Chapter 252. The Holy Kingdom (1)
Caron and his group had successfully infiltrated the Holy Kingdom.
On the third day since they first set foot in the Holy Kingdom, they finally arrived in a large village located in the northwestern region—Kirea Village. The streets were lively, with a good number of residents bustling about. And yet, beneath that surface, there lingered a palpable tension—an unease that words alone couldn't describe.
"It seems that places where people live always end up looking pretty similar," Leo commented.
"The culture might differ," Caron replied casually, "but at the core, it's all the same. People trying hard just to survive—that's all there is to it."
As Caron spoke, he scanned their surroundings, quietly gauging the atmosphere. The villagers' faces were stiff, taut with something unspoken. More than anything, it was the Holy Knights who stood out—riding on horseback, patrolling constantly. Compared to other nations, the level of surveillance here was excessive.
"This place is home to Kirea Church, which can be considered the heart of the diocese," Saintess Seria said as she glanced around the village with a conflicted expression. "It's only natural the Holy Knights would be so active here."
The reason they had chosen this place as their first destination was precisely because of Kirea Church.
"But are you really sure about this, Saintess?" Caron asked.
"...I can't say I'm certain," Seria admitted. "But this is the village I grew up in. The archbishop here... He was like a father to me when I was a child."
Caron and his group's objective was simple. It was to quickly consolidate power. The first step to any coup was gathering a force. Without allies, nothing could even begin.
The disfavored priests who had been pushed aside by the clergy of the Order of Truth—if they could rally those outcasts, they could march on the Holy Capital and shake the foundation of the kingdom.
Caron gave a slow nod, then said, "This is going to be fun."