The Greatest Sin [Progression Fantasy][Kingdom Building]
Chapter 301 – To Settle on a Name

When I started working with Malam, I realised that the woman had a gift unlike any I had ever seen before. Kassandora is the only comparison I can make, yet with Kassandora, I can at least accept that the woman is thinking outside the box. Her moves, in hindsight, are so glaringly obvious that they could only be hidden behind the curtain of morality.

Malam though… Malam is able to look at the entire situation and see moves that no one else could ever spot. The web of plots she crafts is so great that even in hindsight, I can look at it, I can comprehend what happened, and I can only stare with awe at the sheer creativity of it.

- Excerpt from “Two Sides of the Same Coin”, written by Goddess Helenna, of Love.

One month. Malam played with her white hair as she stood next to Kassandora at Nanbasa’s airfield, close enough to be bumping elbows every other breath. One month to conquer a continent. Malam thought about what to do. One month to subdue Epa. Malam clicked her tongue as lightning ran through her mind and she pondered the issue. One month to establish authority. How difficult would it be? One month to gain popular support. Malam’s dark eyes narrowed as Kassandora sighed and put her hand on her head.

Popular support would be the way, a counter-revolution would be easier to instill rather than trying to subvert revolutionary spirit. Popular support could be brought from the war… And… Kassandora broke Malam’s rhythm. “Is there anyone you want?” The Goddess of War asked.

“I assume I’ll get Helenna.” Malam said, that was obvious. She would get Helenna, because there was nothing for Helenna to do below. The society that Malam had designed for the dwarves had led them for more than three quarters of a millennium without intervention, and the war against Tartarus would keep them still and steady.

“You get Helenna, Fer, Anassa and Elassa.” Kassandora said flatly. Malam didn’t let the annoyance get to her.

“That will leave you with only Neneria.” Malam said.

“I take Iniri and Kavaa too, but Neneria will be enough at this point. I got a video from the fleet of her performance in the UNN.” Kassandora said.

“Is it good?” Malam asked.

“It’s excellent.” Kassandora said. “On the level of Iri easily.”

“Mmh.” Malam said. Helenna had been assured but Fer, Anassa and Elassa? That did open up new pathways for her to take. With Elassa and Arcadia especially. From the corner of her eye, Malam saw Kassandora making a smug grin to herself that grated on her nerves. “What are you smiling about?”

“Just the fact it’s easy to organise with you.” Kassandora replied and Malam didn’t know if that was an honest statement or a subtle jab at her. The words were one thing, the tone was another entirely.

“You can take Fer.” Malam said.

“I don’t need her.” Kassandora said. “She’s good on TV, you can take her.”

Malam thought of something that would get on Kassandora’s nerves. She had no clue as to why it annoyed her when Kassandora was so smug, but it did, and Malam did not like it. “Fer for Kavaa.”

Kassandora did not take the bait. “Kavaa is too useful underground. Losing her will clog our supply lines with medicine. I’m not giving her up.”

“Mmh.” Malam made a faint sound of annoyance. She couldn’t argue against that, although she was sure that wasn’t the whole reason either. Raptor One appeared in the west, a black arrowhead that split the light blue sky in two with the straight trail it was left behind itself. “I want Iliyal though.”

“I expected you to need him, I’m not moving him away from the Epans either.” Kassandora said. “Apparently, the Nationals like him.”

“Everyone generally likes Iliyal.” Malam said and Kassandora corrected her.

“This is in his own letters, if he admits it…” Kassandora chuckled. “Well, I half expect them to propose to him.”

“It just means they’re unable to judge character if they fall for Iliyal.” Malam said as Raptor One started to arc downwards. Although that did open up another pathway. “Do you think they’re loyal to the governments?” Malam asked.

“Iliyal says that they’re not fans. He’ll know the situation better than me.” Kassandora shrugged. “If you were someone else, I’d be reminding you not to overlook him just because he’s a mortal, but I assume that won’t happen with you.” Malam’s lips curled upwards, that was damn smooth.

“Don’t think I didn’t catch that you just reminded me.”

Kassandora made a low chuckle as Raptor One tipped backwards and lowered its wheels. “We’re both micromanagers, don’t pretend you wouldn’t remind me either.” Malam rolled her eyes and shook her head as Raptor One came to a stop. “Want to bet on whether you’ll capture Epa before I break open the World Core?” Kassandora asked.

Malam sniffed in humour, arms crossed as she shook her head. White hair swinging from side to side. “I’m not taking that.”

“Are you scared?” Kassandora cooed.

“Would you?”

“I wouldn’t.” Kassandora admitted. There was no need to explain, they both knew why, and that was because this relationship they had could only remain competitive socially. Trying to beat each other in things that didn’t matter was fine, it was when they would try to one-up each other in real issues that they would start running into problems. Malam knew herself, and she knew that if she made a bet with Kassandora on whether the Epan takeover could be done in two weeks, it would be done in only one. And it would be done so shoddily that by the next month, Epa would be aflame in civil war. And Malam knew that Kass was the exact same, a bet with her would only make the woman push to ridiculous speeds when she would go through the tunnels. Kassandora suddenly turned and sniffed in humour. “Your number one fan is coming to join us.” She said as Malam turned. Helenna and Iniri were coming to meet them.

“Your mini-me is getting off the plane.” Malam replied sourly as from the other side, Fer, Anassa, Neneria and Kavaa were exiting Raptor One. Neneria had apparently devoured more than thirty million souls and what did she have to show for it? Malam was almost disappointed. Anassa and Fer now looked no different either, and Kavaa looked was not too happy. But then again, the Goddess of Health was of War’s mini-me and was of War ever happy? “It looks like you’re in trouble.” Malam said.

“It’s because I gave Anassa methamphetamines.” Kassandora said. “And apparently she didn’t take too fondly to them.” Malam did not even turn to look at her sister. Kassandora could say just about anything, and Malam would not be surprised. She sniffed the air and opened her mouth instead, there was no smell or taste of meth in the air.

“That’s terrible for Anassa.” Malam said, chuckling.

“It is what it is.” Kassandora said flatly. “If you need help with anything, you still have me for the next four days.”

“I have a plan already.” Malam said, it was already slowly cooking in her head. Elassa wouldn’t even be too necessary frankly. She had never liked to depend on the strength of Divinity too much for success either. Anassa and Fer would both be there to stabilize the battle lines. Apparently, roughly a third of Lubska had fallen and half of Rillia was overtaken too. Allia was in a bad position and that… “Actually, if you can think of a way to break the blockade of Allia, that’d be great.”

“Destroy Alanktyda.” Kassandora said immediately and Malam rolled her eyes.

“That’s easier said than done, isn’t it?” Malam asked and Kassandora shrugged.

“You have Elassa, she can hold the oceans back. Then Anassa or Olephia if she’s free. If you want it done quickly, then Neneria can help too.”

“The blockade is good for us for now.” Malam said. She wanted the populations to be feeling the burn after all. A population satisfied was one that would not risk its life for some abstract concept of ideology or the utter triviality that was a change in leadership.

“Very well.”

“I heard my name.” Elassa suddenly said as she dropped from the sky.

“Great.” Kassandora said sarcastically.

“We were just discussing how pleasant you were to be around.” Malam added immediately. The Goddess of Magic settled on the ground, the fact she had come in a black HAUPT uniform was annoying to Malam. Those suits should be more prestigious.

“Arascus sent me here.” Elassa said coldly. “You two are as pleasant as I expected you to be.”

“We’re just honest with ourselves.” Malam said.

“Calm your knickers Elassa, you’re not assigned to me.” Kassandora said.

“So I’m with you?” Elassa asked Malam.

“You’ll find I’m rather lovely once you get to know me.” Malam answered and Elassa sighed heavily.

“That does not inspire confidence.” Elassa said. Malam supposed that if she was going to be working with this woman, she shouldn’t be annoying simply for the sake of her own amusement. She thought of something that wouldn’t be aggravating, tried to at least, realised that she only could be annoying, and so decided to shut up. Helenna and Iniri got to Malam, Kassandora and Elassa.

“What are we doing here?” Helenna asked, came in close to Malam and the Goddess of Hatred did not move away. Frankly, she liked the touch and Kassie always got flustered when she had to show affection in public.

“We’re splitting into teams.” Kassandora said. “You’re with Malam, Iniri with me.”

“I don’t have a problem with that.” Helenna declared as she stood next to Malam.

“What are we doing?” Iniri asked.

“I don’t explain myself twice.” Kassandora said. They didn’t have to wait a long time before the team being led by Fer caught up. Anassa was in the air, Kavaa was beaming a smile at the Goddess of War that Malam was sure everyone simply pretended not to see.

“Bet on Kavaa going with Kass?” Helenna asked and Malam shook her head.

“It’s been decided already, and yeah.”

“I knew it.” Helenna said. Kassandora either didn’t hear them, or just ignored them. She stepped forwards and she started shouting. “Fer! You’re with Malam! Anassa! Malam! Kavaa, with me! Neneria! With me!” And she turned to Malam. “We’re going to be out here for four, maybe five days just organising an expedition down, like I said, you have access to Neneria for that while.”

Fer came to a stop, her fierce golden mane of hair falling down her back and ears jumping on her head. She smiled at Malam. Malam could read emotions well enough to know that Kavaa was hiding satisfaction at being assigned to Kassandora. As did, Helenna. The Goddess of Love came in close and whispered in Malam’s ears. “She is just so obvious with it.”

Fer’s ears twitched, Malam locked eyes with her tallest sister. For a moment, she thought that Fer would choose to not comment on what Helenna said. But it was Fer, and if Fer excelled at anything, it was being terrible. “Obvious with what?” Fer asked so innocently that a person who didn’t know her would honestly believe she didn’t know. But Malam knew her, and Malam knew that the woman was actually devilishly competent when it came to the norms of sociality. “Obvious with what Helenna?” Fer said again, her voice so sickly sweet it made Malam’s hairs stand on ends. “I didn’t catch that.”

Helenna managed to turn the joke around. She tapped her nose, she gave Fer a wry smile. She pointed to Kavaa and Kassandora. “Who do you think?”

And Fer replied with just as wry a smile now that she knew she was in on the joke. “Oh I think I know who.” She said, then came close to the two of them as Anassa appeared next to Malam. “It’s the two of you.” And Fer placed one hand on Malam’s shoulder, one hand on Helenna’s. And Malam sighed heavily, she didn’t know why Fer had such an effect on her, maybe it was just the sheer size difference or maybe it was Fer’s endless positivity, but Malam had always found herself being thrown off by the Goddess of Beasthood.

“Lovely.” Helenna said, completely unabashed as she came in close to Malam. “Is there a problem with that?”

Fer made that hur-hur-hur of a chuckle but didn’t say anything. Kassandora started giving orders to her own group, talking in a loud and definite tone. “We’re going to break open the World-Core ladies.” She said. “That is more or less everything you need to know for now.”

“That’s it?” Neneria asked dryly.

“You have the lead job princess.” Kassandora said as she started walking off. “But first, we’re going to have a conversation with a…” She turned and looked back at her own group, and then at Malam’s. “Well, actually, I don’t think anyone here likes her.”

Malam turned around and set off, ignoring Kassandora’s conversation to her own team. “Come on girls.” She shouted loudly.

“And what are we doing?” Helenna quickly caught up. Fer only needed to take two steps for every one of Malam’s three. Anassa and Elassa just hovered in the air behind them.

There was no reason to try and downplay what they were about to do. “We are going to simultaneously coup every government in Epa.” Malam said flatly.

“Eh?” Elassa said from behind.

“Now this does sound like a proper job.” Anassa declared.

“All of them?” Helenna asked.

And Fer spoke up. “We need a team name.”

“BTK.” Malam quickly suggested.

“What does that stand for?” Fer asked.

“Better than Kassandora.” And everyone gave a groan.

“No no no.” Fer tutted in-between every word. “I have one.”

“What?”

“FAMEH.” Fer stressed the H at the end.

“And what is that?” Malam asked.

“Us in height order.” And they got another collective groan.

“Can’t we just do something normal?” Helenna asked.

“Such as?” Malam asked.

“The Roses?” Helenna suggested. And the rest of the team answered in a collective groan.

“The E-Team.” Elassa suggested.

“We are not the Elassa-Team.” Anassa quickly said and Elassa gave the Goddess of Sorcery an incredulous look.

“Epa-Team you cretin.” Elassa said. “Only you are narcissistic enough to actually think I was calling it after myself.”

“I was actually going to suggest the A-Team.” Anassa said. “Because A is the first and best letter of the alphabet and we’re the best.” Everyone turned to now look at Anassa as if it wasn’t obvious that she actually just wanted the team name to be called after her.

“We’re up there.” Fer said. “But not the best, F-Team is better.”

As they walked, and as Malam retreated back into her own thoughts to plan, she came upon a realisation. They had this issue back then too: it was easier to overthrow a country than it was to settle on a trivial name for something.

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