Man in the Ark: Revitalizing Kazdel

The Papal Palace, a building in the heart of Lateran, is where Pope Ivangelista XI conducts his business and receives guests. Here, this kind and amiable old gentleman is enjoying a large cup of strawberry ice cream.

With the International Conference about to begin, delegations from various countries have been arriving in the city one after another. The Papal Court has been receiving a series of meeting requests, and the seven chambers are working at full capacity to ensure the smooth running of this grand event.

The Pope had just concluded a brief meeting with an envoy from Ursus, exchanging views on cooperation in international security. The envoy, representing the will of the Ursus Emperor, presented a steel medal symbolizing the friendship between the two nations.

After seeing off the Ursus envoy, the Pope placed the Iron Medal in a glass display case, along with gifts from other countries. He was very pleased with the success so far of the first Universal Conference.

Laterano has always been a unique entity on the land of Terra, maintaining absolute neutrality. This is largely why various nations are willing to accept the invitation from the messenger of all nations.

"Knock knock knock..." The heavy wooden door was knocked on. The Pope put down his ice cream cup, took out a tissue to wipe his mouth, and said, "Come in, children."

Federico, Mostima, and Fiameta entered the office one after another and bowed respectfully to the Pope on the sofa. "Your Holiness, we have arrived."

"Sit down, children. Would you like a cactus tart?" The Pope smiled kindly and beckoned the three to sit down beside him.

“It’s working hours now, so it’s not advisable to eat high-sugar foods…” Federico said expressionlessly, delivering his decision without any emotion.

“Thank you, Your Holiness,” Fiameta said, picking up a cactus tart and quickly finishing it in a few bites. It was working time, and being efficient, she couldn't allow herself to spend too much time snacking.

“Actually, I still prefer blueberry tarts, but since it’s your invitation, I won’t stand on ceremony.” Mostima showed no restraint in front of the Pope, casually picking up a piece and putting it in her mouth.

"You summoned us because you have some mission to carry out?" Federico, like a ruthless work machine, proactively inquired about the mission details.

"Don't be impatient, child. Before assigning tasks, tell me about the changes that have taken place in various parts of the Holy City these past few days."

"Yes." Federico, upon receiving the instruction, worked like a sophisticated computer, recounting in detail all the matters handled within the past week. Fiameta, standing nearby, couldn't help but envy his memory.

"Hmm, have you noticed anything unusual?" The Pope stroked his snow-white beard, guiding Federico's thoughts in a specific direction.

"Some citizens have discovered signs of human activity in the sewage pipes in a corner of the city. It is likely that a group of Laterans familiar with the Holy City are secretly entering and leaving the Holy City through the sewage pipes."

"The notary office is investigating who these people are and what their purpose is."

“Leave this matter to little Fia. I want to assign you to another task. Is that alright?” The Pope nodded in satisfaction, then turned to Fia Meta, asking for her opinion.

"I understand, Your Holiness. I will provide results as soon as possible." Fiameta accepted the task readily, as long as she didn't give herself any strange code names.

"Mostima, the Kazdel delegation's landship has entered within ten kilometers of the Holy City. You previously contacted those two Demon Lords, so the task of receiving the delegation is entrusted to you."

"No problem, those two are easy to get along with. However, the Sarkaz Demon King's entry into the Holy City will definitely cause quite a stir. Will there be any order at the scene?"

"The notary office and the papal knights will be present to help maintain order."

"Okay, that's fine then." Mostima readily accepted the task.

"Alright, children. You can go about your business now. You stay behind alone." The Pope rose to see Fiameta and Mostima off, then handed a thin document to Federico.

"During the international conference, you are responsible for protecting the safety of this child and her mother, and be careful not to reveal the identity of the notary office executor."

Frequent correspondence, but the recipient rarely signed for the mail directly, and the recipient rarely left his home... All these unusual behaviors were finally reported to the notary office by a kind-hearted messenger.

Considering that these actions were not illegal, and in order not to disturb the normal lives of the citizens of Felia, the notary office's officers adopted a stakeout approach to conduct a covert investigation.

Finally, on a clear, late night, the executors, preparing to leave, witnessed a citizen named Felia holding the hand of a little Sakota girl, walking in an empty park. Judging from their intimacy, the two appeared to be mother and daughter.

The discovery of a daughter not registered in the household registration system in the notary office's database, belonging to a citizen named Felia, quickly attracted attention.

After a period of in-depth investigation, the final findings sparked considerable disagreement among the upper echelons of the Papal Court.

Before reaching a consensus, the Pope did not want the safety of the mother and daughter to be threatened by anyone, so he sent his most reliable Federico to carry out the mission.

"Received. Executor Federico has confirmed the mission target." Federico carefully noted down Cecilia and Felia's personal information. They were an ordinary Sakta mother and daughter, with nothing particularly special about them.

"Yes, go ahead. They'll be leaving soon." The Pope patted the young executor heavily on the shoulder, as if entrusting Federico with something important.

"Yes." Federico folded the documents and put them in his pocket, then strode quickly out of the office with a determined look in his eyes, as if he were about to apprehend a criminal.

"...This child," the Pope stroked his white beard, a hint of worry in his eyes, "is a good thing to be diligent at work, but being overly diligent may prevent him from doing his job well. Perhaps we should arrange for him to have a senior colleague."

......

“Felia, my friend who works at the notary office has received news that Kazdel’s delegation will be arriving in the Holy City soon…” One of Felia’s few close friends knocked on the locked door and informed her of the news he had just received.

"Thank you for coming all this way to tell me. Cecilia and I need to prepare a little more, but we'll be done soon." Footsteps echoed from inside the house, and a few minutes later, Felia led Cecilia out, hand in hand.

A linen hat sat on her head, concealing the small black horns that peeked out from between her strands of hair. Cecilia, hiding behind her mother, was filled with a mixture of nervousness and curiosity about the outside world during the day.

"Let's go, let's go pick up Dad and take him home."

"Ah."