As Garan had predicted, Howard and Peggy woke up by evening. The Sanctuary seemed to be enveloped by an invisible, miraculous power that accelerated their recovery far beyond what was possible in the outside world.
After waking, the two ate a light meal, and Steve explained the current situation to them.
"So, we were just dragged into this because of you?" Howard said, looking at Steve with a mix of resentment and amusement.
"Uh..." Steve was at a loss for words. He wanted to argue, but the facts spoke for themselves.
"It's not your fault, Steve. Our intelligence work was insufficient. Damn it, I can't believe I made such a mistake," Peggy said, berating herself for the oversight. As a seasoned spy, she knew the importance of intelligence, yet she had faltered at a critical moment.
"Don't blame yourself, Peggy. The decision to enter the mountains was mine, and I take full responsibility," Steve reassured her.
"Steve..."
"Peggy..."
"Ahem."
Just as the atmosphere between Steve and Peggy grew increasingly intimate, their faces drawing closer, Howard's voice cut in, utterly ruining the moment. "I know I'm being a buzzkill, but could you two remember that I'm still here?"
Howard rolled his eyes. These two were shamelessly flirting right in front of him, completely disregarding his presence. He hadn't eaten much earlier, but he certainly didn't need them feeding him dog food.
Blushing, the two quickly pulled apart. Peggy quickly composed herself and asked, "What do we do now?"
"I'm not sure, but Garan advised us to stay here and wait for further instructions," Steve replied.
"That's fine by me. I don't want to wander through that fog again for no reason," Howard quipped.
In truth, this brush with death had given Howard a new perspective. He had matured significantly, and his respect for Steve had grown even deeper. The two were now bound by their shared ordeal, and compared to the few days of hunger, Howard had gained far more than he had lost. He wasn't too resentful.
"Did Garan mention when he would see us?" Peggy asked. Time was of the essence for them.
"No, but I think he'll come tomorrow," Steve said confidently.
"Based on?"
"Instinct."
"Instinct?" Howard and Peggy raised their eyebrows.
"Don't underestimate instinct. It's saved me more than once on the battlefield," Steve said.
In truth, he couldn't quite explain it. Ever since arriving at the Sanctuary, he had begun to sense something different—a newfound confidence, an inexplicable certainty about certain things.
"Alright, then we should rest early. These past few days have worn me out. Look at me—I've lost so much weight," Howard said.
"Is there even a difference? Didn't you burn all that fat in bed?" Peggy teased.
"That's slander! I—okay, fine, I admit I'm a playboy, but I didn't burn all my fat in bed!" Howard protested.
"Sure, sure, Mr. Playboy. Let's just get some rest."
But then, an awkward silence fell.
There were only two bedrooms in the house.
"How do we split this?" Howard asked mischievously, his eyes darting between Steve and Peggy.
"I'll keep watch. You two can each take a room," Steve said, his face reddening. Before they could tease him further, he walked out the door.
"You've still got a long way to go, Peggy," Howard said with a laugh.
"Hmph, so what? A blockhead is still better than a walking artillery piece," Peggy shot back before slamming her door shut, leaving Howard no chance to retort.
Howard glared at the door, gritting his teeth. Calling him a "walking artillery piece" was downright insulting! He was just... just... okay, fine, it was accurate.
With a sigh, Howard trudged into his own room.
The next morning, Garan arrived as expected.
"His Holiness the Pope wishes to see you. Follow me," Garan said solemnly.
Peggy and Howard studied Garan closely. Though Steve had described him many times, this was their first time seeing him in person.
Clad in black armor, with flowing long hair and a youthful face that belied his imposing physique, Garan exuded none of the casual cheerfulness Steve had mentioned—only solemnity and dignity.
"Hello, Mr. Garan. I'm Peggy Carter."
"I'm Howard. Howard Stark."
The two introduced themselves politely. Even the usually arrogant and sarcastic Howard was subdued by Garan's overwhelming presence.
Garan nodded without a word and led the three up the steps of the Twelve Temples.
As they ascended, the trio observed the temples closely, confirming that most were unoccupied. Golden chests stood at the center of each temple, but they dared not touch them. Their well-honed instincts warned them that doing so would lead to dire consequences.
Finally, they reached the Pope's Temple, where three golden-armored warriors stood on either side.
"Your Holiness, I have brought them," Garan said, kneeling on one knee.
Though unaccustomed to kneeling, the three bowed respectfully.
"Thank you. You may leave."
"Yes."
In the Pope's presence, only Gold Saints were permitted to stand at attention—a tradition since ancient times. Though Garan's strength rivaled that of the Gold Saints and he was the Dark Star of Gemini, he was still a Silver Saint, and this could not be changed.
But Garan bore no resentment. In fact, he was rather proud, as he was personally acknowledged by Myrin as his guardian—a unique honor.
"Your Holiness, it is an honor to meet you. Thank you for granting us an audience. I am Peggy Carter, this is Steve Rogers, and this is Howard Stark."
Peggy took the lead in the conversation. Howard's sharp tongue and irreverence could easily offend, and Steve, though trustworthy, was too naive about the Sanctuary. Peggy feared he might be tricked into helping others count the money they stole from him.
"Greetings, Miss Carter, Mr. Rogers, Mr. Stark. I am aware of your purpose here. Rest assured, we will not hold the actions of a few against an entire nation," Shion said directly.
Peggy was taken aback. She had prepared a long speech, but it was unnecessary—the Pope had already arrived at the best possible outcome.
"Thank you very much."
"You're welcome. Lord Myrin has decided to reform the Sanctuary, gradually opening it to the outside world. Establishing friendly relations is one of our goals."
"With all due respect, Your Holiness, do you believe the Sanctuary can remain aloof forever?" Peggy asked.
"I understand your concern, Miss Carter. The Sanctuary wields world-shaking power. To be blunt, even a Bronze Saint could destroy a city single-handedly. But for hundreds of thousands of years, the Sanctuary has remained independent. We will not submit to any external authority, nor will we oppress any other force," Shion replied.
"In that case, I won't press further. I look forward to friendly relations between our sides," Peggy said.
"As do I."
"Then we—"
"Now that the formal talks are concluded, it's time for a private conversation."
Peggy was about to take her leave when Shion's words stopped her in her tracks.
Shion removed his helmet and descended from his throne.
"It's you!?" Howard had been unable to see Shion's face clearly earlier due to the helmet, and he couldn't confirm whether this Pope was the same man who had helped him years ago. Now, seeing that familiar yet unfamiliar face, he was stunned.
"What's the matter? Don't recognize me, young man?" Shion asked warmly.
"You—you're the old man from back then? But... how can you be so young now? Or... are you his descendant?" Howard was flustered. Though Shion's face was younger and his voice smoother, his tone and demeanor left no doubt—this was his benefactor. Yet it was hard to believe.
"Hahaha, it's been many years. It's understandable that you don't recognize me. I've changed quite a bit," Shion said with a laugh.
"It really is you! But... how?"
"This is a gift from Lord Myrin. This old man hasn't yet led the Sanctuary back to its peak—how could I retire early?" Shion explained.
"This is... unbelievable..." Howard shook his head with a wry smile. Reversing aging—the ultimate dream of humanity throughout history.
What had once been the stuff of idle chatter and jokes was now unfolding before his eyes.
"There are still many unknowns in this world waiting to be discovered. This is nothing extraordinary," Shion said.
"Haha, you're right, old man. Speaking of which, you had me searching for you for ages. If it weren't for your help back then, I might not even be alive now," Howard said with a grin.
"That was fate. I was merely descending the mountain to seek children with the potential to become Saints when I came across you. You seemed promising, so I lent a hand. Your achievements today are entirely your own doing," Shion said.
"Haha, what can I say? I'm a genius. But old man, the 30% stake I set aside for you is still with me. When should I transfer it to you?"
"No need. Keep it for yourself, or pass it on to your descendants. Consider it a reunion gift."
"But... alright. I'll still hold onto it for you. It's worth quite a bit, after all." Howard wanted to insist, but seeing the clarity and determination in Shion's eyes, he knew it was futile.
Steve and Peggy rolled their eyes. "Worth quite a bit"? It was worth an astronomical sum! A 30% stake in Stark Industries could turn a penniless beggar into one of the wealthiest people in the world overnight.
So when Shion declined, saying it was a reunion gift for Howard's descendants, their respect for him grew even deeper.
As for Aiolos, Saga, and Aiolia, they remained unfazed. To the Saints, wealth was trivial—they had never cared for it.
"Are these three the legendary Gold Saints?" Howard asked, eyeing them.
"Gemini Gold Saint, Saga."
"Leo Gold Saint, Aiolia."
"Sagittarius Gold Saint, Aiolos."
The three introduced themselves with a nod. Though they were displeased with Howard's tone and attitude, Shion had briefed them beforehand that Howard was an old acquaintance, so they held their tongues.
"Are all Saints this young?" Howard asked Shion curiously. The three appeared to be mere teenagers, with Aiolia looking no older than ten.
"Alas, this is unavoidable. The last Holy War was too brutal. Only three of us survived, myself included. After the war, other malevolent gods launched smaller-scale conflicts. It's only recently that peace has returned," Shion said with a sigh, his voice heavy with sorrow.
"My apologies." Howard realized he had touched on a painful subject and quickly apologized.
"It's fine. This is the duty and mission of the Saints. From the day we don our Cloths, we are prepared to sacrifice ourselves. Our fallen comrades would only be glad—they fulfilled their mission, protecting the love and hope of this world," Shion said with a smile.
Saga, Aiolos, and Aiolia stood solemnly, silently paying tribute to their fallen predecessors. Steve and the others also felt a deep respect for Shion and the Saints of the Sanctuary.
"By the way, old man, we found this. I believe it belongs to you." Howard signaled to Peggy, who retrieved an ancient book from her backpack and handed it to Howard, who then passed it to Shion.
Shion gently stroked the cover before opening it to the first page. But with just one glance, his expression changed dramatically.
"This... this is..."