Radal Valentine, a cardinal bishop of the
He wore a black robe embroidered with storm symbols. His face was thick with beard, his hair was short and bristly, its color a deep blue bordering on pure black.
This robust demigod cast his gaze to the other side and spoke to the figure waiting there: "Kramic, do you know what's going on? Why did Anthony suddenly ask us to come here?"
The person he spoke to wore a white pastor's robe and a soft clerical cap. He had a kind face and a gentle expression. This was Kramic Hayton, a member of the Holy Synod of the
Hearing Radal's question, Kramic responded calmly: "I haven't been here much longer than you. In fact, I only left my lab a few minutes ago."
He was not only a clergyman but also a renowned scientist, an honorary professor of physics at Backlund University.
Radal Valentine was about to say something more when he suddenly saw a figure climbing the narrow winding staircase in the darkness, a place the crimson moonlight couldn't reach.
This figure wore a black-and-red clerical robe. Five emblems of the Dark were pinned to the chest. His face was clean-shaven, his eyes deep and calm. He was none other than one of the thirteen archbishops of the
"Can't your matter wait until daybreak? Or does your Church of the Goddess of the Night prefer to conduct business at night?" Radal Valentine, the "Deep Blue Bishop," was the first to speak.
Anthony finished climbing the stairs, stopped there, and said with a serious expression: "It's a very urgent matter."
"What matter?" Radal pressed.
At this moment, Kramic Hayton also turned his gaze to Anthony Stevenson, awaiting his answer.
Kramic particularly enjoyed having a member of the Church of the Lord of Storms present on such occasions, knowing they would ask questions bluntly and without hesitation, sparing him the need to say anything.
Anthony looked at each of them and said:
"It's related to the royal family. Let Lady
As soon as he spoke, a female figure quickly took form from the shadows beside them. She wore a simple robe, a bark belt, was barefoot, and had her hair down.
As soon as they saw this being, Radal and Kramic immediately bowed: "Good evening, Lady Arianna."
Their expressions simultaneously turned serious, and they gained a profound understanding of the importance and criticality of tonight's matter: If an Angel that walks on Earth steps forward personally, it could not be a trivial matter!
At the same time, they couldn't help but be somewhat shaken, realizing they had no idea when the abbess of the Night Monastery, the Servant of Concealment, Lady Arianna, had arrived in Backlund.
— Under normal circumstances, there was a certain tacit understanding between the three great churches, the royal family, and the military: that Angels on earth and Grade 0 Sealed Artifacts would not appear in Backlund.
"Good evening, two archbishops." Arianna returned the greeting without any arrogance.
She then raised her right hand and gently grasped the air.
A faint glimmer blossomed, conjuring scenes in the darkness. It was the entire process of the conversation between Arianna and
This secret, which seemed to have been kept for a long time, was finally revealed before others.
Watching this, Radal Valentine, the "Deep Blue Bishop," couldn't help but say: "He has already advanced to Sequence 4 and become a Saint."
This archbishop knew Qonas Kilgor. He had originally thought this deputy director of the Military Intelligence Bureau 9 was only Sequence 5, relying on a
— The Church of the Lord of Storms had more influence over the military than the other two great churches.
No one answered Radal. When the secret had been fully revealed, Kramic spoke: "A secret ruin involving the 'Blood Emperor,' and a large population sent inside. The combination of these two things is definitely not a good omen, no matter how you look at it."
"Indeed!" Radal agreed. "Let's head to those ruins right now!"
Arianna looked around and said calmly: "This involves the royal family and the King. It's best you first seek the approval of your respective Holy Sees."
In this angel's context, "Holy See" referred to the Curia, meaning the central authority of the church.
"Alright." The two archbishops agreed without a moment's hesitation.
After a while, having received their feedback, Radal Valentine, the "Deep Blue Bishop," and Kramic Hayton, each carrying a Sealed Artifact, went with Anthony Stevenson and Arianna to the very place where Qonas Kilgor had previously entered the "Blood Emperor" ruins.
Arianna then took out an iron-black emblem engraved with complex symbols, held it in her hand, and tried to activate it.
She made no attempt at disguise, simply standing there openly, as if she didn't worry at all about being recognized by the guards within the ruins.