New Gods of North America

Honestly, Wayne didn't feel like he was standing in a completely antagonistic position with those high-ranking clergymen like George Berg, who were suspected of heresy.

The simplest reason is that Wayne is neither an insider of the church, nor does he currently have any so-called "own people" who could fill any potential vacancies.

Without hatred or sufficient benefit, Wayne has no reason to bring people down for no reason, which is a thankless task.

Not to mention a "state" like Virginia, even the previous Black Rock "Town."

Unless outsiders come to carry out a major cleansing, even if two or three town mayors are replaced, it is estimated that the first letter of the new mayor's surname will not escape the few families represented by the word "Wichita".

Of course,

the higher you go, the greater the possibility of drastic changes. Even if it is still the "same group" of people, it may not be the "same family".

But the situation in the American Federation is roughly like this. It is easy to bring people down, but if no one takes over, it can easily become a situation where one suffers without gaining any benefit or becomes a scapegoat.

Therefore, without a structural conflict of "you die or I live," Wayne felt that the other party should also be able to understand him.

Why should working stiffs make things difficult for each other?

With this in mind, after Wayne returned to the George Berg Church, he began to chat privately with the priests in order from "largest to smallest."

Then Wayne quickly discovered that he seemed to be a bit naively out of touch.

The priests' attitudes were too "consistent" and too "easy to talk to."

Originally, it was normal for groups to have consistent attitudes after colluding in private.

But for everyone to become particularly "easy to talk to" seemed very wrong.

For example, if a group of high-ranking and clean big shots are suddenly called to suspend their duties and cooperate with an investigation, and the time is dragged on for quite a while, and the questioning is repeated again and again,

even if they don't "refuse to cooperate," at least they will be "impatient," right?

Even if not everyone has an opinion, at least one or two of them will always have emotions, right?

How could everyone's attitude be so good?

Especially when facing Wayne, their attitude was so good that it had a hint of condescension, responding to every sentence and explaining everything.

Even when Tom Hagen personally went to question them, he didn't receive this treatment.

Others might not feel that something was wrong, but Wayne was too familiar with this kind of behavior.

It was exactly the same as when he was coaxing those criminals who had been sentenced to death.

The underlying logic was that everyone had nothing to talk about and only hoped that the other party would not cause trouble for themselves before being sent to the gallows.

This was not just an ordinary "offense," it was more like a "silence" before confirming the action.

Wayne originally wanted to have a "good chat" with the priests.

After feeling their attitude, he didn't reveal the new situation and chose to contact them all first.

Then Wayne pondered alone for a while, and then went back to the Tyrrell priest of the Exorcist Association.

From the perspective of "forming factions," this old priest, who was qualified to be a candidate for the position of bishop, was also considered an "outsider" relative to the local priests, and his position might be closer to Wayne's.

At the same time, his status was high enough and the power under his command was not weak, and one person could be as good as several, making him a more worthy candidate to win over.

This old fox initially had the appearance of a worldly merchant who valued harmony for wealth, and was still saying some high-sounding platitudes.

After probing for a while without getting any useful information, Wayne began to "bait":

"Priest Tyrrell, do you remember Mr. Weisman, whom I suggested you investigate before?

Today, his identity has been exposed and confirmed as a heretic of the Church of Light, and it is said that he may even be a Light Priest who has undergone 'baptism'."

Priest Tyrrell, this old fox, was halfway through his platitudes when he heard the new information Wayne said.

He seemed very surprised, and the rest of the words he hadn't finished became an "Huh?"

Wayne continued to sort out his thoughts, both speaking to Priest Tyrrell and checking for omissions, trying to recall how he had offended these priests:

"To be honest, the reason I started targeting that manor was because I got the clue from Mr. Weisman while investigating Cohen Pharmaceuticals.

"Now there are indeed statues of evil gods in Priest Pacier's manor, and Mr. Weisman himself is a member of a heretical organization.

Logically speaking, even if there are heretics among the priests who attended the banquet, it is impossible for all of them to be heretics, otherwise the reason he gave this clue would be too strange.

"I guess he is likely trying to provoke infighting in the church.

At least Priest Tyrrell, in my eyes, your suspicion is the lowest."

The routines of many things are actually similar. The first step in negotiating with robbers is to state your position: "I don't regard you as an enemy."

Priest Tyrrell digested the new information, and his expression seemed to enter a state of thought, and soon became a look that Wayne couldn't quite understand.

In fact, Wayne often couldn't understand Bishop Corleone, but Bishop Corleone was a high-ranking figure who was unfathomable and didn't want to be understood.

And Priest Tyrrell's "unintelligibility" seemed even more special.

From a temperament point of view, it was closer to "when the other party's words and deeds are so slow that you can't be sure whether he is serious or acting sarcastically."

Therefore, Wayne could only continue to "bait":

"When the exorcists and Mr. Weisman broke out in battle tonight, I was on the scene, and was even his target at one point.

"In this sense, being able to force out a heretical believer who had successfully hidden his identity and seemed to have a high status can initially prove that I have nothing to do with the Church of Light.

"Conversely, if anyone tries to target me at this time, the suspicion that the other party is secretly colluding with the Light Heresy will increase.

In the words of Bishop Corleone, in the current situation, speculation is fact."

After putting out the "big stick" of bluffing, Wayne also hung up the "carrot":

"Priest Tyrrell, I remember that I once told you privately in advance that Mr. Weisman might have problems.

But unfortunately, you don't seem to have arranged for anyone to seriously investigate him.

For you, this might have been a considerable contribution."

The second step in negotiating with robbers is to analyze the pros and cons: "We may have a better solution."

The expression on Priest Tyrrell's face became a little uncertain, "...I need to carefully consider before making a decision."

"Understood." Wayne nodded beside him, his expression was a fake smile, but he still had to give the other party a step down.

The scene was a little awkward for a while, and the two people in the room tacitly chatted about other topics.

During this process, Wayne quickly recalled his wording, confirming that he should have given all the information he should have given, without saying anything wrong or saying any clear "lies."

Just like Wayne initially sold out Mr. Weisman, he was actually just thinking about diverting the disaster to the east, but who made Wayne guess correctly?

This did not delay him from playing the role of "good person" and "prophet" afterwards.

According to Wayne's self-examination, he hadn't been in Virginia for long, and the detective agency's business wasn't too big.

The point that he could most offend the local priests might be on the level that he was "closer to the cathedral."

To dismantle other people's gangs, you have to find a bigger contradiction in them.

Wayne thought about it, and only Priest Tyrrell and Priest Bazzini had participated in that "small meeting," and seemed to have "the qualifications to compete for the position of bishop," which was a relatively bigger contradiction.

The "dispute over establishing an heir" should at least kick each other a few feet under the table, even if they don't beat each other to a pulp, right?

As for why he picked Priest Tyrrell first,

it was because Priest Bazzini was both a local tyrant and obviously more shrewd, and the cathedral seemed to dislike him more.

Wayne felt that the risk of being sold by Priest Bazzini was too high.

Choosing a temporary teammate between these two, Wayne actually had no choice at all.

After confirming that he hadn't made any mistakes yet, Wayne then turned back to the topic and began to "reveal his true intentions":

"Priest Tyrrell, in many things, I am actually one of your potential supporters.

So in the process of investigating the Light Heresy, I very much hope to get your guidance and help.

Can you provide me with any useful clues?"

After speaking, Wayne's gaze seemed to cross the walls and look towards Priest Bazzini's office in the church.

Some things can only be hinted at. If you really say them, it will become a "handle."

Priest Tyrrell didn't know what he was hesitating about, and put on a posture of "needing to consider," seeming to want to send Wayne away before going to discuss it with someone.

Wayne could only sigh, and then threw out the most critical "juicy part":

"Okay. Actually, about that manor, I have another clue that I have never revealed to anyone before.

The two peripheral members of the Exorcist Association who invaded the detective agency before once stayed in that manor.

"I won't reveal that you were the one who took those two guys away in the end, but this is the only suspicious clue I have in my hand now.

Since you still need to consider it, then I can only take it to Priest Bazzini for questioning."

This move actually has a gambling element. It is both gambling on how big the cat in the bag was behind the previous incident, and gambling on the value of the detective agency in Priest Tyrrell's eyes.

It is also gambling on the degree of trust between the two priests. Anyway, I have "information" about you in my hand, as for what kind of dish can be made, it depends on what kind of chef the other party is in Priest Tyrrell's mind.

If these two highest-ranking priests have no grudges and cooperate seamlessly, then Wayne doesn't need to struggle anymore.

In the future, he will honestly follow the cathedral and consciously be alienated or bullied by these priests.

Fortunately, Priest Tyrrell finally raised his hand before Wayne walked out of the room,

Although his expression was still hesitant, he finally spoke, "Wait a minute."

That's right,

how can there be no competition between candidates?

These days, even in presidential elections, both sides have to spray each other in the newspapers for months without using dirty words in advance.

Wayne walked back to the sofa with a dark joy and had just sat down when he nodded to Priest Tyrrell and promised "not to pursue some small misunderstandings between each other" the next second,

and his heart was directly "fucked" by what Priest Tyrrell said.

It was still the kind that was rummaging through boxes and cabinets and smashing plates in the brain.

"You said you arranged for someone to sneak into the detective agency tonight, planning to put some contraband related to other heretics in it?!

You even arranged for people to lead the exorcists over?!"

This old fox looks harmless,

but when he takes action, he plays really dirty.

Thanks to reader "Book Friend 20240305121823492" for rewarding the alliance leader.

Although I'm thinking about adding more updates for the alliance leader, I have a bit too much debt this month, so I can only do it slowly...

The temporary plan is to try to update more every day.

If there are too many words, I will also appropriately merge the chapters.