When the Saintess Arrives, No King Exist
Chapter 90 - 88: Demon Man?

Chapter 90: Chapter 88: Demon Man?

"How is Wanpiao doing?"

"I heard he just woke up for a while, ate some millet porridge and fell asleep again."

"Why didn’t anyone stop Wanpiao?"

"What can I do? Is your persistence meaningful?"

Unlike usual, even though they had entered Ande Castle for rest, the Senate was still shrouded in gloom.

Wanpiao, as they referred to him, was the third-person nickname the elders had for Horn. After all, addressing him directly as His Majesty seemed too formal, and Saint’s Grandson or Pope felt too ceremonious.

They decided on the code name "Wanpiao" for Horn.

Ultimately, the rules stipulated that all elders were equal, with one vote each, but clearly, Horn was more equal, so his one vote was worth ten thousand.

Their concern today was that Master Wan insisted on testing a great copper bow named "Ferdinand."

The power of Ferdinand’s Great Bow was known to all; with one arrow, it could pierce a small hole in the mountain rock walls. One can imagine its might.

But Wanpiao was too excited and wanted to shoot a fourth arrow. Not shooting was fine, but as soon as he shot, he collapsed, which startled everyone.

It must be understood that Horn was the absolute center of the Pope Country. When he fell, there was almost no one with the prestige to suppress the turbulent elders and unruly soldiers.

Fortunately, Horn only fainted and was otherwise unharmed.

After the daily mutual accusations were finished, the formal deliberation session began. Chervis patted the table.

"Wanpiao ordered us to deliberate independently and show him the final result. After all, there’s no delaying tomorrow’s journey."

Under the hosting of the Cardinals, despite the dusty castle hall, the Senate meeting proceeded as usual.

Looking outward from the hall, the towering mountains seemed ready to collapse.

In front of the towering mountains, within a radius of dozens of miles, there was only this solitary, abandoned white castle, like a little white flower on the hillside.

When the valley winds blew, it seemed as if it might sway.

In the red glow of sunset, the stone walls were covered in sprawling moss, the castle’s entrance overgrown with weeds and disordered shrubs. It had been years since anyone had visited.

Meanwhile, the refugees pushed small carts, drove livestock and horse-drawn carts, stepping on the centuries-old tiled ground.

Black Hat Army soldiers gathered firewood and chopped trees around Ande Castle; not far off, the bonfire surged, and children played amidst the ruins.

This was a rare moment of rest in a day’s journey.

Advancing years ago, this castle was a stronghold against beastman robbers, with high platforms amidst the mountain full of beastman tribes and bandits.

Following the end of the century-long letter war, numerous knights and armed personnel were left unemployed, and Empire dispatched them to eliminate bandits and serve as pioneering knights.

Thus, the beastmen were gradually driven into the swamps and forests of Thousand River Valley and Black Snake Bay.

Naturally, the castle’s purpose dwindled, slowly falling into ruin over time.

Later, the Ruo’an Party discovered the place and established a secret stronghold, serving as a supply point on the "blood and sweat convoy."

Qianqian, associated with White Mountain Hermitage, considered sisters with the Secret Faction, had favorable ties; thus, some facilities and strongholds were shared.

This explains why Qianqian knew there was a warehouse here.

However, when he searched based on his memories, he encountered a major problem.

Inside the small room, Qianqian’s head was covered in cobwebs as he crawled on the floor, feeling around.

He knocked here and there but couldn’t find the entrance to the underground warehouse.

Standing up, Qianqian surveyed his surroundings, certain the underground warehouse should be here; yet, why couldn’t he find it?

He furrowed his brows, carefully recalling. Surely he wasn’t wrong; was a mistake made by the Ruo’an Party or was there false information?

While he deliberated, a faint clicking sound reverberated in his ears.

Qianqian quickly turned around only to see Jia Li push aside the rotten bookshelf, lifting the carpet and unveiling the iron gate beneath.

Qianqian’s eyes widened: "How did you know the warehouse was here?"

Jia Li turned back, her gaze revealing a clear stupidity like it was a matter of course: "I just know."

She muttered softly: "I always feel I’ve been here before."

"You’re a member of the Ruo’an Party, it’s normal you’ve been here before." Regardless of Jia Li’s mumblings, Qianqian immediately sidestepped, opened the iron grate gate, and jumped in. Shortly afterward, he returned, saying, "Bring some people; let’s move the supplies."

At Qianqian’s call, everyone started transporting supplies from the cellar.

The underground warehouse was dim and damp, emanating a staleness of old mold, and the iron grate door creaked as it swung.

Standing at the warehouse entrance, Qianqian carefully checked and logged each piece of material, categorizing and preparing to load them onto the carts.

Everyone brought out various boxes, barrels, bags, etc., opening them to inspect the supplies.

Coordinated into edible and daily use categories, edibles included various potions, dried chili peppers, high-proof rice wine, and sticky rice cakes; daily essentials featured iron basins, needles, and canvas primarily.

Additionally, larger items included several large sheepskin rafts and smaller items had all sorts of odd glass shards.

Frowning, Jia Li stood nearby. Known for mischief, this time she surprisingly refrained from tiny pranks.

She seemed to be reminiscing, standing for quite a while before swinging her arms dismissively, humming the tune for Blue Orphan before going to provoke Jeanne.

Under Qianqian’s direction, supplies were loaded onto the carts. After the final sheepskin raft was loaded onto the cart and inventory checked, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Compared to Madlan, the uncompromising official, Qianqian, serving as Logistics Department Secretary, handled almost everything.

As for the actual Steward of Logistics Department, Madlan, when Qianqian met him again, he had just returned from literacy class.

"Mr. Qianqian, kept some food for you, come eat."

Sitting by the bonfire, Madlan passed him a piece of wheat bread and a bowl of wild vegetable rice porridge.

Don’t underestimate this bowl of wild vegetable porridge; if you do, then it’s truly underestimated.

This porridge is made from rice fruit, tuberous roots, radishes, cabbages, vinegar, and smelly cheese, cooked into a semi-dry half-soft goo.

Rice fruit and tuberous roots replenish carbs; vegetation replenishes vitamins; vinegar adds flavor; cheese supplements protein. Army soldiers occasionally eat eggs and salted fish.

This diet was personally crafted by Horn himself.

Due to previous incidents, Horn was spooked by those green-skinned minions and became extremely meticulous.

The dinner menu was curated by him, changing every three days.

The taste couldn’t be described as mouth-watering, but it’s indeed like an impediment in the throat.

But disregarding taste, nutritionally it’s definitely balanced and rich.

"Madlan." Qianqian looked at Grampwen, who was using a branch to painstakingly learn simplified Falan characters in the sand tray. Suddenly he spoke up, "I’ve been thinking about His Majesty’s affairs recently."

"Mr. Qianqian." Grampwen set down the branch, saying helplessly, "We’re at a crucial time now, let’s avoid divisive words."

"But the more I think about it recently, the stranger it seems." Qianqian stroked his smooth chin.

"What strange about it?"

"In the Demon Rabbit Forest, everyone had their minds interfered by bone flutes, everyone except His Majesty Horn and Jeanne, right?"

"Right."

"Then, after they rescued Jia Li, Jia Li only became close with the Saint’s Grandson and Jeanne, right?"

"Right."

"You see, Horn’s mana was capable of pulling a bow that even witches couldn’t, right?"

Grampwen fell silent.

"You see, sir Horn isn’t influenced by strange objects, is accepted by witches’ kind, and most importantly, his magical strength surpasses witches.

Should we consider the possibility that His Majesty Horn is actually a male witch or Demon Man?"

"How could there be male witches?"

"Could you presume the gender of witches?"

"No, that couldn’t be." Grampwen said firmly, "When His Majesty suffered from witch’s illness, I witnessed it myself. A witch suffering from witch’s illness is impossible."

"That’s what puzzles me. If he’s not a witch, he exhibits many witch-like traits. If he is a witch,

how could he suffer from witch’s illness?"

Qianqian grabbed his hair, pondering days why he couldn’t figure it out.

Perhaps, upon arriving at Black Snake Bay, specialist Wizards might examine him to discern the truth.