Chapter 27: Escalate it, infiltrate
After Baines suggested their next course of action, no one argued.
There was no point in finding faults in his plan after all, they had no leads of their own.
Soon, they stood before a towering white cathedral, its pristine facade gleaming under the midday sun. At the top, five golden suns were emblazoned in a circular pattern, each one representing an aspect of their faith.
To enter the Empire, one had to first embrace their religion. Well, joining the army was probably the only leeway. The Church of the Five Suns was not just doctrine, it was law. Branches of the church existed in every major city, with this branch being one of the most prominent in the whole darkan land.
As they approached, the enormous cathedral doors creaked open, revealing robed men in immaculate white. Embroidered around their flowing garments were gold-threaded suns, radiating from their chests.
The middle-aged man leading them wore a more elaborate version of the garb, with his suns layered in double gold. His steps were serene, and his smile even more so.
"What brings the noble Darkan family to this humble branch?" he asked, voice filled with gentle reverence. He was the head priest.
"We missed the last mass gathering," the branch head replied, bowing slightly. "I came to remedy that."
"Hohoho, there’s no need for apologies. Only the Merciful One may judge. We are but His servants." The priest chuckled kindly. "Besides, the Darkan family has long done more than most."
"Haha," the branch head chuckled in return, masking his tension.
"And these?" the priest asked, turning his gaze to the others.