Since Church joined the Order Bureau, he's been under Ivan's charge. The two are very familiar with each other, but now Ivan looks at Church like he's facing a stranger. Church isn't surprised by this, reacting with an extreme indifference as if it's something he's used to.

The silence stretched between them for a while until Ivan fully regained his composure, like friends who haven't seen each other for a long time — the first glance doesn't bring recognition or memories of the past, but given time, those forgotten memories return.

Ivan said, "It seems this mission is very dangerous."

"Yes, after all, we're facing a Defender," Church calmly replied, "Chekov's Gun can indeed erase the 'process' of being hit, but before suffering any fatal injury, I'll certainly face Ralph's desperate counterattack... I am neither an Undead nor an Alchemy Puppet, nor a member of the Clarks. Without that, I'd definitely die."

Ivan softly asked, "Lowered your presence to even deceive Ralph, huh?"

Church said, "This Secret Energy is quite useful, until I voluntarily expose myself, even a Defender can't sense my presence."

"Perfect assassin's Secret Energy, but the cost is also high, unless absolutely necessary..."

"Unless absolutely necessary, I won't go into Deep Stealth, I understand, chief."

Church responded, having heard these words many times before, yet Ivan repeatedly brings it up; perhaps Ivan forgets he's said it, so every time Ivan and Church say this, it feels like the "first time" to Ivan.

Church added, "But this time it's necessary, Ralph has always been a Defender."

If not for Deep Stealth, Church wasn't confident in completing the deadly assassination.

Ivan asked, "Did others notice anything unusual about you?"

"No, most of their perception of me is based on erroneous information, thus avoiding the subsequent side effects of Secret Energy."

Ivan studied Church up and down; even if his memory tells him Church is his most capable team member, his biological instinct still finds Church quite unfamiliar.

Those who understand Church's "real information" are more likely to find their perception of him weakened in the aftermath of the Secret Energy initiation, forgetting Church entirely as the Depth of Stealth increases.

"Is there anything else?"

Church handed over the report to Ivan, waiting for his next instructions.

"Nothing, you can rest for now," Ivan tried to quickly dispel that sense of unfamiliarity, jokingly saying, "Actually, back then, you totally could have competed with Palmer for the Best Rookie Award."

Church smiled and denied, "I'm not suited to being noticed by too many people."

A true assassin should always remain in darkness, whether a name, a face, or even one's own existence.

"Hmm... Alright, then you rest first."

Ivan bid farewell to Church, watching his departing figure, feeling a kind of indescribable emotion deep inside.

Ivan spoke to the back, "Don't forget who you are."

"Church Burton."

Church repeated his name, like a heavy iron anchor, firmly binding his will to the chaotic sea.

Ivan slowly nodded, Church turned, disappearing at the corridor's corner.

Church's presence in the Order Bureau was very low, so low that even in Crow's Nest, unless brought up intentionally, few people would notice there was such a person in Crow's Nest.

To many, Church was too mysterious — even his former partner Palmer knew very little about him.

Ivan was considered one of the few who knew Church's true identity.

Because of this, Ivan had always worried about Church, fearing he would lose himself in that Deep Stealth, even stripping away his own existence.

Arriving at the dormitory area, pushing open the door, Church returned to his room, which was extremely neat and simple, with almost no personal items revealing the room owner's information.

This looked like a hotel room, and the person living here could be anyone.

Church could also be anyone.

Throwing his coat to the side, Church revealed a casual shirt underneath, taking it off, the shirt began to wriggle strangely, possessing something akin to life force, twisting on the bed, then transformed into a black close-fitting garment, and calmed down.

This inconspicuous black garment was an Alchemy Armament known as "Chameleon," with a simple effect of switching into different styles of clothing, matching Church's many faces — one moment he's a uniformed soldier, the next he can become a girl in a long dress.

Stripping naked, Church went to the bathroom to turn on the hot water, warm light cascading down from above, bathing every inch of Church's skin, giving a cozy sensation.

Church took a deep breath, almost exhaling all air from his lungs, leaning against the wall and slowly sitting down, relaxing his muscles completely, like a stuffed teddy bear thrown into a corner.

Only in this narrow bathroom, unobserved, could Church fully relax, embracing true freedom.

Waiting for the hot water to fill the bathtub, Church stood before the mirror, glancing at the face reflected, still appearing commonplace.

As steam rose, gathering into countless tiny droplets on the mirror surface, blurring Church's visage, Church reached out and wiped away the moisture, revealing another face in the mirror.

Palmer's face appeared as Church smiled, and the mirrored Palmer also smiled. He wiped the mirror again, this time revealing Bologue's face, Church's gaze unfocused and distracted, the mirrored Bologue turned solemn and cold.

This childish game didn't last long before Church reverted to that ordinary face, preferring this appearance, going unnoticed, able to be anyone in the crowd.

Now Church didn't need to continue disguising, he could temporarily be himself.

Church reached to his neck, feeling a raised edge from the smooth flesh, probing with a fingernail into the edge, gradually peeling it away — a nearly perfect mask came off his face.

"Church, although we're the Iron Whistle, we're also Field Staff, why don't you wear a mask?"

In memory, Palmer cut two holes into a paper delivery bag, wore it as a mask.

Palmer realized later, "Oh, right, anyway you can change your face at will, that's the most perfect mask."

Church was a natural deceiver, but uniquely for his partner, Palmer, Church didn't wish for too many lies to entangle them; if all traces of truth vanished, Church would feel his life was somewhat bleak.

To avoid being affected by Secret Energy, he'd give ambiguous answers, which could be taken as truth or seen as a lie.

"Of course, this is my mask."

In every sense, it's all considered a "mask."

Gathering droplets blurred the mirror again, obscuring Church's true face. Church placed the mask aside. Without Ether's support, the mask lost its facial transformation power, becoming just an ordinary object.

Church thought, if Palmer saw this scene, he'd probably scream in fright, then point at him, accusing him of being insidious and deceitful.

"How much of what you say is actually true?"

Palmer would likely yell this, but it couldn't be helped. Some shady work required shady people to accomplish.

Professional tasks should be handled by professionals; it's always been this way in the world.

With appropriately matching Alchemy Armament, Church could simulate his "Secret Energy," thereby posing as a "faceless man."

Church stepped into the hot water, soaking in warmth, raised his hand, vigorously rubbing his face with real touch to feel his face's existence.

This odd action continued for a long time until his face turned red and sore before Church stopped, leaning back and submerging completely in water, leaving only half his head above.

Outside, a melodious tune floated inside, listening to the majestic orchestration, Church slowly closed his eyes.

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