And this wasn't just talk, Charles issued a bounty proclamation.
From now on, anyone who was part of the Cult could trade in their tattooed head at Hope Island for a reward.
Charles wasn't afraid of retaliation, for they no longer had Swan; unless they desired an epic battle, they shouldn't dream of completely annihilating Hope Island. Despite its remoteness, Hope Island was not defenseless.
Unknowingly, Charles's voice had gained weight in the Earth Sea.
Having fully torn all pretenses with them, pretending ignorance wouldn't stop them from coming for him, would it?
If not for Deep's advance warning, Hope Island would have been utterly devastated, and the relationship with the Cult had turned completely hostile.
Regarding this matter, although there was no concrete evidence that the Divers were indeed commanded by the Cult,
the proclamation issued by Charles caused the people of other islands to treat the Cult with increased disdain.
