Aler knew that if he couldn't recover the two missing demigods, his position as the governor of the Southern Continent would undoubtedly be revoked, and he would be cast out of the center of power.
"No, I can't let that happen. I've climbed too high to be forced down now."
Staring at the burnt ruins outside his window, Aler took a deep breath and turned to Fred, saying,
"It seems we can't make a move against the Highland Rebels for now. Put all related operations on hold.
I plan to rally all available forces in the Southern Continent and, at some cost, collaborate with Loen to eradicate the Rose School of Thought completely! Loen has long wanted this—after all, they're not the only ones being harassed by the Rose School."
"Her Majesty the Pale Empress has issued a strict order: we are forbidden from interfering. This matter has nothing to do with us.
As for whether the Artificial Death faction will join… that, I don't know. You understand their minds are about as twisted as those lunatics from the Rose School."
Hearing Aler's proposal, Fred flicked the ash from his cigarette and calmly stated his stance.
"Hmph, if you're not participating, then keep your people in check. As for those fools in the Artificial Death faction, even if they wanted to join, we wouldn't let them.
They only know how to make a mess of things."
Hearing the Southern Continent governor's words, Fred smirked and said,
"If that's your plan, then I should probably stay far away from you. I have a feeling those two Rose School angels will personally come for you."
Aler raised an eyebrow and waved away the cigarette smoke, responding in a neutral tone,
"That's nothing to worry about. I've already relayed the situation to the Eternal Blazing Sun Church and the Soren family. It won't be long before two angels arrive in the Southern Continent."
"What? Two angels? Have you lost your mind, Aler?! Do you realize that a battle between four angels could wipe out the entire Southern Continent?"
Fred's expression darkened, and the cigarette in his fingers suddenly extinguished. The air in the room grew cold, a chilling draft swirling around them.
Fred had expected Intis to send someone to handle the matter, but he never imagined they would take it so seriously as to dispatch two angels.
If these two angels clashed directly with the Rose School's forces, the consequences would be catastrophic—the entire Southern Continent could be destroyed!
Taking a deep breath, Fred realized he needed to reconsider whether to return to the headquarters of the Royal Faction's headquarters…
Southern Highlands, Near the Hagati Grasslands – A Remote Basin
Nestled within this remote basin was an ancient city, once part of the Highland Kingdom. After the kingdom's collapse, it had been renamed Red Moon City, serving as the headquarters for the followers of the Primordial Moon.
The city was primarily inhabited by the indigenous tribes of the Southern Continent and the Highland Rebels who worshiped the Primordial Moon.
Beneath Red Moon City, in a dimly lit underground prison, Ael sat comfortably on a chair, one leg crossed over the other, gazing at the elderly priest bound before him. He smirked and said,
"Bishop colic, at this point, do you still have anything to say?"
colic, the once-dignified Archbishop of the Eternal Blazing Sun, now sat shackled, his abilities sealed, reduced to an ordinary man. He sighed deeply and responded in his deep, aged voice,
"Your Highness, since you have not killed me outright, you must have your own agenda. May I ask—what price must be paid for our release?"
The moment he regained consciousness and saw this young man, colic had given up on resistance.
Because he knew—no matter how much he struggled, it was futile.
Sitting before him was an angel. A true mythic entity that had transcended humanity.
Even if colic were at his peak, wielding a Grade-0 Sealed Artifact, he wouldn't stand a chance against such an existence. Let alone now, when he was a mere prisoner.
"Good. You're much more perceptive than that Iron-Blooded Knight," Ael said with a smile, nodding in satisfaction.
"Dean, remove the bishop's shackles. It's hardly gentlemanly to mistreat the elderly."
At Ael's command, the bald, middle-aged man standing beside him—Dean, a Sequence 3 Coffin Bearer—bowed respectfully and stepped forward, unlocking the heavy restraints.
The moment the shackles fell away, colic exhaled in relief. With his abilities sealed and his constitution weakened, his current body was no stronger than that of an elderly civilian. The prolonged restraint had left him utterly exhausted.
Seeing the old priest gasping for breath, Dean ran a hand over his smooth, bald head and spoke coldly,
"You should be grateful for the Godson's mercy. If it were up to me, you wouldn't be in one piece right now. You'd either be missing some body parts… or growing a few extra ones."
Dean was one of the three resident demigods in Red Moon City. Having lived in the Southern Continent for years, he had witnessed too many atrocities committed by the Intis colonists—massacres, plundering, slavery, unspeakable horrors.
He harbored no sympathy for these invaders.
Hearing Dean's cold remark, colic lifted his head and, under the dim lighting, got a good look at the man's face. As if recalling something, he murmured in a low voice,
"You… You're Roland Constantine, the former Archbishop of the Earth Mother Church. The one who was once the strongest candidate for the next Pontiff.
For years, you were believed to have been secretly executed. No one knew you were still alive… and that you had joined the Rose School of Thought."
"Rose School of Thought?"
Dean sneered, his eyes filled with disdain.
"They're nothing but lunatics, their minds as rotted as the corpses they reanimate. Do you think I'd align myself with such degenerates?
And let me correct you—Roland Constantine is dead. The one standing before you now is Dean, chosen by the True Goddess."
"…You're not with the Rose School?"
colic was genuinely shocked. He turned his gaze toward Ael and asked in a grave tone,
"Then… who do you serve? If not the Bound God… then who?"
Hearing colic's question, Ael grinned.
"The Bound God? That oversized mummy? Why would you think we follow that?"
He chuckled softly, then clasped his hands together in a reverent gesture.
"The one we serve is the Primordial Moon."
"You may have heard Her name before…"
With a serene expression, Ael began to recite,
"The one and only Crimson Moon,
The Symbol of Life and Beauty,
Mother of all Spiritual Forces"
The moment these words left his lips, colic trembled.
A formless, unseen gaze—ancient, vast, and unfathomable—suddenly fell upon him.
A divine presence had noticed him.