novelnext Page 126
Page 126
Chapter 257: The First Day of Operations (Part 5)
"Your Excellency, Your Excellency, can you hear me?"
Infusing his magic into the crystal-like, purple, transparent stone before him, Ershu lowered his voice and brought his lips close to its glowing surface, uttering soft words.
The moment she uttered those words, the light within the crystal shone even brighter, and at the same time, Lius's voice, along with his image, emerged from it: "It's Ershu. So, why are you contacting me at this time? Is it to report on the task I gave you earlier?"
"Yes, Your Excellency, I have informed them about the church as you instructed. Ms. Aurora is now aware of our plan and will likely carry out her actions accordingly."
"Is that so? That's good. As long as you complete your task, my next plan will be able to be implemented more smoothly."
As Lius spoke to the black-robed girl on the other side of the communication stone, his tone was filled with relief. Ershu nodded slightly, then a look of doubt slowly appeared on her face. After hesitating for a moment, she finally tentatively spoke to Lius again:
"Speaking of which, Your Excellency, there are still some questions I have about the task you assigned me. I wonder if Your Excellency could allow me to learn more about it?"
"Oh? Ershu, do you want to know more about the plan?"
Hearing Lius's sudden words, Lius hesitated for a moment, then showed an expression of interest and asked the image of the girl displayed on the communication stone again:
"This plan is rather complicated to explain, and once you hear about it, you will have to maintain an inseparable and intimate relationship with me, and you will never be able to break free from my plan. Even so, do you still want to know more, Ershu?"
“From the very beginning, I had anticipated this outcome, and I have also said from the very beginning that as long as I can serve the leader, I don’t care whether it’s going up mountains or down seas of fire, because you, leader, don’t need to consider my feelings. I have already made up my mind.”
With a solemn and earnest tone, Ershu nodded vigorously to Lius on the other side of the screen, then leaned closer to the surface of the communication stone and asked Lius in an urgent tone:
"Regarding what you just informed Ms. Aurora, my leader, I have a question: why did you tell them that false information? Although you said that our church would attack the kingdom's capital, in reality... we don't have such a plan. Why did you insist that I release this false information and have Ms. Aurora and the others take action?"
"Well, sensing the questioning tone in Ershu's voice, Lius pondered for a moment how to answer, and finally nodded slightly, slowly speaking to the girl before him:"
"False information. Ha, no, this information is absolutely true, and it's something that will definitely happen later. Why do you say it's false, Ershu?"
"Read? The real thing?"
Upon hearing Lius's words, Ershu's eyes widened in surprise, seemingly momentarily stunned. After a brief moment of silence and bewilderment, he regained his previous calm and continued speaking to the blond boy in the image:
"Why do you say that, Your Excellency? There is indeed no such plan in our church... Could it be that you know some inside information that even I don't know, or... that you have contacted the bishop?! That's why you can know those clues that we don't know."
"No, the reality I'm referring to is the reality of the future. You may not have taken similar actions yet, but in the near future—perhaps a day from now, or even tonight—I guarantee your people will definitely arrive near the capital and attempt to infiltrate it."
Upon hearing Lius's earnest and solemn words again, Ershu's astonishment did not diminish; instead, it grew even more perplexed.
"Your Excellency, are you really so sure?" Of course, I am very sure. I will not have any frivolous thoughts about things that I cannot control, and I will naturally make decisive judgments about things that I can completely control.
As he spoke, Lius looked at the girl in black robes in the picture, a meaningful smile appearing on his lips. At the same time, he gently looked out the window. The sun was high in the sky, and it was almost noon, the busiest time of the day. "Just wait and see, Ershu. The situation is always changing rapidly. Sometimes it's not as simple as you think. And the complex rules involved are something that even I can only roughly understand and grasp."
If you can't fully understand what I'm saying right now, then take a good look at how the current situation is developing. I believe that once you see it for yourself, you will be able to deeply understand the meaning of my words.
"What is the leader's deeper meaning?" Ershu's eyes narrowed slightly at Lius's earnest tone. He then took a deep breath, calmed himself down, and nodded slightly with his lips pursed.
"If this is what you think, Your Excellency... then I understand. What do you want me to do next? Please let me know now so I can prepare accordingly."
"Ershu, what's your next move?" Looking at the excited black-robed girl in front of him, Lius smiled slightly again and gently shook his head at Ershu. "No need to rush. Just like I said before, Ershu, you should observe how the situation develops. Once you fully understand my thoughts, I will assign you a new mission. Until then, do not act rashly."
"Hmm, I understand. So, Your Excellency, do you want me to remain hidden, or do you want me to actively participate in the battlefield and witness those events firsthand?"
"Well, after Ershu's words, Lius rolled his eyes slightly, then waved his hand slightly at the girl in the picture, and casually said:"
"Ershu, your current location, whether concealed or not, is actually quite difficult for anyone to detect, isn't it? And even if you don't participate in the actual battlefield, simply observing from a distance is enough to grasp the entire situation. There's no need for any risky actions, is that right, Ershu?"
"After listening to Lius's words, Ershu pursed his lips and slowly walked out of the room."
She walked up the stairs and, after passing through towering and steep steps, arrived at the top of the building. Through a trapdoor in the ceiling, she entered the building's "roof."
Of course, it's more like a lookout tower than a roof.
On the towering cliff, the cold wind howled, constantly whipping against Ershu's face. At the same time, the drifting clouds in the distance kept touching Ershu's side, causing her to shiver slightly in the slight chill.
“This place… was specially found for me by Your Excellency, so that I could fully observe the battlefield?” Muttering to himself, Ershu gazed once more at the spot where he was.
The towering cliffs pierce the sky, as if they have drilled a huge hole in the sky. The cold winds of the high-altitude region blow against the cliffs, bursting out with howling roars.
The strange rocks of Hibiki Oo are scattered across the ground in a bizarre pattern. Some are as sharp as blades, while others are as heavy as iron hammers, filling the place with a grim atmosphere.
Looking further afield, one can see a vast plain at the edge of the horizon. To the west of the plain lies a dense forest. Passing through the forest into the plain, one soon discovers a towering town, which is the capital of this kingdom.
The once vast and magnificent capital city, now viewed from the high mountain, resembled a delicate model of a small bridge, quietly displayed before Ershu's eyes.
At the same time, if you squint carefully, you can also see a series of very obvious black marks on the plain outside the capital. They are composed of the heads of people, which are the patrol army of the main country, mixed with civilians coming and going from the capital. They are full of vitality. If the plain in the distance is the battlefield, this cliff is the best place to watch the changes in the battlefield situation.
Especially under the influence of this calm and cloudless weather, Ershu's self-light was refined to its clearest state, causing him to slightly lower his body and lie prostrate on the cliff. Ignoring the towering cliff in front of him, he simply gazed at the plain in the distance that was about to become a battlefield, just as Lius had said earlier.
"Your Excellency, how did you come to have such a watchtower here?"
Leaning gently against the fence, Ershu pursed her lips and asked Lius this question, to which Lius gave a casual reply:
"Here? It's very simple. This is one of our family businesses. In addition to the land, our ancestors also had certain development rights over the highest mountain in this kingdom."
“Development rights? To develop this mountain range?” Ershu asked Lius with a slight look of disapproval.
"Yes, one of my ancestors bought a piece of land there, originally intending to mine silver in the mountains. However, after mining for a period of time, he found it very difficult to mine in the cliffs, which eventually led him to stop the development. This also caused the original construction plan to fall through, leaving only this abandoned watchtower as the only remaining legacy of the original development plan."
As he recounted this, Leus couldn't help but chuckle, and continued teasingly:
"However, although it is an abandoned watchtower, the equipment inside is still very complete and sturdy even after nearly a hundred years. Now, if we let you live here, on the one hand, you can keep an eye on the battlefield, and on the other hand, we can prevent anyone with ulterior motives from occupying this place and seizing our source of battlefield intelligence. In other words, your own plan is also very important, Ershu, so don't make any mistakes."
Yes, please rest assured, Your Excellency. I fully understand this. From the first time you sent me here, I understood the strategic value of this place. I have not revealed any information about this place to anyone else, so there is no need to worry about anyone harming this place.
With a solemn tone, Ershu once again turned his gaze to the distant plains, as if meditating, quietly awaiting the possible turmoil that might follow.
Meanwhile, sensing the seriousness on the black-robed girl's face, Lius didn't bother Ershu any further. After giving her a few words of advice, he waved goodbye to Ershu.
"Well then, I'll leave this to you. I'm going to work on my next plan, and we'll get back to each other later." "Okay, see you later, Leader."
Thus, contact between Leus and Ershu was temporarily suspended. Ershu continued to carry out Leus's instructions and observe the battlefield, while Leus picked up another communication stone and contacted another person.
"So, the next step is to plan our next move. This is a battle that will shake the church, and they must be drawn into it as well." With these thoughts in mind, Leus activated the communication stone in front of him, letting his magical light shine in his room. Without leaving the room, he began to guide and command this multi-party battlefield...
"Hmm...I see, we understand. Rest assured, Your Highness, we will proceed immediately and follow the route you instructed..." The Bishop of Notica, retracting the communication stone gently into her bosom, exhaled slowly from her consciousness space. She beckoned to a woman who appeared to be about her age and spoke softly to her:
"Vice-Bishop, have the believers all assembled?"
“Yes, Your Excellency, as long as you give the order, we will be able to enter the real world. I have already gone to the real world beforehand to discuss with those Protestants. If I am not mistaken, our two teams can merge together and be under the command of His Majesty the Holy Son.”
"Has His Highness the Holy Son's identity been exposed?" Notica continued to ask.
"No, Your Excellency, please rest assured. His Holiness the Holy Son has strictly forbidden us from revealing these matters, and we naturally will not disobey His Holiness the Holy Son's wishes." The Vice-Bishop nodded respectfully and said this.
"That's good. Let's begin our operation."
As she spoke, Notica revealed the map, her expression turning serious. She pointed out the routes one by one and began to explain Lius's plan to the archdeacon.
Chapter 258: The First Day of Operations (Part Six)
On the other side, on the plains.
A somber and oppressive atmosphere permeated the barren and flat land. Gusts of dry wind occasionally swept by, making the ground rustle, but this did nothing to change the oppressive yet tense atmosphere.
This place is located in the western part of the kingdom, on the border. The climate is dry and it rarely rains. Especially now, during the dry season, the area is filled with a hot and dry feeling. Just by looking at it, you can feel the desolation of this land.
Looking further into the distance, one can spot some withered grasses, like earthworms poking their heads out, interspersed among the desert, swaying in the strong wind. Animal carcasses are scattered among the weeds, providing limited nutrition for these elusive plants.
It could be said that a somber atmosphere was the only characteristic of this place.
The source of this somber atmosphere is not merely the desolate land itself, but more so the people situated on that land, gazing at each other.
On the desolate plains, two groups of people stood locked in a stalemate, each staring intently at the other, their eyes and brows filled with a tense hostility.
These people were dressed in similar clothing, all wearing long robes and slightly exaggerated hoods that covered their faces. They also held crosses in their hands, and the flags with church symbols hanging behind them identified the two groups of people.
However, if you look closely at their clothes, you can see the differences between these young women and girls.
The robes worn by the group in the north were more exquisite, covered with many gemstone decorations and various intricate and gorgeous patterns, adding a touch of worldly beauty to their holy aura and making them look more wealthy.
The group in the south was completely different from the believers in the north. They wore simple, plain clothes without any extra decorations. The crosses and scepters they carried were also similar in style, looking simple and ancient. Coupled with their heavy robes that completely concealed their figures, the group of believers appeared conservative, even somewhat unremarkable. It can be said that the two groups were different in style. Although their clothes were similar, it was clear to anyone with a discerning eye that there was a great difference between them.
Furthermore, if people were to make an evaluation, they would naturally think that the believers in the south are more in line with the traditional image of priests than the flamboyant nuns in the north.
That simple and conservative temperament perfectly reveals their inherent holiness, giving them an angelic feel. If you look into their eyes, you can see a more sincere respect than other groups of believers, which is their highest faith in the god they worship.
At this moment, holding this faith in his heart, the leading believer frowned, looked at the nuns opposite him, took a step forward, and slowly began to speak:
"Excuse me, are you all here to meet with us? Are you here as representatives of the Protestant Church to meet with our church?"
"Your church? Hmph, so you're still as shameless as ever, actually thinking you're part of the church. But with those heretical ideas in your heads, do you really think you can receive God's blessing? Aren't you being far too naive?"
Hearing the “church”’s statement, the “leader of the Protestant Church” stepped forward and responded to the believers without any politeness. At the same time, the hostility in his eyes was not hidden at all as he stared straight at the group of young girls and women in front of him.
"You say... heretical ideas? You actually think we're heretics? Don't be ridiculous! When it comes to faith in God, no one in this world is more sincere than our church. If we're talking about a lack of faith, it's clearly you Protestants who have gone too far." You say we believers have gone too far? We have been passing down and continuing the church's doctrines. If it weren't for our God's doctrines, they would have long been lost to history. The church's current status is all thanks to our continuous efforts. We are the legitimate messengers of God, something you heretics can't possibly match.
Rebuffed by this counterattack, the Protestant leader looked across at them again, arms crossed, his original conclusion unchanged. Instead, he spoke with even greater hostility, "To be honest, the actions of you heretics are universally condemned, both in the kingdom and within our church. If it weren't for Prince Lius and Lady Luo Yi persuading our Pope to cooperate, we would have wiped you all out in one fell swoop. You should thank yourselves for your luck, pathetic heretics."
"Hmph... Trying to provoke our anger? Don't underestimate us. We have always upheld the teachings of the gods and will not get angry over such a trivial argument."
The leader of the Old Church clenched his fist slightly and exhaled, not directly responding to the attack, but instead continuing to discuss church doctrine, arguing as follows:
"We have always upheld the promises of God and refrained from doing anything that violates His teachings. It is you Protestants who have violated God's teachings and become so worldly. This has completely deviated from God's original intentions. How dare you call yourselves orthodox? You are simply absurd!"
What did you say!"
Hearing the words "concubine's defilement" seemed to touch a raw nerve in the young girl's heart, causing the nun, who had maintained a calm expression, to reveal her anger.
Not only the leader, but the nuns behind him also adopted a similar posture, seemingly very angry at the Catholic's remarks. "Take back what you just said... otherwise, don't blame us for being impolite."
"Oh? You want to sabotage this alliance first? Hmph, fine then. After defeating you, we're confident we can find and destroy those array nodes on our own! Come on!"
As they said this, the followers on both sides gripped their staffs tightly and glared at each other with angry eyes. The already tense atmosphere became even more volatile, and if anyone made the first move, the others would immediately follow suit, escalating the conflict even further.
At that moment, the atmosphere between the two sides fell into a silence.
This is the calm before the storm, brief but intense, leaving one on edge, ready to face whatever may come next.
Fortunately, this stalemate did not last long.
Before they could even act, someone unrelated to the incident rushed into the crowd, using their body to separate the two groups that were about to touch, and loudly called out to both sides:
"Stop! Stop! Everyone, hold your fire! Don't start a fight at this time. We're on the battlefield. How can you start making deals before we've even started?"
"Ok?"
Upon seeing the person who had barged in front of them, the young women and girls who had been locked in a stalemate exchanged glances, then simultaneously and slowly withdrew their spells, placing them on the ground. The leader of the Protestants stepped forward and respectfully addressed the intruder:
“Ms. Roy, you’ve arrived. These heretics have just insulted our church, accusing us of blasphemy against God. We urge you to investigate and punish these heretics.”
“Ms. Roy, please forgive our conflict. Although we also want to work together with others, these Protestants have not given us any opportunity to cooperate. From the beginning, they have accused our sect of heresy, which is absolutely intolerable to us. If you want to uphold justice, please judge this. I beg you.”
At this moment, Roy, the young woman surrounded by both sides, listened to their words with a slightly helpless expression, feeling the different gazes cast upon her by the two sects. She waved her hand awkwardly and said:
"Wait a minute, wait a minute. Regarding cooperation between churches, I'm only responsible for negotiating with your superiors. As for the disputes within your church factions... wasn't it agreed that they would be resolved on their own? Why do I have to step in now? Recalling what Lius asked for, when Roy first came into contact with that group of old believers, she thought that this operation wouldn't go too wrong."
After all, she had a certain reputation in the church and was familiar with the Pope. Coupled with the current crisis, and with her reputation and other factors combined, Roy believed that even those who were hostile to each other should be able to join forces to stop the current danger.
However, at this moment, seeing the tense standoff between the two sides, the female sorceress from the south realized that she had been too naive in her assumptions. The conflict between these people was unlikely to be resolved anytime soon, especially when it came to the differences between the churches, which often led to heated arguments and even physical altercations.
In the past few days, Roy had experienced many similar things. Now, facing a similar situation again, this young woman, who was usually obsessed with magic, couldn't help but frown, a sense of unease rising in her mind:
"Ugh. This is really troublesome. What are these people thinking? At a time like this, they're still arguing about these trivial things. I heard from Prince Lius that they were once a single sect in ancient times, but now they've split into this mess. If things get out of control, they'll be the only ones who suffer. Don't they consider this at all...?" With these thoughts in mind, Roy even had the urge to pull out his staff and cast a sleep spell on everyone to force them to quiet down.
However, considering the current situation, she tried her best to suppress these chaotic thoughts, took out a communication stone from her bosom, ignored the arguments of the believers around her, and simply brought her lips close to the communication stone to contact another person.
"Hello? Young Master Lius? My men have been assembled, but they are still in the midst of the conflict and may not be able to fully follow orders for the time being. Do you have any suggestions?"
Through the communication stone, Roy yawned as he asked the blond boy who was somewhere in the distance, and Lius, after a few seconds of silence, finally replied, "The two are arguing... In that case, let's leave it for now and let them argue."
"Hmm? Just leave it alone... I'd love to do that, but it won't solve anything, and might even make things worse... Ugh... It'll just cause me more trouble. I've already devoted all my magic research time these past few days to this. Young Master Leus, please give me a more effective solution, don't make me waste any more time."
Well...
After another moment of silence, Leus finally nodded, giving her his answer:
"In that case, Ms. Luo, please delay a little longer. Someone will come to assist you later. I believe that once they arrive, any conflicts that may have occurred among your subordinates will be resolved smoothly, and Ms. Luo, your own pressure will be reduced."
"Hmm? Is someone coming? But isn't this the location you privately told us about, Prince Lius? Could it be that there are others who know this place, and they can help me resolve the conflict here? Really? Is it that easy?"
"Whether it's really as easy as I say, you'll find out in a moment. Don't worry, if I'm not mistaken, they'll be here soon, and then you'll know what I mean. That's all for now, I have other things to do, so I'll stop talking now."
With that, Leus cut off the signal from the communication stone, leaving Roy alone, holding the purple crystal in his hand, tilting his head slightly in confusion.
"Young Master Lius, he called out a few more times, but there was still no response from the communication stone. Luo Yi had no choice but to give up, putting the communication stone back into her pocket. She then looked at the noisy crowd around her and slowly exhaled:"
“Phew…Alright, I’ll trust Prince Lius one more time…Hey! Everyone, stop arguing, please be quiet for a moment, someone will come and answer your questions later…You don’t need to argue so fiercely and interrupt the debate,” Roy kept calling out to the young women and women around him, trying to ease the atmosphere a little.
Overall, her actions did have some effect.
With Roy's intervention, although the group had not stopped arguing, the conflict did not escalate further. Both sides maintained their noisy stance, each arguing about their own sect's orthodox doctrines.