Meanwhile, elsewhere.
Unlike the bustling Commercial District, the area around the Nirvana Knight Order Temple in the imperial capital, Helrom, remained desolate. Bitingly cold wind swept through the streets.
The building's spire pierced the sky. After weathering hundreds of years, its hard, unadorned surface had been carved with ancient legends by generations of craftsmen. The struggles between the heroes and demons in those legends had been frozen in time within every stone.
Yet now, the Protos Empire had assigned it to the Rebirth Church.
Deep within the temple lay the main Council Hall, the most important and confidential place in the Nirvana Knight Order's building. Hazy beams of light spilled through the high windows, creating a solemn and sacred atmosphere.
A young man sat at one end of the round table. He wore a well-fitting dark-gray suit and looked completely different from the other priests. He was not even wearing the Nirvana Holy Seal, as though he had merely happened to pass through on official business. Yet his calm, profound gaze and every one of his movements were steady and filled with authority. Clearly, he was the one in charge.
Three senior priests had originally been stationed here to oversee logistics and coordination with branches in the other provinces. Kaius had since been dismissed, while the other two sat beside the young man, trembling as they waited for him to speak.
After hearing of the Final Assessment's results, the Nirvana Bishop in the north had not blamed the two of them. Instead, he had taken an interest and sent a Direct subordinate to take over the duties of Senior Priest Kaius.
At that moment, the Council Hall was busy yet orderly.
In front of the newly arrived Special Envoy Sander sat stacks of neatly organized documents. Every one contained detailed