In the second-floor sitting room of his villa, Baron Austin — now changed into a set of pajamas — held a glass of red wine and listened intently to the Nightingale's sweet, captivating voice.
During the national mourning period, he felt too ashamed to visit his mistress, so he could only pass the time with the "Voice of Mysteries." Moreover, this channel offered all sorts of interesting programs that were sometimes even more entertaining than fooling around with his mistress. In the Holm Kingdom, apart from the most conservative nobles and the faithful, tuning into this forbidden arcane radio station was considered extremely fashionable. Among the progressive nobles in particular, gatherings were never without this topic of conversation — anyone who didn't listen risked falling behind and being subtly excluded from the circle.
"...Starting today, our program will undergo a certain degree of reform. Listeners will next hear 'The Holm Observer,' hosted by yours truly, keeping you informed of the kingdom's major events in the shortest time possible."
"...Listeners will already know that our beloved, respected Prince Patrick fell into such deep grief after His Majesty King Feltes's passing that he followed him in death. But what were the exact circumstances and details? This program will lead you to uncover the truth behind it all."
Austin had been lounging casually against the back of the sofa, but after hearing the program's introduction, he slowly straightened up, his expression growing increasingly grave.
"The Holm Observer's" investigation into this matter was still in the stage of speculation based on appearances and positions rather than hard evidence. Occasionally, witnesses of dubious origin were interviewed to attest that Prince Patrick had been in relatively good health during those days. Though the Nightingale never stated it outright, her words — both spoken and unspoken — hinted that the Church disliked the prince's pro-magic, pro-alchemy industry stance, making it easy for listeners to logically deduce the Church's true hand in his assassination.
Austin drew a sharp breath. He recalled what the progressive members of the Noble Assembly had relayed, and the more he thought about it, the more suspicious it seemed. Just a week ago, the prince had hosted a progressive gathering and was in his usual state of health with no obvious deterioration. His relationship with His Majesty the King had been terrible — how could he possibly have died of grief?
"They even dare to assassinate the crown prince..." Austin set his wine glass down on the table and rose to his feet, pacing back and forth.
As he turned his back to the window, two figures suddenly burst through it and swiftly subdued him — a man whose martial prowess was only at the level of a formal knight.
"Who are you? How dare you attack a noble — a Night Watchman!" Austin spotted the black gloves worn by the two men. "You dare arrest a noble outright? You're tearing up the covenant between the Church and the nobility!"
Juliana flew in through the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at Austin with cold detachment. "The Church has grown too weak. Only we can uphold the Lord's glory."
"You're trying to split the nobility from the Church, weaken its power, and prevent the Lord's glory from spreading?" Austin was no fool; in an instant he realized he had encountered one of those fanatically zealous, extreme Night Watchmen of legend. So instead of defiantly declaring he would appeal to the Noble Court or to the Supreme Religious Tribunal in the Holy City of Lans, he framed everything in terms of weakening the Church's strength and hindering the defense of the Lord's glory.
"The Lord's power is infinite. His failure to stop you is merely a test for us. If even purging a noble like you — one who has tilted toward the mages — provokes backlash from the Holm aristocracy, then it means they have all fallen beyond salvation, and royal authority must bow at the Lord's feet." Juliana harbored an innate hatred toward mages. She coldly extended her hand and pressed it against Austin's forehead. "Go to Hell and repent!"
"How dare you..." Holy light blazed. Austin's head was pierced clean through. All the blood evaporated instantly, leaving the carpet unsoiled.
Juliana rested her gloved left hand over her right and said, "Prepare a full account of why we dealt with him and what crimes he committed. Submit it to the Tribunal for forwarding to the Noble Assembly."
"We are openly carrying out the Lord's will — this is our duty, and we will not skulk in the shadows."
"Understood!" the other Night Watchmen answered in unison.
…………
Inside the Holm Royal Arcane Tower, Lucian offered Natasha a final word of caution. "Be careful with Saer de. I can't tell what he's really after."
"If he truly has been influenced by the secrets of the Necromantic Realm, just as the Pope and the saints of the Northern Church were back then, then perhaps his goal is to split these five major dioceses away from the Church and make himself Pope..." Natasha, still uncertain of her own position, couldn't tell whether this speculation was good or bad.
Lucian shook his head. "Don't be too quick to draw parallels with the past. Saer de is deeply calculating — he may not do that. After all, the Southern Church cannot survive yet another schism. And he's only been in office for a little over two months; he probably hasn't even won over the Cardinal of the Holm Diocese yet. What would he use to orchestrate a split, let alone contend with the other dioceses guarded by Holy Spirit Priests? So whatever you do, don't let his short-term behavior deceive you."
Natasha said softly, "In any case, I'll carefully probe his intentions. And you should be careful too — you're one of the easiest targets among the highest-ranked powerhouses in the Purification Sequence."
"Don't worry. I have the Ring of Congers on me." Lucian glanced at the iron ring on his left hand.
Because his left hand nullified supernatural powers, he had moved all the Holm Crown Rings to his right hand, leaving only this legendary ring on his left — the one unaffected by the limitation.
"Oh, how impressive, a legendary artifact!" Natasha said with feigned indignation. "Once I've sorted out my own heart, strengthened my knightly resolve, and risen to rank eight, I'll have one too! And when I bring the Shield of Truth over as well, I'll have the strongest defense and the strongest offense in a single person. You'll be green with envy — ha!"
She didn't want Lucian to end the call in a somber mood, so she finished on an optimistic, joking note.
…………
Dawn had barely begun to break when Duke Rex, Speaker of the Noble Assembly, flew to the Cathedral of Radiance with a grim expression on his face.