This Ascent to Divinity is Lewder than Expected (A Futa LitRPG)

5.11 - Jacquelyn

With masquerade masks donned, Zoey and Delta passed through the two bouncers and were admitted entry into The Church of the Shattered Sphere—the official name for whatever organization they were getting mixed up in.

From the way Delta had described these people, Zoey had imagined raving lunatics posted up on street corners, ranting about nonsense. But seeing this so-called recruitment event, Zoey could tell that idea was wildly incorrect—at least at the higher, more coherent level. Then again, cults had to seem somewhat reasonable to get recruits in the first place. Zoey had just never thought much about it.

Inside, Zoey looked around with interest. The hall hosting the event featured a tall ceiling supported by lofty wood beams. Like most of Treyhull, the architecture was vaguely rustic, though only passingly. Long buffet tables served the dozens—possibly even hundreds—of people who had shown up. Recruitment must have been a success, at least insofar as drawing initial attention. Surely not everyone intended to join this 'Church', and were instead taking a look out of vague interest? Though Zoey still didn't even know what joining meant or entailed. Did these people do anything more than rave about the world ending? What were their goals?

The decor and furnishings, though nice, weren't rich. Most people walked around in their daily clothes, not dressed up for the event—pulled from the streets possibly in the same way Delta had been. Zoey got the vague impression of a gala, but the clientele weren't of the typical pedigree. Lots of chatting, finger food, and an upcoming speech, but it was more of a casual event than a formal one.

"Sweet," Delta said. "I'm starving. Let's go fuck up that cheese table."

Amused, Zoey let Delta drag her along by the hand.

She'd already had lunch, but she sampled a few of the items laid out on the tables, mostly with Delta's insistence. Purple eyes scanned the various people across the hall, the foxgirl keeping track of her surroundings even while indulging in the free food. Zoey also looked around, though feeling more out of place than anything.

"So what's the plan again?" Zoey asked.

"Find a victim. That's always step one."

"No, really."

"Those people in the black masks have to be the official members, I'd figure. So we're waiting on them."

"Should we go talk?"

"Approach them? Ourselves? No way. It'll seem desperate."

"Desperate," Zoey said. "We're not out looking for a date, Delta. Making the first move won't seem 'desperate'."

"Nah, it totally will. Wait for them to come to us. They'll be more eager to impress, and so they might let something slip that they wouldn't have otherwise. I wanna know what this 'big reveal' is before we actually get to it." She poked Zoey on the shoulder. "And stop looking at them. You'll give us away. Play cool and aloof. Channel your inner Rosalie."

"You're ridiculous," Zoey said. Though she did as she was told. She guessed there was a certain logic to Delta's reasoning, silly as it sounded.

"You've got a pretty girl for company, anyway. Focus on that."

"I do?"

Delta huffed. "Keep talking like that, and you won't get lucky on our date."

Zoey somehow doubted that, seeing how the topic of a date had been brought up in the first place by Delta using the words 'massive girlcock', then introducing the idea.

"Speaking of, what'd'you have planned?" Zoey asked.

"Oh, you know. All sorts of illegal activities. Don't worry about it."