When the map appeared, Olivia's expression couldn't help but turn strange.
Across the vast area, hardly any light dots were visible.
She knew those light dots represented members of the Twilight Council, yet only a scattered few remained, spread across different locations.
Of course, there was one light dot right beside her, representing Annie.
'The Twilight Council definitely brought many people before, but now there are hardly any within the magic mirror's detection range. Did they all flee? Did the plan fail, leading them to choose to withdraw from Kaliron?' Olivia thought to herself.
Regardless, since no members of the Twilight Council were in the immediate vicinity, she didn't have to worry about being seen walking with Annie.
She took Rose to a bakery and bought bread and milk.
The shop was actually a bit of a mess; some bread cabinets were cracked, and some loaves had fallen to the floor and been stepped on, though fortunately, many remained intact.
The bakery owner was an elderly woman with graying hair and a face marked by the passage of time. She kindly provided clean bread and milk.
Olivia couldn't help but ask, "Was all this damage caused when those heretics appeared earlier?"
The old lady nodded. "It’s fine. I’m used to it."
"Used to it? Does this sort of thing happen often?"
"Ho ho ho, I wouldn't say often, but at my age, I’ve seen similar situations a few times. Whenever those heretics move against the Church, we common folk get caught up in it from time to time."
Smiling, the old lady briefly spoke of past events, not appearing overly tense.
Living in a world like this, being occasionally swept up in transcendent events really wasn't considered strange anymore.
"In the end, the Church will provide compensation on their behalf anyway, so I won't suffer any loss," the old lady said with a smile.
"The Church compensates for your losses?"
"Yes, it’s always been that way."
"...I see."
Olivia nodded thoughtfully.
No wonder the Church’s popularity among the commoners was so high; it turned out the Church helped shoulder the risks the commoners faced.
As for what happened if someone died... the Church likely provided sufficient survivor benefits.
This incident had caused quite a stir, and she believed the evening papers and tomorrow's news would have extensive coverage.
But regardless, the Church already had abundant experience in handling such matters, enough to restore the South District to its normal state in the shortest time possible.
Next, Olivia took the well-fed Rose for two laps around Annus Street and booked a hotel room for her.
When booking the hotel, the landlady gave Olivia her word, stating that her hotel had a cellar. If something similar happened again, everyone could hide to avoid being taken by heretics; all the hotel guests had hidden there earlier.
Because of this, the hotel's fees were a tiny bit higher than the others.
Olivia didn't mind. She paid the Belu and let Rose settle in, leaving some extra Belu for Rose so she could live comfortably for a while.
"I’m leaving now. I’ll come to see you in a while," Olivia said, ruffling Rose's hair.
Although Rose's identity was mysterious and she possessed a very high authority, Olivia still couldn't help but treat her like a little girl.
Before leaving, Olivia glanced at Annie again.
A transcendent of the Evolver class rank, yet constrained here by Rose and stripped of her freedom—it was a truly lamentable situation.
Then, Olivia raised her hand. Under Annie's wide-eyed gaze, she placed it on Annie's head and gave it a vigorous ruffle.
Opportunities to bully an Evolver were not easy to come by.
"Annie, you have to be a good girl and listen to Rose, okay?" Olivia spoke with a tone used for lecturing a child.
This infuriated Annie.
Her pink hair practically stood on end as she glared at Olivia with eyes spitting fire. "You're looking for death! How dare you treat me like this? Who do you think you are, you ."
Annie spat out the common curses prevalent in the Holy Kelidos Empire, her temper flaring intensely.
Olivia felt that anger quite clearly; the anger seed within her was receiving this fury and growing slightly.
"No swearing!" Rose raised her hand and slapped Annie on the head, effectively forcing all of Annie's words back down her throat.
Her small face was exceptionally stern as she scolded Annie, feeling that a good child should not say such foul words.
"I was never a good child to begin with," Annie said through gritted teeth.
She was who-knows-how-old, and she had to pretend to be a good child?
"You must be a good child," Rose said seriously.
"And if I don't?" Annie shot back.
Rose didn't speak, but merely gazed at Annie with those dark brown eyes that revealed an incomprehensible, infinite mystery.
Annie swallowed hard and turned her head away, saying nothing more.
But without a doubt, she hated Olivia to the bone.
Since when did a mere Sensate dare to bully her like this?
She would remember this debt!
Olivia watched this scene with a beaming smile. Seeing that everything was fine, she left with peace of mind.
Regardless, with Rose around, Annie wouldn't be able to stir up any trouble after all.
Next, Olivia headed straight back to the Daylight Cathedral. Along the way, she saw many colleagues methodically handling the aftermath.
Olivia went to the cathedral's back garden. Bathed in the gentle sunlight, she reflected on every detail of this incident, treating it as a sort of summary.
'By the way, Dalia didn't use the Corpse Poison Goblet when she fought me. Magic mirror, magic mirror, where is the Corpse Poison Goblet?'
【This forbidden artifact does not belong to Dalia; it was previously lent to her and has been retrieved. Liam Herman, the member of the Twilight Council who holds this forbidden artifact, has already left my range of control and seems to intend to leave Kaliron.】
Olivia understood.
'Magic mirror, magic mirror, what will happen to those infected with corpse poison now that the ritual was interrupted?'
【Their existence was merely an insignificant part of the plan, used to draw the Church's attention; the people of the Twilight Council didn't care much about them. These people are being rounded up by the Church to have the corpse poison cleansed. Currently, there are no complications.】
Olivia nodded secretly. It seemed everything was proceeding in an orderly fashion.
Just as she was about to ask something else, a nun came to the back garden and told her that Melanie wanted her to go to the Administrative Office.
Rate on N.U.
