Chapter 265: They Colluded with Dark Creatures

After Aen and Jared left, a voice came from behind Raymond.

“With the Church Nation ahead, that merchant has already told you about the things the Church has done.”

The elder who assisted Raymond in administrative affairs walked out.

“In my view, they are more dangerous than the Church Nation. At the very least, the Church Nation is essentially still a place where those who hold force and power rule everything. But these people—they divide the power of the rulers among others.”

“They let commoners kill nobles. They distributed the roles that knights and warriors once held under the noble hierarchy to the commoners. On lands under the Church’s influence, commoners gained freedom. They were no longer merely the property of nobles.”

The elder looked at Raymond.

“You should not have let them leave. Nor should you have cooperated with the Church. The Church will never truly cooperate with you.”

Raymond looked at the elder and said, “Then, will you bring me that food? Or do you think it is worth it for everyone here to starve to death? Or do you believe that after all these commoners die, I should rely on my bloodline alone to propagate a principality?”

The elder fell silent.

Raymond continued, “Is there any difference between the Church, the Church Nation, and myself? All ideologies are founded on power. Even if the Church Nation despises the nobles, their rule is still established through power, just like the nobles.”

“The Church is the same. If the Church lacked the strength to suppress nobles, would they heed the Church’s guidance?”

“So everything you think is meaningless. Only absolute power leads to absolute authority. Only then can one possess everything.”

Raymond stood up and said to the elder, “They will leave my territory safely, correct?”

The elder bowed slightly.

“Yes, they will leave safely, just as smoothly as when they entered the Corlay Family’s lands.”

Raymond nodded.

“Good.”

Then he turned and left.

The elder remained bowed where he stood, his hand trembling beneath his robes.

…

Aen’s group brought back Lord Jared to Rod City.

Inside the tent, only Jeven, the two Guardian Knights, Melia, and Olivia were present.

This was a matter of the Church, unrelated to the Virtue Knights.

Aen stood upright and recounted his experience in the Corlay Family’s lands.

The atmosphere inside the tent was heavy. The two Guardian Knights frowned. Jeven, full of guilt, said, “I am sorry, Aen. I did not expect him to treat you this way.”

Aen bowed slightly.

“No, you do not need to apologize to me. Under the Church’s protection, I had forgotten how nobles once treated commoners. It is I who must apologize to you. I failed in the matter you entrusted to me.”

Jeven said, “This was not your fault. You do not need to apologize. Go rest. I will handle what comes next.”

Aen bowed once more.

“I am very sorry.”

After Aen left, Jeven let out a heavy sigh.

“It is my fault. I did not expect them to treat Aen like this.”

Vito asked, “Then what do you plan to do now?”

Jeven hesitated.

“Perhaps… I should first meet with that Lord Jared.”

Leo stepped out of the tent, and moments later, he returned with Lord Jared.

He came alone—his knights did not follow.

Upon entering, Jared respectfully bowed low, holding up a box.

“Lord Jared Brick, vassal of Duke Raymond of Corlay, greets the honorable Bishop Jeven as envoy of Duke Raymond. This is a gift from Duke Raymond.”

This nearly humble etiquette made the atmosphere inside the tent grow heavier. Still bowed, Jared continued to hold up the box, waiting even without Jeven’s response.

At last, Jeven said, “You need not do this. In the Church, all may speak as equals.”

Jared replied, “In Corlay, a lower noble must remain humble before a higher noble.”

He then straightened, looking directly at Jeven.

“As Duke Raymond’s envoy, I must greet you according to Corlay’s customs. But now, out of respect for you, I speak with you according to the Church’s customs.”

Jared’s words were blunt and clear—clear enough that everyone inside the tent understood. Having a merchant meet with a duke was already a great insult.

Then… what if it had been Bishop Marl instead?

Jeven’s expression remained calm, though his mind raced. Finally, he spoke.

“So this is your reason for insulting my envoy?”

Jared said, “We had no intention of insulting him. In fact, it was your envoy who first insulted me. According to the Sacred Scriptures, his conduct was wrong.”

Jeven said, “You attacked his caravan. That is a crime.”

Jared replied, “He entered my territory without request or notice. That may be seen as invasion.”

Jeven fell silent again, still thinking—how would Bishop Marl handle this?

Finally, Jeven said, “He is my servant. He follows the Church’s law. Your final act was to insult my envoy.”

Jared raised the box slightly higher.

“This is Duke Raymond’s gift for you, and also my mission. After you accept this gift, if you must hold someone accountable for Aen’s insult, then you may kill me. I hope my life will appease your anger. But I beg you to spare my knights, so that they may bring your answer back to the Duke.”

Jeven was silent once more. His legs felt numb. He did not know what to say. He felt all eyes in the tent on him. And outside, Aen was watching too—along with the Virtue Knights of the Church Nation.

But this time, before Jeven could speak, Olivia did.

With a childish voice yet calm tone, she said, “You have violated the will of the Church. Thus, you are guilty. You must be punished.”

Her sudden words stunned everyone. All eyes turned to her, to those firm, ruby-like eyes.

“She is serious. She truly believes this.” That was the meaning everyone read in Olivia’s gaze.

Jeven opened his mouth, but after glancing at Jared’s solemn face, he closed it again.

Leo and Vito remained silent, their hands already on their swords.

Melia looked at Olivia in astonishment.

Silent for a moment, Jared finally said, “I am willing to use my life to calm your anger.”

Olivia’s childish voice sounded like a pronouncement.

“You are innocent. Raymond is guilty. He must come here on foot, kneel beneath the cross of Rod’s Great Church, repent of his sins, and beg the Lord’s forgiveness.”

Jared was silent, then said, “I will bring your will to Duke Raymond.”

Olivia said, “From here, it takes you seven days to return. By the fourteenth day, if I have not received your response, I will bring punishment upon you.”

Jared bowed deeply, then straightened, looking at Jeven.

“This is Duke Raymond’s gift for you. Forgive me for not staying for your reply, but I must return at once.”

Jeven could only nod stiffly.

Jared placed the wooden box on the table, turned, and left in haste.

Jeven opened his mouth, but no words came.

Finally, Melia spoke.

“Olivia, you must quickly tell the Bishop. What you just said is equivalent to declaring war on a duke.”

The bishop she spoke of was, of course, Bishop Corleon.

Olivia replied calmly, “The moment I appeared here, it meant Father had already approved my actions.”

Melia’s face darkened.

“The Corlay Family possesses seven Sacred Relics. And the Church is still battling southern nobles. If war breaks out, we cannot muster warriors quickly.”

Olivia said, “No need to muster warriors. I will bring him punishment.”

With that, Olivia left the tent directly.

Leo and Vito followed at once, leaving only Melia and the bewildered Jeven.

At last, Melia said, “Bishop Jeven, quickly summon the White Dove. Inform Agamemnon at once. He must send word back with instructions.”

Then she hurried after Olivia. She had to keep a close watch, lest Olivia act before receiving further word.

Left alone in the tent, Jeven drew a deep breath, then slapped himself hard across the face twice.

The pain cleared his mind. Closing his eyes, he called for the White Dove.

He glanced at the box with hesitation, then opened it. Inside was a broken deer antler. From the aura emanating from it, Jeven realized it was a Holy Relic of the Dark Creatures.

…

The White Dove soared into the sky, flying straight for two days before delivering Jeven’s letter into Agamemnon’s hands.

After reading, Agamemnon pondered briefly, then sent word to the senators still in the Diocese of Rod. He himself went to find Oscar.

After speaking with Oscar, Agamemnon headed directly to the Senate.

Inside sat three senators: Piero, Puniel, and Jeffrey.

Sitting at the Head Seat, Agamemnon dispensed with formalities and directly relayed Jeven’s message.

When he finished, Puniel immediately said, “So the Church intends to declare war?”

Agamemnon emphasized, “It is not the Church declaring war. The Church is merciful. The Church does not initiate wars.”

“Heh…” Puniel chuckled meaningfully.

Jeffrey said, “The Corlay Family attacked merchants of the Diocese of Rod, seizing their goods. That is both provocation and declaration of war.”

“Hehe…” Puniel’s laugh deepened with implication.

Covered in black silk, exuding deathly aura, Piero rasped, “The Corlay Family failed to protect their commoners, instead continuing to exploit and harm them—even when besieged by Dark Creatures. As the Diocese of Rod is the Lord’s sanctuary, we cannot allow such evil. We must help the commoners of Corlay’s lands.”

“Hahaha…” Puniel burst out laughing.

“I say, why not simply accuse the Corlay Family of colluding with Dark Creatures?”

“Hmm. I like that.” Agamemnon smiled.

“Nobles colluding with Dark Creatures must indeed be exterminated by all human lords.”

Puniel fell silent.

Agamemnon turned to him.

“Knight Julian is advancing on the southern frontlines. Therefore, Senator Puniel, you shall serve as general and command this war.”

Puniel said, “Without further levies, I can only muster three hundred warriors from my territory to maintain order. And remember, he is still a duke. Even with a domain smaller than the Diocese of Rod, he is nonetheless a duke.”

“Perhaps… you could invoke Anathema.”

Puniel looked at Agamemnon.

Agamemnon shook his head.

“Anathema descends only on lands of unforgivable sin. This is not such a place.”

Puniel said, “Then I need to expand my forces.”

Agamemnon turned to Piero.

“What do you think?”

Piero rasped, “The Diocese of Rod is wealthy now. We can raise 1,200 troops. Recruitment should cover our homeland, northern Rod, and the small southern nobles’ lands. Their commoners suffer hunger. They will gladly join as warriors. And their nobles live in hardship—they will not mind dismissing some guards.”

Puniel said, “I require all of them to be Upper Warriors at minimum. Only then can the army be quickly formed.”

Piero said, “No problem. Even if you recruit 1,200 Wild Knights, the Diocese of Rod can support them.”

Puniel looked back to Agamemnon.

“He is still a duke. And according to our reports, he possesses seven Sacred Relics.”

Agamemnon said, “You need not worry about the Sacred Relics. Dean Oscar will assign fifty magic apprentices specializing in the Mechanical Discipline to aid you.”

Puniel said, “I had not heard the Monastery had such apprentices.”

Agamemnon said, “Now it does.”

Puniel shrugged.

“Very well. It seems you have planned this. When do we march?”

Agamemnon asked, “How long to gather 1,200 warriors?”

Puniel grinned.

“Seven days.”

Agamemnon was surprised.

Puniel said, “Councilor Bevan is no mere profiteer. Wherever his merchants go, people yearn for the Diocese of Rod. They believe this place is the center of the world.”

Agamemnon said, “That is an exaggeration.”

Puniel replied, “That is not Bevan’s propaganda. It is the commoners’ own longing.”

Agamemnon did not press the matter. He instead resolved to expand the Church’s intelligence network. The diffusion of priests was far less effective than the spread merchants achieved.

Agamemnon declared, “Then, in ten days, the army marches.”

Puniel asked, “Destroying Duke Raymond will suffice?”

Agamemnon looked puzzled.

“They have colluded with Dark Creatures. Of course, we must also level Blackrock Point.”

Puniel nodded.

From beginning to end, none of them felt fear.

They were confident in the power of the Diocese of Rod, and in the Church’s unbroken string of victories.

Had the Principality of Corlay remained whole, perhaps they would have objected. But now, reduced to only half the size of the Diocese of Rod, the Corlay Family no longer commanded respect.

A duke? A duke besieged by Dark Creatures?

How many knights could such a duke have? How many warriors?

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