The Vastness of Magical Destiny
Chapter 267 - 8: Heaven’s Secret

Chapter 267: Chapter 8: Heaven’s Secret

With a soft sigh, Julius’s gaze listlessly swept over the faces of the two men. Frenster’s words could be interpreted in two ways: either he truly knew nothing, not even understanding the content of the image, or he was feigning ignorance, finding it more judicious to inform Julius of the latter possibility. At least he knew to avoid the question, which was sufficient. Julius’s intention wasn’t to do anything with it anyway.

"Is that so? I too hope for the Bright Holy Teaching’s blessing to spread across the Continent, but often things go contrary to our desires. It would be unacceptable to violate our creed in the name of spreading the doctrine or expanding the influence of the Holy Teaching. Good intentions can spoil when pursued with ill-timed methods, and you should understand this better than anyone."

The Pope’s words became ambiguous, yet to the two listeners, they bore clear implications. Frenster was naturally uneasy, and Vazinsky was no less so. In recent years, the Pope seemed to have never stepped out of St. Mark’s Church and the West Fan Palace, yet he had all the worldly changes within his grasp—there was no question about that. However, it seemed as if the Pope had deliberately given the two men free rein over the years while intentionally restricting that lunatic Noyola. Now, it appeared the Pope intended to change this status quo.

The church again fell into silence, and the emaciated figure’s gaze, solidifying like substance, slowly swept across their faces. Despite their protective masks being well-forged, they were as nothing before this penetrating look, leaving them feeling as if their innermost thoughts, like those of an innocent girl deceived by a roguish traveler, were wide open. They were struck with a sense of helplessness they had never experienced before, and a fine sheen of cold sweat suddenly coated their entire backs.

"Enough, you may leave. Today’s matters were of destiny, and disclosing them is of no benefit. I contravene heavenly principles simply to allow you to understand, the great mission of expanding the Holy Teaching is paramount and daunting. We must not treat it lightly. Consider this well."

Watching the two figures hurry away, Julius’s gaze grew reflective. Too much of anything can be detrimental; why are they but one step behind? Only those who can overcome personal desire can reach the end of a long and lonely journey. He hoped they would comprehend this truth. In the weariness that comes with excess, he felt a lurking crisis. Had the Holy Teaching truly reached its zenith? No, this should only be the starting point of another era of glory. Julius believed firmly that conviction determined success or failure, and everything hinged on this.

Komer sat leisurely in his curved wicker chair, delighted by the soft color of the sky-blue vines, which retained their pleasant hue for decades after drying—a charm of the aquatic vine of the Nine Dragons Vine. Extremely sturdy and with a naturally cooling property, it was perfect for making goods for summer relaxation, but such vines had long since disappeared from the Continent’s mainland, surviving only in the wild frontiers. Now coveted by nobles, it had become an unexpected fashion trend amid the increasing luxury and indulgence of high society in the kingdom.

Katya’s arrival had thrilled Komer immensely—not for any special reason, but since Vero’s departure, he had found his life somewhat pallid, even suffering bouts of insomnia. Upon reflection, Komer realized that his thoughts seemed increasingly detached from those around him, lacking someone to confide in. While Puber and Ilot were unwavering allies in his business endeavors, their conversations became dull if they strayed from matters of territory or the exploration of Martial Dao. Komer himself found the idea of discussing anything else with them torturous and futile. Rebry seemed a better conversational partner, offering advice on territorial matters or his future path. While Komer might not always agree with Rebry, his input often sparked new ideas. Yet he was not someone Komer felt he could truly converse with openly. And now, Katya had arrived.

Even though he knew Katya, after years of navigating the Kingdom Court, could not possibly be the ideal confidant, Komer couldn’t resist the desire to stroll and chat leisurely with her. He was even surprised by his own inexplicable wish. It seemed he was in that so-called emotional vacuum, craving communication—similar to how he felt restless when not working. But Komer knew what he really wanted was someone to pour out to, and Katya seemed to fulfill several of these hoped-for criteria.

Katya’s gaze lingered on the young man across from her, surprised by his attitude towards her. Intelligence indicated that he seemed quite close to Hoffman and Renta, with Hoffman even going out of his way to use personal connections to provide food channels for Caucasus—a level of generosity and lack of expectation for return that was uncharacteristic for the inherently stingy Hoffman. There seemed to be no other explanation for such behavior, unless the two had reached some kind of agreement.

But how could she explain his attitude toward her? Having been embroiled in power struggles and plots both covert and overt since she’d become aware of the world, Katya’s ability to discern relationships between people was nothing short of masterful. In her eyes, apart from the majority of relationships which involved mutual exploitation, she couldn’t deny that some special emotional connections did indeed exist. Humans are higher beings, and emotions are difficult to explain with mere logic. Yet, trying to use this to justify the seemingly innocent young noble’s behavior in her presence felt a bit far-fetched. However, Katya could sense that he harbored some special feelings for her through his words and actions.

Love? The notion seemed almost laughable. Love at first sight wasn’t extinct in the world, but it seemed improbable to happen between her and him. Was it a need for mutual interests? Possibly, but with Hoffman’s support, Palermo’s role was no longer as crucial. Furthermore, Palermo, ever the opportunist, might align with Hoffman at any moment. To say Palermo was an ally of hers was less accurate than to say he was a servant of interest. It seemed unnecessary for him to go out of his way to declare himself to her, didn’t it?

Katya’s thoughts were in turmoil. From any perspective, there seemed no need for him to ingratiate himself with her, and that hint of desolation and solitude in his language didn’t seem like a guise to seek anything. Could she truly be so charming that after just one encounter, he was unable to extricate himself? To Katya, if that were to happen between them, it would be utterly inconceivable.

Sitting serenely on the vine chair, enjoying the gentle swaying and the coolness it brought, Katya struggled to calm her emotions so she could judge her intuition and consider her primary mission for coming here with a more peaceful mindset.

After several passionate expressions, Komer felt an immense relief in his chest. His heartfelt confession seemed to confuse the woman who lived amidst conspiracies, filling her with a mix of pride and reserve. He even maliciously guessed that she was overwhelmed by the emotions he’d been repressing for so long, and if that were true, then he would truly feel guilty.

Just as Komer had predicted, Katya felt her defenses crumbling. No matter how she considered it, she couldn’t make sense of everything that had happened over the past couple of days. Katya did not believe in love. She even felt some regret. If he only desired her body, she wouldn’t mind trading it for something. But if it was marriage, that crossed her bottom line. Choosing a marriage partner with whom she could have no strings attached was an unchangeable decision she had made. And as for feelings? She remembered a saying: "You can touch anything, but never let feelings get involved." They are like flowers soaked in poison – beautiful to behold, but ultimately leaving nothing but endless scars or even death. That was a lesson learned in blood by her closest friend.

Komer observed with interest the woman before him, who possessed unique charm both in figure and demeanor. He could tell her emotions were in turmoil, which gave him a sense of superiority. She was the first woman since Tracy to take up space in his heart – a blend of reality and interest with an incomparable appearance, creating a special character. His mood was as enriched as the sunshine bathing freshly soaked earth, and he even felt an urge to burst into song. Only the restrictions of the situation kept him from such an unwise act.

Komer overestimated his own charm; Katya was gradually extracting herself from the whirlpool of emotions. Rationality and composure are the foremost elements for survival – this reminder always kept Katya alert. Everything is an illusion; only interests are eternal.

With a light lift of her hand to tidy the strands of black hair the wind had tousled, Katya signaled to him that she was ready to continue their conversation. She didn’t wish to delve into other topics too deeply – whether feelings or intuition, these could wait until after her primary mission was complete to become topics for idle chatter. Now was the time to get to the heart of the matter. She didn’t want to waste the opportunity she had fought so hard to arrange.