Chapter 16 - intrigue

The inside of the town hall was a mess. The door, after two helpful grunts saw her struggling with it, pulled out a massive crowbar the size of a small child and pried it open, the mysterious black paint seemingly holding on until if finally snapped, allowing Levi in.

“I assume you’re here for the open house, sir?”, one of the black-clad guards said after helping her out.

“Yes. Also, I’m a girl, not a “sir””, she said in a slightly annoyed tone.

“Really? Sorry, my bad.”, he replied, looking a bit bashful. He then let her through. “Don’t worry about the air, the ventilation system was left untouched. You can go on in and petition a method of solving it without any danger to yourself.”

“Thank you for that bit of information. Have a good day”, she replied formally, using the proper mannerisms for nobility. Her aunt had taught her that if you acted like nobility, then to everyone who didn’t know you, you essentially were nobility for all intents and purposes. This worked even more so if you had valuables and were out of town, which Levi currently did. Thanks to Victor’s obsession with building the most “think of all the peaceful applications though” type technology, they were essentially sailing on a floating weapons storage unit disguised as a teddy bear. With that trump card in tow, she was certain she could fake enough social standing to propose a “solution” for the vandals that would get her some political power here.

As she entered the stown hall, a cacopohonous council of politicians were shouting about the recent vandalism.

“This is obviously the work of a cult! We need to increase the defense budget! The education of our children can be put to a pause so long as we can keep them safe!”, said one old-looking catsith.

Just as there was going to be more shouting, Levi’s presence commanded their attention, her cloak and leather armor giving them the impression that a mysterious traveler was here to solve their problems, a Pied Piper to rid them of their metaphorical rats.

“I think that given the fact that your children most likely go to private schools, you simply wish to line your pockets. I believe that I can offer an alternate solution”, said Levi in a razor-sharp, clinical tone. Her wide-brimmed ten-gallon hat’s edge made her eyes blurred out by the inky shadow, giving her the appearance of your typical wandering gunslinger or private eye.

“And why should we trust you?”, demanded one of the council members. Given that this was open to those who had prestige sufficient to enter, they didn’t mind being interrupted.

“Because I already know a good deal about these cultists. Given that songs about this “entropy given form” were commonplace, I’m assuming a nonsecular socio-political movement recently became violent, perhaps due to these cults being heavily taxed despite being so small. I also believe that several of said cultists have some sort of affiliation to high-ranking officials, which is how the guards did not interfere the night the vandalism happened.``

A woman wearing a clockwork monocle looked down at her, her disinterested expression looking at Levi with clear disdain. “I suppose that the point of having an open council was to find an answer, as even a gem can be found in the refuse some time. Besides, what do we have to lose?”

Levi recognized this as an attempt to also find a scapegoat should they fail to find a solution that worked or was even particularly popular. An absolution of responsibility and a way to get cheap labor. Levi would have to watch out for this woman, as her political maneuvering outclassed even Levi’s aunt in skill.

“My payment will be fifty thousand tiles upon completing the job, with supplies and reinforcements not being taken into account so long as it does not exceed ten thousand.”, she said while bowing, her hat covering her eyes as it struggled to slip off. Levi adjusted it to make sure it wouldn’t topple over, being careful for others to not notice.

“Very well. Consider this granted, so long as you tell us one thing: Who is responsible?”, said a bearded, heaveset man. Unlike the others, he appeared to not have the typical paunch or bone-thinness of the rest of the council, but instead had the build of a warrior or even a common brute. Forgoing the typical white robes, he instead was wearing a sleevless tunic, a dull maroon scarf bordering on black, and fist wrappings around arms roughly as thick as Levi’s head.

“I believe, once again, that this is a political and religious movement against vairous politicians who are associated heavily with the church. Given that the main, “high” church is plated in gold and has expensive benches while the other “lowborn” ones barely scrape by and have outside services with second hand instruments, I have a theory that the slight decline in church attendance may be due to a cult offering a change from their current conditions.``

“Outrageous. I can hardly believe that our country’s citizens would give up their ideals in exchange for a couple of extra loaves of bread”, said the elderly catsith once more.

“Be that as it may, it is most likely the truth. Not to mention it is also the promise of something better and more immediate than what awaits them according to the Radiant Church. While the Radiant King’s return cannot be foretold or hurried by man, this cult may say otherwise to lure in citizens.”, said Levi calmly. “Just as how a dog will bite the hand that harms it, even the most lowly of men will struggle in any way they can against those they deem an oppressor”.

The various political figures paused, then nodded in agreement. “Very well. You have two weeks to do this, at which point we will be forced to use more conventional methods.”, pronounced the spindly elderly woman with the monocle.

Levi nodded and hung her hat on the coatrack as she promised to do so. “This will be done in roughly a week’s time if all goes well. Rest assured I will find out who did this.” she then strode out confidently, her trenchcoat billowing out as she walked out the door.

Levi then went back in and took the hat. Those things were expensive, after all.

Meanwhile, deep within the ground, a bunch of hooded figures hunched over a carving.

“Hey Vern, I’m gonna need some more sacrificial blood over here.”, one of them hollered.

“Alright Jeff, just wait a bit, I need to set up the summoning circles. How about you get that ritual dagger beforehand so you won’t have to interrupt the ritual?”

“Sure thing.”, replied Jeff offhandedly. Despite their gloomy looking attire in a cave that smelled of blood, these just seemed to be average people attending a perfunctory religious ceremony without any of the pomp and mystique an ordinary cult had.

“From the depths I summon thee, spawn of blood and darkness, forsaken of the abyss and -- oh thanks Vern, this is just what I needed. By the way, wanna head out to the bar later?”

“Yup. Wait, is the summoning ritual still on? Crap. Well, that’s one goat down the drain. I’ll get another tommorrow.”, replied Vern.

A clap from the blood-covered circle with a twitching caprine corpse laying dead center within the ritual emanated throughout the cave, a shadowy figure emerging triumphantly.

“Okay okay, keep it together. This is the first impression, so the guys are gonna expect something awesome. Just like I practiced with the boss. WHO DARES SUMMON I, LORD OF INTOXICATION AND FATHER OF ALL MID-SIZED REASONABLY PRICED MORGAGES? IT IS I, TIMAEL! NAME YOUR WISH AND FOUL DEED, FOR THE FALLEN ALONE WILL DO SO”

The demon, apparently named Timael, rose up on what was apparently his first summoning.

Jeff scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

“We kinda summoned you by accident, to be perfecly honest. Although, now that you mentioned it, we could use some help. See, our sponsor didn’t really give us enough money to get helping hands, so it’s mainly just us seven doin’ all the culty business. Can you move those boxes of miniature livestock to the stables? We kinda need them for vessels and possession.”

Timael deflated, but then quickly rose up again. “How long will these tasks take?”

“We will kinda need some help, but we will make it quick if you wanna get back to whatever you were doing.”

Timael snorted derisively. “Are you kidding? Gehenna sucks. It’s literally just call centers, legal firms and insurance offices as far as the eye can see. Screw it, I’ll join you. I’ve found a legal loophole that lets me count myself as a soul-judgement beneficiary for a ritual according to some dumb legal precedent, so I can pretty much stay here indefinitely if you help me. Mind if I join this, ah, cult? I kinda need something to do until I can put the loophole into action before it gets patched up.”

“How many souls will you need? We aren’t gonna give em up without hagglin’, so beware”, said Vern cautiously. He was prepared to use his three years of selling things at the flea market to good use. He reasoned that the eternal essence of his mind was somewhat similar to an overpriced wooden carving, and that timael would be around the level of a disgruntled kid asking for discounts for whatever reason.

“Two chicken souls and whatever is left of that goat should be enough.”

“That low? Alright then.”

Timael exhaled. This was going to be fun. Plus, his plan to become the first demon to break out of Gehenna’s legions would finally be fulfilled after years of scheming.