Klaus gathered everyone in an open area outside the Tower of Erudition.
"We can't delay the descent any longer."
He spread out a map marked with the Inner City's street layout and underground Pipe Network. His finger tapped a spot east of the Inner City, near Old Council Square.
"Here."
The spot was marked as a Collapse Point. Lu Yuan remembered several collapses of varying scales on Bronze City's surface. Some had returned to normal after repairs, but several larger Collapse Points had been deliberately retained, with descent entrances left open for personnel during repairs.
The one beside Old Council Square was the largest of them.
"The church has already made preparations in advance," Adrian took over.
The old Bishop's voice was unhurried, every word carrying his customary authority.
"We have established a Temporary Church near Old Council Square for purification and prayer rites before and after the descent. In addition, the church's reinforcements will arrive in Bronze City over the next two days to enforce a blockade on the streets surrounding Old Council Square."
"The purpose of the blockade?" Arthur asked.
"To prevent Ghouls from spilling out during the descent, as well as anything else that might surge up from underground." Adrian glanced at Arthur. "You all know what happened during the last descent. The number of Ghouls below far exceeded our estimates. There must be sufficient strength on the surface to hold the exit. Of course..."
By then, Klaus understood what Adrian meant. He nodded and swept his gaze over everyone present.
"What needs to be decided now is the composition of the descent team. How many people go down, whether all Fourth Orders should descend, and whether we split into batches."
Adrian spoke first.
"I do not agree with sending all the Fourth Orders down."
The old