Chapter 113 (1): A Visit From the Pope

"It's already been a few days since the application to end the lockdown on our One Heart Church was submitted, so at the very latest, the order should be lifted in two days. Once that happens, your three uncle-masters and I will be heading to your branch helm right away to examine the fruits of your labor."

"That's fantastic news, Master! The lockdown order is finally being lifted! You don't know how lost and scared I've been in your absence! I just felt like everything I did had the potential to go wrong! When're you coming, Master? I have to prepare for your arrival."

"I'm not telling you! The whole point is to make a spontaneous visit so you can't prepare anything! You can go now."

With that, the correspondence concluded, and a grim look immediately appeared on Fang Che's face.

The lockdown order on the One Heart Church had finally been lifted, which meant that Yin Shengong was about to be free.

Would he notice anything amiss once he re-emerged?

Fang Che spent several hours carefully reflecting on everything that he had done during Yin Shengong's absence, mulling over even the finest details, and the results of his reflection did not leave him feeling very optimistic.

He had justifications for everything, but the fact of the matter was that aside from establishing his branch helm, he hadn't done anything to benefit the One Heart Church.

This could be spun as something damning, or it could be brushed off as completely inconsequential.

If Yin Shengong suspected him, then this was a problem, but if he didn't, then it was fully justifiable, given that he was an undercover agent.

In any case, it was important to proceed with caution from here, and Fang Che was wondering if he should present some gifts to Yin Shengong once the latter arrived at the branch helm, just to placate him a little, if nothing else.

With that in mind, he immediately went to the branch helm.

"Do any of you have anything that would make a good gift for a senior?"

Helmsmaster Starlight was openly soliciting bribes.

Zhao Wushang and the others were all extremely grateful to Starlight, and they were eager to give him anything that he asked for. Thus, they pooled together everything they had that fit the bill, and it turned out to be quite a sizable collection of items.

Furthermore, they were all rare and precious items from the main church.

"I'm taking all of this stuff," Starlight declared without any shame or gratitude. "Also, I have a piece of good news for you all."

"What is it?"

"Our branch helm has been officially successfully established!"

Everyone was rather underwhelmed.

Wasn't our branch helm successfully established long ago? How does this count as good news?

"While it's true that we already succeeded long ago, it doesn't count as a success if our higher-ups don't see the fruits of our labors," Starlight explained. "Hence, only after we've passed the assessment from the main church will we finally be able to declare ourselves successful. At the same time, you'll also have completed your mission."

Everyone was instantly enlightened, and they were ecstatic.

"Some people from the main church will be coming to assess our branch helm soon, so you'd better all be on your best behavior! Don't let me down! If you do..."

Starlight's voice trailed off into a silent threat.

"We won't let you down, Head Escort!"

"The envoy sent by the main church will be assessing two things, the first of which is the degree of completion of our branch helm's establishment, and the second will be the outcome of your exploits in the White Cloud Prefecture, understood?"

"Understood!"

"This is an extremely important time period for our branch helm, so I want all of you to put your best foot forward! This doesn't just concern my future and the future of the One Heart Church, it's just as impactful on all of you as well!"

Everyone's eyes were glowing with excitement.

"Tonight, I'll be arranging a feast for everyone in our escort agency right now, and you'll all be receiving your wages too!"

After soliciting bribes from everyone, he was reciprocating by handing out wages, and this declaration was immediately met with thunderous cheers from everyone.

Having all come from prominent clans of the main church, they had never worked a day in their lives prior to joining Fang Che's branch helm, and it was a very special feeling for them to be earning their first batch of financial compensation for their hard work.

Even the shrewd Zheng Yunqi was feeling a little excited.

All his life, he had taken spending the money of others for granted, with his parents funding all of his purchases, and he spent the money without a second thought.

However, the thought of all of the hard work that he had to put in to earn this money made him instinctively not want to spend it.

This was everyone's first time earning money in their lives, and the sense of novelty, achievement, and pride had everyone glowing with excitement.

They spent the entire afternoon cleaning up the escort agency, ensuring that everything was in spotless condition.

During this time, several wealthy merchants came to visit, and they were all very perplexed.

"What's the occasion?"

"We're receiving our wages today!"

"Is that really a worthy cause for so much excitement?"

"It's our first time ever being paid in our lives!"

"......"

The merchants fell silent looking at the flushed faces of excitement of the young men and women before them. They felt as if they were seeing reflections of themselves back in their youth.

The first time they earned money, they were so excited that they couldn't sleep, and they spent the entire night counting those paltry few copper coins over and over again.

They couldn't help but feel genuinely happy for everyone in the escort agency.

***

That night, a lavish banquet was held in the Unmatched Escort Agency.

Everyone purchased the best food and wine that money could buy in the White Cloud Prefecture out of their own pockets, and they even hired a theater troupe to perform in the agency.

With their first batch of wages drawing ever closer, the excitement was mounting further and further.

"How much money did you spend on all the food and wine?"

"About five thousand taels of silver."

"It's roughly the same for me."

"How much do you think we'll be receiving in wages?"

"Surely it has to be at least five hundred taels of silver!"

"Man, just thinking about it gets me excited!"

All of a sudden, Starlight stepped into the main hall, wearing a bright red robe with gold ingots embroidered all over its surface.

"Who the hell got this robe for me?!"

Everyone erupted into laughter.

Starlight was already... not very handsome to begin within, and it was an absurdly comical sight to see him in such a festive red robe.

"How much money did you all spend on this much food and wine? You're spending more than you're getting paid!" Starlight grumbled.

"That's not the same thing, Head Escort!"

"We'll only do it this month, we won't do it again next month."

"This is our first time earning money in our lives, so we have to make it an occasion to remember."

"I've been dreaming for a long time of what I want to buy with my first wages. It's a shame that I'm not at home. I wanted to buy something for my mother and my sister," Zhao Wushang sighed, looking a little disappointed.

"What's stopping you from buying something for them?" Starlight asked. "Wouldn't it be more meaningful if you brought souvenirs back for them all the way from the White Cloud Prefecture?"

"You're right!"

A wide smile instantly appeared on Zhao Wushang's face.

While everyone was busy setting up the banquet, Fang Che was observing in silence, pondering his future plans for everyone.

At the moment, these people were absolutely loyal to him, and they had come to fully trust and rely on him during the time that they had spent together.

Fang Che was certain that even if they went back to the main church, they wouldn't forget him in a short time. At the very least, he would remain their thoughts for the next three to five years, and perhaps even the awe and veneration they felt for him would remain.

However, it was difficult to say the same for longer separations, and as they began to kill more people in the future, their personalities would become more cold and callous due to the influence of the Five Spirit Parasite.

Hence, it was very difficult to predict the future.

In any case, Fang Che felt like he had done very well to win them over thus far.

Ruling with an iron fist was not a sustainable strategy, and seeing as he was planning to use these people in the future, he had to place his mark on them.

This occasion was an opportunity to do just that, and it was perhaps the final opportunity he would get before they left.

***

Finally, night fell, and there were eighteen tables crammed into the main hall.

All 666 people from the main church were present, and there were also forty to fifty tables outside for the people assigned to the branch helm from various One Heart Church bases.

The inside of the hall was feeling a little cramped, so Starlight moved his throne to the side to make space, much to everyone's elation and gratitude.

Starlight's table was packed with people.

He was a violent, crude, and vulgar man who was constantly beating and berating everyone, and he was so hideous that no one would want to take a second glance at him, but over time,everyone had become extremely reliant on him, and they felt closer to him than ever.

All of them wanted to gather around him, and they were completely unfazed by his efforts to try and shoo them away.

Zhao Wushang, Zheng Yunqi, Zhao Wubai, Zhou Mei'er, Wu Lianlian, Jiang Bin, Tian Wanqing... All in all, there were twelve people squished next to one another at Starlight's table.

Ten of them were from the first batch of members to join the branch helm, while two were from the second batch, and no one else was able to squeeze their way in.

This was a matter of status and hierarchy, and everyone else was looking on with envy at the packed table.

"Why are there so many people at this table? I can hardly breathe!" Starlight complained. "Zhao Wushang, only one of you or your brother needs to be here. What are both of you doing sitting here?"

Zhao Wushang immediately put on a stern expression, flaunting his position of deputy head escort over his brother as he ordered, "Leave!"

Zhao Wubai turned to glower at him with a disgruntled expression.

"Why're you looking at me like that, Escort Zhao? Are you opposing my orders?"

Zhao Wubai could only scurry away with his tail tucked between his legs, while everyone erupted into laughter.

Starlight rose to his feet, and everyone instantly fell silent, waiting for him to deliver an address.

Starlight raised his cup and sighed, "It's not been easy getting to this point. In the beginning, I was all on my own in this place. I only managed to recruit the first batch of members by throwing a fit and delivering a bunch of threats."

Reminiscent looks appeared in the eyes of Zhao Wushang and the others at Starlight's words.

At the time, they had been completely traumatized by Starlight, but thinking back now, it was a fond memory that they could look upon within affectionate smiles.

It wasn't a very long time ago, but it felt like it had happened in a past life.

"From there, our escort agency has gone from strength to strength. This is an occasion for celebration, so no one is allowed to get emotional and sentimental on me! Also, I'm going to establish a rule here. No one is allowed to swear tonight, including even myself! Wu Lianlian, Zhou Mei'er, you two will be responsible for enforcing this rule. Anyone who breaks it has to drink three cups of wine as punishment!"

The two girls happily agreed.

"The escort agency wouldn't be where it is today without all of you, so I'd like to raise a toast to you all! Bring on the wine!" Starlight declared.

Everyone raised their cups in unison, and the aroma of wine filled the entire hall.

"All of you, be quiet for now," Starlight said. "I wanna say something to all of you, and I'm worried I'll forget what I want to say if you speak over me. For now, cheers!"

He raised his cup, and everyone stood up and also raised their cups before downing their wine in one go.