The Greatest Sin [Progression Fantasy][Kingdom Building]

One thing I have come to realise very quickly is that there is little need for an Imperial Surveillance State. On one hand, that puts me out of a job, on another, it allows me to concentrate on the bureaucracy itself. The Imperial population is cohesive enough that they keep little secrets and enforce social norms on their own. The rise of the internet has destroyed traditional methods of watching over the populace. There is no need for cameras, when people willingly ask Imperial maps where to go. No need for ears, when thoughts are shared online.

It is a devilish system, one I almost struggle to conceptualize yet cannot pretend it doesn’t exist. In this regard, the SIS is almost perfectly fit to the task. It is brutal, it is efficient, it a school of killers who know what they are doing. Weaknesses of course arise within Imperial monitoring, there is a central database of records within Internal Affairs, but it is slow to be updated, instead relying on information from the various Imperial Provinces. I did just mention mass surveillance, but there is little proactivity within the Imperial sphere of civilian populace. Malam’s SIS is a reactive force, reactive against organised crime, against enemy infiltration and against basic morality true, but it is reactive.

The Empire currently holds no way to identify threats. Whereas Malam has given her reports, stating how many succubi make it through, these are merely figures of confirmed succubi. How many do we truly have? Either the SIS is perfect in all fields, and makes no mistakes and let not a single grain of sand get through its continent-spanning net, or the SIS is simply too measured to be reactive.

Of course, the SIS cannot be given proactivity. Malam would turn the population against the Empire the moment she was allowed such power. A proactive force has to be tender, has to be a step ahead and has to be able to know what is actually worth breaking in the first place. The SIS takes a rifle to every argument… There needs to be…

…

If Malam has her own department, why can I not?

- Excerpt from Goddess Helenna’s, of Love’s, private diary.

Helenna looked through the window at the city of Arseille as they approached on the single carriage train. It was the total opposite of the city, the train was sleek and red and white, its windows darkened, it looked like a small bolt of lightning that zoomed across the countryside until it slowed down to get to the station. And Arseille itself was all ancient sandstone. Even its huge apartments were of the material, although they did not stand so tall. The city was built upon hills, the train station had a trio of stairways leading down to the rest of the city. Those were flanked with statues of proud roaring lions, of Divines, both statues of the Ancient White Pantheon and of the New Empire. Of Paida holding her sword and shield and in full armour.

A fortress sat on each side of the bay, castles on hills, one on a tall cliff and connected to the city by a bridge, the other wide and sprawling. Both bustled with activity, from the large guns that were being installed on them, to the thousands of sailors belong to the Western Eparika fleet now stationed here. The ships themselves sat in the dock, the personal yachts had been replaced by battleships and cruisers and destroyers. And even more ships were anchored. After disembarking the train and looking down the main to the docks, even at this distance, Helenna could pick teams of mages who were carving blue runes into the largest vessels. FSS shielding, the same patterns that had been tested by the Salvation Squadron.

“I will have to dye my hair.” Helenna said as Malam stood by Of Love’s side. They both smelled the fresh air from the city, in the train, it had been air-conditioned and kept warm, here, it was windy and salt, smelling of both sulphur and salt. The sky was grey, not dark, it had clouds, but there was an obvious tinge to it that made the evening city lights stand out. Throngs of people marched through the market, a few stopped to take pictures of Malam and Helenna, no one came close though.

“What a loss.” Malam said dryly.

“You’re not going to ask why?” Helenna asked. It wasn’t… Well, she liked explaining herself. And she had assumed Malam would tease her on it. And she wanted Malam to tease her on it at this point. Especially after that hellish train-ride where the two had sat in silence and reviewed the research grants for Internal Affairs. It took the pair of Goddesses almost the entire journey. She wanted a reprieve.

“You’re an emotional harlot who displays her goods for everyone to see.” Malam said as she looked around. “Worst of all, you do it for free.” Helenna’s hair went an embarrassed bright pink as if to agree with it. Then it flushed a deep red when Malam turned to look at her. “See?”

“Of all the ways you could have explained that, that was the worst way you could have done it.” Helenna said, she didn’t care though. It was good to be back in the swing of things.

“I never thought you had an exhibitionist streak.” Malam said and Helenna’s hair turned a brighter red. Malam blinked, her smile downright devilish. “Aren’t I just stupid Helenna? Aren’t I just the biggest imbecile on this world?”

“You are.”

“Why had I never worked this out?” Malam said.

“Worked what out?”

“Do you like me?” Malam asked.

“Of course I do, we’re friends.” Helenna said, her hair turning the unimpressed brown once again as she regained control over herself. Malam’s smile deepened, Helenna kept her posture neutral, her cheeks cool, her hair betrayed her, it started to slowly tinge itself the same red as the traffic lights that brought cars to a stop ahead of them.

“I mean…” Malam leaned in, her breath was warm on Helenna’s ear and neck. “Do you really like me?”

Helenna, to her credit, knew how to fake emotion. She stood there, meeting Malam’s gaze with unimpressed eyes. Her breathing did not change, her hands did not quiver, she played it perfectly. This was exactly what spymasters were meant to do. “Do you really need me to answer that question?”

“You already did sweetheart.” Helenna’s cheek finally cracked when she saw Malam reach around and grab a few strands of hair. Helenna had never seen it go such a deep red. Malam chuckled and let it drop, then turned back around. “Do not worry, for honesty, I like you too.” She began to walk off towards one of the more modern buildings in the city, close by to the train station. It wasn’t particularly tall, although there were no skyscrapers here. But it was all glass and polished sandstone, with a balcony. And Helenna stood there, mouth slightly ajar as she blinked. She grabbed her hair wanting to rip it out. It’s deep red was just a total betrayal. She stared at Malam’s white, always white, always pure, always looking like a canvas. That pristine hair was the only thing pure about Of Hatred.

“I hate you.” Helenna said. “You cannot do that to me.”

“Can’t you just cut it?” Malam said.

“And go bald?” Helenna asked.

“Wear a wig.”

“What a magnificent fucking idea.” Helenna replied, her tone bitter. She still held her hair in one hand, the other was holding onto a strap of the pack on her back. That was largely filled with papers. Malam on the other hand had just brought a suitcase. Helenna half-expected it to be empty and only for show as the two Goddesses marched towards their newest accommodation.

“Logistical problems require logistical solutions.”

“How exactly is my hair a logistical problem?” They walked across the street, Malam did not even raise her hand for the traffic. She simply expected it to stop. It did though. There weren’t many people out here brave enough to slam into a giant that was twice as tall and maybe just as heavy as the vehicles they were driving.

“It’s like a faulty spy.” Malam said, chuckling. “You just get rid of it before it causes you problems.” She pointed down the road to the Hotel Imperial. That was the usual chain, one of the few companies that had enough workaround to actually take the sheer financial hit that was housing Divines. Helenna knew their workings though, the place would be filled out by tomorrow by the rich and famous and influential, as happened every-time a major Divine stayed over. “That’s our place.”

“Finally.”

“It’s just a drop-off.” Malam said. “I’ll need to go and meet with the police chief. You do your hair.” Every few steps, Malam’s entirely black eyes would shift. It was difficult to tell where exactly the woman was looking, but Helenna could feel the gaze upon her. She didn’t know how, she didn’t know why, but she was sure it was at her. Her hair refused to change from its embarrassed pink.

The pair of Goddesses finally made it to the reception of the Hotel Imperial. A few guests here, all obviously influential, in clean and prim suits of the black and white Imperial style and with expensive watches on their arms, all pretended not to be overjoyed at the fact that two of the most famous Goddesses in the Empire had chosen this location. Helenna was already drafting excuses in her head as to why she would be unable to attend meetings and turning invitations to dinners as Malam calmly strolled through the sleek reception. Plants stood in pots, it was built in a style to honour Rancais. The marble was interwoven with decorative sandstone. The tall windows outside had been dimmed, although it was obvious that a few people were making phone-calls to inform them of the new guests.

The receptionist was a pretty girl. Young, her face round. Helenna stared at it for a moment. It didn’t have the overt perfection of succubi at least, but the way she sat and analysed the two Goddesses was obviously out of place. Most likely she just had experience with the topic. “We have a reservation.” Malam said, not needing to state her name. “I trust the room is up to par.”

“Of course Goddess.” She replied. Malam stared down at her.

“How long have you been working here?” Helenna knew Malam could be terrifying, just as she herself could be. But she had never heard Malam use that cold tone with her.

“Four months Goddess.” The girl replied instantly. Malam stared down at her.

“Quick answer.”

“I…” The girl leaned back and blushed. “Well, I do try to be professional.”

“You talk a lot.”

The receptionist smiled up at Malam. It was almost teasing. “That’s what I get paid to do Goddess.” Malam looked around the room at the other guests, then at Helenna. Malam brought out her phone.

“Your name princess.”

“Eloise Benoit.” She replied immediately. Helenna looked over to see Malam search the woman up. Within a few minutes, she found the woman’s public account on social media.

“Twenty-six. From Aris.” Malam said loudly. “Long way from home.” Helenna just stood and waited for this show to be over. Normally, she would stop Malam. Normally. This girl… though. In the White Pantheon, in a centre of government, she would have been fired already.

“The weather is much nicer here.” Eloise said. “Or was, should I say. It’s cheaper here too than Aris.” Malam turned with a grim expression to Helenna and nodded to the elevator. Helenna led this time. Almost immediately after the door shut, Of Hatred started to speak.

“She’s off.” She said.

“I know.” Helenna agreed, and Malam turned to her, mouth slightly open.

“Why didn’t you say anything then?”

“Isn’t this your job?”

“My job is paranoia?” She held up her hands. “I can count on my fingers how many people I’m not paranoid about.” She shook her head. “I should have shot her.”

“That would look bad.”

“I don’t like it.” Malam said as she leaned back against the wall. “What a shame my units are gone.”

“Are you going to bring in more?”

“Of course.” Malam said. “Tomorrow, another twenty four will arrive. Then again for four days.” She smiled at Helenna. “What? Do you think I’ll give up the city without a fight?” Of course she wouldn’t. Helenna wouldn’t have either. The elevator beeped, it opened to a small corridor. No one was here. Helenna shook her head.

“I can’t believe you just searched her up like that in front of everyone.”

“Should I have not?” Malam asked.

“If she is trouble, you’ll never see her again.” Helenna said. “You play coy, you play along, and then you swoop in.”

Malam just smiled at Helenna. “Oh I’m sure you know all about coy.” She dropped her suitcase onto the floor of the penthouse the two Goddesses would be staying at was much like all of them. Modern, there was a shower, a bath, a balcony, a computer. A television. Kitchen, the whole lot. The glass cabinets were already stocked with plenty of alcohols, these were all wines from local regions. That was good, Malam wasn’t a fan of fine wine whereas Helenna loved it. Some cosmic karma for the Goddess of Hatred finally.

“Besides, you don’t even if it’s true.” Helenna said.

“Why wouldn’t it be true?”

“Why would it be true?” Helenna asked, her hair going an angry red as she finally dropped her backpack.

“Why would she lie?”

“Oh because you know all about telling the truth.”

“I rarely if ever lie.” Malam said and looked around.

“You just omit the truth.” Helenna said. “So no, you should know exactly. There was something up with her, both of us sensed it.”

“She’ll be there.”

“And if she isn’t.”

“Then you were right.” Malam said and sighed. Her black eyes went to the clock. “As much as I would like to talk over this, I’m on a schedule.”

“Police chief?”

“And the mayor after.” Malam said. “To investigate, I’ll be a few hours.” Helenna sighed.

“I’ll get the dye then.” Her hair was all over the place today. She didn’t even want to look at what colour it was. In the Great War, she had to operate like this too. And in almost every diplomatic meeting. It had been Fate’s way of giving humanity a chance against her. “Will you help me with it?” Malam stopped moving for a moment, she turned slowly. And Helenna saw a new expression in the Goddess of Hatred. Was that actually a blush? A small smile?

“Helenna, you just made my day.” Helenna believed it, that was the best part.