Chapter 81

Sigma's words were clearly a threat.

This was a direct reminder to the bishop not to do anything out of line. Atlas was not the territory of the clergy, and this game had to be played by his rules. The consequences of breaking the rules would be severe.

The bishop narrowed his eyes slightly, looking at Sigma, and suddenly smiled. "I underestimated you, Prince Sigma. It is truly enviable that the Land of the Dead has a young man like you. Your straightforward and open strategy has put me on the defensive. You are indeed the descendant of a great noble family, and your political acumen is truly impressive."

"Not at all," Sigma shook his head. "The Washingtons are a family of military achievements, not known for producing excellent politicians. My little tricks are nothing compared to the political elites of the capital."

"Indeed, a competent politician wouldn't confront me over a few words. To be honest, this series of moves is just your retaliation and demonstration, stemming from the somewhat sensitive pride of a young man, rather than more mature factors." The Grand Bishop's expression gradually softened. The Church was not short of young men like Sigma, and he understood the mindset of these talented but impetuous young people very well. He knew how to corner them without provoking them, turning their pride and arrogance into weapons to slowly force them to back down and compromise. He was very skilled at this. "If you just want to show your wisdom and prestige to this irritable old man, I can apologize for my behavior now. This game may be entirely under your control, allowing you to enjoy it and let us taste the bitter fruit, but is that all? The matter of the angel is of concern to the entire Church, and the legendary powerhouses are also watching. You can toy with us, but it will still delay the main task. You can hide it from others, but not from the legends. To be frank, they will definitely know the truth."

Hearing this, Sigma fell silent. He lowered his head slightly, so the bishop couldn't see his eyes, but the bishop could guess that this impetuous young man was beginning to feel hesitant and worried.

Thus, the old man, who was not at all foolish, pressed his advantage: "In this contest, we admit defeat with no regrets. So please, don't delay the main task, and don't keep the legendary masters waiting. I believe that a wise and disciplined young man like you would not harm a single hair of the angel. I am sure you are taking good care of her, and your reluctance to let us see her stems from a vague affection or even love. I deeply understand this feeling, as I have had a sincere relationship in the past. I am willing to promise you that if you and the angel truly love each other, we will not break up this beautiful relationship. If you have any other ideas, we can discuss them slowly... After all, every cleric spends time in the church, and we are all good listeners..."

The old man looked at Sigma with a sincere and understanding gaze.

Sigma's shoulders trembled slightly.

Hooked! The bishop cheered inwardly. Indeed, young people are just that simple. No matter how astonishing their talent in magic, they are still children under twenty, with immature thinking and thin skin. They are so easy to manipulate.

The bishop thought his words had worked and was secretly pleased.

"You suddenly wanted to see the angel, and I was reluctant," Sigma suddenly sighed and said slowly. "I thought, if you ask to see her, and I show her immediately, wouldn't that make me lose face?"

Sure enough, it's just a kid who can't bear to lose face, the bishop chuckled inwardly.

He said sincerely, "We sincerely asked for your help. If you are still upset about what happened outside the city, I am willing to formally and sincerely apologize. Please forgive an old man who has always admired and yearned for angels for his irritable and impatient attitude. We are willing to formally and earnestly request your help and thank you for everything you have done for the angel..."

Sigma sighed again. "So, I have already felt your sincerity and understood your admiration and yearning for the angel. That's why I can't let you see her now."

"Hmm?" The bishop was slightly taken aback. "Why?"

Sigma said earnestly, "Because I can't be sure if she is really an angel. She might be an underground race with swan wings, or a high-tech puppet created by an alchemy master. You came all this way just to see an angel, and if you find out it's not an angel, you will curse me and might even hit me. Because it would prove that I was lying, that I deceived you, and made you come for nothing. So I decided to verify if she is really an angel. It will take about a month to study her thoroughly, inside and out. Once I have a definitive conclusion, I will bring the angel to you. I want you to know that necromancers are principled and pragmatic. We don't use illusions or lie with our eyes open. I will make sure that if I think she is an angel, you will also think she is an angel!"

"That's why I don't want you to see the angel right away. Because, compared to the disappointment after high expectations, it's better to be cautious, very cautious. Let me draw a conclusion first, because I really can't bear to see the disappointment on your faces after your high hopes..." Sigma's voice was deep and magnetic. He patted the bishop's shoulder and said solemnly, "I'll be going now."

Whether it was because of Sigma's rambling words or his age, the Grand Bishop was left standing there, trying to make sense of what Sigma had said, and then he came to a conclusion.

—Just a bunch of nonsense.

Damn!

He felt an urge to beat his chest and curse. Clearly, he had been played by that pretentious little brat.

In fact, it was also his miscalculation. While talented young people are often impetuous, Sigma was a rare oddity among necromancers, with a level of cunning and a thick skin far beyond the norm. Reflecting on their brief verbal sparring, he was once again amazed by Sigma's lack of scruples and mischief. What methods did these expressionless necromancers use to train such a freak?

PS: Second update complete, still seeking recommendations. The third update will be around midnight.