"Work hard, and you will have all of this. This honor—I will bestow it upon you in front of everyone." Arthas patted Maricia's fair buttocks. Looking at her black-silk 'big sister' outfit, a surge of nameless fire began to churn again. His desire was much stronger than before; he could hardly go a day without wanting to mate with a woman, and he wouldn't stop until every drop of his essence was spent. He wasn't sure if it was the vigorous desire of youth or the transformative effect of the Life Essence.
"Yes, Master, I will make the arrangements immediately." Maricia's expression was fervent. She adored Arthas boundlessly; as long as she could maintain her youth and increase her strength, she was willing to do anything. Such Fanatics were the most devout and obedient. Letting them spread their legs was just the basic requirement; using them to spread the Guild's tenets and secretly acting as go-betweens were the tasks they truly needed to perform. Furthermore, when women did such things, they left no trace for people to detect; women are always more willing to trust other women.
Arthas closed his eyes. His current Faith Power was not much, only fifty thousand. This was the result of his continuous campaigning, his widespread reputation, and Maricia's propaganda. A Fanatic could provide three points a day, while a regular believer took three days to provide one point; that was the gap. Many regular members who weren't very devout might take seven days or even half a month to gather a single point.
Relying on faith to become a god was not Arthas's path; such faith was easily collapsed if someone exploited a loophole. Regarding schemes and intrigue, Arthas never considered himself a master; he was simply sufficiently despicable. The impending Dreadlords were the true schemers, and they would be a major headache to deal with.
Rubbing his head, Arthas felt he still had a great many things to do. The territory had to develop, and the Guild had to develop. The believers within were his foundation and key. Even with his status as Prince of Lordaeron, he could not forcibly compel commoners to migrate, especially to the other side of the ocean. Therefore, the believers were the most important; to have them lead the way, he had to give them benefits. Later, when they saw the territory flourish, ordinary people would naturally follow; he just needed a catalyst to get things moving.
In addition, he had to continue improving his own strength, producing professional products, and smoothing out personal connections. These were the keys to ensuring smooth financial trade. Currently, he relied on the high-quality artifacts he crafted to open up sales channels, so he was very busy.
After a while, Arthas and Maricia arrived at the church plaza. This had originally been a church for spreading the Holy Light. The Holy Light was something anyone could possess, and almost all priests would follow the orders of the Archbishop of the Church of the Holy Light. The Church of the Holy Light covered almost all the kingdoms; they held no actual power, yet they possessed immense prestige and were extremely influential figures in the hearts of commoners and nobles alike.
Over two thousand people participated in this gathering. Fortunately, the plaza outside the church was large enough, otherwise it wouldn't have been able to hold so many people.
Among them were Humans, Dwarves, High Elves, Gnomes, Goblins, and even Orcs, Trolls, and Gnolls! Yes, Orcs, Trolls, and Gnolls!
There were many casters among the Gnolls; besides Ogg, Arthas had also trained a Gnoll Priest for observation. The other Orcs and Trolls were brought by Arthas to learn the Holy Light, so that they could better serve him. The reputation of healing physicians was always excellent; by grasping this point, he could grasp the commoners at the bottom of society.
Initially, the High Elves showed some hostility when they saw the Trolls, but they became calm once they learned these were not Forest Trolls. The High Elves only held a grudge against Forest Trolls due to land disputes. It didn't mean they were in a death-struggle with other Trolls; they simply rarely had contact, feeling an instinctive repulsion and disgust that didn't quite reach the level of fighting on sight.
Arthas stood on the high platform, the breeze blowing his cloak behind him. His armor still bore countless marks from blades and swords; these mottled scars were the best proof of his time on the battlefield.
"My people, your devotion to the Guild is the reason the Goddess of Life sent me here. War has left the land scarred and broken. I am honored to lead the soldiers of the Alliance to crush the invasion of the Horde. I have also seen the deluded Orcs; here, I shall save these lost believers, and they shall join the Guild, using their actions to atone for the war."
"Today, the Goddess of Life has given me instructions. Some members among you have done very well. They respect the elderly and cherish the young, assist their compatriots, and provide help to our people in their times of greatest need. Some are young girls in the flower of their youth, while others are already wives, but all possess a burning, sincere, and noble soul."
"The Goddess of Life will not forget everything you have done. As the messenger and spokesperson of the Goddess of Life on Azeroth, I shall bestow upon you her blessing. Now, close your eyes and reflect on your past. Think of your former lives and experiences, and then think of everything now. Has your life become better?" Arthas brought out the Life Essence. The shimmering light caused the breathing of all the believers to momentarily catch. The power of life was so alluring; it was the scent of nature, so gentle and attractive.
"Maricia, step forward!"
As Arthas's voice fell, Maricia, dressed in a dignified Priest Robe, stepped forward. Unlike the seductive way she acted with Arthas—which was meant solely for her master's eyes—she had now changed into a Priest Robe that was dignified and conservative yet still held a certain charm for this public occasion.
"I am here, Lord Messenger."
"During the war, you led your lost kin into the embrace of the Goddess of Life, giving them a new beginning. In the Newborn Territory, you selflessly dedicated yourself to healing the wounded and aiding the suffering. Your devotion and love for life have earned you the favor of the Goddess of Life. Come forward and take this blessing into your mouth. The Goddess of Life is very gratified and pleased by all you have done, and she hopes you will continue to maintain this kindness." Arthas spoke a long string of compassionate words and then gave the Life Essence to Maricia.
Maricia opened her rosy little mouth and took Arthas's fingertip, playfully licking his finger like a pet cat, teasing yet with a hint of subservience.