Chapter 356: Chapter 356: Utilization and Control_1
After ending communication with the witches’ assembly, Aiden immediately had Sophie brought to the meeting room.
"One piece of good news, one piece of bad news," Aiden began straightforwardly as he sat down across the iron table, "The good news is that your maid friend is alive and well; we’ve conveyed your thoughts to her, and now she holds hardly any grudges against you. As for the bad news, we’ve uncovered something quite interesting..."
Aiden explained to Sophie in detail what Qiqimora had observed in the hidden room.
Sophie’s eyes widened as she listened, "Such a thing—"
"You think it’s impossible?" Aiden raised his eyebrows at her.
Sophie calmed down and thought carefully.
"No, this is just the organization’s style." Sophie closed her eyes, then let out a bitter smile, "Ha, when they assured me they wouldn’t involve me in those unspoken rules, I actually thought they had a bit of a line they wouldn’t cross."
"You’re their intelligence officer; why would they stir up rebellion for such insignificant benefits? To thoroughly sell you out, they would wait until they had squeezed out all your value," said Aiden. "Knowing this, how do you feel now?"
"Need I say it? I really understand Susan’s thoughts now, wanting to leave such organization is the smart choice... No, the normal choice for a person," Sophie shook her head.
"So, do you want to leave it now?" Aiden asked.
"Of course," Sophie lowered her eyes, "But it’s not so easy to break away."
"Is it because there’s some reluctance in your heart, or..." Aiden probed.
"How could it be possible at this point?" Sophie laughed at herself sarcastically. "The organization binds us with interests as weapons; those of us intelligence officers who have been sold to the organization have signed many contracts with the controlled conglomerates. If we choose to leave the organization voluntarily, we’ll have to face the reclamation of our divinity, the erasure of our memories regarding the intelligence, as well as astronomical amounts in fines, leaving us with nothing and an inability to turn our lives around for the rest of our days. If we choose to flee, there are many acts of retribution the organization can carry out... But as long as we stay, we can live in peace."
"Staying in the organization, you can continue to be your big star," Aiden nodded, then frowned, "Then the organization promised Susan that as long as she survives the mission, they would let her leave the organization; they couldn’t have been deceiving her, could they?"
"No, that’s likely to be true because there have been precedents," Sophie said. "For the organization, it’s also a means to stimulate those who have the heart to leave to make significant achievements. As long as the pawn has enough value, they won’t care about losing them, no matter in what way they’re lost. On the contrary, if they lied to her to manipulate her..."
"They would lose people’s hearts," Aiden understood. "Indeed, interests come first."
Not the same, not at all the same... Aiden thought to himself.
The intelligence officers of the Scales of Smiles hold no great loyalty to the organization; the method by which the organization controls them is mainly through chains of interest and fear.
The Blood Moon Cult, which worships Melifilia, is different. Under the influence of the "goddess of conspiracy’s" power, members of the Blood Moon Cult hold a fanatical adoration for the goddess.
When Qiqimora mentioned the backlash she faced when she tried to kill the butler, Aiden had a vague feeling that it might have something to do with Melissa.
For an instant, he had suspected that Melissa might actually be the one manipulating the Scales of Smiles organization from behind the scenes.
But now, he felt something was amiss.
"The goddess of conspiracy" could easily ensure her followers’ utmost spiritual devotion, but the intelligence receptionists, represented by Sophie and Susan, do not hold that fanatical loyalty to Scales of Smiles.
Or rather, it should be said that the organizational structure of Scales of Smiles and the Blood Moon Cult are completely different.
Is it another saint seated upon the Throne of Spirit, or has Melissa always been using this intelligence organization, and that old butler, just so happens to be the pawn she controls and uses to manage intelligence for her?
"I’d like to ask, what is the status of your butler within Scales of Smiles?" Aiden asked.
"Butler?" Sophie paused, "I can’t say for sure, but he... should probably be only one rank higher than me and Susan, as he takes on client reception work himself."
Aiden sank into thought.
This butler was not someone very close to the organization’s core, and in terms of position, was only one level higher than Sophie and the others.
If the person who left that safety measure on the butler was Melissa, and if Melissa was also a core member of Scales of Smiles, then there’s no reason why she wouldn’t make the subordinates like Sophie and Susan also into completely loyal "disciples" of the organization.
That means, if it really was Melissa who used that safety measure to dissuade Qiqimora, then she is most likely exploiting Scales of Smiles, rather than controlling it.
"Since your organization has betrayed you so thoroughly, there’s no need for you to be so tight-lipped about the intelligence anymore, right?" Aiden looked at Sophie, "And considering we’ve procured such important intelligence for you, don’t you think you should increase the payment?"
Sophie met his gaze and immediately understood Aiden’s intent, "Alright, as long as you complete the contract, I can provide any information you want to know. That was a promise I made earlier... this payment can be extended, but first, you must keep this a secret, and then, you need to fulfill the contract."
The extension—this meant that if Sophie continued to stay within Scales of Smiles in the future, Aiden could have her continue to leak the intelligence she obtained from the organization to this side.
"Of course," Aiden nodded, "The task remains the same."
As long as Joey Lawson died, there would be no deal with Scales of Smiles, and Sophie could ensure her own safety, while Susan could safely leave the organization unharmed.
At this thought, Aiden suddenly realized something, "Right, if Susan manages to leave the organization successfully, and you continue to stay, will you... still be able to keep in touch in the future?"
"Probably not, the organization wouldn’t allow it, and it wouldn’t be good for her either," Sophie smiled bitterly.
"Does that not matter to you? She’s one of the few trustworthy friends you have," Aiden asked.
"Does it matter?" Sophie retorted, "Being in constant contact doesn’t make a true friend."
Aiden felt a stirring in his heart; indeed, relationships don’t necessarily fade with distance, and those who maintain frequent social contact aren’t necessarily friends. People you might never see again can still be on your mind.
