Meanwhile, in a hidden dimension in the central region of the Eastern Continent.

Atop an endless mountain range, towering palaces of gold stood, each supported by massive stone pillars.

Within each palace were several people in Golden Robes. The golden insignia of the Dawn Church was emblazoned on their chests as they knelt on the ground, faces pious, hands clasped in silent prayer.

DONG, DONG DONG...

Just then, a series of chimes shattered the tranquility, and all who were in quiet worship opened their eyes in unison.

"Is that Dawn’s warning bell?"

"Another Holy Favored has appeared... No, that’s not it!"

"It’s not a Holy Favored! It’s a Candidacy Saintess who has inherited an Authority!"

Upon this realization, they all rose and looked toward the highest palace deep in the mountains, the one that represented the pinnacle of Dawn. Though their faces remained impassive, a hint of joy flickered in their eyes.

’Another Authority has appeared...’

’This means the power of our Dawn Church has grown even stronger!’

Just as they thought, inside the supreme palace of the Dawn Church, several old men in red robes sat upon high-backed chairs. Their faces were ancient, but their expressions were serene.

Opposite them, seated on an even higher golden, high-backed throne, was an old man wearing a golden crown. He was none other than the Pope of the Dawn Church—Saint Jobin XV.

"His Holiness the Pope, this... this is the fifth one, is it not?"

"Mm."

Saint Jobin XV gazed calmly out of the palace, his sight seemingly piercing through layers of space to witness the events unfolding far away on the Cordo Sea.

"Since the Fourth Era, this is the first time Dawn has bestowed Authorities upon more than four Favored Ones... What is the Authority this time?"

"The Kindness Authority."

Hearing this, all the Cardinals broke into smiles. "The Kindness Authority is a good one. It is far more suited to spreading Dawn’s teachings than the Desecration Authority."

"In that case, this era will see the descent of four Guardians: Heroism, Kindness, Judgment, and Punishment. And on top of that, there is the one with the Desecration Authority..."

"Every time multiple Saintesses appear, it means the Dawn Church is about to face a crisis..."

"Or perhaps it’s a sign of Dawn’s favor? After all, our historical records show that five Authority-wielding Saintesses have appeared only once before..."

Saint Jobin XV raised a hand slightly, silencing their debate. "Whatever the future holds, it is by Dawn’s guidance. Our duty is to protect them and prevent those malevolent entities from harming them."

"Yes, Your Holiness!"

Saint Jobin XV gave a slight nod and said no more. A momentary blankness flashed in his eyes, as if he were communing with something. After a few seconds, his brow furrowed, and he sighed in a voice tinged with age, "Huberto has returned to the embrace of Dawn."

"What?"

The Cardinals below were stunned. "How could he have fallen? He was pursuing that Mutated Mage under the authority of a Judgment Order, was he not?"

"It was the work of that Mutated Mage. And it was precisely because of this that Huberto sacrificed his faith in its entirety, praying for Dawn to bestow its blessing and allow... Pavla to become Dawn’s Favored, the Inheritor of the Kindness Authority."

"Fallen, sacrificed..."

The Cardinals exchanged a look and declared in unison, "All who blaspheme against Dawn shall face Dawn’s judgment!"

The Pope nodded slightly, then rose, waving his scepter. He gave the cold command, "Have the Judgement Saintess and her legion mobilize."

The Cardinals were stunned again. "Your Holiness, at this time..."

’The Heroic Saintess is already on the Cordo Sea,’ they thought, ’much closer to that Mutated Mage. Surely there’s no need to mobilize the Judgement Saintess...’

"In addition to Huberto, Ambrose has also returned to the embrace of Dawn!"

"Hm?" The Cardinals’ eyes grew cold. "You mean the Great Knight sent to pursue Ales Kilibali? Did something happen to him as well?"

"Have the Judgement Saintess pursue Wei’en Loft, the Mutated Mage from the Ghost Soul School, and bring back the new Inheritor of the Kindness Authority. At the same time, inform the Heroic Saintess to halt her journey to the Southern Continent. She is to bring Ales back to the Holy Sanctuary!"

"Ales is to be brought back as well?"

Saint Jobin XV’s expression was cold. "That is correct. Bring him to the Holy Sanctuary. This is a decree delivered just now by the great Dawn itself!"

"We shall obey!"

The Cardinals dared not doubt or hesitate. They believed that the Pope, who could communicate directly with Dawn, would never dare to falsely relay the holy edict of the Great One.

After they had all departed, Saint Jobin XV sat back down upon his golden, high-backed throne.

"Sigh..."

After a long moment, a deep sigh echoed through the vast palace.

"Gunfire rings out, the death knell has sounded... Oh, Dawn..."

...

...

Meanwhile, in the Clown Theater, Clelia’s expression changed the moment she saw the pillar of light in the sky.

"Damn it, that’s Dawn’s blessing ceremony! Menor, we have to get Wei’en back here, and fast! Once that ceremony begins, he won’t be able to escape."

Menor, who was also watching the scene in the mirror, heard her and said with a note of resignation, "You’re being a bit too impatient. You were the one who decided not to tell him about the proxy necklace, after all."

"I’ve already gotten the answer I wanted. The situation is different now." Clelia glared at him. "Just tell me, can you go out and save him right now or not?"

"No need to rush. Haven’t you noticed that someone else has arrived?"

"Hm?"

Menor waved his hand, and the image in the mirror shifted, revealing a new angle. A Five-Masted Sailing Ship was rapidly approaching the location where Wei’en and the others were.

Clelia glanced at it, her brow furrowed. "That figurehead... isn’t that the mark of the Black Pearl?"

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