"Child, you should abandon your prejudices and re-examine the Holy Church. After all, you yourself are a member of the Holy Church, the Pope of the Black-Robed Holy Temple. Must you always treat God's representative with a critical and rejecting gaze?"
The Pope showed rare patience, even more so than with earnest persuasion.
To many, this was tantamount to surrendering to the Human Emperor of the Northern Region.
But Sun Fei certainly didn't think it was that simple.
He clearly sensed a hidden meaning in the Pope's words.
"Alright, stop beating around the bush. Just say what you want to say." Sun Fei, unwilling to mince words any longer, abruptly stood up, his gaze sharp as he stared at the Pope, and said, "You invited me here today, attracting so much attention; you didn't just come here to say these things to me, did you?"
Looking into Sun Fei's aggressive gaze, the Pope sighed softly, paused, and said, "Well then, I'd like you to see someone first."
He then waved his hand slightly behind him.
A clear, melodious bell rang out from within the Church's flying temple, followed by the gentle opening of the brass rune-covered door, from which three figures slowly emerged.
Standing on either side were two handsome but absolutely resolute young knights clad in silver armor and white cross-patterned blouses. In the center stood a man in loose white prison clothes, much older than himself, his face aged, his features etched with deep wrinkles, his muscles flabby, resembling a worn-out Shar-Pei. His long, gray hair was a tangled mess, his eyes cloudy and bloodshot, and a faint silver flame bound his hands like ropes...
This appears to be a very ordinary, thin Old Man.
Even a gust of wind could knock him over.
But when the Old Man walked out of the flying temple, it was clear that all the people of the Holy Church instantly became as if facing a formidable enemy, maintaining a high level of vigilance and not daring to even breathe loudly.
Who is this old man?
"Something feels off. Why is the Church taking this old man so seriously, like he's facing a formidable enemy?"
"Don't underestimate him. To be so valued by the Church, and even imprisoned in the Flying Temple, he must be someone extraordinary, perhaps even a terrifying demon."
"Well, don't be fooled by appearances... But speaking of which, why does this old man look a little familiar?"
The powerful figures around them were buzzing with discussion, wondering what the Holy Church was up to. Why had they suddenly brought out an old man? Was he some key figure? Some stared intently at the old man, deep in thought, as if they had remembered something.
Sun Fei's gaze fell on the Old Man in the white prison uniform.
Unlike others, Sun Fei could clearly sense that this seemingly frail old man's body contained extremely terrifying energy, at least at the God King Level. In any part of the continent, he would be a hegemon or venerable figure. However, his power was restricted by some kind of magical restraint method, and the wisp of silver flame on his wrist was a God Level restraint artifact.
However, Sun Fei couldn't recognize who this old man was either.
Just then, a streak of silver light rose from the army of the Northern Region Empire below and instantly arrived beside Sun Fei. It was Batistuta, one of the original deacons of the [ Black-Robed Holy Temple ].
This Holy Power, who had also advanced to the God Level, could hardly hide the shock on his face. He leaned closer and whispered a few words in Sun Fei's ear.
"What?"
Sun Fei, who had been acting casually, suddenly changed color, his eyes flashing with a sharp light as he stared intently at the white-haired Old Man who had been brought out of custody.
The powerful figures around them clearly noticed the change in Sun Fei's expression, which only fueled their curiosity.
What could have happened to cause the Human Emperor of the Northern Region to suddenly become so shocked?
Could it be...?
Just then--
"Ah, I know, it's Platini... Pope Blatter, that old geezer, it's actually Pope Sepp Blatter of the Church!" Just then, in the sky, a powerful figure who had been pondering deeply suddenly remembered something and exclaimed in surprise, "I remember now, I saw him once from afar, it was Pope Butela... Why is this?"
What?
This old man, who looks like he could be blown away by a gust of wind, is actually Pope Butela of the Church?
The Pope has become a prisoner?
Are you kidding me?
Who is that person standing opposite the Human Emperor of the Northern Region, wielding the [ Scepter of the Twilight of the Gods ] and clad in golden armor?
Everyone was stunned and bewildered, hardly believing what they were hearing.
"Sepp... Blatter, it's been so many years, hahaha. Today I see you again, and you've become a prisoner. So, the rumors about internal strife within the Holy Church a few days ago weren't unfounded. You've actually been brought down. I'm truly curious, who managed to pull you down from the papacy?"
One of the three giants who had remained silent until now, Maradona, the Continent Martial Saint, suddenly spoke up.
The sound was like rolling thunder, and hearty laughter rang in everyone's ears.
This statement completely confirmed what the nameless powerhouse had said earlier: this old geezer was indeed the current Pope Blatter.
All eyes were focused on the Old Man in prison clothes.
After being mercilessly mocked by Maradona, the frail Old Man finally raised his head, which had been bowed all along. A glint of light flashed in his cloudy eyes, like a sleeping dragon suddenly releasing a breath of dragon's breath. Everyone felt a tremendous pressure.
Only at this moment did people see a trace of the former Pope's demeanor in this Old Man.
Rumors circulated that the Church had been keeping a low profile these days because of internal strife. Now it seems those rumors were indeed true. Moreover, Blatter, who had ruled and controlled the Holy Church for countless years, was actually ousted from the papacy, even after Platini, a potential threat, had fallen. This is truly unbelievable.
A look of confusion appeared on Sun Fei's face.
He still remembered that half a year ago in the Goblin Realm, when Platini fell, the [ Scepter of the Twilight of the Gods ] malfunctioned and suddenly flew away, causing Platini's utter defeat. At that time, Platini shouted, " Blatter, so you've been plotting against me all along!" This was enough to show that at that time, Blatter was still in control of the entire situation.
What kind of opponent could, in just six months, dismantle the advantages that Blatter had accumulated and schemed for over hundreds of years, destroying them with a single sentence and completely taking control of the Holy Church?
Sun Fei's gaze then settled on the figure in front of him who was holding a scepter and wearing a golden mask.
The answer to all the mysteries lies with this person.
First update.
I broke my promise today; something unexpected happened. I'll post at least four updates tomorrow.
The King will conclude next month, and the new book will begin on May 1st.
I apologize to everyone.