1000 hours, 1 July 0145...

Day after day, those in higher positions continued to assign us the same mundane tasks to fulfill their goals, and nothing had changed.

But this time is different. I've got a report from the director that Onigashi was marching her Crescent's infected androids around 170 km outside Grande Maria's border. And the problem will move ever closer as time passes if there is no response at all.

Thenceforth, The Great Pope, Enzio Busso, ran for his election on July 5 tomorrow to defend that city with his highest authorization.

Rumors suggest that Crescent is targeting the Great Pope, posing a grave danger to the leadership and stability of the city. Their goal was to dismantle the squadron's social network, leading to chaos and enabling them to carry out disruptive and anarchic activities with far-reaching consequences.

Despite Enzio Busso's deception and the severe consequences his corruption warrants, it is regrettable that we must shield him from becoming a positive influence.

When I was deep in my thoughts about the Cleanser Squadron, Commander Katoki's voice suddenly came from behind me, snapping me back to reality.

"Hey, Tsuyuki. Could you please give this report back to Christine?"

My senses returned to normal as I saw Commander Katoki stretch his hand with a report from behind me. Even though I had the piece in hand, I still questioned him for more information.

"But wait, where is she right now?"

"She's at the church on the 3rd underground level."

With a single nod, I stepped into the elevator, heading for the third underground floor where I would meet Christine in that church.

***

I arrived at the church's massive front door, standing despite its age, its weathered wood creaking as I touched it. I could feel the weight of the old wooden door as I knocked three times before entering the church.

"Christine, it's Tsuyuki. Commander Katoki told me to lend back your report. May I come in?"

Unfortunately, there was nothing but silence. After a few moments of silence, a melodious voice echoed throughout the room. As I opened the door with a massive creak, I noticed a faint smell of incense lingering in the air and heard a beautiful voice singing, making me curious to find out who it was.

"Sorry for the interruption. I'm going in."

The church hallway remained dim and shadowy until sunlight streamed through the intricate stained glass window, painting the corridor in a mesmerizing array of vibrant hues, creating a breathtaking spectacle.

Scanning the room, I noticed a petite girl in a pristine white dress adorned with a delicate gold trim. Her long veil cascading down her back captivated my attention with how serene she was. It concerned me if the dirt of onlookers would stain the white fabric of her dress skirt, which was pooling on the ground.

She knelt between the two chairs, her hands clasped, and her falsetto voice reverberated within the large church walls, directed at the vast effigy of their venerated God.

I tiptoed closer to her back and carefully voiced my question.

"Christine? Is that you?"

She abruptly ceased singing, her feet cold against the tiles, and turned to me with a surprised widening of her eyes as she gasped a query.

"Tsuyuki? What are you doing in here?"

Bingo!

That's obviously Christine, as her falsetto singing always stands out to me. I approached her and heard the paper rustling as I handed her the report.

"Sorry for interrupting your singing. Commander Katoki told me to lend back your submitted report."

She accepted the report as the pages whispered open with a rustling sound and replied with a single nod.

"Thanks…"

After I gave a slight nod in response, I then inquired again with a hint of confusion.

"By the way, Christine. Are you praying right now?"

"Oh… I'm just practicing singing for my Grande Maria Great Church performance. Tomorrow, July 4. And I wanted to meet up with my family there."

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I then nodded in understanding, as I'm about to leave the church.

"Oh, good luck with that."

But as I turned to leave the church, she pulled my clothes ever so slightly and murmured.

"Umm… Tsuyuki…"

I halted and looked back at her glowing complexion as she timidly proposed.

"Would you like... to watch my practice... in here?"

Her offer heightened my curiosity, and I eagerly nodded, agreeing to hear her singing performance.

"Sure, go ahead."

I sat in the front-row chair so I could witness her singing with perfect clarity. Christine stood on the stage, her heart pounding in anticipation, as she prepared for her rehearsal.

After a few seconds of peaceful silence, she inhaled deeply and filled the space with a gentle melody.

Her ethereal singing reverberated through the dimly lit church, and an eerie chill ran down my spine from how emotionally inducing it was. It reverberated through the air like a plea for absolution during the apocalypse.

During the final chorus, she let out a powerful voice that almost reached its full potential. When the singing was through, she sighed audibly, her voice still ringing across the church's hallway from its high pitch.

Her singing filled me with admiration, and I clapped to express my approval. It was so moving that it sent a chill down my spine, as if I'd ever heard that singing before.

"Not gonna lie, I was speechless!"

Her cheeks flushed with a deep shade of pink as she shyly looked down.

"T-thank you... I mean, it still needs more training."

"What are you talking about? I got goosebumps on hearing your performance."

Christine let out a quiet, timid laugh that sounded almost like a whisper. She gracefully descended from the stage and sat beside me, her perfume lingering in the air.

Her beauty captivated me, and I could feel the warmth radiating from her as I gave her a sincere compliment.

"By the way, you look different than usual in that dress, as if you were like a princess about to marry a knight."

Her eyebrow dropped, and she explained quietly, gluing her eyes to the skirt.

"Umm, not really. This is because I have to suppress my eighth-grade syndrome in order to adhere to church etiquette."

The same green ring glinted on her left finger as I glanced at it. Observing the green ring on her finger, I posed an inquiry.

"Wait, are you still wearing that same previous ring?"

She then held up her left hand, the ring on her finger sparkling, and queried back.

"Oh, this one?"

With a brief nod, I then elaborated again with a hand gesture.

"Yeah. We were discussing this back in the Harimal Forest. Remember that?"

After momentarily glancing at her green ring on her left finger, she looked at me with a questioning expression.

"Of course. What are you talking about?"

I slowly lifted my head and then explained.

"Judging by your dress and the green ring you're wearing, you must have a fiancée, right? Yet you're denying the last-day answers."

She looked down at the ground, her mind racing over the steering wheel. She then glanced at me, as her voice was heavy with emotion.

"Yes… I have a fiancée. Tsuyuki."

Another bingo!

I knew that a woman wearing a ring on her left finger would likely have a fiancée. With that, I then questioned her again.

"Can you tell me the person's name?"

"It's Antonio. Second in command of the Cleanser Squadron. He wanted to get down on one knee because we go way back, and my parents have had a strong relationship with him for a long time."

"Here's the picture of him."

She retrieved her phone, and I saw the pictures of Antonio illuminated by the phone light. It showed that he was a high-ranking, stern man with dead-serious determination, fierce eyebrows, and a pointy beard on his chin. His rough, calloused hands show he is full of experience and is much older than Christine and I.

"His parents engaged him with me because they wanted to use my Divinocchi's frantilos element, considering the recent Cleanser Squadron's low morale due to the sheer infection of the Scorching Virus in that city."

Antonio's forcing her engagement left me feeling uneasy, implying that he intended to further the Cleanser Squadron's ambitions. As I gently patted her left shoulder, I asked her again, my voice wavering with a hint of worry.

"Be honest. Do you have a problem with it? And are you willing to sell your life to fulfill that squadron's agenda?"

After taking a deep breath, her voice quivered as she confessed her pent-up burdens as she looked down on her skirt.

"I have a problem with it. It just… I'm afraid that I'll end up in massive trouble if I dare to stand up."

"I wanted to do it, but what do I expect from that powerful cult?"

"Even if I were standing up against it, I would drag myself into their pitfall traps instead."

The sound of her confession of despair filled me with frustration, prompting me to motivate her.

"Well, if you tolerate everything, you'll stand up for nothing."

She gave me a gentle, sidelong glance, held my right hand in hers, and softly replied.

"It's not like that, Tsuyuki. I have faith that the world will never revolve around them."

"Although I had a deep hatred for the Pope for his exploitation of my mother's death, I still respect him for carrying my mother's achievement to the succeeding Cleanser Squadron."

"And although Antonio further exploited me to fulfill that squadron's agenda, I still respect him for taking care of me."

"I know it's naïve, and you might think I have Stockholm Syndrome, but it's natural for me to have good faith in these situations."

"Just like what one of the bible verses said: Do not take revenge, and leave the wrath to God."

"Hence, humans are getting weaker, not because they lack power and intelligence, but because they lack gratitude. Just like what you used to mention before."

I surveyed other ways of thinking with a sigh, and I finally gave her somehow unsatisfactory responses.

"Even if you're married to the unintended, I hope you'll be happy with it. Or maybe you'll find someone who's always there for you with immovable trust."

She smiled and gave me a gentle nod while meeting my gaze as she suddenly laid her head on my right arm to feel the warmth of my slight hug.

During the break in our conversation, the sound of the church door creaking echoed through the room, and someone addressed us.

"Tsuyuki, Christine. Are you there?"

Axel stood outside the church, the large wooden door groaning as he opened it. I slowly turned my head and inquired.

"Axel? What's wrong?"

As Axel was holding the church door from the outside, he then answered.

"Commander Katoki told us to gather at his office."

After I turned my head and witnessed him, I queried him again.

"For what?"

"It's important, so make it quick."

"Alright, we'll be there soon."

I felt the chair creak as I stood up, and Christine's voice filled the room.

"Tsuyuki, you go ahead first. Let me change my clothes first."

With a single nod, I then quickly exited the church and left Christine in the dressing room before catching up with my lead.