Remember My Kindness Too

"This request of yours comes as quite a surprise. I originally assumed you would propose an immediate, more practical condition." "Because right now, I have nothing else to ask of you. Besides, I don't feel I'm on the losing end—quite the opposite, I think I'm getting an incredible bargain." Karen shook his head. Davins smiled. "You don't believe me? Actually, I've been watching you for a long time. How should I put it? You are both impulsive and rational. Of course, those aren't the most important factors. The most important thing is that the path you are currently walking, and the trajectory the higher-ups have mapped out for you, are already set in stone. "You should know what our region's current Head Bishop used to do. He lived his entire life in the shadows, and only because of that last incident was he forced to whitewash his record and step into the light. "However, stepping out of the shadows merely feels a bit unfamiliar. But stepping from the light into the shadows... the opportunity simply doesn't exist. "So that's where you differ from our esteemed Head Bishop. He walked out, but you cannot walk in. From now on, you can only be used by the higher-ups time and time again as a knife. "This incident is an excellent example. The higher-ups originally intended to seek retribution, which is why they assigned you to oversee security for the Church of the Desert delegation. "Although the directive now is to call it off, this kind of dirty, exhausting work has already become yours by default." Karen picked up his teacup and remained silent. What Davins said was almost identical to what Regional Chief Sus had told him. Because he saw this trend clearly, the Regional Chief, whose attitude toward Karen had already been favorable, had become even more accommodating. "Unless you die an unexpected, violent death, or trip and break your neck along this path someday, once you truly go far down this road, then in the future, if the higher-ups deem it necessary to purge us..." Davins pointed a finger at his own face. "...the task of purging us will most likely be handed to you. You must know, we are also believers in Order, and our connections are extremely intricate. Do you know how many people stand behind me, or what posts they occupy? "Furthermore, you should understand the consequences of raising the butcher's blade against your own people. Yet that is your destiny. "People often say that looking at someone in their childhood gives you a rough idea of what they'll be like when they grow up. The same applies to one's career. "So, my request is sincere. If a day comes when we fail, when the higher-ups can truly no longer tolerate our existence... don't hesitate. Do whatever you must. My only plea is that you don't go out of your way to exterminate every last one of us. "Can you promise me that, Department Head Karen?" Karen remained silent. Davins picked up the teapot, refilling their cups one after the other. "Thank you for not giving me a hasty reply. In that, I see your sincerity." "I really dislike your choice of words." "Heh heh. If we have plenty of opportunities to interact in the future, I will change them." "I promise you." "Thank you." Davins crossed his hands over his chest. "In this cooperation, I've come out ahead." "I don't particularly enjoy dealing with people like you, because you always love mysteriously drawing nodal points across the future, as if you've already grasped and seen through everything." "Ah, but this isn't divination. This is merely a reasonable analysis based on existing conditions. I don't believe you will stumble halfway. If you were going to fall, you would have fallen long ago, yet here you are, steadily seated before me. That isn't luck. "Now, can we change the subject?" "Since we've finished discussing our cooperation, next..." "Don't be in such a hurry. That conference won't end anytime soon. With the desert faction dropping to their knees so quickly, our superiors handling this matter will definitely want to swallow as much as they possibly can. We have plenty of time. "When did you first learn of us? Don't tell me you found out from the Head Bishop, because I can tell that's not true." "Then how should I answer?" "Just answer honestly. To put it a bit dramatically, from the moment you stepped out of the parlor door, leading with your left foot, I could sense that you harbored immense wariness toward us... no, disgust. "In your eyes, we are like a vat of fermented paste infested with maggots—something you instinctively want to avoid." Karen smiled faintly. "Yet sometimes, even a vat of paste with maggots can have quite a wonderful flavor." "Indeed. You can understand us, yet you still reject us." "You really should have been a diviner." "Alas." Davins let out a sigh. "Then let me ask a more specific question. In your eyes, what is the difference between us and the High Priest?" "That question is too grand. I don't believe it's my place to answer." "Even a cab driver in Wien can critique the colonial policies of the Wien Empire. Department Head Karen, your status is already high enough." "Very well. In my view, the High Priest is a pragmatic reformer." "Mm, good. And what about us?" "A bunch of passionate idealists." "I understand." Davins stood up, smoothing his divine robes as he spoke. "To a certain extent, I admit you are right." "And then?" Karen asked as he stood up as well. With unspoken mutual understanding, both prepared to bring the meeting to a close. "Radicalism and conservatism are relative. Without radicalism, conservatism cannot be thrown into relief. Without a left, where would a right come from? "In your eyes, we are idealists. But would you believe that sooner or later, you will discover that our High Priest... "He... "...is the true idealist." ... Stepping out of the ring of light of the teleportation circle, Karen and Alfred walked down the stairs. A café waiter stepped forward, carrying packaged takeout boxes, which Alfred reached out to take. "Young Master, please wait a moment. I'll bring the car around." Soon, Alfred drove the VIP car over. Neo's precious baby was now being used far more often by Karen. That was only natural, though. Perhaps what Neo truly cared about was the thrill of pursuit; he wasn't accustomed to facing the reality of possession. After getting into the car, Davins's parting words still echoed in Karen's mind. "Young Master, if we awaken Morindi, we might learn the true secret." "Secrets can't fill your stomach." Awakening a powder keg just for a secret was hardly a worthwhile bargain. "Young Master speaks truly." "It'll be hard work for you moving forward, handling the liaison. I'm actually quite curious about just how much strength they possess. In addition, review the roster of newly appointed bishops once more. I suspect some of their people made it onto that list." "Understood, Young Master." "Back to the hotel." "Yes, Young Master." When they returned to the Ankara Hotel, the afternoon session had already begun. Karen didn't head to the conference hall, returning instead to his room. He liked the layout of the Ankara Hotel facing the sea—the gloom, the damp chill, coupled with the habitually overcast skies. That somber, ink-wash heaviness was well-suited for letting one's thoughts wander. Alfred poured Karen a glass of ice water and took his leave; he was already busy, and he would only become busier. Karen gently massaged the space between his brows with his fingertips, reclining on the sofa facing the floor-to-ceiling window, drifting into a daze. Time tended to pass very quickly in moments like this. It seemed he had only sat for a little while before night fell completely. "Hoo..." Stretching lazily, Karen felt exhausted—the comfortable kind of exhaustion. Without ordering dinner, he took a shower and lay down on the bed. In that moment, it felt as if his body and the soft bedding had achieved the most flawless harmony. Karen slept soundly that night. Over the next three days, Karen's routine consisted mostly of sitting in on the conference proceedings in the morning, skipping the afternoon sessions to daydream in his room, having a light bite for dinner, and heading to bed early. It genuinely felt like a vacation, and an all-expenses-paid one at that. In any case, the lingering exhaustion he had brought back from the Church of the Crypt was thoroughly cleared away over these few days. There was another piece of good news during this time: Philomena and the others had all recovered from their injuries, been discharged from the hospital, and rejoined the squad. Karen attended this afternoon's meeting because an exceptional figure had arrived at the venue from the Dinge Region: Gisen, Deputy Director of the Church of Order's Foreign Affairs Department. When Gisen walked into the conference hall, Karen recognized him at first glance. A middle-aged man who looked remarkably youthful, he carried a distinct aura in every gesture. If one had to describe it concretely, it was probably the very demeanor most people believed Order ought to possess—aloof, stern, yet impeccably elegant. After all, his previous post had been as one of the church's official spokespersons, where appearances were of paramount importance. "One of his ancestors is a Temple Elder," Richard said, handing Karen an information card. Having become the director of an office, Richard had put his capabilities to use, swiftly uncovering Gisen's background. His own family pedigree made that sort of task extraordinarily convenient. "Still alive?" Karen asked. "Yes, still alive, but of very senior standing." Condensing a godhead fragment and entering the Temple granted an extension of lifespan. That was one reason many priests dreamed of entering the Temple, and such longevity was considered relatively natural, not obtained through unorthodox or extreme means—at least, on the surface. Gisen's arrival pushed the conference atmosphere into a quiet crescendo, accelerating the proceedings. This would likely count toward his political achievements. Although the current High Priest maintained a suppressive stance toward the Temple, that was merely pushing the Temple's reach away from the highest tiers of governance. Descendants of Temple Elder clans found it difficult to enter the church's core inner circle, but their advancement had not been completely blocked—in truth, doing so was impossible. They remained a crucial component of the church's power hierarchy. According to the original plan, the conference might have dragged on for more than three days, but today, virtually all procedural steps were concluded. Tomorrow would merely be for wrapping things up. If rushed, a celebratory banquet could be held tomorrow evening, and the Church of the Desert delegation could head back the day after. Karen knew that little time remained for him. Fortunately, the operational plan was complete—in fact, two plans had been prepared: one to strike inside the hotel, and one to strike while escorting them out of the territory, leaving the choice to Karen. The session ended. Just as Karen was preparing to leave, Bern walked straight down from the conference table and sat down beside him. With the two of them sitting there, everyone in the vicinity immediately steered clear. "A new development," Bern said. "Because of him?" "He's merely one manifestation of it." "Don't speak in riddles." "There's a dinner gathering later. Gisen will be there, along with the delegation from the Dinge Region. It's an internal celebration in advance of the conference's success. Are you coming?" Karen shook his head. "Before the session started, I chatted with him. He brought you up. He's quite interested in you." "What does that have to do with me?" "A direct descendant of a Temple Elder, a future standard-bearer heavily backed by a faction—and you dismiss him so casually?" Who isn't? "Can he help us break through our bottleneck and secure a promotion?" Karen countered. "Work is work, but my position no longer allows me to act on whims. By the way, Sus will be there too, and he'll have something to say to you." Karen's eyes narrowed slightly, instantly deciphering the meaning hidden behind Bern's elusive words. "They're replacing the head of security?" "Heh heh, congratulations, you got it right. After dinner tonight, he plans to take a stroll through the Wien Royal Palace and specifically requested your company." "And my duties?" "Sus will personally step in to take your place. Your Regional Chief has to give the man face." "When was this decided?" "Before the session—a last-minute decision. Not to stir up trouble, but your Regional Chief probably only received the summons just now. He wasn't trying to hide it from you and will likely notify you and explain shortly." "They distrust me that much?" Karen countered. Bern shrugged. "Tell me, wasn't this precautionary move on their part the right call?" "Heh." "You were originally the knife the higher-ups intended to use for killing. Now that they no longer intend to kill, they naturally have to move you aside first out of respect. It never crossed their minds that you, the knife, had already planned to do the killing on your own." "And then?" "And then, are you ready on your end?" "Ready." "Then tonight is your last chance. Even if your Regional Chief steps in personally, reorganizing the personnel and re-establishing the security perimeter will take time. Before midnight tonight is your final window to act." "I understand." "Are you attending the dinner?" "No." "What about the stroll through the royal palace tonight?" "I'll go." "Good." Bern stood up and patted Karen on the shoulder. Just as Karen thought he was about to leave, he sat back down, his expression turning somber. "Something else?" Karen asked. "Do you trust my intuition?" "No." "Uh..." Bern cast Karen a slightly pained look. "Then do you trust my professional acumen?" "Yes." "A possibility suddenly occurred to me, because of Gisen's arrival... Karen, you cannot use them." "Them" referred to Davins and his group. "Why?" "Gisen's arrival cannot be hidden from them. I've always believed that among the newly appointed bishops, aside from Delon, every single one could be one of their people. "Don't place faith in their credibility. They can use so-called ideals and faith to justify every irrational deed they commit. That is what I know of them. "Before Gisen arrived, I thought that if you were determined to kill someone, borrowing them as a knife was suitable enough. Now that Gisen is here, in their eyes, killing the Desert delegation is merely a way to express their ideals, an outlet for venting dissatisfaction and rebellion against the church's current state; "Yet in reality, they are far more eager to purge our own people. "Given the exact same opportunity, if you were them, would you still want to kill the Church of the Desert folks, or would you want to kill Gisen? The faction behind him is the real driving force that overturned the original plan, and in the eyes of those fanatics... they are traitors to the faith." At this point, Bern's gaze suddenly turned fierce, and he cursed under his breath: "Damn it, I need to investigate who the hell suggested that Gisen take a stroll through the Wien Royal Palace tonight!" The former shadow syndicate leader and head of the secret service—even after being whitewashed and elevated to Head Bishop, his old professional instincts had not faded. Bern stood up once more and strode out. Karen called after him, "Nothing more to say?" "Is there anything left to say?" Bern stopped in his tracks and turned back. "Are you going to give up?" Karen's answer was crisp and immediate: "No." "Then there's nothing more for me to say. Gisen is no ordinary figure; to a certain degree, he's a special envoy dispatched by the higher-ups. If he dies, the nature of the incident will be entirely different from the deaths of those Desert delegates—the repercussions will be worlds apart. The person in charge of security will certainly take the fall. "Fortunately, this is no longer my jurisdiction. The Regional Administrative Office has already ceded that authority to the Whip of Order. "From my perspective, I'd actually be delighted to see Gisen dead. The ensuing fallout would give me the perfect excuse to overhaul the Regional Administrative Office a second time, and might even compel the higher-ups, out of a need to maintain stability, to return to me the clandestine powers they once stripped away. "It won't affect you much either. You'll be relieved of your security duties shortly, and your superior will take over. When investigations follow, your superior will probably have to be reassigned. "Pity both of us have hit a dead end for promotion because of our past records. Otherwise, this would truly be a golden opportunity for you—a great chance to unseat your direct superior and take his place. "The only unlucky one is Sus." Having spoken his blunt truth, Bern departed. Karen sat in his seat for a while before getting up to leave. He didn't attend the so-called internal gathering, though for a young priest, it was a prime networking opportunity. However, upon returning to his room, Karen saw two people standing outside his door—Sus's secretaries. They opened the door for Karen, and Karen saw Sus lying on the sofa with a glass of red wine in his hand. Seen from behind, he looked like a misbehaving child, daring to soil an expensive sofa with his shoes. Hearing Karen's footsteps, Sus didn't turn his head. He spoke directly: "That esteemed special envoy wants to relieve you of your operational responsibilities. Starting tonight, I will personally oversee the security detail." "I know," Karen replied. Sus drained the wine in his glass in one gulp, then slammed both hands heavily onto the sofa cushion, looking furious—even more like a child throwing a tantrum. Karen stood there silently. After a long silence, Sus's emotions finally settled. He spoke: "I had someone pass a message telling you to back off, didn't I?" "Yes, that's right." "I never approached you personally about this because... I knew you wouldn't back down. After all, Wolflen treated you so well; you certainly want to avenge him." Sus gave a cold chuckle, picked up the wine bottle, and poured himself another brimming glass. "Moving forward, I will personally take over the security detail. Tell me, is your plan foolproof?" "Hm?" "The plan should be meticulously designed, right? The scapegoat, the details, the motives—everything is set?" "It is." "Let me ask you one last time: can you stop?" Karen shook his head. Sus nodded. "Then proceed. I won't change your security arrangements or the personnel assignments. Carry on according to your original plan. As for me, I'm prepared to shoulder the blame and take the punishment. Worst-case scenario, my promotion gets delayed by a year or two, and I stay here as Regional Chief a little longer." "Why are you doing this, sir?" "Although being your superior rarely seems to end well, I admire your tenacity in this matter. Because Wolflen helped you, you're willing to avenge him without regard for your own interests." Sus hopped off the sofa, walked over to Karen, jumped up, and gave Karen a pat on the shoulder: "Remember my kindness too."