Qin Siyang didn't know much about the Zephyr Church.
The last time he heard about them was when he saw a group of blonde-haired, blue-eyed people, dressed in mourning clothes, holding a funeral for him.
'It seems to be one of the top five religious groups within the safe zone.'
'Being in the top five doesn't sound particularly impressive.'
Moreover, religious groups weren't as influential as other organizations; they were somewhat niche. So, even as one of the top five, their influence remained limited.
'The Zephyr Church is probably ranked fourth or fifth.'
However, the Zephyr Church had its own unique advantage.
Among the top five religious groups, it was the only one that could operate openly.
The other four groups—if any members were discovered, would either be thrown into police or administrative prisons. If they held high-ranking positions within their Church, they might even be executed outright.
In other words, the government regarded them all as cults.
And this wasn't just the government's stance.
The military, the business guilds, and the universities all opposed the other four major religious groups.
The reason was simple.
Most of these religious teachings were problematic.
For example, the one considered the strongest among them, the "Extinction Church."
Just from the name alone, Extinction, it was clear this wasn't any normal religious group.
And in reality, that was indeed the case.
The Extinction Church's core belief was that Earth had already reached its apocalypse.
The gods, angered by humanity's sins, had sent divine punishment to bring about its annihilation.
As humans, they believed people should not resist divine punishment.
On the contrary, they should accept it willingly, embracing the end of the world.
The Extinction Church advocated for the destruction of the safe zones, offering themselves as sacrifices to the gods, completely erasing the sinful existence of humankind.
With such an anti-human doctrine, it was naturally impossible for other organizations to accept them.
Every single believer of the Extinction Church wanted to destroy the entire safe zone.
Life was precious.
It was easy to imagine that the Extinction Church didn't have many followers.
But those who did join were all incredibly dangerous.
They had once committed the atrocity of massacring an entire district of people with just five members.
Apart from the Extinction Church, the Samsara Church was also extremely powerful.
But they, too, were not a normal religious group.
The Samsara Church's teachings were similar to those of the Extinction Church, believing that humanity had committed too many sins and should end its existence.
However, they believed that death was not the end.
All Samsara Church followers would reincarnate and be reborn in a perfect world.
A beautiful world, free of apocalypse, where they could truly live.
The Extinction Church and the Samsara Church were merely two representatives among many abnormal religious groups.
When the apocalypse arrived, many ill-intentioned people used the name of gods to further their own selfish goals at the cost of others' lives.
The government cracked down on them ruthlessly.
Among all these twisted religious groups, the Zephyr Church was the mildest one.
The Zephyr Church believed that the apocalypse was a trial and test from the gods.
By overcoming this test, humanity would have a brighter future.
If they failed, there was no need to worry. Because the gods would help humanity pass the trial.
In summary, the future was bound to be better.
At the very least, the followers of the Zephyr Church had a positive and proactive attitude toward survival.
They were also relatively peaceful.
After the apocalypse, many things became unexplainable.
People's previous understanding of the world collapsed overnight.
Even the newly emerged mutated creatures were officially acknowledged and referred to as 'gods'.
Many who had lost their faith sought solace in religion.
The existence of religious groups was unavoidable.
After discussions among various factions, the Zephyr Church was officially accepted as the only recognized religious group.
Thus, the Zephyr Church became the largest religious organization allowed to operate publicly.
It was also the only religious group allowed to sit at the negotiation table of the Crimson Crystal Conference.
Qin Siyang had considered the possibility of offending certain religious groups.
Obtaining the Vine Core and the Crimson Crystal would undoubtedly make the safe zone more secure.
It wouldn't be surprising if the Extinction Church or the Samsara Church sent people to assassinate him.
But he hadn't expected that the first group to cause trouble for him would be the Zephyr Church.
Wen Shu used the phrase 'cause trouble'.
At best, it meant kidnapping and extortion.
At worst, it meant murder.
This made Qin Siyang's heart sink instantly.
Since the Crimson Crystal Conference had yet to start, Qin Siyang immediately made another trip to the Administration Bureau to discuss the matter with Li Tianming and Qian Wenzhao.
Li Tianming and Qian Wenzhao were eating dinner together in the office when Qin Siyang pushed the door open.
"Hmm? Weren't you having dinner with Zhao Sifang and the others? Why are you back?"
"I finished eating. There's something I need your advice on."
"What is it?"
"The Zephyr Church wants to kill me."
"What?"
Both Qian Wenzhao and Li Tianming put down their chopsticks.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah. I'm sure."
"Then what do you plan to do?"
"Regardless of anything else, the first step is to kick the Zephyr Church out of the Crimson Crystal negotiations. I can't make the childish mistake of aiding the enemy."
Li Tianming frowned and thought for a moment, "The Zephyr Church wants to harm you? But I just spoke with them, and we got along quite well. What's their motive?"
Qian Wenzhao also chimed in, "This is their first chance to have a say in the Crimson Crystal. They should be sucking up to you, not trying to kill you."
"Who the hell knows. But I have to kick them out!"
Qian Wenzhao shook his head, "Xiao Qin, I think we should think this through carefully. I just can't figure out their reason for wanting to kill you."
"I agree," Li Tianming nodded, "We don't know much about the church. But from what I see, the Zephyr Church is a big organization, and their people probably aren't all on the same page. The ones who want to harm you and the ones who want to negotiate are likely two different groups."
Seeing that Li Tianming and Qian Wenzhao weren't fully on board with his idea of completely shutting out the Zephyr Church, Qin Siyang asked,
"Then, Old Li, Old Qian, what do you think we should do?"
"Talk to them."
"How?"
Li Tianming looked at Qian Wenzhao, "Old Qian, I haven't been in the core of the safe zone for two years. My intel is outdated. Do you know much about the Zephyr Church?"
Qian Wenzhao grinned, "Trying to test me, huh? I've been stuck at the outskirts of the safe zone even longer than you. You're asking me?"
"Either you know, or you don't. I didn't ask how you know."
"I do know, actually."
Qian Wenzhao didn't bother hiding anything, "I've heard some things about them. Their highest authority is the 'Holy Son,' but it seems like he doesn't handle day-to-day affairs. Below him are three 'Protectors.' These three are the real decision-makers of the Zephyr Church. Everything is decided among them."
Qin Siyang said, "Then, let's summon the Holy Son and the three Protectors to the Administration Bureau and have a proper talk."
"At the Administration Bureau?"
Qin Siyang leaned back in his chair, "Where else? A kindergarten? If they're not afraid of danger, I sure as hell am. In the Administration Bureau, everyone will feel safe."
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