Headquarters of the Ministry of Magic.

Sunlight shone through the floor-to-ceiling windows into the spacious meeting room, reflected off the polished surface of the quaint conference table, casting softened light in the space. The long table was quite expensive, with intricate patterns etched on its edges and legs.

The high-back chairs that accompanied the table further embodied the elegant classical style, each tall and upright as if it were standing at attention, similarly adorned with sophisticated patterns to harmonize with the table for synergy.

The ideas of the designs were good, at least.

Minister Sophelia claimed the main seat, sandwiched between the two Vice Ministers, Wayne and Auston. Yvette, who was also a Vice Minister, sat with the other high-ranking officials, away from Sophelia.

The seating arrangement reflected the current state of the Ministry of Magic. The Queen was the Minister, but she was subject to the Lando father and son’s duress.

The legendary mages in attendance included Planck, Bourne, Hermann, Celeste, and Belfrith. Except for Hermann, who was a devoted royalist, the others were either loyal to Wayne or chose the Lando family opportunistically.

Just as before, Sophelia usually remained quiet during meetings, allowing her most trusted officials to take the lead. Currently, that would be Auston.

“Her Majesty has summoned everyone to discuss a few important matters...”

The legendary mages attentively turned to the Queen, as well as Prince Consort and Prince Wayne beside her. They were all shrewd enough to know who was really in charge of Windsor.

“First things first, Her Majesty is planning to send the Prince and the Princess to Franc for further education in physics. It concerns the future of the royal family, so Her Majesty hopes to ask for your opinions.” Auston read from the script.

The legendary mages had no objection. Today’s group meeting was merely standard procedure. The decisions had already been made during smaller meetings, so they shouldn’t even have an opinion.

“Since everyone agrees, that’s decided.” Auston passed the motion. For the royal family’s future, the Prince and Princess would be sent to Palis, the capital of Franc.

Wayne frowned. He didn’t understand why they would send away potential risks. Had the Queen persuaded Auston through pillow talk?

On second thought, Auston had probably reached some sort of agreement with the Queen. It didn’t matter as long as she remained in Windsor.

“Secondly, strange sects have been emerging in the Republic of Erland. According to intelligence gathered through our investigation, the sects are enthusiastic in handing out eggs to their followers...”

Auston glanced at Wayne before continuing, “I’m sure you’ve all heard one thing or another about the Geocentrism Sect. Once popular in Enrod, the sect also recruited followers by handing out eggs.”

“Republic of Erland once suffered from a potato famine[1], and its shadows linger. The people of Erland are thus incredibly reverent when it comes to food. The sects have been developing swiftly...”

“Her Majesty requests a legendary mage to personally conduct an investigation in the Republic of Erland. If the sects are cults like the Geocentrism Sect, erase them at once and spare no potential threats!”

In addition to the mainstream faiths like the Church of Heavenly Father or the Life Alliance, the Chosen Land was also home to Darkness and Death, two faiths that were between mainstream and unorthodox, as well as a great many newly emerging sects that sprouted like bamboo shoots every year.

Some of them were merely attempts to exploit people, treating faith as nothing but business. Due to their lack of power, they would either be wiped out by Windsor, or they would die out and slowly fade from public consciousness due to the suppression of major churches, never making headlines again.

Other sects were different. Like the Geocentrism Sect, they weren’t seeking profit, but the lives of the sheep following the faith. By holding a mass sacrifice that rendered everyone to ashes—no, to dead meat, they aimed to bring into fruition an evil plan[2].

Such sects were incredibly dangerous and should be uprooted as soon as they were identified.

Funnily enough, the Geocentrism Sect referenced or even outright copied the Church of Heavenly Father’s doctrines in its construction, claiming that all lives were equal and that there was only one true god in the world. The general public that had been suffering greatly from the oppression of the rich and powerful responded well to such a belief, becoming especially devout during periods of natural crisis or wartime.

The offer of infinite eggs would, naturally, make their faith unwavering.

The world was at war. Because of the Great Famine that had once ravaged the Republic of Erland, it wasn’t surprising for the new sects to develop rapidly.

“Giving out eggs again?”

“Where do they even get all the eggs? They’re from the Astral Plane, aren’t they?”

Wayne frowned. When the legendary mages lowered their heads as if in concentration, none volunteering for the work, he cursed silently at the vermin with derision.

He also stayed silent.

Auston scanned the room, seeing all the vermin lowering their heads to feign concentration, especially the largest vermin sitting on the Queen’s other side. He huffed. How could the nation grow when its leadership consisted of such opportunists?

Auston would’ve turned a blind eye in the past, but not now. He had become a shareholder, and the one with the largest share at that, so he had to do something.

He glanced at Wayne. “Vice Minister Wayne, you were involved in the erasure of the Geocentrism Sect and know their patterns well. Do you have any complaints if Her Majesty entrusts you with the mission?”

Wayne’s laboratory needed more flesh of Astral Beasts, and Bourne had handed an application for more funds to Auston. Furious, Auston had angrily signed the paper and permitted the request for funding. What else could he have done? Raiding the Lando family?

Ha, impossible. He would be pinned down by a dragon as soon as he entered the gate.

Wayne’s blatant greed irritated Auston. He had handed money from his left hand to his right hand without even an attempt to cover it up. Thus, Auston used this chance to send Wayne out of Londan for a while.

Wayne frowned. Instead of immediately saying yes, he took the document Auston handed him. Realizing that the sects were en route to his destination, he decided to head there after some consideration.

Perhaps he would run into another great supplier. Rather than letting the benefits go to other vermin, it’d be better for him to accept nature’s gifts with gratitude.

Speaking of eggs, Wayne couldn’t help but remember the Lord of the Void—Marshall, a former legendary mage of the Church of Nature. The man had been Wayne’s first angel investor, shedding blood and tears to help him start his business. After Marshall, he had rarely met anyone as generous as him; only the demons from hell had matched Marshall’s kindness.

All the other investors harbored ulterior motives to different degrees, nowhere near their level of generosity and lacking their willingness to sacrifice themselves for others. His Horniness and the Goddess of Darkness, for example, both coveted his genetic information.

Bah, how despicable!

“Vice Minister Wayne, what do you say?”

“I’ll do it, but I need funding and an investigation team organized for the mission.” Wayne lied blatantly. “I’ve once clashed with the Geocentrism Sect, so I know how terrible their power could be. With the Astral Plane as their support, they have an endless supply of eggs and tentacles. They’re so powerful that if I take on the great risk of venturing into their encirclement on my own, the Lando family might lose its heir, to the detriment of the nation.”

Queen Sophelia perked up. How nice that would be.

Auston rolled his eyes. Taking on the great risk of venturing into their encirclement? Who would be circling whom? In his opinion, the sects were the ones being circled by the Nature, Sun, Moonlight, Darkness, and Death Knights.

Auston had never questioned Wayne’s competence—not before, especially not now. He turned to Sophelia. “Minister, Vice Minister Wayne is right. It’s too dangerous for him to head to the Republic of Erland alone since it’s the Church of Heavenly Father’s territory. An appropriate budget should be allocated to allow him to organize an investigation team.”

Wayne made the proposal, Auston approved of it, and Sophelia could only sign.

After reaching a non-aggression pact with Auston, she was now nothing but a mascot and a signing machine, in charge of governing Windsor for Auston while receiving benefits for the Windsor family according to their shares.

Basically, Auston had the final say in major matters, while Sophelia could decide on the minor matters. Whether something was a major or minor matter would be Auston’s judgment.

Sophelia couldn’t turn down the generous offer; it was much more dignified than wearing black stockings and a miniskirt in the office.

In exchange, Auston allowed the Prince and Princess to leave Windsor to study in Palis. It would also be a gesture to reaffirm the century-old friendship between Windsor and Franc.

It’s serious this time. We’ve even sent political hostages to you, Franc. With the two of us working together, Prussia will be an easy opponent.

We don’t have to fight, Windsor. Just look at my impregnable defense.

We’ve got it!

***

Wayne’s residence.

Veryl was preparing the master’s luggage for him. Vera watched as everyone busied about, throwing glances at her knight teacher, Valkyrie.

“Master, everyone should take part in the fight against evil, and we followers of the Goddess of Sun cannot shirk our responsibility. Please permit me to leave for the Republic of Erland with Wayne, bringing the goddess’s grace to the impoverished land.” Vera made the request seriously.

Do you think I’ll believe that you’re going there to spread our faith? I just don’t want to expose you! Valkyrie shot her down. It would be fine for Wayne or Vera to go on the mission alone, but when the two of them were together, they wouldn’t be doing missionary work, but doing missionary.

With a scoff, she grabbed Vera by the nape and took the petulant twin-tailed girl to the back garden. Time for more sword training!

Kristen helped Wayne pack, and in the process, she packed for herself. Knowing that Vera wasn’t going, Silvia was keeping Veronica home to refine her dragon blood, and Filomina was trapped by official work, leaving her alone with Wayne, she smiled so widely that her eyes curved into crescents.

Wayne didn’t stop her. Though the mission would be dangerous, things were different now. Even without using the divine artifacts or the Book of Greed, he could take down his angel investors on his own. There would be no danger.

A trip without ups and downs would be boring. Kristen would be going up and down with him.

Watching Kristen smothering her pleased smile, Wayne also curled his lips. He forgot to tell her that Mona would be coming with them. Since the ministry had a limited budget, the investigation team’s funding only allowed him to reserve one room. Hopefully, the two women would get on well and share the shared resources fairly.

Don’t hop on the bus and monopolize it!

Muhaha!

***

Astral Plane.

In one part of the infinite cosmos, light passed through nothingness and reached a mysterious space. A massive creature quietly waited. Merely the tip of the iceberg that was its body was as big as a mountain.

It was an Astral Worm.

Black-robed figures hovered on the edge of the space. The water screen before them showed the rapidly growing sects teeming with numerous followers.

“On the Church of Heavenly Father’s side, my master has made the arrangements. No one will be interfering...” The leading figure in black looked at the mages who had avoided the corruption of the Astral Plane. Slowly, the figure said, “My master has helped you retain your mind. It’s now time for you to prove yourselves.”

“My master promised that the Gate of Hell will always be open to you.”

“If you’re qualified to enter Hell, that is. It’s not easy to open the gate. It’s up to you to deceive the angels.”

“Once the plan succeeds, we’ll all have a bright future...”

“Kekekeke—”

1. Referring to the Great Famine in Ireland mid 19th century, where fungus found its way to Dublin via ships, causing mass destruction of the potato crops. ☜

2. The original is a play on the use of ‘chives’ to refer to exploitable public. It’s literally translated as “They aren’t after profit, but the lives of chives. A sacrifice will be held, followed by mass distribution of urns(literally ash boxes)—no, of chive boxes(more commonly known in English as chive pockets or dumplings).” It’s a little complicated to explain in English, so I’ve opted for a different metaphor. ☜