Chapter 260: Saviors in the slums.

Nobody that should have known was in the know, but Soul maidens led by Ava had started crossing over the veil back into the new world as soon as the floods started to recede.

They mainly canvassed the low-born settlements, preaching the Somnivore gospel to the low-borns. They told them a truth that they had come to believe; that the Somnivores were good, and the Mystic sanctum was evil. They spoke of the economic differences, the demands for offerings, the technology wielded by the rich while the poor remained poor.

They even used Malia’s protests and the death of her husband as an example to highlight oppression of humans under the leadership of the Mystic sanctum. The recent move of the rich to the sanctuary in the sky while the poor squeezed into bunkers down here or highlands was also another reason used to prove the inefficiency of the Mystic sanctum.

At each visit, they came with supplies, most especially food, high grade medicinal herbs and simple technology from the Somnivore world beyond the veil. The low-borns were desperate, hungry and tired. They wanted a savior and ever since Malia had disappeared, that position was left vacant entirely. Everyone was scared to speak against the wealthy or those in charge of the nations.

When the soul maidens showed up, it was easier to believe them after all, they were pure and could not stand evil.

Some low-borns that quickly believed this Somnivore gospel were taken back to Wisteria, others decided to stay back out of fear, and those who converted started to spread the gospel too, calling themselves Saints of humanity.

The movement was still small, and not big enough to cause alarm, but it was growing, one desperate human at a time.

However, Ava was there on another mission entirely.

While Yuda and the other maidens were busy distributing supplies, Ava would slink around like a stray cat in an alley. She would pull small, metallic spheres from her bag and tuck them into different places; In markets, In restaurants, In malls. The devices hissed softly, releasing a virus into the air that was causing the flu.

She only dropped a couple in the low-born districts. The poor folks barely got to breathe the same air as the top dogs anyway. Majority of what she carried was dumped in the middle-class settlements. These were the clerks, the chefs, the drivers, and the personal servants. They spent all day rubbing elbows with the arrogant first-class nobles. In Ava’s words, ’If you want a fire to burn down a palace, you don’t start it in the moat; you light the curtains.’

Whenever their job was done, the Soul maidens would pool their energy, tear open a portal, and step back into Wisteria. They had just finished another mission, and the Soul maidens were feeling justified about their decision to spread the Somnivore gospel, because Trinity was not helping the low-borns after the flood.

Ava didn’t even stop to dust off her boots. She marched straight to the Red Center to report to Ivar and Leif. She didn’t knock, just pushed the door open and walked in as if it was her second home. Inside, Leif was polishing a giant battleaxe that looked heavy enough to crush an ox, while Ivar sat behind a desk stacked high with old files, looking like a man who hadn’t slept since the last century.

"Mission accomplished," Ava said, tossing her hair back. "The flu is spreading through the middle ring like wildfire. Unfortunately, the first-class folks found a way to contain it in their cities already. They have access to soul maidens for healing and high-grade herbs."

Leif’s heavy fist smashed onto the wooden table, sending a cup of herbal tea sloshing onto Ivar’s precious files.

"I knew it!" Leif roared, his face turning as red as his armor. "I told you these little tricks were useless! We are warriors, not talkers! Ava, your tactics are weak. Ivar, order the maidens to open the portals right now. Let’s release the King beasts! We crush their gates, rip down their banners, and make them bleed!"

Ivar didn’t even blink. He calmly picked up his soaked file, blew on it, and set it aside. "Calm down, Leif. You’ll give yourself an aneurysm before the war even starts. Our plan is working."

"Working?!" Leif scoffed, tossing his hands up. "How is it working? The humans literally just reinforced the veil between our worlds with all the high-grade resonance stones they have acquired! That doesn’t look like they want to sit down, sip tea, and talk diplomacy to me! They plan to continue looting and stealing from us."

Ava took three slow steps forward, her eyes locking onto Leif with enough ice to freeze a volcano. "Listen to me, muscle-head," she said, her voice dead serious. "Weakening them is the only way to make them listen. Do you have cotton in your ears? Did you forget the last war? If we throw beasts at them now, they won’t surrender. They’ll unite, fight to the last man, and drag us down with them. Humans are stubborn bastards when you back them into a corner." She turned her gaze to Ivar. "Forget the flu. Prepare the Veyrot gas. We spread that next, and I already know the perfect moment to drop it."

Without waiting for a reply, Ava spun on her heel and strode out of the office, her coat swishing behind her. Honestly, she thought, rubbing her temples as she walked down the stone corridor, how did that loud-mouthed idiot become Commander of the Knights? Did they pick him because his brain is as hard as his armor?

Back inside the office, the silence was thick. Leif stared at the closed door, his jaw clenched so hard his teeth squeaked.

"I don’t like it, Ivar," Leif growled, pointing a thick finger at the doorway. "I don’t like her attitude, and I really don’t like the fact that she’s grown wings. She thinks she’s a commander now just because you show her that she is important? This is your fault. You spoiled her."

Ivar sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Leif, my friend, give peace a chance. Just a small one. Remember what the Supreme Elders ordered us to do. They want a peaceful existence with the humans and more importantly, they need us to find the mother ship. You can’t search a house for lost treasure if you’ve already burned it to the ground."

Leif let out a deep growl and sank in the chair. "My hands are tied_ for now. But when the time for revenge comes...." He didn’t need to say more, but they both understood.