The reflections of the stars swayed gently in the water, echoing the stars in the sky, making it impossible to distinguish between the sky and the ground.

Beside the lake, Lan Qi and Sigrid didn't mind that it was almost midnight, nor did they care what day it was tomorrow; they were still chatting freely.

"Huh? Didn't you want to avoid being too closely associated with the Revival Church?"

Sigrid looked at Lan Qi in surprise.

After all, her Holy Child was completely different from the Holy Sons and Daughters of the other Cardinals. He didn't seem interested in the position of Cardinal at all, and was simply working hard with her on their business.

"Although... I think if you could become Pope one day, it would definitely be better than the other Cardinals becoming Pope."

Lan Qi replied, his eyes full of agreement.

"And seeing as you really want to be a hegemonic Pope, I'll definitely help you."

"..."

Sigrid's deep purple eyes looked into Lan Qi's eyes. Lan Qi didn't flinch, and the two remained silent for a while.

"...Since you've said that, then I'll work hard to become Pope and give you the greatest protection."

Sigrid said slowly, her tone not at all like one would use when making a grand declaration, but more like a promise.

"You only need to unlock the seal to protect me, you don't necessarily have to be Pope."

Lan Qi felt like Sigrid had just made a momentous decision, so he said that.

She suddenly raised her challenge goal, and the challenge goal and one's own ability are the main factors affecting one's own state. If the challenge goal is too high, it will produce anxiety or frustration; conversely, if the challenge goal is too low, it will feel boring and lose interest.

Only in a state where the challenge goal and one's own ability are balanced can one enter the optimal state of complete immersion.

As an educator, Lan Qi knew this well.

He and Sigrid both belonged to the type who liked to lower their own challenge goals as much as possible, preferring to become casual and Buddhist rather than generate anxiety.

Lan Qi hoped that Sigrid could live comfortably and happily, without pressure.

However, Sigrid shook her head, seeming to feel that Lan Qi had misunderstood her meaning.

"Do you know? If I get stronger, the Papal Authority will become a divine object for me."

Sigrid asked with a serious expression.

"What's it for?"

Lan Qi frowned, feeling like Sigrid had become much more serious.

"Maybe it can become an opportunity for me to break through to become a Ninth Order."

Sigrid said to Lan Qi.

"So what?"

Lan Qi asked again.

An Eighth Order Sigrid and a Ninth Order Sigrid were both invincible to him, it just meant she could beat the power level measurement units faster.

"That means I will become the strongest woman in this world."

Sigrid said domineeringly and confidently.

"Oh!"

Just as Lan Qi's lips parted, realizing something, Sigrid raised her finger and pointed it at Lan Qi's brow.

"You're not allowed to think impolite things."

"..."

Lan Qi hadn't even said anything yet, but Sigrid had already choked him back, so he could only close his mouth.

"But..."

Sigrid continued, her soft voice drawing out for a long time.

"But what?"

Lan Qi looked at her in confusion.

She just smiled, without continuing, leaving Lan Qi to guess what she wanted to say.

"..."

Boss Cat raised its head and looked at the two of them, its mood quite complicated.

Hearing Lan Qi clearly say that he didn't want to be a Cardinal, its suspended heart finally relaxed.

However, hearing Lan Qi say that he was willing to continue helping Sigrid, it felt ominous again.

It didn't want to be a cat held by the Pope!

That would be terrible!!

But... why... did it feel like these two were...

No, no, it was definitely not a Lan-Xi supporter!

"No matter what the future holds, we still have to win tomorrow first."

Lan Qi stopped playing charades with Sigrid, and murmured, looking at the surface of the lake.

"No matter if you win or lose tomorrow, I believe in you."

Sigrid also looked at the lake surface and said.

"The more I hear these words, the more dangerous they become."

Lan Qi frowned slightly.

"Why?"

Sigrid didn't know what was dangerous about her words.

"Sid, you should have read a lot of storybooks, right? Generally, before danger comes, the more some words are said, the harder they are to realize."

Lan Qi gesticulated as he explained.

"..."

Sigrid seemed to understand a little, then pursed the corners of her mouth, suppressing a smile, and stared at Lan Qi.

"I still don't quite understand, can you give me an example?"

Sigrid blinked her eyes and asked.

"Well, there should be similar scenes in the Holy War Chronicles."

Lan Qi sighed.

"For example, at this time, I suddenly say something out of the blue, like let's go on a date after everything is over tomorrow. Generally, something will happen after saying such a line. Would you feel very scared?"

Lan Qi picked the least dangerous line as an example.

"No, I would be very happy, and think that my Holy Child is really amazing, actually daring to ask a Bishop on a date. And then agree to go on a date with you."

Sigrid replied, her eyes full of approval.

After saying that, she seemed unable to hold back her sly smile, and chuckled twice.

"...Did you deliberately trick me into saying that line just now?"

Lan Qi looked at Sigrid in confusion, he always felt like Sigrid was fishing.

"This is the reward for having a high affinity. If the affinity is not high enough, you will only be glared at by me."

Sigrid explained to Lan Qi in a serious manner, her eyes seeming to tell him that he had always asked her with disdain before, what was the use of having a high affinity, and now she was showing him.

"Why hasn't this game ended yet?"

Lan Qi was stunned. He and Sigrid had been playing this game ever since they set off for the northern part of the Protoss Empire.

He originally thought that Sigrid was already tired of playing, and hadn't mentioned it to him for a long time, but Sigrid brought it up again.

"Because I am Sid now, a Fifth Order Sid. If you don't turn me back into an Eighth Order, I can only be Sid."

Sigrid swayed her upper body from side to side, looking playful, not at all like a Cardinal.

Lan Qi heard this, smiled and glanced at her. It seemed that she was not afraid at all, even though after dawn, it would be a vital test of life and death for her.

Then Lan Qi looked at the starry sky again.

Maybe a lot of things will happen tomorrow, and it is also possible that looking at tonight's night sky is one less look. Of course, it is also possible that when reviewing today many years later, it will be found to be a very good day.

Lan Qi is always optimistic and will not worry about things tomorrow and beyond.

Now, the most important thing is only the present.

What needs to be known right now is—

His journey to the Northern Continent should come to an end.

——

ps: Tomorrow, the final chapter of the Northern Continent opens, fathers, please give me monthly tickets!

Currently added/total owed chapters: 36/36

Discharged from the hospital!

(End of this chapter)