He looked around the empty room and sat on a nearby bench. There were various benches gathered in the room. It could possibly fit hundreds. A simple wooden altar was on a platform at the front of the room.

"We were careful to let the believers keep to themselves for the meanwhile. We should have cut off any trace that would lead back to us. So why don't those two fools give it up already? It's obviously their doing. Try as they might, their actions will never rile those needed to eradicate us completely." He commented as he moved his legs up on the bench and laid on it.

He was wearing the garbs of a pastor but black was the only colour it consisted of. No white, gold or any other colour.

"Thankfully we have that noble up north, to sate us until we commence operations once more. If it weren't for him, I can already imagine the complaints, I'd receive from the Bishop." He began picking his nose and made himself more comfortable on the bench. "Oh, Holy Lord Lucifer, is this work sabotage from your envied compatriots? Are they trying to stop us from giving you the power you rightfully deserve? Give me strength in these times, my Lord. Help me harden my resolve to oust these wrongful successors from the from the former father's throne."

He looked westward in the room and held his hands together to pray. After doing so he continued to lounge in the room. He soon heard footsteps.

"Oh, Brother Leo, what brings you here on this fine day?" He asked the man walking in.

"I see you're astute as ever Father." The man called Leo replied. "Unfortunately I come bearing bad news."

"Have those fools called adventurers sniffed out another one of our hideouts?" He asked as he got up from the bench.

"No Father, but this is something even more dire," Leo responded.

Considering they had been hearing nothing but bad news after Saito's death, this was the last thing he needed.

"(Oh Lord Lucifer, give me your guidance.) Get on it with it then. What is the issue?" Father Daniel asked.

"It appears the noble we had used for a consistent source of essence has been arrested," Leo said, making extra sure not to make eye contact with the man in front of him.

He could immediately feel a pressure push down on him and tried his best not to let his quivering knees be noticeable.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

The man called Daniel looked ready to kill him here and now with the hatred his eyes exuded. Leo's teeth clattered as he faced him and he considered running away.

Father Daniel reached his handkerchief towards Leo.

"Are you alright Brother Leo? You seemed to have broken out into quite the sweat." Father Daniel commented. Father Daniel grabbed Leo's hand and placed the handkerchief in it.

"Please, such an appearance is unsightly for a church."

"Thank you for your consideration, Father." Leo weakly responded as he wiped his face off. "If I may ask, what are your plans now?"

"Firstly, the men who came back from the parish border, were they followed and where are they now?"

"They didn't notice anything however, we have made sure to limit those at the hideout they arrived at, to only that hideout."

"How quickly was this done?"

"As soon as the monks and nuns we had stationed nearby his estate noticed the maids leaving droves."

"(How badly we're in trouble depends on the answer to this question.) Second, how was that boy up there, found out?" he asked.

"It seems a group of adventures sent to his property found the area where he stored the slaves, based on hearsay from the onlookers," Leo commented. "In addition, they came from this parish."

("Tsk, so the bastard targeted him? I should have been far more thorough in my plans of exterminating him. Thankfully it seemed he only sent his dogs up there to get rid of the noble.") He breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this. "I see. I suppose we'll have to lower our quota of essence considerably in the meantime."

"A-are we allowed to do that, Father?" Leo hesitantly asked.

"I said lower, Leo, not completely stop. Gather those from uncompromised hideouts for a discussion. It seems we'll have to harvest from this parish earlier than expected."

"As you wish father."

Leo excused himself and hurriedly walked out of the room.

"It seems my insurance has become quite the liability. Oh well. At least I can guarantee he'll keep his mouth shut. After all, if our deal got out, he might be slaughtered by those who trusted him. I suppose I'll just have to resort to the tactics of my peers for the time being."

He sat back on the bench and stared at the ceiling.

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A door was shut and the noise of it caused Tina's eyes to open slightly. She felt something in front of her and was a fan of the warmth it provided.

As her eyes opened, all she saw in her face was red. ("Is it a pillow of some kind?")

No, she could feel it breathe. While she didn't appreciate the idea of having an animal snuggle up to her, she didn't mind if it was as tame and docile as the one in her arms.

She had a smile on her face as she drifted off back again but a certain person's voice immediately woke.

"Well, this is a surprise," Elizabeth commented.

She immediately jolted up to see the person in front of her.

("Shit I fell asleep! Don't tell me the bastard ran off somewhere?")

She gulped before she acknowledged Elizabeth.

"I swear he's still here! I just took a moment to rest and let the others watch him instead!"

"Hmm? What are you talking about Tina?"

"Uh, didn't you say to watch Tibaut?"

"Yes, and you're doing a fine job of it. I honestly thought you were more sensitive to these sorts of things but at the end of the day I suppose it is nothing more than sharing a bed." Elizabeth said, sounding impressed.

"Sharing a bed?"