The Church in Italy.
Inside the pope's lavish quarters in the Platinum Castle at the heart of the imperial city.
A shaft of sunlight shone through an arched stained-glass window onto the silver crucifix in a shrine, making the eyes of the bound statue of Jesus seem even more compassionate and holy.
Dressed in white vestments embroidered with gold and wearing a laurel crown, Edward stood beneath a shrine, gazing absently at the dome.
Carved upon it were stories of the Father and the Son saving the world.
Edward, however, was hardly that devout. He was merely weighing the current state of the world, wondering whether he could seize control of the situation and forge another myth.
After an unknown stretch of time, a cardinal entered with quiet steps, bowed, and hesitated before reporting.
"Your Holiness, Lord Soya has come again. He looks extremely angry."
Edward did not turn around, yet the cardinal felt a chill run through his entire body.
An overwhelming pressure sent him crashing to his knees with a thud, the force cracking the exquisite floor beneath him.
But the cardinal merely grunted. Even as sweat broke out on his forehead, he dared not cry out in pain.
Edward reached up and rubbed the cross-shaped locket on his chest. Faint wisps of almost imperceptible black mist seeped from it, and his benevolent gaze turned sinister.
Had Soya come to demand an explanation now that he had finished cleaning up? I was indeed held up earlier by Tom Gaunt masquerading as "Shawn," but who says I didn't do that deliberately?
Our forces are almost evenly matched now. I no longer need to fear him. After considering for a moment, he spoke darkly.
"Joseph, Lotte Town needs a priest. Go and take up the post."
Then he swept aside