Chapter 595 (2/2)

So she wouldn’t just be creating a single order, but multiple ones. Randidly almost winced. That would be… chaotic if implemented incorrectly. Likely to the point of disturbing the peace of the land. And it would also create a scenario where it would be easier for seeds of twisted ideas to take root, as had happened in the case of the Unity Church.

That gave Randidly pause because he wondered whether the church would make a knightly order. At that point, Neveah spoke again.

“So?”

“Thinking about Tessa,” Randidly said slowly. It truly was difficult to remember her, aside from brief bright moments of her laughter. Their time together truly seemed to brief and naive, in retrospect. Neither of them was likely to be the same person that they had been. “She wants to create ways for people to work to improve their own lives. She always talked about the government’s primary directive was to convince people to wait for the government to help them, and that was a disastrous choice. This is her giving people the tools to solve their own problems.”

Randidly paused and then continued slowly to speak. “...in addition, she was always smart in a considered way. Like, if you told her a joke, she wouldn’t get it. But that night she would look up the background and spend several hours researching it. By the following day, she would be intimately familiar with whatever was the subject of the joke, and understand why it was ironic, or shocking. So I think… she also gets the System implications. If people believe they can improve… they can improve. On that front… I think I would support them.”

Strangely, Randidly remembered Kulwort Shaw and his words. People needed something to believe in. If they lost whatever they were giving their belief to, they would just find something else.

“...you know, maybe it’s a really good idea,” Randidly said, thinking about how it might draw more people away from the Unity Church.

Neveah hummed. “I will tell Senator Firefly. Mrs. Hamilton also says that it will keep us in flux for another year or so politically. So people don’t stagnate before the Calamity arrives.”

“Mmm,” Randidly said as he gave Neveah a surreptitious glance. How much did she truly understand…? Randidly admitted to himself how limited his own knowledge was in certain ways, and she was likely similar in that regard. They were focused people. He considered asking if she knew anything about the new Zone but decided against it. From everything he heard, Franksburg had repelled a light attack and was now moving to speak with the leadership to resolve the issue. It wasn’t something he needed to be involved in.

“Mrs. Hamilton also says that the orders are about you. That’s why I ask.” Neveah said abruptly.

Randidly blinked and then smiled ruefully. Of course, he was something of a fool for not seeing that. He was walking around and impressing his will upon other organizations. If Tessa was even aware of half of what he had been up to, she would be pissed enough to spit. Randidly didn’t hold that against her, however. She was right, in an important way.

It would be very easy for a person in his position to abuse his power for his own benefit. And he likely did that, in ways he considered harmless. Like streamlining the process for Erickson Steel to become a force in the business world of Zone 1 by talking to Ghost.

But things were never simple. Just as he supported a style that might lead to abuses, Tessa allowed oversight and checks that would prefer innocent people to die from inaction than risk a dictator rising into power. It was a choice. And Randidly had already made his choice.

“...Perhaps. But don’t let that stop you from supporting it. The world needs different types of people to function.” Randidly shook his head slightly. “Well anyway, does that mean you do not wish to come to Shal’s world?”

“I wish to come. But I believe it is better I don’t,” Neveah said with a shrug.

Randidly nodded. “Alright. I’ll contact you when we are going back for that ogre.”

Whistling, Neveah nodded. “Good. I feel bored and irritable if I stay in the city too long. I miss the violence.”

They parted, and Randidly took a deep breath while running backward. Then he reached out and sent a gentle mental inquiry. Lucretia responded almost immediately.

I was wondering when we would have this discussion.