Chapter 659 : The Guests Enter

Zoe ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍and Gaia stepped into the banquet hall side by side.

Although ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍they walked together, their attire was completely different. Zoe wore a long gown, styled more like a noble young lady—in truth, when it came to aristocratic bearing, even Hughes could not compare to her.

Hughes ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was merely a transmigrator. When Zoe had served as a maid in a ducal manor, she had genuinely interacted with many noble young ladies.

Coupled ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍with her daily indulgence in novels, and the fact that she had secretly practiced before a mirror more than once…

Beside ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍her, Gaia was much plainer. She wore the clerical robe of Imperial Truth.

Zoe’s ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍identity was that of a civil official stationed by Castel in Blood Harbor, whereas Gaia was a Technical Priest of Imperial Truth. They did not belong to the same system.

Castel’s clerical robe looked unremarkable and lacked ornamentation, but it had one feature: it was bulletproof.

After all, Castel’s Technical Priests were constantly involved in dangerous experiments. As for the war-priests who had risen from the Holy Guard, there was no need to mention them—they had to go to the front lines.

In fact, Gaia’s clerical attire also came with a protective helmet and a gas mask. She simply had not worn them this time.

Several Mechanical Priests whose bodies were covered in mechanical prosthetics guided the two of them into the banquet hall.

Calling it a banquet hall was somewhat misleading—it was actually a towering church of the Mechanical Sanctum. Dense pipelines and mechanical structures covered the entire walls.

Gaia merely glanced once and did not look again. The operational logic of the Mechanical Sanctum’s mechanisms was often too bizarre; spending time studying them was rarely meaningful.

Zoe glanced at the Mechanical Priests. They had seen many of them in Rhine. These individuals replaced parts of their bodies with machinery. Generally speaking, the more they replaced, the stronger they became.

The Mechanical Priests present in the banquet hall were already indistinguishable—one could no longer tell which parts were still flesh. At a glance, all one saw were densely packed steel components.

A ridiculous thought suddenly surfaced in Zoe’s mind. Steel could replace limbs, replace flesh—could the head and brain also be replaced with steel?

If an entire body contained not a single original human part, then was that “person” still human—or a machine?

The banquet had not yet begun. His Holiness the Pope (Female) had not yet appeared. The Arch-Mechanism Chancellor, Hela, was currently exchanging pleasantries at the long table.

“Look, Hela is over there. Although you can’t see a trace of flesh on her body, she’s actually the most human-like one among them,” Gaia whispered near Zoe’s ear.

Zoe brushed her hair aside; Gaia’s breath had blown it into her ear, making it itch.

It was true. These Mechanical Priests were rigid in daily life, sometimes even speaking like emotionless machines.

Zoe had assumed Gaia would be used to dealing with such people. After all, she came from a technical background and had spent years immersed in production lines.

Yet Gaia had once said that machines were more human than these Mechanical Priests.

Especially Steam Engines. Sometimes they were so human it was excessive—young Stokers could only shrink their necks and endure the scolding.

“Honored guests, welcome.” Hela inclined her head slightly. The two stepped forward to greet her and naturally began conversing.

“Lady Hela, it has been some time.”

As Arch-Mechanism Chancellor, Hela held an exalted status within the Mechanical Sanctum. The fact that she had personally welcomed them that day had already been a display of goodwill. Under normal circumstances, they would not even have the chance to meet her.

“It hasn’t been that long. His Holiness the Pope (Female) has also been thinking of you. She had long promised to receive you, but unfortunately her health has not been good, which delayed matters until today.”

Behind her veil, Hela’s eyes suddenly shifted and fixed upon the two of them.

“This time, she intends to personally… bestow those technical materials upon you. There will be a ceremony during the banquet.”

The two hurriedly nodded.

Transactions like this could not be spoken of openly. The Pope could present gifts—that was appropriate. But to speak of exchanging technology for goods would be unbecoming, especially given that this Pope’s identity was anything but ordinary.

The Joanne Family had always stood behind the Royal Family. Its members had joined both the Church of Candlelight and the Mechanical Sanctum.

For example, Mr. Euler in the past had borne the surname Joanne and had come from the Mechanical Sanctum. Beatrice Joanne had, in accordance with custom, joined the Church of Candlelight.

Thus, she bore three identities: Pope of the Church of Candlelight, Emperor of the Empire, and Pope of the Mechanical Sanctum.

Both Churches recognized her as the supreme leader. In name, the Mechanical Sanctum and the Church of Candlelight were equal.

Therefore, at this banquet, so long as Beatrice appeared, the high-ranking members of both Churches had to attend.

As for the Empire’s nobles—perhaps some were present, but no one paid them much mind anymore.

Beatrice had ascended the throne only because those with higher succession rights had conveniently died in “accidents.” How many remained now was hard to say.

After exchanging a few more words with Hela, the two wandered the banquet floor as if casually.

From time to time, Hela introduced them to certain high-ranking figures of the Churches. Zoe stepped forward to respond politely each time, while Gaia subtly surveyed their surroundings.

Finally finding a brief gap, Zoe rubbed her cheeks—her maintained smile had begun to ache—and cast Gaia a questioning glance.

Gaia shook her head. “I can’t see any obvious arrangements. But this is the Mechanical Sanctum’s territory. Who knows what special structures they might have? They could have hidden personnel.”

Zoe slowly nodded as she surveyed the church.

The space was enormous. Even with over a hundred attendees, it still felt spacious.

The entire structure was square and orderly, carrying a distinctly mechanical sense of precision.

As for an ambush—they had searched carefully and found nothing. Gaia had even begun examining the carpet, wondering whether explosives were hidden beneath it.

Clang!

A dull noise suddenly echoed from below. Zoe and Gaia both jolted, thinking the Mechanical Sanctum had begun their move. They glanced around, only to realize it seemed to be a false alarm.

Several Mechanical Priests discussed briefly before walking toward a section of piping along the wall, extending mechanical arms from their bodies to conduct repairs.

Only then did Gaia gradually relax. She had nearly used her Transcendent ability just now.

“Look—the main guests are here!” Zoe suddenly tugged at Gaia’s sleeve.

Through the church’s main entrance, a procession of priests from the Church of Candlelight entered in orderly formation. Most of the faces were unfamiliar, but the emblems on their robes were unmistakable.

“Cardinals… and even Scepters of the Curia. The upper echelon of the Church of Candlelight really has all come!”

“Look at that one! What is that?” Zoe’s eyes widened suddenly.

Gaia followed her gaze and drew in a sharp breath.

The figure wore a thick overcoat. Iron plates were embedded into the boots. Fine gloves covered the hands.

But on the face—there was a long mask that covered the entire visage. The whole face protruded forward, tapering into a sharp beak like that of a bird.

Two circular glass lenses were set where the eyes should be, yet they were clouded with mist, obscuring whatever lay within.

To ordinary observers, it might appear merely an odd mask. But Gaia and Zoe were Transcendents. At this distance, they could clearly discern every detail.

The leather mask was not worn upon the face.

It was stitched onto the skin.

As if—

The entire facial skin had been peeled off, and the mask sewn back in its place.

Hideous stitches encircled the back of the head, leaving no gaps whatsoever. A thin leather tube extended from within the mask, disappearing into the coat, leading somewhere unknown.

A chill crept upward from their feet. The figure was grotesque beyond measure.

“That is a Skin-Shedder, also called a Sleepless Child. They come from the Sleepless Sanctum of the Southern Continent—one of the Four Great Churches. They are among the guests of this banquet.”

A soft voice sounded from beside them, startling them both.

“Thank you for the explanation, Lady Hela,” Gaia replied quickly.

“This banquet is, after all, hosted by the Church of Candlelight to formally declare its control over the Empire to guests from all sides. It is a pity we could not contact the Silent Sanctum. Otherwise, representatives of all Four Great Churches would have been present.”

Hela’s eye turned toward Gaia. The aperture within her pupil rotated slightly as she asked softly, “Is there anything else you wish to know?”

Gaia hesitated for a moment before speaking. “His Holiness the Pope (Female) has not yet arrived. I was hoping to see her. I’ve heard she’s about the same age as me.”

“I’m afraid you may not have the chance.”

Gaia looked up in surprise, but saw only Hela’s back. The Arch-Mechanism Chancellor of the Mechanical Sanctum did not continue the conversation. She walked straight toward the center of the hall.

Suddenly, Gaia’s vision darkened.

Instinctively, she reached out and grabbed at it. Lowering her head, she saw a piece of black veil in her hand.

She recognized it.

It was the black veil that had always covered Hela’s face.

Bang!

A loud crash resounded. Everyone turned their heads at once.

Only then did they realize—the doors of the church had closed.