Inside her private cabin, Dorothy sat by the porthole, her eyes fixed on the Literary Sea Logbook laid open on the table. As she read Beverly’s last message, her expression grew thoughtful.
“No records of divine intervention… That means in a holy war so closely tied to themselves, neither the Radiant Savior nor the True Radiant Lord gave any indication? Not even the Three Saints got involved?”
“The Radiance Church keeps divine revelations absolutely secret, only known to the cardinals. Which means if the Radiance deities had anything to say, only the upper echelons of the church would ever know. That’s… basically an information monopoly.”
Turning over the implications of Beverly’s information, Dorothy’s mind was swirling with thoughts. But without further clues, they remained nothing more than speculation.
Shaking her head, she let the matter drop. She scribbled a quick thank-you to Beverly in the logbook, then gently closed it.
Afterward, she closed her eyes and quietly extracted the bits of cognitive poison from the information Beverly had just provided. Though the report was long, few pieces qualified as containing enough mystic contamination to be considered “poison.” In the end, Dorothy drew from it: 3 Lantern and 2 Revelation, bringing her current spiritual tally to 28 Chalice, 8 Stone, 20 Shadow, 7 Lantern, 14 Silence, and 42 Revelation.
“Still a bit short on Stone… I replenished some last time, but it’s dropped again. Hopefully I can pick up some in one of the ruins or tombs in North Ufiga. If not, I’ll have to buy mystical texts in a major city again—but I’ve only got about 2,000 pounds left… not nearly enough for much.”
Sighing quietly, Dorothy stopped worrying.
“Whatever. No point stressing now. I’ll deal with it once I get to North Ufiga. If the itinerary’s accurate, we should be arriving soon.
“According to my earlier divination, my Crimson-rank advancement requires a site located within Addus’s territory. If I’m right, that should be near the capital—Yadith City. Once we land in North Ufiga, there’ll still be quite a journey to reach it. I’d better start planning now how we’ll get there.” She looked out the porthole at the churning sea, mentally estimating their arrival time.
…
Two days later — Southern Shore of the Conquest Sea, Port Kankdal.
Under the early April sky, the scorching sun hung high overhead, its rays blazing directly down onto the land. Near the ocean’s edge stretched a vast sea of low buildings, rooftops rising and falling like a wave of bricks and tile.
Kankdal Port, located on the southeastern edge of North Ufiga at the mouth of the Starlight River, was the region’s most critical port city. The Starlight River, which flowed from the deep interior of the Ufigan continent, had deposited fertile sediment along its banks, turning Kankdal and the broader Skandar region into a lush oasis amid the desert.
This natural advantage, combined with excellent river-based shipping routes, had made Kankdal the region’s most vital economic and transportation hub.
Originally part of the Tossep Kingdom of North Ufiga, Kankdal was ceded after the Tossep defeat in a war against the interventionist powers of the mainland. Now, it served as a key foothold for Falano, Pritt, and other mainland powers to siphon resources from the region. The city hosted many foreign consulates and even military garrisons. Since Falano had played the biggest role in the previous war effort, they held primary control over the area.
Along one of the main streets near the harbor, rows of buildings reflected diverse architectural styles from across the world. Horse-drawn carriages darted along the roads, leafy street trees rustled in the breeze, and pedestrians of all sorts walked the sidewalks. Some wore typical mainland fashion, others donned flowing robes, vests, and headscarves. No matter how you looked at it, this place had a distinctly different flavor from the mainland.
“So this is North Ufiga? We’re finally here…”
Standing at the roadside in a loose robe and simple headscarf, Nephthys gazed at the cityscape with a sigh of emotion. Her eyes scanned every detail with curiosity and awe. As someone born in Pritt—with deep ancestral ties to North Ufiga—this was her first time setting foot in the land she’d heard about all her life.
“It feels almost like a mainland city,” she mused.
“Aside from the heat and all the loosely dressed locals, it’s not that different.”
“That’s because this is Kankdal,” Dorothy said beside her, dressed similarly and holding up a newspaper.
“It’s a city mainly built and inhabited by foreigners from the mainland. It’s not what real North Ufiga is like. Once we leave this place, you’ll see—it’s a different world entirely.”
Nephthys blinked, then asked, “So, Miss Dorothy… when exactly are we leaving the city? We’re heading for Yadith, right? Are we hiring a caravan or something?”
“Addus’s in chaos right now—full-on civil war. I doubt any caravans are heading there. We’ll need to find a different way in,” Dorothy replied.
In times of war, normal routes became useless. Getting to Yadith City without walking into a warzone would require special arrangements.
She looked down at the newspaper in her hands, her eyes drawn to a bold headline across the page: “Church Envoy to Addus Scheduled to Arrive in Kankdal the Day After Tomorrow…”
…
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, two more days passed. In the early days of April, the Port of Kankdal was teeming with people. Under the dazzling sunlight, the upper echelons of Kankdal had gathered at the wide pier, eagerly awaiting the slow docking of the massive church warship ahead.
When the imposing warship, outfitted with a ram prow, finally came to a halt at the pier, a tall gangway was rolled out and secured to the deck. Immediately, the waiting band began to play celebratory music, and amidst the melody, figures began to disembark from the ship.
Among the welcoming crowd, a middle-aged gentleman with a Mainlander appearance stared intently at those descending the gangway. His gaze swept past soldiers clad in a blend of armor and clerical robes, until it finally landed on a spot of pristine white.
Upon spotting that white, the man immediately signaled his attendants to send over the prepared flower-bearing boys and girls. When the recipient, visibly nervous and surprised, accepted the bouquet, the gentleman strode forward on the red carpet with a warm smile. Upon reaching the white-robed nun who had just thanked the children, he extended his hand.
"Welcome to Kankdal, Sister Vania. I am Robert Brown, mayor of this city. On behalf of all of Kankdal, I welcome your arrival, O Evangelist of the Holy Mother, Nun who symbolizes peace."
With a kind and affable smile, the gentleman named Robert extended his hand toward Vania, speaking fluent Prittish. Hearing his words, Vania, who was holding the bouquet, was momentarily stunned.
"Symbol… Symbol of peace?"
“A nun who symbolizes peace? Isn’t that a bit much? That’s a little over the top…”
Vania thought to herself in disbelief. She never expected such a title. She’d merely been pushed into this position like a duck driven onto a perch—how had she suddenly become the Nun who symbolized peace? The way they made it sound, if she didn’t manage to bring peace on this mission, it would all be her fault.
Her gaze drifted past Robert and over the dockside crowd. Beyond the upper-class dignitaries, there was a throng of ordinary citizens, grouped together holding banners. The banners bore titles like "Nun of Peace," "Merciful Evangelist," and "Evangelist of the Holy Mother." Some even had exaggerated slogans like "The Nun Who Will Save Addus."
The title "Nun who symbolizes peace," which she didn’t know when or how it had been created, now pressed on her shoulders like a mountain. The countless eager gazes at the welcoming ceremony left Vania breathless. Never in her life had she carried a title so burdened with expectation and mission.
Faced with such an overwhelming reception and heavy title, Vania froze in place, unsure of what to do. Just then, she felt a faint tingle from the Marionette Mark on her body. The sensation snapped her back to reality, and seeing Robert still holding out his hand with a smile, she returned an awkward smile and said,
“Ah… Thank you for the welcome, Mr. Robert. Apologies, your reception was so grand—I’ve never experienced something like this before. I lost my composure a bit.”
She quickly extended her hand to shake the one Robert had been holding out for several seconds. Robert, ever graceful, simply smiled and replied.
“For one who brings peace to the war-torn people of Addus, a reception of this level is only proper.”
“Ahaha… Mr. Robert, the situation in Addus is still quite unclear. It’s hard to say what impact I’ll truly have.”
Vania spoke humbly, meaning to say she hadn’t done anything yet and barely understood Addus’s problems herself—this level of fanfare was unnecessary. If she accomplished nothing in the end, wouldn’t it all be awkward?
“Haha, Sister Vania, you’re too modest. I’ve heard all about your deeds. You managed to convert over a hundred thousand barbaric islanders in the Conquest Sea in just a few days. With such ability, surely you’ll play a vital role in Addus’s current situation. People all over the world are waiting to see what fruit your journey to Addus will bear.”
As Robert continued smiling and speaking, Vania screamed inwardly.
“The Summer Tree situation is completely different from this! You can’t just apply the same experience to totally different contexts!”
“Alright then, Sister Vania, you must be weary from your journey, and it’s rather noisy here. Let’s not chat further at the dock. I’ve prepared a banquet at the finest hotel in Kankdal for you and your attendants. Let’s continue our conversation there.”
With that, Robert gestured politely. Vania nodded and, still uneasy, followed him away.
As they walked, Vania occasionally glanced at the lively crowd as if searching for something. When she made eye contact with a particular gaze among them, her tense expression relaxed slightly. She then followed Robert into the luxurious carriage prepared for her reception.
Among the crowd, wearing a long robe, Dorothy stood inconspicuously. As she watched Vania depart, her eyes drifted to the exaggerated banners with overblown titles in multiple languages. A hint of worry surfaced in her heart.
“So this is what they call ‘to kill someone with praise’ ( 捧杀 )? Looks like… someone’s deliberately setting up Vania for a public image collapse in Addus… The political infighting within the church has reached quite the intensity…”
Dorothy thought to herself as Vania’s carriage gradually disappeared down the road.
…
Time passed swiftly—sunset gave way to moonrise, and night soon fell over Kankdal. The scorching heat that had gripped the entire city faded, replaced by a chill evening breeze.
Inside a lavish, multi-story classical manor somewhere in Kankdal, a grand dining hall now hosted the city’s most distinguished guests. Important upper-class figures from various countries gathered here to attend a formal banquet held in honor of today’s distinguished visitor. Amidst an elegant and solemn atmosphere, an array of exquisite dishes from different cuisines was laid out on the tables. Within the ornately decorated hall, officials, nobles, and merchants dined together to the sound of melodious classical music.
At the center of this opulent banquet was Vania, the most closely watched guest of honor. From the moment the dinner began, she had been struggling to handle countless toasts and greetings from the high society attendees. Thankfully, as a clergywoman, she wasn’t required to drink alcohol in return, but after several bottles of cold fruit juice, her stomach had started to feel uncomfortable.
Drawing on her experience in Adria, Vania skillfully dealt with one dignitary after another, exchanging pleasantries and empty small talk. Just as she was feeling thoroughly exhausted, Robert appeared before her again. After yet another toast, he finally brought up something more substantial.
“Sister Vania, we’ve arranged your transportation to Yadith. Since the city lies quite far from here, I recommend taking the train.
“Fortunately, the railway connecting Yadith and Kankdal hasn’t been destroyed by the war. The most comfortable and fastest train in Kankdal, the Desert Arrow, is currently standing by at the station. You and your guards can board it tomorrow morning. With the Desert Arrow’s speed, you’ll arrive in Yadith within two days.”
Holding a glass of red wine, Robert spoke to Vania in a calm tone. After listening, Vania paused for a moment before responding gently.
“I’ve already heard from other gentlemen about your arrangements for the train, and I sincerely thank you for organizing everything, Mr. Robert. However… may I request to depart two days later?”
“Two days later? Why?” Robert asked with visible confusion.
“Because I’d like to prepare some relief supplies before heading to Yadith,” Vania replied.
“After all the fighting, the people there are surely in a state of deprivation and hardship. I’d like to spend two days here in Kankdal purchasing supplies, so I can bring them with me to Yadith.”