Assembly of Battle Gods

A mission concerning Rogliff?

Du Chen glanced at his daughter toddling across the deck, a smile playing on his lips. “First, allow me to correct your phrasing. It shouldn’t be that the Holy Church has a mission to ‘assign’ to me, but rather one to ‘discuss’ with me, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Damn you, little pretty boy, just what secrets are you hiding?! Boss Mars indulges you far too much!” Mina frowned, lowering her voice. “Sister has received news that Battle God Isle will host an Assembly of Battle Gods in three months, with many esteemed experts attending!” One could only imagine the fright Boss Mars would suffer if he overheard Mina’s internal monologue; to speak so brazenly to such an unfathomably powerful expert – does she even wish to live?!

“I'm already aware of this. Mentor Zigurd mentioned it earlier; he’s currently preoccupied with its preparations.”

Mina smiled mysteriously. “This will be a grand conference, with many High-level Battle Gods in attendance. The purpose of this gathering is for academic exchange regarding battle qi!”

Du Chen interjected impatiently, “Enough with the chatter. Get to the point! I'm busy spending time with my daughter.”

“Hmph, you boring little fellow!” Mina shrugged. “This conference was originally quite ordinary, a large-scale academic gathering held on Battle God Isle every few years. But this year, due to Rogliff’s involvement, it’s taken on a peculiar twist!”

Du Chen, also eager for more information on Rogliff, focused intently, listening with rapt attention.

“Normally, this conference would be presided over by Dean Zigurd and managed by the academy’s business office. However, Rogliff voluntarily covered all expenses for the event and even donated an additional, immense sum of gold coins as sponsorship! To Sister, that amount is an unimaginable fortune! With such funds, this year’s conference is poised to be the grandest academic exchange in history!”

Du Chen nodded. “Rogliff wouldn't simply throw money away. He must have a demand.”

“Precisely! Rogliff’s demand is to add an agenda item at the end of the conference: to invite the High-level Battle Gods in attendance to pool their wisdom and help him devise a method to decipher a sacred artifact and rescue someone imprisoned within it! Furthermore, he’s offered an astronomical, unimaginably high reward, stating that whoever can decipher this sacred artifact will receive half of his fortune! What a terrifying sum that would be!”

Mina spread her hands, pouting. “Man dies for wealth! Everyone desires gold coins...”

Du Chen stared at Mina. “Even if some High-level Battle Gods disdain wealth and wouldn't come purely for gold coins, deciphering a sacred artifact signifies a Battle God's prowess. Those proud Battle Gods, even if not for profit, will certainly come for the prestige!”

“Indeed. Under the dual allure of fame and fortune, this conference has transformed from a mere academic exchange into the ultimate gathering of High-level Battle Gods from the Three Continents!”

Mina pointed towards Hot Spring Mountain, where Zigurd’s office was located. “Dean Zigurd agreed to this request for two reasons: firstly, he genuinely wanted to host a grand academic conference, as it greatly benefits the overall development of Battle Gods' strength! Moreover, he'd be helping his friend Rogliff save someone! Can you guess the other reason?”

Du Chen's lips curved into a smile. He knew the other reason perfectly well but chose to feign ignorance.

Mina giggled flirtatiously. “That old stubborn fool was provoked! Hehe! Ever since he lost the Cloud Mist Chains in Antwerp Port, he's become particularly sensitive about deciphering sacred artifacts. Perhaps he hopes to find clues to reclaim the Cloud Mist Chains during this opportunity!”

Du Chen chuckled. “Zigurd isn't the only expert I’ve provoked recently! Though it seems Zigurd is undoubtedly the most befuddled one!”

“I understand the situation now. Tell me what the Holy Church wishes to ‘discuss’ with me.”

Mina rolled her eyes at Du Chen. “Are you truly dense, or just feigning ignorance with me?! Not long ago, Rogliff lost millions of gold coins and properties to you, and even vowed to challenge your gambling prowess again in three months! So, you have ample opportunities to approach Rogliff!”

“And after I approach him?” Du Chen asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Uncover everything about him! This individual is far too mysterious. The Holy Church’s Godfathers believe this Assembly of Battle Gods isn't as straightforward as it appears, so the more we understand, the better!”

Du Chen rubbed his nose. “Rogliff isn't on Battle God Isle right now; he won't return for three months. By the time I can approach and investigate him, the Assembly of Battle Gods will have already begun...”

“Little pretty boy, you're playing dumb with your Sister again! Sister just received news that you've become Zigurd's direct disciple! And that old stubborn fool Zigurd is friends with Rogliff... do I need to spell it out further? Investigate Rogliff through Zigurd!”

As she spoke, Mina glared at Du Chen, though Du Chen concluded at least half of her anger was feigned.

Du Chen chuckled. “Alright, I’ve noted it. I’ll inform you if I find anything.” He rubbed his nose again. “So far, how much has the Holy Church uncovered about Rogliff? Tell me everything. I don't want to waste time on information you already possess. Besides, if you want me to do a job, you ought to provide me with the target's detailed profile, shouldn't you?”

Young Master Du was now skillfully and overtly ‘pumping’ her for information.

Mina nodded. “You're right, I should tell you these things, but unfortunately, Sister has very little to share!” She held up two fingers. “First, Rogliff appeared three years ago...”

“He appeared in Antwerp Port, backed by an ancient family!” Du Chen interrupted Mina. “Don't tell me about these obvious facts. Tell me something that might actually interest me!”

Mina smiled charmingly, then shook her head. “And beyond that... there's nothing!”

Damn it, this Rogliff truly was mysterious. Even the Holy Church's intelligence network couldn't unearth detailed information about him! Du Chen waved his hand, signaling that he had noted it and Mina could leave.

Mina, however, didn't move. Instead, she pulled a badge from a pouch at her waist and casually tucked it into Du Chen's lapel. “What? So eager to see your Sister off? There's more!” She patted the badge through Du Chen's clothing. “Boss Mars asked me to relay a message: he said you did quite well on Mount Tianshan, and being a mere Deacon-Bishop was rather beneath you. Now, I suppose I should address you as Archbishop Francis!”

Du Chen sneered inwardly. “Did quite well?” Clearly, they’d witnessed his Flaying and Deboning prowess, re-evaluated his utility, and thus increased their efforts to win him over!

Du Chen took out the badge and examined it. It was about a middle finger long and two fingers wide. The front depicted an Aberrant Beast with winged ribs, while the back bore three small lines of text, each writing the same phrase in the common languages of the Three Continents: Enforcement Archbishop.

Casually tossing the badge into his embrace, Du Chen chuckled, “What rank is this Archbishop? What are its authorities?”

As he asked, Du Chen inwardly found it amusing. He had climbed consecutively from First-Class Cleric to now an Archbishop, yet he hadn't actually used any of the Holy Church's bestowed power for anything significant! He resolved to find an opportunity to test it someday.

Mina pouted, remarking mournfully, “Now you're only one rank below Sister. You have so much money you can't spend it all, so you probably don't care about the annual allowance. So, let me tell you something else—with this badge, you can freely investigate and execute nobles below the rank of Viscount, and mobilize any personnel within the Holy Church whose rank is below yours, excluding those from dark temple institutions like the Enforcement Temple or the Judgment Temple. And it’s best not to mobilize more than three hundred people at once!”

The feeling of power was truly delightful. Du Chen inwardly reveled, then casually asked, “If I go steal something, can this exempt me from punishment?”

Mina gave Du Chen an odd look, then chuckled proudly. “Little fellow, do you still not understand the power of the Enforcement Temple?! What we, the people of the Enforcement Temple, do *is* the law!”

In the following days, Du Chen continued to keep an eye on Jason's courtyard while simultaneously immersing himself in studying Zigurd's notes, even postponing his research into Philip's legacy.

The advancement to Three-Star Battle Mage was imminent. The unique battle technique acquired at this level formed the fundamental strength of a Battle God, influencing the fourth-level battle qi sub-attribute, the sixth-level professional specialization, and even the Battle God Lunar Affinity at higher levels. In essence, if this foundational step wasn't solidified, becoming a High-level Battle God later would be out of the question.

Therefore, even with his Lotus Internal Force, Du Chen approached this advancement with utmost seriousness.

Early one morning, Du Chen, habitually skipping his elective classes, was comfortably lounging in bed, engrossed in Zigurd's notes. Just then, "Creak," the door opened. Little Beibei laboriously pushed it open, walking in with a sweet smile, her two dimples so endearing they could melt one's heart. On top of her head, she balanced a small plate.

On the plate were two pieces of roasted meat. “Papa, eat breakfast! Beibei made it!”

Du Chen abruptly sprang from the bed, an immense feeling of happiness mixed with endless bewilderment. This... how was this possible? Little Beibei looked only two or three years old, barely able to toddle, sometimes struggling with her words. How could *she* have made breakfast?

Under Du Chen's astonished gaze, Little Beibei walked to the bed, placed the small plate beside his pillow, then wiggled her tiny body onto the bed. Giggling, she pecked his chin. “Papa, kiss-kiss, good Papa!” She held up the plate to Du Chen's mouth, her head tilted, her two pigtails bouncing. “Eat! Beibei made it!”

“Ah, thank you, sweetie. Papa... don't worry, Papa will eat it, even if it kills me!” Du Chen cast a pained glance at the two pieces of meat on the plate, which possessed a rather ‘groundbreaking’ creative appearance. His Adam's apple bobbed. From the look of the meat, it was clear how Beibei had cooked them.

She must have just grabbed two random pieces of meat, then used her mischievous flames—the very same that once scorched the Gambler and the Charlatan—to roast them haphazardly. Without any seasoning whatsoever, she'd simply tossed the half-raw, charred-on-one-side, blood-streaked-on-the-other pieces onto the plate and brought them over.

*Sigh*. Regardless, it was his daughter's heartfelt effort. Du Chen gritted his teeth and shoved the meat into his mouth, then disingenuously declared, “Mmm, delicious!”

“Delicious? Hehe! Beibei will make it for Papa every day!” The little one climbed into Du Chen's embrace, looking up at him innocently. “Papa, is Beibei cute?”

“Cute! Beibei is the cutest!”

“Then Papa definitely won't hit Beibei or scold Beibei!”

“Of course not!”

“Alright, hehe, Papa, Beibei caused trouble!”

The piece of meat Du Chen had just swallowed lodged in his throat. He looked, half-amused, half-distressed, at his daughter, curled in his arms, her head buried, a mischievously shy smile on her face...

Just then, someone whispered from outside the door, “Miss, may Harry come in?” After Du Chen answered for his daughter, Shieb opened the door, entering with a sheepish grin. “Master, just now, when Harry accompanied Miss out to collect morning dew by the river, Miss was a little mischievous... No, she didn't mean to!” Harry, not daring to meet Little Beibei's threatening gaze, nor to speak freely, lowered his head and simply stated, “Miss picked up a living person and brought them back. You should go take a look!”