The ministers shuddered as they listened to Prime Minister Cullen's words.
Gilbert could read between the lines and could not help feeling anxious.
"Prime Minister!"
At that moment, a third voice joined the discussion.
"In fact, if the kingdom has no other choice but to bite the bullet, perhaps …"
The unfamiliar voice attracted the attention of most of the people.
The ministers turned to the interlocutor, the only participant in the Imperial Conference who did not speak — the archdeacon of the Sunset Church, Stylia Nicides.
Stylia Nicides nodded slightly.
"I can try to persuade the Sunset Church to invest in solving the problem of expanding the regular army?"
Many people frowned.
"What? You? "Solder asked suspiciously.
In the corner of the conference table, the archdeacon smiled and nodded humbly.
"Guy Stylia Nicides, the archdeacon of the Central Diocese of the Sunset Church, attending the Imperial Conference in place of the ailing Archbishop Zenon …"
"I know who you are, kid," Adviser Solder interrupted rudely.
"Say, you can find the money we want?"
The archdeacon named Guy smiled slightly, then closed his eyes in a prayer gesture, "I can't guarantee anything, but I'll try my best."
Seeing how straightforward the archdeacon was, Adviser Solder looked doubtful.
"If I remember correctly, in the central Sunset Temple of the king's city, Chief Priest Diallo was the one who opposed the standing army system the most. He once said, 'The standing army fights for money, greedy and despicable, while the conscripts fight for their duty, holy and respectable.'
Guy's tone was modest.
"Yes, most of the archdeacons of the Sunset Temple are of noble birth. They come and go from castles and palaces, and have close relationships with the nobles and dukes."
"But we're different, Sir Solder," the archdeacon said firmly.
"The Sunset Church is not the Sunset Temple."
The Sunset Church.
Solder was silent for a while. He collected himself and looked at the priest with a serious gaze.
"Who did you say you were?"
On the other side, Prime Minister Cullen said with a look of understanding, "Ah, a battle of faith between the temple and the church, the Ministry of Priests and the Ministry of Evangelism, the archdeacons and the bishops?"
The archdeacon turned to the prime minister and smiled warmly.
"No, this has nothing to do with faith, but politics and standpoint.
"The temple is close to the dukes, and the church is close to His Majesty. It's that simple.
"If we can reduce the influence of the temple by reducing the conscripts and increasing the regular army, the bishops of the church will be happy to see it."
Hearing this, many people began to ponder.
Cullen's gaze flickered.
"Oh, as a believer of the Sunset Goddess, you really don't hide at all?"
"Cover up?"
Guy shook his head indifferently.
"No faith can exist independently of politics, and no religion is not related to power struggles."
"To avoid politics and talk about faith is to abandon humanity and only ask about divinity. This is a disguise and disguise. This is the contempt and contempt for faith. It is disrespect and dishonesty to the Sunset Goddess."
Even the King at the end of the long table raised his head slightly.
Kulun was taken aback when he heard the rebellious words. He raised his brows and said,
"I think I know why Gilbert recommended you. Compared to those priests who are full of holy teachings, you are indeed a bit more interesting. "
Gilbert forced a smile.
Archdeacon Guy sighed.
"Thank you for your praise, but not everyone understands this principle, especially the priests of the Divine Hall."
"Therefore, it is not convenient for the Church to intervene in the kingdom's military affairs in the form of direct funding."
Solder, who was most concerned about this matter, instantly put on a cold expression.
"Then what do you mean?"
Guy turned to him and said seriously,
"To support the expansion of the regular army, the Sunset Church must have a valid reason."
'Reason.'
Many people's expressions changed slightly.
Guy looked respectfully at the end of the long table.
"If His Majesty can change the tradition and allow our priests to join the regular army of the royal family, I will be more confident in persuading the bishops to invest."
Solder was taken aback.
"But we already have military priests. Every time there is a war, the Temple will send a qualified officiant to preside over the expedition ceremony … "
Guy's lips curled up and he nodded calmly.
"Banish them."
"What?" Solder was incredulous.
"I suggest, Sir Solder, that you banish the regular army's military priests and replace them with military priests," Archdeacon Guy explained patiently.
"Whatever the Temple can do for the regular army, the Church can do as well, or even more."
Solder understood Guy's words. His expression changed back and forth in those few seconds.
The others in the meeting looked at each other.
The King's gaze was still distant and unfamiliar.
Prime Minister Kulun snorted.
"The Sunset Temple's officiants will never like it."
Guy turned his head around, and his words were sharp.
"The Temple doesn't like many things.
"For example, the regular army of the royal family.
"But this was originally a political issue. With your intervention, it has become a religious conflict," Kulun shook his head and said, "It has always been a tradition for priests to accompany the army, no matter …"
Guy calmly replied,
"Yes, just like how suzerains regularly recruit militia, it has also been a tradition — until the emergence of the regular army of the royal family."
Solder's eyebrows twitched.
The archdeacon looked at the dispirited Chief of Finance.
"And if we have military priests, the Sunset Church will be able to allocate a permanent fund from the believers' donations, justifiably subsidizing a portion of the regular army's costs, and relieve the pressure on the Department of Finance.
"This is something that the lofty and self-proclaimed orthodox Temple cannot do."
"Hmm …" The initially bored Kirkirk perked up. His beady eyes sparkled.
"It's not that we can't consider it?"
On the other side, the military advisor was silent for a few seconds.
He asked cautiously, "In that case, the Sunset Church can fund the expansion of the regular army, provided that His Majesty grants permission for your priests to join the regular army of the royal family to replace the military priests, right?"
The archdeacon smiled, "Of course not."
But his gaze changed.
"But without this bargaining chip, I'm not that confident in convincing the bishops."
Solder scoffed.
"This is blackmail and profiteering from a burning house."
"This is more for the kingdom," Guy swiftly retorted.
"The priests of the temple are basically of noble birth, and are related to the various feudal lords. They are naturally at odds with the regular army. Following the army is just a story.
"And us priests are mostly born poor, and are used to educating the lower classes. We will be more competent, more capable, more passionate, and more suitable for the regular army than the priests."
"Yes, that's exactly what I'm worried about," Solder sneered.
At this point, King Kessel suddenly snorted. His meaning was unclear and intriguing.
"I say, Guy, you're a priest who serves the gods."
On the other side, Prime Minister Cullen narrowed his eyes.
"Full of benefits and calculating bargaining chips, don't you think that's too vulgar?"
"Vulgar?"
Stylia Nydus smiled.
"The King of Renaissance's faith teacher and close comrade, Brother Mohazza the Prophet, famously said: Theology is the knowledge of men."
Gilbert stirred slightly.
"Divinity exists in human nature, and human nature carries divinity. Only by exhausting every corner of human nature can we hope to find that glimmer of divinity."
Guy smiled.
"Who says the secular world isn't holy? There's a kingdom of heaven in the mortal world. "
"Ah, you're not just a little interesting, Guy," the prime minister's tone changed.
"You're also very scary."
The archdeacon made another prayer gesture, very devoutly.
"The goddess' test always makes the path of truth seem more treacherous and rugged."
"No."
After a few moments of hesitation, Solder figured it out and firmly rejected the offer.
"The regular army of the royal family does not require priests to accompany them."
He said decisively,
"The regular army cannot be restricted by forces other than His Majesty, especially in terms of financial resources."
As Solder said this, he glanced at King Kessel. But to his disappointment, the king remained unmoved.
Guy was unperturbed and continued the discussion.
"If it's limited by the form of payment, we can discuss it. For example, the Church can donate the money to the Department of Finance, and the Department of Finance can allocate it to the budget of the Ministry of Military Affairs …"
"Sure!"
The Chief of Finance's eyes lit up.
"If this succeeds, you'll have saved my life, Guy!"
Stylia Nydus nodded politely.
"Thanks to the goddess, I dare not claim credit."
But Solder's attitude remained the same, "What's the difference?"
"Constellation spent five hundred years, with endless sacrifices and bloodshed, to drive religion and theocracy back to the temple.
"As long as I'm in charge of the Ministry of Military Affairs, history will not regress."
Solder spoke with certainty and uncompromising.
"That's not necessarily the case," Kirkirk muttered, "Based on your stance just now, you're probably willing to make anyone Prime Minister if they can help you expand the regular army."
Solder's expression stiffened.
"Then I'll thank the heavens," Prime Minister Cullen sighed and shifted his large buttocks that covered the entire chair.
"Please do, Archdeacon Guy?"
Archdeacon Guy smiled humbly at them.
"I understand your concern, Sir Solder, but what you've said is a lesson learned long ago: the priests of the temple fell into the self-righteous path of the youngest, arrogant, greedy and corrupt, allowing their selfish desires to overshadow the public, condoning lies to obscure the truth, flaunting the might of the gods for worldly gain, fighting for power through faith, and never turning back."
Archdeacon Guy nodded, as gentle as ever.
"And it was precisely because my ancestors, the priests of the Missionary Department, saw their mistakes that they broke away from the temple and established themselves, upholding the teachings of the goddess, and established the Sunset Church. It's been nearly four centuries since then. The Head Priest and the Archbishop are not subordinate to each other, the Priest Department and the Missionary Department abide by their boundaries, we do not … "
Solder waved his hand impatiently and cut him off.
"The temple or the church, the priests or the priests, in my opinion, there's no difference, they're all jackals of the same tribe.
"When we were weak, we asked for help, of course we'd be obedient.
"When we're strong, we're greedy and bound to take a mile when given an inch."
He said warily,
"Times have changed — the days when the Sunset Temple had unlimited authority and hundreds responded to a single call, and even dared to challenge Renaissance Palace and interfere in the succession of the throne are gone forever."
These words sent a chill through the entire Imperial Conference.
Guy heaved a long sigh, making no attempt to conceal his disappointment.
"I understand, Sir Solder. It looks like the wishes of the priests to serve the country can only be realized in the future."
At the end of the long table, the king's cold gaze was once again overshadowed by the setting sun.
"In that case, in the face of such a dilemma, it's unlikely to force through military reform," Prime Minister Cullen, who presided over the Imperial Conference, said with a sigh.
Hearing this, Solder glared at Kirkirk again.
"Don't look at me. If you want money, Guy and the church have it!"
Kirkirk knew what the other party was thinking and was unconcerned.
"As for whether you want it or not, it's up to you …"
"It's not just a matter of money." Unexpectedly, Prime Minister Cullen spoke up again, interrupting the dispute over military wealth that was about to erupt once again.
This caught the attention of all the officials.
"In fact, speaking of the prince's banquet, I thought of something else."
Duke Cullen's eyes burned.
"Last night, that minor Western Desert noble made a scene at the royal banquet, but was saved by Duke Thales."
Gilbert furrowed his brows.
"This inevitably reminds people that His Highness returned to the country under the protection of the Western Desert army, and that sword of Fakenhaz's. This could easily give people false expectations, or even be interpreted as the royal family's stance. Things will be troublesome, especially at this juncture …"
Cullen shook his head as he spoke, seemingly extremely regretful.
"Prime Minister!" Gilbert reminded him sternly.
Cullen shuddered slightly, as if he had just understood, and smiled apologetically.
But after hearing the prime minister's words, many people nodded thoughtfully.
"Right, the Doyle Family in question," the Minister of Agriculture, Lord Krapen, who had not spoken much all day, spoke up.
"Their Mirror Lake District has been a major grain-producing region for the past few years, and also an important source of soldiers for the Jadestar Private Army and the Central Regular Army. Moreover, they are part of the Seven Jadestar Attendants, which may affect the attitudes of the other families.
"This will also affect the process of military reform."
He looked at everyone cautiously.
"I think we need to determine the nature of the case as soon as possible, sort out the clues, and make a judgment …"
"Indeed, the incident at the royal banquet has brought us a lot of trouble, whether it is the upcoming military reform or this letter."
King Kessel's figure moved slightly on the throne.
Viscount Kenney glanced in the direction of the king. Seeing that he did not react, he cleared his throat.
"Forgive me for being blunt, but I heard that Mindis Hall has become the new place that everyone in the capital flocks to. Look at the Doyle Family, they made a huge mess, but His Highness still risked his life to protect them … I do not want to criticize Duke Thales, but his attitude at the banquet is sometimes easy to misunderstand …"
"Kenney!"
Gilbert sensed the direction of the meeting, and he was shocked and angry.
"There is no problem with His Highness's handling of the matter at the royal banquet! He is merciful, magnanimous, and impartial! "
Governor Kirkirk shrugged his shoulders.
"But now, looking at this letter, what we need the most is merciful and magnanimous."
Viscount Kenney nodded in agreement and added,
"And impartiality."
Gilbert was incredibly anxious.
"Regardless of the consequences, His Highness has saved two lives and two families with his superb skills, preventing a worse situation!"
"But it is a barbaric method of a bloody duel," another voice said.
"May the setting sun forgive him."
Gilbert turned his head around in disbelief and stared at his best friend.
"Guy?"
Archdeacon Stylia Nydus nodded apologetically.
"Before I entered the palace, the bishops were discussing this matter."
The officials exchanged glances and understood each other's intentions.
The archdeacon made a penitential salute.
"With the setting sun as witness, the Duke of Star Lake dueling in person and resorting to the ancient rites of barbarism and heresy, that's a terrible signal and demonstration."
"No, that happened at night," Prime Minister Cullen scoffed sarcastically.
"It should be: Witness of the North Star."
All the officials in front of the Emperor lowered their heads.
Gilbert sucked in a deep breath and explained to his good friend.
"Guy, my friend, as far as I know, the duel was unreasonably proposed by the other party, and Prince Thales agreed to the duel out of pity. Putting himself in danger was just an expedient measure."
Guy nodded in understanding.
"Of course, I understand the prince's difficulties, and I admire his benevolence, magnanimity, intelligence, and wisdom.
"But do you think that after this story spreads throughout the kingdom?" Duke Cullen clicked his tongue and shook his head.
"When people mention a duel, will the first thing they think of is the prince's benevolence or Jadestar's violent duel?"
Gilbert furrowed his brows.
The archdeacon smiled as well.
"What Lord Cullen said is not without reason. Just like how the bishops of the church are also worried. In Northland, the Eckstedtian warriors may have given His Highness the courage to fight to the end, but they also numbed His Highness' thoughts in the midst of violence and bloodshed, causing him to not reject the barbaric and backward ancient rites."
Gilbert stared at his good friend deeply. He could not hide his disappointment.
And the king still did not move.
"As time goes by, His Highness, as the heir to the kingdom, has not avoided heretical beliefs and rites time and time again …"
Guy's tone became worried.
"This will have a profound impact on people's attitudes and ways of doing things, causing young people to be hot-blooded, desperate people to take risks out of desperation, and imitators to advance wave after wave. This will be greatly detrimental to the kingdom's existing governance … Moreover, the Goddess will not be happy to see her believers bleed because of barbaric duels, and the same goes for her believers."
Count Krapen looked at everyone's expression and interjected with great interest.
"That, I also think …"
"Enough!"
The Foreign Affairs Minister's rare outburst of anger silenced the gossiping crowd.
"Everyone!"
"His Majesty did not summon us to this room for us to judge right from wrong and pursue the matter to its roots!"
Gilbert's breathing quickened. He stood up and glanced angrily at each of his colleagues.
"Solder, I know that the regular army's expedition to the Western Desert has involved a great deal of effort, but it was not a complete success. You have your own difficulties and are brooding over it."
The military advisor pursed his lips.
"Chief Kirkirk, I also understand that the accident at the banquet caused the Department of Finance to lose a considerable amount of forfeiture money, and caught you off guard."
The Chief of Finance crossed his arms in annoyance.
"As for the Prime Minister, you are trying your best to avoid unnecessary conflict between Renaissance Palace and the vassals, so you have used His Highness as a target to divert attention."
The plump old duke chuckled nonchalantly.
"Viscount Kenney, please be rest assured that no matter how popular His Highness is, or how he recruits talents, it will not affect your position as a pillar of the king's support party."
The Minister of Commerce's expression darkened slightly.
"As for Guy, old friend, I swear to you that it is not His Highness' fault that you failed to become the prince's theology tutor, and it does not mean that His Highness is closer to the Temple."
The archdeacon closed his eyes and lowered his head.
"And Lord Krapen, you have been silent for the entire day, and that is already smart enough. Echoing the crowd at the end will not make you look smarter!"
The Minister of Agriculture coughed in embarrassment.
Gilbert took a deep breath and calmed his emotions after he made all the officials in front of the Emperor shut their mouths.
He resisted the urge to look at the figure at the end of the long table.
"That's right. I can feel it. I know that all of you have your reasons, your thoughts, and your resentment …"
The Foreign Affairs Minister said solemnly,
"But, all of you, I implore you to put yourselves in the prince's shoes and understand his situation.
"Then you will understand that for the kingdom, His Highness has many times no choice, many things he has to do, and many encounters are beyond his expectations.
"And he has done his best in those tasks that he should have completed."
Gilbert slowed down his speech, and unknowingly, there was a hint of regret in his voice.
"From the National Conference to Dragon Clouds City, from the Great Desert to Mindis Hall, in the face of the covetous Northland vassals and the turbulent domestic politics, any one of us, even His Majesty, even Prince Midier back then, could not have done better than him!"
His voice was loud and impassioned, and it shook Ballard Room.
"Not to mention that we all owe him a favor, be it for stopping the Northlanders from moving south, or stabilizing the Jadestar Royal Family and Constellation's political situation."
On the throne, King Kessel leaned against the back of his chair again. His gaze was distant, and no one knew what he was thinking.
"As for the other unexpected consequences caused by Thales' actions, be it the chaos in the Western Desert, Doyle's case, the duel, the dispute, or this damned letter and the predicament it brought, they are, in fact, the result of our lack of consideration and planning. This is the dereliction of duty and incompetence of our servants, and it is the responsibility that we should bear."
Gilbert exhaled, paused for a moment, and looked at everyone.
Everyone turned their heads away to avoid eye contact with him.
When Gilbert said this, he felt bitter.
"Shift the blame to His Highness? This will not cover up our incompetence, nor will it solve more problems. And that child should not be responsible for a mistake that he is unaware of. "
At this moment, Duke Cullen suddenly spoke.
"Even if he is a Jadestar?"
Gilbert's expression changed. He turned around abruptly and showed no signs of weakness.
"It is precisely because he is a Jadestar!"
Prime Minister Cullen frowned.
After pausing for a few seconds, the prime minister sighed.
"I know, Count Caso, you are his teacher —"
But Gilbert quickly interrupted him.
"I am not saying this just because he is my student!"
Gilbert turned around and faced his other colleagues. His tone was resolute and brooked no room for doubt.
"It is also because of Prince Thales himself.
"Whether it is his courage and achievements in going north as a hostage, his experience in traveling thousands of miles back to the country, or his courage in saving people at the banquet, all of these prove that he is worthy of being the Jadestar descendant, the Duke of Star Lake, and the bloodline of the kingdom."
When he said this, Gilbert's voice trembled slightly.
"We should all feel honored and proud to have such a prince.
"We should be the longswords in his hands, not the stones in his boots.
"We should help him!
"Not obstruct him!"
When he finished speaking, Gilbert raised his hand and pressed it against his eyes. He took a few deep breaths.
The Imperial Conference was silent. The king's gaze was still like a sharp blade in the snow, emitting a cold glare.
Vice Bishop Guy sighed and patted Gilbert's arm, gesturing for him to sit down.
"Gilbert."
Gilbert flung his friend's arm away and took a deep breath.
"Please forgive me, everyone." He tried hard to adjust his emotions and calm his tone.
"Just as Your Majesty said, I am tired and old."
Ballard Room was silent.
"At least you are not fat."
Prime Minister Cullen took over the conversation. He was a little dispirited and sentimental.
"I will not be an eyesore to certain people."
This sentence had a profound meaning, and no one dared to continue.
That was until the King of Constellation tapped her fingers lightly and broke the dull atmosphere.
"Gilbert." Kessel the Fifth's gaze was directed at him. He could not hide the complicated and subtle tone in his voice.
"Old friend."
But Gilbert suddenly raised his head.
"And you, Your Majesty!"
The Foreign Affairs Minister's voice suddenly rose!
Many people were taken aback by this.
Gilbert stared straight into the king's eyes, which were filled with pressure. His chest rose and fell.
"Forgive me for overstepping my authority, but …
"But …"
Gilbert raised his right arm as if he wanted to point at something, but he gave up halfway.
He gritted his teeth. His face was conflicted.
"But until today, all the unfair scrutiny, accusations, criticism, and difficulties His Highness has received since he returned to Constellation, in Eternal Star City, and even at this table …"
In the face of King Kessel's sharp gaze, Gilbert made up his mind and spoke through gritted teeth,
He said through gritted teeth, "It is all because of your attitude towards him."
As soon as he said this, the expressions of all the officials before the king changed!
"Gilbert!"
Guy warned sternly.
Prime Minister Cullen's face was tense as he sank into deep thought.
But the king only stared back at Gilbert quietly and did not say a word.
Only Gilbert gulped, closed his eyes, and sighed.
"To be honest, Your Majesty, I am not very competent as a subject or as a father. I have no right to lecture you.
"But as a friend …" Gilbert opened his eyes. He was sincere and serious.
"Kai, Your Highness, Fifth Prince."
These titles made everyone's thoughts stir.
King Kessel did not speak.
But at that moment, his fingers that were tapping on the table stopped.
"You really should be proud and gratified that you have such a son. You should be proud and gratified by his awareness and ability, his character and intelligence, his strength and optimism, and the fact that he didn't collapse under the heavy burden of the entire kingdom."
Gilbert stared at him from afar.
"I believe, and I am not the only one. We all believe from the bottom of our hearts.
"Prince Thales will be the future that we all look forward to."
At that moment, no one in the Imperial Conference spoke.
The silence lasted for a whole ten seconds.
"You give him lessons every day, Gilbert." The king's deep voice traveled, and his emotions could not be discerned.
"You are too close to him."
Gilbert was stunned for a moment before he smiled.
"No, you are the one who is too far away from him.
Just like the late king. "
At that moment, the Iron Hand King's eyes suddenly moved.
It was like the first crack on a flawless iron wall.
"But at that time, you still had Mindis Hall."
Gilbert looked at the throne quietly, but he seemed to be looking at something else.
"And now, he has nothing."
King Kessel seemed to be fixed in his chair. Even his gaze did not move.
"Get close to him, Your Majesty. At least try to get close to him.
"At least, talk to him."
Gilbert took a deep breath and sat down shakily. He pressed against his eyes and flashed an ashamed smile at the people around him.
"My apologies, everyone."
Ballard Room seemed to have sunk into an ice cellar.
The king and his ministers were all silent. They either lowered their heads in silence or looked at each other.
Only the sound of breathing remained.
After a long, long time.
"Everyone."
Everyone trembled slightly.
King Kessel's voice was like the first ray of sunlight that broke through the ice and broke the silence.
"Don't worry about my son. I have already talked to him."
At the end of the long table, the Iron Hand King slowly raised his head, but he did not look at anyone.
"He will not be a problem."
He closed his eyes and exhaled softly.
"Everything is under control."
His voice faded away.
Prime Minister Cullen curled his lips.
Gilbert forced a smile onto his face.
The others had different reactions. They were all worried.
Duke Cullen picked up his teacup, sat up straight, and performed his duty.
"Alright, everyone. Now, back to what we were …"
But the prime minister's words came to an abrupt halt.
Everyone looked over in confusion. Only then did they realize that Cullen's expression had changed.
The Duke of Eastern Sea was staring intently at the teacup in his hand.
There were tiny ripples on the surface of the teacup.
Almost at the same time, the ministers in Ballard Room sensed something amiss and turned around.
* Thud! Thud! Thud! *
The sound of footsteps in groups came from outside the room, causing an obvious tremor.
This was a rare occurrence. The ministers looked at each other, not understanding what was going on.
"These footsteps, there are at least thirty people." As a military advisor who had served for many years, Solder looked up warily.
"What happened?"
But no one answered him.
On the contrary, different orders were faintly heard through the crack in the door.
"Vanguard Division, gather reinforcements … Run, run, run!"
"The situation is unclear …"
"Guard Division, deploy on the spot …"
Something was not right. The ministers were alarmed and uncertain.
The king also frowned.
"Strange." Gilbert frowned.
"Is the royal guards having a drill today? Near Ballard Room? "
The next second, a rapid and ear-piercing ring of a bell penetrated the wall and rang in everyone's ears!
"Ding —"
Many people were startled and looked around in panic.
"This is, this is the royal guards' …"
Advisor Solder was stunned.
He blinked and stared at the dark stone door, unable to believe his own deduction.
"An emergency alarm?"
The king remained calm, but his frown deepened.
The scar-faced spy from the Secret Intelligence Department was the first to move. He reached for the door.
But before he could touch the doorknob, the door to Ballard Room was flung open!
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