"After entering Krimms Cathedral, I lingered in the main hall for a moment before passing through the side corridor..."

Wei’en faced the group and recounted in detail everything that happened after he entered the Cathedral.

He omitted any mention of Kali being a Holy Favored. He simply said a neighbor had brought him to the Cathedral, hoping to guide him toward the Dawn Church faith.

Although Wei’en had anticipated a debriefing on the way back with Marco, he had still underestimated the mission’s impact.

So many people within the Secret Investigation Department were interested in his findings...

The normally spacious office of Investigation Department One was now crowded with over a dozen people.

Aside from Yegor Paine, the head of the Logistics and Investigation Department, and Lisi, Marco, and others from Department One, the remaining few were all from the Secret Investigation Department’s high-level committee.

The man at their head was none other than the Deputy Director of the Secret Investigation Department, Balats Carteright.

They were all dressed in the black uniforms of the Secret Investigation Department’s high-level committee, each holding a carved, gemstone-inlaid scepter. They sat upright in high-backed chairs, listening silently to his report.

They looked at once dignified and proper, while also maintaining a considerable air of authority.

"Wait. And who is this Miss Kali?" the old man in the center asked, his interest piqued.

This was the Deputy Director of the Secret Investigation Department, Balats Carteright.

His face was kind, his tone of voice gentle. His bright eyes revealed a wisdom earned through the passage of time.

His silver hair was streaked with white, but it was meticulously groomed.

He held the scepter in one hand and a pipe in the other, taking an occasional puff.

Wei’en answered cautiously, "A neighbor. Her father is Yuan Morris. I was able to join the Secret Investigation Department on their recommendation."

Yegor, who had been silent until now, spoke up. "Your Excellency Balats, I can vouch for him on that point."

"No need to be so tense, Yegor. I know Yuan is a specially-hired doctor for your Logistics Department," Balats said, looking at him with a faint, unreadable smile. "It’s rare for you to show concern for an Investigator..."

Yegor said nothing. He calmly raised his right hand to his chest and bowed slightly in a salute.

Lisi opened his mouth as if to say something, but Marco gave him a slight tug, and he thought better of it.

Wei’en stood across from them, watching their interactions with a confused expression.

’Something must have happened between them before.’

’The Deputy Director’s words clearly had a hidden meaning. It wasn’t a sincere compliment, more like a gibe.’

"Please continue. I’m quite curious about what happened next," the old man said gently, exhaling a ring of smoke.

"Yes, sir."

Wei’en continued his account. "While passing through the corridor... and later upon entering the chapel... In total, I detected two fluctuations. One was in the confessional, and the other was in the chapel."

"Wait, you’re saying you detected two fluctuations?" The speaker was a man named Dorff, a middle-aged man with a build similar to Yegor’s and a full beard.

The others beside him wore similarly stunned expressions, as if shocked by the news.

"Yes, I’m certain there were two."

Wei’en looked at them. "The distance from the confessional to the chapel is over 300 meters, which is beyond the detector’s range."

The implication was clear: there was no chance he had detected the same forbidden item twice due to proximity.

"Deputy Director Balats, His Excellency Ales must be informed of this immediately!"

"Dorff, don’t be so hasty. Ales still needs some time to rest."

Balats waved his hand and said, unhurriedly, "In other words, in addition to the known forbidden item, the Dawn Church has another one hidden away inside Krimms Cathedral."

He wasn’t asking a question, but rather repeating the information aloud as if to himself.

After a long moment, Balats finally asked, "And what about after that? What happened to you then?"

"Inside the chapel, there’s a statue of Dawn. I... I was tainted by the Dawn’s Power of Faith."

A chill went down Wei’en’s spine. ’As I thought,’ he mused, ’being pulled into the Spring of Dawn Faith is also something the Department’s top brass is concerned about.’

’And, from the Deputy Director’s words, it seems Director Ales Kilibali needs to rest after using that forbidden item?’

’I hope it’s not a serious backlash...’

"The Dawn’s Power of Faith, you say? No wonder..."

Balats didn’t doubt his words. In fact, he looked as if this explanation made perfect sense. "Alright, you’ve all heard what transpired. Any other questions?"

"This matter is too important. I still think we should let Ales..."

"Dorff, how we handle this is a decision for the entire committee to discuss, not something to be decided by Ales’s orders alone. Wouldn’t you agree?"

Dorff gritted his teeth. "...I understand, Deputy Director Balats."

"And the others?"

He didn’t need to ask the people from the Logistics Department; his gaze was fixed mainly on the other elderly members of the committee.

After a long silence, seeing that no one else would speak, Balats nodded. "Then let’s adjourn for now. Yegor, get ready."

"Understood."

"Until new directives are issued, this matter is to be kept strictly confidential."

Balats tapped out his pipe and rose to his feet. "This young man... completed his mission exceptionally well. Yegor, apply for some extra rewards for him. Use the standard for a level-two mission."

Dorff interjected again, "That’s against regulations..."

Balats shot him a glance and said coolly, "We do not forget those who make outstanding contributions to the Secret Investigation Department. Nor are we stingy."

Seeing how resolute Balats was, Dorff backed down, though his expression grew even more grim.

Yegor bowed. "Understood."

’A reward?’

Wei’en’s eyes lit up. He followed suit with a bow and said, "Thank you, Deputy Director Balats."

’Didn’t I almost die in Krimms Cathedral for the sake of a reward?’

’Although he had no idea what a level-two mission reward entailed, judging by everyone’s reactions, it had to be something special.’

"You are an excellent Investigator. Keep up the good work. I look forward to your future accomplishments."

Balats clapped him on the shoulder, then walked out of the office with a smile, the other committee members following close behind.

Once they were gone, the remaining men finally relaxed. Yegor immediately lit a cigar and stuck it in his mouth.

Lisi took a deep breath and asked, "Chief, what’s the plan now? From the sound of it, the Deputy Director wants us to handle the follow-up mission as well?"

Yegor glanced at Wei’en, exhaled a ring of smoke, and said flatly, "Just get ready."

"Ready for what?" Lisi asked, confused. "Aren’t we supposed to hand it over to the Combat Department, like usual?"

"This time is different. This was only a preliminary detection. It doesn’t mean anything yet."

With that, Yegor also headed for the door. "I’m taking off. As for the reward, help the kid figure it out. Since Balats himself gave the order, don’t let the opportunity go to waste."

Lisi watched his retreating back and spat on the floor. "Bastard!"

"Hm?"

Yegor turned back. "Were you talking about me?"

"...I was talking about those bastards in the Combat Department."

"You’d better be. Otherwise... you know the consequences."

Lisi: "..."

Wei’en blinked. ’Those words sound awfully familiar...’