"Respected Mars, please speak!"

"Well, I'll be direct. The Holy Church has helped you a lot because you have a powerful Fighter God behind you. The things the Holy Church has given you can be considered as a gift to that Divine Fighter. Now, I want to meet that friend of yours!"

Du Chen smiled bitterly, "But I have already explained to Father Ferdinand that I don't know who that Divine Fighter is. Oh, if Your Excellency doesn't believe me, I am willing to cooperate and do anything to verify!"

"Enough, I don't doubt you!" Mars lifted his foot and stepped on another chair, resting his hand on his knee. With the demeanor of a mob boss, he said, "I am also a high-level Fighter God, and I know that we fellows have peculiar temperaments... Ferdinand, what are you looking at me for? I've been like this since the days when you wore open-crotch pants!"

Obviously, Mars held a higher position in the Holy Church than Ferdinand. He casually reprimanded the Father and continued, "Francis, that Fighter God is likely unwilling to see you. I've done the same thing in the past, so I know the reason! However, your guardian Fighter God is too damn powerful. I won't feel at ease until I see him and have a few words with him!"

Du Chen understood Mars's temperament and asked, "Could it be that he can threaten the Holy Church?"

"Nonsense! I've seen Fris's body, the way his skin was peeled... damn, I know how to skin, but even if you combine ten of me, it wouldn't match up to his power! I've only seen this level of skill in His Holiness the Pope!"

Ignoring Ferdinand's frequent signals, Mars continued to speak.

The skill of skinning represented the strength of the skinner, which meant that the mysterious guardian Fighter God was comparable to the Pope!

Du Chen quickly calculated in his mind. If he had the strength of a guardian Divine Fighter equal to the Pope and was willing to kill anyone for him, including the Pope himself, then logically, the Holy Church's attitude towards him should be to make friends and try to recruit him into the Church. If that failed, they would still want to be friends! On the other hand, if Du Chen posed a threat to the Holy Church or refused to cooperate, they would eliminate him without hesitation.

This was standard political thinking.

Sure enough, Mars continued, "So, let's put it this way. If your friend doesn't want to be seen, we won't force him. That guy is too powerful! I'm afraid it would cause trouble that I can't handle! Therefore, let's make a deal!"

"What kind of deal?"

"Simple, join the Holy Church! We don't need you to do anything, just have a name within the Church. That way, your friend won't be our enemy, and the Pope won't have to worry about someone skinning him in the middle of the night!"

Du Chen couldn't help but chuckle. Mars was indeed interesting, speaking straightforwardly, not like a Divine Fighter, but more like a... mobster!

As someone who also came from the dark side of society, Du Chen had some appreciation for him.

However, he couldn't easily sell himself. Du Chen smiled and asked, "Since it's a business, can you be more specific?"

"Well, specifically, it means joining my subordinates in the Temple of Law Enforcement, becoming a first-class priest, receiving an annual budget of one hundred gold coins for free. If there's anything, I'll come to you for consultation. If you're willing to do it, then do it. If you're not willing, forget it, I won't make things difficult for you! And within the Holy Church, besides me and His Holiness the Pope, you don't have to listen to anyone else!"

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Ferdinand added, "You only have one task to fulfill, which is when you meet that guardian Fighter God, please convey the goodwill of the Holy Church and invite him to fight against Mars or meet with me!"

The conditions were not bad!

But these conditions were easy to understand. Just imagine, if a Christian in a previous life suddenly discovered that a child was blessed by God, they would make a similar decision, right?

Du Chen asked in response, "What will happen if I don't agree?"

"Damn it, you don't want to make money for nothing?" Mars grabbed Du Chen's collar and pulled him in front of him. "What exactly do you want, kid? His Holiness the Pope ordered me to bring you in by any means necessary. If it doesn't work, I'm done for! So if you push me too far, I'll use you as a scapegoat!"

Ferdinand and the other priests shook their heads with a bitter smile. How could His Holiness send such a reckless person?

Was negotiating like this even possible?

Perhaps His Holiness considered that Mars, who was knowledgeable in criminal law and could accurately judge the strength represented by skinning techniques, was one of the most powerful Fighter Gods within the Holy Church and could find common ground with Francis's eccentric friend.

Du Chen also found it amusing. His purpose in life was to do good deeds and make the lotus bloom. With a mysterious guardian Fighter God protecting him, joining the Holy Church wouldn't be dangerous. So, what if he joined?

"Alright, I'll join the Holy Church, but I have a small request!"

Mars said, "Speak, as long as it's not excessive, I'll agree. Do you want money or women? The Holy Church has plenty of both!"

"Well, I want money, but it's a large sum because..." Du Chen lowered his head sadly, "The southern part of the Lanning Empire is currently experiencing a once-in-fifty-years flood, and people are being displaced. I want a sum of money to help them!"

"Um, I want money, but it's a large sum because..." Du Chen lowered his head sadly, "The southern part of the Lanning Empire is currently experiencing a once-in-fifty-years flood, and people are being displaced. I want a sum of money to help them!"

Everyone around the round table was stunned. They couldn't believe that this was Du Chen's request. Just a while ago, this kid had shown himself to be a cunning little politician. But this request, only ancient Fighter Gods with ancient virtues could make!

Du Chen chuckled to himself. Helping with a flood relief, what a great deed it would be!

As long as he could accomplish this good deed, even if the Holy Church had some conspiracy, he would be at peace!

Ferdinand looked at Du Chen strangely and said, "Alright, I'll give you ten thousand gold coins, use them as you see fit!"

Mars stood up and slapped Du Chen's shoulder with his huge palm, causing him to tremble. "Kid, from now on, you're one of us!"

"One of you?" Du Chen asked.

"Heh, I used to be a bandit, so I'm used to saying that!" Mars chuckled and said, "Ahem, in the name of the Pope, I bestow upon you the title of a first-class priest in the Temple of Law Enforcement! You will be under my direct supervision!"

Ferdinand explained with a smile, "The Temple of Law Enforcement is a secret temple within the Church. Its main responsibility is to monitor the situation in the three continents and supervise the priests in the public temples..."

The more Du Chen listened, the more shocked he became. The responsibilities of a first-class priest in the Temple of Law Enforcement were similar to the imperial secret police! They both had hidden identities but held great power in secret.

Mars handed a badge to Du Chen. It was green, only two fingers wide and as long as a index finger. It was engraved with a strange beast pattern on the front, resembling a winged lion. On the back, there was a line of words, but it wasn't in the common language of the Ein Continent, and Du Chen couldn't recognize it.

"With this, you can kill any baron or anyone below a first-class priest in the Holy Church without punishment. And every year, you can receive a budget of one hundred gold coins from the Holy Church!"

Du Chen took the badge and solemnly tucked it into the pocket of his robe.

"Haha, from now on, we're family. We share blessings and difficulties together! Bring the wine, let's have a drink!" Mars shouted happily. After the servants brought the wine, he filled a large bowl for Du Chen and then drank the rest of the jug of wine in one go.

"Cheers! Francis, from now on, you're with me. Besides the Pope and my orders, you don't have to listen to anyone else!"

Du Chen also finished his wine in one gulp and looked at his new boss.

Mars threw the wine jug aside, wiped his mouth, and glanced at Ferdinand and the others. "Ferdinand Bust, get out, the next meeting is for the Temple of Law Enforcement only. You don't have the qualifications to listen in!"

"Ah, dear Mars, you..." Ferdinand had a close relationship with Mars, so he didn't take his rude command seriously.

After Du Chen and Mars were the only ones left in the room, Mars, with his red beard, patted Du Chen's shoulder and laughed, "Kid, let me discuss a mission with you. Let's see if you're interested!"

"Tell me about it!" Du Chen, facing the rough Mars, no longer felt restrained and casually smiled.

"Go undercover at the Academy of Fighter Gods!"