Ch.837Let It Be For Now (Edited 11:58)

======[ Haschal ]======

Hush’s report was enough to amplify my suspicions about Bellnesia, but unfortunately, it wasn’t quite enough to justify throwing her straight into an interrogation chamber.

If I were to cripple Eleonora’s lover just because she was hiding her abilities, it was obvious that Regent Eleonora—who excels as a paperwork slave like no other—would throw an absolute fit.

So instead of capturing Bellnesia and throwing her into the underground prison, I had no choice but to strengthen the surveillance on her.

To justify putting Bellnesia in an interrogation chamber, I needed concrete evidence that it wouldn’t cause problems.

I suspected that if I tortured her first, she would confess everything she had been hiding, but I lacked the confidence to take such a gamble. The confidence that she was someone who needed to be eliminated.

If, by chance, the facts she confessed turned out to be insignificant, I would have tortured an innocent person based on mere suspicion.

You know, like they often say in gambling movies: don’t place your bet unless you’re certain.

So, until I was certain, I planned to continue with surveillance only.

If she was willing to endure even being assaulted by thugs to avoid surveillance, she probably wouldn’t pose any immediate danger if left alone for now.

She clearly had the look of someone whose only skill was wielding a blade, and she couldn’t even attempt that because of Hush’s surveillance.

Even if she tried to do something, she would have to get past Hush first, so as long as Hush continued his surveillance without any issues, I could rest easy.

—-

“We need an intelligence organization.”

After sending Hush back to his surveillance duties, I called Rambert and discussed an issue that had occurred to me while listening to Hush’s report.

When Landenburg was just a territory, this wasn’t something I needed to worry about, but now that we had risen to become the nation of Hestella, it was an issue that needed to be addressed—the absence of intelligence capabilities.

Any proper country needs an intelligence agency like the CIA, KGB, Public Security, or Central Intelligence Agency to collect and report domestic and foreign information. This was true in this world just as it was on Earth.

Even Lacy used her personal military group, some kind of Heteromorphic Extermination Unit, as spies and operatives, and the Empire had the Imperial Intelligence Bureau directly under Leopold.

Dane also had an intelligence agency operated by Hrafn.

Hestella needed such an organization too.

Hestella had grown by burning the eastern lords at the stake and incorporating their territories, steadily expanding by accepting refugees as citizens in addition to the original territory residents…

But with the indiscriminate acceptance of refugees, there was a high possibility that not only innocent civilians but also those with malicious intentions had mixed in.

Just look at the vagrants Hush had used as disposables—they were depraved enough to attempt rape and murder without hesitation.

Spies from other countries, human scum, cultists, and criminals—to clean up the human waste hiding among the refugees, an intelligence organization was essential.

Once such an organization was established, it would also help with Hush’s surveillance.

“An intelligence organization… For such a matter, wouldn’t it be better to consult with Inquisitor Claire? The inquisitors of the Church of Astraea are experts in investigating, identifying, tracking, and eliminating heresy suspects.”

Despite looking like he had died and come back to life three times, Rambert proved his usefulness by immediately providing an answer to my question.

His solution was not to dream of creating a new intelligence organization from scratch—which would require enormous time and resources—but to entrust the task to experts in the field.

Having church inquisitors serve as state intelligence agents would normally be unthinkable, but since Hestella was a country founded by the Saint of the Church of Astraea herself, the inquisitors would gladly accept such a role.

Indeed, when I called Adamante and proposed that she find and incinerate all seeds of chaos and injustice hiding within Hestella, she beamed with delight and proclaimed it an unparalleled honor.

She said it would be unfair to enjoy such an honor alone, so she would gather all available inquisitors and their subordinates.

And thus, I acquired a Holy Golden CIA with a suspicious fondness for burning at the stake. It would take some time for all organization members to assemble, though.

======[ Feirus ]======

The Cult of Forgotten Gods created by Feirus was a cult group worshipping ancient gods, consisting of eight apostles as core executives and their subordinate organizations.

Following Feirus’s orders, each apostle attached themselves to influential figures around the world, using their skills and subordinate personnel to guide international affairs in their desired direction.

They harvested death by creating conflict and chaos, but immediately intervened to calm things down if situations showed signs of growing beyond their control.

Disruption and control. That was the guiding principle for Feirus and his apostles.

For this purpose, the apostles held regular meetings through mana communication devices to exchange information and discuss future policies. Carefully coordinating the movements of influential figures in each country was necessary to control international affairs that could easily spread like wildfire.

‘…But that’s all in the past now.’

Feirus looked down at the communication device with only four respondents and let out a bitter laugh.

Despite being a long-awaited regular meeting, only five apostles were in attendance, including himself.

Since Feirus himself knew well why three apostles were absent, it wasn’t particularly concerning to him, but it must have been quite unpleasant for the other four apostles.

“Following the Third, now the Seventh and Eighth are absent too. So many empty seats for what should be a group meeting.”

“The apostle meetings have really gone downhill. Is there even any point in holding them anymore?”

“I agree. If they’re going to be this uncooperative, wouldn’t it be better to expel them? As it happens, among my acquaintances—”

Indeed, the Second, Fifth, and Fourth Apostles—all except Feirus and the Sixth—were expressing resentment toward the absent apostles.

“That’s enough. The Seventh and Eighth are absent because they’re not in a position to communicate freely, but they’re faithfully following the directive to monitor the ‘variable’s’ movements.”

Unlike the other apostles, Feirus had no complaints about the two apostles’ absence. He knew they hadn’t chosen to skip the regular meeting—they simply couldn’t attend.

Instead of direct communication through the crystal ball, a message had been relayed through subordinates he had planted in Landenburg.

It contained a status report stating that they were under complete surveillance and unable to act as apostles, as well as information that Haschal was gathering forces to raid Ordos.

‘He said he would subjugate the evil sorcerer hiding in Ordos. First the “Eighth” Ragnar, and now the “Third”… Coincidence or inevitability?’

Did he know about the existence of the “apostles”? Or was he simply moving to settle the grudges of the original owner of that body—”Aishan-Gioro Haschal”? That was something even Feirus couldn’t determine.

“According to their reports, the variable is currently formulating plans to raid Ordos.”

There was only one thing Feirus could be certain of.

“Ordos? Of all places, the Third Apostle’s base…”

“Hmm, that woman must be feeling the heat now. I wonder if she’s regretting cutting off contact on her own.”

“That’s not the important issue. If the variable invades Ordos and achieves victory, won’t the destruction of Heaven’s Wall be further delayed?”

As the Fifth Apostle said, at this rate, their ultimate goal would be postponed.

To break Heaven’s Wall, the variable—Haschal—needed to remain quietly confined for the time being. The power of karma that failed to accumulate in her soul and scattered would be absorbed by Heaven’s Wall, strengthening it further.

That’s why Feirus had ordered the Seventh Apostle to somehow prevent the variable from running wild, but unfortunately, this seemed to have failed.

According to the Seventh Apostle’s report, far from controlling the variable’s actions, she was being thoroughly monitored and manipulated.

“That’s correct. Therefore, we need to devise our own countermeasures.”

That was the purpose of this meeting.

“Countermeasures… but do we actually have any options? The Holy State and Dane have long been beyond our influence, and I can’t really do anything either. Oleg is too busy stabilizing Baryachrus to march south no matter what persuasive arguments we make.”

“It’s the same here. The Dragonborn of the Celestial Dragon Palace have also suffered great losses in the battle for the Dragon Lord’s remains, so they need to focus on internal consolidation for now.”

“Hmmmm…”

“This is troublesome. Even for me, while I might have influence in the Imperial heartland, it’s difficult to extend it all the way to the eastern edge…”

The Fourth and Fifth Apostles showed skeptical attitudes.

The Second Apostle had already lost all influence and had nothing to say, while the Sixth Apostle also expressed reluctance, lacking the ability to intervene in Hestella’s movements. Just as Feirus had expected.

“You seem to misunderstand. When did I say we should interfere with the variable’s expedition?”

Of course, Feirus had already formulated his own plan.

“We’ll let the invasion of Ordos proceed. We couldn’t stop it now anyway. Instead, we will…”

So Feirus explained his plan to the other apostles with a faint smile.

“If the variable seeks to strengthen the wall, we simply need to create even greater chaos. While her attention is focused on the east, we’ll shake the Dragon Kingdom and harvest the deaths of Dragonborn.”

Although less efficient compared to human souls, it was possible to fill the contents of the Holy Grail with the souls of other races.

If they harvested more souls than the enemies Haschal would defeat, they could break the fourth wall by piling up even more deaths, even if she strengthened the wall with overflowing karma.

“Did you not hear me? The current Celestial Dragon Palace doesn’t have the capacity to handle a war—”

“There’s no difficulty. If the issue is your side’s loss of strength… simply inflict similar losses on the opponent. Leave it to me.”

To the Fifth Apostle’s objection that a second orthodox-heterodox war was impossible due to the losses suffered by the heterodox Dragonborn, Feirus shook his head and recited a solution.

He would personally intervene to diminish the strength of the orthodox Dragonborn.

To the extent that the Celestial Dragon crouching in the Celestial Dragon Palace would be willing to tear up the armistice treaty and start a second war.

“No, if you have that kind of power, wouldn’t it be better to attack Hestella? We shouldn’t fight that woman Haschal directly, but if we just eliminate her subordinates, the invasion of Ordos would be canceled.”

The Fourth Apostle asked in an incredulous tone. It was a reasonable point.

If he had enough military power to cut the orthodox Dragonborn’s forces in half, there was no need to create chaos in the Dragon Kingdom—he could directly target Hestella and keep her contained.

However, Feirus had a reason to oppose the Fourth Apostle’s opinion.

“…It’s too far.”

“Ah.”

“Ahem.”

“Can’t be helped.”

A reason that the other apostles couldn’t refute.

Unless he had been near Landenburg from the beginning, Landenburg at the eastern edge of the Empire was simply too far for the current Feirus.

By the time the forces he dispatched reached Landenburg, Ordos might have already been completely burned to the ground.