One Silver Coin For a Pound of Demon

Chapter 32

Draft
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There are always warning signs before a disaster, but it's often difficult for those immersed to realize it.

The urgent news of the Liberation Front attacking the Holy See broke the calmness of the night. The next day, His Majesty the Pope appeared on TV to pray for blessings. The Holy See and the heads of various countries condemned the cult. Everyone in the interview seemed to have the same hatred. The news buzzed in the town for a few days, but soon, like other distant news reports, it became an occasional topic for dinner.

The Liberation Front, which had been denounced as a cult, wasn't young. Several banned or exterminated political parties, illegal assemblies, civil organizations and heretical sects have gradually merged over the decades to become this large but loose multinational organization. It has grown stronger and stronger under the pressure and suppression of the Holy See and local government forces. It hasn't yet been able to confront the Holy See, but it has never stopped various secret activities. As a priest, you've never heard the preaching of the Liberation Front, but you still hear their names from time to time in various news reports.

People who care more about life than you are naturally more used to it.

It's not an earth-shattering event. The liberation front has long been struggling with the Holy See, and it didn't start today. Didn't it attack the Western Holy See before? They were always thunderous and rainy days, and this attack, although successful, only knocked down a few houses - ah, of course, the damage to the Sanctuary is unforgivable! But His Majesty the Pope is safe and sound, so believers don't need to panic, the casualties have been controlled, and the attackers were killed on the spot, so there's no need to worry too much. The people in your small town commented on the incident, and then went back to their own lives soon after, the audience is often forgetful.

Strangely, the media also seemed to have gotten amnesia this time around. The scale of the explosion in the centre of the Holy See was so large that people on the other side of the city could see the glow from the fire. But when the living Pope appeared with the Holy See's public statement, the media either kept silent or unified their calibre, all saying that the explosion isn't as serious as it seemed and that only empty buildings were attacked. Then, the conversation quickly turned to the miracle of "a lamb born with an angel" from somewhere. The media burst into enthusiasm with it, and the attack was rarely mentioned again.

It seemed that it was the end of the matter.

You're not sure.

You remember that every attack on the Holy See would eventually ferment into a world event. When it comes to dealing with heresies, the Holy See definitely doesn't have the tolerance to present their right cheek after being slapped on the left¹. The louder the opposition over the years, the tougher their wrists will be, and all the casualties will be maximized. You know that the Cathedral isn't just an aesthetically pleasing shell, a considerable number of troops are stationed there to protect His Majesty the Pope. The explosion was so huge that it couldn't be concealed, you don't believe that no one was injured.

The Holy See has been uncharacteristically calm, trying its best to show that business is as usual.

On the same day, some media said that the Abbey of Radiance Monastery in the outer suburbs of the Western Holy See was also attacked, but the next day it was said that it was just false rumours.

The Abbey of Radiance, an insignificant little place, a retirement home for an old clergyman—that's what it is for the outside. To you, it's called the Chapel.