Keledu continued, "Once we return to the diocese, I'll send the first batch of priests we've trained to these tribes."
Mizhene was somewhat surprised. "But aren't those priests supposed to stay in the diocese to train and develop new believers?
What will happen to our diocese if we send them all away?"
"It's fine. Don't we still have the priest corps we brought with us?
Besides, we didn't manage to bring back any new Barbarian tribesmen this time, so they're enough to meet the diocese's needs.
Since there are no new potential believers, I'll send our priests to the various small tribes. Aren't their people all potential believers?"
Mizhene understood the deeper meaning behind Keledu's plan. Originally, their plan had been simple: bring back a group of new Barbarian herders, take them into the diocese, and convert them into believers.
Now that they had failed to bring back any new Barbarian herders, the "Apostle" had sent the priests who had long been prepared for missionary work to those small Barbarian tribes, directly turning the tribes into new pools for cultivating believers.
Mizhene was somewhat worried. "Isn't this too risky, my lord Apostle? Didn't you say we should coexist peacefully with these small tribes?
If the chieftains and nobles of those small tribes discover that we're secretly spreading the faith among their people, won't they become dissatisfied? Could that affect our reputation on the grasslands?"
Keledu nodded. "You're right. The chieftains of those small tribes aren't stupid. They've naturally become very clever after surviving in the cracks between so many major tribes. It's impossible for them not to discover our little moves.
But what if I give them enough benefits?"
Mizhene realized what he meant and swallowed. "You want to spread those technologies?"
Keledu nodded. "I'll teach them all about improved