They could have specific standards for what counts as obvious or not, like they could say that no one with a paladin or someone willing to testify under a Truthtelling who witnessed their crime needs to get a Truthtelling. (The latter case does still require a Truthtelling, but it would let them save time by having one person testify against a couple dozen cultists.)

...Does the Zone plan mean they would have to let a bunch of cultists go if they get lucky enough to make their saves? That sounds really bad?

Maybe they could specifically avoid telling anyone about whatever rule they come up with, and then there will be fewer people begging for a Truthtelling and a larger proportion of them will be innocent?

If they only offer a Truthtelling to people who pass the Zone that cuts down on Truthtelling requirements without specifically sparing strong-willed cultists. They don't seem to be expecting situations where they catch twenty people and they're all innocent. Letting one person testify that they caught a couple dozen cultists in the act... maybe fine? Maybe. Leaves open illusion-related issues and stuff.

Secret rules is a hard no.

What exactly is he imagining a cultist captured in battle might say under a Truthtelling that would mean they should be granted mercy?

They're an infiltrator there to track the cult's ringleaders. They were Dominated. They're from an alternate timeline in which Baphomet got Zon-Kuthoned and they worship Him as the Lawful Good god of... architecture.

Ugh. Fine. Is he at least willing to not advertise the specific sorts of things he'd spare people for, and then if someone begs for a Truthtelling so they can testify that they only sided with the Abyss because they thought it would win or because they were being threatened or something they'll just skip the Truthtelling and execute them?

Yeah, if someone gives that as their pre-spell spiel (they know you're supposed to get the testimony before casting anything, right?) he can be like "that's not good enough, you have N minutes with the Sarenrite".

Alright. His staff will make a couple more attempts at pitching him on 'instead of introducing all these new rules, you could instead choose not to do it,' but they don't have any other specific regulations that they expect to be a major issue, beyond their general expectation that there will definitely be major issues.

Yep, it is clearly going to be a rough transition but he is counting on them to present it to their reports and get it understood so that it can happen as smoothly as possible.

And maybe when it goes badly he'll realize this is a bad idea they will probably mostly not be actively steering for that.

When he gets out of the meeting, one of the Sarenrites he handed the necromancer off to has a question for him. Specifically, did he suggest to the necromancer that they definitely wouldn't execute him if he surrendered? The necromancer seems to be under the impression that the Crusade isn't allowed to execute him and they would like to know if that's... true.

"I did not say that at all and it is also untrue. We pretty definitely need to execute him. The hope is that you can get him somewhere north of the Abyss for the purpose."

They are doing their best! But it would be relevant to their work if the Crusade was in fact obligated to let him live. ...Does he have any idea why the necromancer might think that or not really?

"There was some discussion of non-execution prisoner-killing in his hearing and obviously that would be different."

He nods. "Well, we'll do our best. Have a good night."

It's getting pretty late; is there anything else he was hoping to do tonight?

Is it now possible to get his letters' second copies in the mail without them being in the same shipment?

Yes, his letters were in the shipment that went out today and anything he posts now will be in the next one.

Great. He adds some postscripts. He sends them out.

He is not presented with any more emergencies this evening.

In that case: sleep.

No emergencies interrupt his sleep either!

Dawn comes right on schedule. The army will be setting out shortly; they do have some intelligence from the Deskaran he brought in the other day indicating that what remains of Kenabres's cultists have holed up a little to the north, but even if that turns into a fight the cultists will be massively outmatched; there are a couple hundred of them at most.

Why is it possible for demon cultists to round up a couple hundred recruits. That's batshit.

Can he talk to Rathimus over breakfast about auditing?

No one else is currently bidding on Rathimus's time, so yes!

Yay. He has this wild and crazy ambition to stamp out corruption in the Mendevian army because apparently it's got corruption like cheese has holes, what does Rathimus think of that.

"I think that is a noble goal. I am less certain whether it will prove to be an achievable one, but I expect there are feasible improvements to be made even if substantial corruption persists."

"It does seem to have several obstacles immediately apparent and probably more will rear their heads -" He can summarize the relevant parts of the meeting, including that they will be trying to hire a first-circle Abadaran to supplement and that he's acquainted with and has written to Boian, but Rathimus is already coming along and everything.