Chapter 190: The Two Bishops

"Byles," Blackwood called out to the old bishop who was walking down the cathedral’s halls. His cane sent echoes throughout the building with each step. Blackwood saw he didn’t stop for him and clicked his tongue. "Byles. It’s important."

With a final loud slam of his cane, the old man stopped and turned to face Blackwood. he frowned at his fake smile. "What."

"15 minutes. That’s all I ask. Looking to the ground he thought on it eventually nodding following Blackwood into a side room. "Thank you." Offering a seat he poured the two a glass of water.

"What is so important? I have a matter I need to attend to." Byles spoke impatiently as he leaned on his cane, his hands not touching the glass poured for him.

"Esmond has begun his move." The old man looked at him blankly already knowing that. Blackwood smiles having a sip of water. "I mean, they have begun to target the preachers we set up."

"Expected. What does it matter though?" The old man was annoyed. He didn’t like his time being wasted.

"It’s the reaction to it. Those places with a strong imperial hold and sentiment actively support it whilst those with weaker support don’t even care."

"That is... annoying." The old man took a pause as he tried to find the right words. Smaking his lips together he sighed. "But not completely unexpected. The Emporer has cultivated a strong national identity over the years. With the Safrid conquest, it’s only expected that it would be stronger."

"The preachers are the least of our concerns right now. The priests we have used to get in touch with them, have reported they are being followed. It will be only a matter of time before it gets linked back to us."

"Not an issue. They may be able to link everything back to us, but they can’t exactly do anything. Our lives for the time being are completely safe." Byles had a nonchalant air around him as he spoke about it getting a crooked smile from Blackwood.

"I’m not on about our lives being in danger. They will simply begin to halt us with whatever they can."

"Are you unable to deal with Esmond’s forces?" Byles asked. Unlike Blackwood, he didn’t have access to the full might of the Church’s forces in the Empire. Whilst he was privy to some of the information he gathered due to his likeness of becoming ArchBishop, he didn’t have a backer in the Holy Seat like Blackwood.

"It’s the problem. Whilst we can muster the resources comparable to the Underwell family, the manpower we have is only a fraction of it. They have had hundreds of years to build themselves into the organization they are today. Adding to that, even the more criminal elements of the Empire work with them." He grabbed the bridge of his nose shaking his head.

"We have to attack them in a way where Esmond can’t deal with it. Is that your suggestion?" Byles asked getting a weak nod from Blackwood.

"First the best place would be the criminal elements you suggested. From my understanding, it’s a very loose agreement. Esmond and the Underwells turn a blind eye to some of their deeds, in return they work with him when he calls upon them. The thing is criminals are awful to work with. They only care for themselves. If the church starts rubbing their nose in their affairs because they work with Esmond, eventually they will cut all ties. Despite the benefits."

"Easier said than done," Blackwood said with a tired voice. "They know how to hide after all."

"Doesn’t matter. Remove them. The Emporer can’t say anything as we have justification in we are enforcing the law. He may even be forced to thank us for it. Esmond will be forced to bring more resources away from the Safrid lands, meaning the grip the Empire has weakens."

Blackwood sat in silence thinking about it. He saw merit in Byles’s suggestion but didn’t think bringing more of Esmond’s resources to deal with the church was a good thing. Despite that he didn’t voice it, believing Byles already considered it.

"I’ll look into it." Blackwood finally said followed by a sigh, "Despite that, I need your help with something else. With the preachers proving ineffective we need a new way to go. We need to deal with the main seats of power in the Empire."

"Brookhaven is the final bastion we have to break down. For now, Silverhaven, Far-Mile, Raventhorpe, and Waverly Dock are the best targets. The Safrid lands have already become a race to see who can lay their claim first, but we are guaranteed to lose that with such a heavy Followers presence there."

The old man hands bony hands tightened around his cane as he fell into thought. "We must make a good impression on the people. Targeting the Emporer’s son can only take us so far, and the people don’t really buy it yet. The victory parade the Empire ran through Far Mile is a good idea. Instead, we create a public holiday under the church. Whilst this privilege is reserved for the Archbishop, with his passing it has fallen to the most senior member present, being me."

"Meanwhile we can start charitable events. Soup Kitchens, donations, medical treatment." Blackwood added on it getting a smile from Byles.

"During the holiday we set up parades and events glorifying the Sol and the Church. Don’t explicitly attack The Emporer during it, but do promote topics of submission to its authority." Blackwood returned a smile, a real one thinking about it.

"It’s just a matter of where to start. Brookhaven is a no for obvious reasons. Silverhaven aswell. The duke’s presence is too strong." Blackwood grabbed his cheeks covering his mouth as his foot bounced thinking. "Waverly Dock has too few people to make an impact and Raventhorpe was the previous Archbishop’s home."

"Far-Mile," Byles said getting a nod from Blackwood.

"It’s the only place that has the people to make it worthwhile whilst not having a strong figure like the Duke in charge. The problem is, it’s a very strong imperial stronghold," Blackwood said in annoyance.

"It’s better than nothing."

"You’re right." Blackwood sighed. "Also, we have seen strange movement from Silverhaven. A lot of the best tradesmen have left and are heading to the capital."

Byles’s eyes looked at the cup of water on the table falling into a trance, as hundreds of ideas flew through them. "The Emporer probably sees what we are trying to do and is preparing something himself. Why he used the Duke’s crafters for whatever it is I do not know. Have your men keep eyes on the palace and see."

Blackwood nodded, already having it be done. Slamming his cane into the ground the old man stood up, his bone cracking as he did. "Is that all, Bishop Blackwood."

Putting on a kind smile once more he pointed to the door getting a nod from Byles.

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Isra felt her heavy eyes look at the documents in front of her, a tired sigh escaping her lips as she saw the endless work before her. Every time she felt close to finishing more would appear keeping her trapped at her desk until late into the night. A knock on the door took her attention away from her papers and she happily called the person in.

Even if they only came to talk about more work it was still better than having her head in a pile of documents only listening to the sound of her writing. Gregor took a step in, a soft smile on his face.

"Good evening Your Majesty." Gregor bowed raising only when Isra gave permission. Taking the seat opposite her he quickly began to talk. "Your Majesty. I have come for an update." Isra knew what he wanted an update on without him even saying.

"Well." Leaning on her hand, her eyes wandered as she stared at the roof. "Using the lines created by His Majesty the Emporer when splitting the military a new set of states within the empire will be created in an attempt to split the wealth produced in each state fairly. That way, not a single people’s council will be bale to wield an extreme level of power over another."

Isra saw Gregor give a happy smile at her words and couldn’t help but feel a little bad for him. He blindly trusted the process seeing it as good where whereas the reality was she was creating a bureaucratic mess. On paper is sounded good what she was doing by slipping the wealth evenly, but it led to insane fluctuations in other categories such a population as well as differing needs. The largest state by land mass was the rural farmland in the Safrid land. The population however was small and their needs varied massively to those of the city.

Adding to that the mixing of state lines with the differing military groups and Nobles meant is would be ear impossible to find someone to deal with any situation that arose without being sent in circles repeatedly.

Isra shook her head pushing the thought away as she continued to explain things to Gregor. "That being said, the main issue we have is finding the people to run the councils. In the cities, it is easier as the people are more educated, but those rural areas will be harder."

"I will begin on that front once I have a complete map of what I am working with," Gregor said happily getting a nod from Isra.

"Okay. Finally, I have taken into consideration what you said, but I cannot allow a place on His Majesty’s council for the common folk. That is a prestigious place and things can’t be haphazardly placed in to appase others." She saw Gregors head drop but he didn’t ook disappointed, expecting it. "Instead." Isra carried on quickly causing Gregor to perk up. "His Majesty will be creating a new title, Prime Minister. He already has someone in mind for the position and one of their responsibilities will be to manage the people council and bring any issues that require it, to his Majesty attention."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Gregor gave a bow standing up. He gave another polite smile before leaving Isra alone again. Her lips circled into a smile as she shook her head at the departing Gregor.