Chapter 603 Prelude to War

Zero stood on the top floor of Tongtian Tower, overlooking the busy Holy City of Hermes below her.

The number of believers going to the plateau has doubled compared to previous years, and the same is true for the new Judgment Army—Eternal Winter alone has sent nearly 20,000 people to the church. It was quickly replenished, and the scale exceeded that at the beginning of the war.

It can be said that unifying the four kingdoms is the only correct decision under O'Brien's crown. When Graycastle and Dawn fall into the hands of the Holy City one after another, the church will undoubtedly usher in a new peak.

But it wasn't enough, she thought. This kind of pinnacle was more than enough to rule a secular kingdom, but still not as good as the federation with its fertile plains.

The church must do more if it is to win the battle of divine providence.

"Isn't Isabella this time?" Teflon's voice suddenly came from behind, and Zero turned around, only to see three archbishops walking into the hall one by one.

"She was sent by the crown to Chenxi to perform supervision tasks." Zero bowed slightly to show her respect. "Today, I will preside over this meeting instead of her."

"Is the Pope really so busy?" El shrugged, "Don't even have time to see us?"

"Pay attention to your attitude, El." Solly Dahl frowned, "Your Majesty has his own plans, and you are not allowed to question them."

"I'm just talking casually."

"Sitting in that position will indeed be very busy," Teflon smiled. "When His Majesty O'Brien was still here, I often heard Mayne and Heather complaining like this."

"Indeed," Zero made a gesture of invitation to the three, and then walked to the small table by the window, "Let's talk here."

"Not going to the secret room?"

"The situation in the church is very good now, who would eavesdrop on our conversation and leak it?" Zero said lightly, "Even the stubborn nobleman knows which side to choose."

"But there are always some people who like to swim against the current." Although Teflon didn't quite agree with her statement, he didn't insist on going to the secret room, let alone the other two.

"You mean His Royal Highness the Fourth Prince of Graycastle?"

"Who else but him?" The old man sat down and took a sip of tea, and said angrily, "Our plan to encircle the western region failed, not only the pure ones, but even the priest ran back to Hermes. Ridiculous!"

"His Majesty agreed to their withdrawal," Zero said unhurriedly.

"You mean... Mayne?" Teflon was taken aback.

"Slow step by step, slow step by step," she nodded, "Since Silver Whip was killed in Falling Dragon Ridge, we have fallen behind Roland Wimbledon. It will be three months after we know the news, and we will send out new ones." It must be too late. So you don't need to criticize the pure ones under your command, they will only become Roland's target if they stick to Graycastle."

"Don't you need to be punished? I want to take this opportunity to temper Emma's temperament," Solly raised her eyebrows, "She always questions my orders."

"It must be that your order is full of loopholes," El said sarcastically, "after all, it is difficult for a trial warrior to use his brain."

Before Soli could speak up and reprimand, Zero had already opened the mouth and said, "Listen to her doubts more, maybe it will be of great help to you. But if you want to discipline your own pure one, I won't say anything, just don't make a fuss about it." It’s too ruthless, every pure person is the hard-won wealth of the church.”

"Yes, Lord Zero."

"But... why did Roland snatch the God's Stone of Retaliation?" Teflon pondered, "Could it be because of the relationship between the silver whip and the storm that he was aware of the existence of the Pure One?"

"Perhaps he already knew," Zero said noncommittally, "We all know that he started recruiting witches a long time ago, and mixed up with people on Sleeping Island—and the witch has all kinds of strange abilities, and she can know the news of the church Not surprising at all."

"Stolen so many sacred stones, and there is no news of a large number of sales over there, this is not a good omen."

"Not necessarily," she knocked on the table, and focused everyone's attention, "That's why Your Majesty summoned you here today. The intelligence agencies in the Privy Secret District recently discovered that there is abnormal food in Cold Wind Ridge The acquisition phenomenon, and the number of ships going north through Chishui City is incredible, one or two ships can be seen almost every day, but Silver Light City did not see these ships sailing to the capital, and the same is true on the Sanwan River side."

"..." The three looked at each other, "Where did the boat go?"

"Recently, you are all busy recovering the war preparations deployed in Chenxi, so it's normal not to pay attention to the situation in Graycastle," Zero said bluntly, "After excluding the east and west sides, there is only one place left for them to go. ——Glen Town in the North. There is the only tributary connected to the Chishui River, and it is also the closest town to Coldwind Ridge in the north of Graycastle."

Relying on the memory of the Queen of Clear Water, she knows the distribution of the towns in Graycastle like the back of her hand, "In other words, Roland Wimbledon is mobilizing the resources of his own territory and concentrating them to the north. What he wants to do, the answer is already out of the question And metaphor."

None of the three bishops were stupid. They quickly understood the meaning of Zero's words, but it was one thing to understand, and another to believe, "Wait, do you think Roland is planning to attack Herme?" St. City?"

"It's not my opinion, it's the conclusion drawn by the intelligence agencies, and His Holiness the Pope also agrees with this speculation - the victory of the royal capital has made him confident, thinking that the Holy City of Hermes is also vulnerable, and will make this decision It's not difficult to understand. It is true that his snow powder weapon is far stronger than Timothy, but we are not unprepared. That's why Your Majesty will allow the Church personnel in Graycastle to evacuate temporarily," Zero spread her hands, "I'm ready Those who are openly against us, the nobles can't stop him from sweeping up churches everywhere."

"He's... crazy!" Solly whispered.

"The Wimbledon family are all lunatics," Al swallowed. "Garcia is like that, and so is Roland."

"This news is of great importance, we should confirm it further," Teflon pondered for a moment, "Should I ask the Purists under my command to go to Cold Wind Ridge to investigate?"

"That's not necessary," Zero vetoed, "We will attack Graycastle sooner or later, so it will be easier for him to concentrate his troops, so that we don't have to attack city by city like Wolfheart—just defeat the Fourth Prince , the war is over." She looked at Teflon, "How long will it take us to complete the material preparations?"

The old bishop said solemnly, "About two weeks."

"What if we send an advance army of about a thousand people? Then add three hundred God's Punishment Army."

"A team of this size can start tomorrow."

"Very good," Zero said, standing up, "Instead of waiting for Roland to trouble us, why don't we use Cold Wind Ridge first. Isn't he collecting food there? Maybe he can compensate us for the loss of the God Stone. Solly Dahl, you will be in charge of this advance army, and we will take Coldwind Ridge within three days."

She didn't get an immediate answer, however.

The three hesitated for a moment, and Teflon asked, "Is this what you mean, or what His Majesty Mayne meant?"

"..." Zero suddenly felt a wave of anger welling up in her heart. She is the successor recognized by O'Brien and the continuation of the federation's orthodoxy among these idiots. How dare a mortal question herself? She suppressed her anger, pretended to be nonchalant and said with a smile, "Of course it is the decision of the Pope. If you have any questions, you can ask him in person, but the affairs of the secretariat are very heavy, so there is nothing special. It is best not to interfere with His Majesty's work."

"Yes, follow the holy will." The three bishops stroked their chests. 17-02-23 11:40:10