A Young Man Arrived at the Church

Backlund, North Borough, Saint Samuel Cathedral.

Leonard completed his patrol mission, dismounted from the carriage, and walked step by step up the steps into the church.

His eyes held a slightly gloomy look.

After returning from Tingen, Leonard was slightly affected. Although it wasn't obvious enough for others to notice, he seemed somewhat depressed. He didn't regret joining the "Red Gloves," but he did have doubts about the background and origins of his two teammates who had faked their deaths.

What made them Tingen Nighthawks squad?

Is it related to the events at the time...?

Or is there another reason...?

The useless old man living in Leonard's head couldn't offer any reasonable explanation; Leonard had to think independently.

This was a very difficult task for him, and it took a lot of his energy.

As he pondered this, he stepped into the church's mass hall.

The surrounding scenery suddenly darkened, not in a Deprivation, oppressive way, but rather a slightly somber atmosphere that brought a sense of peace and tranquility, giving one the feeling that one could stay there forever.

On the opposite wall, transparent glass panes were pieced together to form the Sacred Emblem of the Goddess. Sunlight streamed through the glass, and in the dim light, the Sacred Emblem appeared so sacred and lofty.

Leonard slowed his pace. Although there were many people in the hall, no one was making a loud noise.

Apart from the janitors who cleaned and wiped and the priests who performed daily rituals, the believers sat in chairs, heads bowed, praying silently.

He quietly walked around the rows of seats, entered the side passage, and finally went underground to their temporary Lounge in Red Gloves.

You're back?

There were several team members in the Lounge. They greeted him as he entered, asking, "How are you? Anything unusual?"

"Everything is normal, that's rare."

Leonard chatted casually with them and walked to a corner to sit down. He picked up a copy of the Backlund Post from the table and unceremoniously put his legs on it.

Unfolding the pages, the front page headline of the Backlund Post read:

[Shocking! The "King of Immortality" has fallen, the "King of Blood" has been born, and the Pirate King has changed hands?!]

This newspaper's information network is really outdated...

Leonard thought to himself.

The Nighthawks had received intelligence several days earlier that the infamous Blood Bishop had officially become the new king of the sea. He had even Grazing the "King of Immortality," severely injured the "Abomination" Suah, and gained the recognition of the other two kings.

Luther has become so strong in such a short time... This is simply unreasonable!

After confirming that the Blood Bishop was indeed his former colleague, Leonard had been secretly gathering information about him. Furthermore, he was also searching for Sherlock Moriarty's whereabouts after leaving Backlund, but to no avail.

If they're in cahoots, is it possible that Klein is working as a pirate in Luther's Fleet?

Holding the newspaper, Leonard's thoughts began to wander.

"Thump thump..."

Just then, footsteps came from the door of the Lounge, and their squad leader, Soest, who had been promoted to "Spirit Warlock," walked in.

"Team leader."

"Good morning, Captain."

The crowd shouted, and Leonard pressed down on the newspaper with two fingers to greet Soest.

"Leonard's back too, perfect timing."

Soest nodded to him. "Let's assemble right now and head to the third conference room for a meeting."

Upon hearing that they were going to "Conference Room 3," Leonard immediately knew that the meeting must be quite large, as Conference Room 3 was a rather spacious room that could seat many people.

Upon hearing this, everyone stood up, and one curious person couldn't help but ask, "Captain, what's the purpose of this meeting?"

"I don't know either, but it's probably very important."

Soest's expression turned slightly serious. "I saw that Archbishop Anthony, His Crestet Your Excellency, and His Your Excellency Isabella have all been notified..."

Everyone was stunned when they heard this.

Having an Archbishop and two Senior Deacon attend the meeting certainly sounds very formal, even a bit too formal.

"Could it be that another earth-shattering case has occurred?"

Someone said it Consciousness.

"Shut up!"

The others immediately shouted, startling the man. Based on their years of experience at work, they knew that one should never jinx someone in a situation like this, because if they did, it would actually come true.

Leonard didn't seem to feel much, and simply followed the others out of the Lounge and headed towards the third conference room.

The corridor gradually became crowded as Church personnel gathered. Leonard spotted Miss Daly in the crowd. She was now a Sequence 6 "Spirit Guide" and the leader of a squad.

Sensing Leonard's gaze, Daly, with her mysterious eye makeup on, looked at him and nodded slightly in greeting.

"Good afternoon."

Soest, thinking Daly was looking at him, waved affectionately, only to be ignored by Daly.

"Puff..."

Leonard almost laughed, but managed to hold it in.

The crowd surged forward like a tide, entering the conference room and finding places to sit. At the very front, Archbishop Anthony and two Deacon were already seated.

There was an empty seat next to the three of them.

"Your Excellency Archbishop, everyone is here."

Someone said to Anthony Stevenson.

"Good."

The bishop in charge of the Backlund Diocese nodded gently, glancing at the crowd. He had no beard, and his eyes were deep-set; although he wore a black and red Archbishop's robe, he did not give off a gloomy impression at all.

The large conference room was completely silent.

All those who face the bishop will feel a tremor in their hearts, as if an invisible fear is ruling their Spirituality, or as if something in the darkness is watching them.

"I'm happy to share some good news with you all."

Saint Anthony's voice wasn't loud, yet it carried with remarkable clarity to everyone in the spacious conference room. "The Church has promoted a new Senior Deacon who will be in charge of affairs in our Backlund Diocese."

A new Senior Deacon?

Who could it be?

Although they dared not make a sound in front of the Archbishop, everyone's eyes gleamed with curiosity.

"Heh... let's let him come out and meet everyone."

Saint Anthony smiled slightly and waved his hand.

Then, the meeting room door opened, and a man stood outside. Bathed in the scrutinizing gazes of everyone, he strode in without any ceremony, sat down in the empty chair next to "Wings of the Goddess" Isabella, and cast his red eyes at everyone present.

Ahab Ishmael.

He introduced himself casually.