62: Chapter 62 Rejection! Intelligence! Blazing Ice Seal!

Gino City, Dawn Cathedral.

After the stumbling block was removed, Rowan stepped into this quiet and solemn place once again.

Sunlight poured through the high windows, casting mottled beams of light.

He found a familiar nun and expressed his request to see Priestess Aliyah to pray and seek guidance.

The nun returned quickly, her face showing a hint of apology, and bowed slightly to Rowan: "Baron, Priestess Windsor is currently handling urgent church affairs and cannot receive guests."

"She asked me to convey her apologies and suggests you go to confession with another duty priest or father."

Cannot receive guests?

Handling urgent church affairs?

Deep in Rowan's eyes, a faint glimmer flashed.

As expected, his feeling last time was not a misconception.

Since that time at Snow Velvet Manor, Aria's attitude had clearly changed.

Previous letters had sunk like stones into the sea, and now, coming to the cathedral to request a meeting in person was also directly refused.

But, where had the problem arisen?

Rowan was somewhat puzzled.

He kept his face calm and remained silent for a moment.

But then, he took a half-step forward, lowered his voice, his tone carrying an unprecedented seriousness: "I understand that Priestess is very busy. But... I have come here this time not just for personal prayer."

"I accidentally obtained some... important intelligence that might concern the recent movements of the Crimson Knights, and I feel it is necessary to report it to Priestess Aliyah in person immediately."

"This matter may have a significant connection with some nobles in Gino County."

The nun's expression changed suddenly upon hearing this.

The Crimson Knights!

This was the top-priority case currently being handled by the church, especially by Priestess Aliyah personally!

Any relevant intelligence was crucial.

She dared not delay and quickly said: "Baron, please wait here for a moment, I will go and report this immediately!"

Watching the nun's hurried back, a flicker passed through Rowan's eyes...

In a church quiet room.

Aria sat behind the table, her fingertips unconsciously brushing the edge of the opened file.

She was still wearing a pristine pure white priestly robe, her silver hair slightly draped, and her ice-blue eyes were as calm as water.

Only beneath that calm lake surface, there seemed to be a trace of imperceptible fatigue and complexity more than usual.

When the nun knocked on the door again and relayed Rowan's new reason, Aria's fingers touching the file paused slightly.

Important intelligence on the Crimson Knights?

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

Was it an excuse, or was it true?

Based on her preliminary understanding of Rowan, he was not the type to speak without thinking.

Especially using such matters as an excuse, he shouldn't.

But... she really didn't want to see him.

At least not now.

That discussion at Snow Velvet Manor, and all the information she found about him later, were like a tangled mess, entwined in her heart.

She needed time to sort it out, needed space to calm down.

She was afraid that when she faced him again, she wouldn't be able to control the emotions that had been forcibly frozen but were still restless in the dark.

However, it was her duty.

If there were truly important clues about the Crimson Knights, she could not ignore them due to personal emotions.

That would be blasphemy against the Goddess of Dawn, and irresponsible to the people under her rule.

Silence spread in the prayer room.

Only the dust floating in the sunlight moved.

For a long time, she sighed softly, her voice returning to the clear and calm tone unique to a priestess, and said to the waiting nun: "Please ask Baron Rowan to wait for me in... the Light-Still Prayer Room."

The Light-Still Prayer Room was a rarely used prayer room on the wing of the cathedral, usually used for matters requiring absolute silence and privacy.

"Yes, Priestess."

The nun received the order and bowed to exit.

Aria stood in place, not moving immediately.

She walked to the window, looking at the ancient snow maple tree swaying in the autumn wind in the cathedral courtyard, her expression changing.

Finally, all fluctuations were suppressed, re-condensing into an abyss of cold ice.

She subconsciously straightened her priestly robe, took a deep breath, and walked out of the prayer room.

The Light-Still Prayer Room was located deeper in the cathedral complex, requiring passage through several quiet corridors.

Under the nun's guidance, Rowan came here for the first time.

The prayer room was small, with extremely simple furnishings, only a small altar of the Goddess of Dawn and two simple kneeling stools.

The light was dim and soft.

The air was filled with an atmosphere of peace, exceptionally quiet, as if it could isolate all the noise of the outside world.

After the nun guided Rowan in, she retreated silently and gently pulled the heavy oak door shut.

Rowan stood in the center of the prayer room, not sitting down, just waiting quietly.

I don't know how long it had been.

A burst of extremely soft footsteps approached from far to near, finally stopping outside the prayer room door.

The door was pushed open...

A pure white figure, against the slightly brighter light in the corridor, stepped into this dim prayer room.

Silver hair flowed like moonlight, and the priestly robe was pure white without a speck of dust.

Aria's calm gaze fell on Rowan.

The moment the two locked eyes.

Deep in her eyes, a complex ripple uncontrollably surged.

Rowan, at the moment of eye contact, already had a gentle smile on his lips.

At the same time, his level 3 [Charm] skill was pushed to the limit, sensing every minute emotional fluctuation around Aria.

He clearly sensed that Aria's hot and vigorous emotions had not disappeared, and had even become clearer.

It was just that now, they were tightly sealed by a thick layer of ice, and absolute rationality was covered over the ice.

Aria nodded slightly to Rowan, as a greeting, then walked straight to a simple kneeling stool and sat down gracefully.

Her back was straight, and her hands were folded on her knees.

Every movement exuded the standard and distance belonging to a member of the clergy.

Seeing this, Rowan also calmly sat down on the opposite kneeling stool, with a small table between them.

"Please state the intelligence you have, Baron Rowan." Aria went straight to the point, her voice clear.

Rowan was silent for a moment, not answering immediately, but took a piece of parchment from his arms and handed it over.

"Obtained by chance, from a black market."

He gave a vague but common explanation.

As for whether the other party believed it or would investigate it, it was not important; what was important was the content of the letter.

Aria reached out with her hand wearing a pure white thin gauze glove and took the letter.

She unfolded the letter paper and lowered her eyes to read it carefully.

At first, her expression maintained the calmness of a priestess reviewing documents.

But as her gaze scanned line by line through those obscure yet clearly meaningful words.

Her breathing hitched slightly, almost imperceptibly.

Earl Farrells Estate, Viscount Gladstone, Crimson Knights... special connections...

When she saw the letter mention that at the end of this month, a special time node called "New Moon Rift," the Crimson Knights would hold a crucial sacrificial ceremony in Mist Whisper Town using a large number of pure materials.

Her pupils contracted sharply!

Mist Whisper Town!

New Moon Rift!

Pure materials?!

She quickly retrieved and verified all known fragments of intelligence in her mind.

The targeted harassment that the Crimson Knights had started again in Gino County recently, as well as... some abnormal personnel and material transfers at the Earl Farrells Estate recently...

All the clues connected instantly, pointing to a clear conclusion!

This letter... was very likely true!

And, the time!

She quickly calculated mentally, there was about half a month until the "New Moon Rift" at the end of the month!

There was plenty of time to mobilize forces!

The impact of the huge intelligence value caused her to have some doubts about the source of the letter.

Judging by the tone of this letter, it was clearly from Viscount Gladstone.

And Viscount Gladstone...

She raised her eyes, her gaze sharply looking at Rowan, as if trying to see more clues on his face.

But Rowan just looked back at her calmly.

Aria lowered her head again, browsed the letter quickly once more, ensuring no details were missed.

Then, she carefully folded the letter and held it in her hand.

She needed to act immediately.

Summon the leaders of the Temple Knight Order, discuss with Bishop Cole, mobilize the church's secret forces, avoid possible interference from the officials of Gino County...

Countless thoughts raced through her calm brain.

When she pulled herself out of her deep thoughts and raised her eyes, preparing to formally thank Rowan and end this meeting.

She suddenly discovered that Rowan had been sitting quietly opposite, his gaze never having left her.