Though the Mother Goddess of Depravity's infiltrating power was easy to neutralize, Alaric had no intention of playing constant guard against a thief. He didn't have time to babysit City of Silver and Moon City's people every day.
"Fortunately, I've struck a deal with the Evernight Goddess, so finding a new place for them won't be an issue." Alaric said, rubbing his chin after a moment's thought.
Loen was outside the Mother Goddess of Depravity's sphere of influence. Relocating City of Silver and Moon City's people within Loen's borders, with proper arrangements, would largely shield them from her reach.
City of Silver's people were tall and numerous, making discreet placement in Loen tricky. But with the Church of Evernight's support from his new alliance, the task became much simpler.
"However…" Alaric's eyes narrowed, a cold glint flashing through them.
He wasn't about to let the Mother Goddess of Depravity's meddling slide.
"Perfect timing. I was planning to talk with Stiano anyway…" Alaric smirked, glancing toward the direction of Roselle's mausoleum.
Through experiments on various test subjects, he'd accumulated ample experience in purging Outer Deity corruption. It was time for the next step: if complete removal wasn't feasible, he'd suppress the corruption within the infected, allowing them to function lucidly.
Achieving this was no small feat. It required balancing Nyarlathotep's power against the Outer Deity's corruption, much like using anchors to counter a primordial being's will... a delicate task demanding deep understanding of both the Mother Goddess of Depravity's and Nyarlathotep's powers.
Initially, Alaric lacked the capability, but his recent test subjects... especially Lilith, a unique case... had deepened his knowledge of the Mother Goddess of Depravity's power.
After learning his true identity, Alaric had also been digging into his memories. Though he hadn't uncovered much, his control and application of his powers had improved significantly.
What was once impossible was now within his reach.
Alaric hadn't planned to act so soon, intending to hone his skills further. But with the Mother Goddess of Depravity overstepping, he'd retaliate... or he wouldn't be Alaric.
As for why Roselle was the target? Obvious... he was the perfect test subject. Who else would he pick?
Lilith was an ally, and Bethel was someone Alaric admired. If surgery was needed, they'd come later.
"Bethel's case is manageable. If the procedure works on Roselle, it'll work on him. Lilith, though... even if her corruption is suppressed, the mental imprint from her Beyonder characteristics will be a headache…" Alaric shook his head, sparing a moment's sympathy for the vampire progenitor.
This was why choosing the right pathway mattered. Earth Mother and Moon were pitfalls... once chosen, you were stuck for life.
"Speaking of which, Lilith wasn't bold enough back then. She deliberately fell to escape the Mother Goddess of Depravity's corruption, so why not go all in and jump to the Black Emperor pathway? She was already half-mad; a bit more wouldn't hurt. If she'd become Black Emperor and avoided building her mausoleum in the wrong spot like Roselle, her odds of breaking free would've been high…" Alaric mused, sighing with a shake of his head.
…
Though eager to use Roselle as a test subject, Alaric didn't forget to escort Klein and Lil' Amon to their base. After settling City of Silver and Moon City's affairs, he returned to the Numinous Episcopate's headquarters and promptly sent the two off to the border city.
Though not much time had passed since his last visit, the base had visibly transformed. If the flames of change had once been confined to Medici's factory and its surroundings, now the entire border city was quietly ablaze with revolutionary fervor.
Medici had taken control of the city without alerting anyone outside... a feat hardly surprising, given his capabilities. It'd be odd if he couldn't seize a small city discreetly.
Alaric led Klein and Lil' Amon through the city, now starkly different from before. Where it once felt lifeless, it now pulsed with restless energy, like sprouts breaking through soil after long suppression, eager to proclaim their existence.
He spotted familiar Beyonders. Passing a hospital, he saw the vampires... those dimwitted allies... some treating patients, others mixing potions, and a few arguing over a pile of medicinal herbs.
Beyond the vampires, Alaric noticed many uniformed individuals, clearly well-trained, armed with firearms and blades. Some patrolled the city, while others hurried about, seemingly on missions.
One of them noticed Alaric's group. After a brief exchange, a vaguely familiar young man approached, snapping a crisp salute. "Boss, Mr. Lucifer, good afternoon!" He said, barely containing his excitement.
"Good afternoon, Dixie. Out on patrol?" Alaric recalled the man... a devoted Medici fanboy from his last visit.
"Reporting to Mr. Lucifer, we got a tip about illegal dealings on a certain street. I'm leading a team to handle it." Dixie said, spilling the details without hesitation.
Alaric raised an eyebrow. On his last visit, he'd casually mentioned to Medici about rescuing the women trapped in the red-light district. Clearly, Medici had taken it to heart, addressing the issue while securing the city.
"Good work. What's the plan for the women you've rescued?" Alaric asked, commending him first.
"Boss didn't tell you?" Dixie glanced at Klein, disguised as Medici, with mild confusion.
"What, am I his subordinate now, reporting everything to him? Kid, getting cocky, huh? Ready to jump ship? Just say it!" Klein shot back, fully committed to Medici's sarcastic tone.
"Cough, Boss, that's not what I meant…" Dixie shrank under the familiar mockery, insisting, "I'd never jump ship! Following you is the honor of my life!"
Then, turning to Alaric, Dixie detailed the follow-up efforts.
Medici wasn't one for half-measures. Having decided to save the red-light district's women, he'd planned comprehensive support... sorting victims from perpetrators, with the latter sent for labor reform.
Victims were taught trades, given the choice to live independently or take jobs offered by the revolutionary forces, ensuring that any willing woman could support herself through honest work.
***
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