Ark Simulator, don't I have no physical form?

Suri seemed to finally snap out of his daze. He gently moved the fingers that Remien was holding and whispered, "Let's go."

“Okay.” Remien nodded with a smile.

Suri pushed her, slowly walking down the spiral ramp, leaving this quiet haven. The heavy metal door slowly closed behind them, once again shutting out the city's hustle and bustle.

On the way back to their lodgings, both were silent, but the atmosphere was different from when they arrived, filled with a tacit understanding and warmth born from sharing a secret. Remien knew that this brief "seclusion" perhaps spoke volumes more than any words about Suri's attitude towards the trip and towards her. Suri, on the other hand, felt that having such a pure, quiet time with her by his side before leaving this detestable land... wasn't so bad after all.

Back at their lodgings, the sun had already set. Suri began packing their meager belongings with a lighthearted ease, as if she were about to be freed. Remien, meanwhile, sat by the window, watching the city lights gradually illuminate the city below. A faint, complex sense of farewell arose in her heart for this city she had once found dull and dreary.

In any case, this special journey is coming to an end. Ahead lies the road home, and also a new beginning.

As the last rays of the setting sun faded from the horizon, the lights of the mobile city lit up one after another, like scattered diamonds on black velvet. The successful completion of the inspection, and the unexpected tranquility of the afternoon high above the water supply system, brought Remian's overseas assignment to a perfect close. The tension that had been building for days could finally be released completely.

Back in her temporary lodgings, the familiar scent still lingered in the room. Remian wheeled herself to her desk, turned on her terminal, and began the final finishing touches. She needed to compile the patrol logs from the past few days, the security team's inspection report, and her final assessment of the city's current state into a concise yet comprehensive summary report, ready to submit to Cardinal Lateran. Her fingers flew across the keyboard, her expression focused and earnest, her lake-blue eyes reflecting the relief and meticulousness of fulfilling her duty.

Suri, on the other hand, seemed much more relaxed. For him, the task here was already over; all that remained was to go through the motions. He leaned lazily against the sofa, watching Remian's busy figure without urging her on. He would occasionally pick up his water glass and take a sip, his gaze fixed on the deepening night outside the window, seemingly planning his arrangements for when he returned.

After Remien typed the last period to the report, she breathed a sigh of relief, encrypted the file, and sent it out. Then she turned her wheelchair to face the room.

“Alright,” her voice carried a hint of weariness, but more so of relief, “all reports have been submitted. Our duties here are officially over.”

Upon hearing this, Su Rui immediately stood up from the sofa, his movements revealing an undisguised eagerness that said, "Finally, we can leave." He walked to the corner of the room, where the two simple suitcases they had brought were placed.

"Then pack your things." His tone was crisp and decisive, as if lingering for even a second would be a waste. He opened his suitcase first and began to quickly and systematically gather his personal belongings scattered throughout the room—mainly a few changes of clothes, a portable terminal, a charger, and his ever-present gun maintenance tools. His movements were almost mechanically efficient, with a soldier's discipline, and he quickly had his things packed.

Volume 17, Chapter 1013 is quite extravagant.

Then, Suri turned to Remian. Remian also began to organize her belongings; she had more things, including clothes, daily necessities, books, documents, and work notes. She naturally couldn't organize as quickly as Suri, and some things needed to be carefully stacked.

After finishing his own tasks, Su Rui naturally walked over to her side. Without saying a word, he simply reached out to help. He picked up a stack of clothes she had neatly folded, his initially somewhat rough movements softening instinctively when he saw the soft fabric. He then carefully, according to his own understanding (perhaps not perfectly neat, but compact enough), stuffed them into the gaps in the suitcase. He noticed several heavy books on the table, silently picked them up, weighed them in his hand, and then found a safe spot to place them, making sure they didn't crush anything else.

He even remembered that Remien had a storage bag filled with various small bottles of skincare and toiletries, and he proactively retrieved it from the bathroom and handed it to her. Throughout the entire process, he didn't ask, "Do you need to take this?" or "Where do you put that?", but simply observed silently and then cooperated with his actions. His help carried an unquestionable, even somewhat domineering, efficiency, as if to say, "Don't dawdle, do it my way, it's the fastest."

Remien watched his busy figure, a warm feeling welling up inside her. She knew how much Suri hated these trivial matters and how much he longed to leave immediately. But he didn't stand idly by, nor did he impatiently urge her on. Instead, he participated in this final preparation in his own unique, slightly clumsy but effective way. This silent thoughtfulness touched her more than any sweet words.

"Thank you," she said softly, a gentle smile curving her lips.

Su Rui was tucking one of her electronic notepads into the compartment when she heard this. She didn't even look up, just mumbled an "Mmm," but her ears turned slightly red, and her hands moved faster, as if trying to hide that little bit of unease.

With the combined efforts of the two (mainly Suri's efficient execution and Remien's guidance), the luggage was quickly packed. The two suitcases were closed and stood by the door, like two soldiers ready for battle, indicating that the moment of departure was approaching.

The room suddenly felt much emptier. The space that once bore traces of their lives now contained only basic furniture, restoring it to its original state before it was uninhabited.

Remien looked around her temporary "home" and couldn't help but feel a little melancholy. Despite the many shortcomings of this city, it held their shared memories of this time together—arguments, helplessness, fighting side by side, and quiet, warm moments like those in the afternoon.

Suri seemed completely unaffected by such sentiments. After checking the doors and windows to make sure nothing was left behind, he walked over to Remien and casually extended his hand: "Let's go."

His tone was calm, carrying a sense of relief that everything had settled down.

Remien grasped his outstretched hand, using it to help herself to her feet from the wheelchair (her leg injury allowed her to stand and walk briefly). Suri, with her other hand, effortlessly lifted the two suitcases, as if they weighed nothing.

They took one last look at the room, then Suri opened the door with her free hand and led Remienne out.

The corridor was quiet; the other residents seemed to be already resting. They took the elevator to the departure platform located on the upper level of the mobile city. The night wind carried a chill and the scent of the wilderness. Above the platform, a small, high-speed landship belonging to Laterano, which had come to pick them up, was already quietly moored, its streamlined hull gleaming coldly in the moonlight.

The gangway for boarding the ship was slowly lowered. Su Rui first helped Remian up the gangway, and then handed the luggage to the Lateran staff who came to meet them.

Stepping onto the solid deck of the landship, and looking back at the steel city, its lights twinkling slowly in the night, Remian was filled with mixed emotions. Their mission was complete; they were about to leave.

Su Rui stood beside her, also looking down. His face showed no particular emotion, but his tightly pursed lips seemed slightly softer than usual. Perhaps, even he himself didn't realize that this city, which he had once despised so much, had left some indescribable mark on his heart.

"Goodbye," Remianne said softly in her heart, both to the city and to this unique experience.

Then, she turned around, took Suri's arm, and whispered, "Let's go home."

Su Rui withdrew his gaze, glanced down at her, and noticed her dark eyes, which appeared exceptionally deep in the night. He nodded slightly, took her hand in his, and led her towards the interior of the ship's cabin.

The landship's engines hummed softly as it slowly started, carrying them away from the mobile city towards Laterano, disappearing into the boundless night. One journey had ended; another was about to begin.

The landship glided smoothly through the vast, desolate night of Terra, its massive metal tracks rumbling rhythmically over gravel and sand. The ship's interior was well-equipped and comfortable, but Su Rui clearly preferred the relatively open deck. He leaned against the cold metal railing, arms crossed, his silver hair fluttering slightly in the night breeze. His obsidian-like eyes gazed out the window at the boundless wilderness, its outline hazy in the moonlight. Rolling hills, dried-up riverbeds, and scattered, tenacious drought-resistant plants rushed past like a silent film, carrying with them an ancient, unchanging desolation and loneliness.

Remy stood quietly beside him, not in her wheelchair, but leaning gently against the railing, feeling the cool night breeze carrying the scent of earth and unknown wild grass. She followed Suri's gaze to the familiar desolate landscape, feeling a sense of peace and relief in her heart compared to when she arrived.

A moment of silence followed, accompanied only by the sound of the wind and engines. Suddenly, Suri spoke, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching Remian's ears, carrying his usual pragmatic, slightly critical tone:

"It's a bit extravagant to mobilize an Albatross-class land-based vessel just for this one trip."

He was referring to the high-speed landship they were aboard. This type of vessel is renowned for its excellent maneuverability, defensive capabilities, and endurance, and is considered high-spec in Laterano's arsenal, typically used for transporting critical supplies, rapid response, or long-range maneuvers for high-ranking personnel. Using it merely to transport two executors (even if one of them was the high-ranking Sure) and to complete a regional stabilization mission that wasn't particularly urgent seemed like a waste of its capabilities.

Volume 17, Chapter 1014: Lateran

Remien turned her head slightly upon hearing this. Moonlight shone on her soft cheeks and the faint glow emanating from her halo. She wasn't surprised by Suri's questioning. She understood him; she knew he wasn't questioning Laterano's resource allocation, but rather leaned towards an extreme form of efficiency, believing resources should be used where they were most needed.

She chuckled softly, her voice as gentle as the evening breeze: "Judging from our mission this time, perhaps so. However, the 'Albatross' isn't just setting sail to pick us up."

She raised her hand and pointed to the several huge, currently closed cargo doors at the rear of the land-based ship: "Look at those cargo holds. When we arrived, they were filled with urgently needed medical supplies, spare parts, selected crop seeds, and a batch of basic educational materials for the city. These supplies are a real lifesaver for that mobile city that has just experienced turmoil and is short of resources, helping them to recover and stabilize more quickly after we leave."

She paused, her gaze returning to the desolate landscape rushing past the window, her tone carrying the macro perspective unique to an Executor: "Latland's aid is never an isolated act. Sending Executors to resolve the immediate crisis and providing the resources needed to sustain long-term development are complementary. This landship is not only the means of transportation to bring us back, but also an ark delivering hope and seeds. In this sense, its voyage this time is extremely efficient."

As Suri listened to her explanation, a hint of understanding flashed in his dark eyes, but he immediately curled his lip and snorted, "That makes sense. But next time, let a regular transport ship handle these kinds of errands." He still felt that it was a bit "low-class" for him and Remian to squeeze into a regular transport ship full of supplies, and the comfort level was definitely far inferior to this specially modified high-speed ship.

Remy Ann was amused by his childish complaint, knowing that his spoiled young master temper was flaring up again. She didn't argue, but simply leaned closer to him, gently touching his arm with a coaxing tone: "Okay, okay, next time I'll try to apply for a mode of transportation that's more 'fitting for Young Master Su Rui's status,' okay?"

Su Rui was somewhat displeased with her obvious perfunctory attitude, but feeling her body temperature and soft touch as she leaned closer, that minor annoyance vanished. He snorted, not continuing the topic, and turned his gaze back to the window.

Staring at the desolate night view for too long can become monotonous. Su Rui's gaze shifted from the distant horizon to the massive tracks rapidly spinning on the side of the landship. Watching the steel behemoth tirelessly tear through the earth, leaving two deep ruts, he suddenly seemed to remember something, his tone tinged with a casual curiosity:

"Speaking of which, what kind of team can that bookworm named Kong Gou lead?"

He asked casually, as if he were just looking for a topic of conversation out of boredom. But Remian detected a very subtle hint of concern in this seemingly casual question, a concern that even Suri himself might not have realized. After all, that team embodied the "guidance" he had (forced) to put in.

Remy thought for a moment and answered seriously, "Although Konggou lacks experience, she is responsible, quick to learn, and has a deep affection for this city. With enough support and proper guidance, I believe she can lead that team to grow gradually. Perhaps they won't become elite, but protecting the peace of this area should be enough." Her assessment was objective and full of hope.

After listening, Su Rui gave a noncommittal "hmm," his face expressionless, but his eyes seemed to soften for a moment. Perhaps, deep down, he also secretly hoped that the group he had once harshly criticized as "useless" could truly transform into a useful force.

During the conversation, the landship subtly adjusted its course, circling around a vast area of ​​weathered rock. On the horizon ahead, scattered lights began to appear—the lights of other mobile cities or small settlements. They were gradually leaving that relatively remote and desolate region, moving closer to an area with a stronger sense of civilization.

“Look, there are lights ahead.” Remian pointed into the distance, her tone relaxed with a hint of returning to familiar surroundings. “In about a few more hours, we’ll see Laterano’s beacon.”

Suri looked in the direction she pointed, and the distant points of light resembled scattered stars. The closer he got to home, the calmer his mood seemed to become. Although he still found the mission troublesome, the final result was acceptable, and... most importantly, Remy was still by his side.

He lowered his head to look at Remy, nestled beside him. The night breeze ruffled the stray hairs on her forehead, and the moonlight cast fine shadows on her long eyelashes. She seemed a little tired too, her eyes slightly closed, enjoying a moment of tranquility during her journey.

Su Rui's heart stirred. He loosened his arms that were originally wrapped around her and instead gently put his arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer to his embrace to shield her from some of the coolness of the night breeze.

Remianne was slightly taken aback, then nestled comfortably into his arms, her cheek pressed against his firm chest muscles, listening to his steady and powerful heartbeat, a happy smile curving her lips.

The two fell silent, standing together on the deck, watching the ever-changing night view outside the window, from desolation to the gradual appearance of human habitation. The land-based ship, like a moving island, carried them through the night, heading towards their familiar journey home. The roar of the engines, the sound of the wind in the wilderness, and their heartbeats intertwined to create a tranquil symphony of night navigation.

This journey, which began with a sense of responsibility and was filled with unexpected twists and turns, has finally come to a close in the quiet of the night. What awaits them is the light of Lateran, the holy city, and the warm, perhaps still filled with bickering, everyday life that is destined to begin.

The massive landship gradually slowed down and finally came to a smooth stop at a dedicated berth on the outskirts of Laterano. With a slight depressurization sound, the heavy hatch slowly opened, and familiar air, mixed with the unique scents of the holy city, the aroma of ancient stone, and the faint fluctuations of Originium Arts, rushed into the cabin.

Suri stepped off the gangway first, his movements swift and efficient. He carried two suitcases—his own was simple and lightweight, while Remien's was slightly heavier. Although, given their status, they could easily have left these chores to the ship's crew or the Holy City's attendants, Remien gently tugged at his sleeve before disembarking, whispering, "Let's carry them ourselves, it'll... feel more like home." A playful and expectant glint flashed in her lake-blue eyes. Suri gave a noncommittal hum, but still picked up both suitcases himself. To him, the weight was negligible; since she felt it created a certain "atmosphere," he'd let her have it.

Volume 17, Chapter 1015: A Little Thing

Remien followed behind him, stepping onto solid ground. She took a deep breath, feeling the familiar, reassuring atmosphere of the holy city, a relaxed and joyful smile spreading across her face. After being away from home for so many days, she was finally back. She could even faintly hear the ethereal chanting of hymns drifting from the distant cathedral.

"Go back to your place first?" Suri turned his head to look at her, his tone a statement rather than a question. As was customary, after a long journey, they would usually go to Remian's residence to rest, which was much more comfortable and "lively" than Suri's place, which was more like a temporary armory.

“Mmm!” Remy nodded vigorously, naturally reaching out to take his arm. “I want to take a nice bath first, then get some sleep. These past few days outside, I feel like I’m carrying that rusty smell of the mobile city on me.” She wrinkled her nose slightly, with a hint of coquettishness in her voice.

Suri hummed in agreement. He picked up his suitcase, took long strides, and prepared to walk along the familiar streets toward the quiet neighborhood where Remyane lived.

However, just as they stepped out of the berth area and onto the main road leading to the inner city, an unusual, intermittent sound faintly came from the depths of the city.

The sound was not the usual chimes, hymns, or clamor of the holy city, but rather... a deep, resonant thud, occasionally interspersed with sharper sounds, like the tearing of metal or bursts of energy.

At first, neither of them paid much attention. Laterano, as the gathering place of the Sarkaz, was never short of "vitality." Especially the energetic young Sarkaz, who would often make explosions while conducting various Originium Arts tests or mechanical modification experiments in the strictly supervised "Practice Zone." Suri even felt more at ease with this familiar "background noise" than with that lifeless mobile city.

"Which brats are causing trouble again?" Su Rui curled her lip, her tone carrying a hint of impatience that she took it for granted, without stopping her steps.

Remien smiled and echoed, "Probably. It sounds like quite a commotion. Hopefully, it didn't blow through the shield of the training area." She didn't take it too seriously, after all, the Holy City's security measures were top-notch, and this kind of "minor incident" was within a controllable range.

The two continued walking along the street. The further they went into the inner city, the more exquisite and ancient the surrounding buildings became, and pedestrians gradually appeared on the streets in twos and threes. But strangely, the pedestrians did not seem as leisurely as usual; instead, they seemed hurried and vaguely tense. Some even walked quickly, occasionally looking back in the direction from which the sound came.

Another, clearer explosion, seemingly closer, followed, this time accompanied by a barely perceptible tremor in the ground beneath our feet. Along with the bang, the sky in a distant direction seemed to briefly brighten, emitting an unnatural orange-red glow, before quickly fading away.

Suri paused slightly, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly. Remien's arm tightened its grip on his slightly.

“This commotion…” Remian said softly, a hint of doubt flashing in her lake-blue eyes, “doesn’t seem like a typical experimental test?” Ordinary experimental explosions usually have more obvious energy confinement characteristics, and they wouldn’t be this… chaotic, accompanied by that sound like a structure collapsing.

Su Rui's dark eyes narrowed, like a keen cheetah sensing something unusual. He stopped, placed his suitcase at his feet, and listened intently. More sounds mixed in: no longer just a single explosion, but also faint shouts, hurried footsteps, and even... the distinctive, clear ringing of gunfire, still discernible despite being muffled by the city's architecture?

This is a commotion that cannot be explained by ordinary "practice" or "celebration." The daily clamor of the holy city has its own rhythm and scope, but the sounds coming at this moment are full of chaos, conflict, and... a sense of urgency.

"Something's happened." Su Rui's voice turned low, his previous laziness and impatience vanishing instantly, replaced by a cold, focused alertness. Although he hated trouble, his perception and judgment of unusual situations were top-notch.

Remian's expression also turned serious. She released her grip on Suri's hand and quickly operated the portable terminal on her wrist, attempting to connect to the city's public safety network or the Lateran Notary Office's internal channel. However, the terminal screen only displayed a message indicating an unstable signal connection, and the few public messages that occasionally flashed by were vague, only mentioning "temporary control measures in some areas" and "advising citizens not to go out unless absolutely necessary."

“Communications are being interfered with; the information on the public channels is very blurry.” Remy looked up at Su Rui, her eyes filled with seriousness. “It seems this is no small matter.”

Just then, a squad of fully armed soldiers in Laterano city defense uniforms rushed past them, their expressions tense, heading towards the direction of the loudest noise. One of the officers leading the squad even recognized Remian and Suri, hastily saluting them and urgently saying, "Remian, Executor! Mr. Suri! You're back? Please proceed to the safe zone immediately! Unidentified armed men have appeared in the central square and at the intersection of several blocks, creating chaos! The situation is escalating!"

Militants? Inside Lateran, the holy city?

This news surprised both Suri and Remian. The Holy City's defenses were extremely tight, making it very difficult for outsiders to infiltrate silently and launch an attack of this scale.

A cold smile curved Su Rui's lips, and instead of fear, a hint of...excitement ignited in his dark eyes. To him, this sudden, real threat was far more interesting than tedious official duties and training rookies. His innate thirst for challenge and combat was instantly ignited.

“Looks like our vacation will have to be postponed.” Suri bent down and picked up his suitcase again, but this time his movements carried a sense of pent-up power. He looked at Remian, his tone leaving no room for argument: “Go back to your place first and put your things down. Then, we’ll go see what’s going on.”

His decision was simple and direct: ensure the safety of basic supplies, then confront the problem head-on. Escape or hiding was never an option for him.

Seeing the familiar light in Su Rui's eyes, Remien knew he had entered "combat mode." She took a deep breath, suppressing a trace of unease, and nodded: "Okay." As an enforcer of Laterano, she also had a responsibility to ascertain the situation and take action in the face of a city crisis.

Volume 17, page 1016: First, report the situation?

Without further delay, the two quickly headed towards Remian's residence. The streets were emptied of pedestrians, and the atmosphere grew noticeably tense. In the distance, the sounds of explosions and commotion showed no signs of abating; in fact, they seemed to be escalating.

The peaceful journey home was abruptly interrupted by a sudden crisis.

Under the night sky of Laterano, amidst the familiar lights, an unusual storm seemed to be brewing. Suri and Remian, the pair who had just returned from an overseas assignment, would inevitably be drawn into it. For Suri, this might be exactly the kind of "entertainment" he had been anticipating; for Remian, it was a severe test that she had to calmly handle. Their pace quickened, their figures swiftly disappearing into the intricate streets and alleys of the holy city.

Remian's residence was located in a relatively quiet high-rise apartment complex in the inner city of the Holy City. The room was not large, but it was decorated warmly and comfortably, and the air was filled with her usual scent of flowers and desserts, which contrasted sharply with the faint commotion coming from outside.

The two quickly entered the room and locked the door behind them. Su Rui casually placed his suitcase in the entryway without any hesitation. He went straight to an inconspicuous metal cabinet in the corner of the living room, entered the password and biometric authentication, and the cabinet door slid open silently, revealing several sets of spare uniforms neatly hung inside, as well as his usual specially modified firearms and their ammunition.

"Change clothes, check equipment." Su Rui's voice was concise and calm, without a trace of emotional fluctuation. He quickly took off his travel-worn casual clothes and changed into a dark Executor uniform bearing the Lateran Notary Office insignia, which was more suitable for action. He picked up a sleek, blue-metallic automatic pistol and skillfully checked the bolt, magazine, and energy circuit, his movements as fluid as breathing.

Remian acted immediately. She steered her wheelchair to the bedroom, quickly changed into a well-fitting, easy-to-move-in Executor's casual outfit. Then, she retrieved her gleaming Guardian Gun from a hidden compartment in the bedside table, carefully inspecting the hammer, rifling, and Originium Arts flow mechanism. Her movements lacked the sharp, murderous aura of Su Rui's, but were equally steady and focused, her lake-blue eyes gleaming with professional composure.

A few minutes later, the two met again in the living room. Suri was fully armed, her repeating rifle casually slung at her side, her entire being exuding a cold, sharp aura like a drawn sword. Remien's rifle was also at her waist; she sat in her wheelchair, her expression solemn, already in a state of combat readiness.

"Let's go to the Papal Palace first," Su Rui succinctly outlined the first step of the action plan. When the situation is unclear, obtaining intelligence and instructions from the highest levels is the most efficient option. As the supreme leader of Lateran, the old Pope undoubtedly possesses the most comprehensive information.

“Okay.” Remianne nodded in agreement. She pushed her wheelchair and walked out of the residence again with Suri.

The streets outside were even emptier than before, and a tense atmosphere permeated the air. The explosions and commotion in the distance seemed clearer, and even the faint sound of sirens could be heard. A squad of city defense soldiers ran past quickly, and when they saw the fully armed Su Rui and Remian, they were clearly taken aback, but after recognizing them, they saluted and continued towards the conflict zone.

Without delay, the two hurried towards the Papal Palace, located in the heart of the Holy City. The closer they got to the Papal Palace, the tighter the security became. Multiple checkpoints were set up along the way, guarded by tense Templar Knights and elite city defense troops.

Upon arriving at the magnificent main gate of the Papal Palace, they were stopped by a squad of well-equipped Templar Knights with an imposing aura. The leading knight captain, tall and imposing in his gleaming armor, recognized Remian and spoke with respect but firmness:

“Executor Remian, Mr. Suri. In these extraordinary times, the Papal Palace is under the highest level of security. No one may enter without permission. We ask for your understanding.”

Just as Remien was about to explain, Suri frowned impatiently. He hated this tedious procedure and time-wasting behavior.

"Get out of the way." Su Rui's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable, icy pressure, and a chilling aura instantly enveloped the area in front of him. "We have important intelligence that we need to report to the Pope in person." He didn't bother to fabricate a more complicated reason and simply used his power to intimidate them.

The captain of the knights sensed the undisguised, almost dangerous, powerful aura emanating from Suri. His expression changed slightly, and his hand instinctively gripped the hilt of his sword, but he still did not back down: "I'm sorry, Mr. Suri, it's our duty! Without the Cardinals' order, we cannot let him pass!"

The atmosphere instantly became tense. Seeing this, Remianne quickly stepped forward, shielding Suri, her face displaying her usual warm and approachable smile, her tone calm and unhurried:

“Captain, please understand. We have just returned from an overseas mission and are completely unaware of the situation in the city. Meeting His Holiness the Pope is to understand the situation as quickly as possible so that we can provide assistance if necessary. This is the duty of those in charge and the most efficient way to respond. If we miss the opportunity due to a delay in reporting, I'm afraid no one can bear that responsibility.”

Her words were both gentle and firm, clearly stating her identity and purpose while also highlighting the stakes involved. Her aura radiated a soft yet stable light, subtly amplifying the persuasiveness of her words.

The knight captain looked into Remian's sincere and resolute eyes, then glanced at Suri behind her, whose cold gaze seemed poised to strike at any moment. He hesitated for a moment. Finally, weighing the pros and cons, he stepped aside and said in a deep voice, "...Please hurry. His Majesty is in the side hall's lounge." He clearly trusted the well-regarded and gentle Remian more, while remaining wary of Suri.

Suri snorted coldly, not even glancing at the captain, and pushed Remian's wheelchair, striding through the heavily guarded corridor toward the side hall where the Pope was.

The Papal Palace remained solemn and dignified, but an unusual tension permeated the air. Attendants and officials hurried about, their faces grave.

They soon arrived at the door of the side room where the old Pope was. There were guards here as well, but they were obviously of higher rank and recognized Remian. After a brief introduction, they opened the heavy oak door for them.

Inside, the atmosphere was completely different from the tense one outside. The lounge was brightly lit, elegantly furnished, and filled with a faint fragrance. The elderly Pope sat in a comfortable armchair, holding a steaming cup of black tea, with a plate of delicate pastries sprinkled with icing sugar on a small table in front of him. His face showed no sign of tension; instead, it wore a relaxed, amused expression, as if he were watching an entertaining drama.