The map room was quiet except for the rustle of paper as Isadora rolled up a schematic of Highmont's wall. Reidar kept the Sky-Hunter still on the chandelier, focusing entirely on the conversation below.

Isadora and Lucius were dangerous. Level 340 and 355. But they were subordinates. They took orders.

Then, the double doors swung open again.

A man walked in. He wore the high-collared vestments of a Deacon, identical to the ones Aaron and Viren had worn, but the fabric seemed darker.

He was tall and thin, his skin the color of old parchment. His ears were pointed, in the same way as Viren, Aaron, and Silas's were.

Reidar felt a chill go down his spine.

—[Deacon Cornelius Drecht—Level 365]—

"Deacon," Lucius said, straightening up. The arrogance he had shown moments ago vanished, replaced by fearful respect.

Isadora's posture stiffened. She stood straighter, her shoulders pulling back. This wasn't just another officer. This was the authority here. Level 365. Nearly at Silas's level. One of the strongest people in the entire region.

Isadora bowed her head. "Deacon Drecht. We were just reviewing the assault plan."

Drecht walked to the table.

"You are slow," Drecht said. "The Archdeacon expects results, not reviews."

Reidar's focus sharpened immediately. The Archdeacon. That was the title Silas held.

<He really is here…> Of course, Reidar couldn't be sure.

"We are gathering our forces," Lucius said. "But the barriers around Highmont are strong. We need the troops to push past Level 350 to break them. My soldiers are strong, but they aren't at the vendors' same level. I hope you can forgive us."

That meant they couldn't actually attack the city because of the vendor's barrier.

Drecht's thin lips tightened, the pale skin around his mouth pulling taut. He folded his hands behind his back, fingers interlacing as if restraining himself from a more visceral reaction.

"You can take care of the barriers yourselves," the man said.

"Isadora and I can lead the vanguard, but we can't breach the walls alone while dealing with their defenders. We need the elite cadres to be ready. We need more time to hunt and level them up."

Drecht looked at him. "How much time do we have?"

Isadora hesitated. "Three weeks. The new portals are attracting higher-level beasts, but hunting them takes time. We can't rush it without losing soldiers."

"Three weeks," Drecht said. He turned his black eyes to Isadora. "The Archdeacon gave us a deadline. Three weeks is… cutting it close."

Reidar's ears perked up. They were finally talking about Silas.

"We apologize, Deacon," Isadora said. "But the monsters are dangerous. Even for us. We are doing everything we can."

She paused, then looked up.

"Take care of this," Drecht said. He wanted them to lead the soldiers and hunt with them to force their levels up. He turned to Isadora, and his eyes locked onto hers. "You should join them, since you are still at Level 340. The mana would be beneficial to you too."

Isadora's jaw tightened. "Forgive me, Deacon," she said. "Since the Archdeacon ordered the assault on Highmont, I've been coordinating the preparations. There hasn't been time to hunt."

Drecht nodded.

Isadora hesitated. Her fingers curled against her palms, and she glanced at Lucius before looking back at Drecht. The words seemed to catch in her throat.

"Perhaps…" She paused, then forced herself to continue. "If the Archdeacon would assist? If he joined the hunt for a few days, we could power-level the elites much faster."

Her voice was careful, almost apologetic. She knew she was treading on dangerous ground.

Drecht stared at her.

"The Archdeacon is in seclusion," Drecht said. "He is trying to breach the Level 400 threshold. He is not to be disturbed."

Reidar's focus sharpened as he heard those words. <He is trying to break through level 400?>

Lucius frowned. "Is he… is he in the cave?"

Drecht nodded. "He is."

<The cave? What the fuck are they talking about?>

"He will not leave until he has ascended. There is something on his mind. He is… worried."

"The Archdeacon is worried?" Isadora and Lucius found that weird, almost impossible.

Reidar felt a jolt of adrenaline. The cave. Silas was in a cave. It wasn't a cathedral or a skyscraper, or in this fucking city altogether. He was somewhere else, somewhere secluded where, apparently, leveling up was easier.

Lena and Jake saw him.

"What are they saying?" Jake asked.

"Silas…"

"What? Is he there?"

Reidar shook his head. "No. He apparently is in seclusion, trying to get past level 400."

"Level 400," Jake said. "That's… insane. Do they know what level he has reached already?"

"They didn't say it, so I don't know…"

Reidar focused back on the conversation.

"Then we are on our own," Lucius said, looking grim. "If we can't get the Archdeacon's help, we might miss the deadline."

Drecht sighed. He couldn't allow that.

"No," Drecht said. "Failure is not an option. If the Archdeacon is busy, then I will step in."

Lucius and Isadora looked at him in surprise, but they liked the proposition.

"You, Deacon?" Isadora asked.

"I will join the hunts," Drecht said. "I will help the elites level up. We will shave at least a week off your estimate. Highmont will fall on schedule."

Lucius bowed deep. "Thank you, Deacon. Your power will make the difference."

"We are grateful," Isadora said. "With you, we cannot fail."

Drecht lifted his hand and waved it in a dismissive gesture, his thin fingers cutting through the air as if brushing away their gratitude.

"Do not thank me. Thank the Progenitor. We do this for the Grand Design."

"The Church provides," Lucius said.

"The Church provides," Isadora echoed.

Drecht turned and walked out of the room. The doors closed behind him.

Reidar pulled the Sky-Hunter back into the shadows of the ceiling. He had heard enough.

Silas was in a cave. He was trying to reach Level 400. And Drecht, a Level 365 bastard, was about to leave the city to hunt.

Reidar opened his eyes.

"We have a situation," he said.

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