Chapter 1658: Chapter 1658

"The Church just got word of it. Apparently, the three monarchs met in secret and agreed on a time and place for the Tri-King Summit. It's all very sudden—no one expected it to happen so fast."

Papa Oliver explained from behind the antique shop counter. Seeing that Jenkins still had one arm occupied with his cat, he moved to grab the kettle from the side of the counter himself. Jenkins noticed and quickly turned to get the teacups. The old man looked parched.

"The monarchs hope to settle secular matters before the summit of the Twelve Orthodox Churches. You know as well as I do that the royal families are all aware, to some extent, of how crucial these alliance talks are. If the secular powers don't form their own coalition, they'll be completely powerless against the divine authority in negotiations that will shape the next century—perhaps even the next millennium. The three kingdoms may have their own conflicts, but their fear of the churches is a far greater concern."

Papa Oliver explained.

"I see," Jenkins mused. "The summit of the Twelve Orthodox Churches is forcing their hand, making them convene the Tri-King Summit ahead of schedule. Without a unified front, they'll struggle to maintain even a superficial balance in the coming agreements, unlike in the last epoch. It seems King Salhir II, Queen Isabella, and that 'Proud One,' Tackwen, still have their wits about them."

He set the cat down as he spoke, picking up the kettle and pouring hot water into a cup with a pleasant gurgle. With a flick of his finger, the steaming liquid instantly cooled.

"Never underestimate those who wield power."

Papa Oliver cautioned, taking the cup Jenkins handed him and downing it in one gulp. Walking the sun-baked streets on a hot afternoon was hardly a pleasant experience.

"Distinguished guests?"

Jenkins asked absently, scooping up his cat again. His thoughts were still tangled up in the Tri-King Summit. "How distinguished are we talking?"

"The twenty-five Saints from the other eleven Orthodox Churches."

Papa Oliver answered gravely.

The current number of Saints in the material world was estimated to be around forty-five. Jenkins knew that figure wasn't entirely reliable, as it was impossible to know if the other churches were being completely honest. The twenty-five arriving in Nolan, plus Jenkins himself, and another Saint the Inherited Sage Church planned to send next week, would bring the total to twenty-seven—all the Saints destined to gather in this fated land at the end of the epoch.

The Saints were, in theory, the most powerful combatants in the mortal world. Even disregarding their strength, their religious standing alone placed them among the most revered figures alive.

The Saints, the demigods, the Enchanter squads summoned from across the globe, and the delegations handling the churches' secular affairs—this convergence represented the greatest force the churches could muster to face the end of the epoch.

These were the elite forces of their respective churches. In times of peace, their combined strength could even contend with some of the weaker entities sealed away in other dimensions. Even at the twilight of the epoch, they represented a formidable power. But Jenkins knew it wasn't nearly enough. He had witnessed the true might of a Calamity Beast, to say nothing of the world-shattering cataclysm that loomed beyond it.

Regrettably, his plans to spend Saturday evening with Dolores had to be cancelled. As the region's only resident Saint, it fell to him to welcome the twenty-five Saints of the other gods in the Evergreen Forest.

Every single one of them was older than Jenkins. Even the youngest, a Ms. Bennett from the Church of All Things and Nature, was thirteen years his senior. The youthful-looking woman was a friend of his distant cousin, Sigrid Capet. Apparently, back when Sigrid was growing up in the church, a not-yet-Saint Bennett had been the guardian for all the "little sprouts."

"It's certainly lively."

The local churches had organized a grand, open-air banquet right in the Evergreen Forest. Seven or eight long tables were arranged in the clearing beneath the colossal central tree, encircled by blazing bonfires. Holy emblems of the Twelve Orthodox Gods decorated the space, and people from every corner of the world stood chatting in a medley of accents.

The power of divine arts swelled to unprecedented levels that night, for a time even overpowering the forest's own vibrant life essence. The arrival and congregation of the Saints had naturally amplified this power—further proof that they were something more than human.

Jenkins stood by one of the long tables, a glass in hand, chatting with Sigrid Capet. His distant cousin was dressed in a simple white gauze gown. In a nod to her church's traditions and the gravity of the occasion, her golden hair had been intricately braided before being left to cascade down her back. A circlet of woven olive branches rested on her head, a common adornment for the nuns of the Church of All Things and Nature.

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Sigrid remarked, the orange firelight casting a warm glow on her skin, making it seem as smooth and white as fine porcelain. She, too, held a glass and added with a smile:

"I bet that's not wine in your glass."

Jenkins had few friends among the other churches, so Sigrid was the only one standing by his side and chatting with him. As for the other Saints, they followed an unspoken etiquette, approaching him in pairs or small groups to make conversation.

Though they all held the same rank, most of them unconsciously adopted a more formal, deferential tone when speaking to Jenkins. They didn't seem to notice it themselves, but Sigrid, standing beside him, certainly did.

"It seems you really are famous."

She teased him during a lull in the procession of guests. Jenkins simply argued that they were merely showing respect to the Inherited Sage Church. He knew the truth, of course: having been in contact with gods themselves, the other Saints could sense that he was different. For now, however, none could perceive his true essence. Unless he was actively channeling his divinity, his divine nature remained inconspicuous.

Aside from the invited guests, tonight's banquet also attracted some uninvited ones: the small animals of the Evergreen Forest. They gathered at the edge of the clearing, patiently waiting for handouts.

This, of course, delighted the priests and nuns of the Church of All Things and Nature and the Earth Church. They stood by the bonfires on the periphery of the banquet, basking in the forest's vibrant energy while using bits of food to coax the remarkably tame animals closer.

The Enchanters from the Church of All Things and Nature and the Earth Church were especially attuned to the forest's unique power. While speaking with the Saints from those two churches earlier, Jenkins had overheard them discussing a proposal to establish permanent chapels in Nolan during the upcoming alliance conference.