13 Mink Street

Delius fell silent for a long time because of that answer.

Byrne glanced at the clock again. Time was up. He reached out and tapped the desk twice. “Your time for shock is over.”

After a pause, Byrne continued, “Or rather, the time for which you are allowed to outwardly express your shock is already over.”

Delius licked his somewhat cracked lips, drew a deep breath, and said, “Didn’t you say that when someone becomes the Pontiff, they must enter the Herald’s Domain and be infused with the insights and memories of all previous Pontiffs? That I would no longer be myself? Then what about the Pontiff?”

“You thought that would be instilled is absolute loyalty to Pamireth, yet the reality is that what is instilled is absolute loyalty to Order.”

Delius fell silent.

Byrne folded his hands and smiled. “I already told you, Order infiltrated the Church of Pamireth far earlier than you imagined. Long ago, the first infiltrator to successfully reach the top of the Church of Pamireth managed to already alter the legacy ritual within the Herald’s Domain, so for all these years, although quite a few people who were not arranged by our Church of Order became Pontiff, as soon as they completed the infusion in the Herald’s Domain, they then... hehe, became ours.”

“How... how is that possible?”

“There is nothing impossible about it. The spatial forging techniques held by the Church of Pamireth are simply too important to us. We cannot allow the Church of Pamireth and the Herald’s Domain to fall into the hands of any other orthodox church.”

When Order turns its gaze upon a mid-sized church, it is only natural that the smaller church cannot resist. If it could, that would be abnormal.

“I can tell you one more thing; The first successful infiltrator relied on the opportunity created by Light’s fall. At that time, the Church of Pamireth was firmly in Light’s camp, just as their true god, Pamireth, ultimately turned to the God of Light’s side and won the final divine war.

“Because the Church of Light perished, the Church of Pamireth suffered a severe blow at that same time. Originally, there should have been at least two or three Elder guards inside the Herald’s Domain, but during that period, the Elders from the Herald’s Domain had all been dragged into Light’s final struggle and perished.

“Now, there should only be one elder left inside the Herald’s Domain. You should know him.”

“That elder... has always been asleep.”

“Yes. Do you know why he sleeps? He was a true genius, someone who condensed a godhead shard of Pamireth within his body. But when he became Pontiff, he also underwent the infusion. He should be deeply conflicted, and in great pain. For him, being awake is essentially torture, so he chooses to sleep as a way to remove himself from it.”

“So in Order’s eyes, what exactly is the Church of Pamireth?”

Byrne looked at his son and shook his head somewhat helplessly. “I can only understand that question as the result of your emotions being so disordered that you asked something as idiotic as that.”

As he spoke, Byrne rose from his seat, stepped out from behind the desk, and came to stand before Delius. “In the world of the churches, only the great churches retain some measure of autonomy, yet even then they are constrained in many ways. As for the mid-sized churches beneath them, and those smaller still, their existence is nothing more than a kind of ornamentation, like grass in a forest, that keeps the towering trees from seeming too barren.

“On the surface, everything appears beautiful. Even the grass seems to drink the rain and bask in the sunlight. But in truth, every blade of grass around each great tree was decided long ago. When the tree requires it, it can strip them of all their nourishment in an instant. That lush growth you saw before, that swaying in the wind, you took it for freedom, for something fresh? It was nothing more than a sliver of light filtering through the branches, falling upon them by chance. And you mistook that for dignity?”

Byrne reached out and pinched his son’s chin. “This is the second time you’ve said something that sounded quite stupid. I do not want there to be a third. Otherwise, I will discuss with your grandfather whether you should still be chosen as the next Pontiff of the Church of Pamireth.”

“You could have told me all of this in advance!”

“But then you would have lost your chance to be tempered and to grow. Imagine it; In a foreign environment, you were different from all of the rest. You had to hide yourself, conceal yourself, in order to have any chance of surviving. That kind of tempering is something others could only beg for.

“Most importantly, that transformation of faith within yourself, that agonizing choice, that suffocating despair, those countless nights of questioning yourself and roaring at your own soul in fury, that, too, is an excellent kind of shaping.

“If I had told you everything beforehand, none of that would have existed. That was an opportunity that no amount of credits could ever buy.”

“You... you wanted me to change my faith?” Delius suddenly realized something. During his more than twenty years within the Church of Pamireth, for the first ten years, he had always remained steadfast in his original self, loyal in faith to Order, but as his status had continued to rise and he began entering the Pontiff’s field of vision, it had been that kind and magnanimous old man who had returned to Delius the warmth he had lost and unfolded before him the true scenery of the Church of Pamireth.

It was he who had made Delius fall in love with Pamireth. It was he who had led the young man out of painful derangement. It was he who made Delius determined to become the Divine Progeny of the Church of Pamireth, severing himself from who he had once been.

And yet, that man was also his grandfather... Most importantly of all, the father before him seemed to have always possessed a precise grasp of Delius’s inner world.

“Yes,” Byrne nodded and admitted it. “For a very long time, our church walked the old road of Light.”

The Bishop began pacing before his son. “What Light liked was that once everything gathered around it, all of it would grow dim, leaving only Light’s own brilliance to bloom. That was also the reason Light perished. In order to preserve its own eternal radiance, it bore too heavy a price and took on too great a risk. Compared to all that, the benefits gained by the Church of Light were hardly worth mentioning.

“The road Order wishes to take now is not annexation, not fusion. As long as everything exists under the operating rules of Order, then it may continue to exist. For the past nearly two hundred years, the weakening of the Church of Pamireth has been very obvious. As a result, the success rate, and even the capability itself, of forging high-rank spatial holy relics has declined significantly.

“Order does not wish to receive only an empty shell, or a vast warehouse stuffed with books and notes. The result of that kind of annexation would be that our church would then have to spend its own energy cultivating another Church of Pamireth from scratch... The cost of that is simply too great, and the outcome might still be poor.

“So, the Church of Order hopes to see a Church of Pamireth that develops in a healthy way. We will no longer stifle or restrain the development of Pamireth’s upper ranks. We only need to control one or two points and ensure that the Church of Pamireth will never stray from Order.”

Byrne bent down and looked closely at his son. “That is why we raised you this way. You will not betray Order, yet you also appreciate the scenery Pamireth has shown you. That is very good. I believe that, under your leadership, the Church of Pamireth should be able to halt its decline and restore some of its former glory. And you no longer need to struggle, or suffer, or even choose, do you?

“Just as Pamireth once said, ‘Though I hold the letter in my hand, what I enjoy is the scenery along the road of delivery.’”

“Do I have any other choice?” Delius asked in return.

“No.”

“Then fine. I choose to accept.”

“Yes. That is the feeling my work ought to present. Keep it up.”

“When will you remove the shackles on me?”

“You mean the ones on you now, or the ones for the future? The current ones I can have someone remove at once. The ones for the future, I am sorry, but you will wear those for the rest of your life.

“After this matter is over, your grandfather, that is, the Pontiff, will arrange a political marriage for you. Your child, my grandson or granddaughter, will take over my position in the Church of Order.”

Hearing this arrangement, Delius looked at his father and asked, “I want to know, when you faced that choice back then, what did it feel like?”

“Do you mean when my father left me, or when I left my son?”

“Either.”

“I have cried, raged, felt wronged, felt numb; Every emotion you can imagine, and those you cannot yet imagine, I have experienced them all. In the end, I came to understand. Perhaps this is the fate of our family. From now on, we are destined to stand with one foot on the side of Order, and one foot on the side of Pamireth. Bishop, Pontiff, these are indeed positions of the highest esteem. If seen from another angle, do you really think that this is suffering? I think that this is the outcome that every father, every grandfather, every elder would wish for their descendants.”

“Really?”

At that question, Byrne spread his arms and burst into laughter. “Hahaha, of course. After all, what elder would willingly give up the position of Pontiff, or Bishop, cast aside everything, just to give their descendants, to give him, this so-called warmth of family, this so-called freedom in life?”

***

The Church Affairs Building of the Church of Reincarnation was located in the Narag District, which was in the southwestern part of York City.

It was an old-style building, and while it covered a large area, it was not tall. If compared to the Church of Order’s previous Church Affairs Building on Sycamore Street, the two were not even in the same league. Everywhere the eye looked would see a dense patchwork of shoddy plank structures and a sprawling slum.

In fact, this area had not originally been a part of York City at all. It had once been a settlement of Chassets, but as the city had kept expanding, it had absorbed into the city as well. By that time, however, it had gradually developed into a gathering place for the bankrupt and destitute.

Several administrations of York City had failed to produce any suitable plan to renovate the area, and for that purpose they had listed many reasons that sounded perfectly reasonable whenever election season came around. However, a former mayor once said, while drunk at a dinner, that a city is like a house, it always needs a toilet.

“The Church Affairs Building of the Church of Reincarnation is really low-key,” Karon said as he looked at the building across the street.

“They like this kind of place. They like the numb and desperate people here, because people like that already despair of their present lives and are more willing to believe that their next life might offer them a better chance. It fits the church’s doctrine, and it suits their development of believers.”

“This is also a case of each taking what they need, of mutual calling,” Karon said. “At the very least, it adds some hope to their lives.”

Nio nodded. “Mhmm, that’s true, but it also makes people more mentally listless and decadent because of it.”

“Captain, do you have a very bad impression of the Church of Reincarnation?”

“Of all the orthodox churches, it’s the one I despise the most. Probably because people like me, even if we don’t know why we’re still alive, will keep going anyway, instead of lying down and accepting our fate, waiting for our next life. If you can’t figure out how to live in this life, what makes you think you’ll suddenly understand it in the next?” Nio reached back, picked up a bottle of red wine, and took a swig straight from it. “If I just keep trying to live well, maybe one day I’ll find a reason to live, right?”

“Yes, Captain. I think that no matter when, as long as you live seriously and give it your all, you can’t go wrong.”

“If you don’t drink, there are beverages in the back. Go get one yourself.”

“Captain, doesn’t this car need to be returned?”

“Our mission is merely paused, not ended. This car still counts as mission equipment for now. It’s fine.”

“Oh, I see.”

“If nothing unexpected happens, we’ll continue the security detail in a few days. It’s just that the next round of negotiations should be much faster. Maybe half a day- no, probably just a formality to sign the papers, and it’ll be over.”

“That’s good. We can still get the mission reward.”

Nio patted the steering wheel. “I’ve always wanted to make a copy of one. With this thing, a lot of matters become much easier.”

“That’s true.”

“During previous missions, I’ve already managed to figure out its internal structure. Everything else is manageable, so the only problem is that the ritual array components inside are rather expensive.”

“Once the profits from short-selling come out, Captain, you’ll have the credits to make one.”

“Mhmm, and that’s exactly what I plan to do.”

At that moment, Nio looked across the road. A group of people wearing priest’s robes printed with ritual array runes gradually appeared. They walked while chanting softly. If one could look down from the sky, one would see similar people everywhere around the Church Affairs Building.

Nio shook his head somewhat helplessly and started the car, turning and driving farther away. “The Church Affairs Building is about to be sealed with the Throne of Order array. That means, so long as nothing unexpected happens, we won’t get a chance to profit from the chaos again.”

That same ritual array had once appeared above a small church on Mink Street, solely in an attempt to seal one person. Yet ultimately, because of a single sentence from that person, the array had been withdrawn of its own accord.

After parking the car, Nio glanced at a tall building beside them and asked, “Have you learned Black Mist Passage?”

“I have,” Karon replied.

“When did you learn it?”

“I’ve been studying and practicing it whenever I have time these past days. It felt difficult, but I’ve managed to get some results.”

“Oh. Then I’ll go up first.” Nio’s body turned into a mass of black mist and drifted toward the top of the high-rise.

Karon picked up the sword case containing the Aelius Sword, and his body likewise turned into a mass of black mist as he floated upward. When Karon landed on the rooftop, he was not steady on his feet, and he instinctively braced himself with one hand on the rooftop.

Nio, standing at the edge of the roof, turned back to glance at Karon. “Looks like you really did just learn it.”

“Yes. I’m still a little unfamiliar with it.” Karon carried the sword case over to Nio’s side, set it at his feet, and then stood up beside the captain to stare at the Church Affairs Building of the Church of Reincarnation across from them.

Nio took out half a pair of binoculars. Seeing that, Karon took out the other half from his own pocket. The two stood side by side and peered through them together.

“Captain, are we only targeting this Church Affairs Building?”

“Mhmm. Veyn isn’t part of the Church of Reincarnation’s traditional territory, so their presence here was never very strong to begin with. Once this Church Affairs Building is sealed, they won’t be able to stir up anything.

“What really matters is the progress on the main front. We’ve deployed three mobile Knight Regiments as a base, and Veyn’s own Third Knight Regiment is also moving out. Conservatively speaking, at least two more Order Knight regiments from other regions should be mobilizing as well, which means at least six Order Knight regiments are already being moved to the battlefield through the Herald’s Domain. Half of our church’s war strength is already committed, and this is a surprise attack, taking three of the Church of Reincarnation’s holy lands in a short time shouldn’t be a problem.”

“So we won’t wipe them out completely?”

“I don’t think so. The longer a war drags on, the more time the other churches are given to react. What we want to avoid is allowing the other churches to secretly back Reincarnation. If things come to that, the cost won’t be worth it for us.

“The purpose of a surprise attack is to achieve the greatest possible results in the shortest time, and at the lowest cost. We want to cripple the Church of Reincarnation, forcing them to sue for peace, and then take the rest of the benefits at the negotiating table. That’s how you maximize the return.”

“I understand. The idea is to kill one chicken to frighten the other monkeys, teaching them fear, but not letting them feel such grief and unease that they start to think that they might be next and unite together.”

“Hmm. That sounds a bit awkward, but it’s very accurate. All right, it’s about to begin. Next, there’s something I need you to do with me.”

“What is it, Captain?”

“Come, let’s pray together that this sealing process before us goes smoothly, that absolutely nothing unexpected happens, not even the slightest accident. May the great God of Order bless us. Praise Order!”

“Praise Order!” Karon echoed.

A gigantic black throne appeared in the sky, accompanied by an immeasurable wave of majestic pressure.

It began to descend. During its fall, a red light screen emerged around the Church Affairs Building of the Church of Reincarnation. It was the building’s defensive ritual array, but it was instantly crushed by the throne.

At last, the entire Church Affairs Building was enveloped beneath the chair, its four legs touching the ground.

Boom!

***

Boom!

A gigantic blue gate descended onto the southern end of Maimar Island. The surrounding seawater began to recede, exposing the sand and stone beneath.

Crack... crack... crack... An army emanating a grim aura, clad uniformly in black armor, marched out of the blue gate in perfectly ordered steps.

Roar!!! A winged black panther flew out from above the blue gate. A young man sat astride it. He was the youngest Knight Regiment commander in the history of the Church of Order: Barlow, commander of the Seventh Knight Regiment.

A woman appeared at his side. She was Elder Sithe. Yet strangely, an Elder of such exalted status and habitual arrogance chose to stand level with Barlow. “Commander Barlow, ahead of us lies Maimar Island. It is said to be the birthplace of the God of Reincarnation, and it is now one of the core holy lands of the Church of Reincarnation.”

“Is that so? I see.” The young commander urged the black panther beneath him forward, surging to the front of the formation. He drew his longsword, raised it high, and shouted, “We are the Awakened of the Abyss, we are the defenders of supreme Order. We are the strongest shield before the God of Order, and the sharpest spear beneath His will.

“Reincarnation has challenged Order, now it is our turn to answer in Order’s name. The island before you is the birthplace of the God of Reincarnation.” He paused, then raised his sword even higher. “Now, I order you... shove him back where he belongs!”