856 Talk in the Wagon (1/2)

The atmosphere on the wagon became extremely weird. Douglas seemed to have forgotten the two sorcerers next to him. He kept asking strange questions one after another, and neither Fernando nor Lauren knew how to respond. Weren't they all as matter-of-fact as the sun rising from the east and the fruit falling to the ground after they were ripe?

However, Douglas soon came back to himself. He said apologetically, ”Excuse me. I tend to be absentminded once in a while.”

”It's nothing. It happens to me when I encounter magic problems,” Lauren replied with a smile, as if he were not interested in Douglas' strange questions at all. Fernando opened his mouth but did not say anything in the end.

After a brief silence, Fernando and Lauren introduced the situation on this side of the Storm Strait.

”Both the Sylvanas Magic Empire and the Asso Empire have been dismembered into scattered organizations that do not obey each other. Some of them have even escaped to the Boundless Ocean. It is safe to say that the situation here is even worse than the other side of the strait. At least, the western territory including Aalto is still in the hands of sorcerers…” Lauren sighed.

Fernando added, ”The territory that used to belong to the Asso Empire has been divided into two parts, the Kingdom of Brianne and the Duchy of Calais. From what used to be the Sylvanas Magic Empire, the Kingdom of Holm and the Kingdom of Colette have been born. Our organization is mainly active in Holm, which is where we are in right now…”

Having investigated the situation before he passed the Storm Strait, Douglas was no stranger to the information. With a tranquilizing smile, he said, ”As a matter of fact, I chose to pass the Storm Strait instead of running to Aalto, because I had more hopes in this place.”

”Is that so?” Fernando tried to be indifferent and narrowed his eyes, preventing his eyes from betraying himself.

The Union had always been analyzing the situation, and their final conclusion was similar to Douglas'. That was why they risked making attempts and changes.

Douglas said peacefully, ”Because the nobles here are more powerful than the Church in general.”

His words struck Lauren like lightning. He finally understood why his organization changed its policy and asked Fernando to meet the greatest noble at the capital of Paphos County.

Lauren knew that it was meant to attract the nobles and sow discord between them and the Church. However, he had never known why they were doing in, and what they were contriving to do.

Fernando said nothing and simply looked at Douglas, waiting for what he was about to say.

”We did not know the specific conditions here, but according to my observation, after the fall of Antiffler, the clerics were more and more arrogant toward the nobles, and most Grand Cardinals and divine knights have been concentrated in Antiffler and Lance, ready to march west,” Douglas spoke of what he knew.

”In western cities such as Aalto, many legends have been gathered, and they even have the help of some vampires and dragons. However, they have serious internal contradictions, and the gap between them and the Church and nobles will be wider and wider. Unless the Silver Moon arrives, they will be swallowed step by step. On the other side, while we are weak in this place, the gap between us and the Church is not as huge.”

He compared with the overall strength of the Church and the nobles in the first time but only the Church in the second time. Both Fernando and Lauren knew his meaning well.

Fernando spoke in a weird accent that suggested he wasn't a native of Holm, ”After most of the senior-rank sorcerers were eliminated, the Truth Cult has mobilized more than half of the legendary clerics. Now, there is only one saint cardinal in Rentato and Cocus respectively.”

”Some of the legendary knights have been moved away too, but there are still five left. After all, this place is their hometown, and they are unwilling to attack Aalto far away even though they are devout believers. Also, they believe that the Church does not need their help. Obviously, the Church thinks so too.”

”But what's the point?” Lauren frowned and asked in confusion. ”As long as the Church destroys the legends in the west and sends most of the experts over, all our efforts will be in vain.”

Fernando glared at him. ”Time. The time for us to develop, look for allies, sow discord, and seek balance.”

Douglas also smiled. ”We aren't the Church's only enemy.”

”Right, if Aalto is lost, the Church will reach the Dark Mountain Range. Perhaps the Silver Moon will really arrive.” Lauren nodded.

Douglas suddenly seemed tranced. ”Even if the Silver Moon does arrive, I think the pope will remain undefeated.”

”Is God's Arrival really so powerful?” Fernando asked in shock and curiosity. Their intelligence was too untrustworthy on this side of the strait, and now they were faced with a living sorcerer who went through the Battle of Antiffler.

”His Excellency the Light of Stars perished without any resistance. Even the city defense of Antiffler was mostly destroyed. I don't know how powerful a real demigod is, but I know that the Light of Stars was beyond top legendary when he fought in Antiffler…” Douglas recalled; his peaceful smile replaced by panic.

Both Fernando and Lauren fell silent. Neither of them had been to Antiffler before. Although Fernando was a native of the Asso Empire, Antiffler had been ”Crown of Arcana” for all the time thanks to the lessons of their teachers and seniors. It was known as the strongest fortress on earth where the most powerful legendary sorcerers were gathered, but after only one attack of God's Arrival, the consul and the capital of the Sylvanas Magic Empire were demolished.

Was God's Arrival so powerful?

For a moment, they were grasped by intense desperation. What was the point of their work? It would be finished by one God's Arrival after all.