This was no longer something charm alone could accomplish.
Lady of Wealth and Cat and Midnight Maiden were one thing. The former's faith was widespread, while the latter had little influence.
But while Spider Queen Lolth had not been outright infamous in the past, there was no evil she had not committed. Far too many massacres, bloody sacrifices, and rebellions had been tied to her.
Wherever Spider Queen Lolth's believers went, chaos followed. Several gods had even fallen because of her.
A thousand years had passed. Few who had witnessed Spider Queen Lolth's cruelty firsthand were still alive, especially among the Short-lived Races like humans.
So the imperial minister was shaken and surprised, but not afraid. At most, he thought, That's Annan for you.
After explaining what had happened, Annan asked, "How does the Empire plan to reward me?"
"Reward you?"
"I found the Mousehole and uncovered the North's real plot. Doesn't the Empire owe me a reward?"
The imperial minister stared at Annan, who spoke as though his case were airtight. "You mean your people set a trap, you discovered it and reported it to the Empire, and now the Empire should reward you?"
How was that different from a lord inventing bandits on his land, putting on a show of hunting them down, then asking the Empire for money?
"If you won't give me one, that's fine. I'll just tell everyone the Empire already rewarded me." Annan sounded as if he truly did not care.
But the Empire would tolerate that even less than Annan manufacturing his own achievement.
The imperial minister said, "I'll inform His Majesty. He'll decide whether to reward you."
"That's more like it. I'm a King Selection candidate you chose, after all. When I make a name for myself, you get to share in