13 Mink Street

In the basement, Nio watched the scene unfolding before him. He then turned to look at Bertha in the corner. “In the mythological account of the Light of Order, is there any record of the relationship between the God of Order and the God of Reincarnation?”

Bertha stared at him in surprise. “You’re asking me about the Light of Order?”

Are you the one infiltrating the Church of Order, or am I?

Nio calmly replied, “I’ve never paid much attention to such things. I certainly don’t memorize them.”

Bertha swallowed before answering, “There is no specific record in the Light of Order describing any direct interaction between the God of Order and the God of Reincarnation. The Compendium of Reincarnation doesn’t contain such records either.”

“Are you sure?” Nio asked.

“I am. I can recite both texts from memory.”

“Oh,” Nio said. “No wonder your competency is so poor. You’ve wasted so much effort on meaningless things.”

“...” Bertha.

Nio crossed his arms, his fingers lightly tapping against his sleeves. “That’s strange. Both the God of Order and the God of Reincarnation were very active High Gods during the last epoch. Why would there be no record of their interactions in either the Light of Order or the Compendium of Reincarnation?”

“Because their relationship wasn’t good,” Bertha replied.

“Oh? Explain.”

“There is a record in Light Epoch describing one of their encounters.”

She hesitated briefly.

“Go on,” Nio urged.

At this point, Bertha was certain that this powerful follower of Light had not even read Light Epoch.

“In Light Epoch, there is a passage: ‘The God of Reincarnation constructed the Reincarnation Gate, inviting the souls of the world to enter and pursue rebirth and happiness. The God of Order then approached my Lord, saying that the Reincarnation Gate would obstruct the spread of Light and also hinder the extension of Order. My Lord replied: the Reincarnation Gate can reduce the chaos of wandering souls and provide the dead with a better destination.’” Bertha pursed her lips. “That is all the record says.”

“When did this happen?” Nio asked. “I mean what happened in that passage.”

“In the middle period of the previous epoch.”

“I see,” Nio nodded. “So the reason there are no records of any interaction between the two High Gods in the Light of Order or the Compendium of Reincarnation is because their relationship was poor.”

The passage from Light Epoch could be interpreted this way: because of the Reincarnation Gate, the God of Order approached the God of Light and pointed out the various dangers. Implicitly, he hoped that the God of Light would agree to oppose the God of Reincarnation.

During the early and middle stages of that epoch, the God of Light had held the highest status, while the God of Order, though also qualified as a High God, often followed the will of the God of Light.

But the God of Light had refused.

Over the course of the many divine wars of that epoch, the God of Reincarnation had either abstained or stood with Light, alongside the God of Order. As the leader of that faction, it was natural for the God of Light to avoid internal conflict.

Yet Nio felt that things were not that simple. What if the God of Light had protected the God of Reincarnation for reasons beyond maintaining unity?

“A better destination for the dead...” Nio murmured the phrase.

The problem was that in the later portion of the previous epoch, the God of Order had gradually broken free of the God of Light’s control. Their relationship had shifted from subordinate to equals, and the God of Order had begun waging war in the name of Order against numerous gods.

By the end of the epoch, the number of gods suppressed or caused to fall by the God of Order was immense. Many of the so-called heretical cults of the current epoch had received those labels because their gods had been judged heretical by the God of Order during that period.

Since that time, as the Church of Order had risen to power and eventually replaced the fallen Church of Light as the dominant power in the ecclesiastical world, its followers would never overturn their own High God’s judgment. Those cults could only remain heretical.

But why had the God of Order spared the God of Reincarnation?

If he had intended to eradicate Reincarnation, why not act during that time and personally destroy the God of Reincarnation and the Reincarnation Gate? Was it because he could not defeat the God of Reincarnation?

Nio shook his head. Anyone familiar with the myths of that epoch would never think so. This was not some embellishment from the Light of Order. Nearly all church mythologies recorded just how terrifying and frenzied the God of Order had become during the final period of that epoch. Even the Light of Order deliberately softened those records to avoid portraying its own High God as excessively violent.

The true question was, why did the God of Order choose not to act against Reincarnation? What secret did the Reincarnation Gate conceal?

Nio sank into deep thought. After a long while, he sighed in regret. He believed this war would at most cripple Reincarnation, not destroy it. If the Church of Order truly intended annihilation and sent its knight regiments into Reincarnation Valley, then the secret hidden deep within the Reincarnation Gate might finally be revealed.

What a pity. He turned his gaze back to the scene, repeating Karon’s earlier words: “The existence of the Church of Reincarnation has disrupted the Order that should exist between life and death”

***

The three souls bound by the white chain gradually quieted, yet their emotions began flowing through the chain and into Karon. Fragmented memories flickered in his mind.

His eyes reddened slightly as he suppressed the dizziness. He did not attempt to read those memories. Doing so would consume too much energy. Yet their hatred and rage toward Talina were unmistakable.

Though the Church of Reincarnation could bind souls through pacts and use them in battle, it could never form a regiment like the First Knight Regiment of the Church of Order. Souls worthy of selection had been extraordinary in life. Such individuals would not willingly accept servitude after death. Against weaker opponents, these pacts were effective, but against equal or stronger foes, the souls would hold back without their master realizing it.

This was exactly what had happened with that female soul earlier, which had deliberately prevented the serpent from reacting and enabled Karon’s ambush. They were like an army of slaves, waiting for the moment to rebel.

Talina knelt on the ground, her face twisted in agony as the chain tore the souls from her, as if ripping apart her own spirit.

Karon lifted the Aelius Sword and walked toward her. Hearing his footsteps, Talina forced herself upright despite the pain, glaring at him. “What is your name? Tell me your name!”

Karon said nothing and continued forward.

“You dare kill me but not tell me your name?”

“My name... is Rhanedar.”

“Rhanedar... good. I will remember it. You will be found by Reincarnation. Your existence will not be tolerated! I curse you to endless cycles of suffering! I curse your family to burn in Reincarnation Valley! I curse your descendants...”

Karon stopped and looked at her. They had no prior grudge. This was their first meeting.

But this was also war. Speaking of morality and mercy in war was not kindness; It was foolishness. Reflection belonged after victory or defeat.

Karon lowered his head slightly. “I will not kill you.”

Talina froze. “What?”

Karon nodded and rested the sword on his shoulder. He closed his eyes, and the white chain withdrew and vanished.

The freed souls screamed and surged into Talina, seizing control. Her body twisted violently as she was consumed. At last, the screams ceased.

Karon opened his eyes. The three souls stood before him, while Talina lay dead. They offered him gratitude, according to their respective rites. Karon shook his head, but did not respond further than that. He had not acted to save them. He had intended to grant Talina a swift death, but her curse had changed his mind.

He turned toward the photo studio. He could feel a gaze watching him. Captain... were you watching me?

The three souls began to fade, and vanish an instant later. Their existence had always depended on the life force supplied by the dark red bead Talina carried. With that supply gone, the souls could no longer remain. However, this was the exact release they had long desired.

Karon bent down and picked up the bead. At this moment, it felt no different from an ordinary glass marble, though he made no attempt to channel spirituality into it.

“That’s a pact bead of the Church of Reincarnation. The one she had was high quality. It’s worth a lot.”

Nio appeared at his side, and Karon handed the bead over. “Do we need to turn it in?”

“This operation was just the two of us. The spoils are divided between us based on contribution. If you want to keep it, I have no objections.”

“How is it used?”

“With their Arts. They draw a soul from the Gate of Reincarnation and bind it inside to form a pact.”

“That restrictive? Can it still sell?”

“Anyone who can afford it doesn’t need us to worry about whether they can use it.”

“Then please handle it.”

“Alright.” Nio took the bead, then gestured toward the ground. “Take whatever you want.”

Karon glanced down. At Nio’s feet lay leather the armor, daggers, and boots. Karon knew exactly where all of those items had come from. The armor and boots didn’t interest him; They were tailored for women. As for the daggers, he considered them briefly, but with the Aelius Sword in his hand, they became redundant. Even if Eunice were to use them in the future, he would rather spend his own credits to buy her something new rather than give her something taken off from someone else. The same applied to Pu’er, if she ever returned to human form.

“I don’t need any of this.”

“Then I’ll sell them and transfer your share in credits.”

“Thank you, Captain.”

“No need. I didn’t do anything.” Nio walked over to Talina’s corpse and raised his hand. “Light—Incineration.”

Flames erupted from his palm, engulfing the body and reducing it to ash. Karon stared at the man’s back and thought, So you’re not even pretending anymore?

Then again, he understood; This was likely Nio’s response to Karon revealing a Light Art earlier.

“Captain, what next? Do we continue admiring the moon?”

“Look up.”

Karon raised his head. Shadows were sweeping across the sky.

“The garrison is moving. If the Church Affairs Building refuses to surrender, they’ll launch a direct assault. By dawn, Whip squads from across York City—no, from across all of Veyn—will begin clearing Reincarnation’s chapels and assets, but that has nothing to do with us. Tomorrow, we resume protection duty for the Divine Progeny of the Church of Pamireth.”

“So tonight’s moon-watching is over?”

“One more thing.” Nio tapped his temple. “Something’s been off with my head lately.”

Karon smiled. “I’ve read quite a bit about psychology. I can try some counseling.”

“Will it help?”

“At the very least, it won’t make things worse.”

“Fine. Let’s find a café and do it over coffee.”

“Captain, there’s one more thing.”

“Go on.”

“Last time, Fannie charged me for modifying that handgun.”

Nio looked at Karon.

Karon stared back at Nio.

The two of them stood there in silence on the dim street. Finally, Nio let out a breath. “I thought you’d say you were joking... and take that back.”

“I was about to,” Karon said. “You spoke first.”

“Alright. If this works, the credits I lent you today don’t need to be repaid. Consider it payment for treatment. But only if this works.”

***

The garrison had already arrived and surrounded the Church Affairs Building. The Throne of Order remained in place, and negotiations were underway.

The Church of Order issued a single condition: unconditional surrender, or the building would be erased from the city’s map.

Inside, Archbishop Sarko declared he would cease resistance, though he requested the official declaration of war before proceeding. In other words, he intended to surrender, but he needed it to be a formal surrender, which would ensure that he would be treated as a prisoner of war rather than a traitor.

This might seem unnecessary, but for Sarko and the priests inside, it was absolutely crucial. If the Church of Reincarnation survived this war, they would be able to return as released prisoners rather than betrayers.

Eisen sat by the side of the road with his injured wife. Ahead of them was the Church Affairs Building and the assembled garrison.

“I didn’t expect Richard’s teammates to be so strong,” Casey said.

Eisen nodded.

“If he hadn’t shown up, would Richard have become an orphan tonight?”

“He still has his grandfather and his aunt. Even without us, he wouldn’t be an orphan.”

Casey felt her wounds throb again and shot her husband a resentful look. He had laid her flat on the ground, her head against bare concrete, without even offering his lap. “Eisen, you should see a psychiatrist.”

“No need.”

“If you don’t, I’m divorcing you and finding Richard a new father.”

“Alright.”

“...”

A massive eagle descended from the sky, transforming midair into a black scroll. Derron caught it and walked to the entrance of the Church Affairs Building, stopping right at the edge of the barrier.

In front of him stood Archbishop Sarko, with rows of Reincarnation priests spread out behind him. Their robes were straightened as they awaited to be taken prisoner.

Derron opened the scroll. “In the name of Order, by decree of the Senate, on account of—”

He paused. He had expected many possible justifications, especially given the evidence that had already been secured, but certainly not this one.

The true reasons for war could be discussed privately. What appeared in a decree had to be proper.

And yet, he was satisfied. More than satisfied.

A faint flush spread across his lined face. This was the bearing of the Church of Order. This was the authority of the God of Order.

He raised his voice and continued, “Because the existence of the Church of Reincarnation has disrupted the Order that should exist between life and death, the Church of Order hereby declares war upon Reincarnation.”

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