Bab 27: Everyone is an actor, and the world is a stage.
Raising the armies and marshalling them required a significant amount of time and careful preparation.
Before he could initiate his conquest against the King of Gwynedd, Uther decided to use this time wisely and efficiently.
He visited the church, offering his condolences to the church who had experienced the brutal massacre, expressing his deep regret over the recent vampire attack against them.
Uther solemnly promised to bring the criminals responsible to justice.
When he questioned the witnesses, asking them about the specific individuals who committed this horrifying atrocity, they claimed to have lost their memory of the incident.
No one seemed to remember exactly who had attacked them, which only heightened the sense of fear and uncertainty among the survivors.
Most of those present placed the blame squarely on vampires, specifically Dead Apostles, which were known to roam throughout Britannia during this chaotic period of history.
Of course, these undead creatures did not only plague Britannia; they were a menace to every corner of the world.
The wounds inflicted on the victims bore an eerie resemblance to the distinctive marks left by vampires, leading the people to conclude that these terrifying beings were indeed responsible for the carnage.
Even though the majority of Camelot's citizens remained physically unharmed by the attack, as they were not followers of the church, the horrific event still sent waves of fear rippling through the city.
Despite being spared, they could not remain indifferent to the massacre that had occurred within the very walls of their homeland.
A minority of the city's population which is consist of believer of the church had been almost wiped out by the vampires, and that alone was enough to spread unease throughout the entire community.
Drawn by a mix of curiosity and dread, many citizens gathered near the church, their noses wrinkling as they caught the overpowering stench of blood and decaying corpses emanating from within.
"King Uther, we demand justice!" one of the outraged citizens called out, his voice trembling with a mixture of fear and anger as he stood before the king.
The atrocities committed by the vampires had ignited a fierce desire for retribution among the people.
Despite their differences in religious belief with the church, the citizens of Camelot could not simply turn a blind eye to such a tragedy.
After all, they were all inhabitants of the same city, united by the bonds of community.
Some among them had lost relatives, neighbors, and even lovers to the massacre. These losses struck a deep chord within their hearts, eliciting a strong emotional response and an overwhelming desire for justice.
Accompanied by Merlin at his side, Uther wore a solemn expression as he addressed the crowd.
"We will bring you the justice you seek," he declared in a firm and resolute tone. "I promise you that we will repel the vampires from our land, and they will no longer plague our kingdom."
His words, imbued with the strength of his conviction, resonated with the people.
They nodded gratefully, believing in the sincerity of their king's vow.
"Since that is the case, we shall take our leave first, King Uther," he said, bowing respectfully.
After receiving the king's promise, he wisely ushered everyone present to depart, not wanting to disrupt the ongoing investigation any further.
As they began to exit, ensuring that the church gradually emptied, King Uther waited until the sacred halls were completely devoid of anyone who might eavesdrop on their private conversation.
Once he confirmed their solitude, he sat down on one of the old benches within the dimly lit church and sighed heavily, as if the weight of the kingdom rested solely on his shoulders.
"Do you think the church will eventually see through our lies, Merlin?" Uther inquired, his voice laced with concern.
Merlin, with his usual air of confidence, smirked playfully.
"They will, my king. However, they will also wish to entangle themselves within the web of deception. The church will not risk creating new enemies while their borders are constantly under threat from Attila the Hun."
He paused, observing the king's reaction. "They are no fools. With their powers of clairvoyance and divination, they possess the ability to uncover the truth behind this matter, regardless of the efforts we put into hiding the evidence."
Merlin's voice softened, becoming more reassuring. "For now, I can temporarily shield them from the truth until you have managed to resolve all the issues that plague the kingdom, my king."
"After all, as much as they may participate in this elaborate lie, it does not mean they won't resort to more underhanded tactics. After all, the Burial Agency was not established without reason."
"It would be appreciated if you can shield their clairvoyance, Merlin," Uther replied quietly, acknowledging the gravity of the situation.
Since it was the most advantageous course of action, he neither stopped it nor had any desire to do so.
As much as he did not fear the Church, it would be counterproductive to confront them now, especially after all the effort they had put into making the attack appear as though it had been carried out by vampires.
While it was true that the vampires weren't responsible, Baobhan Sith, who was currently Uther's woman, had been the one behind it.
The Church would likely be able to trace the attack back to her and, by extension, to him if they were to thoroughly investigate the deaths.
The real question was, would they actually put the effort?
Camelot was far too insignificant in their eyes.
Even the news of his resurrection had failed to pique their interest, and they had only bothered to send a single nun in response.
With a final, lingering glance at the dilapidated church that reeked of death, Uther rose from his seat.
Alongside Merlin, he left the eerie silence of the church behind as they stepped into the world beyond its doors.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone