Chapter 673 — Two Empires
Blade of Dawn · Page 2 of 4
Daniel nodded slightly to this follower of the Eternal Sleeper. "Great nobles usually take the long view, which makes them prefer to hold the balance through investments on many sides. Where profit is in sight, Duke Severn will certainly not refuse to reserve a stake for himself in the southern plantations—all the more so since that stake can at the same time win him allies along the railway line. After all, the emperor has already ordered in advance that nobles above the rank of marquis may not meddle in the railways, so the great nobles will surely seek suitable agents to spend their money for them."
"In any case, your hint allowed me to seize an opportunity—a pity I cannot express my gratitude to you in the real world."
"It is all for our true cause, 'Viscount Weigel,'" Daniel said in a low voice, naming the man's real-world identity in a tone only the two of them could hear, a reminder to keep distinct the different roles borne by his real identity and his identity within the order. "While you accumulate wealth, do not forget why we accumulate it."
Viscount Weigel lowered his head at once. "You are right to remind me, Bishop. It is all for our true cause."
The Eternal Sleepers were a vast order, and like every sect of the Ember Hush, it devoted itself to cultivating members in nearly every stratum of society to meet the many needs of its own operation.
Among its lower and middle ranks were a great many converted nobles, merchants, and clerics of alien gods. Though these people could not touch the order's core secrets, they were an indispensable link in its workings: some could supply funds, some could supply intelligence, and some could help the order expand further and absorb new members.
Petty southern nobles like Viscount Weigel were essential aids to the order's growth within Typhon, and with Daniel's rank as bishop, it was as easy as turning his hand to approach and secretly control such "pieces" without drawing anyone's notice.
"There is one thing I must warn you of," Daniel said, weighing his tone and speaking with an air of natural ease as he saw the lower-ranking cleric bow his head. "Do not underestimate the keen noses of the northern nobles. You have had close dealings with Duke Severn several times—someone will guess what you are about."
Viscount Weigel's eyes went wide. "You mean... the northern nobles will meddle in the railways too?"
"That is hard to say, but you had best warn the southern nobles," Daniel said, his face expressionless. "I doubt you wish to be taken in again?"
He had many things to do in Typhon, but he could not see to every one of them himself.
At the very least, he could not do them openly in his own person.
Viscount Weigel, low-ranking cleric of the Eternal Sleepers, this man who answered to Daniel, nodded hurriedly again and again, soon received the bishop's command, and his figure gradually faded from the node square.
Daniel watched him return to the real world, then turned and walked toward the nearest node crystal.
Some things he did himself; some things were done by his apprentices and by the nobles under his influence; some things were done by "Bishop Daniel" of the Eternal Sleepers; and some things were done by the believers beneath Bishop Daniel.
No one would notice what connection lay behind these affairs that ran the length of the Typhon Empire from north to south, touching all from commoners to merchants to nobles—for countless unconnected threads and countless people who did not know one another at all, and had never dreamed they might be connected, were all doing such things at the same time.