CH500

The streets of the warrior’s tower were usually a little chaotic. There was no helping that fact. It was a place specifically made for people to come and train in combat skills, it was bound to draw a bit of an unruly element among the more respectable people simply trying to improve themselves, but even those who would consider themselves hardened veterans of the city’s sometimes rougher atmosphere couldn’t help but be suprised by what they were seeing as a crowd marched forward, one particular man in the lead, alone in hearing the cry of a god in his head.

<You’re having fun. You absolute bastard, I can’t believe you’re having fun!>

Of course I’m having fun, I’ve never started a riot before!

It wasn’t like he’d lost his rage. Someone in another faith had just tried to kill him and he didn’t even know why, along with more than a few others who had been put in a worse spot because one unscrupulous individual had been willing to take some bribes instead of being willing to focus on prioritizing the world as a whole, but Ben was a man who contained multitudes. His mind was complex enough that even if only a couple of dozen thoughts in his head had calmed down, it was still more than enough to enjoy the thrill that came with leading an angry mob all the way to the city’s communal church, where it looked like some watching gods had already notified the priests within as a group stood outside to greet the crowd.

“Calm down, please, all of you calm down!” The oldest of them and likely the church head yelled out. “We’ve already been informed of what has happened, the gods will take charge of readjusting who will be sent to each point and the one who abused his authority in this situation will be properly punished to the fullest extent of the law for his crimes. There is no need to go further than this!”

“You say the man will be punished, but what about those who paid him to begin with!” Ben yelled back. “Make no mistake, this was attempted murder! Will they all see the same punishment such a crime deserves?”

“Yes! Yes, of course, so there’s no need to go on with this any longer!”

“Even the oracle of Olensia?”

It was the identity of the one who’d tried to arrange both Ben and Sachel’s demise, ripped from the mind of the planner, and it was a bold enough reveal that the priest hesitated, just long enough that Ben took hold of the conversation, turning again to face the crowd.

“I thought not! We can’t stand for this just because they’re an oracle! We are all equal in this world, unified by our shared threat! A priest, an oracle, an apostle, no life stands as more valuable than your own, not even that of the gods! Why should anyone get slapped with a light sentence for a crime against another because of the position they hold? A crime that specifically tried to take advantage of the danger the world’s in? A crime that ignored proper need in order to cull a few, with the potential to leave the entire planet worse off in the process? I ask you all, are you satisfied letting that stand?”

“NO!” The crowd screamed, the mob mentality breaking even the bred-in reverence for the gods.

“I thought not! We demand real justice, not whatever slap on the wrist his god wants to provide! In a relationship where they feed off our faith and give so little in return, it’s time they realize the value we have!”

…maybe

<Well, can it at least wait till the war’s finished?>

Ugh, fine.

“As the apostle of Myriad, I tell the gods this! Punish the ones who attempted these crimes against the world’s fighting force or we’ll make sure you see firsthand how much more you need us than we you.”

A cheer went up amongst them, both those he’d lead from the colosseum and those who’d joined along the way, their curiosity or destructive desires bringing them into the crowd to hear his proclamation, with their feelings made clear from the notification going off in his head.

Huh, I kind of get the first one, I’m definitely making a scene, but what the heck is title holder? An achievement-type title again?

<Worry about that later.> Myriad sighed. <Let your angry mob know you’ll be busy for a while and come up here already, we’re holding a meeting in my realm about all of this and I’m assuming you want to be involved.>

Sounds good, just a sec.

He ran ahead, Greed still in hand before turning back to address those with him as he went to take a seat in preparation for what was going to come next.

“It looks as though the gods are calling me up to talk about the oracle who’d been attempting to assassinate both myself and the oracle of Myriad! Just let it be known here and now, I plan on taking them for all they’re worth!”

He gave a manic smile with the statement that the crowd ate up, much to his satisfaction. Realistically, there was only so much he could get out of the gods for what happened, he wouldn’t be able to get the benefits he wanted for hundreds of people, but it was important to have them on his side beforehand so the gods couldn’t try and run a smear campaign for it after the fact, should one be so inclined.

With as much dealt with as he could, he put his enchanted band down for Greed, asking him to work the crowd as Ben closed his eyes and brought himself to his god’s realm, seeing seven others there and waiting for him.

As per usual, there was both Myriad and Helori, the two by his side given what happened, along with the golem-like god Phixth who had led the last meeting he’d been a part of, with two other gods who’d been a part of the negotiations as well.

As for the last two, he was seeing the oracle of Olensia, the very one who’d tried to lower his odds of survival, looking deeply uncomfortable and ashamed to be there, as well as the one who must have been his god, giving an explanation as to why they’d wanted him dead to begin with, leaving Ben to give him a deep smile.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“Hello again, Ropey.”

A god shaped like a wolf that by all appearances looked made from strands of rope, it was the same god who had threatened him in the last meeting he’d been in. The same one whom Ben had punished by denying each of his believers the chance to awaken, losing him more than a few in the process.

“Mortal,” He acknowledged with a snarl, leaving Phixth to raise a hand, trying to calm him.

“Apostle Ben,” The stone god nodded, getting the same in return. “I suppose it’s obvious what brought us here so what do you say we cut to the chase and discuss how to handle this in a way that can leave all parties satisfied?”

“I think I can tell you straight out the gates that there’s no conceivable future where everyone leaves satisfied.”

“Huuh, maybe so, but I’d still like to try. The planner who’d been accepting bribes, Tutu, along with all of the mortals who’d given them in the hopes of having their enemies injured or killed will all be appropriately punished, with the first facing execution and the others looking at the same or a split between varying years of imprisonment or serving in the future waves if they have the skills to make it work depending on the circumstances that lead to their crimes. The issue is what to do with the oracle Qwent.”

“Execution.”

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