Peach's Isadro noticed Tang Zheng's calm demeanor and likewise picked up the Black Tea on the table, lost in thought.
This mission to the Slane Theocracy wasn't complicated. The most important part was to follow Lady Quartet's instructions and try their best to win over Team Leader Tang of Adamantite Rank's Free Will.
However, after observing for the past few days, he realized that the Theocracy seemed to value Team Leader Tang even more than Lady Quartet had anticipated.
Especially after what happened today, Peach's Isadro had to consider things more deeply.
From a national perspective, causing conflict between their country and the Theocracy over an Adventurer was something to be avoided at all costs!
A thought of giving up on Team Leader Tang, despite his own admiration for him, began to sprout in Peach's Isadro's heart. After all, the other party was an Adventurer and a person from the Re-Estize Kingdom. Even if they could win him over, the benefits gained would be very limited.
"I don't care if that old geezer is really dead or just faking it!" Remedios said, looking annoyed and speaking angrily. "What the Theocracy is doing now is forcefully restricting us, these arrogant fools!"
"Captain..." Peach's Isadro's face fell, and he quickly spoke up to stop her.
"Shut up!" Remedios glared, her sharp gaze sweeping over Peach's Isadro. "Constantly backing down will only make the Theocracy more reckless!"
Having said that, Remedios turned her head, her light brown, fluffy short hair slightly lifting. She looked at Tang Zheng with fiery eyes, a hint of excitement in her tone. "How about we cause a big scene? What do you say, Tang?"
"Like, first capture that annoying Clementine and break her hands and feet or something. The Theocracy already knows I've clashed with her multiple times anyway."
"As long as I don't kill her, the Theocracy can't do anything to me." Remedios said proudly.
This wasn't arrogance, but a statement of fact. With Remedios's status, as long as she didn't kill Clementine, the Theocracy really wouldn't escalate the matter because of it.
"Captain!" Peach's Isadro's face completely changed, and his voice grew a few shades heavier.
Saying something like this in private was one thing! But now, not only was she saying it in front of an outsider, but the attitude revealed in the Captain's words would also give Team Leader Tang a further understanding of their stance, and even allow him to gain a certain degree of initiative.
"For the honor of the Holy Kingdom!" Remedios retorted unceremoniously.
Peach's Isadro opened his mouth.
Tang Zheng held the Black Tea cup, his gaze sweeping over Black's Pabel, who had remained silent the entire time. Although these three were all Nine Colors, Pabel's status was clearly the lowest. Remedios and the other person were the Captain and Vice Captain of the Paladin Order, respectively, and were more familiar and closer, with similar statuses.
When the two of them talked, Black's Pabel didn't have the right to interject.
A keen intuition allowed Black's Pabel to sense Tang Zheng's gaze immediately. Just as he was about to nod in response, his narrow eyelids suddenly became terrifying.
*Bang!*
"Who?" Black's Pabel suddenly stood up, his gaze as sharp as needles, coldly surveying the entire hall. Then he pulled a short black staff from his pocket.
"Life Detection!"
The short staff emitted a faint green glow, forming a Mana Fluctuation invisible to the naked eye, quickly scanning the surroundings.
"What's wrong?" Remedios's face also turned cold.
After a brief observation, Black's Pabel's staff's light dissipated. A look of confusion and hesitation appeared on his face behind the mask before he respectfully replied, "Lady Remedios, I just sensed someone watching us."
"But... I didn't find anything. Maybe it was a false alarm."
Remedios's expression softened slightly.
A hint of surprise flashed in Tang Zheng's eyes. He had to admit that Black's Pabel, as a Hero Domain Guerrilla, was indeed sharp-witted. At this moment, there were not just the four of them in the room.
To be precise, there are five people in total!
Skill "Ninja Art: Concealment" discovered. Requires High-Tier Job [Ninja]. Current conditions met.
Consume 1 Skill Point to learn?
Tang Zheng's gaze swept across the attribute panel in front of him. He had already noticed them the moment he entered the room.
Ninja job?
If it weren't for Remedios's words just now, which caused the hidden people to stir.
Perhaps "Black" Pabel wouldn't have noticed them at all.
Such strength and job.
The only ones who fit the criteria are the "Heaven and Earth" from the Darkness Scripture.
They are truly valued by the Theocracy.
How long has it been? He's already met several members of the Darkness Scripture consecutively.
However!
This was actually a good thing for Tang Zheng.
The consecutive deployment of Darkness Scripture members indicated that the number of Hero Domain powerhouses within the Theocracy was similar to what was shown in the original work.
"After all, this is the Theocracy's territory."
Tang Zheng pretended to be natural, placing the black tea cup in his hand on the table and speaking with a smile:
"We are currently restricted, so it's possible we're being monitored."
The "Heaven and Earth" hidden in the hall carefully retreated backward, pressing closer to the wall. A hint of cold sweat appeared on their invisible face.
Almost got discovered!
Monitoring four Hero-level powerhouses, that's a tough job.
The figure dressed as a ninja in a red and black bodysuit muttered inwardly.
Getting discovered would be very troublesome!
And facing four against one, even with their strength, they dared not be careless in the slightest.
"Tang, what do you think of my suggestion just now?" Remedios asked with renewed anticipation, her face full of eagerness to try.
"While I'm also a bit annoyed, that's not a good suggestion."
Tang Zheng shrugged his shoulders and said helplessly, "Actually, I have a better idea."
"Alright." Remedios was quite disappointed but didn't insist further.
This attitude.
It surprised "Peach" Isadro. He knew the Captain's personality very well; she tended to be quite persistent about things she wanted to do.
To put it less nicely, she was stubborn!
When did she become so easy to talk to?
If he had said that, her response would definitely have been "This is an order" or something similar. It would have taken him a lot of effort to dissuade the Captain from her unreliable idea.
"Team Leader Tang, what are your thoughts?"
"Peach" Isadro suppressed the doubt in his heart and spoke solemnly.
He didn't intend to let the Captain respond, otherwise, with the Captain's "wisdom," she could easily be led by the nose and produce unpredictable results.
"I'm sure you're all curious about the real reason the Slane Theocracy invited me here."
Tang Zheng gently tapped the table with his palm. While secretly observing the movements of the hidden "Heaven and Earth," he continued:
"Do you remember the Dominion Authority Angel that Captain Nigun summoned during the Abelion Hills incident?"
Upon hearing this.
The expressions of Remedios and the other two turned serious. That terrifyingly powerful Angel left a deep impression on anyone who saw it.
Even if Remedios was foolish, she knew clearly that it was definitely a power they humans could not resist!
"Peach" Isadro, seeing Tang Zheng suddenly mention this Angel with the power of Demon Gods, immediately thought more deeply.
"Whether it's Angels or other summoned Demon Creatures, they all have a time limit on their existence. This is one of the drawbacks of Summoning Magic."
Tang Zheng's voice suddenly lowered a few degrees: "However, the Theocracy used an Integration Potion, allowing the Angel Demon Creature the possibility of existing for a longer duration."
He roughly explained the information from the research data the Theocracy had compiled.
The entire hall suddenly fell silent!
The expressions of Remedios, "Peach" Isadro, and "Black" Pabel completely changed, filled with solemnity and disbelief.
Didn't stop him?
Tang Zheng observed that "Heaven and Earth" had no intention of stopping him after he revealed this information.
Are they just responsible for monitoring?
"Or is it simply to prevent any information about Killing Death from leaking?"
Several thoughts flashed through Tang Zheng's mind as he looked at the three people from the Holy Kingdom. He suddenly noticed that Peach Isadro's expression was a bit grim.
As for Remedios and Black Pabel, they were mostly surprised and incredulous!
"So that's it."
Tang Zheng understood, realizing why Heaven and Earth, or the people from the Theocracy, didn't care about him telling the Holy Kingdom about the potion.
"Your potion actually has such an effect!"
After her initial surprise, Remedios looked at Tang Zheng excitedly, her voice filled with emotion:
"No wonder the Theocracy, after failing to find you, stole the potion you gave us! Those despicable guys!"
"That old guy really died at the right time. Restricting us now must be to prevent you from leaving."
Remedios had learned to think in this moment. Unconsciously, she stood up and paced back and forth, her sharp gaze becoming increasingly resolute:
"We absolutely cannot let such a precious potion fall into the hands of the Theocracy!"
"We will now..."
"No!"
A rather oppressive voice rang out.
The usually gentle Peach Isadro, for the first time, displayed the imposing aura of a Paladin Vice Captain, forcefully interrupting Remedios.
"My apologies, Team Leader Tang."
"This matter is far too significant. We need to return to the Holy Kingdom and discuss it with His Highness and the ministers before we can make a decision."
Peach Isadro also stood up and bowed slightly to Tang Zheng, speaking apologetically.
He clearly intended to distance himself from Tang Zheng!
Peach Isadro's expression was tense, and a hint of fear flickered deep in his eyes.
It wasn't that he wasn't tempted by this power.
It was that this "benefit" had already exceeded the price their Holy Kingdom could afford to pay!
As one of the witnesses to the Abelion Hills incident, he was naturally extremely clear about how powerful the Dominion Authority Angel's power was.
If the Theocracy used the power of the potion to create Dominion Authority Angels that could exist for a long time, just one would be enough to collapse the entire Holy Kingdom's defense line!
And even if the potion fell into the hands of their Holy Kingdom, they didn't have the Theocracy's ability to summon the highest-tier Angels.
The country simply didn't have comparable power to resist!
When the "benefit" far exceeded the price that could be paid, that "benefit" and "greed" would turn into poison!
"Captain, let's leave for now."
Peach Isadro turned and spoke to Remedios. To prevent her from acting impulsively, he said sternly:
"This was instructed by Lord Quartet in advance. Your subordinate has the right to make the final decision!"
Remedios felt embarrassed. As her subordinate, he was actually contradicting his superior: "Who do you think you're talking to!"
Seeing the situation before him.
"Haha."
Tang Zheng leaned back comfortably on the sofa, suddenly laughing out loud:
"Is this the Holy Kingdom's capacity?"
Remedios, Peach Isadro, and Black Pabel all looked over in unison.
"Team Leader Tang..." Peach Isadro's face was grim.
"My apologies, I didn't mean to mock."
Tang Zheng directly interrupted, his expression calm:
"Have you ever considered why I invited you all to come to the Holy Kingdom with me?"
"Is it merely to guard against the Theocracy?"
He had never believed that the Holy Kingdom would directly confront the Slane Theocracy just because of the potential he had shown.
Ultimately.
The interests of the nation were above all else!
If the "price" paid was higher than the "gain," even the most ordinary merchant would know how to choose.
Since he dared to come to the Slane Theocracy, Tang Zheng even secretly planned to connect the two countries and the Abelion Hills area in a straight line. Naturally, he had a trump card.
And this trump card was in the Holy Kingdom!
The people from the Holy Kingdom felt that their side didn't have equal terms with the Slane Theocracy, which was precisely where they were greatly mistaken.
This time, the Holy Kingdom was the one with the advantage!
And exposing his strength and using forceful means to bring them together.
Before the Great Tomb of Nazarick appeared, this was the worst option. He didn't want to be targeted before the Undead King showed up.
"And the only one who can fully utilize this advantage is me!"
The smile on Tang Zheng's face grew wider, and his gaze deepened as he looked at the people from the Holy Kingdom:
"Everyone, although I am an Adventurer, I understand that to sit at the negotiating table and bargain, one must have equal qualifications."
"While I don't know if you will believe what I say, if you just assist me next, you will gain benefits far beyond imagination from this negotiation."
"To be precise, you will have a bargaining chip that is completely equal to the Slane Theocracy!"
Isadro of Peach frowned deeply. He didn't believe what Tang Zheng said.
How could the other party understand the country's foundation and strength better than he did? Even if he didn't want to admit it.
Isadro of Peach knew that the Slane Theocracy was stronger than the Holy Kingdom.
"I believe you, Tang!"
"What do you need us to do next?" Remedios said without hesitation, in her usual frank manner.
"Captain!" Isadro of Peach's cheek twitched, and he suddenly felt a sense of powerlessness.
Why would Quartet's superior arrange for the Captain to come along? If he had known, it would have been better to arrange for another Vice Captain to assist.
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