Kaden had to admit one thing at least. The people from church were rather meticulous. They basically did not speak to each other, but with seemingly large amount of experience they acted with good coordination. Kaden himself was pretty happy that he didn’t have to speak to them, but it didn’t seem like they wanted to speak to him either.

At any rate, it was efficient. Church had fewer troops than military, but they were probably often better trained. When church needed something done, they wanted it done right.

Kaden took the opportunity to experience it. He knew he would be dealing with churches on both sides, Sacronan and saints, at some point. At the very least Sacronan’s church was going to suffer. Considering some of his plans, Kaden assumed church on saints side were not going to let him do whatever he wanted, even if he didn’t have any major targets there.

Not to mention, if they ever found out that he spit at the gods, Kaden did not need to have any meaningful targets among them. Instead they would come find him.

“Oh well”, Kaden thought to himself. “Its not like I plan to have that revealed anytime soon.”

The direction where the group was going wasn’t as far south as Kaden had previously been. Basically anything to west from Saint Empire was part of Centralean Forest. It was only a matter where you entered it. Still, it was some distance away.

Closer to Corand, even if close to Centralean Forest, there seemed to be lot of different sized towns and villages and even a few smaller cities. If one had the ability to hunt beasts, easy access to the forest was a good way to earn money. Eventually more people settled down to offer services for people who hunted beasts. Most of these places were near military watch points for extra safety too.

The town where Kaden and the church’s people were going was one of these. The sect they were investigating was a bit further away even closer to the forest. Kaden assumed this meant they had enough people and strength to protect themselves from the beasts. Otherwise they wouldn’t be able to stay there for long. There was a reason why humans did not try spread too far into the Centralean Forest.

After a few days of travel the group found the town called Resida and entered it.

“We will stay here for a few hours”, Weils told everyone. “Ask questions about the sect. I will meet with the mercenaries that were hired to come with us. We will then meet at this town’s temple.”

The priest that was following went towards the town temple while the others left to different directions. Kaden stood around for a while until he started walking forward into the town. People who noticed him seemed to avoid him. He wasn’t exactly hiding his appearance.

“This might be hard”, Kaden though to himself.

While he didn’t have any strange thoughts about loyalty or being obedient to the church, he did not wish to get Weil’s ire by failing to do anything. Kaden decided, if people were not going to give him a chance, he would make that chance himself.

Kaden instead walked right into what looked like local inn. There would be people in there. He would ask them directly.

As Kaden walked in, lots of heads turned to look at him and the inn quieted. He looked around for a moment.

“Since I got all their attention...”, Kaden noticed the situation. “Does anyone know anything about that new sect not far from your town?”

There was some muttering about Kaden’s sudden question.

“You aren’t one of those weirdos?” Asked a man sitting at a table near Kaden. “You look like you would fit among them just fine.”

“No. The church is interested about them and brought me along for that exact reason”, Kaden explained. “That is to say, this is a church matter, and if anyone here knows something useful and doesn’t say anything, the inquisitor might get angry. Don’t blame me, if you choose to hide something.”

Kaden decided to take the chance and throw around some threats. People usually obeyed at the mention of church.

“There isn’t much to say”, the man continued. “One day group of them came to the town and started preaching about a new god. They wear odd clothing and act weird, but so far nothing else. They don’t seem to be dangerous, but, as you mentioned the church, we haven’t let them build altar to their god here in the town since we don’t know if they are heretics.”

“I see”, Kaden replied.

“No one really knows anything else about them”, the man continued. “You would have to ask them about their origins. I’m sure they will talk to the inquisitor.”

Kaden snorted. Of course they would or they will be purged. The point was to know a bit more of them before even meeting them. People of Residia knew nothing useful. Even as Kaden continued questioning people, he only got similar answers. At least the sect, which apparently was named Sect of Awu, were not really secretive. They were just strange so very few people interacted with them much so they knew very little. Every now and then some people would come asking about the sect and wanted join. Kaden had been mistaken as one of them at first. It seemed they had ways to spread information about themselves and attract members. With what? Kaden didn’t find out. Nor did he actually care.

“Religious fanatics might not even need any reason”, Kaden muttered to himself. “Perhaps they woke up one night and felt the urge to join some random new sect.”

Kaden felt he had heard enough. It was time to go to see the inquisitor.

Temples were not hard to find. They were made to be visible. Yet, this time Kaden first noticed the mercenaries that waiting nearby and Weils who was speaking with their leader.

The mercenaries seemed relatively random assortment of people. Kaden wondered why the church had chosen these ones specifically? Among the mercenaries there were many ordinary looking warriors, but there were even a few that seemed a bit odd, like strangely dressed woman with black long hair and face with white and black makeup. She had some kind of item that looked like a … musical instrument? Kaden had seen quite a few strange fighting styles so he knew it was just a matter of applying right kind of mana in right way to turn almost anything into a weapon. In fact, if you were good with your strange style, it was an advantage. Most people would have to figure out how to fight against you before they could act freely.

Kaden waited for Weils to finish his conversation with the mercenaries.

Once Weils was done, he merely looked at Kaden like he was expecting something.

“Anything relevant to report?” Weils finally asked.

“Nothing too useful”, Kaden replied and described what he had found out.

“It seems they are not too aggressive”, Weils said with a nod. “Sometimes when people find new gods to worhship they become rather… protective. This might be too easy.”

While Weils seemed happy, Kaden still noticed some distaste in his voice too. Clearly Weils wanted something more. This increased the possibility that Kaden had already thought. Weils thought himself above this sort of stuff already.

“Maybe its last thing he does before promotion?” Kaden thought to himself. “Whatever. What the inquisitor doesn’t really matter.”

Not long after the rest of Weils’s people returned. As far as Kaden could tell they also didn’t tell anything interesting. Content was roughly what Kaden already knew. While he hadn’t tried very hard, it seemed the people from church didn’t manage much more either. The villagers knew nothing.

“It seems we will have to see for ourselves then”, Weils said. “Lets move out.”

This time the mercenaries came along too and the group was much larger. The Sect of Awu had not seemed too dangerous and, if things came to a fight, they should be easily butchered. Kaden still had his doubts. Surely the church had known something about the sect before arranging everything? If the church didn’t know they would be incompetent and that was something Kaden knew to be untrue.

“I think there is more to all this than one can see on the surface”, Kaden concluded. “I’ll take advantage of it, if I can or need to.”

The sect wasn’t located far from the town. It just a bit further slightly past the area usually protected by the military. Kaden was pretty sure the sect would be annihilated by passing beasts eventually, but it still stood and could fend off beasts.

What greeted everyone was clearly newly built fortifications made mostly from wood, but there was some parts made of stones at the ground level and minor formations. That was the minimal defense against beasts. There were also some lookout towers. There were clearly some building beyond the walls too, but it was not possible to see them on the ground level with the walls blacking sight.

Since there were fortifications there were probably people on them too, but somehow none of them were visible or made any sounds. In fact, it was pretty quiet. Kaden wondered, if they decided to bolt away once they heard inquisitor was coming. Perhaps they weren’t confident on passing the inspection?

“What do we do?” Asked one of the people under Weils. “If they are gone or simply not opening gates for is, should we attack?”

“That is if we need to”, Weils answered. “I have questions for them so I would rather put fighting aside for now.”

Weils and the rest started thinking what to do.

Then there was a voice.

“Who approaches!” Someone shouted from the fortifications. “This place is under protection of the great Awu!”

Weils’s face darkened a bit. It seemed these people were going to be difficult. Yet, perhaps not to the extent that they would be exterminated due to it. Surely they knew exactly who was coming and why. Even if they didn’t they should have expected someone to come check them out.

“I am Weils, inquisitor of the church of true path!” Weils shouted after contemplating for a moment. “Open the gates or they will be opened by force. Worhip of false gods must be purged. Whether or not your new god is one must be determined. Resistance shall be assumed to be heresy.”

Some moments later the gate started making sounds as it was being opened. It didn’t take long. What was righg there behind the now opened gate was a person. This person was wearing brightly colored, green, suit that resembled some beast. Probably some wolf or fox beast. The suit was all he was wearing. Nothing else, except a headband and a weapon, a sword, tied to his waist.

“Hello! Come in!” He shouted and waved his arm.