Chapter 160: Cult management
Adrian narrowed his eyes.
’This can become a problem.’
The source of his power in the cult was the faith the cultists had in him. The same had been the case for the Prophet. Losing the faith of those cultists could cause some serious problems.
In the worst-case scenario, he could end up losing his position as the cult leader altogether.
’This needs more attention.’
Not only did he need to make sure the cultists didn’t lose faith in him, but he also needed to find some way he could deepen that faith.
Thankfully, Adrian knew just the method for that.
"Nelliel, make sure to convey my words to them as soon as possible. Tell them that they only needed to wait for two months. After that, all their worries will vanish. And if that doesn’t happen, then I will personally answer to them."
The best way to resolve doubt was to show results. People are naturally afraid of change, but that fear can be completely suppressed if they experience the benefits brought about by that change.
As long as he showed them the results brought about by his decisions, it would not only clear away their doubts but also increase their faith in him.
Nellel nodded after some hesitation.
"I will make sure to convey your words to them."
’Let’s hope things don’t get worse until then.’
"Now then," Adrian’s gaze sharpened. "Here is the new order. Leaving a few believers behind to maintain the underground settlement in Feralscar, the rest of the cult is to infiltrate the empire."
But the moment he told her the order, Nelliel froze, looking at him blankly.
"...What did you just say?"
’Did she not hear me?’
Maybe she didn’t, so Adrian repeated himself.
"I want the cult to infiltrate the empire."
"What the hell are you saying, brother?" She jumped off the bed and landed near him. "Do you have any idea how hard it is to get past the imperial borders?"
Adrian nodded.
"Of course I know. There is no possibility of the cult getting past the empire’s borders without being nearly wiped out. But they don’t need to get past it. They can simply ask the empire to let them in."
Nelliel’s face became utterly dumbfounded.
"What kind of bullshit—?"
"All they need to do," he continued. "Is to go to the checkpoint and tell the guards that they were villagers of a village situated at the borders of the empire but was recently destroyed by an ambush from the alliance. Villagers have no proof of identity, nor can the empire keep track of all the villages that exist in its territory since new ones constantly form. So as long as you forge the proof well enough, the empire itself would allow you to enter as refugees."
This way, not only will all the cultists be able to enter the empire, but they will also get recognized as imperial citizens.
"...Why are you staring at me like that?"
Nelliel was looking at him with her mouth hung open. Her expression made it seem as though she were looking at an alien.
"Brother... what the hell... how do you even keep coming up with these kinds of ideas?"
Adrian shook his head dismissively.
"It’s not that impressive; anyone with a working head could’ve thought of that. As the saying goes, if you can’t break through, then simply worm your way inside."
She tilted his head.
"I have never heard such a saying. Who said it?"
’Who was it again? Hmm... can’t remember."
"It was probably me."
Nelliel smiled.
"So those are wise words from the Saint of Truth, huh?" But then she shook her head, as if to clear away her thoughts. "But I still have a question. Why do we need to infiltrate the empire?"
Adrian furrowed his brows.
"Shouldn’t that be obvious? To grow."
The common goal among all organizations and groups is to grow. In the cult’s case, growth means gaining more believers.
"But how will we gain more believers in a literal jungle? That is the core reason why the cult’s growth has stagnated. That is why we must move to some place that is abundant in potential believers we can convert."
Nelliel looked even more impressed as she stared at him. Her gaze was filled with admiration.
Adrian stood up and walked towards the bed. He put his hand inside the mattress and pulled something out. It was a book with a leather cover.
He calmly handed the book to Nelliel.
"The priests and priest candidates are going to be extremely busy for a while. But the believers don’t have much to do since they aren’t mana users. So I am giving them a long-term job. They should begin creating copies of this book. I have no use for them immediately, but there should be enough copies so that they can easily be distributed throughout the empire if the need arises."
Taking the book, she looked at it curiously as she ran her fingers across its leather cover.
"What is this book? Why do we need to make so many copies of it?"
Adrian walked ahead, stopping in front of his room’s window. He gazed at the scenery stretched outside, beyond the walls of the Ravenshade estate.
"That book is something I wrote. As for why we need copies of it... Hmm... Nelliel, I am a cautious person, someone who feels restless unless I hold leverage. That book might become such a leverage if the need arises."
Adrian wasn’t stupid enough not to know the consequences of what he was doing should things go wrong. Knowing the things he would do in the future, there was no way the empire would leave him alone if it were revealed that he was the cult’s leader.
So he had to create something he could use at that time.
Just then, they heard a knock on the door, prompting Nelliel to hurriedly hide the book under the skirt of her maid uniform.
A man’s voice came from beyond the door.
"Young Lord, the preparations are complete, and we are ready to depart."
***
Evangeline walked alongside Adrian as servants carrying several bags of luggage trailed behind them.
Both Adrian and Evangeline had changed into better clothes. Adrian wore an aristocratic black suit with a white shirt underneath and black pants. He looked like a young noble through and through.
’No, stupid. He ’is’ a young noble, so obviously he’d look like one.’
Evangeline herself was wearing a deep blue dress with a mix of white frills. With the tiara on her head, she totally looked like a princess when she saw herself in the mirror.
They soon reached the mansion’s entrance, and the servants trailing behind came forward, opening the door.
And as they did, Evangeline’s eyes widened a bit.
In front of the mansion, on the road leading to the large golden gate in the distance, dozens of Ravenshade carriages were lined up perfectly.
Ravenshade knights were standing beside every single one of those carriages. Evangeline blinked repeatedly as she looked at it all.
"What are you doing?" Adrian’s voice broke her out of her stupor.
He was already walking ahead. Evangeline hurriedly caught up and whispered.
"Hey, Adi, what’s all this? I know that knights and servants are going to accompany us on our journey to the capital, but aren’t there too many carriages here for that?"
He opened the door of the carriage in the middle.
"It’s for protection. There is no way House Ravenshade would allow what happened last time to repeat all over again. This carriage itself is protected by different spells to counter whatever spell is used on it. And in case of an attack, there will be plenty of knights to protect us."
’Makes sense.’
She got into the carriage with him. The two of them sat facing each other as the knights entered the other carriages.
And soon, the carriages began moving, signaling the start of their journey toward the imperial capital.
Comments
Comment Rules
Please read and follow these rules before posting a comment. By submitting a comment, you agree to comply with all applicable rules below.
Site administrators and editors reserve the right to moderate, edit, or remove comments.
The following activities are strictly prohibited in comments and reviews:
Such comments will not make updates arrive faster. If a new chapter is available to us, we will publish it. If it has not been published, it means that we do not have it yet.
Do not flood the comment section by posting multiple consecutive comments. You may edit your previous comment to add more information, or include everything you want to say in a single comment.
Users who violate these rules may receive a warning. Repeated or serious violations may result in a temporary or permanent suspension of commenting privileges.
Commenting Suspended