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There's no sign of fighting inside the house. The children are still sleeping.

Hyman wouldn't harm the kids. You can be sure of that.

Not yet.

I don't know how long she can maintain her reason.

Thank you.

How do you intend to tell the kids about Hyman when they wake up?

They have a right to know.

Sometimes, ignorance is bliss.

Is that a suggestion?

No, Federico...

I hope you don't mind me calling you that.

It was you who spared Hyman. It was you who earned the children's trust. The choice is yours.

Feeling the weight?

I'm not wearing any extra weights.

I'll take that as your personal brand of humor.

What are you looking at?

Do you know what this is?

A piece of cloth... we stuff like that to make blankets for winter, but I've never seen this pattern before.

It's a common Lateran pattern.

Underneath the cloth, the twins' breathing is long and steady.

The Executor looks at it for a while, then turns his gaze to the simple desk beside.

There is a small clay jar on it.

Other than the children, the flower in the jar, not yet fully wilted, provides the only color in the room.

A flower? It's pretty dried-up. Must have been there for at least two days.

Is this Hyman's hobby?

I... I don't know.

I thought I knew the people who follow me. But I'm not even sure...

I must return to the sacrarium.

I have enough information to pass judgment on the Sarkaz.

And what is your judgment?

First, there is something I must know—have you had any interaction with Oren Argiolas?

Oren the nuncio?

Yes.

Not much. He went missing soon after he arrived.

I see.

You call yourself Gerald, but that is not your real name.

Who can say if a name is real or not? I've used it for ten years.

I've been Gerald the Hunter ever since we started living here and built our first house with those broken planks.

How you identify is none of my concern. You can be Gerald.

Then—

A strange sense of urgency causes the words fall from the tongue.

Federico does not give him time to speak.

He says the name that has not been spoken in public for ten years.

A mercenary who made his name in the Kazdel Civil War, wanted by the Notarial Hall, thirty-two confirmed crimes on his record, responsible for annihilating three of the Holy Lateran's Executor Maniples.

Holst Tyfindale.

You knew...

Yes, I knew. What I can find out, others can too.

This is your final warning—

Your identity is no longer a secret, Gerald.

Target structure confirmed.

Hard to believe the Sarkaz would really want to live in an abbey of ours.

Ready to move in?

No rush. We'll wait for the order.

Let's wait and see. We have the area surrounded.

Same as that Sarkaz team we nabbed earlier...

Not a single one of them is getting away.

Yes, sir!

I got some food. It's not much, but it's better than nothing.

Sorry, Serpilia... I'm not hungry...

Well, I'll leave it here. You might start to feel hungry in a bit.

Gratias, Serpilia...

What for?

Nothing in particular... I just wanted to thank you.

Eat up and go to bed if you really want to thank me. I get off earlier that way.

R-Really? Then I'll go to sleep...

Sorry, I can't sleep...

I figured.

Are you sure you should be here? I'm feeling much better now... what I mean is... you don't have to stay with me if you don't want to.

Watching you is my job, girl. I'm not exactly a saint.

I won't run away.

Who knows? The better a girl behaves, the more you have to keep an eye on her.

Do you know what those black horns on your head mean? Do you know what's waiting for you when you're brought back to Laterano?

I... No, I don't.

Of course you don't. You can't empath with me, can you?

Oh, don't look like that. I was just trying to scare you a little. His Holiness is pretty kind, all things considered. No need to worry too much.

I'm not worried.

Whatever punishment I receive, I deserve...

What's that sound? Is there someone outside?

Whatever it is, it's none of your business.

Stay put. I'll check it out.

Huh?

Strange. There's nobody here.

You're really letting your guard down. It hasn't been that long.

The way you talk still makes me want to punch you.

I'm wondering how you operated in Victoria. Did you spend all your time making enemies for Laterano, Oren?

I resent that characterization. No one takes his job more seriously than me.

Speaking of job, you're ready on your side, aren't you, Serpilia?

Maybe?

I need a less ambiguous answer.

We move at dawn, if there are no complications.

(Strange... Serpilia hasn't come back yet?)

(Things seemed to have calmed down outside...)

(Wh-What's that sound?)

S-Serpilia? Is that you?

Oh! Mmph...

Shh.

It's me.

Raimund?!

Come with me, Fortuna.

Finally outside.