The Cathars
They started off as a relatively small group that had slowly begun to gain prominence in the recent decade. While they hadn't been around that long, their growing popularity made them larger and more successful than the Heresy Cult.
"They are a faction that split off from the Church due to their radical and contrasting beliefs. While they do not refer to themselves as a cult, the Church has branded them as one and they are also regarded as an enemy to the public." Lili finished her explanation, bowing her head as she fell back into silence.
Upon listening to all the explanations given, Lucius nodded his head slowly to indicate understanding.
'It was a bit embarrassing to ask something that practically everyone in the room knows, but it couldn't be helped…' He sighed internally. 'I wish I had asked Lili about other cults prior to this, but there was no way I could have foreseen the conversation heading in this direction.'
No… that wasn't an acceptable excuse.
'If I want to be a good leader and achieve all the grand goals that have already been declared, I need to start thinking outside the box and consider as many possibilities as possible…' Lucius grit his teeth.
He was only a young adult when he died, but that didn't mean he could act that way in this new life. His followers were grown adults, and his enemies had been around for even longer. If he kept up excuses that justified his inadequacies, his failure would be inevitable.
'Just as the Cult needs to improve… I need to as well.'
With that thought stuck in his mind, he returned his focus to the matter regarding the Cathars.
"So… our first target is the Cathars." He muttered. "Is there a reason why you chose them in particular?"
Lili nodded, once again speaking.
"They bear close proximity to us. We are currently on the outskirts of Venice, and their sanctuary is positioned right next to the small lake that separates these dry woods from the mainland." She began, her flow flawless. "They are also recognizably active, and they have the numbers we desire."
That wasn't all, though.
"Smaller Cults are scattered all over the place, and their positions are a bit obscure. A lot of them are nomadic in nature, so it's difficult to pinpoint their specific location. However, since the Cathars are a considerably large group with their own organized structure, it would be better to focus our resources on bringing them over to the Heresy Cult."
"I see." Lucius nodded as he spoke. "Are there any larger cults like them around?"
"No. They're the biggest one nearby." She added.
"Hmm…"
"I believe The Saints Cult has a branch just past the lake, but it's still too early for our cult to go up against them, since they are the largest cult currently."
'Oh wow! They're large enough that they even have branches, huh? That's pretty impressive…' Lucius was amazed, though he hid his surprise well. 'This isn't like the modern age, where cults get branded as religious groups and can exist in the public. Cultists in this era are hunted down by the Church, so they usually remain inconspicuous as small groups or have a stronghold somewhere obscure.'
That meant the Saints Cult had to be incredibly powerful if they could grow to such a formidable force. Honestly, Lucius wanted to know more about the group, especially their organization structure and recruitment tactics, just so he could learn how they became so successful.
However, just as Lili said, it was too early for the Cult to set its eyes on them.
'For now, let's keep our objectives as grounded as possible.'
"You know their specific location, correct?" He turned towards his able Cult Leader, expecting a favorable response.
As always, she didn't disappoint.
"Indeed, Lord Mors." With a smile, she answered him reverently. "They once invited me to their sanctuary and asked me to leave the Heresy Cult, but I declined."
'Wow!'
Once again, Lucius was reminded of how much of a big deal Lili was in this world.
Even though he didn't know the true extent of her power, the fact that she was able to lead the Cult in an age where misogyny was the norm showed that she was definitely special.
"Draw a map, or if the Cult already has one, mark its location so I can determine its location."
"Understood, Lord Mors."
"Do that as quickly as possible. Legion and I will depart to the place once you're done with it, while you supervise the construction efforts of our members."
As soon as he said this, the atmosphere in the room changed into another dreary kind.
This time, all three of his audience had unpleasant expressions.
'What's going on? Did I say something wrong?' He pondered, feeling a little on edge once he noticed the uncomfortable looks on their faces.
"Lord Mors… forgive my impudence, but I don't think you should go to the Cathars." Lili spoke gently, her face forming a slight frown. "Doing that would be lowering yourself to their level."
"I agree with Lili."
"A-as do I!"
At that moment, the three were united in their opinion—something that had never happened before. That alone made it clear that he had made the wrong call, and Lucius quickly reflected on his decision.
'I see. Well… let's go with their suggestion, then.'
"Hmm. I suppose I was being too generous towards them." He responded, instantly eliciting smiles from his loyal followers.
'So it was that simple, huh? Whew!'
Lucius smiled internally, happy he avoided a crisis. While he was still the absolute leader of the Cult, he still had to cater to the desires of his followers. There was a delicate balance that had to be struck between authority and diplomacy.
At least, that was what he thought.
"Then, will you go alone, Legion? We need the undying members to work on construction since they do not tire."
"It will be my pleasure."
"L-Lord Mors… if I may… c-could I tag along with Knight Legion?" Luca swiftly interjected, albeit respectfully.
His raised hand and desperate expression showed that he wanted to maintain his respect for the ones speaking, but he was also afraid to lose his chance if he didn't act quickly.
"Hm? You want to?" Lucius narrowed his eyes as he looked at the boy.
"Y-yes, Lord Mors! I will make sure to work my hardest alongside Knight Legion and spread your glorious message!"
'Hmm… what should I say?' He wondered. 'It's possible that he wants to use this as a way to escape the hands of the Heresy Cult. After all, even though the Cathars are still regarded as a Cult, they used to have ties to the Church and are considerably larger than our group.'
That alone made them a superior option for an opportunist like Luca.
But… upon closer inspection—particularly the puppy-dog eyes and obviously excited demeanor—Lucius felt a different kind of vibe from him.
'It seems he wants to prove himself. Looks like my efforts so far to win him over have worked out…' He smiled. 'Besides, if he tries to escape, I can always trust Legion to take him down on the spot.'
Lucius doubted Luca would be that stupid, but he couldn't guarantee human behavior.
Sometimes people act in futility.
"Fine. You may go with Legion."
"Yessss! I-I mean, thank you so much, Lord Mors! I won't disappoint you!" His eyes glowed even more—a mix of gratitude and anticipation.
'Alright, Luca… don't let me down.'
"Since our next step has been concluded, and you all have your duties to play, I believe this has been a rather productive meeting." Rising to his feet, Lucius made sure to gracefully adjust his dark cape. "Does anyone have any further additions or dissent?"
"NONE, LORD MORS!" They all fell to their knees instantly.
"Good…" He felt his lips stretch upward, watching them with his warbling purple eyes. All in all, this was a rather fruitful event.
"This conference has now concluded."