Inside the meeting hall, after Mogans and Nero left, only Lin En, Hana Ye, and Ophiel remained.
"Archbishop, do you know why I asked you to stay behind?"
Seated at the head of the table, Lin En looked at her as he spoke.
Ophiel knelt on one knee. Something stirred within her, and she said:
"Is it about the [Crimson Secret Cult] you mentioned?"
Lin En nodded.
"That's right. I assume you've read those documents. I collected them from the girl I killed yesterday. And I won't hide this from you: the Headless Knight I killed when you found me was also a member of this organization. I don't yet know exactly what they're after..."
"But there's no doubt they've planted plenty of undercover agents and spies inside your Clockwork City... The Holy Flame may be able to identify the Weird, but it can't see into people's hearts."
Ophiel trembled slightly. She immediately thumped her chest with one hand and bowed her head.
"I understand, Lord Divine Chosen. Rest assured, I will begin investigating this immediately and give you a satisfactory answer as soon as possible!"
She had already read the documents.
If that Secret Cult had planted multiple undercover agents and spies among them and had been infiltrating them for years, what frightened her most in hindsight was not the infiltration itself, but the fact that she, the Archbishop, had known nothing about it.
That was what truly terrified her.
Because it could only mean one of two things.
Either their infiltration really had been flawless, or a traitor within their ranks had climbed to a high enough position to use their authority to keep her in the dark.
Either possibility showed how serious the problem was.
"My lord."
Ophiel raised her head and looked at Hana Ye in