Hero of Darkness

As soon as the current Pope of the Church of Hetrax, Demiurge Val Arhelm revealed his ambitions to make their institution into the sole rulers of the Vulcan empire… the vast hall and everyone present in the congregation were discombobulated. 

Stunned! 

Dumbfounded! 

Shocked! 

Everyone including the Cardinals had their eyes popped out because of this sudden bomb dropped by the pope. 

In this meeting, the majority were the firebornes and the rest were a mix of different species. But their forces were different from the nobles, fireborne clans or the imperial clan. However, they had indeed played a big part in reforming this empire since it was founded. 

Although the pope was right to be angry about the imperial decree… Just saying these words was enough to be considered high treason. 

But before anyone could question his intentions… the pope raised his red-skinned hand and spoke… 

"I have a perfect plan to takeover the empire and even get rid of the emperor himself. It is something that my predecessors already prepared for should the situation arose. 

I'm telling you all about this because of the way things are about to go from now on… I need all of us to be unified and share the same mindset." he stated with a calm tone. 

"But your holiness… this will forever damage our reputation among the populace. 

We swore equality and neutrality from the affairs of the empire. Even if we managed to overthrow the imperial rule… the people would not be able to accept it." said one of the Archbishops. 

To his statement, the pope replied in an authoritative tone. 

"History is written by the winners. Those who conquer are glorified as heroes while the ones to lose are branded as villains." 

Then he stood up from his throne and walked forth with steady steps. 

"We can simply use the incident with Rogis as an excuse and then label the entire imperial clan to be of the same kind. 

The emperor used his son's name to cut off our hands and feet… and we will use the same reason to justify our coup. 

And most importantly…" he stopped his words and a wicked smile appeared on his face. 

"These people who worship with full devotion… 

They're not god-loving, rather god-fearing." he declared. 

"If I say that it was a divine message from our god Hetrax himself… that we must purge the vile and evil imperial clan, all of these people who know nothing other than showing blind faith to our church and our god's doctrine… they will accept it and no one would dare question it either." he elaborated on how he planned to deal with the aftermath. 

"But there is another important issue that we must pay attention to first. Because it will decide the direction of our plans in a way." he explained. 

"What may that be, your holiness?" asked the last Cardinal curiously. 

The next second, the Pope's expression turned dead serious as he presented the main issue that was clouding his mind… 

"The Oakenshield company." 

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Another silence ensued as people of the church had many questions raised in their minds after Demiurge suddenly said a weapons and arms company, that wasn't even a big corporation of the empire, to be something important that would shift the direction of their plans. 

"Your holiness… How can a single saint blacksmith's company affect us greatly? 

For all we know, he was just another victim of the second prince's shenanigans." spoke a dwarven archbishop. 

Demiurge, who was now standing in the very center of the hall spoke in a somber voice. 

"Tell me… what has been our stand since the news about Throk Oakenshield spread throughout the empire?" he asked. 

Suddenly, everyone's expression turned alarmed. 

Sigh! 

Demiurge let out a sigh and continued… 

"Other than some vocal support and using the incident to pressurize the imperial clan to start an investigation against Rogis… our side did nothing. 

Not a single person among you even met the blacksmith. 

Was I supposed to do that for you?" he questioned. 

"The representatives of the dwarven race haven't provided him with any help either. 

But do you know who is aiding him now?" he questioned again to see how well informed were his people. 

But after looking at their clueless faces… he signaled a particular step in. 

The leader of the Paladins of the church, who was a 5th stage saint knight walked forth and informed all the attendees… 

"From the past 3 weeks… Throk Oakenshield's company has been thriving many times compared to before the incident with Rogis Hos Sigfreed. 

Suddenly, he received immense backing out of nowhere. 

He is being provided with money, resources, connections and manpower to even transport and safeguard his products. 

While we were trying to minimize and deal with our losses… a particular party extended their help." said this tall and burly fireborne knight. 

"Some of you may have heard the rumors that either prince Hector or princess Venessa have declared their support to the old dwarf and his company as a form of responsibility to revert the losses caused to him because of the former second prince. 

But recently… one thing has come to our attention." he said and continued under thousands of curious gazes. 

"Our Intel says that half of the people are from the followers and clans that back up Hector while the half are from Venessa's side. 

But the transportation of the top-grade weapons and armors are equally divided among them for some reason. 

These shipments of products are in millions and we tracked them down to many of the nobles and influential figures, whether they're from legit businesses to even underworld organizations that do the dirty work for the imperial clan… 

Everyone, as long as they ally them with either of the sides, are receiving them spontaneously." he reported to the whole crowd. 

Gasp! 

Hundreds of gasps echoed in the hall because this was something no one had even heard of. 

"Given the fact that both of them are in the race for the throne… it is impossible for them to wholeheartedly join hands together unless there was a bigger force who commanded them to do so." spoke the Paladin commander and cleared the way for the pope to speak again. 

"The relationship between the heirs of the imperial family is no secret to any of us. 

But if the only two candidates for the throne are working together… means there is an angle that we have failed to see yet. 

But if my assumptions are right… this can only happen if a certain person wills it." he said and continued in a grim tone as his eyes turned hateful. 

"The Emperor." 

He openly declared without any hesitation. And soon, everyone had a baffled expression because if the emperor was directly involved in something… no way would it be a small matter. 

The cunning emperor used his own son, sacrificed his second-born to maintain his reign, and used his crimes to take out many of their important members to swift the balance on his side with a single imperial decree. 

"Because these two wouldn't ally themselves with Throk Oakenshield because of their disagreements with each other. 

Unless the emperor himself ordered them to. 

They're planning something big… something we're not even aware of or predict the consequences of." spoke Demiurge. 

This was indeed an issue for them. Because their institution received the biggest hit in the history of the empire last month… and over a century's established power and authority was taken from them when all the involved members from the church who partook in the crimes against the human race were executed in the name of imperial punishment. 

"What should we do? 

If what you said is right, your holiness… then it is a long-term plan by the emperor that will show its effect in the future. 

He doesn't do anything on a whim at all." spoke one of the Cardinals. 

"We can't directly show up there. If the Paladins and Arbiters show up near the company… then not only the imperial clan but even the normal population and the dwarven race will get suspicious. 

Just our envoy is more than enough to start rumors such as the church is also officially backing Throk Oakenshield and that we are finally showing our support to a victim of the second prince. 

We can't ally ourselves with anyone on the surface." stated Demiurge with a thoughtful expression. 

Many people also nodded in affirmation because their presence or a personal visit to any person or an organization was always seen as something worth noting in the whole empire. 

"But he… he can just make a visit and find a few things on his own without raising any suspicions." said the pope as a grin appeared on his face. 

"Send him and his party to deliver my message." 

"Who?" asked the commander of the Paladins. 

This time however, many of the people present in the hall understood what the pope was hinting at. 

"Send Axel Lobethrox to visit the Oakenshield company." 

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[[Author : Sorry for the drop in the frequency of chapters recently. 

The world does not want me to stay healthy and well even for a week it seems. My right forearm muscles are strained so I can't write much from the past couple of days. 

We will continue with 2 chapters per day schedule once I recover… hopefully soon.]