American variety show world begins with subduing Jason

Chapter 513 Prelude 2

The rebuke was harsh and jarring, quite unpleasant to hear, especially for the usually dignified archdeacon.

His breathing became slightly heavier, but he continued to deliver the information with a calm expression.

"According to information gathered by numerous devout informants, a large number of powerful families in the upper echelons of the Federation have already made arrangements and are preparing to hold a secret meeting on Christmas Day to discuss how to further unite. The highlight of the meeting will be to taste the blessings of the Holy Grail together..."

"Blasphemy! Utter blasphemy!" The middle-aged man who had spoken earlier suddenly stood up and angrily slammed his fist on the long table in front of him.

"Their greedy attempt to plunder the Lord's holy relics, especially on the holy day of Christ's birth, is a double blasphemy! Are those heretics just going to stand by and watch?"

Once again abruptly interrupted, Johnson's eye muscles twitched slightly, as if a butterfly were about to take flight. He instinctively wanted to make a few excuses for his side's failed negotiations, but then he realized what he was doing and swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

Those who attended the meeting today were all powerful figures who had secretly come from the Holy City. What was the significance of him, a mere vice bishop?

Roderick gently raised his hand to soothe his aggrieved subordinate, his aged eyes deep and insightful, and he sighed with a worldly wisdom:

"Dean Clement, you and your devout followers have been living in seclusion in the mountains of Eastern Europe, never involved in worldly affairs, so you may not know much about this."

The Protestant factions, after all, have been so deeply intertwined with this country since the founding of the Federation that they are now inseparable…

"But didn't they join us last time in severely punishing those vile sinners?" The middle-aged man frowned as his simple, almost shabby monk robes swayed.

"It was precisely because they were so deeply tied to this country that they were able to stand with us last time;"

For the same reason, they will not allow our proposal this time, and will subject the relevant federal officials to the flames of judgment.

Roderick spoke softly, offering a simple and clear reason:

“If someone in the family makes a mistake, it is helpful to show your authority appropriately to establish your status. But if you are impartial and want to kick all the people who make mistakes out, then the family will be dead in name only.”

He concluded succinctly:

"To put it in the most vulgar way—there were too many people this time, so the law doesn't punish everyone."

Having said so much in one go had taken a considerable toll on the body of an elderly man in his eighties. The old bishop curled up wearily in his soft chair, watching his colleagues from the Holy City who had come to help him quickly and quietly discuss among themselves. He then pondered over a few more words and kept them to himself.

Even setting aside the potential for unrest, the Protestant faction would absolutely not allow the Holy City to coerce the Federation's upper echelons; otherwise, it would be impossible to know who would be in charge of this nation in the future.

And then... Roderick watched coldly as the indignation went a little too far, feeling only helplessness.

Even if one is now devoted to seclusion, surely one shouldn't be so ignorant of worldly affairs? The performance is overdone.

I don't believe the Holy City's central command would mobilize so many troops to send you here. We have no such intention!

Perhaps due to excessive energy expenditure, he suddenly felt a headache, and his aged fingers pressed against his temples, slowly rubbing them.

With the resurgence of elemental tides and the expansion of extraordinary powers from all sides, everyone's ulterior motives are multiplying...

While an individual clergy member may have no desires other than faith, how can an organization avoid being entangled in conflicts of interest?

Fortunately, the current situation is relatively stable. If a sudden and powerful crisis were to occur, it would be difficult to maintain the same level of close cooperation as before.

The initial plan seemed to have gone awry, and after the old bishop pointed it out, no one insisted on their own opinion and immediately and pragmatically settled for a less desirable option.

"Then let's follow the backup plan and avoid any open conflict. Let's secretly retrieve the sacred object on the same day."

Roderick nodded slightly, his expression relaxing a bit. "Actually, the Evangelical Fellowship and the Presbyterian Church also made the same suggestion, and they will join forces at that time."

Looking at the faces filled with piety and fervent excitement, he changed the subject and couldn't help but add a reminder:

"But we still need to be cautious and meticulous in execution. The extraordinary forces that those guys recruited may not seem like much on their own, but when combined, they are still quite troublesome. We must be well prepared."

"Please rest assured." The responses received were all similar, with confident voices in unison:

There will absolutely be no problem.

The people at the gathering gradually dispersed, leaving only the old bishop resting with his hand on his forehead.

However, from beginning to end, no one mentioned what the Catholic and Protestant churches should do after obtaining the Holy Grail.

"What are you going to do about it?"

As the holy light flickered, Aunt Eileen quietly appeared in her seat. Unlike the headquarters staff who were eager to make a name for themselves, the two were both natives stationed in the New World and shared a tacit understanding.

"Invite more friends. With outsiders there to mediate, the chances of a fight breaking out in person are much smaller," Roderick said with a deep, bitter smile.

Suddenly, he raised his eyebrows slightly, as if listening intently, as if he had received some information. The sorrow on his face was suddenly lessened.

"Hehe, just as we were talking, our friends arrived. They also seemed to have something to visit."

……

……

With its upturned eaves, painted beams and carved pillars, the Oriental-style hotel banquet hall is bustling with activity as you look through the clear glass doors.

Two rows of large red lanterns made of bamboo and fine silk hang high at the gate, like fiery red flowers blooming in the night, dyeing the street with a warm and mysterious glow. Against the backdrop of many holly wreaths and candy cane models, they create a unique and interesting haphazard feel.

However, this trendy combination failed to attract much attention from passersby.

They kept looking up at the sky with a look of utter dismay, their expressions showing little anger but rather a mixture of amusement and bewilderment.

“Holy Mary, this is 100 times more outrageous than pineapple pizza…” An elderly woman with a heavy Italian accent clutched her chest, looking as if she were about to collapse.

The culprit that triggered her grief and anger was floating swaying in the sky, its nylon rope beneath her feet taut in the breeze.

A wide robe with dragon patterns and a hundred blessings replaced the bulky red coat, a red hat with pom-poms was replaced by an old-fashioned hairstyle, a huge Santa Claus balloon smiled broadly, and cheerful music flew from his mouth and spread all over the world.

“I mean… dressing up Saint Nicholas like this makes people think He has changed his allegiance, doesn’t that seem a bit impolite?”

Squatting on the smooth marble steps in front of the door, Zhu Mingyao teased, holding a lifelike lion-shaped pastry.

"It's nothing..." Bai Ziyuan waved his hand dismissively, his sly eyes moving in parallel with the pretty ladies coming and going, not even blinking.

"Anyway, everyone has known for 100 years that we yellow-skinned people are faithless."

"Use foreign things for Chinese purposes, but let us be the masters! If you're not happy, let's have a fistfight!"

"You seem to be in a bad mood." Reddish-brown sugar powder dripped from Zhu Mingyao's lips as he chewed the pastry.

"You've already made plans to spend the night with a girl, but you're suddenly dragged into hosting a holiday dinner party. Wouldn't you be annoyed too?"

Bai Ziyuan scratched his head with a sullen face, "What exactly did you secretly report to the leaders the day before yesterday that made them suddenly go to church and disappear for days?"

"It's nothing, just some information exchange. I heard that Uncle Lai and his group went to help someone out today to earn a favor and then came back."

Zhu Mingyao simply laughed off his friend's question, but his gaze drifted eastward with a mysterious allure, as if he had traveled thousands of kilometers to see the city that never sleeps under the cover of night.

—New York.

Chapter 514 Beginning

As dusk settles, crowds surge forth.

Compared to their parents, millennials often exhibit a unique rebellious streak characteristic of adolescence, and the old tradition of families gathering around the fireplace to celebrate Christmas Eve can no longer satisfy their restless hearts.

The damp, cold winds blowing from the Atlantic Ocean couldn't extinguish the young people's enthusiasm for having fun; their fiery passion nearly overwhelmed all the bars, clubs, and cinemas in the city.

At this moment, even New York, with its vast area of ​​over a thousand square kilometers, seemed crowded.

Compared to these popular entertainment venues, those in the upper class have more suitable places to hold private and elegant gatherings.

...especially today.

Heading straight north along the road out of town, the patterned neighborhoods along the Hudson River gradually thin out and eventually disappear into the darkness of night.

Large swathes of robust white oaks and cedars slowly filled the field of vision. Abundant moisture condensed into wisps of white mist in the low temperature, lingering among the trees and emitting a faint, mysterious power that caused stray visitors to inadvertently keep their distance.

At the end of the winding driveway beneath dense foliage lies a quiet, ancient manor built of gray-blue stone bricks.

The dark, ornate iron gate was tightly shut, with occasional traces of rust, reddish-brown like mud, on the edges. Combined with the yellowed and withered flowerbeds and the gloomy windows in the courtyard, it seemed to tell a story of desolation, as if the place had been uninhabited for a long time.

However, beneath the surface of desolation lies a bustling and lively atmosphere amidst bright lights.

The vast underground space was brightly lit, and beautiful or handsome waiters moved about among the crowd. Gentlemen and ladies in elegant attire sat around tables conversing, their demeanor dignified and exuding refined elegance.

With glasses clinking and laughter filling the air, men and women, dressed in fine clothes, sat elegantly in their private seats, savoring the exquisite wines. Delicious dishes, enough to bankrupt the middle class ten times over, were served in a continuous stream and then cleared away in the same manner.

Stepping to the exciting drumbeats with a strong exotic flavor, the performers spun and leaped rapidly, their agile bodies displaying unimaginable resilience and grace.

Soft, hazy beams of light enveloped the stage, giving the dancers' smooth, dark skin a glossy sheen, making them appear even more vibrant and enticing the audience to join in.

"Feels pretty good." A dignified-looking elderly gentleman tilted his head slightly, his loose under-eye bags jiggling. "Did you have it treated with a 'safety treatment'?"

With a humble yet unobtrusive smile, the young and beautiful waitress swayed her slender waist and skillfully stepped forward, bending down to reveal a glimpse of snow-white skin through the open collar of her fitted uniform.

"Please rest assured, as before, the pearly red spots behind the ears indicate that a minimally invasive surgery has been performed, combined with mental magic to sever specific nerve bundles, permanently eliminating any resistance. Would you like to be taken to your room now?"

A look of satisfaction appeared on his noble and refined face. He took out a deep blue gemstone from his pocket and casually slipped it into the snow-white crevice.

"Let's wait a little while, until we've finished tonight's 'main course' and regained our energy." The old gentleman regretfully pinched the slightly withered muscles on his thigh, thinking that in a moment, they might be fully restored and robust, and a long-lost youthful impulse quietly sprouted.

Feeling a slightly cool touch brush against her skin, the maid's smile became even more genuine.

“She is a top dancer in that African country that has just fallen from power, and she has an eighth-grade daughter... who is also in our warehouse.”

"Your service is excellent. Please bring it over together later."

Beneath the elegant atmosphere of impeccably dressed people, such conversations are like undercurrents, stirring up putrid sludge that flows everywhere.

At this moment, the light of worldly morality, laws, faith, and precepts cannot reach this place, because the people attending the gathering have enough confidence to back it up.

Behind them is a modern armed force of over 200 million, built with the most cutting-edge technology;

It consists of 12 carrier strike groups that roam the seven seas and thousands of fighter jets;

It has more than 800 military bases around the world;

It is a nuclear arsenal capable of wiping out all life on the Earth's surface;

They are financial giants and multinational conglomerates that control more than 60% of the world's total economic output;

It is the control of major resources that, with the slightest move, can directly cause the collapse of international trade and set society back decades...

Perhaps, as individuals, these elites of high society cannot compare to extraordinary powers who directly wield violence. But when they unite, they represent, to some extent, the most powerful empire in human history. Even a powerful organization like the Papacy dares not easily punish them.

"Distinguished guests, good evening. I hope you enjoy this little 'appetizer' at the beginning."

The rhythmic footsteps approached, the whispers abruptly ceased, and a stocky middle-aged man stepped into the center of the hall with a gentle, husky voice.

"Congressman Frank... I should now address you as Mr. Deputy Director of the Special Investigations Bureau. Let's get down to business as soon as possible, since everyone's time is very valuable."

Further discussion is needed on how to build closer relationships to protect the interests of our friends.