The Vastness of Magical Destiny
Chapter 582: Volume 15: Thunder Overturning the Earth - 1: Prelude to the Storm

Chapter 582: Volume 15: Thunder Overturning the Earth Chapter 1: Prelude to the Storm

Philip and Zellin stepped into their private reception room. This was the most intimate space within Duke Philip’s mansion, where the heirs of the Philip family over generations had left their portraits and descriptions of their deeds. It could be said to be the most stringently guarded place in the entire Homer region.

The room, though large, felt somewhat gloomy. The two men slowly strolled in from the corridor, unaccompanied by anyone else.

"Rohl, have you really decided?" Zellin, with a gaunt face, gazed with a piercing intensity, "Once we take this step, there’s no turning back."

"Heh, Gofi, if we don’t take this step, we will have no way out at all. Look at the Romanov family’s performance, hehe, just like that they took control of Leon, and even though nominally they let that kid Komer manage it, I am sure that if I keep enduring, Leon will soon have a ’loyal dog’ of His Majesty the King as Lord, and that fool Komer is just being used as a pawn by others. The Romanov family’s actions indicate they’ll deal with us harshly. Haven’t you seen their Blue Dove Corps already lurking around? The moment I show any disloyalty, the kingdom will announce the stripping of my title, declare me a rebel, and then the Blue Dove Corps will march into my territory. With the situation as it is now, what do you think we can do?"

Seeing his closest ally not responding, Philip was unperturbed. At this moment, the two men were tied together in their fate, if one perished, so would Galle, left with no choice but to submit obediently. To maintain the glory of bygone days was utterly impossible; even if you showed submission now, it wouldn’t be possible.

"Gofi, we have no choice. The two fools in the north were so frightened by the beastmen that they’ve been unwilling to come into open conflict with the kingdom, thus they could only endure silently. But they too understand what this beginning signifies. If we don’t make a stand, I tell you, the next step will see those minor lords breaking away and doing as they please. By then, we will be left with nothing, and the Kingdom Star Chamber Court can strip away everything our ancestors left us with a single ruling. Now we have this opportunity, how could they refuse to cooperate?"

"Rohl, it’s easy to invite the gods, but difficult to send them away. You must understand this principle, right? Once the beastmen enter, who can control them? The entire Northern Region will turn into a wasteland without the fortress and castle defense line. No one in the north will dare to stay there. How will we deal with the refugee problem?" Zellin clearly understood his friend’s intentions—they had no other choice. But he hoped to consider things more thoroughly.

"Gofi, I’m well aware of that, which is why I chose to collaborate with the Church of Light. I’d rather bow to the Church of Light than yield to the kingdom. Bowing to the Church of Light means losing some face and authority over religious affairs, but yielding to the kingdom? Then I’ll quickly become another Boninski, with just one decree from the Star Chamber Court, I could be turned into a penniless vagrant on the streets!" A shadow crossed the usually ruddy-faced Philip’s expression, showing that cooperating with his old enemy, the Church of Light, was against his wishes and only a result of being pushed by circumstances.

Nodding silently, Zellin also understood that Philip’s choice to collaborate with the Church of Light was out of desperation. Only by uniting the Church of Light with the local secular forces could they hope to contain the power of the beastmen. The Church of Light perhaps took such a risky move because they had become impatient with the endless disputes with the Kingdom of Nicosia. Yet, both Zellin and Philip were unsure if the Pope was aware of this matter. The complex power system within the Church of Light made them nervous. If they didn’t believe that it was in the Church’s interest to collaborate with local powers, neither Philip nor Zellin would dare to take this step lightly.

"Is everything in the north ready as well?" After a long pause, Zellin finally asked.

"Yes, those two are even more cautious and careful than us. Whether this trade with the beastmen is a curse or a blessing, who can tell now? Aren’t we also just taking it one step at a time? Gofi, do you think I want to choose this path? You’re wrong. If only the kingdom would give us a sliver of a chance, I wouldn’t do this. But the Romanov family won’t give us that opportunity. I realized that when they refused Tracy."

Within the grand marshal’s office in Jazair City, Marshal Mathew looked far from his usual composed self. The glum look on his face suggested something terrible had happened. Having weathered the battlefield for decades, Mathew had developed a steadfast demeanor, but this time the situation was indeed strange.

Standing before his desk, the two dust-covered men might not show much, but from their expressions, it was apparent that something had transpired. Whether the news was good or bad, it seemed hard to tell.

"With the beastmen’s armies making large-scale movements at this time, what do you think it signifies?" Mathew mused as though talking to himself, yet also posing the question to the two men. His gaze drifted, unsettled by the unpredictability of the enemy’s intentions. It didn’t seem like the time for beastmen activity, so could it be that they were uncharacteristically choosing to instigate war during winter?

"Marshal, the Iron Cross Corps’ territory to the west has been relatively calm. The Myron Duchy, Susoer, and the Old Meine have seemingly been cleared out of everything movable by the beastmen, who appear to have withdrawn completely. Now, it’s still unclear how they’ll handle these territories. The captured locals from these three places are said to be showing up in various Slave Markets. Slave traders are secretly negotiating with the beastmen, so the west seems normal for now. It’s just that there’s frequent activity among our opposing beastmen, which is very abnormal. The Golden Oak Legion is fully on guard, ready to respond to any beastmen provocations," one man replied.

"What about the northeast? How prepared are those two?" Mathew let out a sigh of relief and seemed to ease up a bit. As long as these two fronts were secure, the kingdom needn’t worry.

"Those two areas are well-prepared; they’ve even increased the scale of their Infantry Divisions. The conscription of reservists has also been completed. I don’t know if they are worried that the beastmen will launch a strong attack against them. Their Knights regiments and Mages are all in high alert. However, it seems they aren’t on the front lines but rather seems to be waiting for something, stationed within the Castle cities," the other man said, scratching his head in confusion.

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