Chapter 168 Holy Father

Stur came at a very opportune time, allowing Richard Lee to experience the distinct pleasure of a high-ranking ancient official confiscating a corrupt household. Over decades, these two figures of extraordinary wealth and influence had accumulated far too many fine things.

The various real estate holdings and fixed assets alone were dizzying. Stur had catered specifically to his preferences, having heard from somewhere that people of Chinese descent harbored a deep fondness for owning land.

Consequently, he smoothly transferred a diverse array of properties into Richard Lee's name for management, including a hunting ground in Texas, a ranch estate in Montana, and a private ski resort in Colorado.

Though called management, it effectively belonged to him entirely, yet the title of management lent a certain air of impartiality and integrity to the priest!

In addition, there were countless antique collections and masterpieces by renowned artists. Richard Lee reviewed the illustrated catalog alongside a detailed conversation, which helped him grasp the scale of it all.

"Young Mendez even commissioned a pure gold statue of his own father? How delightfully filial of him! Go on, melt it down immediately and use it as a year-end bonus!" Richard Lee gestured dismissively. Growing tired of looking through the latter pages, he closed the ledger and handed it to his subordinates to flip through at their leisure.

"Leaving tomorrow?" Richard Lee chatted idly with Stur.

"Yes, there is still an immense amount of work awaiting me. For the Saints, this is a day of destruction followed by rebirth; I must reforge a guiding doctrine and order upon this soil."

"Quite the ambition." Richard Lee let out a yawn, clearly lacking enthusiasm. "Go right ahead then. If anything comes up, speak with me or Olly. Also, let me send you a few tokens of appreciation."

Olivia approached carrying a suitcase, and Richard Lee gestured for her to open it.

Inside lay various scrolls, potions, and runes. He picked up a few of them. "Some of these I crafted myself. The user manuals are included inside—study them well, and you can also distribute them to your subordinates. I heard you lost quite a few people during the recent attack as well."

"Thank you for your generosity, sir!"

Stur was genuinely tempted by these mystical items.

Take the recent ambush, for instance. Had he not possessed a teleportation scroll, certain death would have been his absolute end. The one laughing upon the papal throne at the end certainly would not have been him.

"Whatever you say." Richard Lee offered a second yawn.

Stur wisely took his leave so as not to outstay his welcome.

Early the next morning, he departed by plane. The Saints currently required his oversight on too many matters, and his busy schedule had only been interrupted to visit his master so that he might firmly cement his own foundation.

The attitude Richard Lee displayed, coupled with his bestowals, filled Stur with immense confidence regarding their relationship. Having crossed into a new stage, he was now fully equipped to unleash his ambitions on a grand scale.

...

Several days passed.

Richard Lee was invited to New York this time to attend the inauguration ceremony of the Saints.

Stur had nominated three bishops to succeed the vacant positions. Naturally, they were all trusted confidants cultivated by Stur himself. He had initially consulted Richard Lee regarding the matter, but Richard Lee had declined.

Richard Lee felt that becoming a bishop lacked a certain flavor; having a group of young women constantly surrounding you and calling you "Daddy" was far more comfortable, wasn't it?

However, Stur's clever mind was actively working behind the scenes.

Having seized absolute power to become the paramount figure, how could he possibly allow his master to serve merely as a background element? Since Richard Lee refused to be a bishop, he was simply elevated directly—transforming from Father to Holy Father.

Strictly speaking, within Catholicism, that title was reserved for the Pope, but since they were the Saints, things were naturally different. Richard Lee had also become the first "Holy Father" in a century.

Although he possessed no administrative authority as a bishop—nor did he have any need for it—the status and prestige of this title reigned supreme over the bishops!

The Messiah, revered as the Son of God in the eyes of the Saints, had always addressed Richard Lee simply as "Father." He had never used that address for anyone else, making the interpretive justification entirely reasonable and logical.

Stur had truly put a great deal of thought into pleasing him.

In truth, Richard Lee cared very little for such minutiae.

Naturally, since it had been arranged, there was no reason to refuse.

Besides, the turnout for the event was quite substantial, encompassing lords of the Congress as well as numerous tycoons of New York—this time around, Stur had undeniably pulled off a magnificent comeback!

Not long ago in New York, he had been constrained at every turn, with the upper crust completely ignoring him, forcing him to flee to the South to forge an alliance with Trump.

Yet the tides of fortune inevitably turn. Young Mendez and Gardner, who had stirred up trouble behind the scenes, had one thrown into prison and the other fled in fear of punishment. The network of connections designed to blockade Stur had instantly collapsed!

At a time like this, who would still fraternize with a disgraced prisoner or a wanted criminal?

Everyone knew by now that Stur was firmly at the helm of the Saints; those antagonistic toward him were either dead, perished, or currently dropping soap in a prison shower!

When this so-called collective ostracism lost its core instigators, the fragile alliance naturally crumbled and dissolved in the face of a united front of Saints!

The elite plutocrats seemed collectively afflicted with amnesia, completely oblivious to their previous indifference, replacing it instead with enthusiastic hospitality!

One of the motives behind Richard Lee's decision to attend was to witness the expressions of these weather-vane opportunists, and incidentally, to learn a bit of Machiavellian realpolitik from them as wealthy men!

"Just how thick does one's skin have to be to pull this off? A few months ago, they were probably mocking how shameless Stur was and refusing to play with him, yet now they scurry over to fawn on him faster than anyone else. It's hilarious!"

Inside his car, Richard Lee bantered about the "grandsons" he spoke of. Riding in the same vehicle, the newly appointed Eastern Bishop, Hardy Brown, played the role of the appreciative stooge, punctuated by bursts of laughter.

They were currently en route to the New York estate. The inauguration gala was scheduled for the afternoon, followed by a banquet in the evening. Stur was currently occupied with pressing matters, but he had specifically dispatched a bishop to personally receive his master.

Brown was a man in his forties whose mindset was far from rigid and kept pace with the times. Naturally, the two men found plenty of common ground to discuss, ranging from the billionaires of the Upper East Side to the congressional lords' fine tradition of patronizing prostitutes, conversing at great length.

Richard Lee had always known politicians were filthy, but he had never imagined they could be so utterly devoid of a moral bottom line—sharing mistresses had even become a trend within their circles. It was certainly an eye-opener... Amidst such banter and laughter, they arrived at the New York estate.

The last time he had visited was during his days of masquerading as a charlatan playing supernatural tricks.

This time, the treatment accorded to him differed vastly from before: the finest rooms, the most supreme deference, and even his accompanying entourage were treated with distinction.

After a brief rest, the inauguration ceremony of the Saints was about to commence. Attended upon by nuns, Richard Lee donned the ceremonial vestments of the Saints: a white damask robe with an embroidered collar scarf, a golden chasuble paired with a hexagram armband, and a gem-studded cross necklace suspended from his neck.

This grand and flamboyant attire was worn by Richard Lee for the very first time. As he appeared flanked by nuns, everyone he encountered along the way respectfully addressed him as "Holy Father," elevating the sense of reverence to new heights.

He exchanged mutual greetings with the high-ranking figures of the Saints he met along the way. Within the organization, Richard Lee's identity and background were legendary, with rumors circulating that his miraculous nature stemmed directly from the blessing of the Holy Spirit.

This made it all the easier to explain the Messiah's respect toward him, and no one was more fitting for the title of Holy Father than he. Right up until he stepped into the main hall, he remained the center of all attention.

Lifting his chin slightly and gazing straight ahead, Richard Lee walked down the central aisle amidst the focused gazes of the crowd, arriving at the front row to take his seat. The heavyweights of the Saints seated there rose one after another to greet him.

He also noticed that the guest seating area on the other side was packed with secular figures, including billionaires, congressmen, and even caught sight of Elena, attired in a formal and elegant dress, attending as a representative of her father.

At that moment, Elena's gaze was likewise fixed upon Richard Lee. Sensing it, he turned his head and met her eyes, noting that she had come alone, a faint smile curving the corners of his lips.

Seeing her sitting there with such poise and elegance, Richard Lee found his thoughts drifting toward unruly scenarios.

After all, as a Cao Cao of questionable emotional morality, he could never shake his habit of harboring a fondness for another man's wife. Alas!

Yet given the solemnity of the present occasion, Richard Lee had no inclination for wild daydreams. With a polite, subtle nod in her direction, he settled back into his seat.