Imperial Palace, study.
The Emperor sat at his desk, reports from all over the country spread out before him.
Street fights in Steel City, strikes in Steam Fortress, riots in Gear Town, a wave of suicides in Furnace City, and the mass resignation of scientists from the Energy Hub.
Every report spoke of the same thing: order was collapsing.
He rubbed his brow and looked at the Minister of Industry standing by the window. "What has Augustus been doing lately?"
The Minister of Industry turned around and hesitated. "Preaching, Your Majesty. He preaches at the Holy See every day, explaining doctrine to a few dozen people."
"A few dozen people?" The Emperor's voice rose slightly.
"Those charlatans elsewhere have thousands upon thousands of followers, yet the Archbishop I personally appointed only has a few dozen listeners?"
"He... isn't very good at this sort of thing," the Minister of Industry said carefully.
"Lord Augustus believes faith is something that comes naturally and cannot be forced."
The Emperor was silent for a long time.
Faint noise drifted in from outside the window. Another procession was passing the gates of the Imperial Palace.
The demonstrations had become more frequent these past few days. Sometimes believers demanded an explanation from the government, sometimes scientists demanded funding, and sometimes unemployed workers were simply venting their anger.
The guards could still maintain order, but who knew what day things would spiral out of control?
"Bring him here," the Emperor said.
An hour later, Augustus stood before the Emperor.
He wore a black robe washed pale from wear. His hair was combed impeccably, and there was neither tension nor fear on his face. He merely looked at the Emperor calmly.
"Your Majesty summoned me because of the church?"
"You are direct," the Emperor said, leaning back in