For the ordinary members of the Numinous Episcopate, recent events had been nothing short of overwhelming.
They were first blindsided by news of the "God of Death's" return, accompanied by a divine oracle. Before they could even process what this oracle meant, word spread that the Royal Family Faction's leader, the Pale-White Empress Lady Sia, had forcefully debunked it, declaring it all a scheme by Lord Haiter of the neighboring Artificial Death faction.
But just days after this rebuttal, as members wavered in doubt, another rumor emerged: the "God of Death" Had unleashed divine punishment. Many who disobeyed the oracle had faced retribution, and it seemed no small number had perished.
This shook the skeptical members of the Numinous Episcopate, convincing them that the God of Death had truly returned.
Meanwhile, the rift between Lady Sia and Lord Haiter seemed to deepen by the day, reaching a point where even ordinary cult members could sense the brewing conflict.
Some whispered that Lord Haiter had divine backing and aimed to unify the Numinous Episcopate.
Others claimed Lady Sia refused to submit to the returning God of Death and was preparing for a desperate stand.
Rumors swirled, blurring the line between truth and falsehood.
Just as tensions thickened and most members began to fear an all-out clash between Lady Sia and Lord Haiter, a sudden upheaval changed everything. The former Death Consul of the Balam Empire, Lord Azik, returned. Upon his arrival, he decisively subdued Lady Sia and reclaimed Lord Haiter, leaving the Numinous Episcopate with only his voice.
It was only then that most ordinary members realized Lord Azik was the returning God of Death, having inherited everything from His Majesty the Underworld Emperor. He would lead the Numinous Episcopate anew.
This news electrified many in the Numinous Episcopate. No member was unaware of the Death Consul... a figure etched into their sacred texts, a symbol of the Balam Empire, revered by countless devotees of the God of Death.
Most believed that Lord Azik's return would undoubtedly restore the Numinous Episcopate to its former glory!
Yet, at this moment, the cult's members had no inkling of what lay ahead.
"Here's the list of all Numinous Episcopate members, along with the cult's current assets…" Lord Haiter respectfully presented a thick stack of documents, explaining each item in turn.
Azik took the documents and began flipping through them. Much of the information aligned with what he'd previously learned from the Aurora Order, though these were far more detailed, with some differences in other parts.
Alaric naturally leaned in to take a look. His eyes scanned the documents, and he chuckled, as if in awe. "No surprise for an organization with a thousand years of history. This is far wealthier than the Aurora Order."
Despite losing divine protection, the Numinous Episcopate... having inherited the legacies of the Church of the God of Death and the Bain Royal Family and thriving for over a millennium... far surpassed the Aurora Order in nearly every aspect, from the number of sealed artifacts to the assets and connections it had cultivated on the Southern Continent.
This also meant that fully bringing the Numinous Episcopate under control would involve a mountain of work.
"Looks like you've got your hands full, Azik." Alaric said, shaking his head. He suddenly glanced at Medici nearby and smiled. "The member reformation alone is a massive project, isn't it?"
Medici caught the hint immediately. With a dry laugh, he looked at Alaric. "Don't just look at me. Are you planning to dump all this work on me?"
Alaric blinked, his expression earnest. "I'll support you in spirit."
"Get lost!" Medici rolled his eyes, crossing his arms. "You've got to help out, at least in the early stages. How else are we supposed to manage?"
"Fine, fine. Since my useless employee says so, I guess the boss has to put in some overtime!" Alaric shrugged, then turned to Lady Sia, who was stealing glances at them. With a smile, he said, "Stop staring. You're part of the first batch for member reformation."
"Uh…" Lady Sia instinctively flinched, a flicker of guilt crossing her face. After a moment's hesitation, she asked, "What does member reformation mean?"
"Exactly what it sounds like... labor and ideological reform for you Numinous Episcopate members." Alaric said, smiling at her.
Lady Sia's brow furrowed instantly, her mind racing with thoughts of mind-altering abilities.
"Don't overthink it. We're not villains. Unless you're irredeemably steeped in sin, we won't resort to extraordinary means to brainwash you." Alaric said, clearly reading her concerns. He chuckled. "I don't expect every one of you to become a saint, but you'll need to learn to follow my rules."
Alaric had no illusions about transforming every Numinous Episcopate member into a paragon of virtue. That was unrealistic, and he didn't need it to be. All he required was their obedience.
As for whether some members might genuinely become better people through the process? Alaric was certain some would, and those individuals would be the ones he'd promote in the future.
Let the good return to their true selves and improve. Let the wicked follow rules and face restraint. That was the essence of reformation.
Lady Sia let out a relieved breath at his words.
As an angel, she knew enough about the Spectator pathway to dread its mind-altering potential. The thought of being reshaped by it... would she even remain herself? She couldn't be sure.
Alaric paid her no mind, turning back to the documents in Azik's hands. Once he'd finished reviewing them, he raised an eyebrow and looked at Lord Haiter, who stood meekly nearby. With a smile, he said, "Haiter, it seems these documents are missing a crucial part."
"What?" Lord Haiter looked startled and confused. He was certain he'd provided all the necessary documents. What could be missing?
He didn't dare question Alaric, though... the man who had tamed Lady Sia so thoroughly. Haiter had been stunned to see her standing behind Alaric like a chastened child.
So, he racked his brain, trying to figure out what he'd overlooked.
Come on, think!
But after wracking his mind, Haiter came up empty, sweat beading on his forehead.
Fortunately, Alaric wasn't truly trying to put him on the spot. Seeing Haiter's genuine confusion, he smiled and said, "You seem to have forgotten the documents concerning the Artificial Death."
***
Hi everyone, I hope you're all doing well. I just wanted to let you know that right now I'm working on a really good and promising fate fanfic. If you're interested in reading it, feel free to give it a try:
[Fate/Max Level Returner]
Synopsis:
What if you took your max-level account and replayed the entire story from the beginning?
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