YM778.TV Chapter 243 - 243 Ravenwood
The leader of Blackwater Province had dared to seize the Thorn Throne and defy the bronze crown, eliminating the royal faction in the Rose Palace and even taking control of the Church in Blackwater Province, ignoring the Astral Council’s blockade. It seemed as if he was trying to completely escape the control of the empire’s three titans.
If it weren’t for the empire’s focus on mobilizing for the Ava State expedition, they would have already sent their army to flatten Blackwater Province for their disobedience.
This was common knowledge among the citizens of the empire.
So when they heard that the new regime in Blackwater Province had teamed up with Ava State, they saw it as pure insanity.
In their eyes, the Blackwater folks were committing treason by aligning with their enemy neighbors during such a crucial time, especially considering their previous actions had barely been considered an internal conflict.
The well-informed citizens of Platinum City eagerly anticipated the empire’s invincible legion crossing the borders and defeating the arrogant Blackwater barbarians, who still practiced their primitive ancestor’s worship and vices. They longed for the return of the land filled with undead and curses to the empire’s rule, even if most of them had no desire to visit the damp and gloomy place themselves.
“So, what’s the Riel Empire’s royal family thinking? I can’t shake the feeling that those two legions at the Blackwater Swamp’s border are still there, ready to invade from the south at any moment.”
A luxurious carriage, pulled by four unicorns, was racing down Duke’s Avenue, a road known for its rough terrain due to lack of maintenance. Ordinarily, the rough road and the unicorn’s supercar-level speed would make for a bone-shaking ride.
But this was no ordinary carriage, and the person inside was far from ordinary.
Silver runes, swirling with the air, surrounded the carriage’s undercarriage and tires, providing stability with their Storm spells and ensuring a smooth, comfortable ride for the two passengers inside.
William rested his head against the window and watched the passing landscape. He replied slowly, “There’s a good chance it won’t happen. The upper echelons of the empire have a close connection to the Moon Realm, so everyone in their inner circle should know about my return. They won’t dare attack the Blackwater Swamp for now.”
“Otherwise, after the Moon Realm’s failed attempt to merge with the Blackwater Swamp, there’s no reason for the two legions stationed at the border to keep letting their weapons rust,” he added.
“Is this good news?” Nizemar asked, sitting upright like a student in front of William.
“Not exactly. Did you not notice the influence of the Moon Realm on the Blackwater Swamp lately? My guess is that they’re planning to use the Void Sovereigns’ authority to weaken the loyalty of those under my command and create chaos in my kingdom. Only then will they move on to the next phase of their plan,” William replied.
“But even if you’re the only one in the Blackwater Swamp to face them, their weal legion isn’t a threat,” Nizemar immediately said.
William’s smile was laced with bitterness as he replied, “You’re exaggerating. The other party’s generals aren’t fools. They wouldn’t be stupid enough to gather their troops on the plains and let me easily use large-scale spells to bombard them to my heart’s content. With the military strength of the Blackwater Swamp barely able to handle the descent of Lunar Monsters, as long as the empire’s legion breaks up into hundreds or thousands of platoons with Transcendent power users at the core and constantly harassing towns and villages, cutting off the supply routes of the major cities, it’s enough to collapse the weak Blackwater Swamp government.”
This tactic was first used by the Doomsday Watchers. When William studied history, he learned that the Riel Empire employed this tactic to thrive 800 years ago.
They had used this to flourish. There was no reason why they wouldn’t use it now.
If the other party could completely turn the people against the Blackwater Swamp government through encirclement, blockade, and Moon Realm corruption, the empire would launch a large-scale attack when Vincent’s military collapsed. Even with William’s power, he couldn’t put out the fires that would burn everywhere in the territory alone.
On the other hand, the other party would rather give William more time to find a solution while they focused on conquering Ava State and gaining control over the Eighth Holy Spirit’s manifestation. This showed that the other party still feared William when it came to competing for the Eighth Holy Spirit.
At the very least, the other party didn’t dare label William as a fake Holy Spirit and try to steal the initiative in this propaganda war. This was clearly what the Church loved to do.
“We need new allies. We’re still too weak right now. Plus, we have to completely stop the other party’s expedition to Ava State,” William looked at the dense forest and explained.
“So, this is the goal of our trip to the Emerald Province? To try working with the Forest Elves?” Nizemar asked hesitantly.
William’s face took on a mysterious expression as he shook his head slightly.
“This is just one of our goals.”
The truth was, the idea of visiting the Emerald Province had been brought up during the first meeting with Remides and the others, after Ava State formed an alliance with the Doomsday Watchers.
At first, William’s suggestion to go to the Emerald Province had a simple reason behind it.
William learned from Remides that the World Tree, a holy tree in Ravenwood Forest, had regained its strength in the past 1,000 years. This tree, which held extremely powerful vitality, could help him completely heal the wound caused by the Lady of Starvation.
William also hoped to visit the Sealing Temples in Emerald Province and find the clergymen there to retrieve the Holy Spirit Discs they had preserved. He had experience fighting the Moon Realm Legion alone, so he didn’t mind using this as a trump card.
That’s why William brought Nizemar along. As an elite executor of the former Eighth Order, she knew the locations of the Sealing Temples very well.
As the group delved deeper into the conversation, it became clear that William’s impulsive plan to visit Emerald Province was highly regarded by all present. Ideas were tossed around, brainstorming ways in which this trip could be utilized to address pressing issues and seize opportunities.
For instance, the growing blight crisis in Blackwater Swamp could potentially be alleviated through William’s negotiations with locals in Ravenwood, reopening trade routes between the two regions and potentially exchanging Thorn City ores for food from Emerald Province.
Additionally, the empire’s expeditionary army was currently gathering at two ports in Emerald Province. After William recovered from his injuries, he could potentially visit the garrison and bring some much-needed surprise.
Furthermore, the Holy Tree Duke, ruler of Emerald Province, was facing heavy taxation from the empire’s royal family. William could assess the ambition and character of this leader, potentially finding an ally in the resistance against the empire’s tyranny.
In summary, William’s suggestion to visit Emerald Province sparked a discussion on the numerous ways in which this trip could be utilized for the benefit of all involved.
William couldn’t shake the feeling that he had become the boss back at work he despised most. All he had to do was present a plan and his subordinates would eagerly try to prove its feasibility.
He remained silent for the rest of the meeting, sitting in his chair with a rigid, enigmatic smile.
“But… Presiding Judge, is it really wise to consider the Forest Elves as allies?” Nizemar asked hesitantly. “I’ve heard they even eat the raw flesh and blood of their own kind and tattoo the souls of their victims onto their bodies.”
William was shocked. Then he chuckled and shook his head.
“It’s been over a thousand years and yet this misunderstanding persists…”
“Misunderstanding?” Nizemar asked in confusion.
William struggled to contain his laughter as he replied, “Yes, a misunderstanding. Trust me, there isn’t a species in this world that values peace more than the Forest Elves.”