IV

IV

"No, don't strike that bell!" As the man ran into the room, the first people to respond were two halberd guards who'd been standing at the door. Their artificially enhanced battle strength could match a vampire, thanks to lost technology.

"Who are you?"

The two halberds clanked their weapons together, blocking his way.

The tall body of the priest sprang forward with astonishing speed; he ducked and rolled into the room.

"Oh, the bungler?" Leon murmured.

"Father Nightroad?" Tres asked.

Abel had no time to look at them.

Within that magnificent hall, a few dozen guards protected three important people: the Pope, dressed in white; a cardinal, dressed in scarlet; and the archbishop, who wore black. The archbishop grasped the rope of the huge bell, which had been placed very high in the belfry.

The archbishop turned around to look at the trespasser, but he immediately faced forward again. Abel didn't miss the strength with which the archbishop's hand gripped that rope.

"Sheesh!"

There was no time to hesitate. Abel gripped an old-fashioned percussion revolver in his hand. On seeing the gun, one of the guards shouted, "Get out, fool!"

The halberd swung down his ax, gouging the floor. Abel jumped sideways, fixing his aim at the slender rope. He simultaneously landed and fired.

In the next instant, a high-pitched, metallic sound echoed.

Between the silver-haired priest and the bell, a shadow stood. The man's features were hidden by a mask, which covered his whole face. Although it was early summer, he was wrapped in monastic garb from head to foot. He grasped two straight swords, crossing them over his chest. Abel's bullet was stuck between the two swords.

Suddenly, another shadow stood next to Abel. The mask hid the person's face, but Abel sensed it was a woman, judging by the shape of the body underneath the ash-colored monastic garb. The slender needles grasped in her fingers pressed against Abel's neck.

"Inquisitors!" Leon hollered hoarsely. He revolved his chakram on the tips of his fingers. For some reason, he was twitching. The halberd guards were silent, as if bewildered by the sight of all these Vatican employees going after one another.

Working directly for the Ministry of Doctrine, inquisitors were holy warriors who exterminated all enemies of the creed and faith. They were the fangs of the church—the most powerful destroyers in the Vatican.

"Thank you, Brother Jacob, Sister Simone. You may leave," said Francesco.

As soon as the two monks bowed to their master and left, Francesco walked up to Abel, who stood like a statue. Violent anger blazed in the cardinal's eyes as he gazed at the silver-haired priest.

Meanwhile, Abel didn't move a muscle—he couldn't. Two slender needles were stuck in his neck. Losing all his voluntary muscle movement, his young body was frozen helplessly.

"I've seen your face somewhere before—you're an AX agent. Now, what does this mean, Caterina? Explain!" Francesco glared at his pale, beautiful half-sister, who had just run into the room. She paused, catching her breath at the door.

"I'm certain this man is your subordinate. You can't be trying to assassinate our uncle."

"The Duchess of Milan has nothing to do with this man," said a voice that lacked any intonation. "That man, Abel Nightroad, tendered his resignation from the Ministry of State at eighteen hundred fifty-four today."

"Hey, Tres!"

Ignoring the way Leon was tugging on his sleeve, Gunslinger continued to intercede between the siblings. Like a loyal hound protecting its mistress, he stood in front of Caterina to shield her from the brunt of Francesco's sharp gaze. "Based on employment regulation article three, paragraph four, as well as article eight, the Minister of Foreign Affairs has no relationship whatsoever with that man. The two are completely unrelated."

"Very well." Francesco stared into Tres' emotionless eyes; before long, he bowed his head. "We will arrest that man. If he is truly unconnected to you, Caterina, then you will have no objection?"

"But—"

"But what?"

Caterina lowered her gaze. "No, as you wish."

Francesco snorted slightly, gesturing to the guards waiting behind him. "Lock this one up. When this is over, we'll thoroughly investigate the matter—I'll know if there's any relationship between this man and the Ministry of State. I'm very sorry, Uncle. What a ridiculous blunder."

"No, don't worry about it, either of you." Alfonso's eyes were round with shock, but he managed to squeeze out the words. "Urn, I don't know what just happened, but perhaps we should continue the benediction?"

"Of course."

"Wait, Uncle." Caterina's white hand grasped Alfonso's wrist as he reached for the rope. Her eyes bore into her uncle's face. "Please, discontinue the benediction for now."

"Caterina . . . you still . . . such nonsense!" Francesco worked himself into a rage; Caterina refused to so much as flinch, though.

Shifting her gaze from her uncle to her brother and finally to the bell over her head, she turned around. The guards were about to pull the priest out of the room. She wordlessly nodded to Abel, looking into his blue eyes, which were trying to communicate something to her.

"Uncle Alfonso, I do not mean to distrust you in the least; however, may I not inspect this bell? I'm afraid there may be something dangerous built into it."

"Caterina, are you mad?" her older brother barked.

"Please wait, Francesco." It was Alfonso who checked the growling cardinal. "In the end, Caterina, you trust your subordinate more than me, more than your own uncle?"

"I'm very sorry, Uncle," she replied, sad but resolute. "I trust my subordinate's judgment."

"Understood. Still, it pains me to put you to the trouble of investigating." Her uncle's hand was unexpectedly strong as he removed himself from her grip. "Here and now, I will make clear my innocence."

There was no time for Caterina to stop him. Alfonso pulled the rope with unimaginable speed.

The clear sound of a bell rang down from high above. It sounded like the voice of a beautiful, cursed angel. Caterina involuntarily closed her eyes, imagining Abel's face twisting desperately.

The bell went on ringing for several seconds. Caterina's luxurious hair shook as the belfry faintly vibrated with noise.

That was all. There were no sounds of buildings crumbling or people screaming.

When she opened her eyes, she saw Alfonso's sad face. "Is your mind at ease, Niece?"