Queen Madara and a priest of the Goddess of the Dead Moon stood beside the podium. The priest wore black-and-purple vestments with a black cloak fastened over both shoulders by bronze clasps. Beneath the shoulders, a black dragon pattern extended down each side of the robe to its hem. Brando knew that this pattern represented a priest of the Goddess of the Dead Moon's rank within the sanctuary. Lower-ranking priests mostly used purple-moon patterns, while high-ranking priests could use cats or skulls to distinguish ordinary priests from executioners. Higher still, the ranks of divine officials and priests could use spider, hydra, and wave patterns—the undead worshiped the Sea of Dead Moons fervently. Yet throughout the entire Moonless Sanctuary, only one person could bear the dragon pattern: the Arch-Priest of the Moonless Sanctuary.
Brando narrowed his eyes slightly. He had not expected Madara's two most powerful figures to receive him together. Although he could not remember who the Arch-Priest of the Moonless Sanctuary was at this point in history, he at least understood that in this era, the man's authority was in no way inferior to that of Her Majesty the Queen of Madara. It might even have surpassed hers in secret. After all, before the Mercury Staff appeared, the Moonless Sanctuary had enjoyed a transcendent status in this land of the undead for more than a thousand years.
Upon seeing the two of them, Andria naturally fell silent.
Brando bowed to the two of them. Her Majesty the Queen remained unmoved, but the Arch-Priest of the Moonless Sanctuary returned his salute. The undead had an unusual etiquette: they clenched their right fists against their chests and naturally lowered their heads, as if observing a moment of silence. The gesture lasted two or three seconds and was the undead's highest expression