Likely -ruffles hair and makes History Channel guy impression- ASICANS!
I think...
Elidibus body snatched Zenos and brought him to Emperor what's-his-face, likely shared some knowledge on how they can return the soul to a body, after all isn't it what ascians do? Convincing the Emperor ascians and garleans aren't too different, or they can reach same level of ascendance (exist outside the body, snatch a body at will etc) and thus turning his ideology that Zodiark's way is the true way... that way you have the mighty Garlemald convinced the ascians are what they, the garleans can become and survive regardless of what happens on Hydaelyn. And now the Ascians will have a big stronk nation all doing as they'd say.