After the transmission magic circles became dim, Hathaway's usual indifferent voice was mixed with certain complicated feelings as she muttered: "Elements Resolve."
Crack, crack, crack, crack. The ma.s.sive transmission magic circles that had been seriously damaged under Eternal Blaze were disintegrated into elements, sinking or dispersing, never to be restored.
The facility that supported the South Church's reign was finally gone, marking that the South Church's influence has left the four countries of the straight and the north coastline.
"What a shame. If it weren't for the bliss…" Oliver felt regretful that the result could've been better.
Atlant was barely helpful because illusions and curses that he was good at were useless under 'Eternal Blaze'. However, he couldn't have looked more at ease. Closing his eyes, he smiled, "Oliver, greed is a flaw that other people will make use of. We have secured the control of this side of the Storm Strait without losing any of the seventeen legendary sorcerers, and our strength has been significantly increased after the six legendary knights join us. Are you still dissatisfied?"
His words were not ungrounded, because 'Master of Transformation' Erica, 'Monarch of Fate' Hull-Chulia, 'Lord of the Undead' Vicente, and 'Hammer of the Void' Bedrenka had all returned. 'Night Walker' had approached, too.
As a result, the legendary forces at the Congress' disposal amounted to twenty-three, outnumbering the Dark Congress which had nineteen legendary experts. Also, it was much more united than other forces. Even when it only had eighteen legends, it was considered to be an organization better than the Dark Congress, because vampires and werewolves hated each other's guts, and the ancient dragons were too proud to bother any species other than vampires.
In the meantime, the North Church only had fifteen legends, and only the pontiff was at the peak of legendary. It was weaker than the Congress of Magic, but there were another twelve legendary knights in the northern kingdoms and duchies. All in all, it was stronger than the Congress of Magic in the past, but because of their lack of experts at the peak of legendary, they were not as good as the Congress now.
Therefore, the Congress of Magic became the well-deserved second most powerful force.
Before Oliver replied, he saw 'Innovator' Davey return with a legion of Golems. He was a slim, sluggish 'young man' that was only enthusiastic when he saw the gadgets he created.
In a bitter smile, Davey said, "Stone escaped."
Then he added, "I was too shocked by the pope's demise. He ran before I came back to myself. Half of the Knights of Grail were controlled by me."
"The Knights of Grail will be transferred to Natasha as per our promise. She'll ask Richard to transform them into royal knights. If they refuse, then…" Douglas had little mercy for the enemy. He turned to the other side, "Oliver, you will hunt Stone with Davey. He may be too far away to be caught now, but you can still add to his pressure so that he doesn't sabotage everything on his way."
"Understood." Oliver was regretting that he did not kill a Grand Cardinal in person just now. Excited, he left with Davey.
The sky of Rentato became quiet, as if G.o.d's Arrival and Eternal Blaze just now were only illusions.
Douglas sighed in relief and broke the silence. "I estimated that we would lose one or two legends in the operation, but we have to thank Sard. If he hadn't consumed Benedict II's first G.o.d's Arrival, 'Silver Moon' and 'Abyss' would've waited for us to do so."
"Even though the Dark Congress might not succeed, the Church had lost Anthony, Augusta, Sard and Beaver. After Anasta became the new pope, it remains to be seen if the other three saint cardinals would return to the Holy City. The South Church has suffered heavy losses."
"I hereby announce that Project Mushroom Cloud has succeeded!"
The postwar silence was dispelled by Douglas' announcement. For the sorcerers, it meant that they were no longer worried about the night watchers and the enemy next to their headquarters.
Seeing that the atmosphere was enlivened, Douglas chuckled, "Hathaway, ask the sorcerers in the Holm branch to help Richard include them into the new church. Later, we can study the divine powers with the Holmish Church."
Hathaway nodded and reminded the sorcerers through ancient messaging methods, because the electromagnetic environment was still rather disordered.
Then, Douglas looked at Vicente, Holt, Erica, Atlant, h.e.l.len and Hull-Chulia and said, "Fernando and I tolerated the Hand of Paleness, the Will of Elements, the Moonsong League, the Family of Sorcerers and Cabin of Palmeira within the Congress exactly because we hoped for today to come. Your infiltration in your respective countries was successful. I hope that you can defend your territory in the future and do not let the Church or other enemies get things their way."
"My only requirement is that the chair and the vice-chair of the branches must be appointed by the Highest Council."
Douglas proposed the requirement after the triumph while acknowledging the few organizations. Therefore, Vicente and other legendary sorcerers did not object. They were the members of the Highest Council themselves, too.
"Atlant and I will take turns to watch over the Duchy of Calais." Erica expressed her att.i.tude first, followed by other legendary sorcerers. They divided different areas, like 'parishes' in the past.
At this moment, 'Night Walker' Winston received a message from the n.o.bles. Knowing their choice, he said with a smile, "Holm is the safest place. I can foresee that my job will be easy."
In the new situation, the tradition that sorcerers could not enter the Nekso Palace was naturally abandoned. As a result, Hathaway and Davey could take care of the defense of the Nekso Palace while watching over the Will of Elements and the royal magic tower of Holm.
After the brief meeting, Hathaway and Winston reached the Parliament of n.o.bles, because certain things were still unresolved.
Sheathing the Sword of Truth, Natasha looked at Winston and said, "Mr. Winston, where is Mr. Kritonia?"
"He refused to cooperate with the Congress and escaped from Rentato." Admitted Winston honestly.
Duke Kritonia's face immediately became pale, but he also felt lucky that his ancestor at least did not die.
Natasha turned around and looked at the n.o.bles. "Now, I request a trial on a murder case targeting Patrick, the former prince."
Most n.o.bles looked at her, stunned, not knowing what happened. Duke James was rather worried. Was it finally coming? But Kritonia was still alive!
With the test reports in her hands, Natasha said, "This is the flesh from my uncle Patrick. According to the examination of his cells, the age of his death was at least two years older than his actual age. So, I have reason to believe that Prince Patrick was murdered by accelerated time!"
The murderer was obvious between her lines. Duke Kritonia shook his head in panic, "I don't know anything. I really don't."
Natasha looked at Duke Rex instead of him. "Three people witnessed everything in the Nekso Palace. One was Sard, one was Kritonia, and the last was you, Duke Rex. So, I propose that Duke Rex is to cooperate with the sorcerers and the clerics in their investigation."
With a bitter smile, Rex shook his head. "That's unnecessary. I admit that Kritonia did that under the late king's command. I was an eyewitness and the perjurer."
"What? My grandfather?" Natasha found it more or less unacceptable.
The other n.o.bles looked the same.
Duke Rex smiled miserably, "The late king had always wanted to rejoin the embrace of the Saint Truth. The prince and him were…"
He did not go on but sighed, "As a n.o.ble, I've been suffering because I didn't do anything when my liege was murdered. I feel relieved after the confession. I will answer for my mistake with my death. Your Majesty, I hope that you lead Holm to prosperity."
Before the two legends could do anything, Duke Rex's eyes lost colors, and he collapsed on his seat.
Natasha slightly sighed. "Duke Rex's crime is not severe, and he has answered for it. So, the punishment for the Frenburg family is that their t.i.tle will be lowered to count from duke. Is there any objection?"
Rex had already died, and the punishment was not severe. Therefore, both the liberals and the conservatives agreed with it and pa.s.sed the proposition.
In the next, Natasha looked at Duke Kritonia and said, "There is enough evidence that proves Kritonia's involvement in the murder. Is there anything you want to say?"
Duke Kritonia swallowed and struggled to say, "He did it on his own. I knew nothing. n.o.body in the family did."
The other n.o.bles suddenly grew anxious, fearing that Kritonia would be on a rampage if the queen was too radical, in which case both she and her friends and subjects would be in great danger.
Natasha smiled, "According to the law, Kritonia will be hanged, all the t.i.tles of the Kritonia family will be removed, the fiefs and properties will be recalled, and the main family members will be imprisoned for ten years. What do you think?"
She did not propose an exile, because it would only make them reunite with Kritonia in the northland.
It was the fairest judgment that raised no objection. The only problem that was Kritonia, the culprit, hadn't been captured yet.
Natasha drew the Sword of Truth and declared: "I will execute Kritonia in person!"
It was a goal she set for herself in front of overwhelming strength.
She could've been more rigorous about the Kritonia family, but she understood that she had a father, a partner and a family. Also, as a knight, she did not believe in guilt by a.s.sociation.
At this moment, Richard walked in and said to Natasha, "Your Majesty, cardinals and bishops have been sent to other cities of the realm to gather the clerics. Here are a few bills that I want the parliament to pa.s.s. After all, the new church will be highly integrated with the n.o.bles."
"Copy the files and show them to the n.o.bles." Natasha nodded.
After receiving the files, the n.o.bles browsed through them and discovered that they were ent.i.tled to a lot of religious rights. Therefore, they pa.s.sed it without much hesitation. Duke Solefen, the new president of the parliament, announced it for them:
"… The queen, our sovereign lord, her heirs and successors, kings of this realm, shall be taken, accepted, and reputed the only supreme head on earth of the Church of Holm; and shall have and enjoy, annexed and united to the imperial crown of this realm, as well the t.i.tle and style thereof, as all honors, dignities, prominences, jurisdictions, privileges, authorities, immunities, profits, and commodities to the said dignity of the supreme head of the same Church belonging and appertaining!"
…
After everything was over, rarely-seen fatigue and sorrow appeared on Natasha's face. It was an unacceptably cruel thing that her grandfather ordered to kill her uncle.
As she walked out of the Parliament of n.o.bles, Natasha blinked her eyes when she saw the handsome man who was wearing a double-breasted suit. She walked to his front in a hurry and hugged him gently despite the surprised n.o.bles behind her, dissolving her negative feelings with his warmth. Then, she joked in a low voice: "From today on, those who do slanderously and maliciously publish and p.r.o.nounce that the queen should be heretic or question the legitimacy of her marriage will be guilty of high treason."
......
On the opposite side of the Stuart, in Stuart, where part of the low-rank clerics gathered, the intense stink of sulfur spread out.
A fuzzy shadow looked at Holm and shook its head. "This monster…"
Since the Angel King used his ident.i.ty as his cover, he could also develop under the Angel King's name and give a warning to the guys of the Congress of Magic.Quoted from Henry VIII 's Act of Supremacy (1534)
