The last trace of doubt in Prince's eyes vanished completely, replaced by fervent, almost fanatical, approval and respect.
He suddenly knelt on one knee, placed his right hand on his chest, and performed the highest form of respect reserved for facing an icon, his voice trembling slightly with emotion:
“Baron Lind! No… Your Oracle! I, Priest, am foolish to have failed to recognize the one favored by the gods sooner! Please forgive my previous doubts!”
He raised his head, his eyes as firm as a rock:
"Your secret is the will of the Holy God! Priss swears by his soul to the Holy God that he will keep this secret a secret forever! Your will is the direction of our Blade of Purification! All forces of the Holy Church in the North, including myself, will unconditionally follow your guidance and work together to complete the sacred mission of purifying the Shadow Abyss and protecting order!"
It's done! A huge weight lifted from Linde's heart, but he maintained his solemn expression and reached out a hand to support her.
"Your Honor, please rise. The Holy Spirit bears witness to your loyalty. We all fight for order, without distinction between us."
He subdued the bright aura, plunging the lower levels of the tower back into darkness, but the look in Pris’s eyes as he looked at Lind was now completely different, filled with absolute trust and respect.
"presiding judge."
Lind's voice returned to its usual calm and steady tone, but to Priss at this moment it sounded like a divine oracle.
"The Shadow Abyss is lurking, fraught with danger. I wonder if the Holy Church has any further plans to investigate the Shadow Abyss forces hidden in the Sassian camp, as well as that strange 'Source Matter' technology? We need to know our enemy and ourselves."
At this moment, Pres revealed all the information he knew about the Holy Church without reservation:
"Your Excellency is wise. According to reports from our secret interrogations of prisoners and our infiltrated agents, there is indeed a secret cult within the Sassians known as the 'Shadow Grip.' They worship the shadows of the abyss, and it is they who possess and spread the 'source matter' and the techniques for breeding monsters."
Its core members are extremely secretive, possibly hidden among high-ranking officers in the Sass, and perhaps even... have some unclear connections with the Orks.
"The Holy Inquisition has mobilized a squad of 'Dark Cleansers,' led by two high priests skilled in shadow detection and purification, who are secretly infiltrating the Sassin-occupied territory in an attempt to locate the 'Shadow Grip' lair and the source of its source matter production."
Meanwhile, we plan to personally oversee the Grinburg area, both to solidify the defenses and... to use me as bait!
A flame of purification burned in Pris's eyes.
"Since Shadow Abyss's henchmen attempted to assassinate the Earl, then my appearance as the Holy Church's Chief Inquisitor must be a thorn in their side!"
They're very likely to strike again! That will be the perfect opportunity for us to follow the trail and even wipe them out in one fell swoop!
Linde was overjoyed! This plan perfectly suited his needs! Pris had volunteered as bait, and the Holy Church had even sent elites to investigate the source... This meant that no matter which side gained something, Linde would have a great chance of coming into contact with more Shadow Abyss Source Essence!
He wore an expression of deep agreement and praised:
"Your Excellency, this plan is brilliant! Using oneself as bait to lure the snake out of its hole, the Holy Church's determination and courage are admirable. Greenburg will fully cooperate! I will have the garrisoned troops on standby at any time, and if Shadow Abyss's henchmen dare to show their faces, they will be sure to never return!"
Price nodded emphatically, feeling incredibly encouraged by Lind's "support":
"With your assistance, my lord, we will surely be able to severely damage Yingyuan's foundation in this realm!"
In the dimly lit basement of the tower, one harbored ulterior motives yet feigned holiness, while the other was unwavering in his beliefs and full of passion, thus forming the closest "alliance."
Looking at the pure light of faith in Pris's eyes, Lind silently added in his mind:
'I hope more Shadow Abyss members come. The more the better, the stronger the better! My system... is already itching for more!'
The shadows in the direction of Greenburg seemed to have become even more turbulent and... alluring because of the arrival of the Holy Inquisitor and Lind's "holy disguise".
…………
The news of Lind's cooperation with Price was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up ripples in the noble circles of the Earl of Sutherland's camp.
Although Lind himself remained low-key, Judge Price's change in attitude did not escape the notice of those who were paying attention.
This Holy Church Inquisitor, known for his coldness and severity, now showed an inexplicable respect for Baron Lind, and even subtly prioritized Lind's opinion on several public occasions! This was simply unbelievable!
Even more striking was the increasingly prominent display of the Earl Truk family's banners in the camp; though their representatives did not explicitly state it, the message conveyed was clear:
Lind Truck, the young baron from the Truck family, has now gained the attention and support of the family's core.
The Holy Spirit Church's trust + the Count Truk family's unwavering support!
The weight of this combination is enough to make any Northern noble reconsider the value of the name Lind Truk.
He was no longer just the "lucky kid" who managed to hold the front line in Greenburg, but a promising new nobleman with the backing of the empire's two top powers!
In no time, Linde's previously rather quiet temporary camp became bustling with activity.
Viscount "Iron Wall" Wald sent his trusted advisor with a carefully prepared gift—a set of valuable adamantite chainmail lining from the Eastern Dwarf Kingdom. His words were filled with admiration for Lind's "feat" in Grinburg and anticipation for future "fighting side by side."
Several border barons who had originally favored retreating from the frontier also came to visit together, adopting a very humble attitude. Their words no longer reflected their previous concerns and retreats, but rather expressed their agreement with Lind's "foresight".
They also subtly inquired whether the Greenburg direction needed "additional" supplies or troops, their intention to "preserve strength" had been replaced by "investing in advance."
Even some young nobles who had previously been immersed in the illusion of a "great situation" have restrained their impetuousness and come to pay their respects with the entrustment of their family elders.
Their words were filled with admiration for the "hero facing the shadows," and they tried to find out Lind's opinion on the next phase of the battle, clearly regarding him as a kind of weather vane.
Faced with this sudden enthusiasm and probing, Linde remained calm and composed, maintaining both aristocratic etiquette and a just-right sense of distance.
He accepted the gifts and expressed his gratitude, but responded to strategic issues with diplomatic language such as "it still needs to be discussed with Judge Priscilla and the acting head of the delegation" or "it depends on the movements of Saskatchewan and Oakland."
This composure made visitors feel that the young baron was unfathomable and had a powerful background.
Linde knew perfectly well what was going on.
These gestures of goodwill and gifts were less directed at him personally and more at the two formidable and powerful figures behind him.
Greenburg, which was originally just an insignificant thorn in the side of the nobility, has now become a strategic breakthrough point for the entire Kree Empire in its fight against the Shadow Abyss and the Orc Alliance because of Lind's existence, and its importance has skyrocketed!
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