It's the cyber age now, and you're still playing traditional villains?

Lu Baiyan was stunned for a moment, then smiled back, "You can't fool me with this kind of joke."

He had not forgotten what happened before, and he had his own estimate of who would win and who would lose. He definitely did not believe that Xu Shi would lose.

It is very likely that I died, but as for Xu Shi...it is unlikely.

Since Xu Shi is still alive now, I must not be dead either.

The main point is clear logic.

"Ugh, boring."

Seeing his calm expression, Xu Shi shook his head in disgust.

How come it's so normal for you? He hasn't even had time to say the classic opening line "The operation was a success", and you're not like Xu Ying, who wakes up and calls his buddies daddy...

Boring!

But he was also thinking, when everyone else is abnormal, Lu Baiyan is so normal, so is this normal or abnormal?

Lu Baiyan came back to his senses very quickly and went straight to the point.

"My mind is still a little confused... What happened that day?"

Xu Shi did not hide anything from him and told him in detail what happened after he was puppeted on the day of the final battle, including the various changes that were currently taking place in the Hualan Empire.

Listening to him speak word by word, the expressions on his squinting face were quite rich.

Obviously, he did not expect that everything around him had changed so much during the time he was unconscious - he knew that Xu Shi would definitely implement various reforms, but the content would be much more than he thought.

"Brother Xu's methods are indeed brilliant. He was able to force the Church into a corner."

But in the end, he just mocked the fate of the Vatican, "Even people like me have to be pushed out to the battlefield...haha."

Indeed, he was not a combatant, so how long could he have held on under the circumstances?

But the Saint Lady at that time didn't care about so many things. She just piled up people as they came. One more person was always better than one less.

No one would laugh at being forced to become a puppet. Xu Shi could clearly hear the anger in his tone.

"That can't be helped. You are from the Vatican."

His response was rather cold, "It is your job to offer your heart to the Holy See, so don't complain."

"...Yeah, I guess this is all my own fault."

Lu Baiyan could hear the hidden meaning in his words and could only smile bitterly.

He is different from other Knights Templar. Others are either like Qin Yiyan, whose faith is deeply rooted, or grassroots like Luo Yu, who cannot extricate themselves once they join the Knights Templar.

But Lu Baiyan is different. His family still has some influence in the Hualan Empire. Sending him to be this damn Knight Templar is just to bet on both sides. His family also has many important people in the royal family.

Plus, he is not a person without his own opinions, so for him, this position may be more like a job of punching in to work.

In short, his faith in the Holy See was not very firm, which was why he was repeatedly tempted by Xu Shi's attempts to win him over.

But he only stayed at the level of being moved, and ultimately he was unable to take that step.

As for why, that's a bit difficult to say... It can be said that the family's long-term influence has made him develop a character that waits for the results before making a decision. To put it bluntly, he is a fence-sitter.

So, even though he was tempted and Pan Ling had a good talk with him, he ultimately couldn't make up his mind to take this step.

It always takes great courage for people to step out of their comfort zone, but unfortunately, he doesn't seem to have that courage.

Or rather, when he really wanted to take this step, it was already too late - under the surveillance of Han Jingchuan, he was forced to go to the Vatican, and when he met Xu Shi again, it was already a battle to the death.

"Feel sorry."

He suddenly felt a little guilty. He always felt that Xu Shi had been so honest with him and had saved his life, but he was always ambiguous. In comparison, he felt really ashamed.

"What is there to be sorry about? I understand."

Xu Shi smiled and signaled him not to say such things.

It is really understandable. In fact, the person who is very similar to Lu Baiyan is probably Qi Maoyang, the "imaginary number", or the father and son of the Qi family.

Those two were also indecisive. When he and Shen He started fighting, he also waited until the last minute to take down the "Shark Tooth" He family. To put it bluntly, it was like closing the fold after the horse has bolted.

It seems that their approach is completely different from Lu Baiyan's, but if you think about it carefully, their positions are also different - "Imaginary Number" is a neutral and independent individual, while Lu Baiyan is a member of the Vatican, and it is even more exaggerated to say that he is an enemy.

Therefore, it is understandable that he failed to break away from the Vatican and join himself.

Lu Baiyan was a little surprised that Boss Xu was so magnanimous.

Qin Yiyan, who was eavesdropping outside the door, was also surprised. It seemed that Xu Shi was really tolerant of them, the Vatican's fermented bean curds - being tolerant to himself could be considered as pretending, but being like that to everyone was not the same.

Is he so easy to talk to? I don't think so...

The scene of Xu Shi's public debate in the Vatican is still vivid in our minds. Who would believe you if you said he was an elegant and easy-going person?

Ok……

Having just had a long talk with Pan Ling, the silly red-haired girl intended to put aside her prejudices and take a closer look at this annoying guy.

And the other party's current behavior did make her a little shaken - this person seemed to be different from what she had imagined?

Lu Baiyan was even more grateful and stretched out his weak hand to shake hands with Boss Xu.

however.

Xu Shi did not do as he wished, but opened it.

"?"

Lu Baiyan was dumbfounded, his right hand hanging stiffly in the air.

"I understand that's my business, but I never said I wanted to make peace with you, right?"

Xu Shi's tone turned cold. "I gave you chances, more than once, but you didn't accept them."

"Now that I see the fall of the Church, I have made up my mind... I'm sorry, that's another price."

"……Too."

Lu Baiyan paused, then laughed at himself, "So what do you want to do, Brother Xu? Use my life to establish the authority of Her Majesty the Queen?"

This was not a sarcastic remark, but an ending that he subconsciously thought of.

After all, he has experienced too many things like this. The Vatican does this when it arrests people, and Cheng Gujian also does this when he eliminates political enemies. It is the simplest and most brutal method.

Find a surviving high-ranking figure of the Vatican and behead him in public to shock people and consolidate the current royal status.

“It’s not like no one has suggested this.”

Xu Shi was happy, and immediately picked up a few memorials from his hand, "I don't know how the news that you are not dead spread. So far, many people in the court have submitted memorials, hoping to use your head as a warning to others."

"Want to take a look?"

After saying that, without waiting for Lu Baiyan to refuse, he showed it to the other party.

Lu Baiyan's breathing stopped suddenly.

Because the authors of these memorials were all from the Lu family.

It makes sense when you think about it. Noble families often have problems at the same time. The collapse of the Holy See does not mean the end of the Lu family. Those who are loyal to the royal family will naturally not be affected.

And he naturally became an abandoned pawn - these people probably wanted him to die so that they could show their loyalty to Her Majesty the Queen and tell others that they were sacrificing their own relatives for the greater good.

"Good advice."

Mimiyan felt mixed emotions and finally gave this evaluation.

"You think so too?"

Xu Shi took back the memorial and said slowly, "But I have a problem. I don't like to accept other people's suggestions."

"And you might as well think about it. If I really wanted to kill you, why would I save you?"

"Then what do you mean?"

Lu Baiyan felt a little dizzy. It seemed that the other party wanted to protect him? But he didn't mean that before. This...

"I mean, you're still somewhat useful to me, and dying here isn't really worth it."

Xu Shi said calmly, "So I can give you a chance to redeem yourself, it depends on whether you are willing to accept it."

Qin Yiyan, who was outside the door, frowned as he heard this, feeling that there was something wrong with what he said...

Yes!

To be honest, Lu Baiyan is originally a member of the Holy See. Putting aside the issue of whether he is a winner or a loser, there seems to be nothing wrong with what he did before... Instead, Mimiyan is wavering between the Holy See and Xu Shi. Isn't it our Holy See that should be angry?

How come just because of a few words from you, he turned into a stubborn and ungrateful guy?

They even use the term 'atonement', but that's not appropriate at all, okay?

What she didn't know was that Xu Shi wouldn't think that way.

Whatever Boss Xu sets his eyes on, no matter if it is a person or an object, he must get it. If you don't want it after being given the opportunity, then it's your fault.

As for whether he was a traitor or not, reputation and honor, that was not something he considered.

But Lu Baiyan didn't seem to realize this. When he heard Xu Shi say this, he nodded without thinking, "I have already missed Brother Xu twice. If I refuse again, I will be really ungrateful."

Fortunately, the silly red-haired girl doesn’t have any weird hobbies, otherwise this sentence would have aroused so much imagination.

"That means you agreed?"

Xu Shi nodded slightly. "Well, let me be frank. I need your ability to help me with my next plan. Rest well, and we'll start when you're well."

"what's the plan?"

"You will know when the time comes."

"……it is good."

Lu Baiyan did not refute. Although Xu Shi's stiff tone made him uncomfortable, he had no reason to refuse now.

Qin Yiyan finally reacted and realized that Xu Shi was such a resourceful person!

It felt like he was coming for Lu Baiyan from the beginning, right? In comparison, I and Her Highness the Saint were just extras, or we were on his list of people to be cleared, but we stayed because the situation had changed.

So, if Lu Baiyan had chosen to change his job at the beginning, the treatment he would have received would definitely not be too low.

It's just that he didn't, which led to the current situation. Xu Shi gave orders casually, but Mimiyan had to listen, feeling like he was being ordered around by a servant.

But this is the worst part, okay?!

Logically speaking, in her opinion, Xu Shi's threat to Lu Baiyan would have no effect. After all, Lu Baiyan himself could say something like "Do you want to kill me as a sacrifice?" If he is not afraid of death, what else is there to be afraid of?