NECK Bridge was the long beam bridge that connected Chest Island to Head Island. By the time Cliff arrived at the bridge, the darkness of dusk cloaked his surroundings.
Cliff swam underneath the bridge to the other side to avoid being spotted by the Rabbis. When he lifted his face from the water at the opposite shore, he was confronted with a massive perimeter fence towering in front of where he wanted to go.
The five-meter tall fence surrounded the entire perimeter of the Torah Church grounds. A single gate had been built as the primary entrance through the fence, but it was locked down since it was past visiting hours for worshipers.
Okay, how do I go about stealing back our stuff…?
The Rabbis transporting the confiscated goods had already entered the Church’s premises. In which case, Cliff needed to find a way to break into the Church and slip away with the reclaimed goods. With that as his game plan, he ran up to the fence and pulled a spanner wrench from his chest pocket.
Cliff always walked around with a small tool set so he could work on making a Golem whenever the opportunity arose. His tool set was also equipped with a thick wire used to connect various parts together. He took out the wire and threaded it through the spanner wrench, which he then tossed over the fence.
After countless attempts, the spanner wrench finally caught on something on the opposite side. Cliff tightly gripped the wire and scaled his way up the fence using it like a rope.
I’m not that strong physically, but I have confidence in my agility. This fence is nothin’ to me!
He continued to deftly manipulate the wire, pulling himself higher until he reached the top of the fence where the Church’s grounds spread out below him.
He crouched above the spacious front garden, where flowers in full bloom dotted the sacred landscape with color. He saw stairs at the garden’s edge leading directly to Torah Church Train Station’s underground railway. And, in the middle of the garden, an impressive stone building took center stage.
So that’s Torah Church…!
Cliff had yet to visit the church building despite living on the island adjacent to it. Only the Rabbis and devout believers were allowed to enter the Church’s premises.
But trespassing on the premises was a different story. The main church building stood five-stories tall, with a chapel situated near the entrance and a courtyard at the heart of its complex, where the Great Bell Tower was erected. Despite all that he could see, Cliff still had no idea where the confiscated goods were transported to within the facility.
Looks like I’ve got no choice but to search wherever I can. Luckily for me, the Rabbis don’t seem to be around.
Cliff slid his way down the wire, landing on the opposite side of the fence. Stillness hung over the nighttime Church grounds. The Rabbis were nowhere in sight. Considering the grand size and scale of the Church, it was unnaturally devoid of people.
Oh yeah, Boss did mention something ‘bout there being some sorta religious event going on today… Are they all gathered in the chapel? His eyes shifted to the chapel and came to rest on an enormous stained-glass window. The stained glass seemed to depict a Golem Tamer. “Saint Clifford” was inscribed at the bottom of the window.
Stained glass of a saint, huh? …Of all the possibilities, it had to be a saint who shares my name. Though there’s a world of difference between a saint and a thief. Right as Cliff was thinking, a thundering applause rose from inside the chapel. What was that?!
He quickly dove into the bushes beside him. From his hiding place, he stole a peek through the stained-glass window. A hundred or so Rabbis were standing in rows with their attention fixated on six elders clad in particularly extravagant vestments.
One of the elders ran his eyes over the room of Rabbis and greeted them in his hoarse voice, “Thank you for gathering here tonight, brethren. Let’s commence the Rites for the Remembrance 0f the Treacherous One.”
Just as Cliff had guessed, they were in the middle of a religious event. The other elders began to speak in order, as if continuing each other’s words.
“March 21st—this is a day that must never be forgotten.”
“On this day, eight years ago, a deplorable traitor appeared within our ranks.”
“Brothers and sisters, you must never forget. Never relinquish the memory of our gravest mistake.”
The Rabbis faithfully listened to the elders. An uncanny tension permeated the chapel.
“A debauched man betrayed us, running away with the Torah Church’s most invaluable asset.”
“The odious traitor repelled us with the asset’s unspeakable power.”
“In the 150 years of Torah Church history, he was the most intrepid Rabbi, and subsequently, the human being most worthy of our hatred…”
The elders went on uttering curses against the supposed traitor ad-infinitum. Cliff continued listening to them without the faintest idea what they were blabbing on about.
This is a religious rite…? What the heck are these Rabbis doing?! Maybe I’ve shown up at a real bad time. Cliff heard an abrupt noise from the main gate the moment he came to that conclusion.
“…?!” Startled, he jerked his head around to look behind him. For a split second, he thought it was a Rabbi—but it wasn’t. An unfamiliar girl with red hair was standing on top of the gate.
Her black cape and skirt fluttered in the salty sea breeze. She wore the same uniform worn at Head Island’s prestigious St. Rollins Academy, which the Torah Church operated.
What kinda business does a rich young lady from such a fancy school got with the Church at this hour? Actually, what I really don’t get is…why in the world’s she standin’ on top of the gate? Did she actually clamber her way up it, in that skirt?
Wholly unaware of Cliff’s thoughts and very presence, the girl nimbly hopped down into the front garden and strode toward the chapel. The elders still droned on with their speech inside.
“The unforgettable day of our gravest blunder. We must perform these rites to regain our dignity as Rabbi.”
“Curse the traitor! Seek the way of a true, faithful Rabbi!”
“His unholy name should feel like fire on your tongue,” an elder enunciated sonorously, “The unspeakable name of our traitor is Arusrad Grinzam…”
The redhead flung the chapel door open.
The elders stopped, struck speechless by her appearance. The Rabbis turned around in formation.
“Is Torah Lord Arusrad Grinzam here?!” the girl asked in a clear voice that rang through the chapel building.
Her question froze the room.
“Wha—”
The elders’ eyes bulged; the Rabbis restlessly stirred.
The female student persisted, “Please listen to me! I have something I really need to tell Torah Lord Grinzam right now!”
Her voice had a boyish ring that was incongruous with her prim and proper attire. Cliff examined the profile of her figure from the bushes. She was a tall girl who appeared around four years older than him, and her shoulder-length red hair gave off a cheerful, upbeat impression.
A woman stepped out of the throng of disconcerted Rabbis before long. She was a Rabba with short hair, wearing red vestments and glasses. “Young lady, the church is currently in the middle of an important rite. Please come back another day.” Though the Rabba’s tone was gentle, it held a peremptory edge.