Great! I'm surrounded by villains!-Chapter 407 - 226: Friends

The guest had already left.

The Iron Blood Bishop saw the relief on his subordinate’s face, which reminded him of something.

He had spent wonderful time with the visitor from afar, meeting the girl who had taken over Bai Kou’s duties. He never expected the timid little girl who used to follow behind a group of people to have become the head of the Life Science Department.

Reflecting on the times he shared red leaf tea with Fu Ling, a smile couldn’t help but surface on the bishop’s face.

It had been many years since he last enjoyed such a relaxed and leisurely moment.

He had never married nor had children, and this long-overdue reunion gave him a taste of the joy a parent feels when their child grows up and becomes successful.

His subordinates seemed genuinely happy for him.

After all, in people’s minds, he had always been known for his sternness and unapproachable manner, so much so that even many within the church dreaded looking him in the eye.

Most on the ship had never seen the bishop smile.

Occasionally, they too wished the bishop could, like any ordinary old man, meet with friends and talk and joke merrily, sharing the wonders and odd stories encountered in life.

The bishop’s lips curled upward, yet this pleasantly serene and joyful scene induced a fleeting fear in him.

His body seemed to have reacted on its own.

As if programmed, like a marionette on strings.

Invisible strings latched onto the corners of his mouth, lifting them up.

But this shiver from deep within his soul didn’t last long.

Because the Iron Blood Bishop quickly realized there were more important matters waiting for him to address—Fu Ling had captured a large number of Witch Council members on the Eco-Ship, but during the transportation of the ship holding them here, the Dawn Witch suddenly appeared and took control of the vessel.

The ship controlled by the Witch Council was steering towards another Star Zone, and he had been about to order his fleet to pursue when, reminded by Fu Ling, he realized that this was clearly a trick by the Witch Council. ƒrēenovelkiss.com

Using a small ship to draw the fleet’s attention, according to their current intelligence, the Dark Night Witch had taken control of Jean Saintfield, infiltrating the ships of the Saintfield family, and was heading straight for Church Headquarters.

This was a plot against the Ashen Church.

The true goal of the Dark Night Witch was now the headquarters of the Ashen Church.

All she had done was to make the Ashen Church experience the agony of their homeland being destroyed.

The Iron Blood Bishop suddenly saw the cracked Ruby on his authority symbol and remembered that it was broken at the moment he heard of his old nemesis, the Dark Night Witch—his blood boiling, Scorching Sun Power had even shattered the gem.

"Return to base!"

With that thought, the Iron Blood Bishop made his decision, "The Church needs us now!"

......

"The Ashen Church’s fleet is returning to base!"

When this news arrived, everyone around Fu Ling cheered.

The Ashen Church’s reputation had always been controversial, and with the Iron Blood Bishop, a notoriously harsh figure, leading the fleet, everyone on the Eco-Ship and the Space Station had been prepared for an emergency evacuation, as those fanatics were truly capable of firing at the Eco-Ship.

And now, Director Fu Ling, true to expectations, had convinced the Ashen Church’s old diehard to settle this dispute peacefully.

"Director, how did you manage it?"

Suddenly surrounded by legions of fans, Fu Ling was engulfed by their cheers, with praises drowning her, leaving her somewhat confused.

"Er... With sincerity?"

Recalling her encounter with Duan Mingyuan aboard the Judgment Chief’s main ship, everything had gone surprisingly well.

The Iron Blood Bishop was far from the unapproachable figure the rumors made him out to be. He treated them with fine pastries and hometown red leaf tea, and he even thanked her specifically for a past surgery.

At least, this elderly gentleman knew how to return a favor.

If it weren’t for the trouble at Church Headquarters, the bishop had planned to visit the Eco-Ship himself for a friendly visit.

"Actually, I think he’s pretty reasonable."

"No wonder he’s the Supervisor, he managed what others couldn’t do so easily!"

More praise followed.

They felt that perhaps Fu Ling was the only one in the universe who would associate the Iron Blood Bishop with being reasonable, but this also reflected the Supervisor’s personal charisma from another angle.

"How about it? Aren’t you going to the celebration banquet?"

He Ya appeared behind Duan Mingyuan without notice, "To celebrate having overcome this crisis, this afternoon’s meetings have been postponed, and everyone on the Eco-Ship is preparing for the banquet."

"No, thanks."

Duan Mingyuan shook his head.

This joy wasn’t meant for him; the Iron Blood Bishop’s vault of memories hadn’t satisfied his curiosity.

The mysterious witch who had imprisoned the bishop during the Wizard Star battle still troubled him.

And what exactly had the Pope seen in the middle of that prophecy ceremony?

To suddenly change his stance and regard the wizards as descendants of demons?

"It looks like I have to make a trip."

"A trip? To where?"

He Ya asked knowingly.

The Iron Blood Bishop is actually a warm-hearted and understanding person on the inside?

Only idiots or... those who’ve been brainwashed would believe that.

However, her Love Grimoire, which she had written out of boredom, seemed to have indeed provided Duan Mingyuan with much inspiration, a textbook case of cognitive transformation, to the point where she, the "teacher," felt outdone.

She deliberately reminded him, "As far as I know, the Holy City of the Ashen Church does not welcome outsiders, and even for members within the church, only the chosen are qualified to make the pilgrimage."

"That is indeed a problem."

Duan Mingyuan pondered.

Especially since the Iron Blood Bishop had brought back news of the Dark Night Witch to the Holy City, the entire planet might go into a state of full martial law, and all visitor channels might be forcibly closed.

But luckily, he had made a friend in the Holy City.

"I need to give a friend a call later, she should be able to help us get visitor access permission."

Duan Mingyuan still remembered that during their goodbye, the Baptism had specifically invited them to visit the Holy City.

"That’s fortunate, I’ll leave my visitor pass in your hands then."

"You?"

Duan Mingyuan briefly glanced sideways at He Ya.

Given He Ya’s knowledge of the Witch Council, it would be difficult for her to avoid being seen as a criminal in the Holy City.

"I have a feeling there’s going to be big trouble there, how could I miss it?"

He Ya gave him a wink, "I’ve provided you with so much information for free, you wouldn’t refuse to help me with such a small favor, would you?"

"I’ll pass along the request, but whether she’s willing to help or not is another matter."

"If you tell her I’m a miscellaneous person, she definitely won’t help. How about this, just say I’m one of your crew."

"Crew?"

"How about an archaeologist?"

He Ya had her cover story ready, "Who knows, once in the Holy City, I might even help you translate some ’historical texts’."

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