Chapter 545 There are things more terrifying than humans
In mid-June, the morning sun in Roland City carries a slightly damp coolness, unlike the sweltering heat of midday.
Beneath the majestic dome of the Saint Laurent Cathedral, the air is filled with the scent of aged incense and the grease from burning candles.
This is a sacred and tranquil place, its grandeur not much less than that of St. Clement's Cathedral, yet even so, the imperial people have never given it a second glance.
A thousand years ago, there was no obvious difference between the Imperials and the Lions. In fact, the Lions during the Isaac Dynasty were more civilized than the Imperials. The sewers of Thunder City were built during that period.
However, starting from some unknown year, the Ryan people became the barbarians of the continent of Os, and the Holy Light unknowingly neglected this land.
Prayer room.
King Theodore sat alone on an unassuming bench, like an ordinary old man seeking salvation.
He wasn't holding a scepter; instead, he was casually toying with a gold coin, tracing the worn lines on it with his fingertips, as if sorting out his thoughts.
Beside him, a monk dressed in coarse linen robes was bowing his head, wiping the dust off the candlestick with a gray-black cloth.
His movements were slow and gentle, like a servant attending to a god. Yet, what came from his mouth was intelligence about the darkest corners of the country.
His name was Marius, the sharpest dagger beneath the king's robes, and also the leader of the "gravekeepers".
"I heard the South is quite lively lately."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The monk wiping the candlesticks spoke slowly, his gentle voice like the rustling sound of his robe sweeping across the stone steps.
"The Duchy of Campbell is building a novel contraption called a 'railway,' which is said to consist of two parallel tracks on which giant steel beasts, puffing out white smoke, run. It is not as fast as a warhorse, but it is more durable, traversing mountains and valleys as if on flat ground, and transporting the equivalent of several flat-bottomed cargo ships in one trip."
The gold coin that had been flipping in Theodore's hand came to a stop.
He turned his head slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in his cloudy pupils, but it quickly turned into a playful snort.
"My old friend's kids always manage to come up with some really interesting little gadgets..."
Marius said softly.
"I heard that's no small thing; it reduced the travel time from Thunder City to Granston Castle to one-fifth of what it used to be... or even less."
Where are they working on it?
"Granstonburg".
"Derrick family territory, huh?"
"Yes."
The ascetic stopped wiping the candlesticks, turned to look at His Majesty, and continued in a soothing voice.
"They completed the railway running north to south. According to their plan, the next step was to extend the railway northeastward. The terminus was the Earldom of Spinol, or perhaps the undeveloped areas further east."
“Spinoll…”
Theodore chewed on the place name softly, a thoughtful expression on his face.
"If I remember correctly, that place seems to be near the Wanren Mountains, and also the backyard of some... filthy things?"
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Marius nodded and said softly, “To the east beyond the territory of the Count of Spinor lies undeveloped wasteland, and to the north is the territory of the Carrion Clan. Although the sacrificial activities in the Twilight Province have depleted their numbers, there are still quite a few left.”
The Carrion Clan.
Chewing on the nostalgic name, Theodore fell into thought, his aging index finger gently rubbing against the armrest of the bench.
Those were the rat-men clans who lived underground and in the shadows; they were greedy, filthy, and perpetually hungry.
These little guys are like a plague, lurking on the kingdom's borders. Even goblins seem kind in comparison... They are every lord's nightmare.
However, it was not the king's nightmare.
On the contrary, they played the role of gardeners in the king's back garden very well, eating the fallen decaying leaves for the nobles of Roland City and pruning away the waste that absorbed the kingdom's nutrients but could not create any useful value.
On the other hand, they can counterbalance the Campbellians to the south, preventing them from obtaining minerals from the Ten Thousand Mountains and establishing excessive ties with the dwarven mountain kingdom.
This is why the Lionheart Knights could wipe them out in a matter of minutes, but they don't.
As for the difficulties in resupplying, the fact that humans are too tall to squeeze through, and concerns about their relationship with the dwarves, those are just excuses the old farmers of Lane make up to fool themselves. If humans want to fight the ratmen, the dwarves will only weep with joy, for their powerful old friend has finally remembered them.
The dwarfs of the Ten Thousand Ren Mountains are even willing to be the vanguard in the attack!
The dwarves' full strength cannot be fully demonstrated by guarding the "small" Brass Pass!
A brief silence fell over the church, with only the sunlight streaming quietly through the stained glass, until it divided Theodden's face into two halves of light and shadow.
After a moment, the elderly king sighed softly, his voice revealing the helplessness characteristic of a kind elder.
“By Saint Sith…the people of Spinol have probably been having a difficult time lately.”
The tone was so gentle, as if they were talking about today's weather or the dishes for dinner.
Marius understood immediately, and a smile crept onto his serious face.
"Since it's out of necessity, accidents are always inevitable."
Theodore didn't reply, but simply began spinning the gold coin between his fingers again. The coin tumbled in the dim light, like a gambler's table, unpredictable and volatile.
"Make it as clean as possible."
"Yes, ma'am."
Marius lowered his head again, but after a moment he remembered something and raised his drooping eyes.
"There is one more thing, Your Majesty."
"explain."
"Commander Hagmer is on his way back to Roland City. However... his army is much larger than when he set out."
Theodore frowned slightly, with the kind of annoyance one feels when a mouse gets into the house, yet he can't seem to get rid of it.
"What did he do now?"
"The Lionheart Knights intercepted several caravans belonging to local nobles along the way under the pretext of 'wartime requisition,' and obtained a large amount of food and supplies."
Marius paused, “Of course, our Grand Master did not keep these supplies for himself, but fulfilled his ‘sacred and ancient’ duty by distributing them to the people of the kingdom. Now, those refugees you cleared out of Roland are coming back like a snowball rolling downhill…the number might be tens of thousands.”
Upon hearing this, Theodore's last trace of gentleness vanished, replaced by a chilling coldness that stretched out from the corners of his narrowed eyes.
"That idiot!"
The king's voice was filled with suppressed anger.
He went to great lengths to drive those good-for-nothings out of the capital, leaving them to fend for themselves in the countryside and become fertilizer for the land.
But this great philanthropist Hagmer brought those tens of thousands of beggars back with him!
Does he think there isn't enough gunpowder in Roland?
"Should I try to persuade him?" Marius asked tentatively. "If those vagrants are allowed back into the city, it will likely worsen the security situation in Roland... especially with petty thieves roaming the slums right now."
That was another piece of intelligence he had obtained through his underlings in the Gravediggers organization. It was said that the Campbells had not only invented trains, but also created a new type of intelligence agency that was different from traditional intelligence agencies.
Instead of relying on spies within the royal family, they promoted scouts from the professional army and mingled with the common people of Roland.
This is something quite new to the continent of Os.
Although most royal families have their own intelligence systems, these systems are basically built around the court and are different from military-style intelligence systems; they only share the same name.
Theodore's lips curled into a cold smile.
"You want to persuade him? I suggest you save your breath. I can't persuade him either."
Marius remained silent.
In this world where strength reigns supreme, extraordinary power may not represent everything, but when it comes to deciding who has the strongest fist, it represents everything.
With his strength, killing two people for the king wouldn't be a problem, but persuading the famous "Radiant Knight" to turn back... is indeed a bit arrogant.
Theodore leaned back in his chair and rubbed his temples wearily.
At that moment, he felt a profound sense of powerlessness.
This is the tragedy of being a mortal king.
To counter the ever-expanding power of the papacy, the royal family had to rely on legendary figures like Hagmer. However, that immense personal power was a double-edged sword; it could sever the papacy's reach for the throne, but it could also turn against the royal court behind it.
As Theodore looked at the compassionate statue of Saint Sith directly in front of the cathedral, a strong longing suddenly welled up in his heart.
If only a third kind of extraordinary power existed in this world.
Ideally, it should be devoid of thought and morality, unrestrained by any form of rule, and able to carry out the king's will to the very end... like an angel buried deep within the Papacy and descending upon the city of twilight!
If he possessed the power to summon angels, the arrogant papacy, the disobedient knights, and even the disgusting nouveau riche of the lower reaches of the River Run would all grovel at his feet!
In this way, all the problems currently facing the Kingdom of Ryan will no longer be problems!
Just then, a series of hurried and disorderly footsteps came from outside the church, interrupting Theodden's tired and irritable thoughts.
Theodore waved.
The monk standing beside the candlestick nodded slightly and walked silently into the shadows beneath it, as if he had never been there before.
A few seconds later, the heavy door was pushed open.
A figure dressed in a scarlet bishop's robe stumbled in.
The newcomer was none other than Claude, the former court jester, now the Bishop of the Ryan region.
He didn't even bother to straighten his slightly crooked hat. As soon as he entered the room, his knees buckled, and he knelt heavily on the cold floor, his whole body almost touching the ground.
"His Majesty……"
Claude's voice trembled, filled with obvious fear.
"Your Majesty, I am incompetent... Please punish me!"
Theodore paused for a moment, then made a face that seemed to be both amused and exasperated, got up from the bench, and walked to the entrance of the prayer hall.
“Bishop Claude, what are you doing? Get up quickly.” He stretched out his aged but well-maintained hand and kindly supported Claude’s trembling elbow.
The voice was as gentle as a true elder comforting a child who had been wronged.
However, being held up by those hands, Claude cried even harder.
"Your Majesty... those people in the Holy City... they are absolutely wicked!"
The bishop of the Kingdom of Ryan was sobbing without any decorum, his face covered in snot and tears.
He wiped away his tears as he angrily and aggrievedly voiced his accusations.
"Those priests in their robes! They're nothing but vampires, utterly wicked! I wrote to them explaining the situation in Roland and pleading for them to open their purses and help us through this crisis. But this morning, a gray owl dropped the letter on my window... They arrogantly and coldly rejected us! They won't even part with a single copper coin!"
Looking at the bishop whose eyes were red from crying for the kingdom, Theodore sighed softly and reached out to straighten his crooked hat.
"It seems... it's not just our empire that has fallen; St. Clement's Cathedral is no longer the benevolent and tolerant sanctuary it once was."
The king's tone carried a hint of regret, as if lamenting the decline of that ancient papacy in the distance, yet the regret was not obvious.
At least he wasn't as emotional as the bishop, who didn't shed a single tear.
“Don’t be sad, Claude. Greed is the sin of the Pope and the cardinals, and I will not blame you, an innocent person, because of their greed.”
Deep within those seemingly compassionate, murky eyes lay only a detached indifference, one that had been anticipated all along.
Theodore was not surprised at all; he had never expected that the Holy City, so far away, would spend money for the people of Roland.
However, Claude's comical performance art wasn't bad for him; at least it brought him some joy.
Only when the priests of Roland understand that the priests of the Holy City have abandoned them will they unite more closely around his crown.
Hearing that His Majesty actually didn't blame him, Claude's violently trembling shoulders finally calmed down.
He sniffed and hastily wiped the tears from his face with his sleeve. Although he still looked disheveled, there was finally a glimmer of light in his eyes.
"Your Majesty... what should we do?"
Just as he stopped crying, Claude remembered the terrible rumors circulating outside, and worry crept back onto his brow.
“I’ve heard people outside talking… saying that the royal treasury is empty, and even rats won’t go in. Some are even saying that by this time next year at the latest, we won’t be able to pay the guards…”
Theodore chuckled, a chuckle tinged with disdain for the ignorance of mortals.
"What do they know?"
There's always a bunch of self-important fellows in this kingdom who think they're so great just because they've read a couple of books, that they know everything. Take, for example, the Baron Wickton, who's always spouting off his erudition, and whose bookkeeping is just irritating to look at.
And then there's his financial director, who spends all day playing number games with him, calculating how many copper coins a citizen of Roland can earn in a month, how many loaves of bread that thing is equivalent to... Ha, one day when he gets tired of calculating, he'll send that bastard to Saint Sis to whine about!
In the ancient land of knights, discussing economics is a foolish thing to do. The power of the Devalo family does not come from those lowly commoners filled with the stench of money, but from the extraordinary that flows in their veins.
The second class were the masters of the kingdom, while the rest were either relegated to the first class or served as tools of production in the third class.
Seeing the contempt hidden behind those murky eyes, Claude's shoulders trembled slightly, and a hint of fear reappeared in his eyes.
"But Your Majesty..."
“Listen, Claude, you don’t need to listen to the babbling of those ants.”
Theodore reached out and gently patted Claude's shoulder. The movement was soft and rhythmic, like soothing a frightened pet.
He lowered his head and whispered in the bishop's ear, his voice like a leaky whistle.
“I am the king, and you are the bishop. We are not those money-grubbing merchants, those nouveau riche who think poverty can defeat us, unaware of how naive and ridiculous their ideas are… They will soon realize how foolish they are, because our wealth has never been gold, silver, or copper coins.”
Claude swallowed.
"What is that...?"
Looking at the dumbfounded clown, Theodore smiled and uttered a cold word.
"people."
...
The morning sunlight not only illuminated the dome of the Saint Laurent Cathedral, but also shone through the curtains of the guest room at Colin Manor, illuminating Eileen's peaceful sleeping face.
really--
I still find my bed at home the most comfortable.
Her trembling eyelashes fluttered slightly, and Eileen stretched like a little lion just waking up, yawning as she sat up in bed.
Wash up.
Changing clothes—
Go outside!
Perhaps it was the "psychological counseling" from Theresa last night that worked, or perhaps it was because she had a good night's sleep after a long time, but she looked exceptionally radiant today.
Just as she was in a good mood and walking down the stairs, she happened to run into Miss Vivian, who was coming down from upstairs.
Good morning, Vivian.
Eileen greeted him with a smile, a smile like moonlight shining on a lake on a hot summer day.
However, to her surprise, Vivian, who was tiptoeing downstairs, was like a startled rabbit.
"Good morning, good morning..."
She stammered a reply, then quickly lowered her head, revealing only half of her face beneath her fluffy purple hair, which was as red as a ripe apple.
Before she could even finish a single coherent sentence, she scurried away nervously, clinging to the wall, as if avoiding some kind of plague.
"...?"
Watching Vivian leave suspiciously, Eileen touched her cheek with a puzzled look and looked at the female knight behind her.
"Theresa, is there something strange on my face?"
Theresa, who had just come out of the next room, also looked bewildered. She pinched her chin and stared intently at Eileen for a moment before shaking her head.
"No, Your Highness. You are as radiant as ever today. Perhaps Miss Vivian is still asleep."
It's not that I wasn't awake.
Miss Vivian doesn't sleep at night; the offerings from the players are far too many to finish, and the same goes for the novel about Thunder City.
However, last night was a bit special. She stayed up all night for a completely different reason, but unfortunately, even with her neck aching from lying on the carpet, she didn't hear the rest of the story.
"Perhaps."
Eileen smiled with relief, not thinking much of it, and walked gracefully towards the restaurant filled with the aroma of butter and toast.
"Let's go try Colin's breakfast."
Theresa smiled, placed her hand on her chest, and nodded slightly.
"Yes, Your Highness."
...
The guest's and host's restaurants were in different locations. The two parted ways downstairs in the annex and went their separate ways along the corridor.
Meanwhile, at the corner on the first floor.
Vivian leaned against the cold wall, her small hand covering her chest, breathing heavily as if she had just escaped the dungeon of the Holy City.
She stretched out her trembling little arm and wiped away non-existent cold sweat from her forehead, her scarlet pupils filled with terror.
That's terrifying.
That woman... could actually smile at me as if nothing had happened?
What is she trying to do?
Want me to come along?!
This, this is utter blasphemy!
Vivian's face flushed red, especially when she thought about how she was very likely to lose to this guy, her face turned even redder.
The thought that her kin was a terrifying being who craved both men and women filled her with a deep sense of despair.
We must tell my elder brother about this!
But……
How should I put it?
Vivian was at a loss.
Just as the eldest daughter of the Colin family was caught in a cycle of inner turmoil and fear, she unknowingly found herself in the dining room, drawn by the enticing aroma of the dishes.
When she looked up, she stiffly realized that her family members had already arrived before her.
The princess was sitting gracefully at the dining table, using a knife to spread butter on the toasted bread.
Vivian hiccuped in fright, but to avoid arousing suspicion, she braced herself and went over, even taking the initiative to greet Eileen.
"Chirp, you, hello..."
Eileen tilted her head in confusion, then smiled elegantly and responded to the cute little sister's greeting.
"Hello, Miss Vivian. I was worried you had done something to upset me when you suddenly ran away."
"No, no... I'm sorry..."
"...?"
sorry?
Watching Vivian sway and float to her seat like a well-fed mosquito, Eileen's eyes widened with even more confusion, but she didn't think much of it, assuming that Vivian was still asleep.
The restaurant had a warm and inviting atmosphere.
At the other end of the long table, little Lino sat close to her "unicorn," her eyes fixed on the book in the latter's hands. Every now and then, she would sweetly praise him, saying how amazing he was, and then giggle as she watched his cheeks turn red.
With a flushed face, Nanfu held a storybook borrowed from the Thunder City University Library and was telling the story of the Campbell family from eight hundred years ago in an awkward but gentle voice.
Human beings—
That's fantastic!
He wished he could turn those words into a song and sing it out.
Back in Shanghai, no one had ever affirmed him, praised him, or looked at him with such care... The seed that had been ravaged by the storm and thrown into the sewer was now gradually sprouting under the nurturing care of love and tolerance.
The two young princes, Alfred and Richard, looked at each other.
They keenly sensed that something was off about the leader of the group today.
Normally by this time, Vivian would have already started urging them to replace everyone's milk with chili sauce, but today she's been as docile as a quail.
But... this is a good thing.
The two silently buried themselves in their food, afraid of breaking this hard-won peace, and planned to snatch their brother Gutaf from Lino's hands after they finished breakfast.
Not far from the two brothers, Miss Yaya with pink hair was having a lively conversation with Mrs. Antony.
The topic of conversation between the two "mature" women was naturally one of unique maturity.
Ya Ya is sharing the inspiration she had last night.
She wants to write a new series about Campbell's Northern Rescue Army, focusing on the historical ties between the Dusk Province and the Principality of Campbell, as well as their current brotherhood!
As for the enemy, it is naturally Theodore Devalu of the Kingdom of Ryan!
"...I think this part should be emphasized, for example, the evil king capturing the female knight, using demonic methods to torture her in every way, and finally, with tears in her eyes, she looks at the audience below the stage and makes a 'gurgling' sound... and then like this..."
Mia's eyes lit up with excitement, and she even started gesturing with her hands.
Although Mrs. Antony was not knowledgeable in drama theory and was just an ordinary connoisseur, she still felt that the script seemed somewhat inappropriate.
Upon seeing Prince Colin enter the restaurant last, she quickly cast a pleading look at him, pulling this truly knowledgeable expert into the discussion group as well.
“Colin, you’ve come at the right time! Please offer some professional insights to Miss Yaya; I think she has some misunderstandings about love…”
Mia: "???"
She suspected the Padridge family had a misunderstanding about love; she had never heard anything so ridiculous!
If you randomly pull any succubus out of Shanghai, they will all say without hesitation that Miss Padridge is the succubus who understands love the most, and that Melusine's loser is nothing compared to the "fallen goddess of love"!
Luo Yan, who had just sat down and hadn't even had a sip of water yet, looked both amused and exasperated. He had heard Mia's insightful remarks, but he really didn't want to get involved in the conversation.
However, seeing the expectant looks in the two ladies' eyes, he, being a gentleman, could only sigh and give a tactful answer.
“Mrs. Antony, Miss Yaya… Since this is a war drama, let’s not overemphasize romance. How about we write about camaraderie? The brotherhood of turning each other up on the brink of life and death might be more moving.”
Mrs. Antony's eyes lit up instantly.
"Great idea! Fantastic!"
Luo Yan breathed a sigh of relief.
However, before he could even catch his breath, an unnatural blush rose on the Duchess's face, and she turned her head toward Miss Yaya.
"Since it's about brotherhood... how about letting Xiao Jiu play this role?"
That hesitant yet courageous voice seemed to be saying something that was too embarrassing to say, but that one would regret for the rest of one's life if left unsaid.
Mia was taken aback.
"...Little Eagle?"
"That's right! I think she's the most suitable!"
At this moment, the naive Miss Padridge had not yet realized what the passion in Mrs. Antony's eyes truly meant, and was still thinking from the perspective of a professional.
"But...is she okay with those tough-guy roles?"
"no problem!"
Mrs. Antony grasped Mia's hand firmly, her eyes shining brightly.
"Didn't she play Mathieu in 'The Bell'? That fragile yet resilient figure deeply moved me... Please give her a chance!"
"Okay... alright, I'll look into it."
Since it was the Duchess's request, Miss Padridge couldn't very well refuse. After all, even if she made a bad film, she would only lose a little money.
However, seeing Mrs. Antony's fervent expression, she felt it might not necessarily turn out to be a bad show. Although Miss "Elois" undoubtedly dominated the entertainment industry in Thunder City, that didn't mean Matthew didn't have his own fans.
In fact, she has even more fans in certain circles of wealthy women!
Seeing the two ladies re-engaged in a heated discussion, Luo Yan silently picked up his teacup, deciding to keep quiet on this overly advanced topic.
Actually, it doesn't matter to him how the drama turns out, as long as he doesn't get credited on the final script.
Even being a nominal art director is not acceptable.
Regardless of how engrossed Mia was in her work, Luo Yan suddenly noticed an unusually quiet little head beside the dining table.
Vivian was mechanically stuffing a fried egg into her mouth, her usually bright eyes unexpectedly glazed over, as if she were lost in some other dimension.
This is very unusual.
Vivian's usual mealtimes are like a battle; it's almost impossible for her not to make a fuss to attract attention.
Out of caution, Luo Yan called out softly.
"Vivian."
"Alas?!"
Like a cat whose tail has been stepped on, the little vampire's two "black cat tails" under the table twitched upwards, and the fork in his hand clattered onto the plate.
"...What's wrong with you today?" Luo Yan asked in a kind tone.
"No, it's nothing!"
Vivian shook her head vigorously, her eyes darting around, avoiding Eileen's gaze. "I...I'm fine! Tell the chef to bring another piece of bacon!"
That was clearly not an expression of being okay, and she hadn't finished the bacon on her plate.
Just as Luo Yan was about to ask more questions, the birchwood door of the restaurant suddenly opened, and a capable figure hurriedly walked in, passing the waiter who was serving by the door.
The visitor was Theresa.
The female knight, who had looked relaxed just moments before, now had a serious expression on her face that seemed to be dripping with worry.
She strode to the long table, gave Lady Antony and Eileen a standard knightly salute, her brow furrowed, and spoke in a low voice.
"Your Highness, Madam..."
Noticing the odd expression on Theresa's face, the laughter and chatter in the restaurant instantly fell silent. Even Princess Lino stopped shaking her legs under the table, and Nanfu gently put down the book he was holding.
Mrs. Anthony put down her knife and fork, and Eileen straightened her back, both showing serious expressions.
"What happened?" Eileen asked.
Theresa took a deep breath, her voice low and clear.
"Bad news has come from the Earl's domain: the Royal Railway's exploration team has been attacked, and the sentries who rushed to the scene discovered this thing..."
As she spoke, she took out a broken piece of armor from her bosom, on which clear bite marks from rodents could be seen.
Luo Yan raised his eyebrows slightly, his expression somewhat strange.
"This is... a ratman?"
He had considered causing trouble for the ratmen, but he never expected that the little guys hiding in the Wanren Mountains would come knocking on his door.
What a coincidence!
Eileen's expression was solemn, while Mrs. Anthony gasped and silently made the sign of the cross in prayer.
"By Saint Sith..."
Princess Lino looked nervously at her brother Gutaf beside her and asked in a low voice.
What are rat people?
Nanfu lowered his voice.
"Something...very bad."
Even in Hell, those traitors weren't well-liked by the demons, because chaos always erupted there.
Many humans believe that goblins are the breeding ground for chaos in Hell, but the reality is quite the opposite. In the past thousand years, goblins have actually been the most well-behaved group in Hell, and there has never been a crisis of chaos. They've just been a bit loud.
But the rat people are different—
Those creatures not only created a breeding ground for the corruption of chaos, but they also turned the corruption of chaos into their own creations.
Her gaze turned to Prince Colin, and Theresa nodded earnestly.
"That's what we think too."
——
(At the request of readers, I made a map and put it in the bonus chapter. I'll draw the maps later.)
(End of this chapter)
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