Chapter 682

Chapter 682: The Heavenly Revelation Fortress

On the Western Continent, in the Crimson Empire (formerly the Verdant Empire).

From the Cold Leaf Territory in the north to the Seawatch Territory in the south, countless cities and towns across the empire displayed the crimson notices. Officers bearing banners traveled through various fiefdoms, urging local preparations for the war effort.

Since the beginning of the year, the imperial officials had been conveying the emperor’s orders throughout the provinces and fiefdoms, rallying public opinion. They told the impoverished people that war was the only way to change their fate and gain everything they desired—land, wealth, peerage, women, and more. War was not just for the empire but for each individual. As subjects of the empire, they should use swords to carve out the land they needed and fulfill the unfinished grand endeavors of the past.

Thus, the entire nation gradually fell into a fervent atmosphere, even with a few dissenting voices, they were quickly drowned out by the masses.

“You arrogant nobles, do you think this will stop us? Do you think you can always hold onto your wealth and status!”

“I want to tell you, it’s impossible, absolutely a pipe dream,” a man dressed in tattered clothes stood atop a wooden crate, shouting loudly at the luxurious mansion before him. Below him were crowds of similarly poorly dressed commoners who cheered and echoed his words, occasionally hurling insults and spitting at the mansions of the wealthy.

“We will use swords, guns, and blood to get what we want, not like you cowards hiding behind high walls, trembling in fear, hahaha!” he laughed wildly, and laughter echoed from below.

“Well said.”

“Let the nobles see this, hahaha!”

These people linked arms, looking at the tightly shut gates of the noble residence, their expressions of joy and satisfaction were unmistakable.

On the third floor of the mansion, behind a curtain-covered glass window, an 18-year-old girl peeked through the slit in the curtain, watching the crowd of bare-chested, ragged individuals below. She shrank back, pulling the curtain closed.

She stepped back and turned to her mother, timidly asking, “Mommy, these people seem so dangerous. Why don’t the guards drive them away?”

The noblewoman, wearing glasses and flipping through a fashion magazine by the fireplace, looked up at her daughter and said, “Let them be. In a few days, they will be sent to the front lines, and then it will be quiet.”

“Really?”

“Mm-hm, your father came home from the council yesterday, and I heard him say that we need to endure for now. After all, Emperor needs these peasants to expand our territory.”

“But, aren’t wars usually fought by knights? I’ve always seen heroes leading the charge in stories.”

The noble girl in the light purple floral dress sat down next to her mother.

“Child, times have changed,” her mother stroked her golden hair.

“Now, muskets are much more powerful. And there are too many peasants; using war to thin their numbers is a good thing. They won’t cause as much trouble.”

“The Royal Academy where your brother studies is now teaching tactics for using muskets. It’s said some teachers there are former officers who experienced the Cold Star Conflict.”

“Are they from Clancia? I heard they are very formidable.”

All of them are handsome,” the girl’s eyes were filled with curiosity.

“No, they are officers from the Frost Union. Although they have failed, quite a few of these officers are excellent. They also brought the technology related to musketeers to the Empire,” the mother explained while shaking her head.

“His Majesty the Emperor values these officers and mages greatly, and has even allocated special funds to establish schools and factories to train officers and produce musketeers.”

“Are musketeers really that powerful? I heard from my classmates that an elf can easily shoot down a group of musketeers with their bow,” the young lady recalled what she had seen at school; those elves indeed seemed formidable.

“I don’t know about that. Perhaps there aren’t enough elves. Besides, those long-eared beings in the forest are ultimately not our own people,” the mother flipped through the pages of a book.

“But don’t you like the attire and decorations of the elves?” the daughter looked at the colorful magazine in her mother’s hands. Such things were not cheap; one would cost an extraordinary gold coin, and the clothes and styles featured in the magazine had many elven influences.

“I like clothes, but not the people themselves. It’s like how you love your pure white cat. If one day it ate from your plate at the same table, wouldn’t it feel strange?”

“Hmm, if it were a cat, as long as it doesn’t eat from my plate, I wouldn’t mind so much,” the young lady hesitated for a moment before answering.

“But what about your brother’s black dog?”

“Absolutely not. It’s too ugly, and I don’t want to eat with it.”

“Haha, so you see, they are different. They are pets, and we are humans.”

The mother smiled and gently patted her daughter’s head. Such thoughts and trends were now very popular among the upper echelons of the Empire. The citizens of the Empire were noble, and humans were great. While elves were beautiful, they were ultimately outsiders from the old era and could not be compared to humans.

—

Clancia, the Heavenly Awakening Fortress.

Under the azure sky, a golden plain stretched out, with stacks of hay from harvested wheat forming small blocks across the vast landscape.

On this flat and expansive land, a tall and majestic fortress stood, cutting off the passage between the mountains and the sea.

On the evening of the fortress, bricks still retained the warmth of the sun, and soldiers in armor stood straight on the city walls, gazing eastward. The flag of the golden morning star fluttered at the top of the tower, proclaiming the ownership of the fortress.

Since the victory over the Frost Union, the Heavenly Awakening Fortress had also surrendered to Clancia. Currently, around 200,000 troops were stationed here to monitor the fearsome empire to the east.

From the high tower of the fortress, a general wearing heavy armor looked down at the golden plain below.

“Has all the grain on the golden plain been harvested?” The general’s voice was somewhat hoarse.

“It has been completed. At present, various caravans are continuously transporting it back to the fortress,” replied the adjutant, flipping through a booklet containing recent reports.

“Any new news from Cangcui?”

“Reporting to the general, the new recruits trained by Cangcui are heading south in their first batch. After arriving at Duke Basca’s territory, they are expected to rest for some time.”

“So, they will launch an offensive next spring,” the general analyzed in a solemn tone.

“But at this time, the internal mobilization of the Empire is not yet complete. Many local nobles are obstructing it, as the conscription by the Empire reduces the available labor force for them.”

“No, you don’t understand the那位

The emperor’s character was such that he wasn’t one for dilly-dallying. Given his nature, he wouldn’t wait until everything was perfectly aligned before taking action. Coughing slightly, the general shook his head and coughed a few more times. Beside him, another officer quickly handed him some water.

After drinking and clearing his throat, he continued, “With just a minor victory, that emperor will make grand announcements domestically, setting up exemplary figures to stir the desires of the lower classes. By riding on public opinion, he will sweep away the nobles who obstruct conscription and the initiation of war.”

“Many small nobles will also covet the immense benefits gained through war and join in, thus achieving his goal.”

“Given the empire’s vast territory and population, they can mobilize far more soldiers and resources than us. Once fully operational, they will become a bloodthirsty, terrifying lion. Therefore, we must be wary.”

Just as several people were discussing, hurried footsteps echoed from the stairwell nearby, drawing closer, and the sound of metal armor could be clearly heard.

“Reporting to Lord Segar, there is a message from Solander,” a精锐 soldier of the War Sequence 4 stood at attention and reported loudly.

“Bring it over.”

“Yes!” The adjutant took the tightly sealed letter, quickly deciphered the cipher, and then handed both the translated text and the original to General Segar.

Segar looked at the paper for a long while before passing it to someone beside him.

“This letter from Lord Pullman tells us that ten thousand iron cavalry of the Falcon will soon arrive to reinforce the fortress.”

“The Falcon sent troops at this time?” The gathered officers exchanged glances and began discussing.

“Six years ago, during our war with the Frost Rose, the Falcon stood on the opposite side.”

“Although they withdrew in time, whether they can be trusted remains uncertain.”

“Moreover, the current rulers of the Falcon are still those from before.”

“Because we changed sides in time, we had no good reason to purge the old rulers later.”

“Cough, cough. You can discuss here, but don’t speak out there. It goes against the teachings of the Sage,” an officer pretended to cough as a reminder.

“Of course, we understand. After all, we are compatriots of the Seven Snow Nations and should maintain friendship,” the other generals replied, though their expressions suggested they regretted the lost opportunity.

“Recently, the Holy Land has sent many people to the Falcon. It is said that even the Scepter Priests of the Star轨道 Palace have gone.”

“What are they doing there?” An officer asked curiously.

“Within the Church, there are now many followers of Prince Lolan Hill. Some even directly call for him to be venerated as the Archangel of Faith. The Scepter Priest of the Star轨道 Palace is the leader of these followers.”

“He has collected various sayings from His Highness in the past and compiled them into scriptures, which are being spread within the Church. There are also many ruins and traditions among the Winged Tribe in the Falcon Kingdom, suggesting that His Highness is the Primordial Angel depicted in the ancient murals.”

“If he successfully proves that they are the same person and this scripture is recognized as an official doctrine by the Church, then His Highness will be canonized and become the primary faith of the Church.”

“In that case, the various races within Clancia will be highly united. All parties will have a shared and recognized faith.”

“That would be Crimson Flame Songstress, Sage of Stars and Miracles, Wind Archangel of Beginnings and Endings, Prince Lolan Hill.”

(End of Chapter)