Volume 4: The End of the World Chapter 55: Envoy
“ Do you have any questions about this motion?”
"Yes, I need you to explain what you mean by 'the next phase of military operations in Ava requires the full support of Holy Tree City'? Because if I understand correctly, the Senate means that we are not fully supporting the expedition to Ava right now."
Looking at the envoy who was holding the scroll with the emblem of the Imperial Senate in front of him, Floro, who was sitting on the withered throne, added just the right amount of dissatisfaction to her tone.
As she spoke, she raised her hand to stop the clerk who was about to walk over to take the scroll, and looked at these uninvited guests with sharp eyes.
About five minutes ago, less than ten minutes after Floro and her companions returned from the underground roots, the emergency teleportation array between Platinum City and Holy Tree City was activated. An envoy carrying the will of the Senate went directly to the main hall of the Bone White House and read out a motion that the Senate had just passed to Floro, the supreme leader of the Emerald Province.
Also accompanying as witnesses were an archbishop of the Holy Spirit Church and a member of the Upper House of the Star Parliament - such a high-level lineup was enough to show the importance the Senate attached to this motion.
The motion was read out with a bureaucratic verbosity, but by the end, its purpose was clear...
"You should know what the Senate means, Your Highness Flora."
The envoy said this with his head held high, still holding the scroll horizontally, waiting for the other party to take it - in the culture of the empire, taking it means acceptance.
"What I mean is that now that I have opened the two major ports of Swan Harbor and Greenwater Harbor to you, and at the same time maintain the operation of two large portals and be responsible for the supply lines of the three legions of the empire, I am not doing my best. Then I am a little curious, what attitude does the Senate hope I can show to support the legions?"
In response to this, Flora, who was sitting on the throne, continued to answer in a dissatisfied tone.
Hearing the other party's obvious attitude , the envoy slowly took back the scroll with the golden seal of the Senate in his hand, carefully put it in his arms, and then resisted the urge to look back.
He heard the snorting of the two witnesses behind him - it was obvious that these two big men were dissatisfied with the attitude of the Duke of Holy Tree.
Isn't it obvious what the Imperial Senate wants? It has been stated in the previous motion - in order to reduce the border pressure in the direction of Blackwater Province, the Empire's Seventh Legion needs to be transferred back to the pass fortress in the Dragon Ridge Mountains to protect the security of Platinum Province.
But in this case, with the remaining two legions and the church's crusaders, the difficulty of conquering the entire Ava continent will increase dramatically.
At this time, as the Duke of the Holy Tree appointed by the Emperor of the Empire, isn't it obvious what Flora Kane should do?
Is it necessary to clearly state this in the motion before one is willing to fulfill one's responsibilities?
The envoy complained about the other party's political immaturity while reminding him:
"According to the latest intelligence we received, Ava has organized a large fleet. For some reason, the Shadow Queen seems to have regained control of the entire High Elf Council and is likely to take preemptive military action. Before the naval arrive, we need the Jade Province to fulfill the oath it made to the Eighth Holy Spirit and show its loyalty to the Empire."
This statement is very clear.
And Flora certainly understood what the other party meant - the situation in Blackwater Province had changed far beyond their expectations. In order to maintain the defense of Platinum Province, the Senate needed to redeploy the most powerful Seventh Legion back to protect the nobles and the royal family.
However, because the political propaganda of the previous expedition to Ava was too strong, Queen Irene had to launch the expedition even if she was unwilling now. Therefore, in order to fill the gap in combat power after the departure of the Seventh Legion, the Senate hoped that the Emerald Province could consider the overall situation and mobilize the army to participate in the expedition.
Although Flora could understand what the Senate meant, but...
Did the door get those guys' brains stuck in it? Let the forest elves organize an army?
Leaving Ravenwood Forest, the forest elves' army is at the bottom of the list in terms of combat power, morale, organization, and sustained combat capability. It can even be said that whether the organized forest elves can be called an army is still under discussion.
Thinking of this, Flora turned her gaze away from the envoy in front of her and looked at the two "witnesses" behind him, and said in a serious tone:
"As the Lord of the Emerald Province, I will of course follow the contract between me and the Eighth Holy Spirit and do my utmost to fight for the realization of her ideal world at all costs. Please do not question my loyalty on this point."
"ah……"
After hearing the unexpected answer from the Duke of Holy Tree, the envoy and the other two witnesses did not know how to respond for a moment.
After all, this was a bit too exaggerated. Even if he wanted to show his loyalty, it was too much. It sounded more like he was being sarcastic...
The Emerald Province was famous for its unique cultural beliefs. Even after Floro, the "heretical" Duke of the Holy Tree, came to power and began to promote the Empire's Holy Spirit Church beliefs in the country, most people thought that was just to exchange for the Empire's support, and did not think that she truly believed in those things.
Even within the upper echelons of the Holy Spirit Church, it is the consensus of most people to use the Holy Spirit only as a banner and a tool. Saints who have nothing but piety cannot climb to the top in the fierce power struggle.
It was just something I said casually as a slogan, why are you suddenly taking it so seriously?
After a moment of silence, the envoy said:
"So the Duke is willing to provide unlimited funds for the Empire's expedition..."
"I am willing to help... but you should also know that based on the cultural traditions of the forest elves, our... army will be greatly weakened once it leaves the territory of Ravenwood Forest. In fact, I believe that certain special cultural traditions will also have a significant impact on the morale of our allies."
It would not be an easy thing to join an expedition with a group of allies who have the tradition of eating corpses.
Upon hearing this, the envoy immediately explained:
"In the matter of attacking the mainland of Ava, considering the forest elves' advantage in fighting in the woods, the Empire does not need your army to directly participate in the sea crossing. But we need you to ensure that after the Seventh Legion leaves Green Water Port, you can take over the defense there . Be prepared for any surprise attack on Ava."
Flora frowned slightly when she heard this.
If that were all, there would be no need for the Senate to put pressure on me in such a way.
"Is that all?"
She asked suspiciously.
"Your army will not be required to participate in the landing operation, but after we capture their city, we may need the forest elves' army as a reserve to land on the island and be responsible for maintaining local law and order. The forest elves and the high elves have the same roots, and the Senate believes that this will reduce a lot of resistance."
"And what else?"
Flora continued to ask, her doubts becoming more intense.
To take over the captured High Elf city, they don't even need to participate in the landing operation. Floro doesn't believe that the Empire is here to do charity.
It was not until this time that the other party actually stated the purpose of his visit.
"Besides that, we need you, Duke, to take action against the Shadow Queen and hunt down Remedios Moonshadow."
So this was their purpose? Hoping for the forest elves to send out troops was just a cover, and what the Senate really wanted was for them help set a trap for a possible surprise attack by Remedios?
Floro looked at the Senate of the Star Council and the Archbishop of the Holy Spirit Church behind the envoy, and couldn't help but think.
Then how should I answer?
Should he pretend to agree to the other party and wait for the judge to return before telling him the information? Should he cooperate with the outside forces to directly defeat the empire's conspiracy?
Or should I refuse directly here to prove my loyalty to the Eighth Holy Spirit?
+Promise him+
Before Flora could figure out how to answer, a voice suddenly echoed in the depths of her soul.
That was the judge's voice.
+I want to understand why the Empire is so good at choosing the time+
