When the Saintess Arrives, No King Exist

Chapter 1360: Chapter 1278

"Has the apple fallen?"

While having hot pot and singing with the four Saintesses, Horn suddenly blurted out.

Beside him, Catherine immediately expressed her discontent: "Didn’t we agree, no talking about work during the New Year Festival?"

Horn just chuckled sheepishly: "I can’t help it, if things are unresolved, it always weighs on my mind."

It was the New Year Festival, even the Holy Seat Mansion, despite the war state, closed a day early.

The Saintesses, however, had been busy all day, taking shifts handling affairs, and only returned to the mountain villa in the evening.

The other citizens of the ry Court Barracks had finished dinner and gone out to play while they were just starting their hot meal.

Fortunately, it was quite simple, a hot pot that didn’t require much maneuvering.

They sat by the window of the mountain villa, and through the large floor-to-ceiling window was the distant street of the ry Court Barracks.

The New Year had arrived, the whole ry Court Barracks was brightly lit, every household had turned on their cheap fluorite lamps.

Previously when the ether supply was insufficient, the fluorite lamps would flicker, but at least tonight, that wouldn’t happen.

Beyond the dark central park, the brightly lit ry Court Barracks, like a neon galaxy, unfolded.

In public places like the Half Moon Theater and the Hero’s Great Cathedral, there were celebrations, plays, and the ry Court Barracks citizens’ favorite elder octagonal cage projects.

This year even introduced new contestants—the retired representatives of the Advisory Council.

They formed teams of four and used wooden shields and swords for octagonal cage melees.

Such a lively atmosphere, they promised not to talk about work, yet Horn couldn’t resist breaking the rule.

Jia Li, on the other hand, had no complaints, as she never separated work from life anyway.

Picking up a slice of lamb from the copper hot pot, Jia Li dipped it in dragon blood chili sauce, coating it thoroughly with the fiery red spicy sauce: "It’s all settled, Emmerick was very obedient."

Originally, Emmerick was quite disheartened, merely a titular leader in the Border Knight ledership.

His surrender, although preserving the Border Knights, caused the Border Knight Order to fall apart.

They were founded to resist vampires, and now surrendering to them, legal and cohesive force was lost.

What remained?

Nothing but greed and escape.

René targeted this opportunity, vigorously recruiting his own people within the Border Knights.

Clearly, this confused group of knights yearned for new hope, and the Holy Alliance had an abundance of hope.

Thus, within a year, Cheka developed very rapidly on the side of the Border Knight leadership.

Watching Jia Li heartily chewing on the dragon blood chili which most found intensely spicy, Horn couldn’t help but scratch his head.

When did Jia Li develop such a heavy taste?

"Brother, do you think this will really work?" Compared to Jia Li’s chili sauce, Jeanne was evidently more traditional, using sesame sauce.

"Yes and no." Horn poured a plate of thinly sliced bright red beef into the pot, "After all, there are too many surprises, no one can be sure."

In fact, it’s quite simple.

Lakunio, as a seasoned feudal warrior, places loyalty to his dynasty above all.

For the goal of reviving the dynasty, he would use any means, cast aside everything, even use the vampire army to restore the kingdom.

But the one thing he cannot tolerate is the issue of bloodline.

As a family-structured vertical identity recognition, bloodline is the greatest binding connection.

If there’s no need for bloodline, then what concept of "family" remains?

But, if the bloodline of the House of Plantagenet he strives for is actually from an unknown Ailard seed?

If Lakunio weren’t so devout, this move wouldn’t work.

Because in many vassals’ eyes, they don’t care who the lord is, they just want to be the lord’s vassal.

Clearly, Lakunio is not such a person, otherwise, he would’ve long drunk the blood to become a vampire.

"If this matter succeeds, maybe we could even convert Lakunio into one of our Cheka?" Catherine couldn’t resist joining in.

"I’m afraid not." Jia Li continued dipping the chili sauce, "Lakunio also sees us as enemies; he won’t follow Cheka’s orders, at most, he can only cooperate."

"A commander-level Cheka offline, tut tut." Catherine couldn’t help but fantasize.

Horn turned his chopsticks around and tapped her on the head: "Already fantasizing without any result yet?"

Catherine glared at him and immediately hugged his arm: "You dare hit me?"

Horn could only rub her head; truth be told, Catherine dressed in mature attire leaping like a little girl was endearing.

Just like Jia Li with a loli face yet exuding a matronly physique.

Compared to this contrasting duo, Jeanne and Hilov’s appearances and personalities matched well, wholesome lively young girls and an intellectual mature sister feel.

But to be honest, the main course has to be eaten, and snacks are indispensable, a balanced mix just right.

To objectify these living girls like this, Horn sometimes couldn’t help but introspect with guilt.

But is such introspection overly contrived? Horn had to introspect his introspection.

But since things had turned out this way, and none of the four objected, Horn could only remain silent.

"But I have to remind you." Picking up a chopstick of boiled beef from the hot pot, Jeanne spoke, "The Royal Court seems to have another troop increase, and it’s a substantial one."

Based on Cheka’s information, Serafe actually retained many forces domestically to suppress local clans.

Then transferred clan conflicts outward to the Empire.

With the Royal Court’s territorial expansion in the Empire, a large number of vampire immigrants moved from the Royal Court homeland to the Empire.

In regions with stabilized control, many nobles were transformed into vampires, with land and population divided.

The continuous victories and war dividends of two years put the entire Royal Court into a frenzy for war.

Those reluctant clans bowing to Serafe at this moment put aside their dignity, beginning to support Serafe’s plan.

Thus, more clan soldiers entered Serafe’s new camps, crossing the Xilan Sea into the Empire’s territory.

"According to the statistics from the Holy Tree faction on the Royal Court’s side, excluding the existing army, about a hundred thousand vampires are expected to enter the Empire’s land." Jeanne continued.

Most of these vampires were not regular soldiers but could provide reliable temporary forces for the vampires.

After all, a vampire’s racial trait makes them a citizen army inevitably.

Aside from common folk, a large number of clan armies were also crossing the sea.

Due to the clan armies’ compliance, domestic conflicts were redirected, allowing Serafe to draw more forces initially used for suppression to the Empire.

This implies that next year the Empire faces even more soldiers than this year, and by a significant margin.

Horn himself wasn’t afraid; he worried about his two weaknesses, Norn and Falan.

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