Raine’s POV:

Green Bay Café held its round tables and stools with a neatness that stopped short of sterile, each piece polished just enough to draw out the wood’s natural scent without smothering it.

The ceiling followed suit, and by the glass windows, flowers and fresh-leafed pots crowded both sides of the pane, lending the whole place a warmth that felt genuinely alive.

Away from the ears of the four other customers, Raine and Ren had Will Steelmond before them. The smile stretched across his face didn’t match the unhinged look Raine was wearing one bit. He had, quite obviously, got the wrong end of the stick about why he was there.

With a conceited tone, he said:

"Oh my... I knew you’d accept my proposal sooner or later, but I didn’t expect you to bring me to your workplace. That makes it more affectionate, doesn’t it?"

His words forced a sharp sigh from Raine. "I’ve already told you, there’s no chance in a million years that I will marry you."

Will’s grandiose smile held firm. It was as though he genuinely believed Raine was simply putting on a face.

"Why did you call me then?"

Ren was next to speak, and despite being a servant, her maid attire leaving no doubt, she showed absolutely no respect when she opened her mouth.

"We want to know a thing or two about the Divine Church of the Firstlight. How exactly do they make their money?"

Will’s expression finally faltered, forcing a perplexed look in its place.

"What do you mean? The Twelve Churches are funded through donations. Except for you, so that leaves the remaining eleven."

Raine knew Will was putting up an act. Someone of such high calibre among the third-year cadets had to be well-versed with the underground community; there was simply no other way to it. He couldn’t become a Calamity without better information.

"Will you tell us already? The Divine Church has divination as its backbone. They maintain countless Oracle Parlours across the kingdom, all of them free. You can’t tell me that it is funded by donations alone."

Will let out a disillusioned sigh.

"If I had known these were the questions you would ask, I would not have come."

Will fixed Raine with a glare and asked in a rough, unfriendly tone.

"Why do you want to know?"

Raine had no desire to lie, nor any to be entirely truthful. So she said something that blended the two.

"I want to uncover the truths and hidden secrets behind the churches’ success. It may not seem useful to you, but knowing what the church does to stay relevant could be far more valuable to me than you realize."

Will fidgeted with his fingers, rubbing them against each other, easily letting Raine and Ren know that whatever was on his mind wasn’t something he could put out there nicely.

His eyes found Raine’s once more, and when they did, they ignited with sparks of opportunism.

"What will I get if I tell you? I only want one thing, and that’s for you to go on an actual date with me."

That was preposterous, and she had no intention of agreeing, but before she could say as much, Ren beat her to it.

"Deal. You’ve got yourself a deal."

’What the...?’

Her eyes cut to Ren immediately, but her anger went unnoticed before Ren so much as glanced her way. At the sight of her determination, Raine chose to leave that conversation for later.

"Now this sounds like something worth discussing."

With a childish nod, Will continued.

His expression grew heavier than before, and he took on the impression of someone with something very weighty to deliver.

"I would not say the churches are evil, nor would I say they are not. As there are fiends, so too are there angels. Now, I will speak briefly about the Divine Church."

He took a deep breath.

"The church maintains individuals within the underworld who assist in deepening public faith in the Goddess. This is not exclusive to the Divine Church; however, since you have requested information specifically on that, I will instead refer to the Church of December."

"Between Chatenham and Bronzeville lies a small town, Sunday Town. Rumours say the people there often fall ill, yet are always healed after visiting the chapel for prayer and protection. The Divine Church of the Firstlight operates too cleanly and is too well-protected for information to spread easily. Based on that rumour, I believe the church may be responsible for both creating and resolving these problems, all in the name of the Goddess. Good name is money."

Raine frowned. She’d expected that much, but a specific location from Will was something else entirely. That would really take the edge off her stress.

Something else nagged at her, though.

"Protection? Who protects them?"

Will thought about it for a moment.

"That is not something I can say with certainty, but when it comes to protection in this region of the south, there is no greater safeguard than Dunvol, the War God."

"The War God? One of the Seven Royal Knights?"

Something strange crossed Raine’s face. She wondered if she’d misheard him, because there was simply no way she could imagine Dunvol being associated with the community.

"Correct. It’s only word on the street, and nothing can be verified, since those acting for him are said to be his lieutenants. He likely remains unaware, yet he is the one behind petty operations like those involving chapels."

"Shut your mouth..."

Will’s expression shifted, confused.

Raine clenched her teeth in frustration. Those words were an insult to her ears. The gilded man had been the person she looked up to when she was little, the person who inspired her to pick up the sword for the first time, despite her parents’ disapproval.

She had no desire to be a knight anymore, yet the memories of her role model persisted regardless.

Ren turned to Raine and gave her a gentle pat on the back. "It’s still only speculation, you know? Dunvol could very well be unaware of what’s going on."

Those words sounded like gibberish at first, but after turning them over, something clicked. Her crimson eyes found Will, who was still confused by her sudden change.

"You can’t prove with absolute certainty that Dunvol is involved in illegal activities, can you?"

He shrugged. "But you owe me a date."

That nonchalant shrug and those words were all Will offered before excusing himself.

Raine’s heart hammered at a distorted rhythm, even so, she knew she had to think and act rationally. Her red eyes slowly dilating into something soulless, she spoke.

"Assign the others to the town Will mentioned. This instant."