The Greatest Sin [Progression Fantasy][Kingdom Building]
Chapter 300 – Recalibrate and Advance

When we heard that Irinika, Anassa, Fer, Olephia, Baalka or Fer were in a meeting, we knew that they had just received orders. That was always the perfect time to attack, as the Imperial Legions would be mustering for their own offensive. Ultimately, those six were champions. They were grand thugs to be used in the military, to be deployed against our own Divines or to force deployment of powerful members of the White Pantheon away from an important location.

It is when news came that Kassandora, Malam and Arascus were the only ones in a meeting that I always grew worried. Leona and Helenna managed to catch wind of those three members two dozen throughout the Great War, and each time, their discussions led to a renewed and reinvigorated offensive that had been totally unpredictable. I think everyone in the White Pantheon shares the same thought: if there was any members of Arascus’ family we could remove immediately, then the order is simple:

Arascus first, because he binds them all together.

Kassandora second, because she is their genius.

Malam third, because she is their fuel.

- Excerpt from “Triumph”, written by Goddess Fortia, of Peace.

Arascus and Kassandora arrived to the war-room at the same time. The war-room, as in a simple parasol that rested on the outside of new Nanbasa. A small black thing, with a few tassels hanging from the posts holding up the cloth and giving a light sway every now and then. The sun was slowly beginning to set in the west, and the city’s lengthening shadow created a dark cloud in the ocean stretching out into the east.

As Iniri was regrowing the city, Kassandora’s troops were digging out bunkers along the coast. Bunkers near the beach, with light cannons and machine guns. And another, sparser, line of bunkers that had been fitted with heavy coastal artillery. Trucks from other cities had started to pour into Nanbasa, carrying concrete and tools and furniture for the regrown city. It was the electronics, and the countless rolls of cables that was the grandest obstacle in switching the city back on. And with those trucks, so were the people that had escaped into the countryside returning to their new city.

A bureau had been set up: the IDRF, the Imperial Disaster Response Force, to manage the return to the city. The experience it earned here would be vital for the quick takeover and implementation of order in Arascus’ next target. Because that switch of targets was exactly why he decided to bring Kassandora and Malam into a meeting today.

The others always raised qualms in discussions. Although they could all be given orders and would fulfil them without question, it was simply better for grand strategies to not include them: Irinika had always been far too anxious to prove herself, Fer was too loyal and would try to make her role as great as possible to minimize the danger to others, Anassa was never happy with decision making, either declaring herself above a certain task or insulted that things she deemed important were not given to her. Neneria was lazy, and would seemingly fade into the background of every conversation that handled jobs.

It wasn’t that they didn’t want to work, Arascus knew and every one of his daughters could and would do anything that he assigned to them, but some characters should simply be kept away from serious policies for their own benefit. Someone like Kassandora and Malam, who felt shared prides in projects underneath rather than needing to be involved in the action, who now knew the rumours about what grand orchestrators of chaos they were and tried to live up to the image, had no such qualms. Kassandora and Malam would look at a problem and immediately start trying to solve it.

So Kassandora and Malam were perfect for the grandest strategies. Arascus’ feet touched the ground as Kassandora stood to the side in her black Imperial uniform, complete with a short red cape whose edges were wrapped with white fur. It made the woman’s straight crimson hair pop. Arascus knew she was waiting for him before she sat herself.  “Malam’s late.” Kassandora said.

“She’s over there.” Arascus pointed to the approaching Goddess. Malam was stood up on the back of truck, the woman herself was almost as large as the vehicle.

“That doesn’t change the fact that she’s still late.” Kassandora said with some satisfaction. “Is it just us?”

“It’s just us.” Arascus replied as he turned into the table. They never brought papers to meetings like this, nor would any minutes be taken.

“Alright.” Kassandora said, she made a quick laugh. “I was annoyed that you told me not to bring Kavaa actually.” Arascus turned and raised an eyebrow at the woman.

“You and her are like Malam and Helenna.” The God of Pride and Kassandora shook her head.

“Kavaa tags along with me, I don’t invite her to meetings.” Kassandora said flatly and Arascus responded with an even flatter look. Who was Kassandora trying to convince with that? Because she certainly wouldn’t be able to convince him. “I don’t!”

“I don’t mind it.” Arascus said. “Both her and Helenna are fit to join the ranks if I’m going to be honest. I just want to give them more time.”

“Mmh.” Kassandora replied. Arascus tried to get a read on whether the woman was stressed by that or whether she actually relaxed, or whether the emotion she was displaying was genuine at all. Although when it was just the two of them, she was usually quite honest with what she was feeling.

“I know you understand.” Arascus said, he was sure that she would. Because if there was anyone who would coldly analyse every and any action to make sure that they kept track of their potential social impact, then it would be Kassandora. “But it would make the club less exclusive.” He shrugged. “The exclusivity is appreciated by the others.”

Kassandora smiled, leaned back, shook her head, and locked eyes with Arascus. “The exclusivity works for me too.”

“I’m happy it does.” Arascus said. Kassandora’s heart may have been fortified behind countless walls, but she still did have a heart somewhere in there.

“It makes me feel like you’re not just pleasant to me for the sake of pleasantness.” Kassandora said honestly.

“I’m pleasant with everyone.” Arascus replied with a shrug.

“Not in the way you are to us.” Kassandora said. She sighed and looked around. “That’s for another time though.” The woman’s face said all that Arascus needed to know. Malam was almost here. He turned around and saw the Goddess of Hatred, in a black uniform matching Kassandora’s save for a switch in insignia, who was quickly walking up the hill. The truck that had brought her here had been turned around and parked.

“Apologies for the delay.” Malam said. “Helenna was rather difficult to get rid of, it won’t happen again.” Arascus turned back around to the table and waved Malam over.

“Sit, sit.” He said and the Goddess of Hatred pulled up a chair for herself. “I have things to discuss.”

“It’s always good when it’s just us.” Malam said as Kassandora leaned forwards, resting her elbows on the table and paying full attention.

“It’s about the issue we’ve just caused.” Arascus said as he looked over the city in the distance. They were this far specifically to make sure that Iniri or Helenna would not be able to overhear and he was still rather paranoid about them. The former especially, he had especially chosen a hill that was just rock and without grass to make sure the nearby daisies would not spill the secrets. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Iniri or Helenna… but…

But they weren’t daughters.

And he supposed there was a fair bit of Luck Paranoia still within him that had been forged in the battles against Leona. And if most of the daughters themselves were excluded from the grand strategy meetings, how could outsiders be let in?

They couldn’t, that was the answer. Arascus continued. “Specifically that you have caused Kassie, with the cracking of Arika and now with Neneria.”

“It was the best move I could make at the time.” Kassandora said. “It gives us the initiative, and Elassa set the precedent with the cracking that the world is at stake.” Arascus saw Kassandora look at him, and he could feel those great waves of Kassandora’s respect washing over him. “It’s good that you see it too.”

“You’re correct on both.” Arascus said. “The cracking set the precedent and Neneria shows that we’re not playing around.” He sighed and crossed his arms. “That’s why I’ve called the meeting.”

“We want to keep the ball in our court.” Malam said from the side, then explained. “There’s no reason to give up the initiative when the ball has given itself to us.”

“Olephia reported that Allasaria appeared at the Paradeisius Gate.” Arascus said. “That confirms our suspicions.”

“It was basically assured since the Cracking.” Malam said. “That they would involve Paradeisius. Tartarus is already here.”

“There must be some agreement though.” Kassandora said. “To keep them below the surface.”

Malam nodded and replied. “They were as brutal as Fer’s herds back in the day. With modern cameras, it will be impossible to hide the atrocities.” The woman adopted a terrible, hawkish, smile. “They’re not us after all.” Arascus smiled at that too. As did Kassandora.  There was no one else quite like the three who sat around this table after all.

“But I assume we have a grand strategy.” Kassandora said. She spread her arms out to either side. “Personally, I would focus downwards on knocking Tartarus out quickly. The Goddess of War looked to the Goddess of Hatred and raised an eyebrow at the latter’s expression. “Is there a problem?”

“They could retreat pre-emptively. If Paradeisius is told, then I assume they’re also soon on the list.” Malam said.

“We have eyes at the Tartarus Gate and transport ready to move Olephia, but Elassa was correct. Allasaria wants to bring the angels in first.” Arascus mentioned.

“My own theory on it is that Allasaria wants assurance from Paradeisius that they’re going to keep Tartarus in line first.” Kassandora said and Malam shook her head.

“I think it’s just that she prefers one to the other.”

Arascus interrupted them both. “It doesn’t matter either way.” He said. “At the end of the day, we can delay her.”

“I actually have thought of a way already.” Kassandora said. “Assuming that your theory which is that this is the only connection between Paradeisius and Arda that is currently open.”

“I assume we would have heard of diplomats or that Helenna at least would know.” Arascus said.

Malam came in to back him up. “Helenna would know if Allasaria had met an angel in the past thousand years. She’s not mentioned it once, and she has a good amount of dirt and stories on all them.”

“I believe you.” Kassandora said. “Kavaa also doesn’t believe that Allasaria has been meeting with them. But either way, I have a route for her, and it’s not one we can block.”

“And that is?” Arascus asked.

“She goes underground, she travels through one of the Tartarian portals, she then uses a Tartarus Paradeisius portal.” Kassandora said.

“That would give the game away.” Arascus said.

“This is another reason why we I think they’re not going to issue a full retreat immediately.” Kassandora said. “We could strike a victory against them immediately.”

“We can’t knock them out.” Arascus said. “So we’re not doing that.” Kassandora could win, but she was impatient. And she would take risks. Risks that were calculated and generally safe, but risks nonetheless. Arascus knew the woman appreciated his guiding patience too. And he had a plan already.

“I was going to prepare to focus on fighting three worlds at the same time.” Arascus said and Kassandora raised an eyebrow.

“That’s a high bar to clear.”

“Modern technology and dwarven manufacturing can do it.” Malam said and Arascus nodded along.

“The World Core and Epa.” He said. “Those are our next two targets.”

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