What they do is just to survive, to ensure humanity continues to live in this world. Victory is always fleeting, and evil will soon come back.

"No need, this is the most important mission since I came to the Old World. Why do you think it's unnecessary?" Tygris also looked up at the emblem wall.

Some family emblems he remembers to this day were heroes who sacrificed during the Great Holy War, and Savior Ludwig's Golden Griffin emblem was also among them.

"Yes, surely you've spoken to His Majesty Carl about organizing the Bright Council?" Laine said quietly.

"I have."

"Then since the Emperor hasn't mentioned this in the Imperial Council, it either means the resistance is too great, or the Emperor himself doesn't want to. From all the Prince-Electors' performance in the Imperial Council, it's obvious the resistance is too great. Look, even a mutual resistance against Chaos and the establishment of an alliance faced so much opposition from the Prince-Electors. The difficulty of forming the Bright Council is immense, and... Lord Tygris, the dwarves you envisioned haven't come yet." Laine shook his head: "Can you persuade the dwarves?"

"... One hundred and sixty years ago, I easily persuaded the dwarves to unite with humans and elves." Tygris understood Laine's meaning.

During the Great Holy War, humans, dwarves, and elves easily united because Chaos had already invaded the heart of the Old World. Just like the Prince-Elector said at today's council, "The claws of Chaos are already knocking on the palace door." At this time, the orderly races could temporarily set aside all old conflicts and grudges and unite closely.

Now, the situation is different.

"Alright, let's not talk about these first. How do we infiltrate the Holy Relic Hall?" Tygris knew he was being somewhat naive. Achieving this without a major war was already remarkable.

"I have a plan." Laine said in a low voice: "I need your magic to help me."

"Hmm." Tygris took Laine near the Holy Relic Hall. Here, the flow of people was much less. The Holy Relic Hall was off-limits to unauthorized personnel, so generally, no one approached it. Laine and Tygris's approach had already attracted the suspicious gazes of many Paladins and Ascetic Monks, but as esteemed guests of the Emperor, a bit of curiosity was understandable.

There were especially many Ascetic Monks near the Holy Relic Hall.

These Ascetic Monks were a very unique profession in the Empire, especially in the Imperial Capital. These people, in tattered clothing, chanting Holy Words, dressed in scriptures, and holding chain whips were truly a unique sight. They were often homeless, destitute people, their homes destroyed, their lands desecrated, leaving only themselves, overshadowed by a fearsome future.

Yet, they did not fall into Chaos because the Justice Church brought faith. These people firmly believed that the end is coming, everything will be destroyed by Chaos, and the only way to save themselves is through bloodthirsty penance and self-abuse. They picked up weapons and fought in wars, believing this was the only hope for humanity. In times without war, they prayed and practiced asceticism, eating only clear water, vegetables, and a bit of black bread daily.

Persuading these people to make way for Tygris and Laine was impossible. Laine and Tygris spent more than an hour observing and found that apart from a large group of Combat Priests, Paladins, and a few Demon Hunters patrolling, there were at least several hundred Ascetic Monks constantly circling the Holy Relic Hall, praying for redemption. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

"The Holy Relic Hall has only two entrances, the main door and the side door. No matter which entrance, we have to face over a hundred guards simultaneously, even many Legendary powerhouses." Laine and Tygris discussed what to do: "Damn, we can't disguise ourselves, nor sneak in, and certainly not turn invisible."

"I can cast Stealth Magic... but did you see that light screen?" Tygris pointed to the light screen outside the Holy Relic Hall: "That screen is blessed by Deities. Other than the Great Curse Technique, all magic will fail under the screen. My magic can shield from Deities' perception but cannot avoid mortal's sight in the screen."

"The guards have no dead zones or blind spots; there are too many of them!" Laine complained. This is fundamentally not a normal infiltration mission! The area around the Holy Relic Hall is full of people! And all are enemies!

Laine and Tygris couldn't possibly just kill their way inside!

"..." The two discussed again, seeing the task as impossible, Laine thought of another way: "Who can freely enter and exit the Holy Relic Hall?"

They returned to the Justice Church's hall, as prowling near the Holy Relic Hall could easily arouse suspicion.

"Justice Church Archbishop, the two Great Chant Masters under the Archbishop, Emperor Karl Franz, the Emperor's uncle Maximian, and Marshal Rick Heilberg." Tygris produced a list.

"His Majesty Maximian resides in Talabeheim... One of the Great Chant Masters is lecturing at the Emperor's court; the other is far away in Nuer. Heilberg is in the Rick Guard Headquarters Castle." Laine smiled bitterly and shook his head continuously: "The rest is not worth mentioning."

The two discussed a lot. Many ways had failed. The Holy Relic Hall lay before them, but they had no means to enter.

"Lilith really is..." Even Tygris's usually calm expression showed a complaining look: "She should have her son Ares come over, not entrust us."

"Shadow King Ares, he's Lilith's son?" Laine was curious.

"No... Shadow King Ares is blessed by Hunting God Kuros and Moon Goddess Lilith, hence honored as the son of the Hunting God and Moon God. This is merely an honorary title, not meaning he's truly the son of Lilith and Kuros. Ares himself has parents. During the elven split, his parents and wife were killed by Witch King Malekith." Tygris explained.

"... Ares is already seven thousand years old?" Laine continued to ask. Even among High Elves, few have such long lifespans. Ordinary High Elves live about a thousand years; powerhouses can live two to three thousand years.

"Over six thousand, Ares is already a demigod." Tygris stopped speaking, clearly some content involved High Elf secrets that he couldn't reveal: "Kuros and Lilith both imparted a divine role to him. Lilith has complained about it several times; she originally had few divine roles and was forced to split out one, causing her to disapprove of the Celestial Pantheon, especially Kuros and Asuyan."

"Hmm, I see." Laine nodded.

No words were exchanged between the two. The Holy Relic Hall remained crowded, bustling. Faced with such tight security, neither a killing spree nor disguise infiltration magic could solve the situation, leaving Laine and Tygris at a loss.

At this moment, a sudden cheer erupted from the Justice Church Cathedral.

The Justice Church Archbishop "The Resolute" His Majesty Vicma was proceeding along the corridor toward the hall, accompanied by a group of Combat Priests and Paladins. It was evident the Archbishop was heading to deliver his daily ritual sermon and listen to the prayers of the faithful. Countless pilgrims crowded forward, expressing their appeals and sins to the Archbishop himself, hoping for redemption.

The scene was chaotic, yet Archbishop Vicma earnestly listened to the faithful's voices, crowding him with people.

Tygris and Laine exchanged a glimpse, Laine's cunning eyes met Tygris's assured expression.

The two shared a smile, and Tygris silently chanted spells, directly putting a series of buffs on Laine.

Stealth, Agility, Dexterity, Magic Resistance Enhancement, Divine Art Resistance Enhancement, Spell Penetration, Sight Obscuration, Enhanced Damage, Dispelling Idle Spectators, Illusion Disguise...

Laine vanished into the crowd.

As Archbishop Vicma proceeded within the crowded corridor, a pilgrim he'd never seen mysteriously broke through the throng, squeezed to his side, with a face so bland it would be forgotten immediately if glanced away.

Some Paladins and pilgrims tried to hold him back but inexplicably felt, "No need to stop him," "He's not a bad person," "We'll talk next time" thoughts arise.

Thus, the pilgrim squeezed beside the Archbishop, appearing behind, reaching to cover his mouth, whispering softly into Vicma's ear.

"You're a heretic."