Kamala silently appraised him for a moment. “...what is your proposal-?”
“You saw the Truth?” Shin asked, with no regard for the situation.
“Glimpses… But I will uncover it all soon.” Johan seemed somewhat confused by the question but responded genuinely all the same. And Shin lost interest.
“But first, it would be best if we leave.” A swirling dark and purple portal opened up next to him, similar to the doors of a dungeon. “The church knows when and where its inquisitors die. This place isn’t safe anymore.”
“We’re not really keen on going through portals right now.” Donny said.
“...I can understand your apprehension towards using a Gate, but there’s no faster way to travel great distances undetected.”
“...Karla with me.” Donny paused a moment then walked to the gate.
“Kay~”
“If we’re not back in 30 seconds, just kill him.”
Donny left the group with casually dire words that caught Johan a bit off guard as he and Karla walked through without hesitation. Seconds passed which seemed to drag on like minutes to the cardinal, worsened even more so by the fact that he seemed to be the only one affected by the tension. But the investigating pair returned before the allotted time, unharmed and unconcerned.
“Don’t seem like a trap.”
Ashley hopped through first and the rest of the party followed unhurriedly. Shin went last, passing through the same time as Johan, who didn’t need to be told why. The party found themselves in a damaged but usable house within a deserted as far as they could tell through the windows.
“Where is this?” Yen asked.
“A ruined town. One of many.” Johan’s eyes lingered on it for a moment before turning back to them. “A testament to the church’s selfishness, but they no longer pay them mind so places like these make for suitable bases of operation.”
“The proposal.” Kamala inquired once more.
Johan took a slight breath as he steadied himself for convincing and serious words. “I am spreading and organizing dissent against the church in the form of a new belief. Faith in Solarism is crumbling. So much of what has happened is not spoken of in the scriptures and the people are more willing to gravitate to the thing that gives them power.” He seemed to grow more invigorated and certain as he spoke.
“The church’s forces are great… They monopolized nearly all power and authority before and while that unshakable control is lost, they are taking measures to restore their iron grip. But the situation is larger than they can contain. At least at the moment. Most of their forces are concentrated in the capital and they now rely on commoner militias as the bulk of their might to police and protect the towns and villages. The aristocracy is growing in power as well. I can muster a force enough to bring down the church but I need time and I need someone who can weaken the church.”
“Which is where we come in.” Donny tracked.
“Yes. Fortunately, they have their hands full with the otherworld invaders. The capital is their priority above all. I have already raised a number of branches of the new faith. I can handle recruitment on my end. What I need you to do, is to eliminate the paladins throughout the lands of the theocracy. The less influence the church has, the easier it will be to turn the people. Do so overtly, and if possible stoke dissent against the church as well. The more reports of insurrection and heresy, the harder it will be for the inquisitors to find the source.”
“What is the military might of the church, currently?” Kamala asked.
“The Order of the Paladins number 100,000. All monarchs with at least epic tier classes. That is all they can sustain for now but their capacity will grow as they find new sources of wealth and the crafters they monopolize improve their skill. More pressingly, they have a large number of legendary tier monarchs as well. Roughly 600 of the ranked initiates served under them.”
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“They all jumped straight up to monarch?” Yen was taken back. “Are they stupid? Did none of them listen to their patrons?”
“Patron gods are declared false deities and forbidden. The ones who became apostles likely left for a new life in the other worlds, though many within the church have secret patrons. Even if it was allowed, the church is not interested in the long term ideal path of its followers. All are made to be as strong for the church as they can immediately. A problem for those individuals but it makes the church more formidable now.”
“I take it your recruitment centers mainly around the militiamen?” Kamala resumed her questioning.
“Exactly so. They number fivefold of the paladins and nearly all are weaker, but they are half mercenary, given equipment and some small power to abuse in return for protecting the outskirts. Paladins are deployed to lead them and maintain the influence of the church, using them as tools. If they are removed, the militia will be free to act in their self interests.”
“How are the paladins distributed?”
“A party for villages, a guild for small towns, and a company of 200 to 300 for the larger towns and cities, those ones led by a ranked initiate Captain. A third of the order make up these forces, the rest reside in the capital.
“Very well. We will ally with you.” Reassurance spread across Johan’s face but Kamala continued before he could speak. “But we will require payment of sorts in return. Epic tier knowledge and supplies for Runeforging, Artificing, Alchemy, Inscription, and Blacksmithing.”
“Ah, don’t worry about the smithing.” Donny interjected.
“Why not?” Yen asked.
“Don’t plan on spending any time on that here. I can get it later back home.”
“I can get what you ask. But it will take some time to obtain it without being caught.” Johan withdrew a map of the theocracy and points to a small village far to the south. “We will meet back in two weeks at Eiffen. I’ll have what you need by then. We are currently here, near the borders of the westmost region. I’ll leave it up to you how and when you take out the paladins, but I advise you to do so erratically. And also… Please do not expose my identity to anyone. I will be no help to you dead.”
With that the traitor cardinal turned sudden ally opened a new Gate and stepped through, leaving Chariot by themselves.
“Are we going along with this seriously or just using him?” Yen genuinely asked.
“We will ally for now.” Kamala withdrew a book with the cover of a golden sun and started to glean through its pages. “It suits our needs… The goal is to make an impact and overthrowing the ruling authority is quite impactful.”
“Guess so…” Yen glanced at Shin. “What’s up with you?”
“Nothing.” Shin returned a slight smile. “Let’s go kill the paladins.”
---
Reinolt made his way up the stairs and through the halls of the highest floor in the grand cathedral, his expression grim and laced with guilt. He had been summoned the moment his condition had healed, of which phantoms of that baleful ache still plagued him, but less so than the sight of Agathe dying in his arms. Death that was meant for him.
He came before the carved wooden doors before he realized. Two paladins of the Pope’s personal retinue guarded the sides, each on par with a captain. They said not a word to him and the door opened on its own. Reinolt walked through into the study and was met with the eyes of ten inquisitors, hostile and otherly.
The Pope himself stood with his back to him, overlooking the capital from a window. A large portly man with a broad face of overbearing poise that even the thick face of his neck and chin couldn’t mar. Magnificent white robes lined with golden adorned his body, free of unnecessary jewelry and a matching papal crown rested upon his head.
“Your Holiness.” Reinolt greeted him with a kneel.
“Over a thousand paladins.” Pope Gregor spoke without regard. “Nine captains of the Order. The South Warden. A Black Hand. Our best Interrogator. And a Maiden of the Sun… Do you understand how heavy of a blow this is, Sir Reinolt?”
Guilt racked his face once more. “...yes… Your Holiness.”
“I am disappointed, Reinolt.” Gregor turned to face him properly, the weight of his eyes felt even without meeting them. “Twice heretics have slaughtered within the sanctum of the church, and twice they have escaped. That has stained the church’s reputation grievously. Our people, even paladins are starting to lose trust. And that makes them vulnerable to the wicked whispers of heresy. Are more going to fall under your watch, Commander?”
“I!” Rage and grief swelled in Reinolt’s words such that he could not suppress it, even in the presence of the Emissary of Sol. The intent dripping off the words of his vow so strongly that it put the inquisitors on guard. “...will never… let it happen again.”
Pope Gregor stared immovably at the trembling knight for a moment. “Then go… and see that it does not.”
Reinolt rose to his feet and took his leave, the rage and grief already started to meld into an unwavering resolve. With the core of his soul, with every fiber of his being in the purest extreme, the Flame Knight swore to intensify the security of the capital and condemn every last heathen and heretic that entered these hallowed grounds to the eternal dark.