Vol. 4 Chap. 6 Persuasive

Vol. 4 Chap. 6 Persuasive

Truth wasnt sure of the etiquette here. Normally, he would start the sentence with Ms.- but being a Siphios aristocrat, the old lady didnt have a last name. Madame- and a job title was also a valid choice, also impossible due to him not actually knowing her job title. Madame Ambassador? But she wasnt the ambassador, and what kind of weirdo would like being called by their husbands rank?

Then, of course, you were on to the tricky business of explaining that their clearly carefully thought out plan was, in fact, terrible, and you wouldnt be doing it? Especially since he did actually like these people. To say nothing of the spells and support. But really, right now, it was the warmth of their company. He didnt want to break the peace of the coffee ritual.

Okay.

Merkovah twitched, then carefully looked at Truth over the rim of his coffee cup. Everyone around the fire was a sharp customer. They didnt bother to trade glances.Updated from n0velb(i)n.c(o)/m

Mr. Wells, do you understand why they started pushing that ridiculous Hell Prince nonsense? The ambassador asked. Given that it makes their security services seem weak and ineffective?

Use me as an excuse for atrocities, round up the undesirables, and I suspect on a more strategic level, they are looking to kneecap Incisives effectiveness. Try to force me into a persona and make the energy cost of other personas much higher. Make vanishing from perception much harder. Truth grinned. Didnt work.

Better to say it hasnt worked yet. It takes time to move public opinion and to firmly fix an idea in peoples minds. The old lady shook her head slightly. Its why we instantly jumped on your plan to hijack the persona and turn it into a propaganda tool. Flip their own efforts back on them. Stoke division and rebellion. Weaken Starbrites power base, by weakening Jeon.

Truth nodded. He had more or less figured that all out.

But to be a prince, and to rise to a kingly seat, one must have subjects to rule. The ambassador spoke with assurance. One must lead, if one wishes to be followed.

Makes sense. Truth nodded some more.

For rebellion to really take wing in Jeon, there must be a charismatic figure leading it. We can support those forces of resistance. Provide training and political cadres. But they need their leader. The illusive, romantic figurehead, appearing only at rallies and at the sight of powerful blows against the oppressive state.

The old ladys voice had a powerful rhythm to it. Not magic, or no magic beyond human psychology. She sounded so certain, you wanted to adopt her ideas as your own.

I see.

And, of course, it is the most common usage of Incisive. She continued. Those who call upon Botis wish to be powerful, feared and seductive. Others brashly lead armies from the front. Incisive makes them grateful to die for you. It clads you in the glory of your worshipful followers. Much is given, much is forgiven, when one is strong with the power of that Excellency.

Truth blinked. He hadnt thought about it that way, but Botis was ranked an Earl. Completely a human invention, of course, but he really did command a large region of Hell, and had countless demons under him.

To break Jeon we need to increase its internal divisions. It is the fastest way to Starbrite. You must take up the mantle of leadership. Only you have this power. The ambassadors voice flowed smooth and rich as coffee.

Truth nodded decisively. Ill do it.

There was a pause. Then a longer pause. Merkovah started laughing.

But before you go, you just want to nip into the library.

Do you have a good one handy? I just want to browse a bit.

Maybe see, just see, if there are any National Treasure tier items or elixirs lying around.

I mean, if no one is using them, it would be a waste not to. Truth looked very sincere.

But he cant rely on those things, because the magic is collapsing, and before it completely collapses, it will be erratic. All he cares about are those soul fragments. Something that, I suspect, lets him get around the collapse to a degree. What he is doing with those bits and bobs of souls, I dont know, and I dont want to find out. Truth concluded.

Then what do you think his next play is? And if he doesnt care about what he built, how do you attack him? Merkovah asked.

If I was King Rat with the resources of the world at my disposal? Harvest everything I could then create a vault for myself. Drop that thing in the deepest oceanic trench I could find, maybe straight into the magma layer. Have it deploy a vast, hidden, energy gathering array. One that was aimed at the energy put out by the planetary eminence, not the heavenly ones. Drop into some kind of hibernation. Remain unconscious but alive until the magic comes back, using the passing millenia to refine and incorporate all those harvested soul fragments.

Truths words came out fast and sure. Merkovah chuckled.

The kids over in Analysis will be happy to hear you came to the same conclusion they did.

Then why are we having this conversation?

Because you didnt answer part two of my question- What are you going to do about it?

I am going to talk to my experienced teacher, knowledgeable in the ways of global terrorism, seeking his wisdom.

Seeking and accepting being two different things, of course. Merkovahs voice had gone dry.

Already I am learning!

Mmm. Well here is something else to learn. The souls that Starbrite mutilates- and yes, we did figure that out, Truth concealed a wince. He had deliberately not explained the process. Are designed to align their owners with Starbrite and his way of thinking. But. What if some complete bastard made it run in reverse?

Merkovahs smile was utterly malevolent.

Pardon?

I think I told you that God, personally, through his angels, banned Siphios from using our most powerful necromancy as a term of our vassalage. But if the old contract is broken, and there is nothing stopping us from using those spells, then we should use them. Use them to, for example, poison Starbrites soul with the rage and loathing of the millions of rats whom he bred and doomed to hideous death.

Im listening.

When we eat, we strip out the parts of the food we cannot digest, and incorporate the rest into us. Starbrite has the souls basically pre-digested for him. We just need to reformulate them.

Just that, huh?

Merkovah rolled his eyes. Yes, in fact, just that. We need to realign their beliefs. Starbrite will try to counteract that through his control of the mutilated bit, but! There is a limit to his energy and attention. The System Astrologica is not a micromanager. Its not everywhere all the time. So we push it hard. We push it by breaking down the corporation, by breaking down Jeon and by forcing it to work harder to digest all those souls. We load them up with fury. With a romance and sense of rebellion. We starve the bastard!

Alright?

And when he gets hungry enough, he will have to make a move himself. Once his pieces are all taken off the board, he will have to strike, to demonstrate his power and prestige. And when he does? We have him.

Sounds good. What if he doesnt? What if you dont?

Then we will let him sink into the ocean in his little vault, no souls to eat, and our descendants will be taught -If you ever see this, it is an evil spell. Here is how you break it without magic. One way or another, Starbrite dies in our hands. The only question is- will you be able to cash in his head for a ticket off world first?