Dream City

Gaia had guessed correctly. The three of them had received invitations to the banquet.

The previously dragging negotiations had suddenly become efficient as well. The Mechanical Cathedral swiftly finalized the transaction procedures and requested that they deliver the goods being traded—the holy relics such as the steam rifles.

As for the information provided by the Mechanical Cathedral, it was said that His Holiness the Pope himself would hand it over. This exchange would take place during the banquet, demonstrating the importance the Candlelight Society and the Mechanical Cathedral attached to the matter.

The moment Gaia and Zoe heard about this arrangement, their hearts skipped a beat.

Why did this process sound so strange?

Could the Mechanical Cathedral be planning to seize their holy relics and take them down outright?

Erwin did not hesitate at all. He immediately found an excuse to leave. Clearly, he had gone to make preparations.

After all, he was only an ordinary person, while Zoe and Gaia were Transcendents. If trouble truly arose, he would only hold them back.

While Gaia remained worried, Zoe was still as relaxed as ever, continuing to attend the Gear Sage's lessons every day.

Finally, the day before the banquet, Gaia intercepted Zoe on her way back to her room.

Seeing Gaia's anxious expression, Zoe could not help but smile.

"What's wrong?"

Gaia fell silent for a moment, then shook her head somewhat dejectedly. "Zoe, you went to Blood Port as an envoy even before the Mother Goddess Church rebellion. You should have more experience, right? You still look completely unruffled. Do you know what the Mechanical Cathedral is really up to?"

"Not really."

"Huh?"

"But yesterday, I went over to the square—the place where the airships dock. The supplies on the airship still haven't been unloaded."

Gaia raised an eyebrow