Chapter 615 Arrangement
“Turns out they’ve already sent people over to Tivyán? That’s great news.”
On top of the church in the lake, Gaspare listened to Vania’s words and showed a hint of joy between his brows. He then continued to speak.
“After all, we’re just a pilgrimage group, not an institution that deals with such issues. It’s excellent if there are specialists coming here to take care of matters. This mysterious ruin is quite large, and it will take considerable time to handle it properly. We have many more places on our itinerary.”
Gaspare said this to Vania, who nodded in agreement.
“For us, continuing the pilgrimage is the priority, but I am also a bit curious about whether the experts from Tivyán will take too long to decide on the sanctification ceremony after investigating here. If it’s not too long, we might be able to witness or even participate in a sanctification ceremony.”
“Mm… discovering an important ritual site of a heretical sect during the pilgrimage and then participating in the sanctification ceremony to bring it under the light of the holy church is indeed beneficial for Sister Vania… and even for our entire pilgrimage group, it has good publicity effects within the holy church. This is indeed a good opportunity, a chance to further increase our influence in the holy church…”
Gaspare analyzed this, and Vania nodded in response.
“This is indeed one benefit, but on the other hand, I also want to personally witness what a sacred ceremony looks like. After all, I was born in the Historical Records Office, so I naturally have some curiosity.”
“But ultimately, we’ll need to wait until the experts from Tivyán come here and conduct their preliminary investigation before we can know the exact situation. Perhaps the conditions here do not allow for a quick sanctification ceremony. If that’s the case, then we’ll have to continue our pilgrimage with regret.”
Vania continued speaking to Gaspare, who responded accordingly.
“I hope there won’t be any problems. The pace of our pilgrimage has been quite fast recently, moving from city to city, and everyone is a bit tired. If we could stay and rest for a few more days, that would be better. This city feels pretty nice.”
“Let’s hope so… well, I’m going to prepare for receiving the team from Tivyán now. Please continue to take care of the security here,” Vania said to Gaspare, who nodded in response.
…
After bidding farewell to Gaspare, Vania left the church on the lake by boat and returned to the lakeshore. Shortly after she stepped onto the shore, a young nun in ordinary attire approached her, holding several files, and greeted her respectfully.
“Sister Vania!”
“Hmm… Who are you?”
Looking at the nun approaching her, Vania spoke with a puzzled expression, and the other immediately replied.
“My name is Perry. I am a subordinate nun of the local church in Gramorn. It’s an honor to meet you, Sister Vania. You mentioned to Bishop Hogge that new personnel from Tivyán would be arriving, so I was sent to handle related matters. Do you have information on the new arrivals? We need to prepare for their arrival.”
The nun spoke seriously to Vania, who responded immediately upon hearing her words.
“Oh, it’s about this matter. You came at just the right time. I have a list of personnel from Tivyán, including their departure times and estimated arrival times, as well as which carriage they are riding. They are a small advance team, only four or five people, so it’s not too complicated.”
Vania said this and then took out a piece of paper from her clothes, handing it to the nun. The nun thanked her immediately upon receiving it.
“Oh, thank you very much for your cooperation! This makes things much easier for us!”
“It’s nothing, just a small effort. Is there anything else?” Vania smiled and asked the nun, who promptly replied.
“No, Sister Vania, please go ahead and attend to your own affairs. We will handle the reception.”
“Then goodbye.”
With that, Vania walked away steadily, and the nun named Perry let out a slight sigh of relief after Vania left. She then unfolded the paper in her hands and looked at its contents.
At this moment, around Perry, an indistinct bl**d mist faintly appeared in the air where she couldn’t see, forming a vague eye that stared at the document in Perry’s hands, scrutinizing its contents.
On the other side, after leaving Perry, Vania continued to walk along the edge of the lake, strolling in the breeze while gazing at the pleasant scenery on the lake. When her gaze focused again on the tall church in the center of the lake, she stopped momentarily.
Facing the church on the lake, Vania recalled various scenes she had witnessed inside the church earlier, her mind filled with numerous thoughts, making her face appear complex and confused. Then, a voice echoed in her heart, calming her down.
“Things are progressing smoothly. Your performance is excellent, Vania. You’ve worked hard.”
Hearing this familiar voice in her heart, Vania’s expression slightly changed. Realizing it was through Akka’s communication, she immediately responded.
“Miss Dorothy… Are you currently observing me through a puppet? Didn’t you say that using a puppet among the Eight Pinnacle’s Red Tier members would be risky?”
“Yes… Their bl**d mist scattered in the air. My puppet would be discovered if it touched and was penetrated by it. My puppet involves the ‘Cup,’ and they have control over it as well. Moreover, they are superior to me in overall level, which makes things troublesome…”
“So I’m not using a puppet to observe you now. Instead, I’m utilizing some high-level secrets contained within this lake that even they haven’t uncovered. Although this ability is limited to this lake and its surroundings, it suffices for the current situation.”
Dorothy’s voice echoed again in Vania’s heart. Upon hearing these words, Vania paused for a moment, then responded internally.
“The high-level secrets contained within this lake… are related to the reasons behind the church in the lake, Miss Dorothy. Is that church related to Akka? Why does the statue of the deity inside resemble you so much? Could the deity depicted in that statue be…”
Vania seemed to want to say something, and at this moment, Dorothy spoke up again.
“The mysteries involved… relate to significant secrets between deities. For knowledge that deities do not wish to share, we should not force ourselves to understand…
“I have my own confusion regarding the secrets within that church, but as long as we follow Akka’s guidance and unravel the puzzle step by step, one day, we will know everything. Before the destined time arrives, we should not rush. This applies to both you and me.”
In a patient yet profound tone, Dorothy said to Vania. Hearing this, Vania was momentarily stunned, then frowned in thought before responding with a hint of enlightenment.
“We should not directly seek profound mysteries from the gods… What we need to do is gradually solve puzzles under the guidance of the gods, relying on our own wisdom and strength. When the destined time comes, everything will naturally be revealed…
“This is the teaching of Akka, the god of knowledge, to us. Am I understanding correctly, Miss Dorothy?”
Vania asked Dorothy with a tone of enlightenment, and after a noticeable pause, Dorothy responded.
“Um… yes… this is roughly the meaning. You understood it well, Vania. For now, let’s focus on our current tasks. As long as we follow the guidance, our confusions will eventually be resolved.”
“Is that so… That’s great. It seems I understood correctly.”
Listening to Dorothy’s words, Vania felt a hint of joy in her heart.
“Although I don’t know Akka’s intentions, I believe in the deeper meaning behind His guidance. The Eight Pinnacle Nest, as an evil society with significant harm to the world, cannot ignore the schemes brewing here. If the Holy Mother saw such a situation, she would certainly order me to stop them fully… I will continue to assist you as much as possible, Miss Dorothy.”
Vania said this to Dorothy, and after a moment, Dorothy’s response quickly followed.
“Thank you for always trusting me, Vania.”
…
Behind the mirror, in the hidden space within the inner realm of Twinkling Star Lake, Dorothy floated in the colorless space above the lake where the Mirror Moon Church no longer existed. She looked down at the scene below, just as she did in Adis. Using these hidden semi-inner realm spaces, Dorothy spied on the current world.
Even though the Mirror Moon Church had been raised to the current world, this space still existed. With Dorothy’s ring activated, she could freely travel between the current world and this space around Twinkling Star Lake, allowing her to safely observe many of the Eight Pinnacle’s movements.
“Phew… managed to get away with it…”
After finishing her communication with Vania, floating Dorothy let out a sigh of relief. When Vania asked about the origins of the Mirror Moon Church and its statues, Dorothy found herself in a bind because she wasn’t entirely clear about the specifics of the church. The resemblance between the statue and herself was explained through Akka’s name with ambiguous statements, but fortunately, Vania, being a clergy member with a strong “insight” ability, figured out the answer herself.
After comforting Vania, Dorothy slightly lifted her head and looked toward the far distance. The Mirror Moon Church, which had been moved to the other side of the mirror, stood there. Watching the Radiant Church members guarding the church, she thought to herself.
“As expected… this group from the Eight Pinnacle, although they dare to defy the An Yin Bureau, they aren’t as arrogant toward the church. Just as I predicted, they wouldn’t dare cause a big commotion under the attention of the Sacred Summit Church. Otherwise, their national strategy would be affected, and they wouldn’t be able to wrap things up easily.”
Publicly revealing this church to the pilgrimage group under the close watch of the Sacred Summit Church would serve as a deterrent to the Eight Pinnacle, preventing them from acting rashly. This was Dorothy’s strategy, and as long as Vania remained in Gramorn, the Eight Pinnacle wouldn’t dare provoke her.
This was the enormous influence Vania had accumulated through a series of events concerning the church’s dignity this year. Although her current strength was still at the White Chalk level, her influence within and outside the Radiant Church had surpassed most Red Tier members. Her popularity and reputation were higher than those of most Archbishops. In a faith-centric system like the Radiant Church, this was a powerful, intangible force that could intimidate the two Red Tier members of the Eight Pinnacle, preventing them from taking reckless actions.
Now that Vania was here, Dorothy had more room to delay. She didn’t have to worry about the Eight Pinnacle cracking the secret of Twinkling Star Lake and finding the church by the full moon. The exchange ceremony was not simple, and neither side could monopolize the church alone to perform the ceremony.
However, delaying was only a temporary measure and couldn’t truly resolve the issue. Currently, both sides were in a stalemate, and neither could do anything to the other. This stalemate wouldn’t last forever; both the Eight Pinnacle and Dorothy would actively seek ways to break the deadlock.
For now, the key to breaking the deadlock was not on Twinkling Star Lake or in Gramorn, but far away.
“Come to think of it… Neve should have returned to Tivyán by now…”
Dorothy stroked her chin, pondering the distant situation as she muttered to herself.
…
Time passed swiftly. One day later, in Pritt’s main island, Tivyán.
In the morning, a foggy mist mixed with a strange odor spread across the streets in front of the West Tivyán Train Station. Horses drew carriages hastily back and forth on the wide street, picking up and dropping off countless travelers carrying large and small bags. A bustling crowd surged in and out of the station building, and the distant sound of whistles hummed softly. The scene was lively and crowded.
On the second floor of a teahouse by the roadside near the station entrance, a dark-skinned woman wearing a long female coat and a wide-brimmed hat sat by the window, drinking tea and watching the flowing crowd below with sunglasses. She seemed to be waiting for something.
After adding water to her teacup for the third time, her gaze seemed to focus on something. She slowly removed her sunglasses and looked down at the crowd below, spotting several figures in clerical robes carrying large suitcases heading toward the station entrance.
“They’re here…”
Seeing those figures, Nephnis drained her tea and stood up from her seat.
