Everyone took off their masks and introduced themselves to Karen, who did his best to commit each name to memory.
The standard roster of a Whip of Order squad was one captain plus twelve members, which Karen suspected secretly mirrored the God of Order and the twelve Order Knights at his throne.
After the brief meet-and-greet, Neo led the rest out of the room. They would continue to provide protection from the shadows, even here in the Ankara Hotel, since the vast majority of successful assassinations took place where people assumed they were safe.
Karen, Peige, and Fanny remained in the suite, on standby across the hall in case Miss Ophelia summoned them.
"Who wants a shower?" Peige asked.
"Me," Fanny said.
Peige glanced toward Karen. "Don't you need one? You'll be attending the banquet with us tonight. Why not jump in together? It'll be faster."
"You two go ahead," Karen said. "I'm worried they might call for someone from across the hall."
"Fine then."
Peige and Fanny headed into the bathroom.
Then, with a sudden clatter, the wall separating the bathroom from the living room slid open from the inside. Only a single sheet of glass remained between them—and it was crystal clear.
Karen picked up his wine glass, stood, and walked over to the floor-to-ceiling windows to admire the ocean view, keeping his back firmly turned to the bathroom.
Before long, Peige finished washing and stepped out. Standing beside Karen, she remarked, "The ocean here isn't pretty. Not a single trace of sun-drenched sand—just cold."
"Do we get vacations? I mean, real holidays where you can travel?"
Karen glanced at Peige and realized she was stark naked. Her muscles were clearly defined, crisscrossed with visible scars, giving her the aura of a chiseled sculpture.
"Can you hand me a cigarette?" she asked, looking at him.
"Sure."
Karen pulled the pack and lighter from his pocket and offered them to her.
Peige shook her head.
Karen pulled out a cigarette, held it to her lips for her to take, and struck the flame for her.
Peige blew out a ring of smoke. "We do get time off. Back in Sangpu, we were on vacation for years. You're out of luck, though. We just finished an extraordinarily long break and are only now settling into real work."
"I don't mind staying busy," Karen said.
"How did you figure out Miss Ophelia's identity?" Peige asked.
"The pattern over the left breast of their clothes. The number of crescent moons indicates their standing in the family."
"Oh, I just thought it was embroidery." Peige smiled faintly. "You know, I like people who use their heads."
"Peige, your clothes."
Fanny tossed over Peige's outfit, and Peige, having air-dried, began to dress.
"Karen, give me one too."
Karen walked over to hand Fanny a cigarette. She had put on clothes, but only on top; her long, shapely thighs were on full display. Unlike Peige, her skin showed virtually no scars.
"Well? Pretty, aren't they?" Fanny asked with a laugh after lighting up.
"Yes, very pretty."
"Compared to her?"
"You are a soft oil painting; she is a delicate sculpture."
Peige chuckled.
Fanny pressed, "I meant, compared to that girlfriend or fiancée of yours?"
"She's younger than both of you, and prettier."
"..." Fanny.
"..." Peige.
Peige pinched out her cigarette between her fingertips. "Karen, do you know what hurts the most?"
"The truth."
"Fuck!" Peige punched the sofa in frustration.
Fanny arched a brow. "Don't you know that women are like fine wine? The true richness only comes with the passage of time."
"I'm still young. I haven't reached the age for drinking vintage wine."
"..." Fanny.
"I'd rather start with something light and breezy while listening to light, breezy music. I figure by the time I'm older and want to drink something rich and seasoned, the woman beside me will have aged alongside me through the years. I prefer keeping in step like that. There's no need to skip ahead and admire scenery unsuited to my age."
"Fuck!" Fanny cursed as well.
The two women huffed, swiftly finished dressing, and snapped back into work mode.
Karen felt he had discovered the proper way to handle workplace harassment.
To be precise, the atmosphere in this squad was not that of a conventional workplace. When he had first joined, he had been far too cautious and overthought things. These people were hunting dogs who cast off secular constraints. As Captain Neo had said, no one here was clean. The captain kept calling him "proper" likely because, having spent so much time with these squad members, he had grown unaccustomed to normal propriety.
If you pretended to be an innocent little white rabbit, they would only bare their teeth and poke at you relentlessly. But when you bared your own fangs right back at them, they became comfortable, because that was the dynamic they had long grown used to.
Just then, the doorbell rang.
Karen walked over and opened the door. It was the middle-aged maid.
"My lady wishes to speak with someone who knows Wien's local customs and culture. Which of you would be suitable?"
Fanny remained silent, and Peige said nothing. When someone was unsuitable, they knew enough to keep their mouths shut.
"I'll be right there."
"Very well, Mr. Karen."
Karen followed the maid across the hall.
Peige said, "Don't tell me our newest recruit has actually caught the eye of the Dark Moon family's young lady?"
"Love between unequal stations is doomed to end in tragedy," Fanny remarked.
"I hate hearing that kind of talk. Anything is possible, isn't it?"
"Impossible. He's probably going over to explain away his slip of the tongue at the pier."
"True enough. If I didn't know he had a girlfriend, I'd have sworn he didn't like women at all. Dammit, did he really just call us old?"
"From his girlfriend's perspective, he's someone you can rely on." Fanny chuckled. "It's rare to see a man so steadfast in love. The last one was..."
Fanny trailed off, and Peige's expression dimmed.
Because the last one... was the captain.
***
Ophelia had shed her armor. The "muscle Barbie" had finally reverted to her true self: an elegant, dignified young woman.
When Karen entered, she appeared to have just showered. She sat near the floor-to-ceiling windows, filing her nails with a small emery board. Her nails were trimmed short, likely due to martial training.
That suit of armor was by no means light.
And that sword—when she had manipulated the blade so close to the back of his hand, Karen had sensed an exquisite mastery of force. That meant the young woman wasn't merely playing dress-up; she possessed genuine, formidable strength.
Most importantly, the seven crescent insignias on the armor indicated it was her personal set.
"Good day, my lady."
"Hello." Ophelia smiled at Karen. "Would you care for some ice water?"
Several glasses sat before her, alongside a pitcher of water and an insulated bucket filled with ice cubes.
"I have a weak stomach, and the doctor advised me against drinking anything too cold."
"Oh? What a pity. I love ice water; it helps me calm down quickly. Xinla, pour Mr. Karen a cup of black tea."
"Yes, my lady."
So the middle-aged maid's name was Xinla.
"Please, have a seat."
"Thank you, my lady."
Karen sat down across from Ophelia and said, "My lady, I must offer a sincere apology for what happened at the pier. My understanding of Dark Moon Island's culture and traditions was incomplete, which led to a misunderstanding."
"Hehehe." Ophelia shook her head. "It doesn't matter. I wasn't angry. After all, what woman would be upset when a handsome young gentleman confesses his feelings to her? I found it quite amusing, knowing Mr. Karen must have mistaken the meaning of the words."
"I truly am sorry."
"Enough of that; it's behind us now. Tell me, Mr. Karen, besides reading, what else do you enjoy?"
"Horseback riding."
"Oh, so Mr. Karen is a skilled rider?"
"Not at all, barely a beginner. My fiancée is the one who rides well."
"Hmph, stingy." Ophelia reached for an ice cube, popped it into her mouth, and crunched down noisily. "Ah, I suddenly feel a wave of disappointment. It's like when you men see a beautiful woman, only for her to start talking about her fiancé the moment she opens her mouth."
Just then, the maid, Xinla, handed Karen a cup of black tea and murmured, "Mr. Karen is truly making too much fuss over a pleasant misunderstanding. After all, who would ever take it seriously and take it to heart? Hehe."
Karen caught the subtle mockery in the maid's tone, hinting that he had actually dared to believe her mistress might fancy him.
After all, while the Dark Moon family feared the Church of Order, they had no reason to fear a lowly Whip of Order squad member. The gulf in status between them was vast; there was no way such a misunderstanding could ever turn into reality.
Ophelia glanced at her maid but said nothing.
Karen played along with a slightly embarrassed smile. "Yes, I made too much of it."
Ophelia said, "I've found Wien's climate rather humid. I don't care much for the weather here. Dark Moon Island is far better, where spring lasts all year round."
"That sounds like a captivating place. I would love to see it for myself."
"Outsiders are forbidden from setting foot on Dark Moon Island, Mr. Karen," Xinla pointed out.
"Right, of course. My oversight."
Ophelia frowned slightly. "Dark Moon Island always welcomes true friends as guests. Xinla, go downstairs and see if the others have arrived. Bring up the luggage and fetch my books."
"Yes, my lady."
The maid was dismissed.
Ophelia turned to Karen. "She was my mother's personal attendant. Spending so much time in the household, she tends to look at people a bit..." Ophelia twirled her finger in a circle. "You understand."
"She is only doing her duty, much like our squad protecting your safety. It's our responsibility."
"Actually, I'm quite curious about Allen Manor. Do you know how the family is doing now? I'd like to hear some specifics."
"In response to your query, my lady, I had some contact with Allen Manor in the past through procurement work. The Allen family's current situation is not good; their bloodline has been declining for several generations."
"Oh, I see. What a shame. In our ancestor's diary, that Miss Allen was described as a true prodigy."
"It is an inescapable fate for any family. There are peaks, and naturally, there are valleys. It is the natural law."
"The natural law..."
"Just as when they have declined, haven't you arrived, my lady?"
Karen certainly did not mind drumming up a few extra benefits for Allen Manor.
"Indeed." Ophelia nodded. "Your words are quite philosophical."
"You flatter me, my lady."
After that, Ophelia chatted with Karen about Wien's culture and customs. Since Karen's previous work had largely revolved around conversation, he kept the dialogue flowing effortlessly.
Eventually, Fanny rang the doorbell to remind them that the evening banquet began in an hour.
Ophelia needed to prepare her formal attire, so Karen took his leave, returned to the room across the hall, and took a shower.
When the time came, Ophelia set off with her female warrior and maid, followed by Karen and Peige, with Fanny leading the way into the banquet hall.
The hall was located within the hotel, impeccably grand and packed with guests.
Moreover, the attendees could no longer be described simply as "the rich and powerful." Their strength and influence had long surpassed the traditional nobility; to label them merely as dignitaries would almost be an insult.
Ophelia continually clinked glasses and conversed with high-ranking figures from the Church of Order, while Karen followed close behind.
The close-protection arrangement, as well as the restriction limiting Ophelia to only two personal attendants, existed because hidden assassins might lurk within delegations themselves.
They weren't necessarily blood rivals; it could just as easily be an internal power struggle from back home. Isolating Ophelia from her delegation was for her own safety. Even if she died, she couldn't die on Church of Order territory—she could go home and die after the conference ended.
Three Bishops from the York City Region attended in person. Two of them offered brief pleasantries before taking their leave, while the third stayed for an extended period to handle the reception, even guiding Ophelia onto the stage to address the guests.
Karen and Peige were not expected to stand like stone-faced bodyguards, which would look unseemly. Instead, they maintained composed expressions while sampling food and drinks.
"This blood sausage is delicious," Peige said, placing a link on Karen's plate.
Karen took a bite. There was not the slightest gaminess, only incredible savoriness.
As someone skilled in cooking, he recognized that this ingredient lay far beyond his previous culinary knowledge.
"What kind of blood is it stuffed with?"
"The blood of a monster beast," Peige said with a grin.
"Ah, no wonder. It really is good."
So this was what the truly luxurious classes ate?
"If you like it, eat more. You rarely get this outside, and buying it with point coupons costs a fortune."
"You're right about that."
Karen scooped several more blood sausages onto his plate. Then he and Peige followed behind Ophelia, gnawing on blood sausages as they moved.
"There are even more expensive items over there. When the lady moves that way, I'll grab some for you," Peige whispered.
"Sounds good."
All in all, the banquet hall was filled with prominent figures, none of whom Karen recognized. He was like an auxiliary patrolman who, through a stroke of luck, found himself attending an official municipal banquet in a direct-controlled municipality. Who could he possibly know?
Under Peige's guidance, however, Karen unlocked a whole new world of cuisine. New ingredients meant new pairings and new flavors.
Procuring such ingredients was exceedingly difficult. Even though Allen Manor was wealthy in the secular world, they couldn't afford to squander vast amounts of point coupons on rare culinary delicacies.
Only the church possessed that level of luxury and deep reserves.
During the banquet, another brief interlude occurred. A handsome man in a white suit invited Miss Ophelia to dance. Ophelia accepted, and the two danced a turn together.
For a moment, all eyes in the hall turned toward them. One had to admit that under the banquet lights, they looked like a golden couple.
Taking advantage of the brief lull in duties, Peige returned with another platter of roast meat, sharing it with Karen.
"Charcoal-grilled saurian meat, from the tenderest cut of the lower jaw. This single plate costs six thousand Order coupons. I grabbed the whole thing."
"Mm, great." Karen and Peige buried their heads and ate.
Before long, Karen had devoured the equivalent of nearly three months of Mr. Pavaro's salary.
Meanwhile, the dance in the center of the hall was only halfway through.
"Who's that guy?" Karen asked Peige.
Before Peige could answer, the maid Xinla, who had been standing nearby watching the two of them gorge themselves, replied:
"That is the grandson of the Chief Bishop of the York City Region. He is also a prospective marriage partner for our lady—the one truly seen beneath the mottled light of the dark moon."
*The Chief Bishop? One rank higher than Viclay's grandfather.*
*That essentially makes him the foremost authority in what was Ruilan Region.*
*And 'beneath the mottled light of the dark moon'—does that mean a union decreed by the Dark Moon?*
Karen noticed the faint sneer playing at the corner of Xinla's mouth as she finished her explanation.
Karen didn't care in the slightest; he couldn't be bothered to waste his temper on a maid. Peige, on the other hand, nudged Karen with her elbow and rapidly flapped her lips at him. Though he couldn't understand a word she mouthed—and she probably didn't know what she was saying either—she was definitely cursing the maid on his behalf.
Karen smiled, his gaze scanning the tables for other dishes that looked exorbitantly expensive.
*Tch, what's so special about the grandson of a Bishop or a Chief Bishop? If my grandfather hadn't fallen into slumber, wouldn't I, the eldest grandson of the Inmerlais family's main line, be infinitely more precious than these so-called grandsons?*
The banquet drew to a close.
On the way back to the suite, Xinla was instructed by Ophelia to organize the gift ledger, with Fanny accompanying her since they needed a "local" to help sort things out. Peige went to coordinate tonight's protocol handover with the captain in the shadows, as required by security procedures.
In the end, only Karen and the female warrior accompanied Ophelia into the elevator.
The doors closed, and the elevator began its ascent.
Ophelia rotated her wrists and rubbed her neck with a sigh. "Whew, I'm exhausted. The Church of Order was far warmer than I expected. It seems they're very eager to reach an agreement this time."
"Ahem..." Karen gave a light cough to remind her of his presence.
"Hehehe." Ophelia chuckled. "It's nothing that can't be said. Don't worry about it, Mr. Karen. Everyone knows it; it's an open secret. Don't tell me you didn't know?"
"I didn't."
Karen was telling the truth. Neo seemed to know something about it, but he hadn't explained it clearly or in detail last time, rushing off instead to tell his story about hunting dogs and ducklings.
"Oh. It's just that over recent years, the major churches have been receiving divine oracles and divine guidance far more frequently than before. The gods, who have remained silent throughout this entire era, seem to show signs of awakening."
She paused, then suddenly covered her mouth with a laugh.
"The other thing is a rumor spreading on a massive scale—it claims that the God of Order has abandoned the Church of Order.
"The Dark Moon detected it, and I believe the other churches sensed it as well. That's likely the foundation of the rumor.
"While every other church is busy receiving divine oracles and divine guidance, only the Church of Order's Temple of Order... hehe, was actually blown up by its own divine power."
"..." Karen.
Chapter 173