Conquest Sea, main island of the Xiatree Islands.
In the early morning, within the Natsuki's assembly hall, elders from various Natsuki islands and other important figures gathered to discuss crucial resolutions that would determine Natsuki's future. After intense deliberation, everyone finally reached a unified conclusion.
"Alright, if that's the case, then it can be decided now. Everyone will follow the ancestors' decree and use these methods to conceal our faith in the goddess. We now need to subtly guide people's living habits, which will take a long time to complete."
"Fortunately, the Light does not demand a complete conversion of faith from newly converted pagans. After we announce our conversion, they will come to enlighten us for a considerable period, allowing our people to slowly turn towards their Three Saints. Our work will focus on this enlightenment stage. Although it's somewhat difficult, fortunately, the ancestors have given us sufficiently detailed methods. Afterward, I will assign detailed tasks to each of you."
Inside the assembly hall, the Priest Anman of Fengshu sat on his main seat, speaking seriously to the important members of Fengshu before him. After listening to Anman's words, everyone present exchanged glances and nodded slightly, seemingly without any dissenting voices.
Natsuki's purpose in kidnapping the pilgrims was to preserve the Faith of Fertility. They also knew that this kidnapping was very dangerous and would likely incur the wrath of the Light, potentially annihilating the entire Natsuki. However, facing the powerful Light, they had no other better way to gain leverage besides this. Most of them were unwilling to go to war with the Light deep down.
Now that Anman had presented a better method that could allow the entire Natsuki to reconcile with the Church without completely abandoning their faith in the goddess, why not? Moreover, this method was inspired by the ancestors, completely tailored to Natsuki's situation, so there was absolutely no burden in using it.
At this moment, there were almost no dissenting opinions within the large hall. After seeing the reactions of everyone present, Anman nodded slightly. Just as he was about to say something more, a voice suddenly spoke from below. It was an elder.
"Priest Anman, there is one more thing I want to ask. Although these methods of false faith revealed by the ancestors are ingenious and can allow us to secretly retain our faith in the goddess under the Light's enlightenment, making it difficult for them to detect, this is something that happens after the Light accepts our conversion and begins enlightenment. How can we be sure that they will accept our conversion? We just kidnapped their people, and now we are deciding to release them and convert. This change in attitude is too great."
"The Light will not fail to notice such a large change. This can easily arouse their vigilance and even make them think it's a trap we've set. If they don't trust us, it will be very difficult for us to convert."
The elder in front of Anman slowly spoke with a worried tone. Listening to the elder's words, Anman continued to reply with confidence.
"Elder Duodu is right. If our attitude changes too much, it will indeed arouse the Light's vigilance, making our subsequent false faith work difficult to carry out. Therefore, our change in attitude needs a reason. We need a basic pretext to explain why we would suddenly be willing to convert to the Light. A baseless change can only arouse suspicion."
Anman said this, and the elder named Duodu, after hearing Anman's words, asked again.
"Priest Anman... Listening to you, it seems you have already found a suitable reason? What pretext do we need to explain the fact that we are suddenly preparing to convert?"
Listening to Duodu's words, Anman smiled mysteriously, then his gaze turned to Bahoda sitting not far away, and he slowly spoke.
"Bahoda, if I remember correctly... among the three ships you captured, there was a Light Sister named Vanya. You said that when you escorted the ships back, in order to treat the injured crew members and sailors, you found this Sister with extraordinary healing abilities to treat their wounds? After she healed those sailors, she actually voluntarily offered to treat you?"
"Yes, our initial idea was just to keep more leverage to negotiate with the Light, so we let that Sister treat the Light sailors we injured, but we didn't expect that in the end, she would be so sympathetic and say she wanted to treat us, who were the enemy."
"At first, I also doubted her motives, but after I had someone test her treatment and found no problems, I accepted her offer. Afterward, she almost healed everyone's injuries and there were no abnormal situations at all. She seemed to really be showing great kindness. This was the first time I had seen the Light extend a helping hand to the enemy."
Bahoda, who was sitting cross-legged, seriously responded to Anman's words. After listening to Bahoda's words, Anman stroked his beard with satisfaction, then spoke to the people before him again.
"It seems that within the Light, there are also benevolent people who do not distinguish between friend and foe and respect every life. With such a kind and loving Sister, who risked danger to treat us, who should have been the enemy, why can't we be moved by this?"
"A Sister who believes in the Light Holy Mother, with great love that treats everyone equally, saved us, who should have been her enemies. We were moved by this great love similar to that of the goddess, and even mistakenly regarded her as the goddess's messenger. We therefore felt a sacred light on her, and she also taught us to walk the right path."
"Heh heh... I have studied the Light. They like stories of saints sacrificing themselves to preach the most."
Anman said with a chuckle to the people before him. Listening to Anman's response, the people present fell silent. After looking at each other, they immediately understood Anman's meaning.
That's right, their change in attitude needed a reason, and this reason could entirely be due to being enlightened by the noble actions of a noble person. They could be persuaded, taught, and choose to convert, and the person who taught them could be that Light Sister who had previously shown selfless spirit on the ship.
"That's right, we can use that Sister as a pretext. We can have her treat some other injured and sick people in the city, making the Light think that she brought the so-called gospel of the Holy Mother to Natsuki. We can invite her over for a religious debate and then pretend to lose, arousing her desire to preach and then cooperate with her, making the Light think that we decided to convert because of her teachings!"
Clapping his hands, Duodu, who was off to the side, suddenly spoke with realization. Listening to his words, the discussion immediately became lively again. Everyone began to discuss how to shape Sister Vanya into a noble person who "taught" Natsuki, making her cover for the true religious disguise they were about to implement, while Anman smiled and watched the various discussions below.
After another round of discussion, everyone unanimously decided to make that selfless Sister their cover, the reason for their "conversion." Then they immediately decided to bring that Sister to the site soon, guide her to "heal and preach" in Natsuki, and then deliberately arrange a religious debate to lose to her, giving themselves a sufficient reason to "convert" to the Light.
"Alright, since everyone has finished discussing, then Bahoda, go and invite that Sister Vanya over. Let her wait outside first, and we'll let her in when we're ready."
Anman instructed Bahoda. After listening to Anman's words, Bahoda also nodded and left the assembly hall. Then everyone began to discuss how to "deceive" Sister Vanya, with almost everyone speaking, except for Obuye who was sitting in the corner.
'Damn it... something is wrong. Why would this old man Anman suddenly receive some ancestor's enlightenment... If Natsuki doesn't go to war directly with the Church, if the Church doesn't use strong means to purify Natsuki, won't all our previous efforts be in vain!'
Sitting in the corner of the assembly hall, Obuye furrowed his brow and thought. As a follower of the Ebergrass Church, his mission was to ensure that a conflict between Natsuki and the Church was inevitable, and that Natsuki would definitely be brutally purified.
He got intelligence about the undefended pilgrim fleet from the Sea Abyss Church, and then used this intelligence to incite Natsuki to hijack the Church's fleet. Originally, he just needed to wait quietly and escape Natsuki before the fleet arrived after the Church's rescue operation. But now, if Natsuki really releases the people immediately and declares conversion, then his plan is definitely ruined. This was something Obuye had not expected at all.
'Anman's so-called enlightenment must be problematic. How could someone suddenly understand so many things in one night! Something must have gone wrong here to cause things to turn out like this. Damn... If this continues, Natsuki won't be destroyed anytime soon. Even if I report it to the Shining Light Church later, I have to wait for the right time and put in more effort. Moreover, the method Anman just came up with also has a way to deal with reports. If this report is not well-designed, it will be difficult to succeed...'
Obuye was thinking anxiously in his heart at this time, because the delay in Natsuki's destruction due to unexpected circumstances made him feel anxious. Just then, Anman, who was in the main seat, turned his head towards him and spoke.
"Obuye, I have a task for you."
"Ah... Anman Priest, what task is it..." When Anman called his name, Obuye was slightly startled, then turned his head to look at Anman. At this time, Anman took out his staff and handed it to Obuye.
"Since we have now decided to feign conversion to Light, those pilgrims cannot stay as captives. Take my staff to those detention points and order the warriors to release all those Light pilgrims. Gather them in the Falling Bird Forest and arrange their lives properly. Remember to act quickly..."
Anman said this to Obuye. Listening to Anman's words, Obuye was slightly startled, then took the staff and replied.
"Yes, Anman Priest, I will go quickly and return quickly."
Saying that, Obuye, who had taken Anman's staff, stood up and walked out of the council room. When he went down the stairs of the council room, he thought about whether to go home first and report his situation to White Tears Island through the Five Senses Altar. But when he thought that his home was on another island outside the main island, it would take a lot of time to go there. If it took too long and he hadn't completed what Anman had told him to do, the other party would become suspicious, so he didn't decide to go back immediately.
Obuye finished going down the stairs. Just as he walked two steps on the open space in front of the council room with a frown, he suddenly saw a figure standing in front of him, in the center of the open space.
That was a Sister of Light, about fifteen or sixteen years old, wearing a rare white Sister's habit, with a beautiful face and platinum blonde hair. Standing quietly in front of Obuye, Obuye knew at a glance that this was the Sister of Light that Anman and the others were preparing to use as a cover for their conversion. Her name seemed to be Vanya, and she should be waiting here to enter the council room.
Obuye, who had many anxieties in his heart, did not intend to pay attention to the Sister in front of him. He held the staff and walked straight forward, preparing to obey Anman's instructions and go to the pilgrim detention place to give orders. Just as he passed by the white Sister, the white Sister spoke. She spoke in a soft tone, using the Iweig language, which the Natsuki people did not often use.
"You are Obuye, right... In this Natsuki, the one responsible for extending the Lord's will..."
Listening to the Sister's words, Obuye was slightly startled. He stopped beside the Sister, and then also replied in a low voice in the Iweig language.
"How do you know my name? Besides, I don't believe in your Three Saints, Sister."
"Of course, Mr. Obuye, you are naturally not loyal to the Three Saints, but loyal to the Lord. My Lord and your Lord are the same one. He is not the Three Saints, nor is He Abundance..."
The Sister's whispered words lingered in Obuye's ears, which made Obuye tremble all over. He widened his eyes and looked at the Sister beside him, saying with surprise in his tone.
"You are..."
"We are all faithful servants of the Lord, and we are all extensions of His will. Our current conversation is being watched by the Natsuki warriors. There is no time to explain too much now. The entire plan has gone wrong, and we need to immediately rectify it."
With a silent expression, the Sister looked at Obuye and murmured. Listening to the Sister's words, Obuye's expression became complicated. After opening his mouth, he tried hard to stabilize his emotions, and then spoke seriously.
"What do we need to do now?"
Obuye spoke, suppressing his emotions. He had not expected that the noble Sister in the mouths of Anman and Bahoda was actually a bloody worshiper, just like him.
"I have already heard the discussion in the room just now through a special extraordinary method. Now Natsuki wants to use the method of false belief... to try to cover up the conflict with Light. We cannot allow such a thing to happen... The destruction of Natsuki cannot be delayed. If they want to cover up and ease this conflict, then we will break and intensify it."
The Sister continued to say with a cold expression. Listening to the Sister's words, Anman was slightly startled, and then spoke.
"You mean... intensify the conflict?"
"Yes, as long as the conflict is so great that it is irreconcilable, then no matter how Natsuki expresses the idea of conversion, the Church will not pay attention to it. And the way to intensify the conflict is in your hands."
The Sister murmured. Listening to the Sister's words, Obuye looked at the staff in his hand, and then his expression became clear.
"You mean... I can use the authority given by Anman to spread false orders? I can... let those guards tear up the tickets on the spot?"
"That's right. Aren't those guards waiting for the order to kill at any time? They will do it with just a simple sentence. The order to kill is completely consistent with them...
"As long as enough hostages die, there will be no reconciliation between Light and Natsuki. This is a way to make them start a war immediately. Other plans... are not as effective, irreversible, and will not drag on..."
The Sister continued to say to Anman. Listening to the Sister's words, Obuye looked at the staff in his hand, and his breathing could not help but become rapid.
"But after this, my situation will become dangerous... Anman will come to catch me..."
"But as long as you run in time, they can't do anything to you, can they?"
"Yes... The sea is my true home. The true Sea God, the powerful Abyssal Serpent, is protecting me. Those Natsuki who believe in the false sea god cannot catch me."
Obuye said so. At this time, his eyes were filled with fanaticism. After the Sister glanced at him, she continued to speak.
"There is not much time. If we talk any longer, it will be difficult to explain... May the Blood Cup protect us. We can meet at a certain future banquet and share the feast."
With a hint of evil smile, the Sister made a simple gesture and then drew an inverted triangle on her chest. After seeing this series of actions, Obuye understood that this was the prayer gesture of the Cup Mother.
'A noble person who believes in the Holy Mother and has selfless great love, is actually a follower of the Cup Mother in secret? I really don't know how many lives she has taken and how much flesh and blood she has tasted under this hypocritical glorious appearance...
'It's blasphemy... but I like it...'
With an evil smile, Obuye also responded to the Sister with a gesture, and then continued to walk forward with the staff. After a while, he disappeared into the distant forest.
After Sister Vanya watched the other party's back disappear, she turned her head to look at the small door of the council room not far away. In her sight, the small door slowly opened, and a figure slowly walked out. That was the Abundance Priest, Anman, with an extremely serious expression.
"Mr. Anman, now... you should believe what I said, right? In this Natsuki, there are provocateurs with ulterior motives..."