Chapter 439

“You’re planning to leave the Holy City…?”

As expected, Agnes couldn’t hide her bewilderment upon learning about our future plans.

“Yes. Staying in Alhebron like this would only waste time. Just like we destroyed the Dream Paradise Society in Holon, we plan to head to another city and purify it to gain support for our Church Order.”

“…Is that even possible? The only cities left are Nasiriya, Arbil, and Barseba… Except for Arbil, the other two are occupied by the Free Forces Legion. I doubt they’ll allow Lady Elmain to enter.”

That was indeed a problem.

The Free Forces Legion, fortifying cities as if preparing for war, had no reason to let me and Lacey, who were closer to enemies than allies, inside.

“Besides, even if we do enter, it won’t be easy to track down the enemy like we did with the Dream Paradise Society. With Lady Elmain and Sir Median closing in, what fool would dare strut around? They’d hide so thoroughly, not even a strand of hair would be visible.”

From Agnes’s perspective, it was a valid point.

Even street drug dealers stop their business and hide when the police crack down, so heretics would surely do the same.

Especially since this wasn’t just the police—it was more like bringing in a tank battalion.

If it were me, I’d either flee the city or stop everything and lie low.

Though it’s already too late.

“We’ve already prepared for that. I’ve sent my followers to infiltrate and investigate their movements. They’ll let us know where the enemies are hiding.”

Lacey responded calmly.

As she said, the Special Operations Unit, operating covertly in each city, had already deeply embedded themselves in the underworld.

They hadn’t uncovered the masterminds yet, but… it was only a matter of time. They were more competent than expected.

…And more loyal than I could have imagined.

Anyway, with the Special Operations Unit on our side, tracking the enemy’s traces shouldn’t be too difficult.

If any of them panic and move when they hear we’re coming, we’ll just follow them.

“As for entering the city… I’ll have to negotiate. They won’t welcome us, but since they’ve already turned three Church Orders against them, I doubt they’ll antagonize us and isolate themselves further.”

As usual, Lacey had a plan.

Well… when you think about it, who doesn’t have a plan?

Most people have some kind of plan, as long as their skull isn’t filled with noodles.

It’s just that success or failure depends on their abilities and luck.

Even my plans always sound good on paper.

It’s just that bad luck, mistakes, misjudgments, and coincidences always mess them up halfway.

—

After hearing Lacey’s entire plan, Agnes nodded in understanding and left.

She said she’d convince the stuffy priests of the Menes Church to join us and return.

It wouldn’t be easy, but she’d try.

Lacey seemed a bit uneasy but didn’t outright oppose it.

“Once I return to the Empire, she’ll become the Saint of the Holy Kingdom… It would be helpful to establish a friendly relationship with her now.”

“Well, it’s better to take her with us than leave her in the Holy City. I’m also concerned about the disappearance of Paulus’s body.”

The fact that he was the 2nd Apostle was shocking, but what followed was even more so.

Cutting off his head, dissecting him, and then his body disappearing… It sounded more like a conversation between organ traffickers than a Saint candidate.

Though the tone wasn’t important; the content was.

“Agnes thinks someone from the Church Order took it, but I’m not so sure…”

“Do you think Paulus might still be alive…?”

I nodded.

At first, I thought he might really be dead, but hearing his body had disappeared made me certain.

It took some time, but he probably resurrected and escaped the cathedral or something.

A 2nd Apostle, whose identity we couldn’t even uncover, wouldn’t just die before I could deal with him. My life doesn’t work out that well.

“Even Isabella, the priestess of the Evil God, had the power to resurrect multiple times. Even if he was ambushed, I doubt an Apostle of an Ancient God would die so easily. Right?”

“Indeed… that witch was annoyingly resilient. If it weren’t for Sir Median’s strategy to nullify her powers, we wouldn’t have been able to kill her.”

Though, technically, she’s not dead.

But she’s not exactly alive either.

Her soul is bound, and she’s being toyed with daily by Ophelia.

“Right. So, Paulus probably resurrected and is hiding somewhere. He won’t move openly, though.”

With his death announced, he can’t show his face in public.

A man whose head was cut off walking around unscathed? That’s not something you can explain without heresy.

That’s why he ran away quietly.

If he were caught by priests who aren’t his subordinates, it would cause a huge uproar.

“…Should we order the Sacred Order to search the Holy City?”

A search?

Hmm, isn’t that too risky?

“It’s dangerous and probably pointless. If Paulus is even half as strong as Isabella, he could easily take out a couple of Special Operations Unit members. He might have already left the Holy City.”

“True. He might have already left.”

Lacey nodded slightly, her lips parting as if she hadn’t considered that.

Normally, she would’ve thought of it immediately, but it seemed the shock had affected her.

Well, I already knew the 2nd Apostle was a former Cardinal, but for her, it was completely unexpected.

She was busy chasing Isabella’s minions, and suddenly an Apostle of an Ancient God pops up. It’s understandable she’d be flustered.

“Let’s focus on the task at hand. I get that you’re anxious about what he might do, but he’s not the only problem right now.”

I’m anxious too, but… I can’t put everything else on hold just to hunt him down.

It’s not the time to waste time searching for a guy who’s hiding.

—

Five days passed.

Our first destination was Nasiriya.

The first major city we visited, jointly ruled by the Keres and Grimnir Church Orders… now occupied solely by the Grimnir Church.

The Cardinals of the Holy Sun Alliance opposed Lacey’s expedition, but they couldn’t stop her from leaving to strengthen her faith through pilgrimage.

The Kranuus and Bimos Church Orders remained silent, while the Imela, Menes, and Aushrine Church Orders postponed their hearing schedules to support Lacey’s actions.

Stopping her would require preparing for civil war within the Holy City.

Still, they gave in too easily… There might be other reasons, but I couldn’t figure them out.

Bels and Liliez decided to stay in the Holy City.

They said there might be attempts to reinstate Drexler while Lacey was away.

“Nigel, Leonor. You two stay here and help Bels. Got it?”

It was a valid concern, so I left them behind.

Having only Bels alone made me uneasy.

With three masters, most problems could be handled while we were gone.

Leonor and Nigel seemed reluctant but nodded when I subtly gestured toward Damien and Milia.

Yeah, even you can see why I’d leave them behind instead of you.

Damien and Milia are strong, but their behavior is… let’s just say, not exactly trustworthy.

Like kids left by the water, you feel like they’ll cause trouble the moment you look away.

After finalizing the team heading to Nasiriya, we left the Holy City by carriage that night.

Agnes, who had stubbornly convinced the priests to join us, came along.

She was fully armed like a Paladin, wearing a dark blue robe, with a crescent-shaped shotel at her waist.

Her skills as a knight weren’t impressive, but as a Saint candidate, her holy power was on par with Lacey’s, so she could be considered a High-ranking Paladin.

Me, Rana, Damien, Milia, Lacey, and Agnes.

Only six people, but… wasn’t this comparable to an army?

“Hey, I’m here too…”

Oh right, Hersh, you’re here too.

It’s so dark I didn’t see you.

Now I get why stealth is your specialty.