"These cults really need to be dealt with!" Theus paced around the room, finally making up his mind.
Not just in the Northern Territory—in Blood Port, even right here in Castel, cultists existed everywhere.
Ever since the days of the Mystic Society, people had worshipped Theus as a god. Later, when the Mystic Society was restructured into a semi-official organization, that faith went underground.
But since they had never caused much trouble and could even help maintain public order to some extent, Theus had never paid them much attention.
But now, it seemed he could no longer let them run unchecked!
"I don't think this is necessarily a bad thing..." Chloe said hesitantly from the side.
Of course she knew how Theus felt about it, but...
"For the people of the Northern Territory, faith is practically a necessity. Even if they don't believe in you, they'll believe in something else—perhaps the four major Churches, perhaps cults. Those are far more difficult to control."
Theus stopped pacing and stared fixedly at the coffin.
"Theus, I know you intend to weaken the influence of faith through education, and I support that approach. It's just that it may not suit everyone."
"Take Rebecca's uncle and aunt, for example. They're already old and don't have the energy to learn more. They're destined to be unable to keep up with the new age."
"And there are many, many people like that in the Northern Territory."
Chloe had made a trip to the Northern Territory and had seen quite a lot.
She had seen prosperous Blood Port, powerful Castel, the Calamity Prison Court still under construction, and the impoverished little towns scattered throughout the Northern Territory.
"Many towns have no future. In the tide of industrialization, they are destined to gradually disappear. Just like those old