Unwelcome Visitors Come Calling

To Leibor Toka, everything that had happened over the past two hours felt like a dream.

First, his old flame and subordinate had contacted him without authorization and said she might have been exposed. But in the name of pleasure, how could that be possible?

One had to know that his cult had begun laying the groundwork for the identity of Balinda Lesororn twenty-one years ago. From her birth and education to her failed medical examination, and then her connection with the gangs of A-310-7.

Everything had a traceable history. No matter who investigated, they would never find anything suspicious.

Second, his subordinate had said that the spirituality of the Soul-Stealing needle had vanished.

When Leibor heard that, he did not even understand what she meant at first.

Its spirituality had vanished? The spirituality refined from the bodies of Dancer of Pleasure's most loyal believers through elaborate sacrificial rituals had simply disappeared? Could that damned, stubborn old bastard who always thwarted them have somehow become a psyker?

But the woman who was now Balinda Lesororn could never lie about something like this. Perhaps she had once been a shameless, filthy liar, like all of them, but now she had been reborn.

Her new life came from the Dancer of Pleasure's blessing, and so did her blood. The Dancer would never tolerate betrayal.

Unless that betrayal could bring enough pleasure.

Taking that into account, he had indeed considered whether Balinda had truly betrayed them. But when the woman later mentioned the regular gathering, his suspicions faded.

After all, what kind of traitor would be stupid enough to return to their headquarters and attend a routine gathering where every member of the cult would be present after possibly being exposed?

Still, to confirm it, Leibor had gone along with her and made