The Water Magician

While a commotion was taking place at the kingdom delegation's lodging, a rare visitor was at Graham's room in the Holy See.

"Cardinal Camilo, it's a rare occasion."

"Cardinal Graham, I have a few matters I'd like to discuss with you. Would you mind sparing some time?"

Coffee was served in front of the two.

Of course, both wore cheerful smiles, but...

The monk Carlre swallowed hard multiple times before placing the coffee down.

It wasn't a sense of tension.

It wasn't even a feeling of nervousness.

It was a pressure that felt like it was gripping the very depths of his soul... a kind of mental oppression that was hard to articulate, lingering between the two.

Carlre stepped back, and both took a sip from their cups.

The first to speak was Cardinal Camilo.

"By the way, Cardinal Graham, I hear you've recently acquired a new pawn."

His expression remained cheerful.

However, a trace of anger seeped through, just barely noticeable.

"Well, when you say 'new pawn'... those four mages were companions of Hero Roman..."

"Not those."

Camilo interjected sharply, catching Graham off guard.

At this point, the psychological superiority was clearly established.

The 'pawn' that Graham had taken was evidently very important to Camilo.

"I hear you've managed to secure Archbishop Stefania as an ally."

"Oh, so that's who you meant."

Camilo pointed out, and Graham exaggeratedly nodded.

"Actually, the party members happened to find Archbishop Stefania's mother captured. They rescued her. Really, there are some awful people out there. I don't know who captured her, though."

Of course, it was a lie.

Standing in front of him was Cardinal Camilo.

However, there was no point in pursuing such matters.

He wouldn't admit it anyway.

"It's good that Archbishop Stefania's mother has been found. That is indeed joyful news."

Camilo also nodded with a smile.

Yet, the trace of anger that had seeped earlier now seemed to be even more pronounced.

"Well, to be honest, I couldn't care less about Archbishop Stefania."

"What did you say?"

Graham said it nonchalantly, and Camilo questioned back.

"After all, the inquisitors have sworn their loyalty to me."

Graham stated as if it were nothing.

An overwhelming confidence.

Words that stemmed from having completely grasped the hearts of those inquisitors.

"Such confidence."

Camilo laughed.

But Graham noticed just a hint of his eyes not smiling.

(This is where he's lacking compared to Cardinal Sakarias... If it were Sakarias, he'd be smiling completely even to the depths of his eyes in a situation like this.)

Graham kept smiling while pondering this in his mind.

"Now then, Cardinal Camilo, shall we get to the main topic for today?"

"The main topic?"

Camilo tilted his head in response to Graham’s shift in conversation.

"You came to discuss the Holy Sword, didn’t you?"

"Wh-"

Perhaps he hadn't expected Graham to grasp that.

Unlike before, his expression clearly faltered, and his words stumbled.

It seemed he had initially intended to inquire about the Holy Sword.

However, being suddenly cut off by Graham seemed to have shaken him.

"The four Holy Swords in question. Do you think I have them?"

"…The Holy Sword that was stolen from the vault? Well, I can't say who has it."

Officially, it was said to have been stolen by someone, and its whereabouts were unknown.

However, in reality, the four from Room 10 had recovered them from Count Padawan's estate and delivered them through Hugh McGrath to Cardinal Graham.

"That's right, no one knows who has it. I hope it is found soon."

"Indeed."

Graham said with a smile, and Camilo responded with one as well.

That night.

Graham's sleeping quarters were also located in the Holy See.

It was a lodging for high-ranking clergy, separate from the administrative building.

Bishops and higher clergy stayed there.

Of course, there were high-ranking clergy who owned estates within the Holy Capital rather than the Holy See.

By the way, currently, the only cardinals staying in this high-ranking clergy lodging were Cardinal Graham and Cardinal Oskar.

Cardinal Sakarias was at the Western Church Development Bureau, Cardinal Camilo at the Western Church Retreat, and the other cardinals had estates within the Holy Capital.