"ssiah, there are two Orthodox Temples assigned to capture the believers of our Lord."
A man stepped forward, his appearance disheveled yet unassuming. His shirt was wrinkled, and his hair stuck out in odd directions, as though he'd spent more nights at the gambling tables than in bed.
His tired eyes darted nervously, and he fidgeted with a coin in his hand, flipping it over his knuckles in a practiced motion.
Williams narrowed his eyes, his posture stiffening as he assessed the man.
The news wasn't surprising, but it wasn't welco either.
'These past few days, I've managed to save up over 40 coins charged with enough luck to tip the scales in my favor,' he thought, his fingers unconsciously brushing the pouch at his waist.
'But then, trouble finds wherever I go, draining my reserves faster than I can replace them. Now I'm down to just 15 coins. Dammit... does boosting one's luck have hidden costs? It's like I've been cursed with constantly encountering danger wherever I go... Feels like the Spirit with Good Luck really did scam ...'
He sighed inwardly before focusing back on the man.
"Which Orthodox temples are involved?" he asked, his tone sharp but steady.
The man hesitated for a mont, the coin slipping through his fingers before he caught it awkwardly.
"The Minotaur of Chivalry… and the Caretaker of Tea Parties."
Williams froze, his jaw tightening. His mind raced as he processed the information.
'The Minotaur lady again... great. She's definitely going to be a problem. She already suspects —especially since this ss aligns with the Spirit of Good Luck's authority. If she connects the dots, I'm in deep trouble.'
'As for the other one…' he thought under his breath, his brow furrowing.
'The Caretaker of Tea Parties? What kind of ridiculous Reality Master is that? Are they going to throw tea at or sothing?'
He straightened up, trying to mask his irritation.
"The Minotaur of Chivalry is a known threat. She's relentless and dangerously competent. But this Caretaker of Tea Parties.... —what do we know about them?"
The man shrugged helplessly.
"Not much, ssiah. Rumors say their authority revolves around creating safe zones, like so sort of twisted hospitality. They can manipulate environnts and turn even hostile spaces into their territory. It doesn't sound threatening until you're stuck in their 'parlor' with no way out."
Williams pinched the bridge of his nose.
'Fantastic. A powerhouse who knows who I am and a wildcard who plays host. Just what I needed.'
The man hesitated, then asked, "Should we prepare a diversion? Or—"
"No," Williams cut him off, his voice firm but calm.
"We don't have the manpower for a direct confrontation. Focus on keeping the believers hidden."
The man hesitated, worry flickering across his face.
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"But... what if they find us? What if they uncover the hideouts?"
Williams' expression "softened", but only slightly as he tried to act like a devout believer. He stepped closer, his tone steady yet reassuring.
"Rember the authority of your Lord. Luck will always be on our side," he said, his voice carrying a quiet conviction.
The man nodded slowly, but his hands still fidgeted with the coin in his grip.
"Listen carefully," Williams continued, his voice taking on a sharper edge.
"This is what you're going to do. First, rotate the eting locations every night. Don't use the sa place twice in a week. Make it unpredictable. Use the abandoned inns, the warehouses near the docks, even private hos if you have to—but never establish a pattern. Got it?"
"Yes, ssiah," the man replied, nodding quickly.
"Second, cut the group size in half. Smaller gatherings are harder to notice. And tell them to avoid drawing attention outside of the sessions—no big celebrations, no conspicuous behavior. If soone's too flashy, they'll lead the Orthodox right to us."
"Understood," the man said, though his voice carried a hint of doubt.
Williams' eyes narrowed.
"Third, keep up the appearances. I don't care how nervous they are; they need to stick to their routines. Gambling sessions must go on as usual, especially in public. That's where they'll be most vulnerable if they suddenly stop attending. The Orthodox are watching for unusual behavior, so we give them nothing to latch onto."
The man shifted uncomfortably.
"But what about the ones who don't gamble? So of them don't even know how to play..."
Williams let out a short sigh and rubbed his temple.
"Then teach them sothing simple—dice rolls, card gas, anything. The point isn't to win. It's to blend in. Make sure they're seen as just another group of harmless gamblers."
The man seed to relax slightly at the clarity of the instructions.
"And one more thing," Williams added, his tone lowering to sothing almost cold.
"If anyone panics or tries to flee, deal with it imdiately. We can't afford stragglers or deserters. They'll be a liability—not just to themselves but to the entire group. Do you understand what I an?"
The man's eyes widened slightly, but he nodded.
"Yes, ssiah. I understand."
"Good." Williams turned away, his fingers brushing the pouch of luck-charged coins at his waist.
"Rember, luck is on our side—if we're smart enough to use it. Keep calm, stay disciplined, and follow the plan. Now go. There's no ti to waste."
The man bowed slightly before leaving, his steps quick but purposeful.
As the door closed with a faint creak, Williams leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly. His fingers tapped rhythmically on the armrest, his mind already swirling with thoughts.
'Nolan's still stuck at that damned family gathering,' he thought, irritation flickering in his eyes.
'If he were here, I'd at least have soone reliable to help handle this ss. Instead, I'm stuck delegating to these jittery amateurs.'
He let out a quiet sigh, running a hand through his hair.
'When is the Spirit of Good Luck finally going to turn Nolan into a Walker? He promised it would happen soon, but how long am I supposed to wait? Hopefully, he hasn't gone back on his word.'
Williams' fingers stilled, and his gaze softened slightly.
'For all his flaws, Nolan's the only person I trust in this world. Even if he's an idiot half the ti, at least he gets things done.'
Just as Williams was lost in thought, a sudden system notification materialized before him, the words glowing faintly in the dim light.
[The Spirit of Temptation has seen through your efforts as His Walker.]
[The Spirit of Temptation has chosen to reward you...]
[Rank has been promoted.]
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