"No matter how perfect the laws are, it's impossible to be absolutely fair. Everything has to be based on facts. Although the Magical Crystal Cannons transported by the caravan of the Tower of Dusk are considered prohibited weapons, they won't cause any harm to the interests of the kingdom. On the contrary, such valuable goods will bring a considerable tax to the kingdom. You're the one who's really harmed the interests of the kingdom. I've already invited Duke Wilson and Duke Gene, and I'd like to see how you're going to explain it to them, "Count Andre said with a sneer. The two dukes that he mentioned were the ministers in charge of the kingdom's commerce and taxation. They could definitely accuse Clark of damaging the kingdom's commercial reputation.
"You're simply twisting words and forcing logic …" Clark obviously wouldn't admit defeat just like that. Lin Li had a backer, but so did he! He calmed himself down a little, and with a sullen expression, he said, "Great, I've also reported this matter to Marshal Benjamin. We'll see who's right then."
Hearing that Clark had actually invited the kingdom's first marshal, Andre's expression could no longer remain calm. Although Marshal Benjamin's rank wasn't high, he was in charge of the entire kingdom's army. He was the most powerful existence in the entire kingdom, second only to the king. Generally speaking, marshals like him who had great military and political power were often the most feared by the king. They would be suspected and attacked everywhere, and basically wouldn't end up well. However, King Sinelli of the Ledin Kingdom trusted Marshal Benjamin very much, even more than he trusted the members of the royal family.
Obviously, no one was able to completely suppress the other in terms of background, and Count Andre seemed to be slightly inferior. However, it was impossible for him to admit defeat just like General Clark. If this matter were to be messed up, he probably wouldn't be able to have a foothold in the traditional aristocratic circle.
"General Clark, speaking of harming the interests of the kingdom, I wonder if those scums who embezzle military pay and resell military supplies are considered harming the interests of the kingdom," Andre said, unwilling to be outdone.
"You … Hmph! You're a dignified count, and yet you're making groundless accusations? I do have something here, but I don't know if you'd like to hear it … "General Clark said with a sneer.
The two influential figures of the Ledin Kingdom completely disregarded their own image at this moment, and continuously revealed each other's secrets, from the Magical Crystal Cannons of the Tower of Dusk's caravan to the various matters that they had been involved in. Things like colluding with underground forces, reselling military supplies, abducting men and women, abusing torture to kill people, and so on …
Although the two of them were exposing each other's scandals, the so-called scandals wouldn't really affect them since they were the nobles of the Ledin Kingdom. In fact, these things had only been said here. Just because no one had mentioned it before didn't mean that people didn't know. Often, just by thinking about what they had done, they could guess what kind of people they were talking about.
However, Domingo and Holliard, who were asking Lin Li for advice in front of the door of the living room, gradually grew sullen. Perhaps not everyone in the Ledin Kingdom was a believer of the Holy Light, but the nobles were definitely not. It could be said that the most basic requirement to become a noble in the Ledin Kingdom was to believe in the doctrine of the Holy Light and become a believer of the Holy Light. Otherwise, no matter how great the contributions were, they wouldn't be conferred any title.
However, a person who said that he believed in the doctrine of the Holy Light, and could even recite the entire doctrine of the Holy Light fluently, did not mean that he was a true believer of the Holy Light. Saying one thing and doing another was what humans were best at. Not to mention the ordinary people who claimed to believe in the doctrine of the Holy Light, even the clergymen of the Brilliance Shrine didn't follow the doctrine of the Holy Light in everything they said and did.
Although Domingo and Holliard were also aware of this, since they were already past the age of naivety, the problem was that Lin Li, the President of the Guild of Magic from the Felan Kingdom, was beside them. Clark and Andre exposing each other's secrets was akin to exposing their own dirty linen to outsiders. How could the two bigwigs of the Brilliance Shrine endure it?
Finally, with a heavy snort, Holliard closed the notebook in his hand and strode into the parlor with a gloomy face as if it was going to rain. As for Lin Li and Domingo, they didn't even raise their heads, and were still discussing pharmaceutics in whispers at the door.
Holliard's tall figure blocked the sunlight that shone in through the door of the guest hall. At this moment, Clark and Andre, who were arguing, suddenly felt that someone had entered.
"Who's that … Ah! Lord Holliard! "Clark and Andre stopped arguing, and exclaimed in unison when they saw the person who had entered. As the upper echelons of the Ledin Kingdom, how could they not know the leader of the Holy Paladins of the Brilliance Shrine? However, at the thought of the content of their argument just now, even the thick-skinned one couldn't help but blush.
"Are you two still behaving like nobles!?" Holliard scolded angrily. After hearing the argument between the two of them, he felt that the air here was extremely filthy. Of course, he hadn't forgotten the purpose of his visit. Hence, he couldn't be bothered to comment on the characters of the two of them. Instead, he said to Clark, "Clark, your people detained the caravan and goods of the Tower of Dusk, right? I hope you can release the order to detain them immediately."
"W-what!?"
As soon as Holliard said that, the expressions on Andre's and Clark's faces became extremely interesting. Andre was naturally secretly delighted. He had never thought that the Tower of Dusk would actually have a relationship with Holliard. Holliard was a bigwig who was completely above the nobles, and even Marshal Benjamin would have to give him face.
Clark, on the other hand, was completely distressed. Putting aside the outcome of the matter this time, he was afraid that he would be hated by the people of the Brilliance Shrine even if he won. However, if he were to admit defeat just like that, he would really become the public enemy of both parties. Besides, if he were to offend the Brilliance Shrine and lose the protection of the higher-ups on his side, the Brilliance Shrine would probably label him as a heretic, and he would die a horrible death.
Clark knew that he really had no way out. It was no longer a matter of pride, but a matter of life and death. He suppressed the horror in his heart, looked at Holliard with glistening eyes, and said, "Lord Holliard, I'm very sorry. If it were anything else, I would definitely do my best to serve you, but this matter concerns the interests of the kingdom. I … can't agree to it."
"Uh …" Andre was a little dumbfounded. Since when did Clark become so unyielding? He actually dared to go against Lord Holliard of the Brilliance Shrine. Although there were royal families and nobles in the Ledin Kingdom, the real ruler was the Brilliance Shrine. Although Holliard was the leader of the Holy Paladins, and strictly speaking, he did not have the right to intervene in the kingdom's affairs, his status was still there, after all. He was an existence that was not inferior to the four archbishops.
Even Holliard was stunned to hear that. Such a thing was really rare in his memory. He actually got rejected. Although Lin Li did not sound imposing, it was indeed a rejection. Holliard's face became even more sullen. After all, Master Felic was just outside. He thought it would be a simple matter, but he was actually rejected by Lin Li!
"Since it's a matter of the kingdom, Holliard really doesn't have the right to speak. In that case, General Clark, I wonder if my words will have any effect." Before the three people inside could come back to their senses, Archbishop Domingo also strode into the room. He was wearing a pure white robe that seemed to make the entire room brighter.
Of course, the two mages Lin Li and Gavin also walked into the room with Archbishop Domingo. However, apart from Archbishop Domingo, Andre and Clark only knew Gavin, who they had dealt with before. They had never seen the real owner of the Tower of Dusk, Lin Li.
"Well … Archbishop Domingo, why are you also …" Looking at Gavin who entered behind Domingo, Clark knew that Archbishop Domingo was obviously there to speak up for the Tower of Dusk. However, the problem was, what was the background of the Tower of Dusk? How could they get the archbishop and the leader of the Holy Paladins to stand up for them? He could still use his authority as an excuse to reject Holliard just now, but the archbishop was someone who could discuss the kingdom's affairs with His Majesty. What excuse did he have to turn him down?
Clark was shocked and resentful. If he had known earlier that the Tower of Dusk was related to the Brilliance Shrine, he wouldn't have done such a thing even if the latter had asked him to do the same. Now, could he still rely on Marshal Benjamin? Even the king would have to salute the archbishop respectfully. No matter how powerful Marshal Benjamin was, he couldn't be more powerful than the king.
Clark finally came to a realization. Since the archbishop had come to stand up for the Tower of Dusk, there was no point for him to continue resisting. Besides, he reckoned that the people on his side wouldn't blame him too much. It wasn't that he didn't work hard, but that the enemy was too powerful. If they had the ability, they could talk to the archbishop themselves.
"General Clark, I wonder if I can ask you to release the order to detain the caravan of the Tower of Dusk," Archbishop Domingo said while staring at General Clark coldly. It was a rare opportunity for a pharmaceutics Guru to give him pointers on pharmaceutics, but it was ruined by that bastard Clark. Although he was already old, it was impossible for him to not feel resentful at this moment.
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