, we're friends, and I've had a very pleasant chat with you these past few days, so I've decided to tell you."

"The Saintess is coming? That's impossible!" Helen was taken aback. "I haven't received any news, and it was the Pope who sent me to discuss cooperation with you."

"Heh, is it possible that your Pope and that Saintess aren't on the same side?" Witch K suddenly chuckled.

"This..."

Helen pondered.

Really.

Although she had always stayed in the Southern Continent, she had still heard some things about what was happening inside the church.

Previously, only Cardinal Bishop in the church could argue with the pope, but recently a certain "Saintess Faction" has emerged, and its rise seems to be quite rapid. It is said that Cardinal Bishop Karls Hod is also secretly supporting it.

Clearly, regardless of whether the Saintess Faction will side with the Cardinal Bishop faction, the internal division of power will inevitably impact the Pope's rule.

However, Helen was puzzled. She didn't even know that Saintess Lin Qi was coming to the Southern Continent, so how did Ryan know?

"Could it be... that Saintess Lin Qi contacted Ryan beforehand without telling anyone else? That makes sense, Ryan and she already knew each other. Luckily, Adele and I are on good terms, and she told me. Otherwise, by the time Lin Qi arrived here, even if the Pope wanted to stop her, it would have been too late."

Why is Lin Qi so bold?

Besides her status as Saintess, she also had considerable support within the church.

If she really goes against the Pope, Cardinal Bishop Karls will definitely give her his full support.

That's why Lin Qi had the confidence to come without the Pope's knowledge.

No, I must report this to the Pope immediately!

"Adele, I understand you want the best possible terms, but please believe me, the Saintess cannot offer better terms than His Holiness the Pope... or rather, she dares not!" Helen said softly. "I have to leave now; I'll visit again another time."

After saying that, Helen hurriedly left the manor.

"How did you know the Saintess of Janus was coming?" Witch K withdrew her gaze, asking doubtfully, "Did Rider really tell you?"

"Hehe~ Actually, Rider's name isn't Rider, it's Ryan."

"So?"

"He is a count of the Augustus Empire, and he has known the Saintess of Janus for a long time."

Witch K suddenly realized.

"So that's how it is. Miss Helen has really been completely fooled by you." Witch K sneered. "That's fine too. Pope Janus, ha, she's not exactly a peaceful person."

Adele tilted her head. "You know him?"

"Pope Sylvia has been at the Eighth Tier for many years. She's been searching for ruins all these years; I can easily guess what she's up to." Witch K elegantly sipped her red tea. "Mortals always try to usurp the throne of the gods; it's been that way since time immemorial. But what they don't know is that the gods are a higher gift, not something they can achieve through their own efforts."

"It was said in the beginning that Baalshatt of the Gods, created humankind together with the Earth Goddess. Humankind possesses infinite possibilities and is the greatest creation of the gods. The only flaw is the 'arrogance' inherent in their nature, which causes them to overstep their bounds. The gods once asked Balshatt to remove arrogance from the world, but the Creator did not agree."

"Why?" Adele tilted her head.

"He said, without the sin of pride, man is merely an animal."

Witch K spoke with a distant gaze. She had heard these things from Witch A, and she didn't know if they were true or not. If they were true, then it was clear that the Creator had foreseen humanity's usurpation of divine authority from the very beginning.

It was anticipated, yet not prevented; perhaps the Creator also hoped to select 'talented individuals' in this way.

Even if one oversteps the bounds, without the Creator's grace, mortals can only come infinitely close to being gods.

So, would Pope Sylvia be considered a talented person?

Of course it counts!

Although Witch K had always despised the hypocrisy of the Gate of Janus, she had to admit that Sylvia's talent was among the few that she had ever seen that could rival Witch A.

If the other party could submit to the Creator, that would be even better.

However, given Sylvia's personality, she would be difficult to 'tame' unless the Creator himself were to appear, but it's clear that the Creator doesn't meet with just anyone.

"So you mean we should take the initiative to contact that Saintess?" Adele nodded thoughtfully. "But in the end, isn't the Pope's power greater? What if the Pope gets angry and tries to turn against us?"

"Let's do it then~" Witch K said nonchalantly, "We are an ancient power with thousands of years of history, do you think we'd be afraid of the mere Gate of Janus? Besides, they don't have much influence in the Southern Continent."

Witch K revealed a mysterious smile.

What she didn't say was that if Sylvia really appeared, they should find a way to lure her into the Balshatt ritual so that the Creator could deal with her properly!

Once the Pope submits, the entire Janus will lean towards the primordial order, and at that time, the faith of the Baalshatt of the Gods, will be supreme!

On the other side.

Helen hurriedly returned to her lodgings, not even bothering to greet Lista who was walking towards her, before rushing back to her room to consult the Pope.

"What's wrong with Helen? She doesn't look well. Could it be... that Ryan bullied her?" Lista's expression immediately darkened.

Swish!

Inside the room.

Sylvia's illusory image appeared in a mirror.

"Pope."

Helen bowed and explained that Lin Qi was coming to the Southern Continent.

"Is the information reliable?" Sylvia frowned. "Lin Qi didn't tell me she was going to the Southern Continent."

"It should be reliable. I have a good relationship with Miss Adele, and she has no reason to lie to me. If Lin Qi doesn't come, her lies will fall apart on their own."

Helen didn't believe Adele would lie to her.

What malicious intent could a little child possibly have?

Besides, what's the benefit?

"Um..."

Sylvia pondered for a long time.

To be honest, she is now somewhat wary of Lin Qi, not because of the latter's strength, but because of the oracle from Janus some time ago.

Perhaps without her knowledge, Janus had already hooked up with Lin Qi.

What exactly did Janus say?

What makes Ryan so special?

A Holy Son of the Primal Church would have a connection with Janus... Could it be that the Primal Church is truly the faith of Balshatt, and that Balshatt chose Ryan as his Holy Son?

If that's the case, Ryan's status, even if not as high as those of the true gods, isn't much lower, so it's reasonable for Janus to seek him out.

"Oh, by the way, Your Holiness, I've been inquiring about that powerful figure from the Primal Church these past few days. Adele didn't tell me much; all I know is that her name is K, and she's most likely a witch."

"Witch K..." Sylvia's eyes narrowed slightly. "So it was her."

Helen was taken aback. "You know the Pope?"

"Of course, she was an old monster who survived the War of the Gods, a member of the ancient Witch Society. Her name was feared by the major church powers in the early days of the Golden Dawn Era."

Sylvia understood; her earlier guess was indeed correct.

With Witch K around, there's no doubt about the 'qualifications' of the Primal Church.

Those people really do follow the True Creator. So it seems Janus was indeed trying to contact the Creator? Did Lin Qi's sudden trip to the Southern Continent receive a divine message from Janus?

That's very likely!

"Helen, how's your relationship with Ryan going?" Sylvia needed to make a final confirmation as soon as possible. The Primal Church was real, but with the witch K around, she couldn't possibly see the Creator or obtain the relevant ritual methods, so she could only get them through Ryan.

Helen is the key to winning over Ryan!

It must be said that Helen was indeed a very charming girl.

Sylvia even saw a reflection of herself in Helen; otherwise, she wouldn't have nurtured her so carefully, and even planned to make Helen Saintess.

"Relationship? Pope, I..." Helen shook her head bitterly, "I haven't seen him since he came back."

"Helen, your time is running out. Once Lin Qi goes to Port of Misi, you should know you have no chance of winning. She and Ryan have known each other for a long time," Sylvia said meaningfully. "If necessary, you can use some special methods. Although those people from the City of Desire are despicable, they are often more likely to achieve their goals."

"..."

Sylvia had made it so obvious, how could Helen not understand?

She just couldn't accept it. Sylvia had promised her she would become Saintess, but now Saintess position was gone, she'd been reduced to seducing men. When had Helen fallen so low?

"Helen, I know you're unwilling to accept this, but I can tell you, Ryan is special, very special. His status is likely no less than mine, the Pope's," Sylvia said softly. "You are the child I watched grow up. I won't harm you. You have a bond with him that is a thousand times stronger than what you have now."

Helen exclaimed in astonishment, "He can actually be compared to you, the Pope? How is that possible!"

Pope Sylvia, a person standing at the pinnacle of the Rhea Continent, a great being who has touched the realm of the gods.

"You'll understand sooner or later," Sylvia said, gently shaking her head.

She didn't explain much.

After all, if her guess was wrong, then Ryan was just an ordinary Holy Son, no different from the Holy Son and Saintess of other churches.

At that time, she made a wrong gamble, but Helen had to bear the consequences.

But what if the bet is right? Helen would benefit too, wouldn't she?

"I see."

Helen bowed her head and answered respectfully.

"Yes, Helen, I'll be waiting for your good news in St. Gero City."

Sylvia's figure slowly faded away.

Helen stood in the room for a while, lost in thought, before finally making up her mind.

"I remember last time I killed that councilor from the City of Desire, he had some kind of Magic Potion on him... I've got it, this is it."

Helen rummaged through her storage bag and pulled out something that looked like an incense burner. This thing, when infused with Magic Power, would produce incredible effects... the effects of desire.

This incense burner does not directly control a person, but rather slowly influences the target's mind and spirit, guiding them to follow their inner desires and develop affection for the user.

This is a classic relic of desire. Helen simply tossed it into her storage bag, intending to hand it over when she returned to headquarters.

But now, she needs to use this.

After all, Lin Qi will be coming to the Southern Continent soon, and she doesn't have much time left.

Helen glanced out the window. The timing was perfect. Now was the time to go to the manor, pretending to discuss cooperation. Two hours would be enough for the incense burner to take effect. By the time things were over, neither Adele nor Miss K would notice anything amiss.

With that thought, Helen put the incense burner away and left the room.

"Helen!" Lista, who was waiting outside, quickly called out to her, "Where are you going?"

Helen frowned. What's wrong with this guy? He's been sticking to me like a leech lately.