The subtle changes in the prayer hall didn't escape Aiven, watching from the corner.
He couldn't have cared less about the false Archbishop's predicament. The safety of the secret-cult members wasn't his concern.
The only thing he cared about was making sure the final ritual at six that evening went smoothly and brought his Lord's Divine Kingdom down to earth.
Since the operation had clearly gone awry, he thought he should contact Funai Er and ask what was happening. There was no point sitting here and waiting.
Aiven stood up from the prayer bench and straightened his already-smooth lapels. Then he walked over to a nearby nun, who was quietly comforting a nervous old woman.
"Excuse me." His voice was low, his tone warm and polite.
The nun looked up, recognized the young painter from the corner, and gave him a professional, gentle smile. "Yes, sir?"
"Could you tell me where the washroom is?" Aiven asked.
The nun didn't suspect anything. She pointed to a small door at the rear of the hall. "Go through there, then follow the corridor on your right to the end. If you don't know your way around, I can ask a priest to show you."
Aiven nodded as if he accepted the offer, then casually asked, "We're allowed to move around freely within the church right now, aren't we? I'm not very comfortable in crowds. Later, I'd like to walk around the church a little and get some air."
The nun's smile didn't change, but a note of caution entered her eyes. "Of course, sir. Once you've recovered from the drowsiness caused by the purification ritual, you may walk freely in the areas normally open to worshippers. However, there are parts of the church that laypeople aren't allowed to enter. I hope you understand."