Volume 4 Chapter 25 Interlude： The Eclipse Plan
※Third-person perspective.
Even though it's the start of summer, the middle of the night in Milkayankov, the capital of the Romanov Empire, is freezing.
There's a church on the edge of the city, where they pray to Abnella, who is called an Evil God in the surrounding countries.
A young man in ceremonial clothes was praying at the altar.
He stopped his prayer when he sensed someone coming in the dark and turned around.
This young man with a kind smile is Pope Rudolf, the leader of the underground organization 〈Gualerto〉 in the Romanov Empire.
"Your Holiness, I have a report about Church Knight Miloslaf."
"You may speak."
The Pope replied in a cold voice, which was different from his gentle expression, to the words spoken by the man in black clothes.
He was worried about Temple Knight Miloslaf, who had run away for no reason, but he couldn't show it.
"Yes. It's information from 15 days ago, but Temple Knight Miloslaf seems to have been found in Sartzstadt, a port town in the Beistein Kingdom, under Ryuuji, Count Huntwerker──"
During the report, there was a "Crack!" sound, and the man in black stopped talking.
The holy cup that the Pope was holding cracked because he squeezed it too hard.
And the Pope's face, which had been smiling gently until a moment ago, was now twisted with hatred.
"What on earth is that man doing?! Ryuuji killed Emerada, our important piece and sworn enemy!"
The holy cup, thrown in anger, clanged sharply.
The black-clad figure shivered, seeing their usually calm lord so furious.
Though the Pope clenched his fists, trembling and grinding his teeth, he snapped back to himself, cleared his throat, and turned to the black-clad figure again.
"...Continue."
"Y-yes."
The black-clad one was shrinking with fear but knew they couldn't be dismissed as useless.
Swallowing hard, they kept reporting.
"It seems Miloslaf is setting sail with Count Huntwerker."
"Sailing? Where to?"
The Pope frowned, surprised by the unexpected news.
They knew Sartzstadt was quickly growing in naval power.
That's why they once pushed Goldmont Kingdom into action.
But where would Count Ryuuji, the enchanter, sail?
The Pope had a faint idea.
"To the Quechua Empire, it seems."
"...The Quechua Empire, huh... I thought as much."
The Pope smiled quietly, confirming his suspicions.
Ryuuji had no need to sail to the tense Goldmont Kingdom near the Romanov Empire, nor to the eastern Deahr Kingdom.
"He's probably going with Miloslaf because of God Abnella. If that's true... this is bad."
Rudolf is the Pope, the highest leader of the Abnella faith on this continent.
He got secret information from "Gualerto" long ago, even before the last Popes.
Miloslaf, his right-hand man, knows some of it.
The Pope thinks he might find out how the Abnella faith, brought by people from the Quechua Empire, has changed over time.
"But we can't go to the Quechua Empire. Then... we'll speed up that plan. Rat, more work for you."
"Yes, sir! Tell me what to do!"
The black-robed man, called by the Pope, shouts and bows his head.
His loud voice doesn't fit this Church at midnight, but the Pope nods happily.
"Give orders to Goldmont, Guant, Deahr, and the people from Beistein."
"Th-that can't be...!"
The black-robed man is shocked.
The Pope smiles kindly again, then says in a cold voice.
"That's right. Chaos for peace. Start the 'Eclipse' plan."
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