— Meanwhile - The Hightower —
Within the opulent guesthouse reserved for VIPs at the Hightower, the Pope sat in contemplation. He was second-guessing the order he had given to Christopher to capture Envy and bring her here to uncover more about the anomaly known as the Whispering Hall.
The order had been issued under the assumption that Daniel would neither provide satisfactory answers nor cooperate willingly.
Unlike other individuals or higher-ups whose influence had been disrupted by the rise of New Atlantis and the Order of Ember, the Pope's concerns stemmed from his duty as the leader of the Vatican. He was responsible for ensuring that creatures of the night and abominations did not escape into the public domain and wreak havoc—a balance that the Whispering Hall had dangerously upset.