Another knock interrupted the cardinal’s quiet celebration.
An older woman entered, dressed in dull combat gear. Unlike the Reverend Mother, she was clearly outfitted for battle, and the large scar running across her face only made her appear more intimidating.
"Cardinal," she called, stopping several steps away. "Atlas has been spotted within the territory. He’ll be making his landing soon."
The cardinal nodded in satisfaction.
"It is about ti. Is that all, Farah?" he asked, turning to her. "Nothing else?"
Farah lowered her head slightly. "I’ve received confirmation from our n in both the House of Monreal and the Tribe of Talmaru. Atlas has launched his attack on both and is now with them."
She raised her phone to show him.
"As for the conversation between Atlas and Marceline, it wasn’t worth listening to," she continued. They had planted spyware in Atlas’s phone.
So everything he discussed and every plan he laid out was already known to them. They only needed confirmation of the situation. The spies embedded within each family would handle the rest.
So far, Atlas had complied with everything.
And... everything was going according to their plan. Even so, with how smooth things were, Farah couldn’t help but feel this uneasiness.
"If anything, it’s surprising he finished the job in just a few hours," Farah added, prompting a wave of laughter from the cardinal. "It’s almost suspicious."
"Suspicious?" the cardinal chuckled as he strode toward her. "It isn’t suspicious. He has done it many tis before, Farah."
He stopped in front of her, smiling.
"I showed you once, didn’t I? During Charles Bennet’s funeral, I showed you the faces of the people who would eventually ruin our lives."
"..."
"Right," he nodded with a shallow chuckle. "You don’t rember anymore. That happened in a previous life."
He smiled wryly. "What I’m saying is that Atlas is the greatest threat among the Bennets — and everyone else. Having him hold the power of the Order in his hands is an entirely different matter. Even our Church would be no match for his forces."
"You truly speak highly of him, Cardinal."
"I admire how he manages to seize that power in every tiline except one," he replied, glancing at the phone before eting Farah’s eyes again. "Take Atlas to the eting room and prepare sothing for the other guests he brought with him."
Farah lowered her head. "And what about Iris Bellemonte? She’s been waiting for you since morning."
The cardinal paused to consider before smiling.
"Invite her to this eting as well. Since tonight will be our final council eting, soone from the Bellemonte family should have their own representative."
"I understand, Cardinal," Farah replied.
"As for Lola, move her to another room," he ordered. "Roth has been stationed to guard her cell, but I’m no longer confident in him."
"And the rest?" Farah asked, referring to the hostages in their custody — Amala, Silo, Derek, Kiara, Henrik’s son, as well as Allen and Sybil. "What should be done with them?"
The cardinal rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
Truthfully, all he needed were Lola and the twins. But since Lola had rescued her children, lissa had improvised and taken Kiara and Henrik’s son hostage instead. The others were ant for their final contingency plan.
If lissa failed to secure the twins — or Lola — they would use her friends to lure her out.
"We have no use for them anymore," he said, casting Farah a sidelong glance. "Take care of them. But leave Henrik’s heir and Miss Kiara alive. I’m certain they’ll prove useful."
Why?
Because Kiara was Hugo’s wife, and Atlas would not allow harm to co to his sister-in-law any more than he would to his own wife.
"It’ll keep Hugo in check," the cardinal humd.
Farah bowed her head. "I’ll handle it imdiately."
With that, the cardinal walked off to await Atlas and the other mbers of the founding families. Farah watched him leave before turning in another direction.
The mont she stepped outside, several people were already waiting for her, including lissa.
"Move Lola Young, Miss Kiara, and Henrik’s son to separate rooms," Farah ordered. "As for the rest, take care of them."
Her gaze snapped toward lissa.
"lissa, deal with everyone else — except Amala. Send that woman to ."
"Yes, Captain." lissa nodded, subdued after receiving a stern reprimand earlier. "I won’t let my emotions get the better of ."
"You shouldn’t," Farah replied coldly. "Otherwise, I’ll have to deal with you myself. You know what happens to liabilities."
lissa pursed her lips and said nothing.
"That is all," Farah concluded.
At once, those awaiting her orders shouted in unison before dispersing to carry them out. As they left, Farah watched them go and let out a heavy sigh.
Amala... my dearest friend. I hope you forgive .
No matter what, Farah had truly considered Amala a good friend. And if it had co to this... then it was only right that Farah be the one to end her.
*
*
*
Minutes later, in the largest eting room where the church’s affairs were usually handled, the cardinal waited patiently until his guests finally arrived.
Now he sat across the large oval table, Atlas positioned at the opposite end.
Beside Atlas lay Marceline’s unconscious body — and near her, Draken’s blood-soaked figure. The man looked as though he had bathed in blood, so thoroughly was he drenched in it.
Seated midway along either side of the table were the two chairpersons of the council. Though both originated from the Church, the role of chairperson required different allegiances.
In simple terms, these two — who typically facilitated and diated between the founding families — were no longer part of the Church. They had sworn to uphold the interests of the secret society above all else.
Which explained why they were now tied to their chairs.
Then, Iris Bellemonte sat near the cardinal with a smile on her face.
"Good day, everyone," the cardinal greeted with a subtle smile. His eyes swept over the bound elders, then to the two who were beginning to regain consciousness, before finally settling on Atlas.
His smile widened.
"Shall we begin our last council eting?"
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