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But the Curia helped bury him, allowing him to die with dignity... there was even a passing Sankta who played a requiem for him.

I see...

Was that Sankta a female with long, straight black hair, playing a cello with an unusual shape?

Er, yes.

She played for you?

Were you subject to any hallucinations, or any psychological discomfort?

What do mean by discomfort? I know it made me cry. It was my brother, after all...

Senior Executor, I thought we agreed that I would do the questioning...

Other executors from Notarial Hall will soon be here to take these refugees to Pagus Ambrosius. We do not have much time.

They are not suspected of any crime. I did not find complex interrogation techniques to be necessary.

I visited Lungmen and Victoria when I was promoting Landen Monastery, and I saw many people like them.

They were forced to leave home due to unfortunate circumstances. Their previous dealings with the police have made them...

Executors are more or less police, right?

Uh, there's no need. You guys just took in outsiders with Oripathy like us, even though I heard you used to kick your own Infected out.

So, right now, I don't have anything against the Lateran government. Besides, this gentleman here looks like a decent fellow...

Is there something wrong with the black-haired Sankta you were asking about?

Without permission, she left the monastery where she was under observation. We have tracked her here.

Sh-She's a prisoner? I thought she was an official from your, what's that, Sixth Tribunal?

Why did you think that?

She asked us about the abbey after the funeral, whether there was any equipment in disrepair, any safety hazards, any supplies we were short on.

She made it a point to ask if anyone who recently entered Laterano had disappeared, especially any pregnant women...

(Doesn't sound like Arturia just happened to pass by...)

How did it go?

You know the answer.

The Matriarch's response was just like yours—'don't poke your head into other people's business.'

Hehe.

I know you have good intentions, Lemuen, but you're also showing that you don't trust me.

I beg your understanding.

The Shrine of Nurtury, this great structure that casts a shadow over Laterano, which no one's quite sure when it came to be...

You, Reverend Patrizion and the Matriarch promise that this will be the birthplace of the future. Even the suspect behind the bombings seems interested in it.

How can the Seventh Tribunal, responsible for intelligence and national security, ignore something so prominent?

Of course, I understand.

Excuse me.

The Nurturer leads a group past. Their footsteps echo through the empty hall.

The people in the procession come from many different races. None of them speak, but all glance up and down at this unfamiliar space.

Lemuen steps aside to let them pass.

What is it, Cardinal Lemuen?

Nothing.

What I mean is, curiosity killed the Feline. I guess I should expect a complaint from my predecessor if I continue to insist.

Why are you leaning against the wall in a weird pose? I thought I was looking at a statue.

You could have heard my joints crack if you came in earlier.

I should pay a visit to an artificer, see if I can't get some cushioning for my waist.

I'm not sure the gun-knight armorsmiths take into account the special needs of the elderly.

Young gun-knights need it too! It helps mitigate the recoil from our guns!

The Nativity is tomorrow. How are preparations at the Shrine of Nurtury?

The mother is in stable condition. Andoain has taken good care of her. She will give birth to a healthy, beautiful infant tomorrow.

Wiš'adel and the Kazdelian delegation, the Twin Empresses and the Leithanian delegation, the delegation from the Ægir Institute of Development Planning, the Tianshi delegation led by Yan's Envoy of Ceremonial Rites...

Tomorrow, all the visitors to the Holy City are invited to the Shrine of Nurtury to witness the birth of a new life.

Why did you need me, then, if everything is in order?

Our newest cardinal...

Lemuen?

She came to see the Matriarch. I'm wondering—

Did she 'happen' to pass by as she was investigating the bombings, 'drop in' to take a look, and then propose to provide help to the Shrine of Nurtury on a 'whim'?

At first, I thought she came because of the attack on Andoain. But when I saw the look on her face after she saw the Matriarch... it is clear that she has suspicions.

I thought I quelled those.

Lemuen possesses a keen edge that few others have, especially when focused on a single matter. There is certainly no better fit for a cardinal of the Seventh Tribunal.

At the same time, there is also no worse fit. More often than not, she relies solely on her own judgment when it comes to where she will focus her attention.

Do we need to be on guard against her?

You make us sound like some evil organization plotting to overthrow Laterano.

Who is to say?

For some, the future that we usher in will overturn life as they know it.

Our empathy, our kindred and family, even the concept of 'Sankta' itself... existing limitations will be cast aside.

This should have been the predetermined end of Laterano's path, but the path has gone on far too long.

Some people take the accidents that happened in the process as the norm, and now they can't accept the predetermined end.

That is correct.

We should prepare early.

I'll deal with Lemuen. You head back to the Shrine of Nurtury and get ready for tomorrow's ceremony.

May the Lord's blessings be with this city.

The red-headed Sankta runs through a forest of white and blue, like a tiny flame flickering in the rain.

That cloud on that comfort bell is almost the size of Croissant's van... and a cradle large enough to hold two cargo containers...

The clouds hanging upon the comfort bells seem to block out the sunlight, and the hands holding up the cradles reaching towards the clouds.

In this place, every living thing appears small and insignificant.

Huh?

What the heck...?

It feels so empty and quiet, but more than half of these nurseries are occupied...

Children, outsiders, even Fallen Angels... the Nurturers are busy. Looks like they've been living here for a while.

Didn't they say most of the facilities are empty and will only open to the public when that ceremony is done?

That's not true at all!

I have to recover the bombs!

I thought I could stop the ceremony by blowing up the venue, but this place is full of people...

To think I went through all that effort to slip past the guards...

...I wish the girls were here.

Texas could've knocked out all the guards and dragged them outside, or Croissant could've barged into the rooms and packed up everyone inside...

Or I could just get the boss to do a meet-and-greet opposite the ceremony to draw everybody's attention...

Ugh, forget it. There's no time, I gotta get to work...

I'll take these bombs apart and think of another way—

It'll be easier if you cut the blue wire first.

Whah...?

When did you get back?

El.

An entirely unremarkable apartment, except for the fact that its roof offers a perfect view of the plaza in front of the Shrine of Nurtury.

Is that why you chose to hide here, Arturia?

Another happy reunion.

And much sooner than I expected.

You did not attempt to conceal your trail.

The paper dragonfly was a clear clue. I saw you use such musical Arts more than once in Zwillingstürme.

Well, I hate to admit it...

But you've learned a whole lot of my secrets, Fede.

Wait, you...?

Did our executor here not tell you that I am his beloved <i>soror</i>, Sister Hildegard?