Chapter 97: 97 The Enemy of My Enemy is a Useful Pawn

Leading the dazed follower, I went to where the Cardinal would be.

On the way, I asked a few questions. I wanted to see if this brainwashing was truly absolute.

"If we go like this, can we see the Cardinal you serve?"

"To be precise... it’s the office where Cardinal Limani occasionally comes."

"So, if we’re unlucky, we might not see him?"

The follower nodded. I subtly probed.

"If he doesn’t come, you should kill yourself, okay?"

I expected them to prostrate themselves and beg for their life. But an unexpected reaction came out.

The follower began to strangle their own neck with both hands. It was an unexpected act.

"Whoa, whoa, not now!"

When I stopped them, the follower immediately dropped their hands.

I was completely surprised. I was once again amazed by the necklace’s effect. To this extent?

"Well, Lao controlled an entire territory with this. People probably didn’t even know they were being deceived, right?"

I let out a hollow laugh and walked. Following the follower, I arrived at a building filled with ordinary offices.

This place is too ordinary.

"Wait."

As I tried to enter, a burly guy blocked me. What, was he a knight’s guard or something?

He frowned and looked between me and the follower.

"Who are you people?"

I immediately sent a telepathic message to the follower.

"Say exactly what I’m thinking."

I conveyed my thoughts. And then.

The follower calmly spoke.

"I am a follower who serves Cardinal Limani. While praying at the chapel today, a follower praising Cardinal James caused a disturbance, so I came to report it urgently."

"And the one behind you?"

"This is a grateful person who protected me from that follower. They have come to receive the Lord’s teachings."

"...Alright, go on in."

He stepped aside. I went up to the office with the follower.

These cult bastards, I don’t know about other things, but this is truly consistent. They step aside when someone says they’ve come to receive teachings.

"So, I guess I’ll have to pay money now, to show proper devotion to the ancestors, right?"

I sneered inwardly and entered the office. Inside, I saw people doing paperwork everywhere.

"Hand me that fountain pen over there."

"Do you have a copy of the ledger?"

"One item is missing from this list; fix errors like this."

They were working quite busily.

"What, it’s like a normal company, isn’t it? Perfect for dropping a bombshell."

I was laughing silently when I heard footsteps approaching me. I turned my head, and a middle-aged man with half-shaved blonde hair was looking at me and the follower.

"What brings you here?"

I don’t know what this guy is. He’s an unawakened one, though. Let’s ask.

"Are you Cardinal Limani? Let’s talk."

"Me, with you?"

"A very important matter. One that might be of great help to you."

"To me? I don’t know how you got here, kid. But you need to be taught a lesson, don’t you?"

A sigh escaped me. I’m wearing a sword in my waist right now, do I look like a kid?

"Then you’ll see blood, won’t you?"

At my single word, Limani’s gaze turned hostile. I guess I’ll have to make him behave.

I grinned and gave an order to the follower.

"Pick up a nearby fountain pen and stab it into the neck of the closest person."

Puchi.

"Kkheuaaaaak!"

The follower carried out my order well. A fountain pen was stuck in the neck of the person doing paperwork, scattering bright red blood around.

They weren’t dying, but it was a sudden bloody incident. People were flustered.

"What?!"

I merely shrugged.

"What are you going to do? Mr. Limani."

"...Alright, follow me."

As if he had made up his mind, he led me somewhere. Deeper into the office, it was a private office.

I looked around, dumbfounded. The previous office was quite neat too.

Perhaps because it was a private office, there were expensive knight sculptures, famous paintings, and even rare liquor bottles.

All sorts of desires were on display. The building itself wouldn’t be cheap either, considering it was located in the capital.

"Alright, what is it you have to tell me?"

Leaning my back against the bookshelf, I answered Limani’s question.

"Your Cult Leader is dead. In Weaverpool."

"...What?! Don’t spout bullshit! How could our Cult Leader be dead?!"

"It’s the truth."

I immediately held up the necklace. A Cardinal would know what this was.

Limani saw the necklace and his pupils trembled.

"Im-impossible... How? More importantly, shouldn’t the news have spread by now?"

"Don’t you have many informants?"

"No, there’s only one informant. If we had too many and got caught, the Empire might catch wind of us."

Well, in this aspect, he’s thorough. But this very point was blinding the other Cardinals besides James.

"James must have already taken control of that small number of informants. That’s why a big shot like you still doesn’t know this news, isn’t it?"

While subtly flattering Limani, I also made him realize the reality.

He seemed to listen more intently to my words, then became flustered.

"How could this be? James, rumors about him doing something like this have been circulating for a while, but he’s faster than I thought!"

"Because he’s that kind of bastard."

"...What do you want?"

Limani told me to state my purpose. So, I had to tell him. With a slight fabrication.

"You see, I personally have a grudge against James. That son of a bitch, I heard that several Cardinals like you are gathering to keep James in check."

"Is that so? That’s news to me."

So, you’re going to pretend not to know? I have my ways too.

"Is that not right? I must have come to the wrong place. I, at least, wanted to make you succeed the Cult Leader."

"What?!"

"Compared to that snake-like James, Limani. You are more reputable and have a respectable public image, don’t you? Among the commoners, hymns about you are even sung."

"Hymns... about me?"

Joy seemed to appear on Limani’s face before vanishing. He was hiding his emotions.

It was clumsy, but it was a fitting demeanor for his position.

"Yeah, a song like this. I am happy, I am happy, I am haaaappy! I am happy believing in Limani!"

Of course, it was a made-up song. There’s no way such a song would circulate as a hymn.

But Limani’s lips stretched into a grin that almost reached his ears. It was natural. Because he was just a cult bastard who only chased greed.

"Ahem, is that so? Indeed, I have bestowed some blessings. And I have diligently engaged in spreading the gospel."

What a relief. To meet such a foolish and greedy bastard.

If I had met someone like James, the battle of wits would have been prolonged.

"Well, that’s enough. I guess I should go to another Cardinal."

I turned around.

"W-wait!"

I knew he’d stop me. I smirked, then turned back with a poker face.

"What is it?"

"It’s true that we’re allied to keep Cardinal James in check. But his influence is too great. Why else would he be called the next Cult Leader?!"

He was already being called that? No wonder James is so cunning. After all, no matter how much of an idiot someone is, if people around them praise them as a genius, they’re bound to get conceited.

"You just gather everyone who dislikes James."

"Why?"

"It’s not just any matter, the Cult Leader is dead. A cunning guy like James would already be doing all sorts of things to seize the Cult Leader’s position, wouldn’t he?"

"That’s true."

"But what if you just sit around doing nothing?"

Only then did Limani tremble. He rested his chin in his hand, then nodded.

"That’s right. I should at least hold a Prime Meeting."

Prime Meeting.

It usually refers to a gathering where religious leaders convene for a meeting.

For a cult, to use such a grand term. It’s not even funny.

Well, it was as expected, though.

"That’s good. Gather as much influence as you can. There’s no other chance but now."

"But what will happen even if I gather everyone?"

"Right now, only you and James know that the Cult Leader is dead. If a Prime Meeting is held this time, at least your allies will learn the truth. Let’s use this."

"Hoo... I think I’m starting to understand."

As if he hadn’t just bluffed his way into the Cardinal position, Limani also wore an expression of having formed a plan.

Good, at least you should think about screwing over James yourself.

He thought for a long time, then whistled. It seemed he had come up with a pretty good idea.

"I get it, I get it. I just need to pin the Cult Leader’s death on James."

"Exactly. He definitely has the motive. I don’t know if you’re aware, but there are also fake guards sent by James at the checkpoint. If you’re going to clear them out, it would be best to get rid of them first and hold the meeting quickly."

"Heh heh, that’s good! But..."

Limani chuckled for a moment, then turned to me with a serious expression.

Slowly widening his eyes.

"Why are you helping me?"

"I told you. I have a grudge. I need to see that bastard’s blood. You people make it happen: establish a just cause, strike first with incitement and fabrication, and pressure James with public opinion on your side."

"I know what to do. That should be enough."

"Of course, of course."

"Heh heh heh, this is an opportunity given by the Lord. He has indicated that I am the one truly qualified to be the Cult Leader!"

Limani, foolishly laughing with both hands spread towards the sky. Seeing him so full of himself, his level is immediately apparent.

While sneering at him inwardly, I maintained a solemn expression on my face.

"Then do your best. It would be good to carry it out tomorrow or the day after. James’s influence extends everywhere, you see."

"Wait, leave that necklace behind."

As I was about to leave, Limani sent me a greedy gaze. His eyes were piercing the necklace.

"This? No."

"Why?"

"I’ll give it to you then, after I see that you people have truly done well."

"What did you say?!"

"Don’t get your priorities confused, Cardinal. Is taking this from me more important, or immediately taking down James? Isn’t that an easy choice?"

At my words, Limani clicked his tongue but couldn’t take his eyes off the necklace until the end. He truly is a man honest with his greed.

"Hmph, I’ll take care of that myself! You just watch. See how I carry out the Lord’s will!"

"Yes, that’s the spirit."

It’s going smoothly. Just like this, I needed to incite this guy and divert James’s attention.

So that I could cut off James’s lifeline more easily.

But Limani’s face suddenly darkened.

"Hmm, but it’s still difficult."

"What is?"

"There’s a noble who sponsors James, you see. He’s quite influential."

"Who is it?"

"Count Sanji!"

A name I knew came up. Haa, the name that had to come up, came up.