"Mr. Xu."

Before Xu Shi could speak, the Holy Maiden bowed slightly, displaying impeccable manners, and said, "I have always wanted to speak with you, and now I finally have the opportunity."

Her voice is ethereal and clear, almost like it has been enhanced with special effects.

And why is it always "Mr. Xu"? If it's missing even one character, I should go and date the White Snake...

Xu Shi was surprised to find that since returning to the capital city of the empire, his吐槽 (tu cao, a Chinese internet slang term for complaining/criticizing) spirit seemed to be intensifying.

"Your Highness, Holy Maiden."

However, he still politely returned the greeting, saying, "Good things come to those who wait, so I've come anyway."

"Haha, Mr. Xu is very humorous."

Hearing him say that, the saintess smiled slightly and gestured to the knights on both sides.

“Mr. Xu, my name is Ji Bochang. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

A burly man on the left greeted him first, giving him a standard knightly salute.

What kind of name is this... Xu Shi's suppressed吐槽 spirit rose again, and to be honest, it's not very easy to tell. Isn't it said that bodybuilders usually have... well, you know?

"Hello, Knight Ji."

He greeted her in return, but then thought to himself that the way he addressed her didn't seem quite right either...

"This is Park Guk-chang, Knight Park, number eight in the rank."

Lu Baiyan didn't know what he was thinking, but he introduced him anyway.

"Hello."

I have seen this person before. He was the skinny knight who fought against the sea god. If I remember correctly, his ability was related to ice.

This person lives up to their name, but I still have to criticize them. After all, you're not a pretty girl, so having an ice-type ability just feels out of place, you know?

As for the others, they weren't particularly noteworthy, and it seemed that not all the Templar Knights present were there; of the eleven-member order, only slightly more than half were actually there.

There are two familiar faces: one is Qin Yiyan, whom Xu Shi had long labeled as big and brainless, and the other is, of course, the adorable little Luo Yu.

However, he also noticed that there was an unusually powerful energy fluctuation in the hall.

Looking in that direction, there was a half-open door. If you looked closely, you could see a shadowy human figure behind it.

This must be the old Pope, the supreme leader of the Holy See that Cheng Gujian mentioned.

Well, so you're behind the scenes too... but that's not something he needs to worry about.

Such a secretive scene needs some straightforward words to get straight to the point.

"I wonder what brings you all here to see me?"

"Of course, it's for negotiating terms, Mr. Xu."

He didn't expect the saintess on stage to give an even more direct answer.

"What price would it take for you to cooperate with our Vatican?"

(End of this chapter)