Chapter 168: Unintelligent Conversation

Chapter 168: Unintelligent Conversation

Uriel ground her teeth at the incessant arguing happening before her. They have been talking for hours nonstop. Uriel herself has gone through two pitchers of water just from all the debate. What was the debate about? If it wasn’t obvious enough the long-winded debate was about the Great Beast.

Uriel could feel the unease permeating the room. The feeling was familiar, it was the oppressive feeling of creeping danger. Like a dark shadow cast across the glittering marble. They say evil grows in shadows and from how heated the argument was there was some truth in that statement.

“So you think is a good idea?” Gabriela demanded her face twisted in frustration.

“We just hand our own leash to an ancient creation of the Eternal Mother. She was the most twisted of the Old Gods. She melted our kin down to sludge and reformed it in her own dark image.” Gabriela said.

“And what would you propose? We go to war? To fight him now would damn us.” Mihael countered.

Though her husband was arguably the most prone to violence he was also a capable tactician. He would not be caught making a terrible strategic decision. He knew taking a hardline stance and saber rattling would not be a good idea.

There was a saying as old as time, “Try not the temper of the ancients.”

At the moment the Great Beast expressed displeasure, Uriel felt every danger sense in her mind go off. Whatever the Great Beast was, he was very dangerous. He probably carried a piece of the Old Gods within himself. He might be a true Heir of the Firstborn. Unlike herself and those from the wretched Syndicate his power was not an accident. It didn’t just manifest randomly within him. It was put into him with a level of precision only an Old God could do.

“We do not have a choice, our only option is to end the war in the north quickly.” Mihael said.

“We should also invest more resources into having a greater presence in Terra.” Cassia said.

“Agreed, the Great Beast offered our people safety within their borders. We should use it to increase our presence within the Averlonian Empire.” Uriel said.

“Helps us keep an eye on what's happening within as well.” Raphael stated, and there were murmurs of approval.

“But the Devotees are still a problem, the Great Beast and the Empress could always expend the means to lower the amount of faithful within their empire. Magically influenced agitators can be implanted in the population to steer the faithful away from the faith.” Gabriela stated, and again there were murmurs of approval.

“There is a loop hole, however...” Silvana said suddenly, her voice as usual, catching everyone by surprise.

“The Empress said our represntatives will not be able to enforce our faith on anyone. So her political angle is that there is a freedom of faith. This means we can be quite public on our agreement to his philosophy at least within the Averlonian Empire.

But if we were to say discover a magically controlled agitator we can spin it around and say that these new cults are brainwashing the good citizens of the empire. With the Empress’s own words binding her, we can tie her hands and... volunteer ourselves to hunt down those who would poison the minds of the good citizens.” Silvana said as a malicious smile crossed her lips.

“That could certainly work, at the end of the day, there is no Averlonian Empire without its people as the Old Gods used to say, tribute does not flow from a dead race.” Raphael said with a nod.

“Yes, if the Averlonian Empire wishes to use it’s own people as hostages, perhaps we could do the same.” Mihael said.

“But these accusations must be truthful, if we forge them the Great Beast might have a way to turn it around to bite us.” Uriel said to more murmurs of approval.

“Then what of the vampires? The Great Beast has already said he is willing to pursue alliances with the Naga and Mugummans. How long before he is rubbing shoulders with The Orcale of the Oceans, Serchax?” Mihael pressed as he tapped his finger impatiently on the desk before him.

“Assuming he isn’t already doing so.” Gabriela added with a sigh.

“Exactly.” Mihael said.

“We have been arguing about this for hours.” Uriel said with a sigh.

“I agree with Uriel this going nowhere.” Raphael said with a nod.

“Bottom line is we can’t do anything about this at this time. We need to see what the Great Beast does. Like it or not he has the initiative.” Raphael added grimly.

“Agreed, with the war in the north dragging on, we don’t have the resources to handle the Averlonian Empire. We need more troops. I suggest we call a general mobilisation. We are currently still fielding only the professional forces. I vote to initiate conscription. At our current state, we are only utilising 1.5% of our population.” Mihael stated.

“With a general mobilisation, we can increase our combat troops to...” Mihael began but Uriel swiftly cut him off.

“15% and we can raise it to 20% with a full mobilisation but we no longer have the processes in place to facilitate it. We would be sending in undertrained soldiers to their deaths. Many of which would be Cherubim. The Cherubim Guard are undertrained and underequipped. I have made my opinion on this matter known repeatedly, it seems my fears have come true.” Uriel said curtly as she referenced how the Cherubim’s lack of training and equipment would damn them if they were ever to be fielded in war. The Cherubim were usually flightless so the Serpahim had no idea how to properly utilise them in war.

“Well that is more or less what half the point of why having a well fed population is useful.” Mahaila mused and I paused for a moment.

“True.” I admitted before resuming my work.

“You ancients are really strange, honestly I was...” I began but Mahaila just finished the sentence.

“Trying to get a reaction out of me?” Mahaila asked with a light laugh as she crossed her arms.

“Yeah, if I said this up there we would have a panic on our hands.” I said as I poked the creature again causing it to jiggle.

“Well their lives are too short, the younger lived races tend to be more obsessed with their mortality. Life can go grow quite stale at a certain point.” Mahaila said and I could sense her watching me as I poked the creature again.

“Why are you doing that?” Mahaila asked.

“I like it, it looks funny.” I said as I poked it again causing the body to jiggle like jello.

“Stop bothering it.” Mahaila said with a sigh.

“What it likes it.” I replied as I turned to look at her.

“It’s a hive creature and you’re a hive leader. It likes everything you do to it.” Mahaila stated bluntly.

“Yeah? Your point?” I replied with a grin.

“Forget it.” Mahaila said with a sigh.

Right as she said it I heard I sensed Cecilia enter the testing chamber.

“Mahaila? What are you doing here? I thought you were in Zarima.” Cecilia asked in surprise.

“Just checking in on the nutrient beetle project. Hopefully we can get this up and running soon. There’s no real rush since the desert doesn’t really have seasons but the faster this get’s done the better.” Mahaila replied.

“And how is it going?” Cecilia asked as she walked over and looked over at the bloated beetle.

“Preety well.” I said as I poked the creature again.

“Why are you doing that?” Cecilia asked out of curiosity.

“I like it, it’s funny.” I replied, and Cecilia calmly nodded in understanding.

“I see.” Cecilia replied and instantly dropped the question. I looked over at Mahaila, and she just rolled her eyes.

“See, no weird questions.” I said and Mahaila just shook her head in exasperation.

“You two have spent too long in each other’s company.” Mahaila said as she pinched the bridge of her nose.

“You will get used to it after a time.” Cecilia said calmly and Mahaila gave her a withering look.

“Part of me wishes I would because it would make the migraines go away, but on the other hand getting used to this type of things is a tragic state of affairs.” Mahaila said with a sigh.

“So why are you here?” I asked as I looked over at Cecilia.

A cult leader wants to see you

I believe it was the prisoner you let into your mind...