Medici and Sasrir worked in tandem to finalize preparations for the upcoming revolution. In the days to come, Medici would lead the warfront, while Sasrir handled logistics and support.
The revolution plan had two main components. The first was Medici's leadership of the resistance forces in a formal uprising, fighting for change, equality, and justice, reforming the Loen Kingdom from the ground up. The second fell to Alaric, who would lead a team to deliver a small surprise to the Augustus royal family, thwarting their inhumane plans and executing a decapitation strike.
In truth, Alaric could have taken down the Augustus family directly and enforced reforms top-down, but that risked an incomplete transformation. A decapitation strike, however, wouldn't undermine the revolution's impact... it was a different approach altogether.
As the day approached, Alaric, now back in Backlund, didn't rush to meet Medici to discuss the launch. Instead, he sought out an old friend.
That friend was none other than Audrey Hall, Miss Justice of the Tarot Club, whom he'd met shortly after arriving in the world of Lord of Mysteries.
Alaric met her in his guise as Lucifer.
"Your Excellency Lucifer, what brings you here?" Audrey asked, looking at the simultaneously unfamiliar and familiar angel before her.
Unfamiliar because she'd never formally met Lucifer, yet familiar because he was no stranger to the Tarot Club members.
"Audrey, I'm curious. Between justice and your social class, which would you choose?" Alaric asked, gazing at the blonde girl with a smile.
"What?" Audrey clearly didn't grasp the meaning behind his words.
"Walk with me. There are things I think you need to see for yourself to make a choice that truly reflects your heart," Alaric said, smiling without elaboration, adopting a cryptic tone. "Because you're Jack's friend and a member of the Tarot Club, I'm giving you this opportunity."
Audrey's expression remained puzzled, but though naive, she wasn't foolish. Even if she didn't fully understand, she sensed Lucifer was speaking of something significant.
After a moment's hesitation, she nodded. "Alright, Your Excellency Lucifer, it's my honor to accompany you. But please give me a few minutes to ensure my maids don't question my absence…"
"No need," Alaric said, smiling as he snapped his fingers. An figure identical to Audrey appeared beside her... not a real person, but an incredibly lifelike illusion.
"She'll stay here in your place. No one short of a demigod will see through it," Alaric assured.
Audrey studied her illusion with curious eyes, then nodded without further hesitation. "Very well, I'm ready."
Using his Door pathway abilities, Alaric effortlessly transported them to their destination. They began in the East District.
From there, Alaric took Audrey to many places... slums, factories owned by wealthy merchants... showing her countless gaunt, weary faces, people who looked as though they could collapse at any moment.
At the journey's outset, Audrey's expression had been relatively light, but as she saw more people, she grew increasingly silent.
Finally, Alaric brought her back to her room. Looking at Audrey's complex, sorrowful expression, he asked, "Do you think they deserve to die?"
"Of course not! It's not right! Why, I don't know…" Audrey bit her lower lip. Since joining the Tarot Club, she'd shed much of her former naivety and learned of some of the world's darkness.
But until today, that darkness had only reached her through newspapers, her father's reports, or others' words. She'd never confronted it directly.
This journey shook her profoundly. For the first time, this girl, sheltered by her noble upbringing and somewhat detached from the world's harsh realities, realized just how cruel it could be.
"Do you want to change it?" Alaric asked, unsurprised by her reaction, his gaze calm as he studied the noble girl.
"Can I change it?" Audrey looked up at him, her tone urgent, her eyes filled with confusion.
She wanted to change it, but she didn't know how.
"You can, or at least you can be part of that change," Alaric said, his smile carrying a harsh edge. "But it will come at a great cost. You'd have to give up everything you have now, even betray the nobility you belong to."
Audrey froze, clearly unprepared for such a notion, standing rooted to the spot.
"Of course, the change is already inevitable, regardless of your choice. You could help it proceed more smoothly or create minor obstacles... it's up to you," Alaric said unhurriedly, unconcerned about her leaking their plans. In the face of absolute power, leaks were meaningless.
Even if the Augustus family learned everything, what could they do? They couldn't oppose the will of the gods, let alone Alaric's.
"…Your Excellency Lucifer, what are you planning?" Audrey asked, sensing something. Her emotions were a tangle... nervousness, wariness, perhaps a flicker of hidden excitement?
"We're preparing to change it all, or to be blunt, we'll topple the Augustus rule completely, transforming this rotten society from the ground up, inside and out," Alaric said candidly, his tone measured.
He looked at Audrey, whose expression was a mix of emotions, and continued with a smile, "You have two choices. First, inform your parents and let them report to the Augustus royal family."
"Second, help us take down all the nobles in Backlund."
While absolute strength made seizing Backlund straightforward, the nobility's intricate relationships were a hassle Alaric found tedious. In such cases, a knowledgeable insider's assistance was invaluable.
***
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