A wisp of setting sun added a nostalgic filter over Ragunna City.
The damaged doors of the Cathedral of Mercury had finally been fully repaired today.
"Damn it!"
"That heretical blasphemer dared to break into the cathedral, destroy the doors, and was let go completely unharmed by His Eminence Fenrico!"
"Just who is he?"
Outside the cathedral, Alessio's face was dark as he looked at the two priests before him:
"You two — have you found out the identity of that outsider?"
"We apologize, Deacon Alessio. We searched through all available records. Apart from confirming that he is staying at a certain hotel, we found no information whatsoever about this heretic."
The two priests bowed deeply in apology:
"That person is likely a foreign tourist. He did not register any arrival information upon entering Ragunna. However, there are rumors that yesterday, in Liberty Square, he… pinched Acolyte Phoebe's face."
Hearing this, Alessio's expression grew even darker:
"A smuggler, a filthy rogue, an unbeliever… and yet His Eminence Fenrico actually…"
Before he could finish, one of the priests interrupted:
"Deacon Alessio, please refrain from directly calling His Eminence by name."
"…Fine. Very well!" Alessio's cheek twitched. He deeply memorized this priest's face before speaking again:
"Go and summon Acolyte Phoebe."
Not long after, outside the Order of the Deep's cathedral, Acolyte Phoebe hurried over:
"May the glory of the Sentinel protect you, Deacon Alessio."
"Acolyte Phoebe, I know you. One of the rising stars of the Order, a person especially favored by the Echoes, and someone who has made significant contributions to the daily stability of Ragunna."
Alessio spoke slowly, sizing Phoebe up and down as he continued:
"Yesterday, the doors of the cathedral were destroyed by a heretic. You are aware of this, yes?"
Phoebe's heart tightened. She nodded:
"Yes."
"I've heard that this person had improper intimate contact with you in Liberty Square?"
"No, no, no!" Phoebe hurriedly waved her hands, shaking her head vigorously:
"Deacon Alessio, Phoebe strictly adheres to doctrine. I would never engage in improper relations with the opposite sex. I do not know that person."
"Being able to remember the oracle of the Sentinel does not necessarily prove your innocence."
Alessio interrupted slowly:
"Acolyte Phoebe, if you wish to prove that you have no connection with that heretic, then complete the task the Order assigns you!"
"Please give your instructions."
"That heretic is currently staying in the presidential suite on the top floor of the Agrotta Palace Hotel. I want you to investigate his true identity."
"N… now?"
Phoebe swallowed hard and glanced toward the setting sun in the west.
Going to that brazen fanatic's hotel… at night… wasn't this just sending a lamb into the tiger's den?
The first time they met, he had boldly pinched her face. If they met again in the hotel, would he just grab her outright and then…?
She was a little scared.
"I don't care what methods you use. By tomorrow, I want his information brought to me."
"But…"
"Hm? Are you still trying to cover for that heretic? Do you really have some connection with him?"
"No, Deacon Alessio! Phoebe will definitely complete the task!"
Only then did Deacon Alessio nod in satisfaction, pulling a professionally polite smile onto his face, his words carrying a clear implication:
"Do well, Acolyte Phoebe. With your qualifications, as long as you don't choose the wrong path, the position of Grand Bishop in the future will surely have a place for you."
"Go now."
Acolyte Phoebe gave a slight bow, then turned and quickly jogged away.
Not long after, another man approached briskly. Seeing this person, a faint smile actually appeared on Alessio's face. He took the initiative to ask:
"Gilberto, is everything progressing smoothly?"
"Thanks to your support, Deacon Alessio. The 'flower' worked very well."
…
Meanwhile, at the Montelli family estate.
A breeze blew through, flipping several pages of the book on the table.
A slender hand wearing black gloves turned the pages back, inserting a fragrant bookmark. The view gradually rose — it was an elegant noble young lady.
The terminal chimed. Carlotta answered the call. A cautious voice came through:
"Second Miss, this is Alberto. I must report to you — during today's Montelli Echo performance rehearsal, one of the Vitreum Dancers suddenly went out of control and attacked people."
"Were there any casualties?"
"No. Fortunately, my subordinate Zani was nearby and acted immediately to stop the incident."
The voice on the terminal continued:
"After inspection, the Vitreum Dancer itself had no issues."
"According to our investigation, we found special petals not native to Ragunna near the scene. We suspect another faction's Resonator is behind this sabotage."
"Also, my employee Zani reported that before the incident, a person dressed in Montelli attire was seen secretly approaching the Vitreum Dancer Echo."
"After she got off work and conducted a thorough check, she discovered this person was Gilberto of the Fisalia family."
The terminal fell silent. Only then did Carlotta speak:
"Understood. Suppress any public discussion of this incident… Give that employee Zani five times her monthly salary and three days of paid leave as a reward."
After ending the call, Carlotta organized her thoughts.
Thanks to the full efforts of the Montelli family, the Order had finally relented and allowed this year's Carnevale to proceed.
The Montelli family not only intended to use this Carnevale to break the Order's harsh doctrines, but also to seize the Laureate of the festival.
Winning the Laureate would bring enormous prestige to the Montelli family and allow them to hear the oracle of the Sentinel and communicate directly with Imperator.
In a nation built on faith, this latter point was undoubtedly of immense importance — its invisible benefits far outweighed any tangible gains.
The Montelli family had risen to prominence in the first place because their ancestor had once won the Laureate during Carnevale, gradually becoming one of the most influential families in Rinascita.
With the title of Laureate — especially the first in ten years — it would be tantamount to the Sentinel's personal endorsement. With such immense prestige, the Order would no longer be able to openly obstruct the Montelli family's actions.
"Ragunna needs this Carnevale as a foundation to gradually break through its isolation, to promote private terminals. Freedom should not be bound under rigid doctrine."
The Montelli family had staked their future on this Carnevale. Yet the Fisalia family and the Order were secretly interfering, trying to prevent the festival from proceeding smoothly.
They may have even extended their reach into the Montelli family itself.
Carlotta closed the book on the table, her gaze sharpening:
"Internal troubles and external threats… I need an ally. But… who can I trust?"
This person must have no connection to any faction in Rinascita, must possess sufficient strength, and must have an upright character worthy of trust.
Ideally, this person's background should be powerful enough that even if they turned Ragunna upside down, neither the Order nor the Fisalia family would dare act against them.
Thinking this far, Carlotta couldn't help but give a self-mocking laugh and shake her head with a sigh:
"How could such a person possibly exist? Better not to pin hopes on others."
A knock came at the door. A voice sounded from outside:
"Second Miss, we've investigated the person who destroyed the cathedral doors yesterday. We've found the information."
Soon, a report was placed on Carlotta's desk.
Just the first line of the introduction made Carlotta's eyes light up —
[Hero of Jinzhou — Noah]
"Interesting. Quite the remarkable figure."
Her gaze moved downward to the second line —
[Once repelled the Threnodian Ovathrax]
"Huh?"
Carlotta shot to her feet in shock, eyes wide:
"A mere Carnevale has actually drawn such a great deity here!"
Her hands gripped the report tightly as she continued reading the subsequent intelligence records. At this moment, every line of text seemed edged in gold in her eyes.
[Eliminated Calamity-class Fractsidus Overseer, eliminated Calamity-class Dreamless, eliminated countless Overlord-class Tacet Discords…]
Even the Montelli family's vault guards were only Overlord-class! As for Calamity-class — she had never even seen a Calamity-class Tacet Discord in her life.
[Lifetime VIP of Jinzhou, close personal friend of the Magistrate of Jinzhou]
Jinzhou's status carried far more weight than little island nation of Rinascita!
[Personality: gentle and friendly, upright principles, always ready to help others, humble demeanor]
Such a powerhouse was actually humble?!
Carlotta's eyes sparkled as if she had just pulled an SSR card from a pile of D- and E-rank cards.
"This person must be recruited to the Montelli family!"