Chapter 275: Papal State
"It seems like something is troubling you!"
Li Meng followed Lili's gaze towards Kain and Marina by the ship's railing below.
The name Kain was definitely an alias.
Judging by his face, Kain clearly differed greatly from the humans of this world.
Black hair was not uncommon in this world.
But those with black pupils were extremely rare.
However, Kain had made some disguises, making his pupils appear dark brown.
A team of one man and four women—if no emotional issues arose, that would be strange.
For ordinary adventurers, romantic relationships weren't so complicated.
After all, most adventurers fought dangerous monsters simply to make a living.
Only a small number of exceptional individuals traveled the continent with an adventurous spirit.
For adventurers who lived on the edge of life and death, they had no energy to maintain relationships.
As long as they didn't hate each other, they would fulfill each other's physical needs.
Romantic entanglements were very normal among adventurers.
Adventurer teams rarely lasted long.
When one member died in battle, the team would often dissolve.
The death of a teammate made it difficult to keep the team together.
Newcomers also found it hard to integrate into an established group.
Only when adventurers reached a certain age and desired a peaceful life did they retire.
They would remove their gear and live in the countryside or a bustling town with someone they loved.
Of course, the hero team before them was no ordinary adventurer party.
The emotions among them were bound to be more complex.
In some matters, men and women shared the same mindset.
And that was possessiveness in love.
The stronger and higher-status a woman was, the higher her expectations for her partner.
In an ordinary adventurer team, harems might exist.
This was because weaker women naturally relied on stronger individuals.
They were often in a lower position in romantic relationships.
But Lili and the others were different.
They were not only geniuses of their generation but also came from powerful family backgrounds.
Human society in this world was somewhat similar to medieval Western Europe on Earth.
Almost all countries practiced monogamy.
Though nobles often had many lovers and illegitimate children.
However, lovers and concubines were two very different things.
A concubine, no matter how low their status, still had a place in the family.
Lovers, on the other hand, were complete outsiders.
Lili's face turned slightly red as she lowered her head shyly.
"Um... Is it that obvious?"
Seeing the slightly embarrassed Lili, Li Meng smiled.
Transmigrators were a very special group in this world.
They were either heroes or divine children.
Women worshiping the strong was an instinct ingrained in their bones.
Educated transmigrators also had decent social skills.
Attracting a woman's attention came naturally.
After spending a long time together, it was perfectly normal for a young girl like Lili to fall for Kain.
"Lili, love isn't something you wait for. If you don't want to lose, take the initiative!"
Take the initiative?
Lili looked at the two by the railing, hesitating to speak.
She took a deep breath and brushed a strand of hair from her forehead.
Lili turned back to look at the man beside her, Silver Mask.
"Mr. Silver Mask, you must have been good at charming girls when you were young, right?"
"Uh... Oh no, you found me out!"
Lili burst into laughter at Li Meng's joke.
She laughed, but Li Meng didn't.
Lili's words reminded Li Meng of some past events on Earth.
As a man, he had been quite a failure in matters of love on Earth.
That failure had made him give up on romantic pursuits.
Love was indeed beautiful.
But it could not withstand temptation.
After all, humans were inherently fickle creatures.
On the ship's deck, Lili's laughter drew the attention of Kain and Marina.
Both looked over.
No one knew what Silver Mask had said to make Lili laugh so happily.
Time passed quickly, day after day.
The long journey wasn't exactly boring.
At night, Auriana accompanied him.
Li Meng hadn't invited her; she had come on her own.
Out of fear of him, the Enzos couple behaved overly cautiously.
Sometimes Li Meng wished they would act more naturally.
But he knew that saying too much would often have the opposite effect.
So Li Meng chose neither to initiate nor to refuse.
Eight days after leaving Obenlo City, they finally arrived at the Papal State.
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Southern Continent.
The Papal State.
The Papal State was both a nation and a city.
The entire Papal State had only one city.
That city was known as the "Papal City."
Outside Papal City, the Papal State had no other territories.
All human believers in the Southern Continent were considered subjects of the Papal State.
As a city centered on religion, the Papal State was extraordinarily magnificent.
It was built by the lakeside, nestled among the Glenn Highlands.
Looking towards Sunset Lake, one could see a pure white city.
The entire city was built from white granite.
Beyond the city walls, religious-style houses stretched in orderly yet chaotic rows.
Enormous cathedral complexes occupied nearly one-third of the city's area.
At the center of the city stood a towering structure nearly 500 meters high.
That was the Papal Tower, the central hub of the Papal State.
Looking at the sky above Papal City, dozens of floating ships came and went.
At almost every moment, floating ships were taking off or landing.
The skyport on the city walls was crowded with large and small floating ships.
As the center of human faith and the holy land of Crystal Followers, Papal City remained sunny and prosperous today.
"What are you doing? I'm a legal merchant from the Dragon Kingdom! You can't do this!"
A commotion broke out on the deck of a floating ship docked at the northern skyport.
A squad of Temple Knights stormed onto the deck.
Facing the sword-wielding, aggressive Temple Knights, the fat merchant panicked.
He thought he'd be free once he reached the Papal State.
He hadn't expected to be targeted by the Temple Knights.
How had they discovered him?
"It's them. Interrogate them thoroughly. If we're mistaken, let them go!"
Kain stepped forward and spoke a few words to the leading Temple Knight captain.
The captain saluted Kain with a hand over his chest.
Then he drew his sword.
He signaled to his men.
The Temple Knights immediately surrounded the fat merchant and his guards.
"I am Captain Giru of the Temple Knights. You are suspected of illegal human trafficking. Please come with us. If guilty, you will face the harshest punishment. If innocent, you will be set free. Should you resist, we have the authority to execute you on the spot!"
The fat merchant panicked, reaching for his sword but stopping himself.
Fighting here would only give the Temple Knights an excuse to kill him immediately.
There was still a slim chance if he submitted.
After all, he was only a buyer, not part of the slave-trading network.
Even if guilty, it shouldn't warrant a death sentence.