Book 17: Chapter 22
Though the two popes left, I suspected the matter wasn’t over. First, the old church’s pope showed that he hadn’t dropped the matter. He didn’t seem to accept the outcome. What he was after wasn’t a culprit. He wasn’t convinced the new church was innocent. Nobody would believe the other party’s leader wasn’t related to a case where one of your own was killed during such a tense period. The issue was that there was no evidence. However, it was the lack of evidence that made it all the easier for violence to ensue.
The captured man didn’t admit to the assassination being connected to the new church. He must’ve been trained very professionally to not spill the beans under the pressure of the Valkyries. Therefore, I deemed the new church unrelated to the case. That said, if they really weren’t, then the new church’s pope wasn’t framed. The old church’s pope was certain the new church was behind it, though. Unfortunately, proving it was useless.
The old church’s rage wasn’t going to be appeased after an execution. But alas, if the old church killed someone at this point in time, they’d be deemed culprits who killed the innocent. The new church certainly wouldn’t let that go. The new church planned to give up on the assassin. If the old church attacked them, the new church would retaliate, and that would blow up into a big fight between the two.
Mom already made arrangements. The two didn’t express anything before her, but she wasn’t thoughtless. Hilles City may have been enveloped in an cheerful and peaceful atmosphere, but it was also enveloped in the darkness of conflict. That was where most of the members of the old church were found, but it was also where the new church resided. As the main camp of the old church, should the two churches fight, they’d exchange fire in the city.
At noon, Mom arranged for the military to protect the Royal Palace to avoid inciting panic. She didn’t put the entire Hilles City under martial law. That was why she couldn’t have too many troops in the city. Most of the military personnel, therefore, gathered, while the others left the city.
Mom and I stood atop a tall platform in the inner parts of the Royal Palace. It was the highest location in the Royal Palace. We could see all of Hilles City from there. The afternoon sun was behind us. Mom stood next to me. She narrowed her eyes and pointed to the left of the Royal Palace, which was where the tall church was located. We could see either side of the church. She quietly explained, “Son, the residents there are mainly members of the old church. Because the church is there, the people are devout followers. Despite what happened in the past, they still attend church every week.”
I nodded. Mom then pointed to a street on the right: “Though the new church doesn’t have a church here, they’re temporarily using a tavern in place of one. It’s just there on the right side of the street. Owing to the new church’s pope being there, a fair number of new followers of the church have entered Hilles City. Mommy is most worried about seeing blood spilt on that street.”
Come to think of it, it was quite ironic. The two churches couldn’t stand each other, yet they were on either side of the same street. I didn’t quite understand why they had so much animosity for each other.
The people on the streets were rowdy. The sun was bidding the sky farewell. It was as Freya said: the only fairness in the world is sunlight. Everybody, no matter who they are, can receive the light and warmth of the sunlight.