Who hid My Corpse!

Oliver sat by the window, watching the sun slowly climb up the city's sky, gradually awakening Lyra in the silence.

The door behind him opened, and Hogney walked in, saluting Oliver.

"Lord Bishop," Hogney respectfully said, "everything is ready, and the representatives of the workers have begun to enter."

Oliver's gaze slowly returned from the sun on the horizon to Lyra below him.

He could see countless people flocking toward the Sky Tower.

Attracted by the general assembly, they surged like blood into a heart or ants returning to their ant queen—so spectacular and orderly.

"How beautiful," Oliver said with a light chuckle, "isn't it, Hogney?"

"Of course, Lord Bishop," Hogney said. "And after today, it will be even more beautiful."

Oliver chuckled again and then slowly stood up.

"Yes, it is about time."

Seeing this, Hogney immediately stepped forward, draping the robe signifying the distinguished status of the Bishop of the Sky Tower over Oliver, who simply stood still without any movement.

Once he was fully dressed, Hogney took two steps back and then gave Oliver an even more respectful and humble bow.

"Please lead us into the future of Lyra, under the crown of the Pope."

Two hours remained until the start of the assembly.

...

"Do you know? My dad is an outstanding worker and he gets to attend the meeting at the tower with Bishop Oliver today!"

"So what? My dad can too!"

"Mine too, mine too!"

On the gear train, Ju lowered her hat brim as if that would block out the chatter of the children.

But it was futile because everyone in the gear car was talking about the impending assembly.

The children compared whether their parents qualified to directly participate in the assembly, while the adults were more concerned about the content of the assembly.

"When was the last general assembly again?"

"Over a hundred years ago, I think, about the gear train."

"I see. And this time?"

"Bishop Oliver talked about a new future."

"A new future?"

"Yes... It would be good if nothing goes wrong. I heard that the wanted criminal is still at large."

"Tsk."

Ju listened while inconspicuously tightening her clothes.

If anyone had paid attention to her, they would have noticed the malnourished little girl's clothes were far too big, making her tightly grip her collar to prevent anyone from seeing her entire body through the neckline.

Those closer to her might have heard a distinct metallic clinking sound, completely different from the noise of the gear train.

But no one noticed her.

Instead of a malnourished little girl, people were more concerned about the once-in-a-century assembly.

Ju looked up at the towering structure that seemed to connect heaven and earth, which grew larger and larger in her small pupils.

One hour and thirty minutes remained until the assembly.

...

Standing in front of the third zone's sub-tower, Ina took a deep breath to soothe her slightly nervous mood.

"Is everyone in their places?"

Ina asked the Devil Knight next to her.

"Yes, Vice-squad, everyone is in position," the Devil Knight answered, saluting Ina before hesitating, "But are we really going to do this, Vice-squad?"

Ina glanced at the Devil Knight, "Have you forgotten what the order was?"

"No, of course not!" the Devil Knight replied seriously, "Upon receiving the command, take control of the sub-towers and the Skeleton Corps immediately, then wait for further instructions... But, isn't this really a rebellion?"

"We received Bishop Oliver's orders, and you have my and Yuri's handwritten commands," Ina tried to keep her tone calm, "If something goes wrong, it's on me and Captain Yuri. What are you worried about?"

"It's not that, I just... No, I have no more questions," the Devil Knight answered, "We will follow your commands completely."

Ina nodded slightly, then turned her gaze back to the nearby third zone's sub-tower.

She knew this was a risky gamble.

She and Yuri had forged the orders, forcing the Devil's Army that was not allowed to leave the Fifth Zone to leave their district, ready to seize control of the nodes of the sub-towers at the start of the assembly to prevent any mishaps.

If they failed, both she and Yuri would be branded traitors and meet the same fate as Night Star had in the past.

... The same as Night Star in the past?

For some reason, thinking of this suddenly calmed Ina's uneasy mind.

"Brother..." she murmured softly.

"What was that?" the Devil Knight next to her didn't hear clearly.

"It's..." Ina composed herself, then turned back to the dozen fully armed Devil Knights behind her, "Be mindful of the time."

"Yes, Vice-squad!" the Devil Knight replied, looking at his pocket watch, "We have... one hour."

...

"Where are Fred and the others?" Chamos frowned, "Desi, Muni, where is everyone?"

At the entrance of the Sky Tower, Chamos, who was responsible for the Skeleton Corps' Tenth Squad, looked at the incomplete Tenth Squad and couldn't help but voice his doubts.