The next day, Emperor Lam leave his chamber after a quick breakfast and a chat with lord Min to confirm on something. He then goes to the castle"s kitchen, ordered the kitchen staffs to prepare a meal, then took the food and head to the castle"s dungeon. He"ll pay that cultist leader a visit today, because of the chat earlier with lord Min about of some interested details he found in lord Min"s report about his raid on the cultist rallies. These details gave him an idea, and idea that may help him get rid of that monster without a single life lost.At the dungeon, upon meeting the guards of the dungeon he commanded them to bring the cultist leader to the guard room. Some guards find this strange, because no one can survive the dark cell more than one or two week let along over a month. But to the surprise of the guards, somehow the cultist leader still alive after over a month in the dark cell with little to no food and water. After the cultist leader had been brought before Emperor Lam, he told the guards to leave him alone with the cultist leader. The cultist leader now is literally just skin hung over a bone frame. His emaciated face, together with his already long face and dark circles and winkles under the eyes make him looks just like those hungry ghost painting one usually saw in painting depicting the underworld. His eyes sunk deep into his skull, but those crazy looking eyes still had light, make his gaze inside those dark sockets had an eerie glow to it. Upon seeing emperor Lam put the meal basket and open it, he sunk his skin and bone fingers into the meal basket, wolfing down the food in a blink of eyes without a second thought.
"Feeling better, I hope?" Emperor Lam asked
"What"s the meaning of this? Why"re you here? Why am I here? Why the food?" The cultist leader asked
"Well… you see; in the past month I have been thinking a lot about…. What you had said on that night… now I just realized the wisdom in your words and I felt deeply sin… I just… I wish you could help me correct my way." Emperor Lam said
"So you have finally saw the wrong of your way and want to ask the old G.o.ds for forgiveness?" The cultist leader smirk
"Yes, Your Excellency. I shall issue an Imperial decree to make the worship of the old G.o.ds become the main religion of the empire. And you shall be the head priest of the first temple and help bring all the subjects of the empire back to the correct way." Emperor Lam said
"Good, good, my child. Your intention is good, but I am afraid that is not enough for your crime." The cultist leader said
"Then how do I make an amendment, Your Excellency?" Emperor Lam asked
"A sacrificial ritual is a must, bring me 100 virgin boys and 100 virgin girls, I will offer them to the G.o.ds through their agent." The cultist leader said.
"Offer through the agent of the old G.o.ds? You mean the mon… the great fish? Will it heed your call?" Emperor Lam said
"It will my child, have faith." The cultist leader said
"Thank you, Your Excellency. It shall be done." Emperor Lam smile.
After that Emperor Lam gave order to the guards, that the cultist leader will be bathed, dress properly and being treat like an imperial guest. Then he returns to his chamber and summon Lord Buh Huy and Admiral Huan Tah to discuss their plan of action. Five days later, Emperor Lam informed the cultist leader that the offering and the ritual ship had been prepared. At the next day, when the sun has yet to rise and the morning fog still linger on Lake Kaoren surface. They boarded a large three mast Junk ship and set up a ceremony altar on the deck. This ship will be use as a ritual ship, on it, is Emperor Lam, the cultist leader, Lord Buh Huy and Admiral Huan Tah with thirty sailors to manned the ship. The "offering" boarded a difference vessel, a Junk ship with roof, decorated with colourful flag and bamboo blinds. Although the blinds cover much the cabin but they are quite thin and anyone can see the offering peoples inside it, dressed with white robe and large burlap hood, the attire of funeral.
The offering ship sail right behind Emperor Lam"s Junk ship. They kept sailing till the sun is well above the horizon then drop anchor, the offering ship anch.o.r.ed ten lias before the ritual ship. After the sailors who maned the offering ship returned to the ritual ship, the cultist leader starting to perform his ritual. He stands before the altar and chanting something very strange, it"s not ancient language neither any language of any folks inhabited Varlaurea. He kept chanting like that for a whole five minutes, after finished he cut hit palm and mix his blood with Quasium powder, then he walks to the ship bow and pour the mixture into the water, close his eyes and stand silently with his hands raise in front his face, finger interlocked. Thirty minutes pa.s.sed, nothing happened, Emperor Lam toing and froing impatiently behind the altar. Then a spotter on top of the ship"s mast saw movement in the water on starboard side, everyone rushed to the starboard and saw a large reddish shadow approaching from a far.