NOVPUB
Chapter 375: Return to the Capital
Hearing Zavi, Mayor Franco and Arthur widened their eyes. If the traitor had already gone beyond the church’s border, then things would become more complicated! Moreover, this was the Atria Empire, which was currently engulfed in civil war. If the church were to send someone there, it could lead to many misunderstandings.
The church could be seen as a supporter of either the second prince or the other faction, depending on its actions in that region.
"This is truly problematic. If he had gone to the Doria or Vindas Empire, we could have coordinated with their imperial families to capture him, but it had to be the Atria Empire that already consumed by civil war. I have to admit, he is very clever," Arthur said.
Mayor Franco nodded. "Yes, with Cardinal Carsius there, our hands are basically tied because of the situation. With things still uncertain, if we were to send an envoy to the second prince’s faction for help, it could be perceived as support for them from certain perspectives. This is not good, as we must maintain our neutrality in this matter."
Aldrian also found the situation troublesome, but not to the point of annoyance. He already had plans to visit that place anyway, so this development would simply hasten his trip. He looked at Arthur and Mayor Franco.
"This is enough for now. I already got what I need. There’s no point in asking for more information since I know they have nothing else useful about the traitor." He turned to Mayor Franco. "I leave them to you, Mayor Franco. Thank you for your cooperation."
"No, Your Eminence, it is my honor to assist you in your investigation," Mayor Franco replied.
Aldrian nodded and walked toward the door, brushing off the hands that tried to grab his feet.
"I’ve already taken too much of your time, so I’ll excuse myself. You don’t need to escort me, Mayor. I believe you have far more important matters to attend to," Aldrian said, glancing at the three people who had seemingly resigned themselves to Mayor Franco’s judgment, which was sure to be severe.
Aldrian stepped outside, followed by Arthur and the other Paladins, and before long, they were already soaring beyond the city. As soon as they passed the city walls, the human forms of the Great Peng and Phoenix instantly appeared before Aldrian.
Aldrian looked at them and nodded. It was good that he hadn’t brought them inside, as the city was filled with protective formations highly sensitive to devil energy. If detected, these formations would immediately trigger, causing unnecessary trouble. He preferred to avoid misunderstandings, so it was best they remained outside.
"We’ll return to the capital and report to His Holiness first. This matter has already gone beyond our jurisdiction," Aldrian said to the Paladins. "Well, specifically for you all—because of your status and ranks in the church. If Paladins were to suddenly appear in the Atria Empire, it would cause major trouble."
He then turned to the two spiritual beasts in their human forms.
"As for you two, I’ll teleport you outside the city just like this. Remember, don’t draw attention to yourselves, and under no circumstances should you enter the city—or I’ll have to take action myself."
"Yes, Master," they answered with conviction.
With that, all of them vanished from the area and reappeared in the Heavenly City. Arthur and the other Paladins appeared outside the main church, while the two spiritual beasts appeared beyond the city walls. This was the capital of the Heavenly Direction Church, a place far stricter and more fortified than Arbares City when it came to protection against devil energy, so they had to be much more careful.
Not long after, Aldrian and Arthur met with Pope Claudius in his chamber and explained the findings of their investigation. Upon hearing their report, the pope frowned, his fist clenching tightly.
"That bastard was truly clever in choosing his escape route! With him there, our options are severely limited. We can only move freely once the civil war’s outcome is decided and we establish ties with the victor," he said.
Although the second prince’s faction seemed the most likely to win the civil war, as they continued to push back the other factions, the pope did not want to reach a conclusion too soon.
"Actually, Your Holiness, I had already planned a visit to the Atria Empire, and fortunately, this development aligns with my schedule. Those outside the main church are unaware that I am the prophesized one, nor do they know my face, so outsiders will not be able to connect me to the church in any way," Aldrian said.
"Your Holiness, while I’m there, allow me to capture that bastard as well. If I move alone, it will be much easier to act. Even if that traitor has seen my face, I highly doubt he would expect anyone to pursue him all the way to the Atria Empire."
Pope Claudius pondered Aldrian’s words before letting out a sigh. He looked at Aldrian and grasped his shoulder in appreciation and affection.
"Young Aldrian, I’m truly grateful to have you by our side. You’ve always helped us, and if you’re willing, I will leave this matter in your hands. However, if it becomes too troublesome, please let me know. I won’t hesitate to come to your aid," Pope Claudius said.
Aldrian simply smiled at the pope and replied, "I appreciate your concern, Your Holiness, but there’s no need for that. It would only make things messier for the church, and in the end, the devils would have the last laugh. I will ensure that the church remains uninvolved in this matter. You don’t have to worry."
The pope smiled and sighed.
"Alright, but still, my offer stands at any time. If you ever need the church’s assistance, report it to our branch there, and we will support you to the best of our ability. Even if I have to personally go myself, I will."
As he spoke, he retrieved a token from his storage ring and handed it to Aldrian.
Aldrian received the token and examined the golden emblem bearing the church’s symbol. From it, he could sense a unique holy aura and energy that belonged specifically to Pope Claudius. He knew that if he presented this token at any church branch, he would instantly become their highest priority.
"Thank you, Your Holiness," Aldrian said before storing it in his storage ring.
"Ah, right—before I leave, I want to give something to Angelica. But I’d like you to be there with me when I give it to her," he added.
Pope Claudius was momentarily puzzled by Aldrian’s words but nodded nonetheless. 𝔫𝔬𝖛𝖕𝔲𝖇.𝖈𝖔𝖒
"Of course. If you want me to see it, then I will."
"Alright. Tomorrow, I’ll return here with her before heading to the Atria Empire," Aldrian said. Then, he turned to Arthur, standing behind him.
"Good work today, Sir Arthur. I appreciate your help."
"It’s my honor to be of service to you, young master," Arthur replied with a slight bow.
Aldrian nodded before disappearing.
Arthur and Pope Claudius gazed at the spot where Aldrian had just stood and sighed.
"What do you think? After spending time with him, you must have finally experienced Young Aldrian’s greatness firsthand," Pope Claudius said.
"Yes, Your Holiness. Although I’ve long known of his abilities, this time, having worked alongside him on the same mission, I was able to witness his brilliance directly. He never ceases to surprise me," Arthur replied.
As the night deepened, Arthur shared his thoughts on Aldrian to accompany Pope Claudius in their evening conversation.
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Aldrian appeared in front of the inn and walked to his room. On the way, he checked on Sylphia and the others. They were still deeply engaged in their conversation, completely absorbed in their discussion, and it seemed unlikely to end anytime soon. Not wanting to disturb them, he quietly entered his room and sat on the cultivation mat.
He still had a few hours before morning, so he decided to spend the time cultivating his comprehension. Although he had just emerged from seclusion at the Shrine of the Beginning that morning, he felt it was better to make use of his time while Sylphia and the others were occupied.
A cultivator at his level didn’t require much sleep unless experiencing extreme fatigue due to certain circumstances.
"Tomorrow will be a beautiful day for her, and it’s also the perfect time before I leave for the Atria Empire," he thought as his mind drifting to Angelica.
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Outside the walls of the Heavenly City stretched a vast, dense forest as far as the eye could see. Under the shadow of the night, two figures perched atop a tree, unmoving as they silently observed the city’s scenery. Though they kept their distance from each other, their focus remained the same, the city where Aldrian was located.
Many wild beasts, driven by curiosity, wanted to approach them, but their instincts screamed of danger, forcing them to stay away.
These two figures were the human forms of the Great Peng and the Golden Phoenix.
They had remained silent since their arrival, just as they had in Arbares City, where they had quietly waited for their master.
However, after what felt like an eternity of silence, the Great Peng finally decided to speak.
"So... what are you?"
