King
Chapter 855 - 855 79 Strongman's Style_2

855: Chapter 79, Strongman’s Style_2 855: Chapter 79, Strongman’s Style_2 It is said that within each serpent, a human soul is sealed, stripped of human emotions but retaining its combat experience from life.

Normally, these Snake Spirit Guardians remain in a slumbering state, only to be awakened when intruders breach their domain.

The Snake Spirit Guardians are but one of the tomb’s defenses; the Ancient Wizard Kingdom had many bizarre and iniquitously powerful creations, each one more evil than the last.

We have already disturbed the tomb’s sentinels; what follows is a fight to the death.

Even if we were to leave now, we would still face varied attacks.

Our exploration must proceed with greater caution.

Any carelessness will be paid for in blood.”

The well-informed Knight Yelach warned.

Wizards, a mysterious and powerful group.

In the Ancient Era, they once dominated the mainstream of human cultivation, but nothing escapes the cycle of rising and falling.

With the emergence of Divine Spirits, the wizardry system quickly declined, overtaken by Magic and Knight, and gradually relegated to a marginal profession.

Especially after the Clergy’s dominance over the continent, wizards were further cast into heresy, nearly breaking the chain of succession.

The surviving wizards inherited but a fraction of their legacy; most of their secret techniques vanished into the river of history.

Treasure hunting has turned into grave-robbing, ironically.

Bishop Josip, using secret techniques to detect it, asserted that the Divine Artifact was nearby.

It just happened that the Cardinal who defected from the Clergy years ago was a concealed wizard.

It was plausible that he could avoid the tomb’s sentinels.

As they pressed forward, myriad dangers beset them.

Blood paved their path, and each step forward exacted a price in blood.

…

Ever since learning of Earl Hudson setting out to sea, Caesar IV was close to exploding with rage.

Leaving the Kingdom’s military matters unattended to eradicate some trivial Pirates, an absolute misplacement of priorities.

However, anger solved nothing.

The standoff between them was essentially a struggle for power.

As King, Caesar IV wished to control everything; as the future Grand Army Commander, Hudson too sought to gain more authority.

The issue at hand was to see who would yield first.

Clearly, Caesar IV was the one who could scarcely afford to wait.

The complex international situation put immense pressure on him, far from being able to remain as unperturbed as Hudson.

In the game of power, such a mindset was undoubtedly at a disadvantage.

At such a critical juncture, the more desperate one appeared, the more likely the opponent would find opportunities to exploit.

“Chancellor, Earl Hudson neglects his proper duties.

What if we appoint someone else as the Chief commander for strategic mobilization?”

Caesar IV proposed in a fit of vexation.

No monarch likes an uncontrollable subordinate.

Regardless of their competence, if they cannot be controlled, they serve no purpose.

In a centralized state, Hudson’s actions would be flirting with death.

But in a corporate state, such occurrences were all too common.

The struggle between vassal and sovereign power was an almost constant performance.

There were countless precedents.

“Your Majesty, it has not yet come to that.

It’s not easy to find someone within the Kingdom to replace Earl Hudson.

Compared to the Different Races, we are at a disadvantage.

If the chosen one is incompetent, we might relive the tragedy of the Warhammer Kingdom…”

Seeing Caesar IV’s expression grow even darker, Grand Duke Newfoundland immediately realized his own blunder.

The downfall of the Warhammer Kingdom was indeed a prime cautionary tale; the overthrow of Joseph II was a taboo among all monarchs.

Under the pressure of the continent’s situation, everyone had no time to interfere, but that did not mean they would tolerate such events.

To Caesar IV, this seemed like a challenge to the throne, almost warning him that if he did not accept their nominee, he might follow in the footsteps of Joseph II.

“Your Majesty, please calm your anger.

Earl Hudson personally undertaking the eradication of the Pirates might well have reasons.

According to the reports from the Southeastern Province, this sudden Pirate incursion was clearly aimed at the Kingdom.

At a time when the entire nation is preparing for war, if such a threat from Pirates persists at the rear, our logistical support in the future will inevitably encounter serious trouble.

Taking the initiative to eradicate these unstable factors is also a good thing for the Kingdom.”

Grand Duke Aefero advised.

Regrettably, to Caesar IV, these words were all distorted.

Unstable factors – was there a greater one within the Kingdom than Hudson himself?

Now he could leverage the opportunity of war to demand power; what would happen after the war broke out?

He could easily be sidelined with a few excuses.

It would not be the first time in the Kingdom of Alpha that a Strongman sidelined a monarch.

Fortunately, Caesar IV still maintained his rationale and kept these thoughts to himself.

In politics, many things remain manageable as long as they are not addressed openly; once that façade is pierced, there’s no room left for reconciliation.

Without a replacement for Hudson at hand, changing personnel was merely an impulsive remark by Caesar IV and unlikely to be executed.

Moreover, would a new person not contend for power with the monarch?

That was simply impossible!

No matter who assumed the role of Grand Army Commander, demands for power from the King would be inevitable going forward.

The difference would only lie in the size of their appetite or whether their methods could be more acceptable to him.

“Let’s just wait and see.

If the campaign proves to be valuable, fine.

But if it’s merely a struggle for power and profit, then what follows…”