Natalia remained silent for a long while before speaking indifferently, "The rest of the Temple is conducting a far more important operation in Indiles."

  "And do you know what that operation is?" Eros asked, his curiosity piqued.

  "I don't!" Natalia replied bluntly. Then, as if fearing Eros wouldn't believe her, she added, "The security clearance for that operation is extremely high. It's far beyond what a Sequence 8 like me is allowed to know."

  Eros nodded. So, hidden in the shadows of Indiles, there was a group of cultists plotting something big. Wait, I probably don't have the right to call others cultists, he mused.

  "Do you know their specific strength?" he asked again. If he knew their combat power, he could gauge the scale of their plot. If the group in Indiles was just a few more small fries, their plot couldn't be that world-shaking. But if not... then things would get interesting.

  Upon hearing the second question, a trace of awe appeared on Natalia’s beautiful face. "The one presiding over this operation is one of the three Great Priests under the Goddess—the Sublime One, Her Eminence Lucigre. Beneath her are three Transcendent Priests."

  Eros’s pupils contracted sharply. He barely suppressed a curse. With a lineup like that, he wouldn't doubt it if they were planning to sacrifice the entirety of Indiles. One "Sublime One" and three "Transcendents"? The waters of Indiles were deeper than he thought.

  Including the Cardinal Archbishops of the three major churches stationed in Indiles, there were now at least four "Sublime Ones" on the board. These were Sequence 2 existences—beings who would have been called "Angels" in ancient times. And those were just the ones he knew about. Considering this was the capital of one of the three great empires, there were likely more in the shadows.

  If the Moon-Worshippers dared to act under the noses of three Church Angels, they must have a way to restrain them. Does that mean there’s at least one more Angel-level ally lurking in the dark? What are they planning? A total sacrifice of the capital?

  Eros felt a sense of impending doom. I need to warn my family this weekend, he thought. If things go south, they need to abandon Indiles immediately.

  After a long moment, he suppressed his trepidation and smiled at Natalia. "Madam, you’ve given me quite a surprise!"

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Natalia said nothing, and Eros continued, "Since your operation is going to cause a lot of trouble for the Church, therefore..." He paused, reaching out to hook her chin again. "Therefore... will you be my companion?"

  "Huh?" Natalia’s brain stalled. What kind of logic is that? What does the Temple's operation have to do with her being his companion? She had been wondering if this "Remnant of the Night" wanted to join the anti-Church operation, but the answer left her dumbfounded. He wasn't targeting the Church; he was targeting her.

  Eros would have laughed if he knew her thoughts. He knew the state of his own "household"—a few small kittens trying to join a battle of giants would be evaporated instantly. The right path was to lurk on the edges and reap benefits.

  Looking at the dazed Natalia, Eros leaned down and kissed her soft lips. "Earlier was business. Now is our private time. Since the first moment I saw you, I was captivated by your beauty. I won't lie—I lust after your beauty. I am a depraved man."

  Natalia’s face turned bright red at his bluntness, and she stammered, unable to form words. Eros pecked the corner of her mouth and raised an eyebrow. "And your answer, Madam?"

  Natalia turned her head away, trying to avoid his lips. Eros wasn't annoyed; he waited with a smile. Finally, she asked in a low, raspy voice, "If I refuse, will you let me go?"

  "No!" Eros smirked.

  "Then why bother asking?" Natalia glared at him.

  Eros chuckled. "Because it's fun. Since you put it that way, I’ll take it as a 'yes'."

  Much later, Eros watched Natalia as she put her clothes back on. He asked a question that had been on his mind, previously delayed by "business."

  "Madam, your experience is surprisingly... lacking. You’re far more green than I expected."

  Indeed, her experience was even less than his. She didn't act like a woman who had a grown daughter. Natalia stopped dressing and glared at him. After their "friendly exchange," her fear of this mysterious man had lessened slightly.

  "I'm telling the truth!" Eros shrugged.

  Natalia sneered but said nothing. After a while, she said awkwardly, "Today... was my first time."

  Eros was stunned. "But don't you have a daughter? How can you—"

  Hearing him mention her daughter, Natalia’s expression became instantly pious. "Ayesha is a child granted to me by the Goddess."

  "Huh?" Eros felt his brain stutter. Granted by the Goddess? How? Since this wasn't a secret that needed hiding, Natalia didn't mind him knowing.

  "Nineteen years ago in winter, a Priest found me. She said I was a Chosen One and told me to follow her to receive the Goddess’s favor. At the Temple, I prayed alongside other Chosen ones. The Goddess responded and gave us Her Grace. A few months after leaving, I realized a new life was growing inside me. The Priest told me it was the Goddess’s bloodline—a symbol of Her Favor."

  Natalia’s voice became more fervent and her expression more devout as she spoke.

  So Ayesha has no father? Well, she does now, but... Eros rubbed his chin. From all the novels and movies he had consumed in his past life, he knew this was wrong. Extremely wrong.