Chapter 1316: 74. What a Coincidence

“R-Requisitioned?”

At the front desk, the young receptionist who had just been awakened from sleep stared blankly ahead, clearly still unable to process what the black-clad man before her, whose entire body radiated an icy aura, had suddenly told her.

What did he mean by saying that this hotel was suspected of being involved in filthy and evil activities, so it had to be requisitioned by some special agency whose name they could not disclose, and subjected to an extremely strict lockdown and inspection?

This was just an ordinary erotic hotel!

The only people who came here were ordinary couples looking for a little extra excitement!

Surely these so-called filthy and evil activities... could not mean that?

“May I ask... do you have official documentation?”

The black-clad man radiated an aura that warned strangers to stay away, but out of professional responsibility, the young receptionist still cautiously asked.

“Yes.”

The black-clad man directly took out a document bearing an official seal and showed it to her, even allowing the receptionist to sense the faint magical aura used as an anti-counterfeiting measure:

“Please do not doubt our professionalism. Something extremely dangerous may happen in this hotel next. Please cooperate and take everyone except the occupants of Room 503 out of here.”

“Five-zero-three...”

The receptionist’s heart jolted.

She had a very good memory and vaguely recalled that the guests in that room were... a man and woman having an affair!

These days, could having an affair really cause such a huge commotion?

Even some mysterious special agency had gotten involved!

“Remember, watch what you say.”

The black-clad man raised one finger and made a gesture for silence:

“All losses suffered by this hotel afterward will be covered by House Campbell. Other than that... don’t ask questions!”

“U-Understood!”

The young receptionist nodded vigorously. Working in this profession, she naturally knew what could be said and what could not.

But while people could control their words and actions, controlling their thoughts was always much harder.

Her exceptionally high professional awareness had already allowed her to keenly catch the three words “House Campbell,” and the corner of her eye instantly locked onto a newspaper nearby.

It contained the hottest gossip story of recent days, and right there on the front page, the word “Campbell” was printed in enormous letters.

“Could it be...”

...

...

Holy City.

The Highest Sanctuary.

Above the artificial firmament, the sun, moon, and stars continued moving peacefully along their predetermined celestial tracks, sometimes intersecting, sometimes drifting apart, tracing mysterious trajectories that seemed to contain the principles of heaven and earth themselves.

At the very center of those trajectories, an elderly man dressed in sacred white robes flicked his sleeve and pushed a star that had suddenly drifted off course back into place, while bending down to patiently water the potted plant before him.

Stars and potted plants alike were truths of this world.

Naturally, he would neglect neither.

“Your Holiness.”

Behind the old man, a curtain of light rose.

Another elderly man with snow-white hair and beard appeared on the other side and bowed slightly:

“We’ve basically confirmed things on the Belrand Cathedral side. That Calamity... is indeed already inside the city.”

“Oh?”

Hezekiah raised his head.

On his smooth, infant-like face that showed not the slightest sign of old age, a trace of surprise appeared:

“After several hundred years, that Calamity has actually stepped into the human world once again?”

“Should we monitor her in secret?”

Archbishop Canterbury asked from the other side of the light screen:

“After all, she is an existence capable of casually flattening an entire city, even destroying a nation. If we don’t make preparations in advance...”

“If you already know she is an existence capable of flattening Belrand and even destroying a nation, what use would advance preparations be?”

Hezekiah appeared extremely calm. Even the words “Calamity” caused not the slightest ripple in his eyes:

“If she wishes to come and have a look, then let her look. The prosperity of these countless living beings exists partly because of her contribution in the first place. She has the right. There is no need for us to deliberately stop her. Doing so would only make matters worse.”

“Yes.”

Archbishop Canterbury nodded... while secretly letting out a sigh of relief.

Suggesting surveillance was part of his duty.

But even he absolutely did not want to actually monitor that legendary Calamity.

After all, if something went wrong and they angered her, his old bones might end up in a coffin ahead of schedule.

He had no desire to die such a frustrating death.

The brand-new Belrand Cathedral had only recently been completed, and he had not enjoyed it nearly enough yet.

“By the way.”

Archbishop Canterbury suddenly remembered something and said:

“According to reports from our hidden agents, there seems to have been some unusual undercurrent moving secretly within the Empire lately.”

“Oh?”

“Some of the Empire’s special agencies have shown signs of covert mobilization. Her Majesty the Empress also made some arrangements not long ago, though we still don’t know the details. In addition, some sealed ruins within the Empire have recently shown signs of suddenly being opened... At present, we do not know whether these matters are connected, but for an Empire that has only just finished a war and should theoretically prioritize stability, it is somewhat unusual.”

“Unusual... indeed.”

Hezekiah raised an eyebrow.

Some things appeared unrelated.

But if one deliberately connected them together, one could discover a faint hidden thread that was difficult to detect.

For example, the Empire’s recent movements looked almost as though...

They were preparing to subjugate some extraordinary existence?

“Could the Empire possibly be planning to make a move against that Calamity?!”

The moment that thought appeared, even Archbishop Canterbury himself was startled.

After all, something like that... truly was rather shocking.

“To pit the entire Empire against the Calamity Dragon? That young Empress should not be foolish enough to do something like that. Even if she truly intends to act, it would at most be limited to a small scale, perhaps something like a personal grudge... She understands the distinction between public and private matters. As an excellent Emperor, she would not cross that line.”

Hezekiah remained calm.

In his eyes, the essence of such matters was nothing more than children squabbling among themselves. It was simply not worth devoting too much attention to.

“As for the other side... don’t worry. I have spoken with that Calamity before. She will not casually bring destruction upon human cities. As long as our Church does not involve itself in this matter, everything will be fine.”

“Understood.”

Canterbury nodded, finally setting his mind completely at ease.

Since His Holiness had already said so, there was naturally no need for him to worry.

He merely began calculating inwardly that he should withdraw all the people currently on alert...

His Holiness’s word was absolute. Why should he keep doing such thankless work?

Since neither the Imperial Empress nor that Calamity was going to lose her mind, then no matter how this fire burned, it should never spread to the Church...

He could slack off and enjoy the spectacle again.

“Wait.”

Archbishop Canterbury was just about to close the light screen and, while he was at it, properly enjoy this year’s spring tea...

When Hezekiah suddenly stopped him.

He turned back.

A rare trace of curiosity appeared on the Pope’s face as he asked:

“Speaking of which, haven’t rumors concerning Muen Campbell and that Calamity been spreading wildly across the continent lately?”

“These are not rumors, Your Holiness.”

The moment the subject came up, Archbishop Canterbury immediately became energetic.

He declared with complete confidence:

“Although many of the details being circulated are inaccurate, Muen Campbell’s relationship with the Calamity is definitely anything but simple. I personally saw that Calamity arrive at the Imperial Empress’s wedding and carry him away.”

As he spoke, he even smiled while stroking his beard:

“Perhaps the Empire’s recent movements are precisely because that Imperial Empress became furious from humiliation and intends to avenge that grievance.”

That was the problem with young people.

They simply could not keep their composure.

Why couldn’t they learn a little from the Church’s way of doing things?

Really...

“Your Holiness, I think I should pay a little more attention to this after I return. Of course, I have absolutely no interest in gossip. It’s simply that this matter involves far too much, so no matter what, we should... Hm? Your Holiness?”

Canterbury had been rambling halfway through when he suddenly realized that the Pope in front of him was not listening to him at all.

Instead, the curiosity on Hezekiah’s face had suddenly transformed into solemnity, even reaching the point of becoming... somewhat grim.

“This is bad...”

“Huh? What’s bad?”

Archbishop Canterbury froze.

But Hezekiah did not answer him.

Instead, he abruptly straightened and shouted:

“Wurlons! Where is the Saintess? Where is the Saintess right now?”

“Find the Saintess’s location immediately!”

“Now!”

...

...

“Huh?”

Outside the golden restriction, Ariel’s eyes widened in disbelief.

She was so shocked that even the little hand she had already moved halfway down froze where it was, going no farther.

At this very moment, beneath that purple bed that continued swaying and creaking, a figure she had never expected to see was secretly curled up there.

She wore an elaborate pure-white dress and an exquisite flower crown upon her head. The sacred aura radiating from her seemed capable of purifying all the filth in the entire room.

And yet she herself... appeared to have been affected by something, letting out a sweet little moan through her nose.

Their eyes met.

Ariel was still stunned.

But the other woman had already opened her half-lidded beautiful eyes and returned a flawless smile:

“What a coincidence, Ariel. Are you here to save Muen too?”