NOVPUB
Chapter 360: The Situation While He Is in Seclusion
"For events that occurred while you were cultivating. First, regarding our church, that traitor Carsius has gone missing. Worse, he took several high-grade artifacts from our secret vault," Pope Claudius said with irritated voice, causing Aldrian to raise his eyebrows. It seemed Cardinal Carsius had boldly abandoned everything and fled on his own, essentially revealing his true nature to others.
"But the event that has truly shocked many and was completely unexpected is the situation in the Atria Empire."
"The Atria Empire?"
"Yes. It appears that one of the princes launched a coup. As of now, the Atria Empire is still embroiled in a civil war. The coup succeeded in dethroning the emperor and seizing the capital, but some nobles have risen in rebellion, leading to the ongoing conflict."
Aldrian truly did not expect this. He frowned, feeling a sudden wave of irritation. With the prophesied time approaching, there were still those blinded by greed and power, so much so that they would plunge an empire into chaos. At a time when unity was needed most, they instead wasted their resources fighting for control.
However, as he thought more deeply, he realized he didn’t truly understand the situation in the Atria Empire. He had no way of knowing who was in the right or wrong. Suppressing his initial judgment, he decided to investigate further.
"Your Holiness, excuse me, but I need to hear the details in a more private setting," Aldrian said.
Before anyone could react, they all vanished and in an instant, they reappeared inside the Pope’s chamber. Pope Claudius was stunned—this was the first time he had ever been forcibly teleported. He hadn’t been able to resist or even react; one moment, he was outside, and the next, he was here without doing anything at all.
The Pope could only sigh before explaining the situation in the Atria Empire to Aldrian.
Four months after Aldrian entered seclusion, the second prince of the Atria Empire had suddenly launched a coup. With the backing of several high-ranking noble families, his faction swiftly seized the capital before any opposing forces could react.
The coup had been a complete surprise. No faction within the empire had anticipated such a bold and radical move from the second prince. Even more concerning was the emperor’s lack of response, raising doubts about his condition.
Naturally, the other factions led by the first prince and the neutral nobles rose up in defiance. However, the second prince had gained support from two of the Grand Dukes and a significant portion of the Imperial Knight Order. With such formidable backing, his forces not only repelled those opposing him from the capital but also launched an offensive against their territories.
Although the resistance forces had managed to hold on by forming an alliance, the situation was steadily leaning in favor of the second prince’s faction. The resistance continued to be pushed back, and some noble families had already surrendered to the second prince.
In other words, it was only a matter of time before the resistance completely fell, allowing the second prince to take full control of the Atria Empire.
After hearing the details, Aldrian frowned, his thoughts turning to Elena, whose noble family was part of the empire. He didn’t know which faction her family belonged to, but he she had once invited him to visit them, wanting to show him a treasure, a scarf that seemed to originate from a higher realm.
He also wanted to uncover the scarf’s origin and whether it had any connection to his past.
"Because this is an internal matter of the Atria Empire, and no one from there has requested assistance, outside powers cannot interfere. Moreover, many factions from outside of the Atria empire prefer to stay out of the civil war, choosing to conserve their strength in these uncertain times."
Aldrian nodded. The situation in the Atria Empire was bad, but he still had time to determine which side was truly in the right. For now, while he was in this territory, he decided to prioritize helping the church track down the traitorous Cardinal Carsius. His newly power was urging him to take action, and he was eager to test it.
"I see. So, the missing Cardinal Carsius and a coup," Aldrian muttered to himself.
"It looks like I still have time," he thought.
"Your Holiness, for now, I will assist the church in finding that traitor. Can you show me the details of the investigation—specifically where it reached a dead end and where you lost his trail?" Aldrian asked.
Pope Claudius nodded. "Of course. I will also order the paladins to support you—no, even without my command, I have no doubt they will wholeheartedly follow you. Your status among the church members is far higher than mine at this point, after all." He smiled.
Aldrian confused by the Pope’s words. Seeing his expression, Pope Claudius simply waved his hand dismissively.
"You’ll understand once you see the church members."
Aldrian was truly curious, so he decided to leave and meet with Arthur. However, just as he reached for the door, he paused for a moment. Turning back, his gaze fell on Angelica.
Without a word, he walked behind her wheelchair and gently pushed it toward the door. Angelica was stunned by the unexpected action, while the Pope, initially confused, soon smiled warmly as he watched Aldrian push the wheelchair outside.
Angelica, too, showed a small smile as she let him take her along without protest. She didn’t say anything and simply allowed Aldrian to do as he pleased.
Aldrian, on the other hand, could sense her emotions. Though she kept it hidden deep in her heart, he could feel the regret she held—the unspoken sadness that he had to leave again before they could spend more time together. Wanting to lift her spirits, he decided to bring her along with him. He didn’t dwell on the inconvenience of her crippled legs; he simply did what felt right.
The knights guarding the hallway outside the chamber were shocked by the sudden appearance of the Saintess, followed closely by Aldrian and the Pope. Their eyes widened—not only because they hadn’t seen anyone enter the chamber, but also because of the presence of the prophesied one, the very figure who had changed their church and restored the purity of holy energy.
His mere presence commanded reverence, and without hesitation, the knights bowed as low as they could. Their devotion ran deep, their actions displaying unwavering piety. To them, Aldrian was not just a powerful figure—he was a divine being.
At that moment, Aldrian finally understood what the Pope had meant. He could feel the knights’ emotions clearly. They did not merely see him as a saintly figure, to them, he was the direct hand of the heavens, far beyond even the Pope or the Saintess.
The events of a year ago were still fresh in their minds, solidifying their belief that Aldrian was truly the chosen one. Even looking at him felt like a privilege they were unworthy of.
Every time Aldrian encountered a member of the church, they would instantly bow—or even prostrate—before him. Those who had never seen his face before would instinctively lower themselves, not just because he was accompanied by the Saintess and the Pope, but because his very presence and aura were overwhelming. It was as if they were compelled to show reverence.
Before long, Aldrian arrived at the residence of the Paladin Knights. As soon as Arthur saw the three figures approaching, his eyes widened in shock.
"Attention!" Arthur shouted.
Immediately, the knights halted their activities and stood at attention.
"At ease," the Pope said, prompting them to relax slightly. "I am here to inform you that the prophesied one will personally assist us in capturing the traitor. I hope that you will support him in any way possible."
The paladins turned their eyes toward Aldrian, both curious and reverent. Some had seen him more than a year ago, while others were witnessing him for the first time. Those who had never met him before felt the need to etch his image into their memories—the one that caused phenomenon more than a year ago, the figure of the one foretold by prophecy.
Aldrian stepped forward and looked at the Paladins.
"From this moment on, I will lead a small team of Paladins to track down the traitor. I ask for your cooperation to make this task easier, and I hope we can work well together."
"Yes, Your Eminence!" the knights shouted in unison.
"I have already been informed by His Holiness that the traitor has obtained several high-grade artifacts. This makes him dangerous, but I will ensure that none of you face harm because of them. You are the church’s most valuable forces, and I will not allow that traitor to endanger the church or its members."
Aldrian swept his gaze across the knights, pausing briefly when his eyes met Arthur’s before continuing.
"Alright. We depart tonight. Be ready for the mission!"
