The Flagpole, the Clouds, and a Very Green Face!

Porter slammed the dossier back onto the desk. "Francis, I'm worried about you, and you're still joking around?"

"Come on, my pal! Is there truly no other way?" Du Chen gazed teasingly at Porter, leaning across the desk to playfully thump his chest.

Porter huffily swatted Du Chen's hand away. "The Dragon God isn't like Constantine. He has a clear objective: to hold you accountable! In my opinion, if the Pontiff hadn't intervened this time, it wouldn't have been an edict, but rather Dragon Clan Masters who came for you!"

"Mm, exactly!" Du Chen nodded, chin bobbing. "The Dragon God issuing an edict instead of sending someone to seize me really shows immense respect for the Pontiff!"

Porter rolled his eyes at him. "As long as you understand. Among the Dragon Clan of Mount Miglio, besides the Dragon God, there are also the Four Great Divine Dragons, Twelve Dragon Ministers, an entire elite Dragon God's Royal Guard, and countless High-ranking Dragons! Unless you can prove that Andy isn't Constantine's son, no scheme can stand against such immense power!"

Du Chen looked up at the ceiling, sighing, "But if I prove that Andy isn't Constantine's son, then the crime of deceiving those three sisters, members of the Dragon Royal Family, would be confirmed, and the Dragon God would still have ample reason to deal with me!"

"Yes, with Constantine, you could befriend him first and then secretly make your move! But against the Dragon God, you've been his adversary from the start; there's no room for de-escalation!"

Porter frowned in thought. "I haven't personally seen the Dragon God, nor have I heard many rumors about him. I don't know his temperament and nature at all, and because of that, it's hard to be certain about many things!"

Du Chen comfortably propped his legs on the desk, watching Porter pace in thought, a serene smile still gracing his lips.

"Why are you still smiling?"

Worry clouded his judgment! After angrily asking, Porter suddenly realized, "Francis, you have an idea? Heh, I just thought of one too..."

Du Chen jumped off the desk, patting Porter's shoulder. "I can't predict the Dragon God's thoughts, nor do I know what methods he'll use against me, let alone how to counter them! But I do know one thing: I can make the Pontiff believe that protecting me, even against the Dragon God's pressure, is exceedingly worthwhile... and I also have my greatest bargaining chip: a living Constantine!"

"If you play this chip right, you can make the Dragon God, the Papal Curia, and all the major powers concerned with the Eye of Heaven Forest revolve around you! Especially since you have an accomplice who helped you get this bargaining chip! An accomplice no one would dare to ignore!"

Porter burst out laughing, dumbfounded. "I was too anxious just now; I actually didn't think we could use other powers – the Pontiff – to deal with the Dragon God!"

The atmosphere in the room lightened with Porter's soft chuckle.

Du Chen joked, "Aiya, Porter, it seems I should try to stir up less trouble in the future. Otherwise, if you keep worrying, wouldn't you become dumber? Haha!" This joke, however, only earned him a roll of Porter's eyes!

Beibei, in Harry's arms, suddenly nodded at Deboning, then poked out her tender pink tongue with a mischievous grin.

Deboning shrugged, then turned to look at the dossier on the desk, pretending not to notice the young lady's expression...

But their meaning had already been exchanged—"Hehe! Porter is worried about Daddy! Hmm, Beibei just won't tell Daddy what Porter's spiritual fluctuations actually are..."

"Don't worry, Young Mistress, even without your Spiritual Contract, I wouldn't reveal what only the two of us here can perceive..."

Du Chen mentally ran through the possibilities, his smile fading, and instructed, "Andy, Brook, Beibei will come with me to the Eye of Heaven Forest. Porter... Cassian and Durkes City will be entrusted to you!"

"Don't worry, Cassian is very smart and is currently diligently learning state affairs from me, but as for the construction of Durkes City..."

Porter suddenly stretched out a hand towards Du Chen, grumbling like a nagging housekeeper, "You'd better find a way to earn back more money! A few more million should be enough, but of course, more would be even better!" Du Chen's face turned distinctly green. 'A few million should be enough? Who do you take me for!?'

...

Months ago, the Dragon God accused the Papal Curia of harboring the Rebellious Dragon Constantine, launching an offensive that abruptly chilled their previously harmonious relationship!

The Dragon God Samuel was overbearing and arrogant. Pontiff Sama IX, though knowing he was wronged, suffered from a lack of evidence. Yet, as one of humanity's spiritual pillars, he was no ordinary individual! Neither side yielded, and the conflict escalated until, days ago, the Pontiff summoned Zigurd, the Head of Battle God Academy, to assist, and Zigurd, in turn, called upon the former Sword Emperor Roland for aid, as a precaution...

But both sides were intelligent, unwilling to blow the matter out of proportion, striving to prevent the situation from escalating into a racial conflict between humanity and the Dragon Clan. Thus, what should have been a grand, spectacular battle proceeded as a cold war, with both parties setting their battlefield at the negotiating table, substituting sacred artifacts and Divine Pets with verbal skirmishes. Yet, beneath this negotiating table, the undercurrents were turbulent and extremely perilous!

The negotiation venue was set at the midpoint between Mount Miglio and the Papal Curia's Divine Temple—Silvermoon Island, within the Eye of Heaven Forest!

Du Chen recalled the limited intelligence he possessed as he rode his white horse, holding Beibei, along the dark gray road.

Andy, panting heavily, followed behind, wagging his tail. He glanced at the low, ochre city walls ahead and let out a long sigh. "Praise the Moon Goddess, we've finally reached Turco Port! Now I don't have to walk anymore; we can just take a boat... Oh, my poor paws!"

"Lazybones! Andy!" Beibei winked at the Snow Wolf, scornful of his laziness. She suddenly piped up, "Daddy, Beibei wants to ride Andy to the beach!"

"Not right now. This isn't like my territory!" Du Chen replied casually, his mind preoccupied. He didn't notice his daughter sadly droop her head, seemingly lost in thought.

Andy gave an awkward smile, trotting up to Du Chen's horse. "Master, the Eminences of the Papal Curia will personally greet you later and escort you to meet the Pontiff with pilgrim's reverence. So... will there be a grand feast? Hmm, the Eminences of the Papal Curia surely won't mistreat us!"

Du Chen gazed at him coldly. "My dear Andy, I think you need to diet lately. First, you must consume the Golden Behemoth within you! Otherwise..." He snorted and shook his head. "Andy, Turco Port is the last stop before Silvermoon Island, and after the waters around Silvermoon Island were sealed off, it's the only sea route approved by both the Papal Curia and Mount Miglio. Now, many powers interested in the Eye of Heaven Forest negotiations have gathered here! Be careful after we enter the port; don't get snatched away again!"

Andy grinned foolishly, tongue lolling out. "I, Chris Andy, am a noble Snow Wolf with dreams and an appetite! I definitely won't get snatched away for a third time!" He stole a glance at Beibei. "Even if the brilliant and wise Young Lady Beibei gets snatched away, I won't! Can't I just eat one less meal, my benevolent, wise Master!?"

Beibei pouted at this, snuggling into Du Chen's chest and saying with a wronged expression, "Daddy won't let anyone take Beibei away, will he?"

The little one's sweet, clingy voice made Du Chen's bones tingle, and that little mouth kissing his chin made his whole body go soft. This little girl was growing ever more adorable and mischievous!

"Of course not! Whoever dares to snatch you away, Daddy will steal everything from their entire family! Leave them bare-assed! Haha!"

"Oh, Daddy is very confident! Beibei believes in Daddy's strength!" The little one wagged a finger, then mischievously grinned. "Then let Beibei ride Andy to play over there, okay? Beibei won't get lost, and even if I do, Daddy can find me!"

Du Chen was stunned. Following the direction of the little one's pointed finger, he couldn't help but exclaim, "So beautiful! Is that a flagpole?"

Just now, Du Chen had been so preoccupied that he hadn't noticed a towering white pillar reaching into the clouds not far away, standing out starkly against the dark earth road and yellow city walls!

That white pillar resembled a flagpole, standing on the east side of Turco Port's city wall, near the sea. From a distance, it looked as if a white thread had been drawn from the horizon, draped onto the beach!

The lower end of this 'flagpole' was vaguely obscured from view, but its top was exceptionally beautiful. No flag hung from it; instead, a mass of milky white cloud floated, as if someone were flying a kite on the sprawling beach, playing with the clouds! Illuminated by the setting sun, the scene was utterly magnificent!

No wonder Beibei wanted to go see it.

But Du Chen said, "Darling, Turco Port is too chaotic right now. This might be the marker of a major power, definitely not a toy, and Daddy is about to go meet..." Seeing his daughter's downcast, pouting face, Du Chen smiled and placed the little one on Andy's back. "Go on, but Andy, remember to find me at the church in town before dark! Otherwise, if you miss the Papal Curia's welcoming feast, you'll regret it!"

"My dream, Chris Andy's dream, is to never have regrets!" declared the Snow Wolf with noble righteousness.

Du Chen then manifested a lotus, and to Deboning hidden within it, he said, "You follow the Young Lady! Try not to stir up trouble!"

'Heh, am I being a bit too cautious?' Du Chen chuckled to himself, then urged his horse into Turco Port.

This was a small port of a few thousand people, and as the sole passage to the Eye of Heaven Forest, it had been occupied by various major powers. This was evident from the numerous pedestrians on the streets with varied appearances and strange attire—they were definitely not commoners! Soon, Du Chen found the Holy Church's cathedral in the city center.

"Welcome, Your Eminence, White-Robed Archbishop!" Two rows of clerics already stood with hands respectfully clasped inside the cathedral, their demeanors reverent, their heads bowed!

"Haha, my little brother, I finally waited for you!" Du Chen's direct superior, the Godfather-level Battle God Enforcer, Red-Bearded Mars, rushed forward and gave Du Chen a bear hug on the spot!

"Boss Mars, easy, easy!"

Truth be told, Du Chen generally disliked people from the Papal Curia, but he held a particular fondness for Mars, who was a bandit by origin, forthright and uninhibited, and wore everything on his sleeve!

"Say nothing, ask nothing!" Mars waved his hand, pulling Du Chen into an inner courtyard. "Damn it all! Those accursed, winged scaled creatures made His Majesty issue a level-one combat readiness order, strictly prohibiting drinking and recreation! I haven't had a drink in a month, haha! This time, I finally managed to sneak out under the pretense of welcoming you, so you first have to drink to your heart's content with me!"

Drinking? Du Chen had never been afraid!

The two drank from dusk till nightfall. Mars stubbornly refused to use battle qi to sober up, his eyes already hazy with intoxication, but he was laughing heartily. "Kid, your servant Aliza is also in the Eye of Heaven Forest. That lad looks like he can hold his liquor... Uh, who's there?"

Ninth-rank Mars detected something amiss before Du Chen did!

"Your Eminence Mars, Your Eminence Francis, it's bad!" A cleric rushed in, glanced at Mars, then his gaze settled on Du Chen. "Your Eminence, White-Robed Archbishop, your Divine Pet and daughter have returned, but... but someone immediately came to demand custody, asking, asking you to hand over Young Lady Beibei..."

Boom!

Mars smashed the wine table to pieces with a single punch. "Damn it! How dare they touch my niece!? Tell everyone to grab their weapons; we're going to wipe them out!"

"No, you can't!" The cleric's face was almost green with fear. "The ones demanding her are... are a few young ladies from under That Cloud!"

Clang!

Drunken Mars plopped onto a chair, his face... also turned distinctly green!