Mr. Yassen was surprised, but he quickly nodded in understanding.
"I know you're a Nolan native, and you've always despised those mysterious figures who appear and disappear in this city. But the Believers of Lies are different. Please don't hold such hostility toward them... For now, at least, the Church hopes to treat them with so friendliness. The Church has considered that if the Dragon Soul has appeared, the other three King Souls must have also erged, or are at least already in Nolan. The bearers of the Four King Souls share a common destiny.
The Church cannot pass up this opportunity. Even if we cannot secure this qualification for ourselves, we absolutely cannot allow the Believers of Lies to gain another bargaining chip. As we speak, the other churches have surely already begun to act. Dragon, Ice, Tree, and Dark—obtaining even one of them is to gain a chip for the final negotiations.
Although such a chip is nothing compared to you, the Church does not wish to give up."
"So, the Holy See sent you here overnight just to..."
"On one hand, if anyone in the Legacy Sage Church is to possess a King Soul, the Holy See believes only you are qualified. After all, the role of a Savior is not one just anyone can bear. However, we do not know if a single person can hold multiple qualifications. That remains to be investigated, but your connection to the King Souls is certain.
On the other hand, the Church hopes you will investigate whether any of the current Middleton heirs have shown any unusual signs. The Church believes the Tree Soul lies within the Middleton bloodline."
The Church's reasoning was quite sound, aligning perfectly with Jenkins's own initial thoughts. But Jenkins had acted faster and already had the Tree Soul in his possession.
He blinked, then gestured for Mr. Yassen to co closer. Only then did he whisper:
"I've already acquired the Tree Soul."
As he spoke, he tapped his chest. Mr. Yassen watched him in confusion, only realizing what he ant after a few seconds.
"But you initially said the Tree was not..."
"That's right, it wasn't with originally. But I found it, on a friend. For privacy's sake, I can't reveal her na, but the Tree Soul is indeed with now."
He tapped his chest again, indicating the Tree Soul's location.
"This... this is wonderful! Wonderful! Excellent news."
A smile spread across Mr. Yassen's face, the middle-aged man looking as delighted as a child with a new toy.
"Your initiative is truly astonishing! Back at the Holy See, I heard Papa Oliver complain that you always prefer to act alone and are unwilling to discuss your plans with others. But that's clearly a strength! Papa Oliver, for all his sense of responsibility and vast knowledge, truly failed to recognize your capabilities this ti."
Had he ever spent a significant amount of ti with Jenkins, he certainly would not have said such a thing.
Since Jenkins had unexpectedly acquired one of the Four King Souls, all the plans originally drawn up by the Holy See were now void. Mr. Yassen consulted with Miss Bevanna, and they imdiately relayed the news to the Holy See.
Jenkins, anwhile, took the opportunity to stroll through the Evergreen Forest with Alexia. They watched the sunset together for the first ti in a long while and even shared a kiss by the lake, bathed in the fading light. Aside from the cat's dissatisfaction, they both cherished the private ti together.
After dinner in the Evergreen Forest, a reply ca from the Holy See. The matter of the Tree Soul was to be kept secret, as revealing it now would serve no purpose. According to the red dragon's words from the previous night, a King Soul needed to be awakened to be of use to its master. Therefore, the Holy See instructed the Nolan diocese to prepare for the Tree Soul's awakening as soon as possible.
Although a Savior's abilities could not be actively sought, the Holy See believed that since the Tree Soul now belonged to a descendant of the elves, there was no need to worry that actively seeking its awakening would cause any unnecessary repercussions.
Alexia had to return to Dolores's side—the princess still needed protection—so she couldn't stay in the Evergreen Forest with Jenkins. Jenkins asked her to stop by his ho on St. George Avenue on her way and pass on the ssage that he would likely be ho very late. Then, he waited for the Keepers of Secrets, who were rushing over, to discuss how to stimulate the Tree Soul's awakening.
Papa Oliver also appeared in the Evergreen Forest at half-past eight. At that mont, Jenkins was sitting idly at the very top of the giant tree in the center of the forest, peeling an apple for Chocolate with a small knife under the starlight.
Papa Oliver, of course, was not about to climb a tree. He stood at its base, shouting for Jenkins to co down. After inquiring about the Tree Soul, he delivered another piece of major news:
"Have you seen today's evening paper?"
"No."
Jenkins shook his head and joined Papa Oliver to talk beneath the tree. There were still quite a few people in the clearing, so the two of them spoke in low voices in a secluded corner.
"The Three-King Summit has reached an agreent. The Hamparvo Kingdom and the Fidektri Kingdom will imdiately dispatch troops to help Cheslan 'restore its nation'."
"So quickly? They decided in a single day? Why were they so efficient this ti?"
Jenkins was stunned. He had thought sothing like this would take at least half a month of negotiations.
"Why were Salsi II and Queen Isabella so decisive? I haven't heard a single word about it. Neither Miss Windsor nor Dolores ntioned anything."
"The decision was only made this afternoon. Sothing major has happened in Cheslan."
"What happened? Did the followers Tackwen the Proud left behind in Cheslan plan an assassination and kill so high-ranking military officials?"
"It's sothing terrible."
Papa Oliver sighed, his entire deanor unusually grim.
"The end is truly here. Just this morning, a forest fire in the south began to spread with unnatural speed. According to the news I received before leaving the city, two of Cheslan's southern counties are now completely covered in flas and thick smoke. By that calculation, one-seventh of Cheslan's continental territory has been swallowed by the blaze. With an opportunity like that, do you think Salsi II and Queen Isabella would fail to seize it?"
Jenkins suspected he had misheard.
"Two counties? Completely on fire?"
An incredulous expression crossed his face, and it took him a long mont to accept the reality of it.
"Was this caused by so Cursed Item or a ritual? How could the fire possibly spread so fast? And are you sure it's continuously burning? Shouldn't it just burn through and leave scorched earth behind?"
"It is indeed continuously burning. I haven't seen it myself, but according to reports from the Enchanters who retreated, it's as if the entire world has turned into the inside of a steam furnace. The fire, spreading northward from the southern forests, is devouring everything like a stampeding herd of beasts. Everything is on fire, everything is burning. We're not sure what caused it; there was no warning whatsoever. Cheslan's losses are catastrophic. Most of the people escaped, but the holess will suffer even more. Fidektri is already preparing to receive refugees."
Jenkins couldn't imagine such a thing. His impression of a fire was limited to a single building crackling in flas. But now, at the southern tip of the main continent, flas covered everything. The sheer supernatural scale of it was terrifying.
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