Chapter 160 : Chapter 160

Chapter 160. The Holy See of Light, a Hero?

Early ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍the next morning, Eli rose early and went alone to Thorne Cathedral, located in the central district of Thorne City.

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍magnificent cathedral stood beneath the morning light, its spires pointing straight toward the heavens.

Under ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the rising sun, the stained-glass windows flowed with a quiet and splendid radiance.

However, ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍when Eli drew closer, he discovered that something seemed somewhat unusual today.

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍cathedral’s enormous doors, carved with sacred patterns, stood wide open. From within, solemn chanting and the sound of many people gathered in prayer could vaguely be heard.

He ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍stepped inside.

Inside the cathedral’s broad and grand chapel, the seats were already filled with believers who had come to attend the service.

They wore all kinds of clothing, ranging from plain linen to decent velvet.

Men, women, elders, and children all had solemn faces, their gazes devoutly fixed on the front.

Eli frowned slightly. He had not expected to arrive just in time for the Lord’s Day service.

Without drawing attention to himself, he found a seat near the edge and sat down, planning to observe for a while and wait until the service ended.

At the very front of the chapel, a middle-aged priest dressed in a white holy robe edged with gold stood before the divine statue, holding a radiant sun-shaped holy emblem in his hand.

His voice was loud and deeply stirring, echoing beneath the cathedral’s tall vaulted ceiling.

“Our Lord, You are the light of the beginning, the first sacred flame that broke dawn within chaos, the creator of the order of all things, the source of hope for all living beings.”

The believers below lowered their heads one after another, clasping their hands before their chests, their expressions growing increasingly devout.

“We are all sinners forgiven by You, children blessed by Your grace.

We repent for yesterday’s wrongs and pray for Your merciful cleansing…

We pray for today’s protection, and may Your radiance guide the road ahead of us…”

Finally, he raised the sun holy emblem in his hand high and faced the dense crowd of believers below, chanting loudly.

“Our Lord, we beg You to hear every prayer within this hall and accept our humble yet sincere hearts.

May glory, power, and praise all return to You—!

From today until eternity, from the mortal world to the heavenly kingdom, without beginning! Without end!”

“Without beginning! Without end!”

In an instant, a mountain-shaking response erupted from below. The believers’ faces overflowed with excitement and awe, as though they had truly felt divine grace descend.

Eli sat in the corner and calmly observed this extremely inflammatory scene, his brows furrowing even more tightly.

He looked at the believers immersed in collective emotion and at the priest standing on the high platform, and a realization could not help rising in his heart.

He somewhat understood why the successive kings of the Kingdom of Orlando had always spared no effort in suppressing and restricting the Church’s power and influence.

A force capable of guiding so many people’s spirits and wills, if left completely uncontrolled,

would be an enormous threat to any secular regime.

Seeing that the service was nearing its end, and that the believers were beginning to conduct activities such as donating money or bathing in holy water in an orderly fashion under the guidance of some monks,

the scene became somewhat chaotic.

Eli took the opportunity to slowly rise and followed the side passage to the rear area of the cathedral.

It was much quieter here than the front hall, and the light was also somewhat dimmer.

He stopped an older man dressed in a gray monk’s robe and politely stated his identity.

“Good day. I am Baron Eli Pendragon. I have come to visit at Bishop Tim’s invitation.

May I ask whether His Grace is available at the moment?”

When the elderly monk heard his name, he immediately became respectful and traced a sign of Light before his chest with one hand.

“May the Holy Light protect you, honorable Lord Baron.

Today is the Lord’s Day service. His Grace should be in his meditation room at this moment. Please follow me.”

He led Eli through several quiet corridors and arrived before a very plain-looking wooden door.

“Please. His Grace is inside.”

Eli thanked him. After the elderly monk left, he slightly sorted out his thoughts and expression, then gently knocked on the door.

“Please come in.” Bishop Tim’s gentle voice came from inside.

Eli pushed open the door and walked in.

The furnishings inside the room were indeed as simple as the door. Aside from the necessary table, chairs, and bookshelves, there were almost no extra decorations.

The only bright color was a goddess statue carved from white jade hanging on the wall.

The goddess’s face was compassionate, and her hands were spread open, as though she were scattering grace.

Bishop Tim was sitting behind a desk, holding a thick scripture in his hands.

When he saw Eli enter, he put down the scripture, and a kind and gentle smile appeared on his face.

“Good day, Baron Eli. Welcome to the sanctuary.” Bishop Tim stood and gave him a slight nod.

Eli bowed respectfully. “Good day, Bishop Tim.”

“I am truly sorry.” Bishop Tim’s face carried a perfectly measured apology.

“Today happens to be the Lord’s Day service, and this old man must serve beside Our Lord. It is inconvenient for me to personally show the baron around the cathedral. This is truly discourteous of me, and I ask for your forgiveness.”

A look of understanding appeared on Eli’s face, and he answered, “Bishop Tim, you are too courteous. I was the one who came presumptuously and disturbed your proper duties.

Just now, I watched part of the service in the front hall… The scene was grand and… deeply moving.”

Bishop Tim smiled and nodded, his gentle gaze falling on Eli.

“Baron Eli, it seems… you have not bathed beneath the goddess’s radiance?”

Eli’s expression remained calm, even carrying a trace of devotion as he answered, “No, Bishop. You misunderstand.

My late mother and I were both devout believers of the Church of Light.

It is only that I grew up in the royal capital since childhood, and the scale of Thorne Cathedral’s service seems even grander than the daily services at the Cathedral of Light in the royal capital, so it felt somewhat novel.”

As he spoke, he crossed both hands before his chest and performed a standard ritual gesture used by believers of the Church of Light. His movements were natural and smooth.

This was thanks to his childhood in the royal capital. His mother had indeed once taken him to the Cathedral of Light several times.

Although the memories were blurry, he still remembered these basic rituals.

Sure enough, Bishop Tim’s gaze grew even gentler, even carrying a trace of warmth.

“Oh, so that is how it is. Please forgive this old man’s discourtesy.” He bowed slightly.

“May your devout mother’s soul have long since returned to the peaceful and tranquil kingdom of God, where she may forever enjoy the Holy Light.”

“Thank you for your blessing.” Eli nodded in thanks.

Bishop Tim sat down again and gestured for Eli to sit as well.

“Baron Eli, you are from the Royal Domain?”

Eli found it somewhat strange that he was asking despite already knowing, but he still answered honestly.

“Yes, I came from House Black of the Royal Domain.”

“House Black…” Bishop Tim nodded thoughtfully, but his gaze fell on Eli’s striking white hair.

“As far as this old man knows, the members of House Black through the generations seem… all to have had deep black hair.

Yet you, Baron, possess hair as dazzlingly white as that of the royal Aurora Family.

This is truly… memorable. May I ask… your mother…”

Eli’s brows instantly furrowed. “My mother was merely a commoner of the Royal Domain, of humble status. As for this white hair of mine,”

“it was caused by factors acquired later in life. As for the specific reason, it is inconvenient for me to tell you in detail, Bishop. Please forgive me.”

An expression of sudden understanding and guilt immediately appeared on Bishop Tim’s face, and he hurriedly explained,

“So that is how it is. Please once again forgive this old man’s discourtesy and presumption.

When one grows old, it is inevitable to become overly curious about certain details. Please do not take offense, Lord Baron.”

Eli had already begun to feel the desire to leave and intended to find an excuse to go.

But after a second thought, he had barely discovered anything. If he left like this, he truly would have nothing to report.

He settled himself back in his seat. “Bishop Tim, as an honored territorial bishop, your status is exalted. Why did you invite a mere baron like me…?”

The benevolent smile on Bishop Tim’s face remained unchanged, as though he had no other expression.

“Lord Baron, there is no need to belittle yourself. You are now a… hero known throughout the Western Frontier.

Not only I, but even His Holiness the Pope, far away in the royal capital, is rather attentive and interested in you.”

He paused and let out a gentle laugh.

“His Holiness the Pope once even wrote in a letter that he felt you… seemed to have become a different person, hahaha.”

The Pope in the royal capital?!

Alarm bells rang loudly in Eli’s heart, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

The Pope was far away in the royal capital, yet he was paying attention to a newly risen baron of the Western Frontier?

This was probably not as simple as a casual mention.

His expression did not change, and his tone remained steady as he replied, “I am honored by Bishop Tim and His Holiness the Pope’s misplaced affection.

But I have always been myself, Eli Black, or rather, Eli Pendragon.

Perhaps I have experienced too many life-and-death changes in the Western Frontier and was forced to grow somewhat, making those familiar with my past find me a little unfamiliar.”

“People all grow. That is the natural order.” Bishop Tim nodded gently, expressing understanding.

He picked up the water jug on the desk and poured Eli a cup of clear water, his movements calm and natural.

“When this old man was young, he was nothing more than an ignorant little brat who only knew how to swing a sword.”

“Oh?” Eli accepted the cup and followed the topic.

“Then Bishop, now that you have presumably long since seen through worldly affairs, have you set down the sword?”

Hearing this, Bishop Tim shook his head in amusement, his tone carrying a trace of self-mockery.

“Now? Haha, I… am merely an old man in his twilight years who can barely lift a sword anymore.

I can only serve the deity in this sanctuary and pass the rest of my life.”

Eli nodded in understanding and offered a compliment. “Swords are ultimately only a lesser path.

Your abilities and wisdom, Bishop, will surely be expressed in other, more important ways.”

Bishop Tim smiled and nodded, seemingly unwilling to continue discussing his own past.

After that, he warmly and carefully explained to Eli the basic doctrines, commandments, and several famous miracle stories of the Church of Light.

Naturally, Eli cooperated throughout the entire time. Sometimes he nodded, and sometimes he asked a few harmless questions, playing the role of a young believer humbly receiving instruction.

About half an hour later,

Eli saw that he truly could not draw any more substantial information from this watertight old bishop regarding the Church’s recent movements or its view on the Western Frontier’s situation, so he rose and took his leave.

Bishop Tim did not try to keep him for long and personally saw him to the door of the meditation room.

“May the Holy Light forever guide your path, Baron Eli.”

Inside the meditation room, the benevolent smile on Bishop Tim’s face slowly disappeared the instant the door closed.

He walked to the window and gazed at the lush trees in the cathedral courtyard outside, staring blankly as he murmured in a low voice,

“Sigh… he truly is from the Royal Domain… It seems it is not him…”

He was silent for a moment, then turned and walked back to the desk. From a hidden compartment in a drawer, he took out an extremely exquisite letter.

He carefully opened it, revealing the letter paper inside.

The material of the letter paper was extraordinary, with faint golden patterns along the edges.

His gaze lingered for a long time on a certain line of text. It was a prophecy Pope Essinsolin had learned of.

【The new sun will rise from the land of sunrise or sunset…

Or upon the summit of the Eastern Continent, where morning mist is torn apart, and the first ray of dawn will cast his cloak…

Or in the western borderland wasteland, where the evening clouds melt into gold, and the final piece of sunset will condense into the light within his eyes…

He will come bearing unfailing light!

This sun will not fall, and this light will not be extinguished!

He will crush the fangs of chaos, and he will plant… eternal peace!