Confession!

At four in the morning, Karen had already arrived outside the Church Affairs Building. He headed straight to the floor where Fanny had taken him to pick up his gear the day before, remembering there had been dedicated retail shops there. Fortunately, though the customer service left much to be desired, the counters were staffed around the clock. That made sense; every church issued its own point coupons, and the bedrock of their credit was the variety of resources one could purchase and redeem with them. Karen entered the apparel section and said directly that he wanted a tailored clerical robe. After a word from the reception desk, a clergy member resembling a tailor stepped inside, took Karen’s measurements, and handed him a form to fill out. From the simplest style and color preferences down to the array inscriptions he required, Karen checked off item after item. What fascinated him slightly was that as he made his selections, the black number in the top left corner kept fluctuating. If he picked a more expensive detail, the price immediately rose; if he crossed it off and chose something cheaper, the price dropped accordingly. In the end, Karen finished checking all his options. For the inscribed formations, he chose two. One was the Natural Array, which regulated the wearer's temperature based on changes in the surrounding environment, acting like a portable air conditioner. The other was the Self-Cleansing Array, which, as the name implied, cleaned itself automatically. It was not that Karen did not want defensive arrays, but every array with defensive properties was exorbitantly expensive. Besides, since he already had the Sea God's Armor, he did not need to worry much about the defensive strength of his clothes for the time being. Even so, the total came to 1,200 Order coupons. In other words, Mr. Pavaro's hard-earned monthly stipend was only enough to buy a single set of clothes here. Still, this custom-made clerical robe came bundled with a pair of boots, a hat, and a complete set of accessories. While it was not enough to make Karen feel like he had gotten a bargain, it at least offered a little comfort. No wonder the black market thrived so well; the church's proprietary shops were downright extortionate. Once he signed the order and paid the deposit, the clerk stamped the form. Karen noticed the man smiling as he stamped it, as if mocking him for coming here for custom clothing instead of going to the black market. "Very well, sir. Seven days from now, you can bring this receipt to collect your clothing. Or you can leave an address; for purchases over one thousand Order coupons, we offer home delivery, though only within the York City area." "No need. I'll pick it up myself." "Understood, sir. Is there anything else you care to look at?" "No, that will be all." Karen walked over to the dedicated elevator and pressed the button. The doors parted, revealing the elevator operator inside, who smiled at Karen and gestured for him to show his pass. Karen pulled out the ring. The operator did not even examine it before gesturing that he could step inside. *Did it look so cheap at a glance that he was certain it was real and didn't bother checking?* The doors opened again on the target floor, and Karen walked into the office. He had assumed he would be the first to arrive, but when he stepped inside, he saw Peige and Fanny already seated on the sofa. He did not see anyone else, including Neo. They were likely assembling elsewhere; the three of them assigned to close protection were probably an independent cell. "Sorry, I'm late," Karen said. "No need to apologize, we just got here ourselves," Fanny replied with a smile. "Heh." Peige was not as flamboyant or overbearing as she had been the day before, probably aware that the mission was underway. She had removed her nose and lip rings, swapped out her provocative tight leather outfit for a casual black ensemble, while Fanny wore professional office attire. "Nice choice of clothes today," Fanny remarked, looking at Karen. Karen had chosen a slightly formal outfit, though he had balanced the details with a relaxed touch, giving off a rigorous yet approachable impression. This had been Karen's habitual dress code when dealing with patients in the past. "Can we begin?" Peige asked. Fanny checked the wall clock, nodded, and stood up. "According to the captain's assignments, the three of us form an independent cell. I am the cell leader, and Peige is the deputy leader." Karen, the sole team member, nodded. "I will oversee the administrative and itinerary arrangements. Peige will oversee the close security. Karen, your role is to assist us." "Understood." "Here is the basic profile. Take a look." Fanny handed a sheet of paper to both Peige and Karen. On the sheet was a photograph of a dark-red-haired girl who looked very stern and dignified at first glance. The description beneath the photograph was extremely brief: *Ophelia.* A single photograph, a single name. To those in the know, it was a security assignment; to someone out of the loop, they might think the squad was being sent on an assassination. It contained even less information than what Karen had pried out of Purr yesterday using boiled fish with pickled greens. His own preparations had been thorough enough that he had specifically learned several Dark Moon Island greetings from Purr, a few of which had left a deep impression on him and which he had memorized: *“It is the dappled light beneath the Dark Moon's afterglow that allows me to see the true you.”* (Used when friends met.) *“The crimson crescent's rim outlines your arriving footsteps, and shall bear the sails of your departure.”* (Welcome / Farewell.) These preparations were proof enough of the importance Karen placed on his first mission. Yet this was not merely because they were responsible for security. A deeper reason was that the Dark Moon family rarely operated beyond Dark Moon Island. Much like the Avanas family, few of their members ever ventured into human society, and the major churches kept a close watch on them. The higher-ups of the Church of Order certainly had intelligence on them, but that knowledge was confined to the relevant high-level departments; the middle and lower tiers knew next to nothing about the family. "Let's set off." Karen followed Fanny and Peige into the elevator, which took them down to the underground parking garage. The vehicle driven out was a VIP executive van, the very same model Allen Manor had sent to pick him up at the pier on his first day in York City. Peige took the driver's seat, while Karen sat in the back with Fanny. "Nervous?" Peige asked Karen. "It's your first time on a mission." Karen shook his head. "I think I'm fine." "Just treat it like any other day. Usually, no delegation dares give us attitude." "Understood." The van drove to the pier and pulled into the restricted parking lot. Fanny got out to handle the handover. Peige came to the back, grabbed a soda from the beverage cooler, and flicked the cap off toward Karen with her fingernail. *Pop.* Then she began chugging the soda in a bold, hearty fashion, downing the entire bottle in one breath. "Want one?" "I'm not thirsty." "Alright. I'm going to get some rest, and you should catch some sleep too. It'll be a long time before the ship docks." "Okay." Peige reclined her seat and lay back flat. Before long, soft snores began to sound. She was not faking it; Karen knew that people who excelled at managing their energy could fall asleep effortlessly. Karen also reclined his seat, lay back, and closed his eyes. His sleep was fitful. Roughly every fifteen or twenty minutes, he would wake up, glance at the sleeping Peige, and check the situation outside. With the mission on his mind, he could not sleep soundly. Finally, when he woke for the last time, Karen saw that Peige was already up and standing outside. Fanny stood opposite her, and the two seemed to be conversing. Feeling slightly embarrassed, Karen quickly uprighted his seat, pulled open the van door, and stepped out. "Yo, awake?" Peige smiled. Fanny said, "The ship has arrived and is being guided into port. The delegation should disembark in about half an hour." "Then what should we do now...?" Karen asked. Fanny lifted the paper bags in her hand. "Right now, we eat, of course." With that, Peige and Fanny squatted down beside the van and began eating. Karen took his portion and squatted down opposite them. But because Fanny was wearing a short professional skirt, Karen stood back up and moved over to squat on the same side as them. Fanny looked at him curiously. "What, did I ruin your appetite?" "No," Karen said, shaking his head as he speared a piece of fried chicken with his fork. "Want a look? It's fine," Fanny said. "You can ask me to pose however you like." Peige asked, puzzled, "Turns out you're into office wear? What a pity, I'm wearing trousers today." Karen had no idea how to handle these two overly enthusiastic senior female colleagues, so he could only bury his head and keep eating. If he had a choice, next time he would rather hide in the shadows providing protection alongside the captain. "Are you angry?" "No, not at all." "You're quite fun." Fanny shook her head. "Don't be upset. We just can't help it. Just like you men always want to tease pure young girls when you see them, we women like teasing pure young colts when we see one." Karen said, "Understandable. Security work must get quite dull after all." "Hahahaha!" Fanny laughed. "You really are adorable." Peige chimed in, "Fanny, don't you dare compete with me for him." "Pfft, if I compete with you, wouldn't he taste even better to you?" "Huh, that's actually true." Karen sighed inwardly. He was evidently experiencing workplace harassment and mild hazing, but he happened to be the junior newcomer of the squad—and a man at that. What made it worse was that even if he complained to his friends, far from sympathizing with him, they would probably envy him instead. Still, Karen disliked the feeling and could only hope that with more time together, everyone would learn not to cross the line. After finishing their meal, Fanny checked her watch. "Five minutes to take care of personal needs and adjust your clothing. Prepare to welcome them." "Yes." "Yes." There was a restroom nearby. Karen went in, washed his face, and walked back out. Fortunately, they only needed to keep their attire neat and tidy, without needing any makeup. Once everyone returned to the vehicle, Peige drove it over and stopped right beside the gangway. A cruise ship had just berthed, and the gangway planks were being secured. The forward section was reserved for genuinely distinguished guests, while the aft section was for ordinary travelers. With the van parked, Fanny, dressed in her professional attire, stood at the very front, while Karen and Peige stood behind her. Karen imitated Peige, standing with his feet slightly apart and hands folded in front of him. However, Karen noticed that the welcoming party appeared to consist solely of their security squad. Not a single church official had come down to the pier. This was likely a reflection of the Church of Order's stature and background. Even when a delegation from the Dark Moon family arrived, the church merely arranged a bodyguard squad for them at the dock; everything else would take place only after reaching the reception hotel. It was not *welcome to our city*; it was *I will receive you at the hotel now that you have come all this way.* Up on the deck, figures began walking down. Leading the way was Ophelia, clad in a dark red robe that gave off a mysterious and noble aura. To her left followed a masked female warrior wearing black-and-red armor, with a sword slung across her back. To her right followed a maid roughly thirty years old, who possessed an equally imposing presence. While Ophelia merely walked down at a normal pace, the maid's gaze swept over Karen and the others below several times in advance. It was an inspection technique, clear and unmistakable. Yet precisely because it was so overt, it avoided provoking hostility from those being scanned. Karen remembered Purr saying that members of the Dark Moon family had given names but no surnames, because they regarded themselves as the radiance of the Dark Moon, and their collective identity was the Dark Moon itself. Furthermore, while the family crest of the Dark Moon clan was a blood moon, the emblems worn on individual members varied. Ordinary members were only permitted to wear a single blood crescent on their clothing. Based on status and rank, the number of blood crescents could stack up to seven, which was the highest tier below the patriarch. Across the entire clan, only the patriarch was permitted to wear the full moon. As Ophelia walked down, Karen noticed four blood crescents on her robe. The maid to her right wore one blood crescent. These were akin to titles of nobility, but outsiders cared more about actual strength and assigned duties. Ophelia being the delegation's head meant her standing in the family was certainly not low, and the maid beside her was undoubtedly no minor figure either. Yet a moment later, Karen noticed the female warrior to Ophelia's left. On her armor, there were seven crescents. *Wait, that isn't right.* While a maid serving the first lady of a great clan might command respect from a less fortunate elder in private, such a thing was impossible on a formal occasion. The one of the highest generation and rank would unquestionably take the lead, especially when facing a colossus like the Church of Order, where etiquette was paramount. Fanny said, "I will confirm the protection target first. Once the target is verified, the security mission officially begins." "Yes," Peige said. "Yes," Karen said. Fanny stepped forward and said to Ophelia, "Praise Order. Welcome." Ophelia responded courteously, "Radiance of the Dark Moon. Our thanks for Order's reception." "Greetings. I am the close security leader for the conference security squad. From here on, my captain, my team members, and I will be responsible for your safety during your talks in York City. Now, I must make the final confirmation of your identity. May I ask, are you Miss Ophelia, head of this delegation?" "I am." "Very well, Miss Ophelia. Please board the vehicle. You may select two attendants to ride with you. We will escort you to the reception hotel first; arrangements for the rest of the delegation will follow." "Alright. Thank you for your hard work." "It is my duty." Peige slid into the driver's seat, while Karen opened the van door. Ophelia stepped up to Karen. As she climbed in, she instinctively extended her hand to be supported—a habit born of old carriage etiquette. But Karen stood there without extending his hand to support her. Fanny saw this, her expression unchanging. Peige, sitting in the driver's seat, assumed Karen was simply unfamiliar with such courtesies on his first mission. It was only a minor interlude, insignificant enough that neither gave it much thought. Ophelia merely offered Karen a knowing smile, as if saying *I'll remember you*, before stepping inside. The maid followed immediately behind her. Finally came the female warrior. When she reached the van door, Karen turned the back of his hand outward, bowed slightly, and welcomed her aboard with full carriage etiquette. The female warrior froze. The scene looked utterly comical. A tall, imposing warrior woman being invited to board with a lady's carriage etiquette seemed absurd no matter how one looked at it, especially when contrasted with Karen's deliberate slight of Miss Ophelia moments earlier. Yet at that very moment, Fanny and Peige's gazes both hardened. They realized what Karen meant: the "Ophelia" inside was a decoy; the real Ophelia was this female warrior. *Hum!* The female warrior drew the sword from her back. Karen stood motionless, and neither Fanny nor Peige moved. No one believed a member of the Dark Moon family would strike a Church of Order operative on such a formal occasion—unless they were prepared to endure the church's full wrath. The flat of the blade came to rest against the back of Karen's hand. Karen noticed ridges flanking a central groove running down the blade, along which faint lines of blood seemed to flow. It radiated an aura he found intimately familiar: the aura of the Dark Moon Blade. This sword was likely a sacred relic capable of focusing and augmenting the effects of the Dark Moon Blade. At that moment, the thought that flashed through Karen's mind was how wonderful it would be if he possessed such a sword. The power of his Dark Moon Blade would skyrocket. If he sparred with Judia holding this blade, a single strike would probably shatter all of her ice defenses and send her to sit as an equal alongside Mr. Mike. "Aww..." A delicate, coquettish groan came from beneath the mask. "I was seen right through! No fun, no fun at all! And by the very person I picked out myself!" The female warrior removed her mask, revealing Ophelia's face. Meanwhile, the face of the "Ophelia" already seated inside changed rapidly, shifting toward something resembling Peige—sharper, more resolute lines carved by wind, weather, and battle. Fanny stepped forward. "May I ask, are you Miss Ophelia?" "It's me, it's me." Ophelia smiled at Fanny. "Don't be angry, big sister. I was only playing a joke on you." "I hope Miss Ophelia understands that everything we do is to ensure your safety in York City. I hope a joke like this does not happen again." "Of course, of course." Ophelia offered her assurances with a thoroughly pleasant attitude. Then she turned to look at Karen. At the moment, her face clashed wildly with the suit of armor, making her resemble a muscular barbie doll. Her true build was likely identical to the earlier "Ophelia"; the bulk was simply the pronounced effect of the armor's enchantment. "How did you recognize me?" Ophelia asked Karen with great curiosity. Karen replied: "It is the dappled light beneath the Dark Moon's afterglow that allows me to see the true you." Karen felt the response was exceedingly apt. It smoothed over the awkwardness of the moment and put the matter to rest. Yet the moment the words left his mouth, he saw Ophelia's expression change. The expressions of the two women seated in the vehicle changed as well. Even the delegation members standing farther back who heard the phrase stiffened. *Wait, is that not what it means?* Suddenly, Karen realized a glaring oversight he had carelessly neglected: *What does Purr know about the customs and slang of Dark Moon Island?!* Everything she knew had come from the young patriarch who pursued her and whom she ultimately cast aside into the sea! *Damn it, what on earth did that cat feed me just for a bowl of boiled fish with pickled greens?!* Was that phrase truly a greeting between friends? Fanny and Peige were completely in the dark, but they could sense that Karen had just said something earth-shattering. Ophelia's face began to flush, gradually turning as red as an apple. The sword in her hand began tracing sparks and drawing little circles against the hard concrete ground. "My goodness... about your confession, can I think it over a bit more?" "..." Karen.