Chapter 72

Dawn broke.

The plan for the day was as follows: they would drive down to the lower village and sell the car there. With the money, they planned to travel from place to place, observing the situation at the harbor until the Conclave ended.

“Benny, how’s your back?”

Costance gently massaged her lower back.

“Are you really going to punish me and then give me medicine?”

“Was it a punishment?”

“…Forget it. Let’s just go.”

After checking their belongings one last time, they got into the car.

“……”

The first time she had ridden in a car driven by Costance, she had been scared.

“Have you been practicing driving?”

She asked.

“Not particularly. Is it uncomfortable?”

Costance replied in a worried tone.

“No, you’ve improved. You seem like someone who’s been driving for a long time.”

“I tend to pick things up quickly.”

Costance smirked and increased the speed. The smoothly rolling wheels soon brought them onto the city streets. As other cars joined from both sides, she held Irini tightly and lowered her head.

“Don’t worry. The inside of the car isn’t visible from the outside.”

“There won’t be any checkpoints, will there?”

“We’ll head straight to the next village.”

Checkpoints would be troublesome.

“There it is.”

Costance pointed out the window.

It was a small village at the base of a mountain. With facilities like a bank and a hospital, it was a convenient place to live.

Most importantly, the village had a used car dealership. Costance sold the car for a satisfactory price and used the money to buy clothes for her. He also purchased a kennel for Irini.

The two of them posed as a loving couple raising a cat. As they strolled through the streets, they linked arms and chatted naturally.

“Madame, what do you think of that restaurant over there?”

At Costance’s question, she looked up at his face under the brim of his hat. Back in Canary Village, she hadn’t openly held hands or linked arms with him…

“Madame.”

Costance smiled and kissed her in the middle of the street. Embarrassed, she glanced around, but no one paid them any attention; everyone was busy with their own affairs.

“If you stare at me like that, I’ll take it as a request for another kiss.”

Her face flushed with heat.

“…What’s the plan now?”

“Let’s eat first. Then we’ll find a hotel where we can spend the night together.”

Costance was utterly relaxed. Who would suspect them of being fugitives from the agency?

“To stay at a hotel, we’ll need IDs.”

She spoke cautiously, looking at Costance.

“Do you know what’s just ahead, Madame?”

“What?”

“There’s a casino. And there’s someone who, for the right price, can create an unlimited number of fake IDs.”

Costance maintained a gentle expression as he spoke in a low voice.

“Fake IDs are easy to trace since they’re fabricated identities.”

“Then we’ll have to steal them.”

His words left her stunned.

“That’s not an option either! What if we get caught?”

“Then?”

“…Memorize this.”

At her suggestion, Costance looked at her intently.

“Dio Sohare. Male. 28 years old, born on September 12.”

“Who is that?”

Costance frowned slightly as he asked.

“Just listen. He’s a children’s book author who always travels with his wife after finishing deadlines in the fall. They avoid big cities and prefer less-traveled places. His ID number is 20-3042-451.”

“20-30… Say it again.”

“20-3042-451.”

Costance repeated the number she gave him over and over.

“And his wife is Deborah Sohare. Female, 25 years old, born on August 4. She’s also an author, just like her husband. They live in Villa 203 on 56th Street in Canary Village. Of course, her husband lives there too. I know her ID number, so I’ll memorize it myself.”

“Are they real people?”

“Yes, they occasionally visited the library, left their IDs, and borrowed books. By now, the two of them are probably traveling. It’s the perfect identity for us to use. They even mentioned having a few cats.”

“……”

“Don’t worry. Besides the Sohare couple, I have other identities we can use.”

“How many?”

Costance asked.

“Countless. Should we create fake IDs for them, just in case? You said someone could make them for a price.”

At her suggestion, Costance stared blankly for a moment before chuckling.

“I’ll look into it.”

***

The Papal States.

Cardinals began to gather one by one for the Conclave, which was set to take place the next day. Their tense faces were evident.

Inside the Vatican, preparations were also in full swing. The residences for the cardinals participating in the Conclave were cleaned thoroughly, and strict measures were taken to prevent any leaks to the outside.

“Your Eminence, Cardinal Rahie has just arrived in the Papal States.”

The last to arrive was Cardinal Rahie. From his balcony, Emban noticed Rahie below.

“Hm, I see him.”

Sensing Emban’s gaze, Rahie looked up and narrowed his eyes.

Rahie.

Though he was not a candidate for the papacy due to his young age, he was considered the future of the Papal States.

“There’s a rumor that Cardinal Rahie brought someone with him…”

Without shifting his gaze, Emban asked the confessor seated across from him.

“They say he brought children from an orphanage and a nun.”

“I can never tell what’s going on in that head of his.”

Emban let out a deep sigh.

This Conclave was critical for the progressives.

While the opposing faction had young talents like Cardinal Rahie and Cardinal Lidams, the youngest progressive cardinal was in his sixties.

If the new pope, elected through this Conclave, were to hold office for a long time, Emban and the remaining progressives would be over eighty years old.

According to the rules of the Conclave, cardinals over eighty lose both their eligibility to become pope and their voting rights. For Emban, it was imperative to seize power in this Conclave.

“He’s a cunning man. If he hadn’t become a priest, he would’ve made a fine jester.”

That was Emban’s assessment of Rahie. Despite all the efforts Emban had made to secure victory in the Conclave, Rahie had managed to obstruct his path.

“He wasn’t this cunning when he was younger.”

“You were particularly fond of him back then, Your Eminence.”

The confessor added. Emban chuckled.

“That was a long time ago. Back then, he was truly well-behaved. No one could’ve guessed he was a tiger cub.”

Rahie’s name was often preceded by the phrase “the first in history.”

He never doubted his abilities, flawlessly accomplishing every task he undertook, and had risen to his current position at a young age.

Yet, he was not consumed by arrogance. On the contrary, his self-discipline made him even more formidable.

“That little one threatens my very existence.”

Meanwhile, Rahie had just entered the Vatican. The cardinals, gathered for the Conclave, greeted him warmly.

“Lidams.”

Rahie smiled as he addressed Cardinal Lidams Pesan. Lidams, who had been overseeing the Papal States, looked exhausted from his busy schedule.

“You’ve arrived, Rahie.”

“Where is the head of the College of Cardinals?”

“You shouldn’t go to him. He’s extremely busy. But did you bring something with you? Your Eminence, I heard you didn’t come alone.”

Lidams asked cautiously.

“Yes, I brought someone who has been protecting the orphanage and the children. They were struggling, so I invited them to the Papal States.”

“Bringing them here is fine, but your timing is always off.”

Lidams had been handling the tasks Rahie brought.

Even though he had a mountain of work waiting for him back in his homeland after the Conclave, Rahie had added to his burden once again…

“Lidams, a guest will be arriving.”

At Rahie’s words, Lidams immediately straightened his slumped shoulders. He glanced around before leaning toward Rahie.

“Have you found Benny Galinne…?”

“If we win the Conclave. We’ll have to host a grand welcome.”

“You’re telling me not to return to my homeland in such a roundabout way.”

“It’s all for peace. For our Papal States as well.”

The conflict between Toramde and the Kingdom of Rando was escalating. While Toramde had been ahead, Rando’s development of destructive weapons had turned the tables.

But what if Vivi Ferren became involved in the power struggle between the two nations?

She was a powerful weapon and a force in her own right. With both nations already resenting the independent system of the Papal States, concentrating power in one place would only disadvantage the Papal States.

“We will welcome her, Lidams.”

Rahie had countless reasons to protect her.

“The head of the College of Cardinals is at Behar Cathedral with the Prefect of the Apostolic Palace.”

“Thank you. Oh, and Lidams.”

Before stepping away, Rahie spoke again.

“Yes?”

“I’d like to welcome one more guest. Is there a spot left in the Paladin Order?”

At Rahie’s additional request, Lidams, who managed the Paladin Order, turned pale.

‘What on earth is he planning now!’

That evening, Lidams had to send a message to his disciple, asking them to deliver documents and papers to the Vatican since he couldn’t return to his homeland as scheduled.