Li Xin was lying comfortably on top of the City Hall when he felt something above his head. He opened his eyes, about to reach out, and then remembered, "Chris, hello there."

He glanced at the fish beside him, ...why is there still some leftover?

"The fish isn't fresh." Chris's voice echoed in Li Xin's mind.

...

"Ahem, sorry about that, I'll make it up to you next time." Li Xin said.

Chris nodded, then pointed its wings at the flute, "Is this it? Then I'll be taking it."

Li Xin nodded, looked at the flute, then at Chris's size. How was it going to take it?

The little golden bird swallowed the flute in one gulp, flapped its wings, and flew away without looking back, disappearing haughtily into the sky.

Li Xin dusted himself off, not really understanding how to communicate with birds. Looking at the leftover fish, damn it, Qi Badao must've gotten the fish from the Underground City, with that level of pollution, damn, even he wouldn't eat it!

Jumping down from the City Hall roof, Li Xin decided to buy some snacks for Xueyin, feeling that she's been a bit too pitiful lately. He didn't want to lie flat and do nothing like Aunt Fei might say; in this world, doing nothing is indeed inadvisable.

While Li Xin was out shopping, the Archbishop's gathering in the afternoon was wrapping up. Usually, there'd be a dinner, but the Archbishop didn't have one, yet managed to make everyone happy.

Judging from Locknan's expression, he'd gained substantial rewards this time. In the end, it was just Kathy helping Eliza tidy up, which didn't really require her doing it herself, but to Eliza, this was what life was about. Even the Archbishop would lend a hand.

Kathy felt like the two of them were teasing her, but she had no proof.

"By the way, Archbishop, Captain Luo asked me to congratulate you on your promotion." Kathy felt it necessary to give her regards, even if it was slightly inappropriate.

Matthew and Eliza both laughed, "He's always been my most outstanding student; I know him better than you do."

Kathy couldn't help but add, "Then you should instill in him a normal person's attitude to life. All he does is work, work, and more work—too exhausting, too lonely, and completely without normal social interactions."

Luo Jin seemed to only have attended a family dinner at Lin Fei's place once over the past few years, and nothing else really; he didn't attend outings or participate in Night Patrol internal gatherings, which made Kathy genuinely worried.

Matthew looked at Kathy, and though he was the Archbishop, he had no advice to offer. At a moment like this, it seemed inappropriate to bring up any divine blessing, "Perhaps, Madam, you should say a few words?"

Eliza held Kathy's hand, glanced at Matthew, "Luo Jin has become this way partly because of his Night Patrol job, and partly because of his personality. He's an emotional, highly empathetic person, and such people often become increasingly indifferent in the end. Carrying others' emotions long-term, a strong sense of responsibility becomes a shackle, leading them to become isolated. Their path is inherently difficult; don't be fooled by Matthew's happy-go-lucky demeanor, at heart, he's much like Luo Jin."

Matthew gazed gently at Eliza, his wife being his everything. Only then did Kathy realize, the Archbishop never really cared about his position; his island of solitude had Eliza, making him no longer lonely.

Eliza's words also implied that everyone chooses their path; there's no point in complaining.

If she were a man, she'd be attracted to a woman like her too.

"Kathy, come by more often. Luo Jin's surrender is only a matter of time." Matthew joked, making Kathy's face instantly turn beet red.

"If you don't have anything good to say, then don't speak." Eliza gave him a look, sending Matthew away; the supposedly most eloquent Archbishop in the Celestial Capital hurriedly went to tidy up.

Kathy felt like she'd been shown up again, deciding it best to visit less often in the future...

Monday came. After the weekend's intermission, the tensions within Black Rose over the highly consequential Four Nations Competition seemed to have suddenly calmed. Luo Xue and Zhao Qing were discussing strategies harmoniously, with no trace of their previously intense confrontation. Whether from a family standpoint or from Black Rose, an understanding was reached, which wasn't uncommon among nobles. Flatterer Hao Ye was getting along well with Nan Kai and Fei Ruolin, and if Lu Shuai didn't know better, he'd think they were old friends.

"On the way to Celestial Capital, there was a landslide, so their arrival will be delayed, which gives us time. President Luo Xue and I will assess everyone's condition, fielding our best lineup against the formidable opponents to come." Zhao Qing said.

Lu Shuai and Xiao Hu exchanged glances, thinking it was a civil conversation, wondering why it had to be passive-aggressive.

Fei Ruolin and Nan Kai looked at Luo Xue, but Luo Xue remained expressionless, apparently in agreement too, "Vice President Zhao Qing has trained over at Dragon Capital, so he'll be primarily responsible for this training. I'll take charge of Li Xin."

Everyone was used to Luo Xue taking special care of Li Xin, and aside from Hao Ye, others wouldn't think much else about it, mainly because their temperaments didn't match.

Zhao Qing chuckled, "I know each of you recruits have your unique skills, but this is just the beginning. We're about to face a mature Canon Law School delegation, all experts in utilizing Spiritual Ability, seasoned by countless battles. I say this not to discourage you; combat experience isn't gained from sparring on your own, but honed in major tournaments, during crucial moments. I believe given two years, each of you can hold your own, but we don't have that luxury now. Objectively, the Four Nations Competition is imminent and significant. If we can't start off well, it'll be hard for Luo Xue and me, and your first step in the Canon Law School will stumble greatly. So, in the coming days, let's show what we're made of through our skills."

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