Volume 4: The End of the World Chapter 1 Ravenwood
Although the news of the alliance between Ava and the new regime of Blackwater Province was not widely publicized, it soon spread throughout the empire, and lords from all over the country were shocked at the audacity of the current leader of Blackwater Province.
After usurping the Throne of Thorns recognized by the Platinum Palace, that man not only did not submit to the wearer of the Bronze Crown, but instead directly wiped out the royal faction within the Rose Palace, and took over the church in the Blackwater Province, ignoring the blockade of the Star Council... He seemed to be determined to completely break away from the control of the three giants of the empire.
If the Empire had not been fully mobilizing for the expedition to Ava Continent, the new regime in Blackwater Province would have been crushed by the Empire's legions long ago if such a rebellious act had not been taken...
This is the perception of the vast majority of the imperial citizenry.
Therefore, after hearing that the new regime in Blackwater Province had formed an alliance with Ava State, their first reaction was that these Blackwater people were really crazy.
If the previous actions could barely be considered as internal conflicts within the empire, then at this critical juncture when the war was imminent, the act of directly declaring an alliance with an opposing neighboring country could be said to be blatant treason.
The "well-informed" citizens in the streets and alleys of Platinum City all look forward to the Empire 's invincible army crossing the border of Blackwater Province, defeating the arrogant Blackwater barbarians who still maintain the primitive habit of ancestor worship, and returning the land filled with undead and curses to the rule of the Empire.
Even though most of them don't want to, can't or won't go to that damp and gloomy place in their lifetime.
"So what exactly is the Royal Family of the Riel Empire thinking? I remember that the two legions on the border of the Blackwater Swamp have not withdrawn yet. Will they not invade directly to the south?"
The gorgeous carriage pulled by four unicorns was running on the official road leading to Jade Province. This official road, called Duke Avenue, had become extremely rugged due to years of lack of maintenance. Coupled with the unicorns' supercar-like running speed, if this was just an ordinary carriage, the people sitting in the carriage would probably have their internal organs shaken out.
But it was obvious that this was not an ordinary carriage. Or rather, the people sitting in the carriage were not ordinary people.
Silver runes with swirling air currents floated on the floor and tires of the carriage. Under the stabilization of the storm spell, the two people sitting in the carriage could not even feel any noticeable vibrations.
Hearing the question raised by the woman in hunting clothes beside him, William, who was leaning his head against the window and looking at the receding scenery outside the window, slowly answered:
"It's highly unlikely... Considering the close connection between the top leaders of the empire and the Moon Realm, at least within their core ruling circles, the news of my return should be known to everyone. So, at least in the short term, they will not dare to directly attack the Blackwater Swamp."
Otherwise, after the Moon Realm's attempt to merge with the Blackwater Swamp failed, the two legions stationed at the border of the Empire would have no reason to continue letting their weapons rust there.
"So this is good news?"
Nezemar, who had been sitting upright like a student in front of William, asked.
"Not exactly. Haven't you noticed that the Blackwater Swamp has been increasingly affected by the Moon Realm recently? I guess that instead of attacking directly with force, they plan to use the power of the Void King to weaken the resistance forces under my command and cause chaos in the country I rule. Only then will they proceed with their next plan."
William replied.
"But even if you are the only one going out to fight in the Blackwater Swamp, their fragile army is nothing to be afraid of."
Nezemar said immediately.
In response, William smiled bitterly and said:
"You are exaggerating. The enemy generals are not fools. They would not be so stupid as to gather their troops on the plains and let me blow them up with large-scale spells. With the current military strength of the Blackwater Swamp, which is already stretched to its limits to deal with the arrival of the Moon Realm monsters, the Empire's legions only need to split the troops into hundreds or thousands of teams with users of extraordinary powers as the core, constantly harass towns and villages, and cut off the supply routes of major cities. This is enough to drag down the current fragile Blackwater Swamp government."
In fact, this tactic was first invented by the End Watcher. When William was reading history books, he found that the Riel Empire more than 800 years ago became prosperous by relying on this tactic.
They made their fortune from this, there's no reason why they wouldn't use it now.
If the enemy can really make the current Blackwater Swamp government completely lose the support of the people through containment, blockade and lunar pollution, then the moment Vincent's military forces collapse, the Empire will launch a massive attack. By then, even if William's personal strength is strong, he alone will not be able to extinguish the flames that have been ignited everywhere in the country.
On the other hand, the other party would rather give themselves more time to find a breakthrough, and give priority to the expedition plan of Ava Continent, so as to obtain the right to interpret the Eighth Holy Spirit Apparition. This shows that the other party is still very afraid of William in the issue of competing for the ownership of the Eighth Holy Spirit.
At the very least, the other party did not dare to label William as a fake Holy Spirit and seize the initiative in this propaganda war - this was obviously what the church loved to do most in the past.
"Our current strength is still too weak. So we need new allies and must completely interrupt the other party's plan to invade Ava Continent."
Looking at the woods that were gradually growing denser around him, William continued to explain.
"So... this is the purpose of your trip to the Jade Province? To try to cooperate with those forest elves?"
After hearing William's words, Nazemar asked hesitantly.
William showed a mysterious expression on his face when he heard this, and shook his head slightly:
“That’s just one of the purposes.”
In fact, the matter of going to the Emerald Province was the result of discussion between William, Remedios and others at the first meeting after William, on behalf of the new End Watchers, established an alliance with Ava Continent.
At the beginning, the reason why William proposed to go to the Jade Province in person was very simple.
One reason was that William had learned from Remedios that the sacred tree in Ravenwood Forest, the World Tree, had regained its vitality in the past thousand years. This sacred tree, which contained an extremely powerful vitality, could help him completely heal the wounds caused by the Hungry Lady.
The second reason is that William hopes to visit the sealed temples in the Jade Province and ask the priests there to take back the Holy Spirit Discs they have kept. After all, according to his previous experience of fighting the Moon Realm Demon Army alone, this thing is really not too much as a trump card.
This is also the reason why William brought Nezemar with him on this trip - as a former elite executor of the Eighth Order, she is very familiar with the locations of the sealed temples in various places.
However, in subsequent discussions, this plan proposed by William on a whim was highly valued by all parties, and everyone kept looking for things that could be accomplished during this trip to the Emerald Province.
For example, in order to solve the increasingly severe blight crisis in the Blackwater Swamp, William can negotiate with the locals through this trip to Ravenwood, reopen trade channels between the two regions, and export the ore from Thornthorn City in exchange for food from Emerald Province.
For example, the Empire's expeditionary forces are currently gathering at two ports in the Emerald Province. After William recovers from his injuries, he might be able to visit them directly and bring some surprises to the garrison there.
For example , as the Emerald Province was also oppressed by the heavy taxes of the Imperial family, William could try to test the character and ambitions of its ruler, the Duke of the Holy Tree. Maybe he could find an ally who was also willing to resist the tyranny of the Empire.
In short, after William casually suggested that he wanted to go to the Jade Province, the second half of the meeting turned into a discussion on what could be done in the Jade Province.
A strange atmosphere made William feel as if he had become the company leader he hated the most in the past. He only needed to mention a plan casually, and his subordinates would prove why the plan was feasible.
This feeling made William dare not say another word. During the second half of the meeting, he just sat in the conference host's seat with a stiff and mysterious smile on his face.
"But Saint... Lord Judge, is it really a good idea to try to accept a terrifying race like the forest elves as an ally?"
After hesitating for a long time, Nazemare couldn't help but ask.
"I heard that forest elves even eat the flesh and blood of their own kind, and make tattoos out of people's souls and engrave them on their bodies."
When William heard this, he was stunned for a moment, then smiled and shook his head.
"It's been over a thousand years, I didn't expect this misunderstanding is still so popular..."
"misunderstanding?"
Nezemar asked doubtfully.
"Yes, misunderstanding. Believe me, there is no other race in this world that loves peace more than the forest elves."
William answered while holding back his laughter, as if he had thought of something funny.
