Thinking of those documents and the Southern Continent situation Ternos had reported to him, Pope Gad II's expression gradually grew grave.
In less than a month, first two demigods from Intis had mysteriously disappeared, then Ternos vanished as well.
"Why would the Rose School suddenly make such dramatic moves? Could it be that the Mother Tree of Desire's erosion of reality has deepened? After maintaining the status quo for so many years, what exactly are they trying to accomplish now..."
After pondering this, Pope Gad II looked at the Punisher deacon and said:
"Have Bishop Redar come see me. I have some matters to arrange with him."
"Yes, Your Holiness."
Five minutes later, with the approaching sound of howling winds, "Deep Blue Officiant" Redar Valentin entered the hall and met the gloomy-faced Pope Gad II.
"Your Holiness, what do you need me for?"
Redar Valentin wore black robes embroidered with storm symbols. He had deep blue thick hair, large earlobes, and eyes that seemed to always contain lightning and storms, radiating a powerful oppressive presence.
"News just came from the Southern Continent. Take a look."
Seeing Redar Valentin's puzzled expression, Pope Gad II handed over the encrypted telegram.
"What? Ternos disappeared? What exactly happened?"
After reading the news in the telegram, "Deep Blue Officiant" Redar Valentin showed an incredulous expression, his voice ringing out like exploding thunder.
Pope Gad II lightly struck the ground with his scepter, dissipating the thunder-like resonance of the other's voice, and said calmly:
"Calm down, Redar. Do you want everyone on Pasu Island to know about this?"
"But, Your Holiness, this matter is truly shocking. The last time the church had a demigod die in the Southern Continent was over a hundred years ago during the colonial conflict with Roselle when he ruled Intis..."
"Don't be so pessimistic. Ternos only disappeared—he didn't die. Look at these as well."
Gad II's low voice sounded, and a breeze suddenly arose, blowing several telegram documents from somewhere into his hands.
"This is... the Kingdom signed a contract with Intis to eliminate the Rose School. When did this happen?"
"Multiple churches, city halls, and transportation facilities in Southern Continent colonies damaged by Rose School members, suspected new type of explosive..."
"Two demigods from Intis colonies disappeared, similarly large-scale suicidal destruction by Rose School members in colonies..."
"Two demigods from Intis disappeared?"
"To be precise, one. The one who disappeared was Eternal Blazing Sun's Archbishop Korich, while the other Soren family demigod escaped from the attack..."
"According to information provided by the escaped Soren family demigod, those who attacked them were two foreign demigods carrying Grade 1 Sealed Artifacts, most likely Sequence 3 Silent Disciples."
Hearing Gad II's account, Redar Valentin finished reading the telegrams and asked with a grave expression:
"Your Holiness, are you saying Ternos's disappearance is related to the Rose School?"
Gad II's expression remained silent for several seconds before he spoke in a deep voice:
"According to messages from the Punisher squad, Ternos disappeared at the edge of the ancient forest while tracking the Rose School demigod Devil Dulanka. After their on-site investigation, they only found large areas of forest destroyed by tornadoes and scorched earth struck by lightning—nothing else was discovered... He was too reckless, abandoning the Punisher squad to chase alone, completely failing to consider whether it was a trap..."
Pausing here, Gad II's low voice continued:
"But unlike the attacks on those two from Intis, regarding Ternos's disappearance, I suspect an Angel intervened, which is why he vanished so mysteriously. Otherwise, even two Sequence 3 Silent Disciples and one Devil couldn't have resolved him so quickly—they couldn't have even prevented him from praying to the Master..."
"Your Holiness, you mean those two from the Rose School?"
"Yes, very likely either Palanca or Suah personally acted..."
"This is provoking the Master's majesty! Your Holiness, we must let them know how terrifying the Master's wrath truly is!"
Redar Valentin's angry voice rang out again, electric light swirling around his body, his hair standing on end.
"This is precisely why I called you here."
Seeing Redar Valentin's reaction, Pope Gad II nodded and handed his scepter to him.
"Redar, among the Cardinal Archbishops, you are the most cautious. During my absence, I'm at ease having you handle church affairs. I believe you won't disappoint me."
"Your Holiness, are you personally going to the Southern Continent?"
Feeling the weight of the scepter in his hands, watching the expressionless Pope Gad II who seemed to be suppressing rage, Redar Valentin finally realized what the other intended to do.
Understanding Gad II's intentions, Redar Valentin didn't try to stop him. Instead, he asked in a deep voice:
"Do you need to activate Grade 0 Sealed Artifacts?"
"No, not needed. Those sealed artifacts have strong negative effects, unsuitable for use in Angel-level battles. Moreover, in direct combat, even the divine spawn Suah cannot defeat me—I share part of the Master's authority and power! I want to let those Rose School scum understand that there's only one consequence for provoking my Master: destruction!"
Gad II's voice rang through the hall like rolling thunder. Pasu Island's sea area, originally under clear skies, immediately became filled with howling winds and flashing lightning...
At Pasu Island port, Alger Wilson, who was on duty after discovering a Tudor-era ghost ship, looked at the scene of changing weather—like a natural disaster descending—with a flash of longing in his eyes.
"Such... terrifying power. When will I be able to obtain this kind of power that changes heaven and earth?"
Even standing at the port, he could feel the majesty and anger that Pope Gad II had just emanated from Storm's Abyss Cathedral.
Suddenly, his mind conjured the "Fool" shrouded in gray-white mist, thinking of that magnificent palace and the strange gray mist world.
He looked at the giant waves rising and falling like mountain peaks on the sea surface, listened to the thunder from the dark clouds, and said with determination in a voice only he could hear:
"The Tarot Club and the Fool... this is the necessary sacrifice for me to obtain power and authority. A new era has arrived. Today is the time for the second gathering..."
Meanwhile, in the Southern Continent, in a plantation in the suburbs of the Loen Kingdom colonial city "Intila," Ael stood before a bookshelf, searching for several pages of Roselle's notes he had placed somewhere.
"Found them—the Roselle diary that the nesting doll wanted. Not the original, but a copy..."
Looking at the six yellowed papers in his hand, Ael immediately recognized the text on them. Although the handwriting was poor, it was indeed Chinese!
"Quite ugly handwriting. I wonder if Roselle wrote it this way or if the copyist made it look so messy."
Muttering quietly, Ael directly recited the nesting doll's honorific name, waiting for a response from Klein.