The meeting was over quickly. Afterward, Pex took a long, winding route, only heading to the church's gathering place once he was certain no one was following him this time.
It was a rather run-down place, one of many in the hive city. Places like this belonged to commoners, to the destitute, to the fallen middle class, or to nobles who had lost their political struggles.
People huddled together for comfort here, or fought one another, merely to live a little longer.
Faith in the Four-Armed Emperor spread rapidly here. The brothers of the church gave food to the weak and work to the young and strong. Wherever there were poor people, wherever people went hungry, the church had fertile ground in which to spread its faith.
Pex greeted the believers tending to the elderly and children as he passed, patted the children on their heads, and blessed them with healthy growth.
The atmosphere within the cult was one of the few sources of warmth in Pex's heart. After saying goodbye to the children, he entered a concealed church and knelt before a statue of the "God-Emperor."
"Great God, our savior, your servant awaits your divine guidance." Pex was both devout and humble.
He bowed his head, as though some presence was communicating with him inside his mind.
"My lord, that man is dangerous. I do not support making a deal with him. The church is united and strong. We can survive on our own in this cruel universe."
"No, I am not questioning you. It is just that there are too many malicious beings in this universe, far too many. Even I have not seen through that fellow Cornwall. He is the most cunning and despicable man I have ever met. He must have struck a deal with some