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Chapter 538: Sard’s Plan

He certainly dared not leave the Radiance Church and talk face to face with the grand arcanists, which would be like feeding himself to the enemy. A saint cardinal was not as unpredictable and unkillable as a legendary sorcerer.

Therefore, Fernando and Hathaway set up multiple magics together to prevent prying. The seemingly empty and peaceful air was full of fatal traps.

After everything was done, Fernando looked at the human-shaped air with his red eyes. “By cooperation, do you mean cooperating with the two of us, or the Congress?”

Hathaway had always been taciturn when somebody else could speak for her. Alferris, on the other hand, had been blocked by Fernando since the beginning, unable to see them or hear their conversation.

It was not because Fernando distrusted it but because it was still too young and might reveal secrets subconsciously. Also, the sense deprivation was a torture for other people but nothing for a dragon. Alferris had already fallen asleep, floating in midair with Fernando’s strength.

Sard smiled as warmly as when he was preaching. “The cooperation I want cannot be supported by you two alone. The Congress of Magic is stronger than the Northern Extremists in terms of both the capabilities of their leadership as well as the personnel on the lower levels, but why is it only restrained in the cities such as Allyn, Rentato and Cox? Why can’t it control a massive empire as well as its vassal kingdoms and duchies, like the Northern Extremists, who do not need to worry about the Church inside but only need to pay attention to external defenses? This is highly undeserved for the second strongest force in all the dimensions.”

Fernando calmed down and replied loudly, “That’s because we grew from weak to strong, unlike the North Church which was partly capable of resisting the South Church and had the full support of the northern nobles since the very beginning.”

“The Church has set up one big and four small transmission magic circles in Rentato, Cox kukesi and other cities, ensuring that they can reinforce it in time if we intend to remove the branches of the Church on this side of the Storm Strait, transforming a local war into a total war. In such a case, both parties need to calculate the potential losses prudently. However, I believe that, as the Congress develops, the situation will be greatly changed in ten years.”

“Ten years? You mean the legendary advancement made possible by ‘new alchemy’?” Sard asked about the details unhurriedly.

Hathaway interjected, “Yes. The system will be more or less perfected in ten years, and the errors will be rectified.”

“By then, Hathaway will certainly reach the peak of legendary, as well as Raventi, Morris, Donald, Prado and other archmages who have stayed in the ninth circle for a long time will advance into legendary, too.” Fernando declared confidently and exaggeratedly, leaving the impression that he was bragging.

However, he was even more confident than he appeared. He did not show it because he wanted to mislead Sard. Whatever purpose Sard might have, sending him the wrong intelligence might yield amazing results in the future. For the big shots in their level, a conversation was also a competition.

Sard smiled, “Lucien is truly a genius. Ten years later, the Congress of Magic will be able to make the Church waver between losing half of the Grand Cardinals and evacuating from the few countries on the other side of the Storm Strait. His Holiness the pope estimated that it would take sixty years and therefore is not anxious.”

While God’s Arrival was terrifying, it could only be used once. Even if Douglas was killed, what could they use to kill Brook and Hathaway?

By then, as long as the two grand arcanists at the peak of legendary stalled the pope, the other legendary sorcerers of the Congress would definitely make the Grand Cardinals pay gravely. After all, the South Church was surrounded by enemies, and it was impossible to summon all the legendary experts to attack the Congress of Magic, unless certain compromises were made to achieve the cooperation of the North Church and the Dark Congress.

Of course, such a possibility was little to none. The conflicts of heretics could not be mediated. Also, they certainly would not wait and watch the Church, which was the strongest of all, to swallow the Congress of Magic without losing anything. In that case, it would be their turn to be swallowed soon.

“Ten years is not too distant. I wonder how you want to cooperate, Sard.” Fernando asked solemnly.

Just now, he described the Congress’ possible improvement following Hathaway’s opinion, but in fact, with the new alchemy, the mass-energy formula, and the reverse-engineering of ‘fission’ and ‘fusion’, he was confident to reach the peak of legendary in one to two years even though he could not grasp all of them due to the lack of knowledge. Hathaway was the same.

If neutrons were discovered in advance, the advancement of Raventi, Donald and other archmages would be sooner, too. It would be a major mistake to predict the change of the Congress of Magic in a time span of ten years.

Sard said calmly, “I can shorten ten years to one year. After one year, you will control Holm, Brianne and other territories like the North Church controls the Schachran Empire. The frequency of sorcerers being killed will be significantly lowered.”

“It would take the pope one year before God’s Arrival could be used again. Therefore, one year later will be a good point. By then, I will shut the transmission magic circle in Rentato, so that you will not fear reinforcements. It will take at least half an hour to transfer from the Holy City. I believe you are capable enough of pushing the frontline to the Storm Strait in the meantime.”

Storms seemed to be raging in Fernando’s pupils, indicating that he was not calm. While Hathaway was still indifferent, her focused eyes showed her attention, too.

For the Congress of Magic, the Radiance Church had to be removed in order to control this side of the Storm Strait, and the greatest problem for the removal was the super large transmission magic circle inside it. Because of the uniqueness of the divine power barrier, it could not be blocked in advance. However, Sard was implying that he would shut down the lifeline of Holm!

“What do you want from this? What about the Grand Cardinals of the other four parishes and the legendary knights in the countries?” Fernando controlled his anxiety.

Sard chuckled. “You should’ve made some progress on diagnosing the fake gods. I believe you must’ve reported Lucien’s report on Ell’s church, too. Do you not know what I want? I want to establish a church with my own beliefs in order to approach the Almighty Lord.”

“The lands on this side of the Storm Strait is an excellent choice. I will reform the doctrines of the Church and return the interpretation right of the Cannon to the believers. The Saint Truth will be everyone’s Saint Truth. In such a way, my church will be something that you can count on and work with, like the North Church and their nobles.”

“For the legendary knights and nobles, it will be an acceptable balance. Until the South Church is completely destroyed, you cannot abandon them and have to respect them.”

“What I’m doing right now is to make use of the radicals in the Holm parish to transform the opinions of the clergy and to intensify the relationship between the nobles and the Church, so that the liberals will abandon the Church and join my arms when a new balance is available, and the conservatives will make a similar choice after weighing the pros and cons.”

“I’m confident to attract one of the four Grand Cardinals in other parishes. Based on the secrets I obtained from the World of Souls, I’m confident to attract another one or two in a year. The legendary knights will recognize the situation. Now, I already have ‘Heart of Time’. I don’t think you have no legendary knights on your side after such a long time, do you?”

Sard admitted frankly that he got something from the World of Souls. After all, the Congress of Magic must’ve guessed it.

Fernando acknowledged his speculation with silence. A few legendary knights in every country had been attracted to the Congress, but until the situation changed, they would not revolt but would even attack the Congress under the Church’s lead.

“In such a way, the power of God will plummet. Even if you have three Grand Cardinals, that’s still far from the nobles. You would be overwhelmed by them. Are you not worried about that?” Asked Fernando solemnly.

Sard shook his head. “What I want is faith, the truth, and to be closer to the Lord. Everything else is just false. If you would like to cooperate, you have to stress that when you swear before the Origin of the World, and I will also promise that I will shut down the transmission magic circle with the Heart of Faith.”

“This is too important a matter for us to give you an answer immediately. We have to summon the Highest Council for discussion.” Fernando said seriously.

Sard smiled. “Of course.”

Then, the human-shaped air that he gathered was gone.

Hathaway watched it for a while and said in a low voice, “Do you believe what he said?”

“He sounded rather reasonable. It’s worth a shot, too. However, we have to be prepared that he is up to something else.” His hands behind his back, Fernando looked at the Radiance Church in the city.

......

Inside the secret chamber, James kicked David into a coma after hearing his speech. He turned to Lucien and said, “Lucien, you will check his confession with magic first. I’ll ask the neutrals and the Church advocates to check it, too. Rest assured, this is only to get more convincing and authentic proof. We will not compromise or attack randomly until the enemy pays.”

“Alright, I’ll check it later. ‘Cursed Angel’ Grunwell, on the other hand, has to be given to me. I lack the materials of a level-nine gold knight to work on the steady inheritance and activation of blood power. You can take away part of the tissues and his identity papers from Grunwell, or the conservatives would deny it.” Lucien looked at Grunwell casually.

Duke James also looked at Grunwell. To be used by a sorcerer as experiment materials was much more brutal than to be killed. However, he was interested by something else Lucien said. “Steady inheritance and activation of blood power? Has the Congress made breakthroughs in that regard?”

“Not yet, but I believe there will be.” Lucien bragged, giving the nobles hope without specifying how long it would take.

His eyes glowing, James said, “Lucien, you are truly a genius in arcana studies. I hope that you can resolve the conundrum someday. Alright, this room has poisons and curses lingering everywhere. It is bad for Her Majesty and other victims. I’ll suppress the ‘Helpless Kiss’ in Russell and Camil first. The mix of poisons and curses will probably fade away very soon after they take a good rest in the other room.”

“You will bring Her Majesty to the guest room. I’ll ‘process’ the spot first before I inform ‘Heart of Time’.”

Lucien discovered that James was more friendly to him. He was not worried about their relationship when Natasha protected him risking her own life, and he even gave them an opportunity to talk in private. Perhaps, his change of attitude was because of the assassination of the night watchers?

Lucien was about to reply, when his cheeks bounced and he received his master’s secret message. Understanding everything, he nodded at Duke James with a weird look and walked to Natasha.

“You still haven’t gathered your willpower? I’ll suppress the ‘Helpless Kiss’ with magic first.” Lucien held Natasha’s shoulder concernedly.

Natasha nodded. “No. Bring me to the guest room. I can use the Health Belt after the willpower is gathered.”

Lucien exerted strength and supported her to leave the wall that she leaned against. But he suddenly felt something when he noticed that her feet were unsteady.

Natasha sensed Lucien’s pause and looked at him in confusion, but she felt a hand on her leg the moment she turned her head, and she immediately flew up. She waved her arms subconsciously, hoping to catch something, but because of her weak hands, she could only grip Lucien’s shoulder in the end.

Calming herself down, Natasha saw Lucien’s smiling face as well as the ceiling. It was not until then that she realized that Lucien had swept her off her feet!

Ever since she could remember, counting the incident where Lucien carried her to escape, she had never been hugged by a man in such a way before. Both embarrassed and angered, her bloodstained face emitted suspicious redness.

Lucien felt great after finally leaving the queen swooning. That should be the normal posture!

Natasha’s face was slightly red. It was indescribably beautiful even though it was covered in blood. Recalling the female god of war that stood before him a moment ago, Lucien was greatly touched and kissed her in the face.

Sensing the warm touch on her face, Natasha put on a warm smile. All her embarrassment gone, she said in a low voice, “I’ll hug you in the same way if there’s a chance!”