Simon walked deep into the cathedral.
Here, the boundary between reality and shadow grew increasingly blurred. The hall of holy light was fragmented by darkness, with only a few faint rays of light falling upon the empty pews.
He was long accustomed to traversing this domain ruled by shadows. He didn't even need to look down, skillfully avoiding the scattered rubble and debris on the floor, as well as the brass candelabras suspended in mid-air.
Ahead, at the end of several rows of toppled pews, a shadowy figure sat quietly.
The silhouette of that shadow looked human, yet also like a flickering black candle flame, as if it did not belong to this world, merely a projection existing between presence and nothingness.
"Bishop." Simon stopped a few steps away from the pew, took a deep breath to slightly calm the unease in his heart, then bowed his head and greeted in a respectful tone.
The shadow on the pew still drifted without wind, seemingly showing no reaction to Simon's arrival.
A long time passed, so long that Simon almost thought the Bishop was not here or had fallen into deep meditation, before the shadow finally moved slightly.
"Simon?" A man's ethereal voice sounded. "Weren't you supposed to go to the palace today to discuss with those creatures crawled out of the Abyss about how to cooperate against the green-skinned beasts in the north?"
Simon maintained his bowed posture and replied, "Yes, Bishop, that was the original plan. It's just... on my way here, I heard the followers still fervently discussing, saying the Bishop's miracles have recently been spreading in the Southern Territory, demonstrating the might of the new sun.""Your subordinate, feeling moved and respectful, came specifically to receive the Bishop's teachings."
Morrigan seemed interested in Simon's words.
"Oh? You know about my arrangements in the Southern Territory?"
Hearing this, Simon felt a wave of relief in his heart.
Perhaps that envoy in the Southern Territory was indeed dispatched by the Bishop, carrying out secret plans even he was unaware of.
Thinking this, most of his previous unease instantly dissipated, even giving rise to an "ah, so that's it" realization and shame for his earlier suspicions.
He said admiringly, "I only know a bit from the followers' discussions. I heard the brothers in the south have clashed with those entrenched Demons, then infiltrated the Southern Army."
Hearing this, Morrigan seemed to have misunderstood something, letting out a soft, dry chuckle.
"Heh... those Demons are not as foolish as you imagine. As long as Casaric is still willing to shelter the church, those demonic lords wouldn't dare to easily offend us."
Simon was taken aback.
Offend us?
Didn't we offend the Demons and wipe out the demonic forces from the Southern Territory?
Morrigan didn't seem to notice Simon's confusion and continued, "To show our stance clearly before Casaric, I even specifically warned the followers in the south to stay away from Demons and avoid unnecessary conflicts."
"Our most important task now is to await the moment of the new sun's descent, not to provoke those troublesome Abyssal claws..."
Simon's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this, and he cautiously inquired, "But what I heard is that the brothers in the south have already eradicated all demonic forces."
Eradicate Demons?
Morrigan was momentarily dazed, falling into a brief silence.
When did I ever offend Demons? How come I don't know about it myself.
He looked up and met Simon's gaze. Eye to eye, they could both see the bewilderment on each other's faces.
Just as Morrigan thought his envoy might be talking nonsense, Simon's face instantly turned deathly pale.
"B... Bishop, this really happened. Actually, I just received an urgent secret letter from Southern Territory Commander Raymond Sterling."
"The letter states that several high-ranking demonic lords in the Southern Territory were recently eliminated one after another by church followers using a mysterious sacred relic. Now, the Southern Army Commander has invited those followers into Chester Garrison City to participate in the fortress defense battle."
"What?!"
Morrigan's shadow showed its first clear fluctuation.
"Fools! Someone is impersonating us!"
Cold sweat instantly broke out on Simon's forehead.
Impersonation?!
Who... who is so bold? To actually dare impersonate church followers?
Morrigan's shadow boiled like water coming to a boil, showing his inner fury.
Who did this?!
Was it his sister, or other Shadow Scions, or perhaps that crow born from shadow in the Slime Kingdom...
Crow?
That's it!
It must be that crow from the Slime Kingdom.
Morrigan's voice returned to icy coldness. "Cunning enemy! Cunning Slime! You must immediately send the message back now."
"Yes..."
Simon's face was pale, his heart sinking to the bottom.
Now, only one thought remained in his mind—
It's over.
...
Early morning, Chester Garrison City.