Outside Ember Town, several figures wearing white robes with blue patterns sat atop Pelipper, surveying the distant settlement.
"This town looks better than expected, not as rundown as I imagined," said one of the white-robed figures.
"But I still don't understand, Your Holiness. Why choose this small town when there are so many large cities available?"
"I heard Ember Town was one of the settlements hit hardest by the beast tide. Nearly all its knights perished, and even the lord went missing. The current acting lord is apparently some kid under twenty."
"A town like this has no future. It'll probably get annexed by another territory soon. Rebuilding a church here won't earn you much merit. I suggest..."
"Enough, Knight Mayor! As guardians, we need only follow the orders of Her Holiness. Her will is our battle direction. Who are you to question her decisions? Apologize to Her Holiness immediately!"
Another white-robed figure interrupted Mayor before turning to bow slightly toward the saintess: "Forgive him, Your Holiness. Knight Mayor only recently became a guardian and doesn't yet understand protocol. He speaks bluntly, but his loyalty to you is absolute. Please pardon his rudeness."
Realizing his mistake, Mayor also bowed in apology: "Forgive me, Your Holiness. I should never have doubted your decisions. I beg your mercy."
"It's quite alright. I know Knight Mayor meant well. He was only thinking of my interests."
The saintess smiled, her voice as soothing as a babbling brook.
"Also, Knight Commander Moni, please stop calling me 'Your Holiness.' I'm merely one of three saintess candidates for the southern diocese, not the true saintess yet. You may simply call me Aisha."
"As you wish, Lady Aisha."
Moni understood her meaning. Among themselves, they could call her "saintess" since no outsiders would hear, but publicly using the title could give ammunition to rival candidates.
"I know many of you don't understand why I chose this small town. The reason is simple: only here can I achieve meaningful results."
"Large cities certainly have more people and wealth, but their rulers would inevitably guard against us, even obstruct our missionary work to protect their power."
"Take Harborview City near this town—the largest port in the southeast region. Logically, we should go there instead. I imagine that's what most of you thought."
"But according to my information, Harborview is completely controlled by the Merchant Alliance now. Even the city governor has been sidelined, let alone our Sea Temple."
"Yet the Harborview branch bishop reports excellent missionary results every time, claiming most citizens worship our Sea Temple. Could he be lying?" Mayor asked incredulously.
"Correct. Archbishop Hutton sent investigators to Harborview. That bishop has been bribed by the Merchant Alliance. All his reports are fabrications."
"Outrageous! A bishop betraying his faith to become those merchants' lapdog! We should go to Harborview immediately and punish that traitor according to doctrine!" Mayor clenched his fists angrily.
"Calm yourself, Knight Mayor. That bishop will face judgment eventually, but not now. The Merchant Alliance's influence grows daily. We can't afford conflict with them yet," Aisha explained calmly.
She omitted the key detail—while the Merchant Alliance had humiliated the Sea Temple by bribing their bishop, they compensated by donating vast sums through him annually. Faith alone couldn't fund the Temple's operations, and the Alliance provided necessary financial support.
This unspoken arrangement was known only to higher-ups like Aisha, who'd been warned by her faction's archbishop to avoid Harborview entirely. Not even a true saintess could challenge the Merchant Alliance there.
"My apologies, Lady Aisha. I spoke out of turn again."
Beside them, Commander Moni glared at his protégé with exasperation. If Mayor weren't his disciple, he'd have dismissed him already.
"So you chose Ember Town because its new lord hasn't consolidated power yet and won't obstruct our mission?" Moni quickly changed topics.
"Precisely. Having just survived the beast tide, Ember Town lies in ruins with its people unsettled. If we aid them slightly and demonstrate divine miracles, they'll fervently worship Lord Sea!"
"By then, our branch's authority may surpass even the young lord's, making us the town's true rulers. Such an accomplishment would far outweigh what my rival candidates achieve as figureheads in large cities."
Moni bowed deeply, now genuinely impressed. "Your foresight is remarkable. I'm certain you'll defeat the other candidates to become our southern diocese's true saintess. We shall serve as your sharpest blades, clearing all obstacles from your path!"
He'd initially feared Aisha chose Ember Town out of naive pity for the beast tide's victims. But her strategic thinking proved why she'd risen from hundreds of candidates to become one of three finalists. The saintess candidates were far more calculating than bard's tales suggested.
This reassured Moni. As her sworn guardians, their fates were tied to hers. A shrewd candidate like Aisha offered better prospects than some idealistic fool.
"Thank you for your praise. I'll rely heavily on you guardians henceforth. Now, let's descend and survey the town's current state."
"As you command!"
As Aisha's group guided their Pelipper downward, players farming near the town's edge spotted them first.
"Holy shit! Bros, check it out—a fairy maiden's flying down from the sky!!"