Chapter 280 - 232: Bright Pope

That was right. The person Chu Bamboo had identified in the Hai Mansion was none other than Zhang Hai.

"That honest-looking face of his..." Chu Bamboo was just about to dial Huo Qiming’s number again when he suddenly froze, his gaze sharpening.

’Is the enemy... really Zhang Hai?’

Chu Bamboo closed his eyes. ’There’s no reason for it! If there was a problem with Zhang Hai... he would have died far too many times in the past!’

So...

"Hu Kaikang?" A flicker of shocked uncertainty crossed Chu Bamboo’s face. ’That’s right, I had Zhang Hai find Hu Kaikang, tell him the inside story, and rally the forces of the God Worship Sect! So... this Cardinal should be just as suspicious as Zhang Hai.’

’But the question is, is it possible?’

’A Cardinal of the God Worship Sect, the highest-ranking member in Jinghai City, a fanatical believer in God... would he do something like this? Something that completely violates the principles of the God Worship Sect?’

"The church attack! The Cardinal... The All-Powerful and All-Knowing God of the All-Powerful Lineage is one and the same as the God of the God Worship Sect!"

Chu Bamboo’s eyes lowered as he crossed his arms over his chest. ’The chain of logic is coming together. But the problem is, the God Worship Sect and the Officials aren’t on the same side! Fine... let’s just assume for now that some people within the God Worship Sect chose to cooperate because of Cultivation Resources!’

’But if that’s the case...’

"’Old Su and Old Lu, one of them seems to have a problem! The Cardinal, he seems to have a problem! The Seven Great Clans, they seem to have a problem...’"

"’Can anyone tell me where there *isn’t* a problem?’"

For a moment, Chu Bamboo felt like laughing. How did connecting the dots lead to a situation where it felt like the entire world was his enemy?

Chu Bamboo pulled out his phone, lost in thought. ’No, there’s a completely new way to verify this!’

Chu Bamboo took a deep breath. ’In my next life, I’ll have Zhang Hai contact the Archbishop of the God Worship Sect in the Celestial Capital... No! There’s an even more direct and clear method.’

Without hesitation, Chu Bamboo dialed a completely new number. A moment later, the call was immediately disconnected from the other end.

"?" Chu Bamboo froze for a second, his expression turning peculiar. "Well, then! This situation... isn’t entirely unexpected, I suppose."

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Chu Bamboo dialed another new number. This time, it rang three times before connecting instantly. "Who are you?"

The voice was filled with confusion and vigilance!

"Qian Shi!" Chu Bamboo said leisurely. "You’re the one who hung up on my call to the Pope, aren’t you?"

At a time like this, Chu Bamboo naturally chose to... tattle to the parents.

The Pope! Or rather... the Bright Pope.

The leader of the God Worship Sect’s Western Sect in the Celestial Capital, and an undisputed giant in the Celestial Capital, and even the entire Jiangnan Region.

Even the Governor of Jiangnan was incredibly reverent toward him!

In the secular realm of religion, the number of people who could stand on equal footing with him could be counted on one hand.

Only the Sect Leader of the God Worship Sect’s native faction in the Imperial Capital, who was practically revered as the National Preceptor; and figures like the Giants and Sect Leaders of the Moisture Teaching, Agricultural Education, and Buddhism... could compare to him!

Chu Bamboo had dealings with him, though not for long... However, Chu Bamboo did have a rather deep understanding of the man. One could say that most of Chu Bamboo’s positive impression of the God Worship Sect was because of this Pope.

He was truly compassionate, championed the ideal of great harmony under heaven, and cared for the workers and farmers at the bottom... Chu Bamboo had even brought up that whole business of liberation theology with him, and the man hadn’t even gotten angry—and liberation theology truly does dig at the very roots of religion!

Although, after he mentioned that stuff... the Bright Pope had also semi-severed ties with him. Recalling the past, Chu Bamboo’s expression grew complicated.

After a brief silence...

The person on the other end asked again, but his tone was completely different from the first time: "Who *are* you!"

Qian Shi wasn’t his actual name... The man’s surname was simply Qian! The "Shi" represented his position—Pope’s Attendant. It could be roughly understood as the Pope’s secretary! Or an Attendant.

"Qian Shi," Chu Bamboo began calmly, "I advise you to hand the phone to the Pope as soon as possible! Otherwise... your grand enterprise in Jinghai City will be utterly ruined! Even the very foundations of the God Worship Sect in Jiangnan will be shaken."

"...Are you just fearmongering?" The man on the other end seemed to have sized him up and let out a cold laugh. He didn’t even plan to continue the conversation. Just as his finger was about to press the disconnect button, Chu Bamboo slowly added, "Your Bishop Hu is preparing to reenact the Great Smog of Celestial Capital incident from eleven years ago in Jinghai, and he’s even in cahoots with the All-Powerful Lineage! Do you really not care?"

Qian Shi’s movements froze. After a long silence, he finally said, "I will inform the Pope of this matter. Wait for a written notification!"

As Chu Bamboo listened to the call disconnect, he felt a slight headache coming on. ’That old fossil, just as stubborn as ever... He probably didn’t believe a word of it!’

Chu Bamboo sighed. If this were about Jinghai City, he could have easily revealed some secrets about the bigwigs there to get them under his thumb. But Celestial Capital... he didn’t know nearly as much about it as he did about Jinghai!

At most, he knew that Qian Shi kept three mistresses, had earned several million Qian Coins selling intelligence, and had converted it all into cash hidden in a small villa in the suburbs.

’But the problem is... I can’t use that stuff to threaten him!’

As a major figure serving the Pope, even without the title of Bishop, his status was comparable to one. He was, by nature, an extension of the Pope’s own authority...

Under these circumstances, these things weren’t even close to a fatal blow for him... because for a major figure comparable to a Bishop, that really wasn’t much! Earning money by selling intelligence, what could you say about that? As for keeping three mistresses... it’s better than those who keep young boys, isn’t it?

Even if it were reported to the Pope, he would at most receive a minor punishment as a warning!

So if he were to say it... the most likely outcome would be provoking a hostile reaction from the man.

Yes... Chu Bamboo understood Qian Shi’s character. To have been taken in as an Attendant by that Pope, he obviously wasn’t a bad person, but his personality was far too rigid. He responded to persuasion, not coercion!

Direct threats and pressure... would only lead to them completely falling out!

"’Whatever! Since he said he would, the Pope will definitely be informed today. After all, with his personality, even if he said it casually, he wouldn’t go back on his word... I just don’t know when the Pope will give a clear answer...’" Chu Bamboo’s fingers tapped lightly on his crossed arms. "’Otherwise, I’ll just hide out at the Nuwa Base! Let’s see... what the plan is for today.’"

With a solemn expression, Chu Bamboo stared intently at the drone, which had followed his command and was now flying over a large factory.

At present, the projected image... showed everything was normal!

"’I hope it’s not the case that even the Pope has a problem!’" Chu Bamboo’s feelings were complicated. Based on past experience, he was unwilling to believe there was a problem with the Pope, but the current situation revealed that the man was indeed under a certain degree of suspicion...

’If the situation is really that dire...’

Chu Bamboo sank into deep thought. "’Do I really have to go and seek refuge with the Giant of the Mo Family?’"