Discussing the plans

...

When everyone was quiet, I began speaking.

"So, let us begin with what I know."

"I know that the Archbishop of Sloth is going to be leading the attack on the village, and I also know of his ability to possess his 'fingers'."

Julius then spoke up. "What do you mean by 'possess' his fingers?"

"His fingers are vessels for his soul to run too. When his body dies, he'll destroy the fingers soul before making home inside it effectively being reborn."

Hearing me, everyone went silent for a moment.

One of the men then yelled out in frustration. "How do we stop something like that? Don't tell me you know where these fingers will be do you?"

Hearing the random man's question, everyone turned to each other and started to share their doubts. Seeing how they are acting, I look towards both Ricardo and Julius in hopes of them calming them down.

Ricardo seeing my gaze he proceeded to hit one of his men on the back of the head causing an audible *slap* to get everyone's attention before letting out a hearty laugh. "Cut it out! Suburu here clearly has a plan for this!"

"Right?" He then asked with a complicated look.

Now with everyone's focus back on me I cough before continuing. "Well, we need to destroy or weaken his soul enough to where possession is impossible."

My hand raised to point at Julius. "The best way to do this is to use 'Juli', he is a spirit master. That means, he has the ability to damage the Archbishop of Sloth's soul using his spirits."

"Understood?"

Everyone looked at Julius before looking back at me and nodded in understanding. Happy to get this point across, I then turned extremely serious.

"But we have one main issue which will help us immensely if solved with any information related to the Fingers."

"What is it?" They all said collectively.

"We have some 'spies' hidden within our merchants. I've learned that they have a bag full of Firestone's hidden away underneath one of the carriages boards."

"This could cause some sever damage to both use and the village while giving them a chance to slaughter all of us while confused."

Their gazes then snapped to the merchants and showed uncomfortable looks. It was probably from having potential witch cultists so close to them.

"I'd look away from them before he gets suspicious, I've already figured out who the spy is. I went ahead and had all the merchants observed in secret."

"He is also in current possession of a Metia, so I want you to ambush him and take him out silently when he finally reports to his superiors."

"Once done, we will use his Metia to track down all the fingers and slaughter them along with any traces of witch cultists. Once done with that, we will then have Julius and I go and take down the Archbishop of Sloth."

"I hope for you to successfully ambush that merchant spy and slaughter them all while I speak with lady Emilia."

After my words, everyone went into thought before Ricardo just starting laughing and smacking the backs of his group.

"Why are you so serious guys? Didn't I teach you pups to live in the moment?"

But then Ricardo's face turned dead serious, a rare sight for those who know him.

"And besides, he's finally giving us a change to take our fight to the Witch Cult, and a Archbishop at that!"

"That's why I won't even stutter with my decision."

Ricardo then walked over to my side and let out a goofy smile before sticking his hand up into a fist.

"I'm down to rumble with those bastards!"

With Ricardo's words, his group went silent before one of them let out a laugh. "He's right! We weren't taught to be so serious!"

He then jumped up and walked beside me before letting out a yell.

"Let's kill those bastards!"

Then many others rose up and stood beside me. Some of them even showing the same enthusiasm as Ricardo and the randoms.

With all of Ricardo's group at my side, I turned towards Wilhelm and Julius.

Wilhelm noticing my gaze just walked calmly beside me with his group before speaking calmly.

"I have already vowed to repay my life debt to you Suburu, and my wife and I also despised the cultists, so you're actually doing me another favor."

Julius or 'Juli' I suppose also made his way over with a silent smile. And all of the knights behind him also had the same smile.

"Destroying the Witch Cult's people sounds 'honorable'. It would without a doubt 'fulfill' a lot of my men's and also MY goals."

When everyone stood beside me, I could only feel satisfaction. Having all these numbers would help speed things up significantly.

I then let out a cough catching everyone's attention.

"Alright now, I would like Wilhelm, Ricardo, and Julius to stay with me, this also includes Ferris. The rest of you can go and take a rest, well leave in a quarters time."

Julius's knights may not be tired, but Ricardo and Wilhelm's certainly are. If not physically tired, they are mentally.

And with my words said and done, Ricardo and Wilhelm's men let out a smile of relief before going to lay down in some grass to catch a quick rest.

And with Felix, Ricardo, and Wilhelm remaining, I planned to inform them of their goals and actions for this fight. These goals and actions will also include the groups they are in control of.

"Alright you four, let's go ahead and get this conversation done with. I just want to go over some quick details."

"Ricardo's group will focus on tracking and killing the fingers and cultists minus the twins. Julius's group will split and help Ricardo's group."

"Ferris will help out in any healing you need done."

"Wilhelm will also split his group into helping out in taking out the cultists. But I want the other half along with Wilhelm to help protect the people of the village."

"Julius and I will take the rest of his men and kill the Archbishop along with any remaining cultists. The twins will also come along to help also."

I then looked gazed at all four of them.

"Is this understood?"

"understood!"

...