Rebirth of the Interstellar Pope <Mecha>

Chapter 47

Chapter 47

[Anno: Rufite's handwork skills tell me that he must engage in such activities often...]

Rufeite's body was still that of a ten-year-old, and after Anno found relief, he fell asleep while holding something in his hand. Anno observed him, unsure whether to laugh or cry, before carrying Rufeite back.

With thoughts heavy on his mind, Anno struggled to find sleep throughout the night and awoke early the next morning. Rufeite, however, remained asleep until noon.

As they sat down for lunch, Anno noticed a shadow of melancholy lingering over Rufeite.

"Are you really telling me you haven't experienced ejaculation at ten?" Rufeite mused, a hint of frustration in his voice. "I was already nine when it happened for me."

In Anno's eyes, Rufeite's standards seemed long lost to frivolity. He shrugged, taking a bite of rice without lifting his gaze. "Shut up. If you keep talking, I'll make you pay for lunch."

Rufeite's expression shifted, and after a moment's delay, he dropped his fork with a clatter.

The atmosphere around them was tense. Jialan's surveillance had reached a peak, yet the news of a high-ranking executive's murder had yet to leak. Both Anno and Rufeite were acutely aware that all leads were ambiguous and that Jialan's upper echelon had uncovered little.

This latest turmoil had seen three factions fall: the anti-religious faction led by Arthur, the peace-seeking faction among Jialan's elite, and the military contingent seeking Arthur's support for military expenditures. Jialan's leaders were divided, some arguing for the irreplaceable role of religion, while others sought a tactical alliance with Arthur, believing that such a partnership could elevate Hades' political standing in interstellar affairs.

Arthur's death had forced the Golden Empire into a temporary seclusion, stalling all previously agreed terms with both the United Nations and military forces. The shift in focus deflected attention from the religious factions, and the logic behind Arthur's assassination seemed perplexing-surely, if the target had been a figure like the Pope or a major religious institution, killing allied military personnel or sympathetic clergy made no sense.

Yet, it had become clear that Arthur's demise was merely a personal vendetta.

Without specific interstellar coordinates to follow, Anno relied on Michael to trace Anmia using the resonance channels within the ancient civilization's mecha. Unexpectedly, just as Michael completed the jump, he received a signal from the religious faction.

"Rufeite," Cadilla's exhausted voice came through.

Rufeite and Anno exchanged glances as Cadilla's ship appeared on their screen, sending a request for gravitational assistance. After Anno confirmed, Michael piloted them toward the vessel.

During their approach, Rufeite asked, "Do you have something you need to tell me?"

Cadilla sighed heavily, his weariness evident. "What's there to explain? Just come over; I'll show you."

Upon landing on the spaceship, they found Cadilla waiting. His eyes widened in surprise at the sight of Anno. "You..."

Rufeite gestured for him to skip any pleasantries. Cadilla led them through a series of sterile, empty hallways, each marked by electronic doors that required verification every ten meters.

Cadilla's demeanor shifted as he opened another door, a weary smile gracing his lips. "The staff from the Yin Cult and the Heavenly Cult have all left. Before you arrived, the only ones on this ship were the Yin Cult and the An Cult." He paused, adding, "With your arrival, the level of religious authority here has significantly increased!"