North Shore of Conquest, Navaja.
In a dim room in Navaja in the evening, a woman named Garcia sat on her seat, commenting seriously on the series of unusual actions taken by the Church fleet after arriving in Navaja. Her eyes were filled with vigilance and worry towards these uninvited guests.
The sudden visit of the Church fleet made her uneasy. Although on the surface it seemed that the fleet was only here for mundane matters like transporting refugees, various signs indicated that things might not be so simple.
"Uh... Madam, you are right. Yesterday afternoon, this Church fleet did have some rather unusual movements in the port. It is indeed possible that they are involved in more than just mundane matters in Navaja. However, in my opinion, even if their purpose for this trip includes covert affairs, it should not be directed at us.
"As far as I know, the people the Church sent this time are military units like the Holy Rite Knights, not the Inquisitors from the Judge. Their mission is escort, and they actually brought a dedicated passenger ship. If they were specifically here to investigate, they wouldn't have such a formation. Therefore, I believe they are not targeting us. Although there were some hidden circumstances at the port yesterday afternoon, they might indeed be conducting some covert affairs there, but I don't think it has much to do with us."
Standing before Garcia, the man named Gómez stated his opinion. Unlike the suspicious Garcia, he believed that the Church's sudden arrival this time had little connection with their side, and the sudden commotion at the port might just be some kind of accident.
"You are too careless, Gómez. In any case, since the Church's operation in Navaja this time involves secrecy, we absolutely cannot take it lightly. Although the Inquisitors are not the ones who came, we cannot assume that they are completely unaware of us. What if this is a cover?"
"I received news earlier that the Church specifically arranged people to search the coastline and the City this morning and afternoon, seemingly looking for something... The behavior of these Light Worshipping Zealots is becoming increasingly suspicious. Before we fall into a passive position, we must make some preparations, preparations to protect the chrysalis in the worst-case scenario."
With a serious expression, Garcia said to Gómez. Her tone revealed dissatisfaction with Gómez's earlier careless attitude, and after hearing Garcia say that the Church had already launched a substantial search operation today, Gómez couldn't help but frown slightly.
"Are they really looking for something? Hmm... If that's the case, we must pay more attention. However, Ms. Garcia, I don't think it's time to make those kinds of preparations yet, at least... at least until we are certain of the threat posed by this group of Light Worshipping Zealots, we don't actually need to make a big effort."
Gómez continued to speak to Garcia. After listening to Gómez's words, Garcia glanced at him and then slowly opened her mouth.
"So, what is your plan? Gómez."
"Madam, my idea is that we can send people to enter the dreams of those Light Worshipping Zealots and find out their real intentions for coming to Navaja from their dreams. If these guys are really targeting us, we can immediately start to deal with it. If their purpose is not us, we don't have to waste energy.
"Now the power of the chrysalis has grown to the point where it can support our use of the dream trap ability. No one will lie in dreams, and given the nature of entering dreams, it will be difficult for even that group of Fanatics to discover any traces."
Gómez explained his plan to Garcia like this. After listening to Gómez's words, Garcia thought for a moment, then spoke again.
"What you said... does make sense, but there is one problem is... To activate the dream trap ability, you must be near the person whose dream you are entering. Now those Fanatics are holed up in the port, and the security is very strict. It's very difficult to get close. How can we use the dream trap without being detected?"
"This is actually very simple, Madam. Although the port's security is strict, those guys don't stay inside all day. Many of them also wander around in the City. We can make our move during this time."
Gómez continued to speak to Garcia, and after listening to Gómez's words, Garcia immediately responded.
"I know they will come out... but that's during the day, right? During the day, there's a lack of a foundation for drowsiness, so the dream trap isn't very effective. And at night, they all return to the ships in the port."
"No, no, Ms. Garcia, they don't all return to the ships at night. As far as I know, there is a place that attracts some of the Fanatics even late at night. A small portion of them even stay there very late. This is our opportunity to act."
With a slight smile, Gómez said this, and Garcia couldn't help but ask curiously after hearing his words.
"What place are you talking about...?"
...
Time flew by quickly. Soon, the faint Light in the sky dimmed, and night completely descended upon Navaja.
After dinner time passed, the small coastal town, which didn't have many entertainment venues to begin with, quickly fell silent. Many residents went to bed early, and the scattered Lights throughout the City gradually extinguished.
By late night, apart from some manual factories in the suburbs that were still working overtime, the most popular place in the entire Navaja was the Church of Navaja.
Like other cities of this size, the City Church of Navaja was neither large nor luxurious. It was a simple, ordinary Church, just sufficient for the citizens' use.
Late at night, somewhere near the City center of Navaja, the main gate of the Navaja City Church was still wide open. All the Lights in the entire Church were turned on, and solemn religious music played by special instruments emanated from within the Church, accompanied by sounds of devout prayer.
Even at this late hour, this ordinary Church was still fulfilling its purpose. In the past, the Church gate would usually have been closed by this time. The reason for the current situation was that the Church fleet was currently docked at Navaja Port.
This fleet was a pilgrimage fleet, carrying many fervent believers with unwavering faith. These believers from various places strictly followed routines for various religious activities every day, among which evening prayer was an important part.
For these fervent believers, prayer at various times of the day was absolutely important. Although the Church's holy scriptures did not explicitly specify places for prayer, for the devout, if there was a Church nearby they could go to, it was best to pray in the Church.
Therefore, since the Church fleet docked at Navaja Port, the port of Navaja has been filled with pilgrims from the fleet. Having undergone a long sea journey, they would not miss the opportunity to participate in religious activities in a proper Church, and the City Church of Navaja was also forced to extend its opening hours because of them, for example, now.
In the Church late at night, there were countless pilgrims of various kinds sitting inside, performing their evening prayers. Among them were wealthy people in bright clothes, ascetics in rags, and also ordinary clergy and Sisters, and Vanya was among them.
Gazing at the Three Saints altar in front, wearing a standard white Sister's habit representing medical personnel, Vanya was performing today's evening prayer with a focused expression.
By this time, it was already late. The originally crowded Church now had many empty seats. As she naturally disliked vying for things, Vanya chose a later time to come here for evening prayer. In this time slot, most of the pilgrims had already returned to the ships. Those still remaining in the Church were the last batch of people. After they finished praying and left, the Church could also close.
Amidst the solemn music filling the entire Church, Vanya closed her eyes, clasped her hands in front of her, and prayed with focus as usual, offering devout prayers to the Lord in her heart.
By this time, Vanya had been praying for a while. And perhaps because the night was already deep, waves of drowsiness couldn't help but rise from Vanya's heart, constantly lingering around her spirit. Under the influence of this drowsiness, Vanya, who was praying, couldn't help but find it difficult to concentrate.
Amidst frequent nodding, Vanya couldn't help but temporarily stop her prayer. After taking off her glasses, she let out a big yawn and then wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.
'Ugh... I seem a bit sleepy. Is it because it's too late now? As expected, I shouldn't choose the time for evening prayer too late in the future, otherwise it's easy to get too sleepy to concentrate.
'But then again... I've done evening prayer this late before, but I wasn't that sleepy then... For prayer, I should be able to concentrate easily...'
Rubbing her eyes, Vanya thought in her heart with some confusion. Since childhood, she had been very fond of prayer, and it was relatively rare for her to experience a lack of concentration during prayer.
'Maybe it's because I was a bit too tired when treating the injured yesterday, that's why I feel so sleepy now... Anyway, let's finish the evening prayer quickly, so I can go back and rest after finishing...'
'Although I'm a bit sleepy, I must cheer myself up and continue praying. If the daily prayer is incomplete, it is disrespectful to the Lord...'
Thinking like this, Vanya continued to force herself to stay awake. After putting her glasses back on, she closed her eyes again, clasped her hands, and began to continue praying with a focused expression.
And this time, after Vanya's prayer continued for not long, a greater wave of sleepiness swept over her. And this time, Vanya was unable to cheer herself up again, but instead fell asleep unknowingly.
Just like this, on the Church bench, amidst the pilgrims' evening prayer, Vanya's head, with closed eyes, lowered, and her hands also naturally drooped. Without anyone noticing, she leaned back on the chair, her even and gentle breathing indicating that she had entered dreamland at this moment.
...
Vanya, who had fallen into a stupor, unknowingly started dreaming.
At this moment, Vanya was standing in the large square of the North Tivian Church District. All around were blurry figures coming and going. Vanya was in a scene she was most familiar with, staring blankly at everything in front of her. She didn't know what had happened or what she was going to do.
Since Vanya was not using lucid dreaming to enter the dream, she was not aware that she was in a dream at this moment. She wandered around the square in her dream, without any purpose. At this moment, she wanted to do something, but she didn't know how to do it.
Just as Vanya was feeling lost in her dream world, suddenly, from the group of blurry figures coming and going, a Shadow figure completely enveloped in black mist, whose form was unclear, slowly walked towards Vanya. He stopped in front of the bewildered Vanya, and after seemingly revealing some kind of smile, he spoke.
"Hello, Miss Sister."
"Uh... hello... Mr.... may I ask who you are?"
Looking at the Shadow figure's question in front of her, Vanya in the dream asked in confusion, while the Shadow continued to answer with a smile.
"Who I am is not important, the key is who are you? Miss Sister, I see your clothes are quite special. You should have a relatively special position within the Church, right? Can you tell me your position and name?"
"Ah... my name is Vania Chafilun, I was originally a scripture reader in the Historical Scripture Department of the Tivian subdivision of the Prit Archdiocese, and now I am a temporary healing Sister at Enchante Hospital..."
Facing the black humanoid Shadow figure in front of her, Vanya in the dream answered directly with a blank look in her eyes, and listening to Vanya's words, the Shadow figure nodded.
"Originally a scripture reader, and now a healing Sister? As expected, I wasn't mistaken, the Fanatics wearing this kind of clothing should have special positions... If it's medical personnel, then it's possible she is undertaking the healing mission for that fleet... and also possibly knows what their purpose is..."
Pondering Vanya's answer just now, the Shadow figure muttered like this. Then he turned his gaze back to Vanya and spoke.
"Then... Sister Vanya, I have a few more questions I'd like to ask you. Please cooperate with me properly..."
"Of course."
Listening to the Shadow figure's words, Vanya silently nodded.
...
Late at night, on the third floor of a high-end hotel somewhere in Navaja.
Dorothy, who had just finished showering, put on her clothes with a trembling body. Just as she was wiping her hair with a towel while sitting by the brazier warming herself, her brows suddenly furrowed slightly. Her expression changed as if she had noticed something, and the hand wiping her hair also gradually slowed down.
"Hmm? Vanya's prayer tonight... why did it suddenly stop? It was intermittent before it stopped. Did something happen?"