Atop Holy Mount, in the chapel of the Cathedral of Holy Mount.

It was a breathtaking space, radiating a sacred and solemn aura. White and golden halos flowed gently through the air like wings of birds in flight. Columns over twenty meters tall extended in neat rows along the luxurious and exquisite floor, resembling the spines of giants supporting the vast arched dome above. Upon the dome were countless intricate golden sculptures and radiant ceiling frescoes, portraying mythological scenes and figures too numerous to take in at a glance. Along the dome's edge, ten-meter-tall glass windows arched outward, beyond which stretched a sea of pure white mist—making it feel as though the place floated amidst the clouds.

Between each pair of walls in the chapel was a span of several dozen meters, forming a space of incredible and bizarre breadth by architectural standards. At the rectangular space's far end stood a towering wall of mosaic stained glass, gleaming with dazzling, multi-colored light. Depicted on this glass wall was a massive sun, and within the sun stood a youthful man with flowing hair, a gentle countenance, arms slightly open, robed in simple white.

He appeared both kind and commanding, both worldly and divine.

In the mosaic, the young man held the central position. Beneath the sun, three figures were arrayed: a woman, a warrior, and an elder. The woman was directly beneath the youth, facing forward, while the warrior and elder stood to her left and right, facing sideways.

Before the mosaic was, as in other churches, a holy altar for the deity. However, this altar was far more majestic—grand in scale and suspended mid-air. The altar of the Blazing Sun held the central position, with the altars of the Blade, the Grain, and the Thorns and Chains arranged beside it.

In front of the altar stood a gilded high-backed chair. At the moment, it was unoccupied. In the expansive interior space before it, there were no pews for prayer as seen in regular chapels. Instead, six slightly smaller high-backed chairs were arranged in two rows of three, placed in opposition. Each was presently occupied by a seated figure.

"The contents just shared are the reports submitted from Busalet by Sister Ivy Emmerigo and Sister Vania. They are also the reason I summoned you all in such urgency. This unexpected and critical event requires us to formulate a response immediately."

Standing before her seat, Amanda, clad in the resplendent robes of a cardinal, concluded her report and slowly sat down. She swept her gaze around the room, awaiting her colleagues' reactions—but what followed was silence. It seemed the others were still digesting the implications of what she had just said.

That silence lingered for some time before a mature male voice finally broke it.

"According to the Court of Redemption... the criminal executed personally by the Holy See four hundred years ago has returned and now leads a heretical cult. That's truly unbelievable... You're certain there's no mistake in your subordinates' report?"

Seated directly opposite Amanda, a handsome man with short golden hair stroked his chin as he replied, his tone carrying a trace of skepticism.

Saint Hilbert, one of the Seven Saints of the Radiance Church, Cardinal of the Court of Holy War. The Court of Holy War was the Church's principal military arm, overseeing all external wars and conflicts against heretics. Numerous elite Sacrament Knight regiments, as well as grassroots militant forces, the Church Navy—virtually all of them fell under Hilbert's command, making him the de facto supreme commander of the Church's armed forces.

The Court of Holy War held dominion over the knight orders. All military bases and ports under local dioceses were nearly all directly governed by it.

"Hmph. The Holy See's purifying flames are irresistible. No sin can escape the judgment personally descended by the Holy See… You now claim that Unina Dottina is still alive—are you questioning the authority of the Holy See, Cardinal of Redemption?"

With a cold snort, the man seated beside Hilbert spoke. He wore cardinal robes and a crown. His hair was streaked with white, and his face was square and solemn. He wore an eyepatch, keeping only one eye barely open as he stared across at Amanda with a trace of disdain.

Saint Kramar, one of the Seven Living Saints of the Radiance Church, Cardinal of the Court of Inquisition. The Inquisition, a massive and bloated institution, served as the Church's internal enforcement and judicial authority. Its primary task was to monitor the Church's millions of clergy, root out heresy from within, and punish corruption.

The Inquisition held power to investigate, arrest, interrogate, try, sentence, and penalize nearly all clergy of the Radiance Church. Its influence encompassed nearly all personnel except the highest-ranking archbishops, though even those were subject to Kramar's investigative authority.

The Inquisition governed the hierarchy of judges and maintained heresy courts across dioceses.

"Indeed... One should not question divine judgment lightly, Cardinal of Redemption... Your report is difficult to accept. There are too many anomalies... So many extraordinary factors gathered together—it's only natural to question their authenticity. Perhaps you should have further verified everything before bringing it to us… If you find that troublesome, I can help. No matter how much one trusts a subordinate, it is never wise to place blind faith."

A frail voice came from Amanda's side. Seated beside her was an emaciated figure.

He was an old man—unlike the richly-robed cardinals present, he wore a coarse, patch-covered linen robe. His body was thin to the point of skin and bones; his veined arms exposed, his hooded face with sparse beard and half-closed, cloudy eyes. Unlike the others, he was not seated, but kneeling before his chair with head bowed.

Saint Marco, one of the Seven Living Saints of the Radiance Church, Cardinal of the Court of Asceticism. Like the Inquisition, the Court of Asceticism focused on internal matters—but its scope and goals were different.

Where the Inquisition rooted out heresy and violations of doctrine, the Asceticism Court scrutinized the clergy's adherence to the Church's values, moral conduct, and spiritual discipline. It evaluated the performance and character of low- and mid-level clergy and officials. Those deemed meritorious could be promoted; those who fell short were demoted. Most personnel decisions below archbishop level were under the Court of Asceticism's control.

It also disciplined those with inappropriate behavior or minor violations—typically through compulsory penance. Harsh, but gentler than the Inquisition's punishment.

The Court of Asceticism governed the hermitic orders. Enclosed monasteries across the dioceses answered to it.

"No… Upon receiving Cardinal Amanda's application, I dispatched agents to North Ufiga to retrieve the damaged coffin core and ship from the Annihilation Nun. I remotely surveyed the battlefield described in the Busalet report and evaluated the ship's damage. It was not the work of an ordinary Crimson-rank Beyonder. The broad area showed abnormal spiritual activity and signs of mystical interference. Comparing the evidence with Cardinal Amanda's report, I conclude that Sister Emmerigo and Sister Vania did indeed encounter an overwhelmingly powerful foe from Chalice domain…"

The one speaking now was seated diagonally across from Amanda, beside Kramar—a tall figure whose body was swathed in looped cloth under his cardinal robes. Those bandages were covered in dense scripture, wrapping his exposed head and hands, leaving only his eyes visible. His voice, muffled through the layers, carried a faint staccato rhythm.

Saint Alberto, one of the Seven Living Saints of the Radiance Church, Cardinal of the Court of Foundation. The Court of Foundation managed the Church's construction, production, and logistics. It was responsible for supplying weapons and equipment to the Sacrament Knights, militant forces, Church Navy, and Inquisitors. Ammunition, grenades, and other consumables all came from Foundation workshops.

War machines, naval vessels, and even some Saint Steel-class ships were constructed and maintained under its authority. Across all dioceses, the building and upkeep of cathedrals and ritual sites—permanent or temporary—also fell to the Foundation.

It was the core of the Church's industrial and logistical might and had the closest ties with the White Craftsmen's Guild, to whom the Church was bound by an ancient contract. The Court of Foundation was founded upon that very agreement. It governed the engineer and logistics branches. All sanctified foundries and maintenance bureaus were under its influence.

"According to the reports from various intelligence outposts in North Ufiga... the heretics in South Ufiga have indeed been stirring recently. Several of my intelligence points along the northern border have gone silent. Multiple infiltration teams sent into South Ufiga have disappeared without a trace. That includes the agent mentioned by the Cardinal of Redemption—Faith—whose identity was allegedly impersonated by a criminal. This has never happened before. I can only conclude that the southern heretics are plotting something. I was planning to summon you all to address this, but I didn't expect a more pressing crisis would arise on the Cardinal of Redemption's side…"

"Earlier, my informants embedded in other tribal cities of Busalet detected a massive mystical disturbance in the central region of Busalet from a great distance. I immediately dispatched a team to investigate. Based on testimonies from Sister Vania's relief delegation and local residents in Bastis, it's confirmed that a massive confrontation occurred more than a hundred kilometers outside Bastis. Estimated threat level: above Gold rank."

At that moment, beside Amanda and Marco, a young woman in oversized cardinal robes began to speak. She appeared even younger than Amanda—about twenty years old—with a slightly petite frame. Her features were well-defined, with short black hair and dark green eyes, exuding a stern and serious demeanor.

Saint Artcheli, one of the Seven Living Saints of the Radiance Church, Cardinal of the Court of Secrets. The Court of Secrets was the Church's intelligence and reconnaissance agency. It was responsible for gathering intelligence on other mystical organizations across the mystical world, piecing together clues to predict threats against the Church and prevent them in advance. It also monitored political figures and royalty in Church-influenced nations—many of whom had once upheld their own faiths or traditions—ensuring they remained aligned with Church doctrine and didn't secretly pursue restorationist agendas. It was a key apparatus of control.

The Court of Secrets managed its own network of spies and maintained covert intelligence posts around the globe.

"Both the Foundation Cardinal and the Secrets Cardinal speak truly. Judging from the heretical activity tied to the Afterbirth Cult, the battlefield evidence at Busalet, and the testimonies from Sister Vania's team and the locals at Bastis, the joint report by Sister Ivy and Sister Vania holds substantial weight and high credibility. I hope the rest of you will refrain from unnecessary doubt and join us in making a timely decision… Events like this happen only once in centuries."

After the other cardinals had spoken, Amanda addressed the room again. Following her statement, silence returned once more.

Saint Amanda, one of the Seven Living Saints of the Radiance Church, Cardinal of the Court of Redemption. The Court of Redemption was the Church's primary missionary force. All types of missionary teams fell under its jurisdiction. They were the main body responsible for spreading the faith and maintaining spiritual outreach. The Court also managed the Church's many charitable institutions and activities. In times of natural disasters or large-scale mystical incidents affecting the mundane world, it handled disaster relief and the treatment of victims—whether ordinary humans or extraordinary beings, including those from the Church itself. It also bore the duty to foresee and prevent such calamities.

As the department most intertwined with mundane society, the Court of Redemption didn't just handle missions, charity, and disaster relief. It also oversaw the Church's vast earthly assets. From banks and industries to real estate and manufacturing—its reach extended across the prosperous capital world of the continent. Aside from public service institutions like schools and hospitals, the Court's assets generated enormous wealth, serving as the financial backbone of the Church. These operations were managed directly by the Court of Redemption.

Missionary clergy and medical sisters were its main subordinates. Church hospitals and schools formed its local centers of influence.

"…So, Sister Vania's experience was real? A criminal from four hundred years ago has truly reappeared? Incredible. That someone could survive the Holy See's judgment…"

Hilbert continued to stroke his chin, visibly surprised. Amanda promptly followed up.

"This is not about doubting the Holy See's power, Cardinal of Holy War. We must understand—even as mighty as the Holy See is, it is still not the same as our Lord. Four hundred years ago, the one who saved the sinner Unina was none other than the greatest Chalice heretical god—the Mother of Chalice. With such a powerful and depraved force at work, it is indeed possible that the sinner survived."

Amanda's tone was firm. Then Marco, in a hoarse, almost breathless voice, added.

"…The Mother of Chalice… If I remember correctly… She hasn't shown any clear activity for centuries…"

"Yes, but her last movement was precisely during the Muddy Stream War, four hundred years ago. That surge of heretical activity among the three Afterbirth sects led to that brutal Holy War. During that time, it was entirely reasonable that she could have intervened to rescue Unina. And now, four centuries later, her stirrings may well signal the coming of another Holy War—perhaps the next Muddy Stream War."

Amanda's solemn words prompted another collective pause. After a brief silence, Kramar again spoke with harsh directness.

"You're predicting the next Holy War now, Cardinal of Redemption? Fearmongering in the name of a heretical god?"

"I am not fearmongering, nor am I making prophecies. I am drawing reasoned conclusions. The recent abnormal behavior of the Afterbirth Cult is apparent to all of you: the recent breach of the Pritt Diocese by the Wolfblood Society, the renewed cooperation between the Filth Coven and the Wolfblood Society, and now even the Abyssal Church being caught in dealings with pirate Edward. All of this suggests that a major internal shift is happening. The revival of the Mother of Chalice is not out of the question."

Amanda looked straight at Kramar as she replied. He responded sternly.

"Even so, we cannot initiate a Holy War in the absence of the Holy See. Only the Holy See has the authority to declare a war of such scale. Are you trying to usurp divine command and risk committing a grave transgression?"

Kramar's tone remained sharp. Amanda paused for a breath, then replied.

"I have no intention of launching a Holy War unilaterally. But we must begin preparations for its possibility. That way, if heretics launch a sudden assault, we will be ready. And once the Holy See returns, we will already be positioned to strike south without delay. What do you think, Cardinals of Holy War and Foundation?"

Amanda turned toward Hilbert and Alberto—whose departments would play a central role in any Holy War.

Hilbert fell silent in thought for a while before finally speaking with a grave expression.

"The Cardinal of Redemption makes a good point. If the reports about the criminal Unina are confirmed, there is indeed reason to begin preparations for a Holy War. However… a Holy War is not like a small conflict against the Savior's Advent Sect. It is total, large-scale war. Even preparatory measures will require massive coordination and immense resources."

"To put it plainly, the Holy War cannot be prepared by the Courts of Holy War and Foundation alone. It requires full cooperation from every cardinal present. And in such an operation, the Court of Holy War must take the lead… Are all of you willing to accept that?"

Hilbert's tone was measured as he glanced around the room. The others—including Amanda—fell into silence.

Though his words were gentle, the implications were significant: for the Holy War preparations to proceed, the Court of Holy War would require a leadership role, the Court of Foundation would offer support, and all other Courts would have to yield some authority.

That kind of concession, in a Cardinal Council where power struggles were common, was a hard pill to swallow. Hence the silence.

"Cardinal of Holy War speaks truly. Even the preparations for a Holy War are vast in scope. Without a command from the Holy See, this is not a decision our two Courts can make alone. There is no precedent for such an act. If our preparations go against the Holy See's will, and we are reprimanded afterward…"

Alberto, beside Hilbert, added his agreement. A Holy War meant a global conflict. Preparing for it meant mobilizing the entire Church. Such a decision had never before been taken without the Pope present. No one here could guarantee how the Holy See would react upon returning. Would they approve? Or denounce it as a usurpation? No one wanted to gamble on that.

Would they dare surrender power for war readiness? Could they afford to risk the Pope's judgment?

These two questions loomed over every cardinal present. No one spoke.

At last, Amanda broke the silence. After a soft sigh, she spoke clearly.

"The Court of Redemption is willing to fully support the war preparations led by the Courts of Holy War and Foundation."

Her words startled the entire room. Everyone turned toward her. In saying this, she made it clear: she was the first to pledge full cooperation—even if it meant yielding authority.

"Moreover, I am the one who raised the issue of preparing for Holy War today. I am the one who warned of the threat posed by the criminal and the heretical god. All of you are merely responding to the intelligence I've provided. Should the Holy See return and find fault with this decision, I will take full responsibility and personally face judgment."

After Amanda spoke up of her own accord, the gazes in the hall once again turned toward her. Hilbert looked at Amanda and said directly.

"Cardinal of Redemption, make sure you've thought this through."

"I've thought it through very clearly. I know what I'm doing. I'm willing to draft a written covenant recording the decisions of today's meeting, so that the responsibilities are clearly delineated for the Holy See to review upon His return."

Amanda said calmly. She understood that if she wanted this group to accept her proposal, she would have to take responsibility first and declare her full cooperation.

As expected, not long after Amanda's statement, one of the other cardinals broke the silence. Artcheli, who had remained quiet until now, spoke up.

"I also support it. The Court of Secrets will fully cooperate with the Court of Holy War in preparing for the Holy War."

Amanda quietly exhaled and nodded slightly in relief. At that moment, Marco also said in a hoarse voice.

"I see the resolve of the Cardinal of Redemption. I also agree it's better to prepare in advance. The Court of Asceticism will do its best to cooperate…"

"Well, if everyone's saying that, then I don't have anything more to add. The Court of Foundation will do what it can…" said Alberto from his seat, affirming the decision after seeing the support of his peers.

With Alberto's response, all eyes turned toward Kramar. Feeling the weight of so many stares, Kramar furrowed his brow, knowing this wasn't the time for opposition. After a moment, he relented.

"Fine, fine. We'll follow the Cardinal of Redemption on this gamble. Let's hope the preparations are worthwhile and aligned with the will of the Holy See. The Court of Inquisition will support it."

Seeing that all five cardinals had voiced their support, Hilbert couldn't help but let a faint smile curl at the corner of his mouth. He then spoke.

"In that case, the Court of Holy War will give it our all. The Holy Church hasn't mobilized for a Holy War in over four hundred years—this is a tremendous task. I ask all of you to lend your utmost support…"

After Hilbert spoke, the cardinals discussed a few more specifics related to the war preparations, then concluded that topic and moved on.

"This recent surge in Afterbirth Cult activity and the renewed stirrings of the Mother of Chalice are deeply concerning. If I recall correctly, last year the Wolfblood Society attempted to seize a mystical text from the Hymn Cathedral in Tivian, even sacrificing a Crimson-rank Dread Devourer Direwolf. Fortunately, thanks to Sister Vania and the efforts of Pritt's authorities, the text was preserved.

"That mystical text was sent to Holy Mount for deciphering some time ago, yes? Has there been any progress?"

Amanda asked frankly from her seat. Considering how much the Afterbirth Cult had invested in trying to steal the text, there must be something particularly important about its contents. If they could uncover it, perhaps it would provide answers about the Mother of Chalice's resurgence.

As soon as Amanda finished speaking, Artcheli responded.

"I checked in with the Court of Scriptures recently about that. The response I received was that the text, titled The Crimson Holy Mother, has not yet been fully deciphered. The difficulty is extremely high. It's written in a mix of Old Prittish, Old Falanian, Old Ivengardian, Old Southern Isles script, Imperial script, and several others. Not only are these languages difficult on their own, but they are also interwoven and encrypted using a variety of techniques. Simply understanding all the languages doesn't guarantee comprehension.

"The text is not only difficult to decrypt but also highly saturated with cognitive poison. Even with the entire team of theological scholars at the Court of Scriptures rotating in shifts, progress each day is minimal. The core content has yet to be cracked.

"So far, all we know is that The Crimson Holy Mother contains fabricated accounts of early Holy Mother worship, involving ritual practices soaked in blood—typical of corrupt heretical texts."

Artcheli stated directly. Amanda frowned slightly upon hearing this, and Hilbert followed up with a question.

"Have we been able to trace the origin of this heretical text?"

Since the contents couldn't be decoded yet, identifying where the book came from could provide insight.

The Church had never taken much interest in The Crimson Holy Mother, merely cataloguing it in the library of mystical texts. Meanwhile, the Afterbirth Cult treated it as something of immense value. That discrepancy was suspicious in itself. How did Pritt's local Church obtain such a text in the first place? Uncovering its provenance might also unlock its secrets.

"I had already dispatched people to Pritt to investigate the source of The Crimson Holy Mother. We've made some progress."

Artcheli said calmly.

"According to the investigation in the Tivian Diocese, The Crimson Holy Mother was obtained by the Historical Scripture Department of the Pritt Diocese during a sweep of counterfeit scriptures in the Tivian mystical market. Specifically, it was acquired from the Craftsmen's Guild in Tivian."

Local Radiance Church branches often conducted sweeps for rogue mystical scriptures in their regions and sequestered them. This text was one of Pritt's findings.

"So it came from the Craftsmen's Guild? That means someone else must have sold it to them?" Amanda asked curiously.

"Yes," Artcheli nodded.

"Given the Guild's typical neutrality, my agents didn't attempt to obtain customer records directly. Instead, we started by investigating Tivian's underground mystical circles to trace the text's prior owner. Generally, people try to sell such items at higher prices within their own circles before resorting to selling them to the Craftsmen's Guild for a lower rate. So these backchannels are the most likely places to find clues.

"We spent several months canvassing the hidden circles in Tivian, trying to find anyone who recognized The Crimson Holy Mother, but came up empty. Then we realized the Craftsmen's Guild redistributes goods from smaller to higher-tier branches. What's acquired at the lower levels often flows upward.

"So I sent more agents into Pritt, fanning out to other towns and counties with local guild outposts. After several more months of investigation, we finally made a breakthrough."

"A breakthrough? Where?" Amanda asked eagerly.

"In southwestern Pritt, in the capital of Igwynt County—Igwynt City. While working with the local underground network there, we discovered a Beyonder named Richard Evans, a wealthy merchant who's long been active in the mystical circles and is currently attempting to become a Chalice follower.

"Richard recalled something that matched our description of The Crimson Holy Mother. Three years ago, there was a mystical gathering in Igwynt hosted by someone who went by the alias 'Grayhill.' Richard regularly attended these gatherings, where he used the codename 'Sheepdog.'

"At one such meeting, a person called 'Wolftrail' displayed an ancient book nearly identical in description to The Crimson Holy Mother. He claimed it held deep, potent secrets, but required high intellect to decipher. Richard couldn't make sense of it and found the price too steep, so he passed. The book ultimately ended up with 'Grayhill,' the host.

"We then had Pritt's Serenity Bureau—their secret police—launch a joint investigation with the local branch in Igwynt. We discovered that 'Grayhill' was actually the Craftsmen's Guild representative stationed in Igwynt. He hosted these underground gatherings to scout for valuable mystical items. He was the one who likely acquired The Crimson Holy Mother and sent it to the Guild's Tivian outpost."

In the Grand Chapel of Holy Mount, Artcheli, the Cardinal of the Court of Secrets, continued reporting these developments to the other cardinals. Amanda then asked directly.

"So, the person codenamed 'Wolftrail' at the gathering—he was the previous owner of The Crimson Holy Mother?"

"Correct. My agents continued combing through records at the Serenity Bureau in Igwynt. We discovered his identity: Buck Stoll, originally an investor in Igwynt who later joined a small Chalice-focused heretical cult called the Crimson Eucharist, becoming a Chalice Apprentice.

"This cult operated for years in Igwynt County and clashed with the Serenity Bureau multiple times. It was eradicated about two years ago. Buck was a senior member, second only to the leader—an entity known as Luer, a Black Earth-rank Beastman Beyonder.

"According to the Bureau's records, Luer posed as a butler to gain control of a prominent local noble family and founded the Crimson Eucharist. Buck served under him and seems to have received many mystical items from him. Since Buck's family had no mystical background, it's likely The Crimson Holy Mother was given to him by Luer as a reward. Buck, unable to understand it, later sold it. Therefore, Luer appears to be the original source."

"So, what do we know about this Luer?"

Hilbert asked, intrigued.

Artcheli shook her head.

"We don't know. What we do know is that the noble Luer controlled brought him back after a journey. Beyond that, his origins are entirely unknown."

"And where is Luer now?"

"Dead. He died during a series of bizarre incidents two years ago—during his own advancement ritual. And it wasn't the Serenity Bureau that killed him."

"Then who did?"

Artcheli paused briefly, then answered in a changed tone.

"A mysterious organization calling itself the Rose Cross Order."