Chapter 85

After deliberation and discussion, Bishop Harry decided not to act rashly. The key to the matter lay with Sigma, and for the time being, they could only passively defend themselves while trying to gather as much information about Sigma as possible.

So he spent the night thinking and held a simple mobilization meeting in the early morning. The clergy of the Church would not fear any difficulties or obstacles and would overcome them to complete the tasks assigned by headquarters. The first step was to infiltrate the other side, using the pretext of a friendly exchange visit to probe for information about the angels and secretly gather intelligence on Sigma.

Jill Claire's request was also granted, on the condition that she did not reveal her identity. Fortunately, the Church had many rules and was very cautious about the selection of successors, unlike the Death Nation, where the legends would simply agree and decide based on their impression of Sigma. Additionally, Jill's character flaws were a source of concern, so the Pope and the Bishop Council were still wavering. Despite her reputation, she was only seen as the next Grand Commander of the Sun Emblem Knights, and few believed that this cold, blunt, and rigid saint knight could be crowned with the holy crown. It must be said that the Church's confidentiality was excellent.

When the saint knight walked out of the grim skull gate of the guesthouse, the morning bell of Atlas had already rung. She had taken off her cloak, revealing her cold armor and beautiful face. According to her understanding, life forms bound by physical bodies were more or less influenced by their bodies, and their perceptions and judgments would lean towards what they found aesthetically pleasing. Therefore, her female identity and her high-level appearance would be a natural advantage in conversation, giving her an edge in her interaction with Sigma—after all, the opponent was not a simple character, and she did not want to miss any advantage, no matter how small.

This was just a matter of rhetoric and negotiation skills; using one's natural advantages was not shameful. Just as in commanding battles and combat, every small advantage could change the entire situation. The first Pope once said that as a clergy member, one's faith must be firm, and one's methods must be flexible. Jill deeply agreed with this.

She arrived at a small garden based on the intelligence she had gathered the previous night. This was the path Sigma took to school and a place many teachers and students passed through. She sat on a bench, silently reciting the "Innocent Doctrine" to pass the time. Dead necromancers walked by, and she sensed their gazes, which made her somewhat worried—because those gazes contained only curiosity about the clergy and indifference towards her, without any of the typical male interest, admiration, or more explicit emotions. This made her realize her mistake; in the eyes of necromancers, men and women seemed to be no different.

However, she quickly adjusted her mindset. It didn't matter; her female identity and appearance were just one of the non-essential advantages in this competition. She would win Sigma over with sincerity. The Church's saint knights had not degraded to the point of using their bodies and beauty to complete tasks.

But as she thought about this, some unnecessary images flashed through Jill's mind. She gently shook her head, calmed her mind, and suddenly her expression changed. She turned her head and saw the person she was waiting for walking confidently towards her.

Jill carefully observed Sigma, looking at the young man who was destined to shine in Noren.

He looked radiant, with a bright and innocent smile on his face, like a child who had received a new toy (in fact, the new toy was a clergy member). Unlike the cold and indifferent necromancers, he seemed much more lively. Although he seemed out of place in Atlas, the expressions of the other necromancers indicated that the Death Nation had not only accepted this seemingly out-of-place young man but also deeply revered and obeyed his authority (which was more like tyranny). He was also accustomed to this reverence, and his gaze was subtle yet aggressive, like a lion patrolling his territory (or more like a mischievous child looking for something new and worth destroying).

In short, Jill had a deep misunderstanding and felt very envious. She believed that the necromancer legends' decision was very reasonable; perhaps only such a person could control the terrifying power of the Death Nation, which could ally with time. She was also confused; how could such a person have any weaknesses? He was clearly a born leader, beloved by his subjects, and willing to wear the crown.

So, Jill felt envious and a bit inferior. Unlike the born leader she imagined Sigma to be, Jill herself was hesitant. She didn't know if she was ready, and she wasn't sure if her flawed character could shoulder the heavy burden of the Pope... But clearly, this was not the time to think about it. She had to complete this mission, and the first step was to meet Prince Sigma and leave a good first impression.

Because, since it was their first meeting and she had a request, according to the books, leaving a bad impression was not an option.

She smiled gently but respectfully as Sigma approached...

Wait, what?

Jill's expression stiffened slightly.

Originally, in their first meeting and with a request, she should lower her stance and follow the necessary etiquette to leave a good impression. However, the female saint knight of the Holy Light Church had just discovered a serious problem.

How did one smile... again?

Tracing back through eighteen years of memory, she realized she hadn't smiled in a very long time.

It's fine, it's fine. At least she remembered what a smile looked like. It was just a matter of moving the muscles around the mouth, like this. Yes, this should be a smile, so...

"Miss, your expression looks so sad, it's like a genius girl who wakes up to find her ex-fiancé, who came to break off the engagement, immediately embracing her secretly infatuated cousin and starting to be intimate..." Sigma stopped and looked at her strangely. "I suggest you go home and rummage through your junk pile to see if you can find a ring with an old man inside, then work hard to master a powerful skill and go slap your ex-fiancé's face."

"...I don't have a fiancé," Jill replied dumbly, then came to her senses and said in a deep voice, "Actually, you misunderstood. I was just smiling..."

"...Then your crying face must be as chaotic as the wailing of a female demon from the Underworld. You have a great talent for curse spells, young lady."

"Thank you, thank you, you flatter me."

"..."

"..."

That was the first meeting between the Goddess of Holy War and the God of Death, awkward and frustrating, with no hint of the wheels of history turning.

***

PS1: Some friends think the angel's strategy is too fast. I just want to say... it hasn't been successful yet (far-off look). It's just a vague liking and dependence from the angel. The flag hasn't been set yet, so why the rush (sideways glance)?

PS2: Yes, and then, I'm still asking for votes. Also, I'll mention the book club group number again and pin it in the review section. The group number is 385022926. Everyone is welcome to join.

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