From the start, Alaric's plan was to rescue Tolzna while rallying the Rose School's members to maximize their usefulness and sever the Mother Tree of Desire's largest influence in this world.
After all, with a final battle looming in a decade or so, it wouldn't do to leave these Outer Deities' lackeys unchecked!
Others might hesitate or lack the ability, but Alaric had no such concerns. With The Ancient Sun God's power, facing an Outer Deity head-on outside Earth might be uncertain, but dealing with the Mother Tree of Desire's infiltrated forces? He was more than capable.
"Hello…" "I'm honored…" "to be part…" "of this."
Reinette's four heads spoke in turn. She didn't mind Alaric's assessment. As a half-crippled Sequence 2 angel, in a battle involving Outer Deities and Kings of Angels, surviving was enough... contributing significantly was unlikely.
Reinette knew her role: providing information and handling miscellaneous tasks.
She had no complaints, only a sense of surreal wonder. When she first met Lucifer, she doubted he could achieve what he promised. Even after witnessing his extraordinary abilities and choosing to trust him, she thought saving Tolzna would take years, maybe decades.
Yet, mere months later, he was already planning to snatch Tolzna from the Mother Tree of Desire.
Reinette didn't doubt Lucifer's success; her emotions were complex... a mix of awe, joy, and a faint sigh.
She knew if Tolzna was freed, her own advancement might be capped forever.
But… that was her former faith, her teacher! Compared to her own progress, Reinette wanted Tolzna saved.
Few in the room knew Reinette. Amon did, Sasrir vaguely recognized her existence, Bethel had faintly heard her name, and Antigonus was completely clueless.
Amon's earlier briefing to Antigonus had covered major players, not marginal allies like Reinette, who wasn't close to Alaric.
But Antigonus knew Tolzna. Long ago, when Tolzna was still Sequence 2, they'd crossed paths. Amon had also mentioned the Chained God's tragic fate when briefing Antigonus on Alaric's allies.
Then, the room's colors shifted again, and a grumbling figure appeared.
"You just keep piling on the work, huh? If it doesn't need doing, it's all the same to you!" Medici's voice was laced with frustration. How could a battle exclude the Red Angel? Alaric had summoned him, though he arrived late, likely swamped with tasks.
"Don't be mad, Lil' Red. The Rose School's mess isn't your job. Let Tolzna handle his own faction. You're just here to assist. I'm not sure about Tolzna's capabilities in this area, and Sasrir's here too," Alaric said with a smile.
"Tolzna? Handle things?" Medici scoffed, rolling his eyes. "After being corrupted by the Mother Tree of Desire for so long, you think he's got the strength to deal with it?"
"Maybe. Look at Bethel... fresh from shaking off Outer Deity corruption and already rebuilding the Abraham family. Even if Tolzna can't, we've got a backup," Alaric said, glancing at Reinette.
"I know the Rose School…" "well…" "I can…" "handle it."
Reinette's four heads spoke. As the Temperance faction's leader, she was capable, despite her current weakened state.
Medici's expression softened. He didn't oppose rescuing Tolzna... it was a good cause... but he was genuinely overwhelmed with work.
In theory, with Sasrir, the Deputy, on board, Medici's workload should've lessened. But Alaric, in securing Sasrir, had created new tasks: arranging City of Silver and Moon City residents, establishing rules, and coordinating with the Church of the Eternal Blazing Sun.
Sasrir handled some, but the rest fell to Medici. With the new year approaching and reforms gearing up, his workload hadn't decreased... it had grown.
Honestly, Medici felt he was on the verge of collapse.
"You're not as good as Sasrir. He's been working nonstop and won't even take a break when I suggest it," Alaric said, sounding righteous.
Medici sneered. "And what, pray tell, is our dear boss doing while we slave away?"
Alaric faltered, a twinge of guilt creeping in.
What was he doing? Plenty. His Jack persona had been watching Klein play Medici, while his main self observed the Abraham youths' daily struggles.
Truth be told, spectating was a delightful, soul-soothing pastime. He loved it.
"Ahem," Alaric coughed lightly. He could brush off others' accusations, but Medici... his loyal friend who'd been toiling tirelessly, shouldering most of the work... made him feel a bit sheepish. Even Alaric's scalp tingled thinking about Medici's workload.
The Red Angel was practically his Deputy. Without him, things would grind to a halt.
"How about I get you some assistants?" Alaric suggested softly. "The God of Knowledge and Wisdom will likely contact me soon. I'll ask him to send some capable people to help you out."
Different tasks suit different skills. Other churches' allies were better for combat, farming, or healing, but the Church of Knowledge and Wisdom's members were perfect for administrative work.
As for loyalty, that wasn't a concern. Alaric trusted Medici's ability to handle any potential turncoats, and he had faith in his own knack for picking sides.
***
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