Dimensional Tower.
32nd floor.
The moment Brandon Locke disappeared into the exit portal, a magic streaming device abruptly fell on the ground out of thin air.
Crack—!
And immediately shattered.
Then, the wind around the broken pieces changed. Pink petals fluttered in the air, and as if appearing out of thin air, a woman with platinum–blonde hair revealed herself.
Her foot seemed to be stepping on the broken pieces, and she stared at the treant intently.
"Interesting."
The development was indeed interesting.
It wasn't hard at all to bring Brandon Locke inside the real tower.
All she had to do was manipulate Alan Ross, change the portal's coordinates once Brandon Locke's soul was registered, and stall the Imperial Army before they found out the truth of the matter.
However, there was a discrepancy that didn't go according to calculations.
The appearance of a second person.
From her information network, the man should be called Raven Blackheart.
It was peculiar.
But nonetheless, everything else went according to plan.
All she had to do was request the help of her fellow colleague.
The Archbishop Sin of Pride.
The man capable of distorting wavelengths. Much to the point where he could even manipulate the tower's wavelength to a certain degree.
"I still don't understand why you let those kids go."
A voice suddenly cut in from the side, and the woman turned to look.
From a distance, two family figures were walking towards her.
It was none other than the Archbishop Sin of Pride himself, and his vassal.
"Greetings, Miss—"
Swoosh—!
All of a sudden, the treant's vines pierced the air, cutting off the Vassal of Pride's words.
Snap!
However, all it took was a snap of the woman's fingers, and the vine immediately dispersed as cherry blossom petals fluttered.
"Kuhum. Can you see it now?"
She turned her head towards the treant.
This was her favorite floor. And it was the only floor none of humanity had ever cleared.
"I never thought I'd see it get that dark."
The man replied. Then, he turned his head towards her.
"So have you finally found your vassal, Lust?"
"Might be.... With that face, that power, that darkness residing within him, he'd have no problems carrying the authority."
The woman was none other than the Archbishop Sin of Lust.
Brandon Locke was indeed a peculiar person.
She hadn't noticed him before after infiltrating Holy Britannia a year ago.
But she had heard stories about him.
Still, it wasn't to the point where she would be interested in him.
However, when she had heard he was someone Evelyn Cessna was keeping a close eye on, things took a turn.
And so, she wanted to test him.
To see the darkness in his heart.
Would it be possible to turn him against his own country?
To put him on a leash?
To become her vassal?
She wanted to own him.
As if he was a prized possession.
"You know, what was so surprising?"
"What?"
The man tilted his head in confusion. While Lust wasn't incredibly strong, she was the most calculative amongst the Archbishops.
In a fight, she would most likely lose among the other sins. However, in a psychological warfare, she would obliterate anyone.
She would stop at nothing to get whatever she wanted.
"The two of them had this kind of darkness in their hearts. Something I can't really comprehend, it was different compared to everyone I've encountered so far."
Batshit crazy.
This wasn't the first time Pride had seen her act like this.
In the past, she would react like this whenever she talked about her brother.
The brother she had abandoned all these years.
What kind of face does he make when he thinks of her?
Does he still think of her?
How is he doing in a foreign country, after being fed lies all these years?
She may have been the weakest of the Archbishops, but Pride would still put her at the very top of the list of people he'd never dare to cross.
Because once she set her sights on something, she would never stop until she achieved it.
Until it was completely hers.
Until she had completely broken it.
Because according to her words, this entire world belonged to her.
But still....
"...."
Pride couldn't stop but stare at her curves.
'Goddamn it.'
In front of her, it felt as if the meaning of pride was nonexistent.
"If you need anything else, don't hesitate to ask."
Pride and his Vassal were just about to leave, when Lust called for him.
"Wait."
"Hm?"
He turned his head.
"I've heard about Lord Ezekiel's state. Am I supposed to remain in my post?"
Lord Ezekiel.
The Wraith they had all revered to.
However, there was a recent incident that seemed to have.... broke him.
For that reason, the Archbishops were slightly panicked.
"Wrath is in charge for now. Just continue what you're doing. The contract is still there."
A six hundred year contract that entailed, a Milis descendant could never step foot inside Holy Britannia.
A contract—is what it was—but for them, it was a curse.
But finally, in about five years, the contract would finally expire.
The only reason Lust and Pride were able to step foot inside the continent was because they were of Holy Britannian origins.
"Huh!?"
Lust's brows furrowed.
"You're kidding!? The same Wrath who couldn't even keep his vassal under control is in charge!?"
The Vassal of Wrath, who was none other than Lumian.
His sudden death still sparked an air of mystery.
But he had it coming after getting himself exposed.
"Yeah, well. Nothing we can do about it."
Because Wrath was the strongest.
There were about seven Archbishops.
Supposedly, there were supposed to be nine.
However, there were two available authorities that wouldn't surface no matter what.
Melancholy, and Vainglory.
But they had never questioned it.
Because Melancholy and Vainglory, of the Circles of Hell had long been banished.
Their powers seemed to have disappeared along with them.
At least, that's what the Lord Ezekiel, the Circles of Hell's Pride, had told them.
In any case, a portal materialized, and Pride and his Vassal was about to step foot into it, before Pride turned around and said,
"Keep up the good work as always, Lust."
Then, he paused as he realized something.
"Right, you're known differently here. What was your name agai—"
"Just get out of here! I don't want to see your ugly face anymore!"
With a frown, Lust kicked Pride into the portal.