MT-1 Order

Finally, I can catch my breath.

I don't think I've talked so much in my entire life. And I've got another lifetime's worth of talking to do tomorrow.

Hah. How about we trade jobs, then?

I'll greet the Kazdelian delegation. You deal with the thirteen nomadic abbeys scheduled to arrive tomorrow. How's that?

All this running around is hard on my old bones.

That will not be necessary, Reverend Patrizion.

How is communicating with our new Sarkaz friends?

Fine enough.

Not all the Sarkaz have set hatred aside. That ancient Revenant with Speaker Wiš'adel, for example, got rather worked up at the mere sight of the Matriarch.

But the Speaker shut them up. She's been so magnanimous that I'm having trouble reconciling my impression with the rumors I've heard of her.

The chief spokesman for the Kazdelian delegation is a Lich by the name of Fremont. I wish you could have seen it—

A three-hour debate in which he engaged seventeen cardinals from the First and Sixth Tribunals in a, well, 'animated exchange of opinions', encompassing everything from politics to the Law, from faith to life and death.

Small wonder that whole procession of cardinals was spotted around the guava juice machine afterwards. They must've been soothing their parched lips and throats.

Such energy at his age! I envy the man.

Long story short, Kazdel accepted our proposal. The Royal Court will review the legacy of royal authority, and the Sarkaz will unite through the mediation of Laterano.

I have also spoken to the Empresses' Voice. The Leithanian delegation will arrive at the Holy City early tomorrow morning.

Now that's something you don't see every day.

Remember how few answered the call of the first Summit of Nations two years ago. Most thought that the Lateran Declaration was little more than a piece of paper, empty posturing.

Empress Ewigegnade declined our invitation then. This time, she is proactively asking to take part in the Summit of Nations.

Even Empress Grimmacht, who has long been out of the public eye, came out of seclusion to join the envoy and visit Laterano...

It's a strong show of good faith from Leithanien.

Shall we say the second Summit of Nations has already met expectations?

Exceeded them, Cardinal Velliv.

Columbia, Ursus, Yan, even distant Ægir... all nations that should be here are now present.

It's like a dream.

Only the inevitable result of Laterano's development over the ages.

The prophesied calamity draws near. The black snow on the ice of Sami, the hole in the sky above Leithanien, even the raging tides that dash against the coast, are all portents of its inevitable arrival.

In the face of calamity, everyone wants order—Lateran order.

You're correct. But even after all our preparation, the sight still feels... unfamiliar.

If it's like that for you, imagine how it must be for everyone else. Even if one has heard of the path that Laterano has paved in response to the prophesied calamity countless times during one's enlightenment...

One cannot help but hesitate when coming face-to-face with the ultimate end.

What about yourself?

It's bad form to flaunt one's age, but when you get to be my age, there's not much to hesitate about.

Are you ready to retire?

I can hardly bite through a cactus tart these days. This summit may be the last thing I can do for Laterano.

That might have more to do with your taste in food, Reverend... I would have a hard time biting through one of those, er, cactus tarts you're talking about.

You are aware that all the cactus tarts among the refreshments were made specially for you? Literally no one else in all of Laterano has any interest in them.

You must be joking. The cactus tarts were a recommendation from an old friend, a true connoisseur of desserts... what was his name again...?

Doesn't matter. Back to the topic at hand.

The doubts among the people make the subsequent ceremony at the Shrine of Nurtury all the more important.

We must show everyone, in the most forceful manner, the potential of Laterano.

Of course. I'll get on the handover of the Seventh Tribunal immediately. When the Summit of Nations gets underway, I will head to the Shrine and ensure that the ceremony is executed without a hitch.

No need to rush.

Hah. Never mind. Young people are all the same... they complain a lot, but they have no patience when the time for action comes.

Are you reminded of your Fia?

I believe she has returned, according to the mission logs?

Yes. We'll have a family get-together tomorrow... I hope she likes my gift.

Huh?

The Shrine of Nurtury...

What a miracle.

Lemuen, Cardinal of the Seventh Tribunal. Go ahead.

Cardinal Lemuen, your presence is required at Via Jovita, Pagus Stevonus, to investigate a possible bombing.

Reverend Patrizion? I don't believe this was on today's schedule.

You may not understand, as you were recently created, but emergency assignments take precedence over all other arrangements, regardless of organ.

An emergency assignment...? But where did this decision come from? Is there any documentation to reference?

Whether a situation is an emergency or not is always self-evident. There is no need for additional determination.

Someone of unknown identity and in possession of unregistered explosives has been seen in public multiple times without Notarial Hall oversight—

This is a grave threat to the order of Laterano. The centuries-long peace of the Holy City must not be broken by an illegal explosion during the Summit of Nations, with the eyes of all lands upon us.

The suspect has been sighted on Via Jovita in Pagus Stevonus. You are the nearest officer of the Curia.

Proceed to the scene immediately. Your aide and Notarial Hall executors will join you, ETA approximately ten minutes following your arrival.

Understood.

...Lemuen.

What else do I need to know?

I had meant to congratulate you on your creation... but I guess it should wait for tomorrow's gathering.

Will you be there? We all know you've only gotten busier as your retirement draws near, and you always...

Always put my duties first? I can't deny that.

I've postponed meetings with old friends so many times that I can hardly remember their names, leaving me too embarrassed to meet them anymore.

But I'll try to make the gathering tomorrow.

Take care, Reverend.

I'll head to Via Jovita immediately.

Can you hear me?

Lemuen?

I'm near the Shrine of Nurtury, but something just came up and I need to be elsewhere.

...

Did you say something? I couldn't make it out. Why are you whispering? You're not the type to keep your voice down.

(No no no, Lemuen, you misunderstand...)

(I'm fine, but there's a... situation. I need to stay hidden and keep quiet.)

...

See you at Fiammetta's thing, then.

(Sure.)

(Take care.)

Phew.

He's here! He might be whispering, but he can't fool my ears!

I didn't need you to guess where he is!

He's not behind the curtains or the pillars...

'This wardrobe is only half his height. There's no way he could hide in here.'—Is what he'd want us to think!

What a dummy!

It's not that he's dumb, it's that we're too smart!

We found you, Senior Nurturer!

...

Alright, alright, you got me—thirty extra minutes of free time today!

Yay!

Let's play 'Halo', Senior Nurturer!

I'll be the first to get in the bottle, the first one out the front, and the first one you hug! Then we'll hold hands and meet the other kids behind when they come out!

Are you bothering Andoain again, children?

They just want to play a little longer. It's all fine. Giselle, Romya, go make your preparations at the Hall of Enlightenment. We can start the game once I get there, okay?

Don't you ever say no to the children?

I guess that's why they trust you and look up to you...

Just a few weeks ago, they were terrified of these unfamiliar halls. It was a struggle just to give them a change of clothes.

Now, they feel at home... all thanks to you.

I didn't do anything, except stay with them.

You're very much like the Matriarch, down to your humility. Just having you with them makes all the difference.

Was it not your companionship that helped the mother you and the Matriarch brought back through the worst?

I remember the first thing the surgeon did after leaving the operating room was to check if he still had his halo.

He could not understand how the mother managed to survive with her baby, after her abdomen was impaled by a spear.

It was a miracle.

We'll call it a miracle once she's successfully given birth. Meanwhile, I will continue to care for her as best as I can.

I'm... beginning to understand why the Matriarch holds you in such high regard. It is reassuring to know that you are in charge of the most important duty of the Nativity, the delivery of the child.

The Shrine of Nurtury will be ready for full operation if the Nativity goes well. Every child born on Terra henceforth shall have the protection and blessing of the Holy City.

That will be the true miracle.

I hope so... I do hope so.

I must not keep you any longer. Giselle and Romya are still waiting for you!

...

It's quiet...

I'm in position.

Identifying suspicious personnel. No unusual activity at this time.

...

—!

Have you checked all the intersections?

Yes, Your Eminence. We didn't find any suspicious individuals.

We also interviewed potential witnesses nearby, but at this time we have no concrete leads.

...

Mushrooms might spring up on a wet pillar by themselves, but bombs don't, do they?

Huh... how could they?

With the exception of public officers of the Curia and the Shrine of Nurtury, anyone who is in possession of explosives is subject to surveillance by the Notarial Hall.

It's been years since an unplanned gunshot last rang out in Laterano, never mind an explosion.

It's pretty sophisticated. If a bomb like this was filled with standard explosives, the blast would have damaged far more than just one pillar.

Do you mean it was homemade? But why? A practical joke?

The Lateran Arms Control List was compiled by the Curia's extremely experienced explosives experts. Pretty much anything that could possibly cause a good-sized explosion is on there.

It would take considerable effort to assemble a bomb like this using materials not on the list. No one would do this for a whimsical practical joke.

Besides, today is no ordinary occasion. The second Summit of Nations is underway.

Get me the files on recent movements around Via Jovita... correction, all of Pagus Stevonus.

...

What is it?

Files that are clearly relevant to the case at hand should have been retrieved the moment we received our orders.

There you are!

(Pats chest) *pant*... *pant*...

Forgive me, Cardinal Lemuen. Here are the files you requested.

My name is Amos, I'm an investigator with the Seventh Tribunal. I will be serving as your aide and conclavist.

...

You're late, Amos.

Patrizion said you'd be here approximately ten minutes after I arrived at the scene. Here we are, thirty minutes later.

I'm so sorry, I was preparing refreshments for the welcome ceremony. I didn't think it would be so urgent...

(Shhh—)

I assume you've heard about me, if the Seventh Tribunal appointed you as my aide.

L-Lemuen the Silent...

I tolerate no excuses.

...

Want some ice cream, Federico? This one's on me.

I am not in the habit of enjoying dessert in the middle of a mission.

Besides, I already partook before leaving the Notarial Hall.

So it was you who took the last cup from the lounge...

How about you tell me why you rushed out of the Notarial Hall in such a hurry? Reward for me solving that case, so to speak.

You've been standing at this intersection for ten minutes, but there's nothing here.

I am under no obligation to share my private affairs with colleagues.

You said you were in the middle of a mission...

What's that sound...?

Oh—you were waiting for a confessional!

You've certainly accumulated your fair share of 'sins' as the executor with the highest rate of complaints at the Notarial Hall, but it's still a huge surprise to see you proactively seeking confession.

Here.

What?

I expensed the cost of a City of Gold Blind Box on that field mission to Sargon, which resulted in my reimbursements being twice as much as what was actually spent on mission costs...

I went out my door with shame weighing on my heart... and spotted a confessional driving by... Anyway, long story short, I got myself an annual pass. You can borrow it.

Arrival announcement.

Automated Confessional ELCARO-001 is arriving at this station. Please line up to enjoy confessional services.

'May all who are lost find salvation.'

—

...

?

Hahahahahaha!

Even a robot knows you don't have any emotional needs, Federico.

Virtually every Lateran comes into contact with confessionals in the course of their everyday lives. In a way, these machines hold more diverse and comprehensive data than that stored in the Notarial Hall.

They form natural archives, revealing abnormalities.

...I have arrived at certain conclusions.

Hm... one second, Federico. You don't have to share your conclusions, but could you at least explain what you're looking for?

You were the one who told me to be careful.

I made sure I didn't have a tail on my butt, and you didn't give that stone-faced guy a chance to fiddle with anything.

Let's pray he doesn't catch you and tear you apart, piece-by-piece.

What is it?

Of course I did. A Penguin Logistics uniform is way too conspicuous for Laterano.

I designed this outfit myself. I've only worn it once, at my graduation!

And it's YOU we should be talking about. Do you know how weird it is to hear your voice come out of a confessional's speakers?

I hate to admit it... but yes.

It took so much effort to find the replacement materials—the market, the bakery, the playground, the school's secret shop... I went through every single source I could think of.

And it didn't even blast the pillar in two! Any material that's even halfway decent is restricted, and no one could give an answer when I asked why.

It's not because of this 'Summit of Nations', right?

If anyone in Laterano thought the beautiful sight and sound of an explosion would be any threat to the Summit of Nations, then it's not me with the problem, it's Laterano!

As for the Summit of Nations... they just announced the final event of the whole deal—some 'Nativity' ceremony in that shrine.

Are you telling me they built a building big enough to be seen from any corner of Laterano, not as a dessert museum, but to put on some kind of LIVE BIRTHING SHOW?!

It's not like I could just trust you blindly. You're just an 'electronic confessor', after all.

But now, I believe you.

There's something REALLY wrong with Laterano. And the worst part is, nobody thinks anything's wrong at all!

Then it's on us to bomb them, isn't it?

If I figured out how to blow up a shrine that big using only common household items, shouldn't every university in Laterano give me a lifetime achievement award?

Can you believe it? The Laterans need someone to remind them that they love explosions? Sounds like a nightmare, doesn't it? Shouldn't take more than an afternoon at the Firearms Workshop to do the job.

Oh yeah! The Firearms Workshop! The workshops may be closed, but the people are still around!

I know what you're gonna say. It's too dangerous. Firearms Workshop is the first place they would look if anything happened, right?

Don't worry, I'll be careful. You do the same, and don't get yourself taken apart. That's my job, once this is all over and done with.

Anyway... Welcome to Laterano!

My investigation is now concluded. Thank you all for your contributions.

We can go back to the Seventh Tribunal once we've signed off on the paperwork. If the refreshments at the welcome ceremony haven't gone stale yet, may I count on your assistance in eliminating them with extreme prejudice?

I would like you to accompany me to see the gun-knights, Amos.

I...

Is there a problem?

If by 'gun-knights' you mean Reverend Patrizion, I... I'll ask Joshua to accompany you.

Explain.

...

There was an incident a decade ago, when a nomadic abbey was escorting prisoners back to Laterano. A terrible fight broke out between a gun-knight and her cohort...

By the time the Curia sent someone, much blood had been spilled, and the gun-knight had fallen.

She was exiled from Laterano and has not been heard from since.

I've heard of the case.

That gun-knight was my wife. It was Reverend Patrizion who led the clean-up task force and exiled her.

You've been with the Seventh Tribunal far longer than I have, Conclavist Amos. I don't need to remind you of our duty, and the duty of the gun-knights—

No, no, you misunderstand.

My wife was entirely at fault.

Any Sankta who raises their patron firearm against one of their own must be judged by the Law and be expelled from Paradise.

I am in no position to criticize Reverend Gun-Knight Patrizion... however, I can't bring myself to see him like this either.

Is this how you've handled any previous dealings with the gun-knights?

I... yes. I'm sorry.

...*sigh*.

I-I'm very sorry. Give me five minutes, I'll try to collect myself, and maybe I can go with you...

I don't mean to reprimand you. I just think that this is part of what we do at the Seventh Tribunal.

We spend our time seeing people we don't want to see, and not seeing the people we want to see. Or worse—seeing the people we want to see in the worst ways possible.

I hated handing down instructions to Mostima and the others.

But they said you volunteered to join the Seventh Tribunal...

Because there's a lot I can do here.

The same goes for you, Amos.

Thank you. But I don't really have aspirations. It was like that when my wife was around, and even more so after she left...

There's a lot at the Seventh Tribunal that needs doing. For example, there are still several Firearms Workshops that need attention.

It's our first priority right now. The seizure of the Firearms Workshops must proceed without a hitch in order to prevent any more explosions.

I'll leave it to you. Be quick, won't you?

Are you tired?

You've gone through six rows of wheat with your sickle since dawn. Perhaps you should take a break by the haystacks.

Arturia.

I'm not so frail. Besides...

Besides?

Nothing. I just wanted to see where the fields end.

I can't make out the boundary. Even my music can't penetrate it.

You'll have to work harder!

We meet again, Sister Hildegard.

Good afternoon, Arturia.

I brought your lunch—bread, some ice cream crackers, and a large mug of craft beer!

Thank you. Work harder, you said?

What I mean is, there's plenty for us to do.

Look at the golden stalks, the undulating waves of wheat... it's another bumper harvest in Laterano.

Setting aside our own food stocks, Landen Monastery will be able to put twice as much grain as usual into cystymilk bread and craft beer this year. It'll be a good source of income!

...

Why are you laughing?

The way you talk about life makes me appreciate this prison even more, Sister Hildegard.

The respect you show for this prison makes me appreciate you even more, Arturia.

I'm very curious about your transgression. I heard the other nuns saying that your music is beautiful, but dangerous.

I have a question.

If I recall correctly, Landen Monastery was founded to protect the Pope and important clerics of the Lateran Church...

Which makes me wonder when this place became a prison.

Is it not protecting... er, important clerics and the peace of Laterano, to put certain individuals of note under observation?

The significance of Landen Monastery has never changed.

Besides, the more important the monastery is to the Holy City, the less likely we will fall insolvent.

Hm...

How did you acclimate to this place so quickly as a Liberi?

What do you mean?

I grew up here.

...I see.

Oh, I almost forgot. This is what you requested yesterday.

Gratias.

What made you want to read The Saints' Travels all of a sudden?

Penance, of course. What other reason might a prisoner have?