Reborn with my killer's looks-Chapter 51: The mole......

"St. Raphael Cathedral."

"Where?"

"Via Sancta Street. It’s been closed for renovations for three months." She looked up at him, her excitement building. "And it’s pretty close to the campus. You could transport students there at night and nobody would notice."

"Sounds like a place worth investigating."

"We should check it out. Right now."

The Blue Reaper paused, as if considering. "You think it’s worth the risk?"

"If there’s even a chance students are there? Yes. Absolutely." Zelda stood up. "We can’t just sit here while they’re suffering."

"Let me change first."

Zelda released her pnuema and emerged in her Golden Chalice combat gear. White vestments with red accents, the outfit exposing her midriff and showing her figure.

Her whip—Aletheia’s Chain—coiled at her hip.

"Now let’s...." She stopped when the realization hit her and looked down at the cathedral beneath them.

Then at the Blue Reaper.

"We’re already on it," she said slowly. "We’ve been sitting on St. Raphael’s this whole time."

The Blue Reaper tried looking away.

Zelda’s eyes widened. "You knew. You knew they were here and that’s why you invited me to this place specifically."

"I had suspicions."

"Then why..." She stopped. Realized. "You wanted me to figure it out myself. So I’d be fully committed."

"Would you have believed or trusted me if I’d just said ’the students are in the basement’?"

Zelda opened her mouth but closed it back."...Probably not."

"Exactly, now you’re invested."

Meanwhile, at another church somewhere in Via del Pianto.

Calvin, Luna, and Josephine stood at the base of the cathedral steps.

"You know it’s a really big place" Calvin muttered.

"It’s a cathedral," said Luna.

"I know what it is."

"Then why—"

"Can you two not?" Josephine interrupted."Just for tonight?"

They climbed the steps together.

Sister Jewel stood just inside the main doors, her white robes practically glowing in the candlelight.

"Thank you for coming," she said as they entered.

"Of course, Sister Jewel." Josephine bowed slightly. "Though... where’s Strategos Zelda? I thought she’d be here."

"Zelda is unavailable tonight and that’s why I called the three of you to fill in for her." Said sister Jewel.

Calvin and Josephine exchanged glances.

"We’re happy to help in her place." Calvin said.

"I appreciate that." Sister Jewel turned and began walking deeper into the cathedral.

"Follow me."

They walked through the main hall, past rows of pews, under vaulted ceilings and past statues of saints watching them with stone eyes.

"What exactly do you need us for?" Josephine asked.

"The Golden Chalice recently recovered several items from a raid on what we believed to be a an old kaiser safehouse." Sister Jewel explained.

"Documents, artifacts, some potentially dangerous so they need to be cataloged and stored properly."

"And Vice-Magister Idris will be supervising?" Inquired Calvin.

"Correct."

They reached a side corridor. The architecture changed into older stone and narrower passages.

Sister Jewel stopped at a heavy wooden door covered in carvings and marks scratched into the wood.

She pressed her palm against it. Her Crest activated, golden light spreading across the surface.

The door unlocked with a deep thunk.

"The restricted archives," she said.

"Everything inside is classified. You’re not to discuss what you see with anyone. Understood?"

"Understood," all three said.

Sister Jewel led them inside.

The archives were massive.

Shelves stretching into darkness, filled with books, scrolls, sealed boxes, and dangerous-looking artifacts.

"The recovered items are on the center table," Sister Jewel said. "Vice-Magister Idris will arrive shortly. Follow his instructions."

She placed a hand on Calvin’s shoulder. "I’m trusting you three with this."

"We won’t let you down," Calvin said.

Sister Jewel smiled and left, the door closing behind her.

They stood alone in the archives.

"This feels ominous," Josephine said.

"It’s supposed to," Luna replied.

"Quiet," Calvin said. "Someone’s coming."

Footsteps echoed from deeper in the archives.

Vice-Magister Idris emerged from between the shelves.

Tall, thin, dark and with his hair slicked back.

He wore standard Golden Chalice robes.

"Trinity," he said smoothly. "Thank you for assisting tonight in the absence of Zelda."

"Happy to help," Calvin said, watching him carefully.

Idris walked to the center table. "These items are dangerous, handle them carefully and report anything unusual immediately."

They began working.

The first box contained documents—communication logs between their operatives.

Luna translated quietly. "This could help track their operations."

Idris appeared at her shoulder. "Good work. Set those aside."

Calvin noticed the Vice-Magister’s eyes linger on the documents too long.

The next hour passed in tense silence.

They sorted through weapons, ritual implements and sealed containers.

All the while, Idris watched.

His eyes always moving, almost like

He was looking for something specific.

Later on,

Idris was near the back shelves, running his fingers along old files.

He stopped.

Pulled out a file wedged between two thick volumes.

NEMESIS SIGHTING, DECEMBER 25– EYES ONLY – MAGISTER CLEARANCE REQUIRED

Idris opened it and Calvin watched his expression change. The way his mouth tightened and his eyes twitched.

He read for about thirty seconds and tucked it under his arm.

"I need to take this to Sister Jewel," he said, turning. "Continue working."

"Wait," Calvin said. "What’s in the file?"

Idris stopped.

"That’s none of your business." Said Idris.

"Sister Jewel said to report anything unusual. A Magister-eyes only file getting mis-shelved seems unusual."

"It’s not mis-shelved. It was placed here deliberately."

"Then why take it now?" Josephine asked.

"Because it contains sensitive information that requires immediate attention."

"We’re were asked by the sister to handle al classified materials."Calvin pressed

"You are authorized to catalog recovered items. This file is separate."

"Sounds a little bit too convenient.," Luna said quietly.

Idris turned to face her. "What did you say?"

"I said it’s convenient. That you found the one file that needs to be taken away immediately."

There was a moment of silence and then Idris broke it.

"Are you questioning me?"

"We’re just following Sister Jewel’s instructions," Calvin said.

"I am a Vice-Magister incase you have forgotten." His voice was still calm but there was an edge now. "This file is my concern."

"Then show us," Josephine said. "Prove it’s nothing."

"I don’t need to prove anything to you."

"Why not?" Calvin asked. "If it’s legitimate, what’s the problem?"

Idris’s expression became dark

"Stand down," he said quietly.

"And if I refuse," Calvin said.

The air pressure changed,

Idris’s Crest had activated—a dark red glow emanating from his body.

"You know what?" he said, his voice dropping. "I’ve been patient enough to find out that you three know a lot more than you claim."

"The file mentions contains info about nemisis." Idris continued. "And his sighting over a year ago."

"You three must know this already considering you were the ones who planted this here." His eyes narrowed. "And you plan to report me to the sister."

Metal shards began levitating around Calvin.

He looked up at the trinity with his dark eyes. "And I can’t let that happen."

Luna’s turned white as she tightened the girl on her staff and josephine summoned her bow.

"Traitor," Calvin said.

"I’m a realist." Idris’s Crest flared brighter.

"The Seventh seal synagouge will bring true change to this broken world."

"Sister Jewel trusted you," Josephine said.

"Sister Jewel is a fool." Idris smiled coldly.

"And you three? You’re about to have an unfortunate accident during the cataloging operation."

He raised his hand and dark energy gathered around his fingers.

"Goodbye, Trinity."