If it were Karen visiting, Madam Tangli, who had been sitting on the second floor, might have changed into outdoor clothes in the blink of an eye, picked up a basket, and pretended she had just run into him on the street while returning from grocery shopping.
Yet since it was only her own grandson who had returned, Madam Tangli reached into her pocket, pulled out a key, and tossed it casually down from the window.
*Clack!*
Looking at the key that had landed before him, Richard could not resist looking up at his grandmother and shouting in dead earnest,
"Grandma, did you finally find proof that my mom cheated back then?"
Philomena stepped up beside Richard and asked, "There's someone home, so why lock the door?"
Richard answered, "Grandma is an old woman home alone. Keeping the door locked is safer—it keeps out thieves and burglars."
Saying that, Richard picked up the key and gave it a gentle tap. The key dissolved into a rune, and the protective array centered on the front entryway temporarily ceased functioning.
Richard gave a gentle push, and the door swung open.
Philomena: "The array was active?"
Richard: "Grandpa and Grandma probably had a fight."
As they stepped inside, Madam Tangli was just coming down the stairs. She asked, "Richard, where on earth have you been disappearing to all these days?"
Philomena: "The pastry shop."
Madam Tangli pointed a finger at Philomena. "Why didn't you keep him in check?"
Philomena: "I was the one who took him."
Madam Tangli: "Do you have water in your head?"
Philomena tilted her head slightly, angling her left ear downward as if "pouring out" the water in her brain.
It was a provocative gesture, yet also an unspoken understanding between master and disciple.
Madam Tangli's teaching method had always been blunt, brutal, and direct. Want to learn something? Provoke me, give me an excuse, and while beating you up, I'll teach you.
Madam Tangli moved. Her figure vanished from where she stood and reappeared right in front of Philomena.
Philomena stepped back.
Both of their speeds had reached a pinnacle of sorts.
Yet at the very instant their figures crossed, two ghostly silhouettes materialized at Madam Tangli's flanks—one gripping a scimitar, the other holding a dagger. At the same time, the surrounding space was completely locked down, a vivid crimson sheen saturating everything in sight.
The only way for Madam Tangli to break free was to crank up her output of power, but while bursting through the restraint, it would also bring the Guman family house crashing down.
More importantly, was she the only one who could crank up her power?
Though underestimating her opponent out of habit had played a part, this time, from the perspective of an assassin's duel, she, the teacher, had lost.
Madam Tangli remained motionless where she was. The two phantoms vanished, and Philomena returned to her original spot.
"Who taught you that?"
"I learned it in my sleep."
Madam Tangli smiled faintly, then her expression turned cold with a scoff. "Hmph. Looks like I'm no longer qualified to teach you anything."
With dual divine persona inheritances in hand, what assassin in this world was still qualified to instruct her?
Philomena nodded. "Yes, you're right."
Madam Tangli took a deep breath.
Richard hurriedly asked, "Today is a rest day. Where's Grandpa?"
"Rest days were canceled long ago. Didn't you know?"
"Preparing war resources doesn't involve the Formation Department. Grandpa isn't that busy."
"Your grandfather went to see the Head Bishop on business."
Just then, a black crow flew in through the window. Philomena caught it, unfurled it, and read aloud,
"Official document approving a conscription application."
Richard looked at Madam Tangli. "So that's why you and Grandpa argued today?"
"Who argued?"
"The house's defensive array is broken. The ground floor looks untouched, so you must have smashed things on the second floor, right?" Richard walked behind Madam Tangli, placing his hands lightly on her shoulders to give her a massage. "Grandma, I know how hard it is for you to let go, but this is Grandpa's inevitable choice. It's the duty of an Order priest. It's cruel to you, but it cannot be changed."
Philomena continued reading: "Applicant—Tangli Guman."
Richard froze.
Madam Tangli: "Your grandfather found out that I applied too. He got so furious he smashed things and wrecked the house's defensive array."
"Grandma, you're not even an Order believer."
"But the Order believers came out of my belly."
"Who approved your application?"
The scope of the first round of conscription was elderly high-ranking priests; with such criteria, it was virtually impossible to fake credentials and slip in.
"Chief Bern. That's why your grandfather went to see him."
Richard frowned.
Philomena suggested, "You could talk to Karen."
Richard said, "Without Karen's nod, would Bern dare add Grandma's name?"
"Enough." Madam Tangli pushed aside the grandson standing in front of her. "So it's fine for you Order believers to praise Order in front of me while running off to your deaths, but I'm not allowed to join? Am I supposed to just stand here, grieving while clapping for you and praising your greatness?"
Richard sat down on the sofa, interlacing his fingers, and asked, "Grandma, do you know what kind of warfare this conscripted legion fights? It's not like the battles we imagine. From the moment you set foot on the battlefield, the survival rate is practically zero."
Philomena asked curiously, "Do you have his full memories?"
Richard's body had been controlled by Eternal for so long, yet he was now synced with the latest information. It could only mean that while Eternal was enjoying leisure at the pastry shop, he had taken the time to observe that battlefield.
"That's not the point." Richard calmed Philomena, then looked back at his grandmother. "Grandma..."
"I know. Bern showed me the scenes in the memory crystal."
"So there's no possibility of you saving frail Grandpa on that battlefield."
"I can raise a shield. I can die together with your grandfather."
Richard was rendered speechless. It was hard for him to accept, yet he was completely powerless to stop it. He figured Karen must have felt the same way.
"Your grandfather and I are old anyway. We've lived long enough. Perhaps if we die up front, more of you young ones can survive. I don't believe in Order, but I can't bear to let your grandfather go alone. And as an elder, I ought to do something for you children."
Richard leaned back, deliberately letting himself sink into the sofa.
Madam Tangli looked at Philomena and asked, "Did he confess his feelings to you in the car just now?"
Richard sat bolt upright. "The defensive array was on, and you could still eavesdrop?"
Philomena answered, "Mm."
"Did you say yes?"
"Mm."
Madam Tangli said, "When his mother gets off work and comes home tonight, I must hurry and share this good news with her so she can be happy too."
Philomena: "She won't be happy. She doesn't like me."
"You noticed that long ago?"
"Just like how you favor Karen."
"Then that's not bad. It proves she didn't make it too obvious."
Just then, Delon walked in from outside. His red bishop's robes were heavily crumpled. Standing in the doorway, he looked at the living room—and particularly at his wife sitting on the sofa—his chest heaving.
Madam Tangli laughed. "Look at you. You're just not as smart as your grandson. The moment he heard Bern arranged it, he knew who nodded behind the scenes. Only you would make a wasted trip."
Delon said, "Tangli, ever since we got married, I've listened to you on everything in this house, but this matter..."
"Your grandson and the Felcher girl just made their relationship official."
"But this matter, I will never... wait, they slept together?"
Philomena: "Not yet."
Delon immediately reined in his emotions, pointing a finger at his wife: "Now isn't the time to talk about the kids! We're talking about you! Tangli, you've really crossed the line this time. Go find Bern right now and cancel that conscription application!"
Madam Tangli stood up from the sofa. Old Master Delon's arm instantly dropped. Unable to meet her gaze directly, his eyes darted away in instinctive evasion.
"Delon, did I give you too much face? Right now, you've got two choices before you. One: I go to the battlefield with you. You burn what you burn, I collapse what I collapse, and our memorial service can be held together, saving the kids some trouble. The other: you want to go alone, is that it? Fine. I'll kill you first, and then I'll kill myself, so your death won't have a shred of value."
Delon stamped his foot in exasperation. "Ugh, how can you be like this? How could you be like this!"
Madam Tangli said, "You should have realized long ago that the moment you signed that application, you signed my name onto it too."
Delon slumped dejectedly into a chair, rubbing his forehead with his hand. After a long silence, he spoke up:
"I'm hungry."
"I'll cook." Tangli walked toward the kitchen.
Philomena stood up, walked over to the kitchen doorway, and stood there watching inside.
Madam Tangli asked, "Are you supervising?"
"No, I'm keeping up appearances."
"Who taught you that? Richard?"
"Favoritism."
You clearly know who taught me, yet you deliberately avoided the right answer.
"Did you really agree? I mean, shouldn't you think it over a bit more? Heh, you know, back at the very beginning, I thought you'd fall for Karen."
"You didn't have three kids with Diss either."
"Someone handsome and radiant, naturally you can't help looking a few more times. But that isn't love, nor is it suited for living a life together. I adored Diss, but I never loved him. The one I've always liked is Richard's grandfather."
Philomena did not reply.
"Why are you quiet?"
"You're baiting me into saying the same thing as you. When he's not being compared to Karen, you do dote on your grandson."
*Thud!*
Madam Tangli slammed the kitchen knife onto the cutting board, hands on her hips. "Good thing I was accepted for conscription. Otherwise, living under the same roof with you would really be hard to take. I'm starting to think even Kaixi looks agreeable and adorable by comparison."
"Are you about to die?"
"Bah!"
"Then I won't get to eat braised chicken drumsticks anymore."
Madam Tangli let out a sigh and blinked hard, her eyes growing moist.
She reached out, gently embraced Philomena, and patted her back. "In her entire life, Kaixi has never said a sentence that warm."
"Are you touched?"
"Mm, yes."
"Karen taught me that sentence too."
...
The Office Temple, tea area.
Karen and Kred sat facing each other, while Budalas and Foden sat on the same side.
On the other side, Alfred was brewing tea. He served the tea first to Kred, then to his young master, followed by Foden. Foden carried the cup over to Budalas before taking the fourth cup for himself.
Kred took a sip of tea and asked, "The second phase of the war is about to begin, isn't it?"
"Mm." Karen nodded. "Soon."
Kred smiled, maintaining a veneer of calm. "No matter how abundant the family fortune, grinding it down like this is bound to take a toll. It wasn't easy for the ancestors to accumulate this foundation."
Karen knew Kred's heart was aching, so he immediately comforted him: "The foundation is the ancestors themselves. They, at least, hold no grievances."
Kred pursed his lips and looked toward Budalas, speaking quite politely: "Hit the key points."
Budalas produced a document and reported, "At present, the collective wars of aggression and annexation among the orthodox churches are expanding in scale, and the clashes are growing fiercer. However, this has inadvertently created a relatively stable general environment for our Church of Order."
After all, what the Church of Order feared most was fighting against the returning gods while the ecclesiastical world remained dead silent.
Kred asked, "What about membership dues?"
Budalas: "They are paying very proactively. Especially after our Church announced the proposal allowing other war resources to offset forming a coalition force, they became even more eager."
Foden asked, puzzled, "Why not form a coalition force? Wouldn't it be good to send them up to whittle down the enemy?"
Karen answered, "Without a mindset of resolute martyrdom, facing the tide of deities will only cause them to collapse. Not only might they fail to stem the return of the gods, but they would also serve as the deities' first meal."
Foden shrugged. "Doesn't that let them off too lightly?"
Budalas said, "In accordance with the Acting High Priest's recommendation, recruitment of volunteers from external churches has also officially commenced."
Kred hurriedly asked, "How are the results?"
Budalas: "The response is very strong. Many priests from external churches have voluntarily renounced their church affiliations to join the volunteer legion. Aside from the inevitable infiltration of elements like the Silencers and spies, the overwhelming majority are brimming with enthusiasm."
Foden: "Background checks will be handled by the Whip of Order."
Budalas: "In addition, per the War Academy's requirements, the first round of internal conscription within the Church has begun. There are age and capability criteria, and many have signed up. However, there are also cases of falsifying physical conditions or dodging conscription."
Kred pointed at Foden. "Have the Whip of Order conduct an investigation. Those who intentionally dodge conscription must be punished publicly and severely!"
Karen spoke up: "I advise against that. Conscripting elderly priests is a systematic and complex undertaking, and we need to screen appropriately. After all, we aren't forcing every elderly priest to assemble immediately for the battlefield. Certain specialized posts cannot function without personnel, and we must maintain the Church's normal operations. Once a public crackdown begins, it could trigger the opposite extreme, potentially paralyzing the Church."
Kred said, "Most of those dodging conscription are high-ranking priests. Leaving aside faith in Order, given the stipends and perks the Church granted them in the past, they shouldn't have the gall to do such a thing! Leaving that minority alone and allowing them to persist is an insult to those who truly march to their deaths. I can't swallow this anger."
Karen said, "I am not saying we ignore it. I propose the Whip of Order conduct a discreet investigation first, recording their names in a registry. When the appropriate time comes in the future, we can settle accounts ruthlessly."
Foden: "I obey your decree."
Kred took the cigar Alfred had lit for him, drew a deep puff puffing out his cheeks, and slowly exhaled.
His eyes grew slightly rimmed with red, and he rubbed the corner of an eye with the back of his hand.
"I must be the most squandering High Priest in the history of our Church."
He took another drag and, amid the billowing smoke before him, said, "Karen, I'll join the final contingent. When that time comes, you will formally succeed as High Priest. I'm burdening you—who knows how much of our Church's foundation will be left by then. You'll just have to bear the burden of holding things together."
Karen shook his head. "Please don't be so irresponsible. Someone must shoulder the psychological burden and carry on living with fortitude. You have to live."
Kred: "No room for discussion?"
Karen said firmly, "I'll have to burden you instead."
Because in the end, Karen himself was bound for the battlefield too.
He couldn't let a Church of Order already reduced to a precarious, hollow shell lose two High Priests in quick succession. That would make a terrible situation as bad as it could possibly get.
Budalas produced another document. "One more matter. The newly restored Church of Light... the Pope of Light has issued an official ecclesiastical communique, requesting an ecclesiastical visit to our Church."
Kred clenched both hands, then slowly relaxed them. He said,
"Reply in the affirmative. I will handle the reception."
Karen said, "Perhaps I should receive him in my capacity as Acting High Priest?"
Kred: "It doesn't matter to me anymore. I'm already tainted anyway. You just stay clean."
Hearing this, Karen pressed no further.
After the meeting adjourned, Karen and Foden walked out of the Office Temple side by side.
Foden: "Not coming over to my place to sit for a while?"
Karen: "I need to head back and deal with some family matters."
"Mm, all right. Then I'll head back to headquarters first, High Priest."
"Very well, Whip-Wielder."
Foden descended the steps. His gaze lingered on Karen's carriage for a moment longer before he boarded his own.
Once the carriage door closed, Foden drew a deep breath and let it out slowly.
Back when the Boss was around, facing him had never felt this exhausting. Now, facing Karen, he had to overcome an instinctive inner fear and awe while simultaneously pretending they were as close as before—it was truly an ordeal.
Karen boarded his carriage. Driving it was Muri, while sitting inside was Neo.
"The Pope arrives so early?"
"Not bad. Foden personally showed up for the Church's reestablishment ceremony, which helped keep everyone in line. Though the other orthodox churches didn't understand, seeing that our Church of Light now has Order's protection, they haven't dared move against us yet. Even within our own ranks, things have calmed down considerably."
Karen said, "Once the second phase of the divine war ends, I'm afraid Order's weakness won't remain concealed for long. When that time comes and your new Church of Light loses its backer, things will turn perilous."
"What's the big deal? Worst-case scenario, we go back to being remnants again. Heh heh, but your Church of Order—once the ferocious tiger is discovered to have lost its claws and fangs, its fate is bound to be miserable, wouldn't you say?
"So, I think this ecclesiastical visit is quite important. In my delegation, I've brought along plenty of veteran priests of Light. When the time comes, we can hold a few workshops to share our experience."
"From the sound of it, you're actually looking forward to it?"
"Hahahahaha! Isn't that right? Just thinking that one day I might be able to address you by that title fills me with an indescribable joy."
Karen ignored Neo, picking up a glass and dropping ice cubes into it.
Neo nudged Karen's arm and teased,
"Hey, say something, my dear Remnant of Order."
Chapter 951