**Chapter One Hundred Fifty-Five: Through the Clouds to See the Fog (Part One)**
I finally stepped out of the bathroom when the second knock echoed from outside. I opened the door to find a nun I didn’t recognize standing there.
Margaret had sent her with a bowl of warm vegetable porridge and a change of dress. I reached out to take them, glancing behind the nun but not spotting the Saint or Angel. Instead, I saw Carlos standing far off at the railing in the corridor. He caught my eye and gave a brief, strange look before losing interest and staying put.
Well, if that’s how it’s gonna be, I couldn’t care less.
After the nun left, I shut the door again and walked back to the bed, casually tossing the pristine dress onto it. I couldn’t even bother to find a chair, so I stood, hugging the hefty bowl and slurping the porridge down like it was my last meal. I licked the bowl’s rim and smacked my lips, then placed the empty bowl on the bedside like a pro. I changed into the clean dress but found there was no vanity here to do my hair… whatever, I’ll just head out.
When I opened the door again, Carlos was gone. Instead, two clerics clad in robes stood at the entrance. One of them respectfully said, “Miss Silvya, are you ready?”
“Ready for what…?” I frowned, perplexed.
“If you have no further needs, the Pope requests your presence. Allow us to escort you.”
…Angel was looking for me?
Perfect! I had questions for him too.
“Where is he?”
“Please follow us, Miss.”
The cleric bowed, then walked left down a spacious corridor. I trailed them, passing through beautifully carved halls, around an old-fashioned semicircular lounge, and finally climbing the winding bluestone staircase. The two clerics marched up the steps without stopping.
On either side of the stairs were exquisitely designed stained glass windows. Through them, I caught a glimpse of the grand and familiar dome of St. Zayeli Cathedral, with throngs of people bustling in the central hall below.
Eureka! I figured out where I was.
“So… this is the back hall of the church?”
“Yes, Miss Silvya.”
As expected…
I remembered that I found Iliush here. Based on where I was, the Main Altar should be right below me, but I never imagined there would be more space up here… I guess this counts as the church’s forbidden zone, huh?
What about Aili…
Was she okay after all that?
The steep stone staircase wound upward, and the two clerics remained silent as they brought me to the top of the stairs, stopping at a gilded wooden door, where one of them knocked gently.
“Who is it?” A languid voice called from inside.
“Your Holiness, Miss Silvya has arrived.”
“Oh… let her in.”
“Understood.”
After receiving permission, the cleric opened the wooden door for me.
As I stepped in, the faint scent of wood wafted up my nose, and dazzling light streamed through the arched windows in front of me. Angel was standing there in a light golden robe, gazing out at the city skyline with a wine glass gently swirling in his hand. His relaxed posture against the cascading sunlight gave him a rather dazzling glow.
*Click!* The door shut behind me.
“You’re recovering quite fast, Little Black Charcoal.” Without turning around at the sound of my approach, Angel sipped his red wine and mused, “Aren’t you going to rest a bit longer?”
I ignored him and took a look around the ornately decorated room. No one else was here, which made me frown even more. “Where’s Carlos?”
Margaret wasn’t here either. It was just Angel. Upon hearing my question, he looked surprisingly amused, his tone dripping with sarcasm: “Oh? We’ve been apart for such a short time, and you already miss him!”
“……”
It irked me a bit.
But I didn’t want to waste more words with him. I might as well ignore the fact like someone just let one rip.
“Angel, I need to ask you something.”
“Oh?”
Finally, the Pope turned around, blinking his green eyes like a curious child as he looked at me intently: “Do tell, is it about some unforgettable night?”
“…About Dad Li.”
What is his deal?
Does he have to be so annoying?
“What’s up with that?” The pesky blonde didn’t seem to care, strolling casually to a mahogany table and plopping down in a chair with his legs crossed, gesturing to the seat across from him with his wine glass: “Come on, sit and spill.”
I hesitated for a moment but ultimately sat across from him, staring at his flower-like face as he waited for me to continue. So, my mouth opened slightly—
Where do I even begin?
The Gate of Truth, Blood Pearls, Sister Teresa, Cardinal Nero, Divine Reliquaries… or how about that creepy, terrifying experiment organization lurking beneath the icy cliff?
I had so many questions swirling in my mind. I had no idea how much this guy knew or what he was willing to share, nor could I tell if I should just straight-up ask him. The conflicts within the church seemed way more intense than I had imagined; it was all so complicated, and I was almost in the dark about it. Even if I asked the right questions, if Angel wanted to pull the wool over my eyes, that wouldn’t be too hard for him since I had no one to verify.
The more I thought about it, the more frustrated I became.
“What’s wrong? Aren’t you going to ask me something? Hurry up… why are you leaving your mouth hanging open like that? Ah, you want to eat this, huh?”
Huh?
Following where he was pointing, I suddenly spotted several orange-yellow pastries on the table, and my eyes lit up.
How did I miss those earlier…?
“What’s inside?”
“Just take a bite and find out,” Angel squinted with a smirk.
Without needing another word, I eagerly grabbed a piece and bit into it.
“Chew… chew…”
Beef filling… so aromatic.
I basically hadn’t eaten anything after waking up, and seeing food now had me eager to dive right in. I swallowed quickly and took another big bite, chewing away.
Seeing me like this, Angel chuckled.
“Don’t rush, we’ll probably be chatting for a while… By the way, want some wine?”
“Uh…”
With my mouth full, I couldn’t answer, so I just shook my head.
Not bothered by my refusal, Angel filled his own glass again, tipping it to his lips for a sip, the smile on his face becoming increasingly charming: “Little Margaret filled me in on the whole ordeal. I bet you have a lot of questions… here’s a deal, while you munch on those tasty treats, let me share a few things with you first.”
“Mmm-mmm.”
I nodded.
“First of all, here’s the most important thing…”
Angel held his wine glass up lazily, reclining back in his chair with his eyes shut for a few seconds to gather his thoughts before he spoke.
“By now, you probably know that both the late Sister Teresa and the recent rebellion in the Royal City have had a hand from a cult organization calling themselves the ‘Truth.’ This also ties into the looming war in the Valen Empire. Little Black Charcoal, these are all things you’ve witnessed firsthand…”
“And in places you’re unaware of, in the West Continent, some border towns and even small nations have been thrown into chaos by those heretics. The nobility’s powers have been toppled, the church’s faith is shaking, and people are pillaging and committing atrocities everywhere, like they’re totally losing their minds… For years now, the Gate of Truth has been practically silent in the Eastern Continent. I thought those lunatics would at least hide for another thirty to fifty years before daring to show their faces again. But…”
At this point, Angel’s previously carefree gaze suddenly sharpened, an edge flickering through his expression.
“They actually dared to brazenly come to the West Continent and challenge the church’s authority…”
