“My apologies Emperor Michael,” Oliver said and bowed his head.

“It is fine. Things got a bit heated, but we are having a conversation. Don’t worry about the people listening in. You are petitioning me. You. You want religion, but I cannot allow other public religions. While I can argue on a theological standpoint, there is a societal one as well,” I replied.

“What about mixed used spaces then? Like a school, that then is used as a church?” he asked.

“People can meet up. There is freedom of assembly. I know you probably have a church in your business after hours?” I asked.

“Yes, your grace,” he said.

“Then what exactly is the problem? No one is being persecuted for their beliefs?” I asked.

“No. We just wanted to be able to build churches, mosques, and synagogues,” he said.

“Absolutely not. One hundred percent denied. I also have banned more secular things that pretend they aren’t religions as well. Regardless, I won’t let any of it take root in my Empire. If you wish to battle me on theology, then I am more than happy to take any of you on. It is an amusing diversion,” I replied while I sipped my big drink again.

Samantha mentioned something about a business calling it the Emperor’s cup. I should sponsor it. A big cup, with a metal straw. Very sturdy as well.

“May, I have one my colleagues, who is better versed in theology speak?” he asked.

“Fine, up you stand. Next person, come sit down and introduce yourself,” I said. Oliver got up and an older woman sat down after doing a curtsey.

“Emperor Michael, I am Cassandra,” she said, and I nodded at that, waving for her to continue. “You believe in God?” she asked.

“Only one God, the Almighty System,” I countered.

“And before that?” she asked me.

“When I was on Earth, kind of. Consider be lapsed, but well read,” I said with amusement. A big drink made this bearable.

“You named this place Purgatory. Perhaps, seeing it as a transition point. We could all be dead, and this is a waiting point for Heaven?” she asked. I was tempted to make a joke about Heaven being East, but that would be in poor taste. Or maybe it wasn’t. I was the Emperor and it was amusing, so I said it.

“Heaven is towards the East,” I said with a smile. There were muffled chuckles at that statement from the audience. I shook my head slightly when Captain Francis looked at me. “More seriously, we could be dead. But people arrive here unharmed from Earth. It appears we are teleported, not dying horrifically or naturally.”

“But you don’t deny it is the power of God?” she asked me.

“A God, not the God. An important difference. And this God’s true name is not Jehovah, but the Almighty System,” I countered. I would keep this up until my cup was empty. After that I was done with this conversation. “What are you trying to even convince me of?” I asked.

“That God is real, and we should be allowed to worship,” Cassandra said.

“Again, prove it. There is a factual basis for my religion and my God. You just need to check the store. You just need to look at the sky. You have beliefs you have clung to your whole life, but they no longer hold weight here in the Systemic Lands,” I countered.

“I see. There is no convincing you?” she asked. I finished sipping all the liquid out of my cup and set it to the side.

“Nope. And this conversation is over. Consider your petition heard and rejected,” I replied.

“Death to tyrants!” I had to resist smiling. The best way to derail petitions was to stage an assassination attempt. It was easy enough to have someone puppetted and use sound manipulation. Michelle wasn’t the only person with her skill.

The man rushed forward as my protection detail went on alert. The man exploded, in front of me, and killed Cassandra. I easily resisted the damage. My clothes were wrecked, but that was good. It sold the story better. Cassandra and two of the people standing behind her were killed. Oliver had lived and there was panic in my throne room.

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“Secure the area. Get these people regenerations immediately,” I said. Captain Francis had been let in on the plan without any issues. Anyone started doing something that annoyed me, I would have fake assassins blow themselves up. That was the proper way to handle a petition.

The difference in levels that I pointed out, was done in the hope they would come to their senses and apologize, but unfortunately that wasn’t the case. Now three people were dead, and their cause had no chance.

“Calm,” I called out and people stopped panicking. “It was a poorly done assassination attempt. More to make a statement, or they didn’t realize how big the gap was. An ingested bomb, activated inside the suicide bomber.” There were nods at this as people regained their wits.

I was almost disappointed, no one tried to use the distraction to make a real assassination attempt. I guess people could learn eventually. It was surprising in all honesty. But I was not going to cater to idiots. Evidence would be found that the petitioners knew the person who killed themselves. They wouldn’t be persecuted, but the evidence would be released, and a whisper campaign would be done.

That would kill their cause in the cradle while my popularity would only go higher. People would just say the man was an idiot and respect me even more for coming out the other side with only wrecked clothing. My legend would grow.

The people in the know, Samantha, my protection detail, and some of Clarissa’s people would never say anything. They knew where their bread was buttered. Trying to attack me, would just result in them being killed. If I was willing to fake assassination attempts, then I was capable of a lot.

“Also, the petition is rejected, but don’t punish the people who came forward, or signed. It was an honest request, and there will be no reprisal,” I said to lots of applause. Sheep, everywhere there were human sized sheep. I left the throne room and made my way back to my apartment.

I got changed again and then made my way to Clarissa’s office. I sat down as she finished reading up several reports. I was content to wait until she was done. She finally sat down her piece of paper. “Have fun?” she asked me.

“Yes. I was going to pull out my hair, when thankfully, the bomb went off. Three people died,” I added.

“If it works, it works. Now what are you really here for?” she asked me.

“I am poking the other nations,” I said. This time she gave me a serious look.

“What brought this on?” Clarissa asked me.

“Just wanting to do a little investigation. I could keep grinding, but I would like to get a better idea of what kind of threats I would be facing. Since I can face a level 7, there isn’t going to be another jump in power for a while. Also, the longer things go on, the more easily people can catch up,” I replied.

“Not easily, but yes. Your airship and team or just you?” she asked.

“All of it. Doctor Katz to provide moral guidance, and Michelle to provide wide spread support,” I replied.

“We aren’t ready and you can upgrade cities,” she said.

“I will upgrade The Abyss and confirm there is land to the West. As for being ready, I am doing the poking. I plan to keep the Crystal Vortex back as support. No need to risk it.”

“No upgraded airship?” she asked.

“In the future. But this is just a walk about. No need to go in guns blazing. I just need to lay eyes on the most powerful person and will have a good sense of how dangerous they are. Bring practicing my deception technique, what do you think?” I asked.

“Truthfully, poorly done. You are trying to imitate a high combat level 3, with a focus on Body. But, it is clear that you have more than you are showing,” she said.

“How?” I asked. She tapped her nose.

“Smell. One can train up other senses than sight. You are planning a visual deception, but anyone who knows about hiding one’s stats, will want to find them out. Smell training, uses fruit based smells, based on people with a lot of stat points in a single stat.” I recalled reading about this.

“You focus the Sense stat on smell and associate different stats with that sensory input,” I finished for her and she nodded.

“To truly hide your stats, you need to go all the way, like this,” she said. I blinked as I looked at Clarissa and she appeared to be a high combat level 3. Now a 2, and then a 1. “It is more impressive if you use other senses, but stats give off much more than light in terms of being able to sense them.”

“Truly the government, so far ahead,” I muttered.

“You can learn, but it honestly isn’t worth the time at your level. If anyone goes past the visual, that shows they either have a lot of knowledge, or have a lot of government support,” she replied as her energy went back to the baseline she showed when we were alone.

“Want to send someone with me?” I asked.

“Yes actually. A liaison. I will pick someone and two long term infiltrators. One of Indian descent, the other Russian,” she said. I nodded at this, since those were two big countries we hadn’t found. It was nice that America had such a diverse selection of people that arrived.

“I won’t try to start a war,” I replied.

“That is fine if you start one. But you better finish it,” she said and pointed a finger at me. “No Divine Empress type person running over here.”

“Hey, she did that, not me,” I countered.

“You pulled the tiger’s tail and were surprised when it spun to bite off your head. Don’t go doing that here. Also don’t die,” she added.

“Thanks for the last bit,” I replied sarcastically.

“Say what you will, but you are a stabilizing presence. Don’t melt too many people,” she added.

“How many is too many?” I asked.

“Shoo, I have more paperwork to figure out, now that I need to send people with you. Your departure date is day 5,015. It will give me time to sort things out and you time to relax. Don’t object, I can see you are wound up,” Clarissa said.

“A bit. I am just frustrated after the city upgrade,” I replied.

“We all are. Now I need to get work done. Plan out another assassination if you are bored,” she said. I got up and left her office. Honestly nothing fazed her anymore. She had better watch out. One day I would show up naked to get a reaction, but that was probably workplace harassment.