The Cathedral's Conspiracy

"Isaac was originally an [Investigator]. After that mutation, he joined Moth Chasing Flame. Jules, meanwhile, had been a mechanical priest of the Mechanical Cathedral, but after that mutation, he joined the Candlelight Society."

"Incidentally, both of them wielded dual paths—the only two dual-path wielders in this world."

"But that was all a long time ago and has nothing to do with the present. These past few days happen to be when the Candlelight Society's [Investigators] rotate their deployment to Dream City."

"Rotation? Oh, I've heard there are many Transcendents stationed there. This time—"

"Every three years, a new batch of [Investigators] is sent there. Once they arrive, the previous Investigators return. By my reckoning, this batch should be leaving soon."

"You're saying Isaac may have gone to investigate Dream City? Blending in with the [Investigators] being sent to relieve them?"

"Given Mr. Isaac's caution, this is the only matter that could make him risk himself like that. Unfortunately, I haven't received any trace of him."

Erwin shrugged.

"Ah!" Gaia suddenly cried out, startling the other two.

"What's wrong, Gaia?"

Zoe and Erwin looked over with concern, but Gaia did not respond. She merely stood there blankly.

After a while, she stiffly turned her head.

"You just said the [Investigators] have already left?"

"Yes."

"They left today. By tomorrow, they should already be far from Rhine City. And the Investigators being relieved won't depart until the new ones reach Dream City. In other words, there aren't many [Investigators] in Rhine City right now?"

"And tomorrow—"

"Is the banquet between the Mechanical Cathedral and His Holiness the Pope."

All the anomalies suddenly seemed to have an explanation. The Mechanical Cathedral's stalling had been meant to buy time, forcing them to attend tomorrow's banquet.

The banquet had been set for tomorrow because the