“However,” Ferdinand changed the subject, his tone taking on the solemnity unique to the battlefield, “the situation on the battlefield at that time was constantly changing and extremely dangerous.”
"The Enlightenment Society has laid down a vicious magic array to harvest souls and transform them into puppets. The gray plague is spreading like a tide, the main force of the orcs is on the verge of collapse, and there are even legendary powerhouses around them."
"The Ninth Knights... under Harrington's command, their stance and actions have already posed a huge threat to the battlefield, and may even lead to more unpredictable disasters."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over Raymond with a hint of barely perceptible pity: "Commander Harrington, threatened with a secret letter by the orc general Kargath in the face of battle, openly ordered the Ninth Regiment to turn its spearhead and assist the orc remnants in fighting against the Enlightenment Society puppets."
"This act is tantamount to openly betraying the Holy Light on the battlefield and colluding with the orcs! Countless soldiers witnessed it firsthand."
"If it weren't for Commander Alfonso's decisive action in beheading the traitors and purging the Ninth Regiment in time, the consequences would have been unimaginable! The entire battle situation might have completely collapsed, our two major knightly orders might have been in danger of being wiped out, and the Enlightenment Society's conspiracy might have succeeded!"
Ferdinand's voice rose slightly: "This is a critical moment, concerning the lives of tens of thousands of soldiers and the entire course of the battle in the Lor Swamp!"
"If we get bogged down in complicated procedures and just wait for the Holy City's judgment, I'm afraid that before the judgment arrives, we will all have become walking corpses in the Enlightenment Society's puppet army, or dead souls under the orc battle axes!"
"On the battlefield, the commander-in-chief should have the authority to make decisions on the spot. This is a basic duty that the Supreme Privy Council has entrusted to the captains of each knightly order!"
He looked at the envoy holding the ebony staff and said earnestly, “As for the promotion of Commander Alfonso to Legendary status… indeed, his execution of the traitor Harrington was part of the ceremony.”
"But in my humble opinion, this is precisely proof of the manifestation of the Holy Light's will! Only by cleansing the darkest traitors within can the purest source of the Holy Light be invoked, and the most sacred advancement be completed!"
"This is not a usurpation of the Holy See, but rather the highest reward and recognition from the Holy Light for its loyal guardians making the right choice at a critical moment!"
Ferdinand cleverly shifted the focus, linking Alfonso's personal ritual with the manifestation of the Holy Light's will, while simultaneously emphasizing the specificity of the battlefield and the necessity and correctness of Alfonso's actions.
He then uttered words that sent a chill down Raymond's spine.
"As for the procedural issue... Commander Alfonso holds the highest confidential orders of the Holy City, and his authority is inherently questionable, allowing him to act expediently in emergencies. Moreover," Ferdinand's voice carried a hint of certainty, "I believe Commander Alfonso is by no means a reckless person."
"He dared to execute Harrington in public, so he must have irrefutable and irrefutable evidence in his hands, enough to render any procedural questioning powerless. Such evidence is probably in the hands of Commander Alfonso at the moment, and when it is presented tomorrow, everything will be judged by public opinion."
"To speculate on their motives at this moment, or even to question their loyalty and reverence for the Papacy, would be unfair and would also discourage the soldiers on the front lines."
After Ferdinand finished speaking, he elegantly picked up his wine glass, took a small sip, as if he were simply stating a perfectly clear fact.
As a legendary knight commander, he had his own plans.
His remarks seemed to uphold the authority of the Papacy, while also reassuring the two envoys with the urgency of the battlefield and the irrefutable evidence Alfonso might possess. At the same time, he kept the focus firmly on Harrington's traitorous identity and the evidence Alfonso was about to submit, thus buying time for Alfonso.
Over the past few days, he had come to realize that Alfonso and the person behind him were most likely planning to purge the church.
If he continues to waver at this point and doesn't make a choice quickly, he will inevitably be affected even if he doesn't betray the church.
So in the end, he decided to side with Alfonso.
For no other reason than that he was also a staunch believer in the Holy Light, and he approved of Alfonso's actions!
As for Raymond... the more aggressively he jumps, the more firepower he attracts.
The banquet hall fell silent again, but the atmosphere was more subtle and complex than before.
Raymond's face darkened. Ferdinand's words were so precise that it made it difficult for him to continue pressing the issue of procedures.
The grey-eyed envoy's icy gaze shifted between Ferdinand and Raymond, seemingly weighing the attitudes of the two knights' commanders.
The envoy holding the ebony staff gave Ferdinand a deep look, his fingers gently stroking the gem at the top of the staff, before finally speaking slowly, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger:
"Commander Ferdinand's words are not without merit. The battlefield is ever-changing, and the commander's authority is indeed necessary. If the evidence against Harrington for colluding with the enemy on the battlefield is conclusive, his actions deserve punishment."
He abruptly changed the subject, his gaze sharpening like a hawk's, sweeping over Raymond and finally settling on Ferdinand:
"However, the sanctity of procedures should not be disregarded. Whether Commander Alfonso fully complied with the secret orders, whether his actions were solely for battlefield needs and without any personal motives... especially the connection between his legendary rituals and executions, still needs to be investigated in detail."
"Everything will be decided by the Privy Council and the Tribunal after General Alfonso Lin arrives tomorrow and presents the original text of the secret order and all relevant irrefutable evidence of Harrington's treason and betrayal of the Church. The final decision will then be made after the Privy Council and the Tribunal report to the Senate and His Excellency the Archbishop."
He raised his ebony staff and tapped it lightly on the ground, producing a dull thud, as if drawing a temporary pause to this probing exchange.
"Until now, it would be unwise to criticize the commander or question the secret orders. Everyone, let's wait and see tomorrow."
Raymond's expression softened slightly, and he grunted before falling silent.
Ferdinand elegantly raised his glass to the envoy, his smile unchanged, but as he lowered his eyes to drink, a barely perceptible glint of cold light flashed deep within them: "As you command, Your Excellency."
Inside the luxurious banquet hall, the glow of the crystal chandeliers clashed with the somber atmosphere.
Raymond Iron Ridge listened to Ferdinand's impeccable rebuttal and the Ebony Staff envoy's ambiguous final "wait for tomorrow," his heart heavy.
Ferdinand had clearly sided with Alfonso, and the envoy's attitude did not immediately turn against Alfonso as Ferdinand had hoped. The situation was sliding in a direction unfavorable to him.
His rough fingers unconsciously rubbed the cold rim of the wine glass, his lips pressed tightly together beneath his white beard.
Harrington's deals with the orcs and the Enlightenment before his death, some of which involved shady dealings, might very well implicate him, the veteran general in charge of the pass's defenses and who had tacit understandings with various factions.
If Alfonso is allowed to hand over the so-called irrefutable evidence tomorrow... the consequences will be unimaginable.
Just as he was anxiously considering whether to use his deeper connections in the Holy City to exert pressure, the side door of the banquet hall opened silently.
A calm and composed adjutant, dressed in the armor of the Tenth Regiment's elite Iron Guards, strode to his side and leaned down to whisper in his ear.
The adjutant's voice was very low, but Raymond's hawk-like eyes lit up for a moment before returning to their usual calm.
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