NOVPUBUnder the arrival and renewed leadership of the Saint of Nirvana, the transfer checkpoint at Rock Intersection Station seemed to be infused with a new force. What was once stifling and sluggish was now replaced by ineffable fluency. Under the lights, the white ceramic tiles reflected eager and hurried crowds, now orderly and composed.
The priests at the security checkpoint began to take over the work of the Grand Priest. In the face of the stern overseer, the Saint of Nirvana, their actions became decisive, quick, and impressively efficient, vastly improving the efficiency of passage.
Lanci surveyed his surroundings, standing amidst the crowd yet seeming aloof. His gaze seemed to act like a conductor’s baton, silently restructuring the order around him.
After letting go of two students from his academy.
Assuming the appearance of the Saint of Nirvana once again, Lanci’s attention turned back to the Grand Priest at his side.
"Lord Anello, do you require our company on your journey to the Imperial capital?"
Feeling the arrival of this gaze, the Grand Priest quickly asked.
Though he was in a bad mood because of his previous unsuccessful work, the harsh criticism from the Saint of Nirvana was nothing but full of second chances, suggesting that there is new work to be assigned to him.
Lanci didn’t nod, but indicated with his eyes for the Grand Priest to walk and talk. After stepping forward, he lightly tugged on Sikder who, with his handcuffs, began to walk forward as if manipulated like a puppet.
"..."
The Grand Priest quickly followed the Saint of Nirvana and headed towards the spacious station platform.
The Grand Priest too could distinctly sense the terrifying degree of curse mark magic on the woman next to the Saint, she had undoubtedly been disciplined by the Saint into a state of rebellion. Her very spirit seemed to be sealed.
"I have a more important task to assign to you. I have gathered the other Grand Priests. You should return to the Temple and prepare for departure today."
Lanci instructed succinctly.
He came from the Nirvana Knights’ Temple in the city-state, having met with many Grand Priests at the Rock Intersection Station and done giving work assignments, this was the last one.
Soon, Lanci would go to the platform to board the incoming Magic Power Rail Train headed for the imperial capital, Herram.
The interview was imminent and there was no time to lose.
His interview program would be broadcast in various places in Herram, including on the largest screen in Herram Square commercial district. If Hyperion had come to the imperial capital, Herram, at this point in his northern tour, there was a good chance he would see him.
Just as the most sensible saying goes—if one gets separated from a companion, they must stand in the most visible place to wait for them.
Lanci and the Grand Priest passed through a spacious hall. The gentle ticking of the enormous clock on the top of the Rock Intersection Station echoed in the high dome, spreading out, each ticking sound extremely clear.
In the station hall where the new order has been established, the further one moved, the sparser the crowd became.
Until they entered a passage away from the noise, sounding like faint watermarks after the tide recedes, their elongated shadows reflected on the walls on both sides, swaying forward and back with their footsteps.
"Aside from me, Asksan has gathered all the soldiers and Grand Priests in the north, and we need to go to the North Border Province as quickly as possible."
At last, Lanci formally mentioned the task.
"Lord Asksan may be seriously injured right now, and I have more important things to do in the imperial capital, so I can’t rush to help him personally."
As he said this, his voice dropped half a note, the always calm expression revealing an indescribable sense of crisis.
"Lord Asksan is injured?" 𝖓𝖔𝖛𝔭𝖚𝖇.𝔠𝖔𝔪
The Grand Priest looked surprised, clearly not expecting that Bishop of Nirvana would need support as if facing big trouble.
"Don’t tell anyone."
Lanci warned.
"Understood."
The Grand Priest nodded again and again. However, knowing the severity of the problem, a ripple of inexplicable unease began to stir in his heart.
Asksan handed other tasks to the Saint of Nirvana and sent him far from the North Border to the imperial capital Herram and called many Grand Priests to back up in the North.
If Bishop of Nirvana is now weak enough to be wary of the Saint of Nirvana...
If he and the other Grand Priests worked together, could they overthrow the Bishop of Nirvana?
However, when the Grand Priest raised his head again, he found that the Saint of Nirvana was staring at him intently. The gaze that seemed to see through his thoughts startled him to his core.
"I suggest you don’t plot against us. If Lord Asksan decided to call you there, he certainly would not let you take advantage of the situation. If he finds out about your betrayal intentions, he will obliterate you as his enemy immediately."
Lanci warned compassionately but nonetheless sternly.
"Of course, of course."
The Grand Priest answered, cold sweat pouring down his back.
The sound of footsteps was exceptionally clear in the corridor. Occasionally, they could see the schedules on the Magic Screens, their outlines and words flickering in the dim corridor.
Few people stepped into this corridor. With each step, the hustle and bustle of the main station receded, finally giving way to the desolate darkness of the deserted area.
"Okay, you can go back now."
Lanci gave his instructions again, his words exceptionally succinct in the hallway.
The Grand Priest bowed to Lanci, then turned around. He walked towards the dim end of the corridor until his figure gradually faded away into the distant shadows.
Lanci watched the Grand Priest for a little longer, then led Sikder forward.
"I gave him a kind reminder; whether he listens or not is not up to me."
Lanci shook his head.
Although the Bishop of Nirvana, Asksan, was severely injured, he had no sealing restraints on him. He should have no problem dealing with seventh-order enemies after so many days of recovery. Even if they wanted to take down Asksan as a group, more Grand Priests would be sending themselves to their death.
"..."
Sikder, following closely behind with her head bowed, still maintained her unflinching obedience.
But she was barely holding it together.
Throughout the journey, she heard Lanci saying the same thing to every Grand Priest.
She would bet that Lanci had revealed his intentions so blatantly. Given the series of events, these Grand Priests must have suspicions about Asksan’s current situation and would want to obtain the [Original Stone Tablet- Sealed], as well as the Seventh-order Pink Holy and Purple Rareness. If they could upgrade their proof of rebirth to Proof of the Bishop, they might even get the opportunity to break through to the seventh rank.
Especially when he met each Priest, Lanci would first critique their work.
For instance, the present Grand Priest made a mess of the Milford Province and was likely to face severe consequences.
Instead of this, he might as well try to win over other Grand Priests and find an opportunity to betray Asksan.
If these Priests with their ulterior motives team up and head to the North Border Province to find Asksan...
However, Asksan, who was recuperating in the North Border Province, didn’t give any orders to visit him.
Seeing these Grand Priests rushing over without an invitation would certainly put Asksan on high alert!
From the perspective of these Grand Priests, this would be Asksan reacting to their traitorous intentions.
The Grand Priests were inherently suspicious, and they knew Asksan would not spare any traitors. Under the circumstances, they would have to revolt.
The course of events was almost set in stone. Asksan would personally kill each one of his Grand Priests.
In the end, Asksan might not even know why his Grand Priests all turned against him. He hadn’t even told the Saint of Nirvana about his injuries up north. Even if the Saint of Nirvana betrayed him, it shouldn’t have gone like this.
This could weaken Asksan a bit more.
Just thinking about this made Sikder smile.
During their shackled walk down the corridor, Sikder finally tugged at Lanci’s handcuffs.
"Honestly, I’ve discovered another shining quality in you that is irreplaceable to me."
Sikder whispered.
"Oh? Tell me more."
Lanci leaned in a little to listen and responded with his typical stoicism. He enjoyed genuine praise.
"In the future, if I want to do something bad and feel guilty, chatting with you will make me feel human again and give me the confidence to go ahead."
Sikder confided her thoughts to Lanci in a near-inaudible whisper, the way a student might whisper to a desk-mate during class.
"..."
Lanci’s reaction was nothing more than a polite smile, as if he hadn’t heard Sikder’s words. He led her towards the platform layer.
