The Clown had flexible bottom lines.
That bottom line could hang sinners who trampled Order when raised high, or amuse the watching gods when lowered. The Clown had earned the audience's endless applause by furiously skipping rope on that ever-shifting line.
Just like now: reap the benefits first, and worry about the rest later. If I stopped coming to see you afterward, how would you, trapped as you are, reclaim my seat on the bench of judgment?
Thinking of this, Cheng Shi smiled happily.
Seeing Cheng Shi agree so readily, Pride (Order) began, for a fleeting moment, to question the decision she had made.
She examined the Follower of Deception before her again and again. Only after confirming that she had not mistaken his character did she let out a faint sigh and draw a strand of holy light from the pages.
Normally, as soon as this power, carrying the breath of Order, spilled out, it would inevitably attract the binding of the chains of Chaos and the devouring of the nails of Deception. This time, however, those two forces of confinement silently made way for the sparse breath of Order, allowing it to inch toward Cheng Shi.
Then Cheng Shi saw the strand of holy light drift down before him. It coiled around his fingers and took shape, forming a ring of crossed lances and a massive shield.
A ring representing the identity of an adjudicator of Order!
The adjudicators here were nothing like those of the Grand Inquisition. Even the Grand Inquisition's highest adjudicator would have to bow and pay respects upon seeing the ring's owner, because this identity symbolized one who stood infinitely close to Order. In other paths, this position was even known as... a demigod.
Sometimes, Order's refusal to acknowledge the existence of emissaries was