The true reason for Zhou Tian's performance was twofold: firstly, these Pope Level characters were used to solving problems with their strength. When suddenly asked to think about certain issues for themselves, they most likely feel uncomfortable. Secondly, they didn't understand players well enough. Without knowing the details about their enemy, the players, their thinking naturally couldn't be as comprehensive as Zhou Tian, the transmigrator's.
So, given their intelligence, these Pope Level characters might not be as adept at dealing with players as Zhou Tian, but it didn't necessarily mean they were ignorant of Zhou Tian's plots.
Don't be fooled by the Pope Level characters' poor performance in front of Zhou Tian. If they were truly that weak, they wouldn't hold their current status and positions. When they put on such a display in front of Zhou Tian, they were not only trying to win his favor but also masking their true abilities.