Cyclone had already expressed his thoughts and paved the way for the High Priest to directly express his thoughts as well. However…

"How do you feel about Kakarl?"

"How do I feel?"

When the High Priest asked, Cyclone was momentarily at a loss for words.

"You've been here for almost half a year now, haven't you?"

As the High Priest spoke, Cyclone also glanced at the scenery outside the temple.

At the same time, he looked down at his clothes.

Indeed, when he first arrived, Cyclone had been wearing long sleeves.

But now he had switched to short sleeves, a cool set of clothes for the hot days of Shia.

Immersed in the Great Dragon Festival, days went by in happiness.

Unbeknownst to him, Cyclone had already spent half a year in Kakarl.

"Kakarl is almost like the big city in my heart."

"In your heart?"

"Yeah, before this, I was just a farmer's son. Living in the countryside, I would occasionally imagine the sights of the big city."

Cyclone looked back at the High Priest and gave his answer from the heart.

"Even with more experiences and starting to read books, one thing hasn't changed - Kakarl is truly peaceful."

"Is that so..."

"What do you think about the Water Sect?"

Initially, Cyclone didn't understand the High Priest's meaning.

But after thinking carefully, Cyclone realized that he had made a previous assumption error. The Water Sect and Kakarl were actually different entities. Understanding this in his heart, the High Priest continued with a hint of melancholy.

"I don't know when it started, but the Kakarl royal family began to decline, and eventually... they turned hostile towards us, even trying to wage a religious war..."

Cyclone had never heard of what the High Priest mentioned.

"Of course, they failed."

Looking at a child ahead, Cyclone had never imagined such a conversation coming from a child.

"Religious beliefs and governance by law are two different things. Thinking that by striking you can destroy people's faith is the most foolish idea."

Sighing, the High Priest looked up at the sky and continued.

"Likewise, trying to govern with faith is also a foolish act. Faith is faith, it has nothing to do with the 'nation'. Faith comes from within, not forced by the state."

A gust of wind blew through, and under the breeze, the High Priest seemed to have a sense of loss in his expression.

"They avoid this reality, blame their failure on faith, this is why I detest the Kakarl royal family."

"But you... still took over this city?"

Cyclone questioned.

"Indeed, I did so."

After a moment of contemplation, the High Priest looked at the Four Saints and then back at Cyclone.

"Selling out, just as it sounds. It's time, I want the faith of the Water Sect to truly be free. For this..."

The High Priest pointed at Cyclone.

"I need you to sell Kakarl to King Allen."

"..."

"Allen has always wanted this country, he desires to unify this continent, I have known this for a long time."

"And we are going to use his ambition, in turn, to liberate the Water Sect as an entity of the 'nation'."

"Liberate?"

Alexander's statement led to the core of this conversation.

"Kid, have you heard of the Water Sect in Allen City?"

Cyclone shook his head.

"Then do you think there will be a Water Sect church in Allen City?"

As an extension of the previous question, the answer was on the tip of his tongue.

"Because the 'religion' of the Water Sect and the 'state' of Kakarl are intertwined, bringing the Water Sect into Allen City would be like being invaded by foreign powers."

After the two questions, Alexander made a simple summary.

At this point, the High Priest smiled again.

"I~ never wanted to become a king of a nation. I just wanted to share the love of the Water Goddess."

Cyclone began to understand where the High Priest's sense of melancholy came from.

Even though his wish was simple, unfortunately, between nations, this faith had become a traitorous existence.

"So... you want Allen to take over Kakarl, to return the city to the hands of those who govern, and to let the Water Sect become an independent system of faith."

To Cyclone's conclusion, the High Priest smiled once more.

"No wonder you are Theodore the Wise, it seems this time... we are finally on the same battlefield."