Mobiten pushed open the door and saw an old man sitting in a wheelchair with his back to him.
Although he could not see his face, that back alone gave the impression of desolation and an approaching end, a decline of both soul and body.
This was not a matter of an exhausted wick and wax needing replenishment, but of the entire candlestick about to rot and collapse.
"You have aged a great deal."
Mobiten had once served as Rasma's Guards Captain, so he had often interacted with Taixisen in the past.
"We all grow old, don't we?" Taixisen turned his wheelchair around. "Even Temple Elders grow old. Mobiten, it has been quite some time since we last met, hasn't it?"
"Yes. This is our first meeting since you stepped down."
"If an outsider heard that, they might mistakenly think you were a very opportunistic man, Mobiten."
"That would not actually be wrong. The Benda Family has always had eyes only for the High Priest."
"Yes, I know. It was a little noisy outside just now. What happened?"
"I'm sorry for disturbing you. I ran into a grandson of mine. He has been rather disobedient lately, so I disciplined him."
"Where are we?"
"On Fire Island."
"Where, specifically?"
Mobiten froze for a moment, but immediately answered, "At one of the Castle Family's villas on the island."
"Oh, haha." Understanding dawned on Taixisen. He gently patted his forehead and smiled. "Look at this brain of mine. With death so near, my mind really is getting muddled. Do you know, I almost thought this was your Benda Family residence."
"My lord..."
Mobiten went down on one knee before Taixisen.
He was powerful, extremely powerful, because he was the shield before the High Priest of the Order God Church; his standing was also