Sophia closed the door behind her, leaving the girls behind on their own.
They would be safe here, for now. Well, they would be as safe as they could in a demonic nest.
Considering how the first guard they met treated them before being [Commanded] it wouldn't be strange for many hostile entities to exist within this nest.
Her gaze fell on the inner walls of the town, nobles defending themselves in their gilded fortress while lower demons were forced to fend for themselves.
Bandit attacks, monster attacks, and even wild animals could cause issues in a town with no walls.
And yet nobility has walled themselves in the center, leeching and taking.
A small town, yet consumed by the sin of Green.
Sophia did not need to know more. She would take this town, and under her guidance, they shall know Father's Grace.
It pained her, but not all would accept Father in their hearts.
She looked around, her eyes washing over the unfortunate state of the town.
They were truly poor in a material sense.
The souls of the town looked at her with worry and admiration. How could they not? After all she looked like a noble.
Sophia sighed as she ignored their gazes; she did not care for them just yet.
'Soon they will embrace Father.' She smiled warmly before continuing on her path towards the walled town.
Sophia walked for about 10 minutes before finally arriving to the inner gates. Unlike outer part of the town, which had 1 guard in any given field of view, the gates here held at least 100 alone.
"Who are you, woman?! Visitors are not welcome!" An orc wearing full plate armor and helmet that obstructed his face shouted.
"My name is Sophia! I am a Virtue." She spoke, and yet her melodic voice sounded more like a song to the ears of the orc guards.
"I do not recognize you! You must make an appointment to meet the baron!" Orc sounded confused. this strange white winged harpy was a noble judging from her demeanour and way of dress.
Sophia looked confused for a second before using this information for her gain.
"You needn't worry. Baron is expecting me." She spoke without a shred of worry.
Orc stared in amusement before a glint of recognition sparked in his eyes.
"Are you one of the whores baron has ordered to be sent from lower town? Wait there." Orc spoke with amusement.
It wasn't uncommon for whores to dress like nobles when entertaining the higher ticket clients.
The orc disappeared, rushing to notify the baron.
Sophia sighed in relief, she was happy that she likely wouldn't need to [Command] these guards.
Manipulating free will was to be done when choices were slim.
Father had given them all free will, she wished to avoid altering it more than necessary.
After what seemed to be hours of waiting, the orc finally appeared again, ordering the gates to be opened.
"Enter, I will guide you to the baron." The Orc spoke.
As she stepped inside the gates, she couldn't help but compare the extravagance of the inner-walled community and the borderline ruins of the outer community.
"If I may ask, how much did the baron pay you?" Orc questioned earnestly.
Sophia winced at the question.
'Why would he ask...' She sighed.
"I am not allowed to say." Sophia smiled.
"I get it, Baron is ruthless if you do not obey." He nodded in acknowledgment.
Orc guided Sophia to the manor; the entire walled area was merely a front yard for the baron.
'Such shame... Perhaps Demons and Fallen like Elise are a rarity.' Sophia sighed.
"I am not allowed to enter, but you can go straight down the hall. Baron told me to send you to the bedroom immediately." Orc bowed before leaving.
'Lust is a powerful sin... Perhaps even more powerful than Greed, Sophia leaned against the doors, opening them with ease.
[Command] would be necessary to carve a place for new followers of Father to live in.
She knew the Baron would be impossible to convince, but perhaps Father, with his immense charisma, could convince the baron to change his way.
However, Sophia was not as Great as Father, she had to rely on the manipulation of free will itself.
She stepped inside the manor, where she was ordered to remove her footwear; after all, the Baron hated the dirt of the lower town to be brought into his home.
The heavily armed guards led her to the ornate doors of the Baron's bedroom, which they opened just enough for Sophia to enter.
Sophia gave slight bow before she entered the dark room, she was met by the Harpy Baron. He seemed to be hard at work in paperwork.
Sophia placed her hands over her crotch before bowing.
"Hello, Baron." Sophia spoke with a slight respect, attracting the attention.
"Ah a whore I ordered, You will have to wait I am busy right now. You can sit on the bed." He dismissed her as he continued writing documents.
Sophia instead of obeying, approached the Baron.
"I am not a whore, My name is Sophia. I am a Virtue. I have come to make a request." She spoke softly, and yet her voice did not waver.
Baron stopped writing before snapping the feather in his hand.
"Why are you here then?" He spoke in a low and threatening tone before looking her up and down.
"I am here to request this manor to house new followers of Father." She spoke brazenly and yet softly.
Baron raised his eyebrow at the question before laughing loudly.
"HAHAHAHA! I did not realise I ordered a clown instead of a whore." He rose from his seat.
"I hope you will see error in your ways and accept them here; rest of the town may be improved soon," Sophia spoke softly, frankly, she wasn't one for politics. She could only hope her actions were correct.
"Well, I do not care for peasants! Guards!" Baron called for the guards, The doors burst open, letting a flood of heavily armed guards inside the room.
"Take her to the prison! I want information about the people she wanted to get into my manor. Kill them all once found." He ordered and yet Sophia showed no fear.
"I beseech you, I do not wish to end your lives yet," Sophia spoke softly as her wings wrapped around her.
She expected this, Demons were fools. Elise and Lara were exceptions and not the rule.