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It was a month after Sariel watched the church-bred Witch, who masqueraded as the King of Greycastle, reveal herself for what she truly was on the steps of the church during a ritual, and then proceed to kill herself.

The whole ordeal was hilarious, as the presiding priest must have to have known the Witch before, as he called her name before she killed herself; gaining quite a few looks of different emotions as he tried desperately to play it down. It came as no surprise that the priest in question disappeared the next day, and the church saying he was executed for colluding with the spawn of the devil.

Sariel had lay low for a time to watch and listen around King's City, as-well-as set up more pawns in high places.

One such chess piece was the woman standing in front of her, long blonde hair, rough tanned skin, with wrinkles around her eyes from excessive strain. Margaret Farman, owner of Margaret's Chamber of Commerce, a 30-year-old woman who had lived the tough life of a merchant for years.

The woman had been one of the very first whom Sariel turned into one of her puppets, and was the one she had spent the most time around. While she wasn't physically fit, she did have the brains and intelligence required to be one of her more valuable chess pieces.

Her merchant group was set up across the 4 human kingdoms and there was not a lot they didn't know. Sariel used her as an information hub and her business as a connection point for all her playthings. Letters came and went from within these walls, carrying the latest orders in an overarching plan.

Sariel was lounging on a luxurious couch as she listened to the reports from the blonde woman.

"The Church is obviously continuing to deny any involvement in the disappearance of the King, and saying they have no knowledge of the Witch who was disguised as the King," Margaret reported.

Sariel scoffed, "Good, the more they deny, the more it will backfire on them once the written orders are found and released to the educated masses." Sariel leaned back into the couch, "Next, what about each social class."

"The reaction went as expected for each different social stratum. The commoners are believing in the drivel they are fed by the Church, which this time is that the Devil has come to throw the Kingdom into chaos and that his Witch agents have infiltrated the city. This rhetoric has increased the number of Witch reports and sighting, as well as risen the number of executions of females." The woman frowned, showing a sad look.

"Hmph," Sariel snorted, "Well they are not wrong about the infiltrated part. It's a pity that innocents are getting caught up, but that was to be expected. Next, how are the nobles reacting?"

"Nobles are also reacting as expected. As always, they are taking what the church says with a grain of salt and are keeping a tighter watch over the cities church. However, the sale of God's Punishment Stones has explosively increased from the nobles purchasing them in bulk, both from legal, and illegal sources. Giving the church an insane amount of income this month." Margaret stopped reading her report and waited for her master's response.

"Hmmm, if there is an opening you have my permission to use the squad of Bloodwarriors I keep here to... 'acquire' the churches finances when they eventually transport them." Sariel sat up and leaned over to the table, picking up a wine glass filled with a red liquid, "And what are the Royals doing?" She asked before she started sipping at the liquid.

"Yes well, both Timothy and Garcia Wimbledon have begun fielding troops in Valencia City and the Port of Clearwater respectively, with Garcia having constructed a navy years prior. The two of them are likely to bash heads with one another as they both have the ambition of succeeding the throne. The oldest, Gerald Wimbledon, is with the army sent to Hermes for the Month of Demons and has likely not even heard of what is happening yet. Tilly Wimbledon, on the other hand, has seemingly disappeared, and no matter how our agents have tried, have failed to find where she went."

Sariel stopped sipping and swirled the liquid around in the wine glass, "Interesting. That girl has always been an interesting enigma, keep searching for her."

"Yes, master." Margaret bent slightly in acknowledgment.

"If I remember correctly there is a Wimbledon child you are missing… what is he doing?" Sariel began sipping at the red liquid again.

"Surely you jest, master. That one is a waste and there is nothing he could possibly do, exasperated by the fact that he was sent to Border Town by Royal Decree for the Succession Challenge." Margaret chuckled.

"I want all bases covered. Do not fail me, Margaret." Sariel squinted menacingly at the blonde woman, her lips still on the wine-glass.

"Yes, master! I will never fail you!" Margaret bowed down obediently.

"Going back to Gerald Wimbledon, I assume we have sent someone to relay what happened to him and the Greycastle army?"

"We have, and we receive word just a few minutes before that the Church has allowed the 4 Kingdoms Coalition Army to enter Hermes and set up a defense before winter begins."

"Hmmm, as expected they most likely plan on using the Month of Demons and the hybrid-demons to annihilate the 4 Kingdoms' standing armies." Sariel mumbled under her breath, before a red-light flashed in her eyes, "Too bad I won't let them, those armies are important in my plans."

"Master, just how are we going to contend with the Church? They have those God's Punishment Warriors that you always described as their strongest card, while we have your Bloodwarriors, they are fewer and weaker, and your combat Witches are also too few." Margaret asked solemnly.

"Isn't it obvious? I will drag the Church into a war of attrition with the human kingdoms from the front, and hybrid-demons from behind, the two forces will whittle away as many God's Punishment Warriors as possible." She continued with fervor, "Then after they are at a manageable number, I will utilize all of the pawns I have inside the church to waltz straight in with my Bloodwarriors and Witches, taking the place over, and acquiring my objective."

Taking a breath Sariel finished drinking all of the red liquid before placing the glass back on the table. "To that end, I will have the churches plan of annihilating the 4 Kingdoms' armies backfire, as they are important to my plans. I will command the hybrid-demons to focus on church soldiers and try to avoid the other soldiers. And during the fighting the message of what happened in Greycastle should spread, creating a divide between the Church and the Kingdoms," She leaned back comfortably into the couch, "Of course one can't predict the future, and there is a lot that can happen which could change everything."

A spark flashed through Margaret's eyes, "Truly a master plan master! I look forward to the world you will bring!"

"Hahaha, thank you for the praise. Now let us retire to your room and I will grant you, my… 'thanks'"

As the two walked out of the room, with Margaret in front, Sariel had an evil light within her eyes and her trademark sadistic smirk on her ethereal face.

'Ahhh my sweet little kitten, you don't know a thing about the world that I will bring…'

If you like, leave a stone. I love stones.

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