The Greatest Sin [Progression Fantasy][Kingdom Building]
Chapter 357 – Observer

Many times it has been written about me that my research will make Divinity extinct or redundant. That the moment Divines can be mechanically explained through equations, we will cease to exist. Yet we know that the brain thinks and the heart beats and humanity still has a soul, does it not? Has our expanded knowledge about mortals made mortals into ants?

It has not, because such a statement is ridiculous. There is not a Divine out there who says that mortals cannot be wielded. Even mortals will agree in this and proudly proclaim that they are happy to serve some grander ideal.

The other issue is one about the strength of Divines. Why must Divines need to exist once technology comes to replace them? Yet I have discussed this with Kavaa and with Iniri. The former spent the vast majority of her time in healing pilgrimages across nations in the past, the latter was required by every field in the land to during crop-sewing season to ensure a plentiful harvest. The mass manufacture of pharmaceuticals, the increase in doctors and the hospital did not replace Kavaa, fertilizer, the tractor and the pesticidal agents did not replace Iniri. Both Goddesses, in fact, were freed from their duties by the advancement of technology.

Any Divine that fears losing their relevance is irrelevant in the first place. If a new invention can replace them, then that makes them no better than a long-lived magician or a magical elf. It is disappointing that most Divines will disagree on this issue, but I have precisely one thing to say: Have some pride and have some confidence in yourself.

- Excerpt from “Building Futures”, written by God Arascus, of Pride.

Aliana looked at the men who supposedly ruled Allia filter into the room. She wanted to smack them all down already. They wore pretentious and obviously false veils of confidence that materialized from what basis? Because they had just utterly humiliated themselves before Malam? Because they couldn’t mount even a single word of counterargument against the Goddess of Hatred? Because she had decided not to press them? It baffled and enraged Aliana that they lacked shame.

Richard VI and Eleanor were the worst of them all. They did not even have the decency to hang their heads low and pretend to be embarrassed by their own performance against Malam. Instead, Richard sat at one end of the round table, Eleanor by his side. Both monarchs with their thin and modest crowns that were mere bands of metal, the King in a pristine blue suit like the waters around Allia, the Queen in a dark, frill-less dress, and both staring down their noses and looking at the other people in the Shadow Council as if they were ready to issue a war declaration.

Where was this confidence and this dignity before? Now, when they were talking to their subjects they would act high and mighty? Malam may have been a Goddess, but Aliana was also a Goddess, and Malam was the guest here. It wouldn’t do well to be rude, but guests did not come in and make demands in the homes of their hosts.

Aliana looked around the table and the men of the Shadow Council. Lord Bertrand sat on the other side of King Richard to the Queen. He was tall, he was skinny, bald and with glasses. The man simply looked as if he knew his way around money and frankly, he did. Somehow, the Bertrand dues had managed to keep the country rolling along, albeit slowly, during the height of the Alanktydan blockade. Next to him was Duke Maximilian. Hardy and muscled, with a low voice that Aliana always liked. The man spent much of his time outside. Minister of Agriculture, fitting for his title. Those two were the ones that Aliana kept an eye on. At first, she had wanted to talk with Richard about their loyalties. Now though?

Aliana had spent too much time with Iliyal and with Arascus’ daughter Goddesses. She had seen what true loyalty actually looked like. There had been no bickering there. Iliyal had not once even needed to remind anyone around him of his position or his expertise. The loyalty everyone had for him, and the loyalty he had for everyone else, simply spoke for itself. Even mentioning it would call it into question.

On the other side was Elliot, tall and skinny, a professor from the University of Camford. The man had never looked good in a suit and now, with that terrible and nervous expression, he looked even worse. At least Bertrand and Maximilian managed to hold themselves together. “First of all.” Richard began as Aliana came in to stand behind him. “I would like a show of hands. Who here is actually for Malam’s proposal?” The King finished and leaned back.

What a grand question. Aliana could only roll her eyes. The reason that Allia had remained a monarchy and not a democracy is precisely to absolve responsibility from everyone bar one person. There was only one body to be pointed at when things went badly, there was only one head that would be made to roll. The entire table looked around at each other. No one raised a hand. “And who here is against Malam’s proposal?” And this was the same. All the men shared awkward looks with each other, and no one raised a hand. Aliana wondered if she should step in. No. She would see what they were made of.

Richard VI sighed and readjusted the modest band which was a crown on top of his head. “If anyone has any qualms, they should state them now then.”

Maximilian spoke up first, in that low rumbling voice of his. “We have made an agreement. Malam was correct in saying that we didn’t believe her, but if we did not, we shouldn’t have bothered calling her bluff.”

And Bertrand followed up immediately. “Indeed, I think everyone can acknowledge that our standing will be harmed if we go back on her dealing.”

Queen Eleanor spoke up. “And what does our standing matter at this point?” She asked and the table looked at her as if she was stupid. Yet the Queen did not back down, she explained herself with an accusatory tone. “I am being deadly serious here. What does our standing matter at this point? Internationally, we are effectively a pariah already. There is no Epan Community to trade with, there will be no Epan Coalition soon either. All it needs now is just formal disintegration because Arascus has already secured two of the five nations in it. Rancais likewise, well, Rancais practically doesn’t exist anymore, so what are we worrying about?”

“I don’t understand what you are saying.” Richard said.

“I am saying that this is a moot point. We can’t go back to the Pantheon of course, but such things as standings do not matter. If we go against Malam, then the Non-Aligned-Pact Ciria is building will take us. If we go with Malam, then it does not matter what she thinks of us because we’ll be in Arascus’ orbit anyway.”

“I see it now.” Richard said. Aliana watched who on the table nodded. Elliot, the skinny Minister of Education nodded along. As did Emmanuel, in charge of the Foreign Office. A sharp jawline with sharper, dark eyes simply made the man look untrustworthy. Aliana didn’t know how others simply missed that snakish quality about the man.

Emmanuel spoke up to support Queen Eleanor’s point. “At this point, old alliances do not matter whatsoever. As the Queen said, we effectively have three choices. One of them is out, since we can’t return to the Pantheon.”

“So it is a balancing act on whether we prefer Arascus or whether we prefer Ciria.” Richard said.

“But Arascus needs the payment of independence.” Eleanor said. “And everything we’ve worked for so far.” That firmly put the woman in the anti-Arascus camp. Aliana instinctively stepped away from her and closer to Maximilian and Bertrand when she saw the men voice disagreement with their expressions. So did Lord Lloyd, although his title was Chief Officer. He had a grey moustache and close-cut grey hair and he had started the style of the blue suits. “Do you have something to say?” Eleanor asked when she saw the men.

“Arascus may demand the payment of independence, but let us not pretend that the God only takes.” Bertrand said as his fingers rhythmically tapped the table. “Kirinyaa, Ausa, now Lubska too and I am sure he is developing some plan for Doschia. It is as if he has to merely show up in a place and prosperity will follow.”

“You were always easily swayed by results Bertrand.” Eleanor said.

Bertrand met the Queen’s gaze and did not back down. “That is why I am in charge of this country’s finances.”

“Do not argue between yourselves.” Richard said. “It is true, Arascus demands payment but he is not all bad either.”

“It is simply whether we willing to pay the price?” Elliot said. “Because it is a high price to pay.”

“Personally, I do not think so.” Lloyd stepped in as he brushed his moustache. “In fact, I think the price is minimal. Arascus asks for independence, but that is all he asks.” The table turned to the Chief Officer as if he had lost his mind. Before anyone could speak up, Lloyd continued. “We see in Kirinyaa that he does not particularly resew the fabric of society. There is a report released by EIE, called Arascus’ Model Society. I brought copies for everyone, it’s an interesting read, if I’m going to be honest.” Chief Officer Lloyd passed out a copy to everyone on the table, and then he turned around and gave one to Aliana.

The Goddess was stunned for a moment that she almost forgot how to react. The stunned surprise lasted for only a moment though, she recovered quickly, and then she scanned the report. She had seen it before, it was a simply analysis of the changes Arascus had actually instituted. “I have read this before.” Eleanor said. “The writers of this paper all want to move to Kirinyaa.”

“I do not blame them.” Lloyd said. “The price Kirinyaa paid was the imposition of a new flag. Arascus’ reforms are tyrannical only as far as the government is concerned. He took away the voting franchise, true, but there isn’t a single survey taken in Kirinyaa that actually wishes to go back to pre-Arascus times.”

“Is it because of Arascus, or is it because of the Reclamation War?” Elliot asked and Eleanor smiled at him. Lloyd sighed heavily and shook his head.

“Arascus and Kassandora are the reason for the Reclamation War. And like I said, societally, the only class that was actually worse off after Kassandora’s coup in Kirinyaa was politician. The country is experiencing an economic surge that…” Lloyd turned to Bertrand. “Well?”

“Kirinyaa’s economy is about as monumental as a new major Divine forming.” Bertrand said flatly. “Even if we weigh the growth for the reclaimed land, then Kirinyaa is leagues above any other country in the world. Arascus is not cheating or employing some magic, he is simply a manager like no other.”

“So you’re simply saying that you’re not good enough to go up against him?”

“Arascus has an iron grip over Kirinyaa that he never squeezes too tight. There’s a dozen Allian companies in Kirinyaa already serving as contractors to mine the metal. They get paid in percentage profits of the sales rather than straight. It’s the sort of model economy that only exists in theory, I don’t think a human could actually do it.” Bertrand explained flatly. “And that is just one example. The Arascus model relies on Arascus to guide it, the God is seemingly incorruptible and whatever vices he has, he manages to fulfil himself.”

“Are you saying that if Arascus you control of his economy, you would run it into the ground?” Eleanor asked.

“I would try not to of course.” Bertrand said as he crossed his arms. “But I have children that are going to be attending university soon. It’s going to be Camford.”

“I congratulate you on your children’s success.”

“Let us not pretend that they have gotten in on their own merits and not my own.” Bertrand said. “But this is what separates me from Arascus. The man is a God. I am a mortal. I control my vices, but I do have weak points. My children are one example everyone knows about so I have no issue talking about them. But what weak points does Arascus have? That is why the Arascus model of economy works. Because it’s Arascus, and not because the system he has designed is some phenomenal idea we can steal.”

“And you think he would do that here?” Eleanor asked.

“We only need to look at Lubska, do we not? Two weeks ago, the nation was going bankrupt. Then Olonia couped the country. Before, it was looking as if they were going to delay and build interest on their public war-bonds. Now, it looks like Olonia will be able to pay them back faster than thought. Is Olonia a secret genius? Or is it that she had a meeting with Arascus after which Lubska suddenly opened shipments to Kirinyaa?” Bertrand finished and Lloyd nodded.

“That is where I agree. Arascus will make us change the flag but what else will he actually do?”

“There is one thing that no one has mentioned.” Elliot spoke up. “But since we are talking about Arascus’ modus operandi, we should mention it.”

“And that is?” Maximilian asked, obviously unimpressed that Elliot was trying to raise a point.

“What happened to the leadership of Kirinyaa and of Lubska?”

“And what happened to Doschia?”

“Don’t tell me that you actually believe Wissel was killed by the White Pantheon?”

“I wasn’t talking about Wissel, I was talking about the entire rest of the government. They’re all still around.” Maximilian said and Elliot merely shrugged.

“So you’re saying we should just bend the knee and become yes-men? Because that is what Saksma has done to her court.”

And so they went round.

And round.

And round.

Aliana watched them go.

It wasn’t that they were saying anything stupid. It was that they as Aliana watched them. She realised that not a single one of these men actually knew what to do. The only reason that the ministers were talking was because they weren’t the King. And the only reason that Richard was listening to both sides was because he was the King.

Aliana stood there, Aliana opened her mouth, and Aliana realised she was incapable of producing a sound. On and on the argument went. Aliana eventually lost focus. How did Saksma and Paida and Olonia actually manage it?

To think she had once looked down on them for marching to Arascus’ tune. She realised that marching to any tune was far more impressive than being the stationary observer she was now.

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