The atmosphere stirred greatly with the appearance of the Holy Lord
Even the guards under the command of Alensia Hair could not hide their perplexity.
They maintained their composure in any situation and did not back down even against the Reflection Unit, but if it was the Holy Lord, the story would be different.
The Reflection Unit knelt on one knee with grace and bowed their heads the moment they saw the Holy Lord.
Hermut, however, simply lowered his head slightly instead of kneeling.
'The atmosphere.'
Alensia furrowed her brow. She could feel the subordinates of the Blood Iron unit behind her wavering.
Although they were trying to endure, Alensia also felt that she was being shaken by something invisible.
This alone was enough to understand how great a being the Holy Lord was.
Looking at his appearance, he seemed like a kind old man, but his mere appearance changed the atmosphere.The air, which had been full of tension, loosened lifelessly as if someone had deliberately squeezed it.
As if he was the center of the world, all attention and senses converged as if being drawn in.
Holy Lord Juseppe Melchior.
He was a giant. He was powerful because of his immensity, and thus he absorbed everything around him like a black hole and made it his own.
The more terrifying thing was that he had no intention of doing so.
'How on earth did he come to Tirna?'
Alensia could not understand this.
If someone of Holy Lord's stature were to come to Tirna, they would receive a national-level VIP treatment.
Various guards and security personnel would come out to protect him, and even the mayor along with high-ranking officials, would personally step forward.
But he suddenly appeared before her eyes without any sound or rumor, and Alensia's bewilderment was extraordinary.
"Nice to meet you."
Juseppe greeted Alensia politely.
He was wearing ordinary clothes that could be seen anywhere, not elaborate attire.
He had disguised himself to hide his identity.
"Holy Lord..."
Alensia forcibly opened her mouth that was hard to part. This was thanks to the executive's pride that she should not stop him here.
"What brings you here?"
"As you can see, I've come to resolve an internal issue within our order. Of course, it seems I'm a bit late."
"...How coincidental. I was just about to come after hearing such news."
"Where is the coincidence? You were trying to do her job, and Lord Hermut and I were trying to do our own."
Right. Holy Lord Juseppe's words were not wrong.
In the end, the incident had come this far because of what happened in the 29th district.
If the Holy Lord and a Purification Judge have come, it means something extraordinary must have happened in this underground.
It would have been stranger if they had not noticed this until now.
'I've known about the lobbying situation among public officials in the 29th district.'
The public officials would have been used to taking money and would have let it slide. But if the matter has grown to this point, they would not escape discipline.
Alensia's mind was racing.
If it were her usual self, she would have completely dismantled the 29th district and arrested all the order's people, but if the Holy Lord has stepped in, the story changes.
Even as one of the few Executioners in Tirna, her name would lose its luster before the Holy Lord.
'Am I supposed to give in?'
Since they have directly intervened, the incident in the 29th district will be buried in darkness without being known to the outside.
She did not like the fact that such a thing was happening in Tirna, but Alensia could do nothing.
Although she held a high position as an Executioner, she could not make such a big decision arbitrarily, and her superiors would also tell her to step back for now.
However, there was someone here who was unrelated to Alensia or the Holy Lord.
"So you're going to keep this secret? Coming uninvited and quite rudely."
Osian stepped forward confidently and spoke.
Juseppe's gaze turned to Osian. Alensia was also surprised and looked back at Osian.
'Did he just call the Holy Lord rude? And right to his face?'
Even Alensia could not help but be surprised this time.
Hermut seemed to have similar thoughts, as he stared at Osian with wide-open eyes.
Although his emotions were not greatly revealed, considering his position, this was quite a remarkable reaction.
As soon as Osian finished speaking, an incredible momentum poured from the Reflection Unit towards Osian.
Because he had dared to insult the Holy Lord, the Reflection Unit’s gaze towards Osian was not kind.
In an atmosphere where they seemed ready to kill this ruffian right away, Osian continued to stare only at the Holy Lord.
Their gazes intertwined in the empty air.
The moment Osian looked into the Holy Lord's eyes, he was inwardly impressed.
'Remarkable.'
Was it because he was the leader of an organization that dominated the continent?
Juseppe's eyes were so deep that it was difficult to measure their depth.
No emotions could be discerned.
While Hermut would put a mask over his emotions to hide them, Juseppe was the opposite.
He did not try to hide anything. He simply showed things as they were. Yet they could not be read because he was too vast.
Osian saw the shape of something enormous behind the Holy Lord's back.
This was Juseppe's appearance when seen from another perspective.
A giant who commands the world.
This was the true form of the leader of the Petra Order.
'I've never met someone like this before.'
Among the people Osian had met, even if he were to pick someone strong or of high status, it would only be District Governor Alberto.
The master of the Blood Brotherhood, Grace? She had a presence, but it was not comparable to Juseppe.
'If I were to swing my sword, would it reach?'
If others had heard this inner thought, they would have tried to kill Osian for being blasphemous.
But Osian was sincere. The physical distance between Juseppe and himself could be narrowed in one leap, but Osian did not think he could cut him down even if he drew his sword.
It was not because of physical strength. Something invisible was felt beyond that.
Oh, how enjoyable.
A faint smile curved at the corner of Osian's mouth beneath his helmet.
It was a smile that Osian himself was not even aware of.
Like Osian, Juseppe also saw him and could evaluate him.
'There are still such young people in this world.'
Though wearing armor, it was easy to tell from his voice that Osian was young.
What caught Juseppe's gaze was Osian's eyes, gleaming from within his helmet.
How long had it been since he had seen such clear and strong eyes?
Even the paladins of the 13th divisions would find it difficult to give an impression of being more robust than him.
'And that armor he's wearing...'
The position of the Holy Lord allows him to see and hear various things.
With such broadened insight, he knew that Osian's armor was not simply worn for appearance.
This was not an ordinary armor. It was closer to a crystallization created by some 'power'.
Moreover, the cape flowing below his shoulders was white on the outside, but the inside looked like a night sky full of stars, as if cut out from a starry sky.
He could not mock it as outdated. Ridiculing that would be the same as looking down on everyone else.
"I apologize for the late introduction. I am Juseppe Melchior. May I ask your name?"
"Wandering Knight."
Osian introduced himself just as he had to Hermut.
Not a name, just a simple answer that he was a knight.
-Hwaaak.
Several members of the reflection unit could not contain themselves and leaked killing intent.
If Juseppe had not spoken next, someone would surely have moved.
"I see. Pleased to meet you, Wandering Knight."
Juseppe did not feel displeased with Osian's words. Instead, he sincerely called him a knight.
When Osian introduced himself as a wandering knight, Juseppe felt the conviction and pride embedded in his voice.
This was not a false identity to hide his name, but rather a statement of what his essence was.
Just as Osian saw something enormous from Juseppe, Juseppe also saw something from Osian.
This was a scene that no one else could see, visible only to Juseppe who had risen to his position.
It was the universe. A beautiful scene beyond the vast black sky, filled with sparkling lights.
Though he was a giant overlooking the world, even such a giant must look up to the sky.
Osian was that sky.
For Juseppe, who had lived for many years and thought he would no longer be surprised by anything, this was a fresh shock.
Even more surprising was that he had not yet fully realized his own potential.
"Wandering Knight, you asked me if I would keep this matter secret?"
Osian listened quietly to what Juseppe would say.
"I intend to disclose this matter to the outside world."
At that shocking statement, Hermut stepped forward unconsciously.
"Holy Lord. About those words..."
"I understand Lord Hermut's thoughts. If that happens, our Petra Order's image will suffer a critical blow."
It's not just a blow.
The clergy kidnapping children and committing such acts would not be merely a stain on the name.
Those who have long looked down on the Petra Order would seize this opportunity to tear them apart indiscriminately.
"Although this incident is unrelated to our order's will, we cannot say we bear no responsibility."
Juseppe already knew what had happened in this underground.
As a representative of all Petra Order members, he felt an immense sense of responsibility.
"This is my negligence in proper management. That's why it must be revealed. Otherwise, the order's long-accumulated bad practices cannot be erased."
Osian, listening quietly to Juseppe's words, realized he was sincere.
'I thought he was someone who ruled such an order and had a foul background, but was it the opposite?'
Juseppe did not seem to have the authoritative consciousness that a Holy Lord of the order should possess.
He appeared to be anti-authoritarian, and from his words, it seemed he believed the order needed reform.
If he had said he would hide this matter here, what choice would he have made?
'Well, I would have done as usual.'
No matter how positively he tried to think, a good future could not be drawn.
He probably would have drawn his sword, unable to contain himself but there would definitely be no regret in that action.
'Is it fortunate that the other party is reasonable?'
Osian's gaze naturally turned to Alensia.
Holy Lord Juseppe had stated his position. But Alensia had not yet said anything.
As someone closely associated with Tirna, she was also qualified to give her opinion here.
Considering Alensia’s personality, she would likely choose to inform people about this matter.
But Osian knew that unlike himself, she was merely an individual bound to this city.
Actually, Alensia left to communicate with her superiors.
When she returned shortly after, her expression was not good.
"The higher-ups wish to meet the Holy Lord directly."
"Huh. This is quite troublesome. I came as just an ordinary old man, not as the Holy Lord."
"They say they will take that into consideration as well."
In other words, this meeting would proceed completely unofficially.
They would likely discuss this incident and future countermeasures.
"Whew. I see. If you've come to Tirna, you must follow Tirna's laws."
Juseppe agreed more easily than expected. Since the 29th district had committed the act, the Petra Order was at a disadvantage.
Even as the Holy Lord, he could not arbitrarily force his way here. Moreover, having come secretly, Tirna was essentially showing consideration.
If he did not accept this, the negotiation would not be established.
"I should be going now."
"Holy Lord. Is that alright?"
Hermut asked.
"You don't need to see that child..."
The child he spoke of was, of course, Martinez.
How could Juseppe not know? He himself had sent Martinez here.
"It will be fine."
But Juseppe smiled, saying he was not worried.
Martinez, with outstanding talent, was so straightforward that it often caused concern, but not today.
"I see."
Hermut nodded, understanding. He suddenly recalled Martinez's gaze.
The boy who knew nothing had grown slightly more mature.
"Wandering Knight. Today's meeting, unfortunately, ends here."
"I see."
"Still, I'm glad. I never thought the starlight I believed had disappeared would reappear here. Someone might see this as a good omen. But I suddenly have this thought."
Juseppe's gaze at Osian seemed somehow heavy.
"Perhaps, there might be events so significant that such starlight needs to reappear...a kind of warning."
Osian did not respond. He could not guess Juseppe's intention behind those words.
Juseppe soon showed a kind smile.
"I only hope it's my misunderstanding. As you age, unnecessary worries only increase."
Juseppe slightly bowed to Osian, then left following Alensia’s guidance.
Osian quietly watched his receding back, until his figure disappeared from view.