Chapter 736

This composure beyond his years, this air of treating monumental achievements as commonplace, moved Chancellor Zhao Wenyuan and Grand General Guo Po to silent admiration, deepening their sense that His Majesty was unfathomable, as if he had long endured all the vicissitudes of life.

Li Chen usually conducted official business online via his “mobile phone,” rarely summoning his trusted ministers for a small meeting in person.

He dismissed all attendants, leaving only Zhao and Guo present, and cut straight to the point in a steady voice: “The matter of Dala is settled. I shall soon depart for the Eternal Day Empire; this journey may involve certain dangers.”

He then briefly informed them of how he held the two honorary titles of “Heir Apparent to the Pope” and “Imperial Preceptor” in the Eternal Day Empire, as well as the intelligence he had received regarding the Pope’s mysterious disappearance and Emperor Charles’s suspected assassination.

Zhao Wenyuan stroked his beard in thought, his brows slightly furrowed: “Your Majesty, this matter is indeed suspicious. I believe the probability of a trap is low, but danger certainly exists.”

The key issue is that even if the Pope has truly met with misfortune, the Eternal Day imperial family—especially Emperor Charles—would never willingly allow you to successfully inherit the papal throne.

They have waited patiently for this moment of chaos within the Church, when it is leaderless and riven by internal strife, hoping to suppress or even seize control of ecclesiastical power; how could they permit an “outsider” like you—especially one bearing the title of Emperor Tiance—to ascend to a papal seat that rivals imperial authority? They will surely obstruct you by every means possible, even resort to underhanded tactics.

According to Zhao Wenyuan’s understanding, Charles’s alleged attack might be a ruse to lower the Church’s guard while allowing him to manipulate events from behind the scenes.

Guo Po, listening beside him, blinked in astonishment and blurted out in his gruff voice: “Huh? Your Majesty has another identity like that? Does the Eternal Day Church even recognize it?”

His expression was dazed, as if he were profoundly out of the loop.

Seeing this, Zhao Wenyuan couldn’t help but smile faintly, glancing at Guo Po with a hint of smugness: “Grand General Guo, your information is terribly outdated.”

“Not only does His Majesty hold a position in Eternal Day, but the ‘Ancestor Witch,’ who stirred up the storms of Dala and is revered as its guardian deity, is also one of His Majesty’s aliases. Otherwise, how do you explain why the new Dala Emperor, Ma Weite, bows so humbly and obeys His Majesty without question?”

Guo Po drew in a sharp breath, staring at Li Chen with shock, then turned to Zhao Wenyuan with a look of wounded resentment, as if to say:

“You old Zhao, we’re both His Majesty’s trusted ministers—how come you know everything while I’m treated like an outsider? Why wasn’t I told about such a secret?”

Li Chen caught the expression on Guo Po’s face—the look of a neglected spouse—and found it amusing. He explained: “Grand General Guo, no need to feel this way. Chancellor Zhao frequently consults me privately on state affairs, and when he asks, I tell him.”

“But you’ve never once asked me about these matters. Should I just drag you aside out of nowhere and say, ‘By the way, I have several other aliases abroad’?”

His tone carried a touch of teasing, offering Guo Po a face-saving opening, then added: “Next time there’s something like this, I’ll put both of you in a group chat to discuss it together—so you won’t keep thinking I favor one over the other.”

Guo Po immediately felt deeply moved and bowed earnestly: “Your servant dares not! Thank Your Majesty for your consideration!”

Though the promise of being added to the group calmed him, he still couldn’t help shooting Zhao Wenyuan a glare, while Zhao returned it with a smug look that said: “Being close to His Majesty means you can do as you please.”

After this brief interlude, Guo Po regained his composure and analyzed seriously: “Your Majesty, now that Chancellor Zhao has spoken, I too believe this matter is almost certainly tied to Emperor Charles of Eternal Day. There must be Charles’s agents embedded within the Church.”

“If Your Majesty returns publicly as the Heir Apparent, Charles will surely learn of it. How could he allow you to consolidate Church power? When tensions erupt openly, the internal struggle within the Church may escalate into a diplomatic dispute between the two nations—or even spark war.”

His analysis was remarkably balanced, a stark departure from his usual warlike stance.