Chapter 1410 - 1324: All Roads Lead to Death

Chapter 1410: Chapter 1324: All Roads Lead to Death

October, 1463.

Skull Throne City.

Serafe wore a silver silk robe and a fourfold crown, sitting high upon the throne.

Blood Servants constantly came and went, delivering documents and issuing orders, while on both sides of the corridor pillars stood two sparse rows of Royal Court elites.

The scene was all too familiar, as Serafe held these routine meetings every ten days to handle affairs of all scales.

In the past, the hall would surely be filled with heated arguments, even interventions.

But now, many vampires appeared somewhat distracted.

If asked why, wasn’t it because of the current eastward expansion war situation?

Although the matter of fifty thousand soldiers was significant, the Royal Court had countless greedy and fervent soldiers ready to join.

Stories of plundering enough wealth and ascension from the Eastern Continent, returning home to become vampire elites of vampires, had long circulated.

Yet, while the matter of fifty thousand soldiers seemed minor, it had stirred the entire Royal Court.

The Saint’s Grandson was too despicable, using these fifty thousand soldiers to blackmail.

If choosing a three-year or five-year ceasefire, what would become of the current aggressive advance along the Nao’an River?

Both southern and northern clans agreed, while central army’s No Light City high clans outright refused.

Then if choosing to cede White Sand Land in exchange for the immediate release of all northern clan armies?

Similarly, both central and northern armies agreed, while southern army outright refused.

These Holy Alliance diplomats incited the clan representatives inside, and newspapers outside continued stoking the fire, with the matter undecided, the three-clan friction was already relentless.

At this point, the best way was certainly to initiate a major purge and minor civil war, forcibly correct their thoughts, and cleanse the residue of the old Royal Court.

Yet that would inevitably drag on for two or three years, still serving the Saint’s Grandson’s purpose.

This is no longer a two-way blockade; it’s a four-way blockade.

Fifty thousand soldiers, what of it? 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Such vast land, so many soldiers, all lost, all died, what of this negotiation?

They were just terrified of Serafe’s attitude to restart the battle; they were exhausted, wondering when this battle would end.

Why not choose to ceasefire? Unless, perhaps, His Majesty’s health is failing?

If His Majesty had failing health, then is it... The ministers exchanged glances.

In this scene, Serafe’s lips curled into a sneer mixed with helpless sorrow.

During the previous century’s war, the Princes who betrayed her exchanged glances just like this; now, it seemed as if that past had returned.

"...Have the few corps from the homeland rotation arrived?" Serafe deliberately asked them loudly.

The Royal Court elites and governors exchanging glances bowed their heads, and only a relevant governor stepped forward: "Recruitment in the northern regions faces difficulties; it might be delayed..."

"If delayed, prioritize supplementing the Royal Palace Guards; clan armies lacking personnel should be promoted directly from the Servant Army."

"Wouldn’t that lead to spies infiltrating? Many veterans might feel it’s unfair."

"If I say it’s fair, then it’s fair, or keep veteran benefits unchanged and adjust new soldier benefits accordingly, your call."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Have all the mission leaders arrived?" Serafe asked the ministers.

Soon, twelve vampires, led by Konyaz, formed a human-shaped array in front of Serafe, kneeling slowly, full-body prostration.

"The army should complete training and supplementation, strive to finish by winter, as I intend to launch a counterattack in winter, abandon the northern front, and directly strike the Holy Alliance."

Serafe now understood that unless the Holy Alliance was eliminated, the remaining kingdoms would have eternal resources and continuously regenerate, growing ever stronger.

Only by vanquishing the Holy Alliance first would the remaining kingdoms collapse without resistance.

Moreover, given the current situation, if it continued, it might replicate the past where the Princes locked her mortal form, dismembered the Main Church of Longevity, and refused her return to earth.

She must succeed in a single stroke, or else, once she grows old and dies, the True God Witch might awaken within that lucky individual’s body!

"Yes!" With a uniform response, the mission leaders stood up in turn.

To the surprise of all vampires, all other eleven Angels stood, except the one in the center.

"Konyaz?" Serafe looked at Konyaz, her face gradually darkening.

"I am willing to fight for Your Majesty, but I have a request, hoping Your Majesty will agree." The prostrate Konyaz seemed to muster all his strength to say this.

"Are you negotiating with me? What? If I don’t agree, you won’t fight?" Serafe lowered her crossed legs and leaned forward.

"If Majesty doesn’t agree to my condition, insisting on ordering me to fight, then I’ll deafen myself!"

"Are you coercing me?" Serafe rose from the throne, and with her words, several Angels and governors paled.

Konyaz, Serafe’s first Angel, destined to be the first Angel upon success, coercing Serafe?

After a brief instant of silence, whispering began and swiftly became a torrent-like commotion.

"This isn’t coercion; if it were, why would I come in white?" Konyaz said without raising his head, "Besides, the lives of us twelve Angels are in Your Majesty’s hands; we wouldn’t betray anyone, let alone Your Majesty!"

As Lilith’s divine descendance, Serafe had lost part of her true soul and, as Cynthia said, "had residual strategy."

If facing a full-form True God Witch, unless the Holy Alliance’s hard power and production matched the Giant Dragon level, it feared being toyed with.

As Lilith’s divine descendance, Serafe also wielded part of Lilith’s might.

For instance, the flesh buds she bestowed were extracted from fingertips, twenty buds controlling twenty vampire brains.

Most significantly, the army, while the rest dispersed within the Royal Court’s suppression institutions, general political structures, and essential supervision departments.

Konyaz was fortunate to receive one, unable ever to regenerate thoughts harmful to Serafe.

Thus, it was evident; he genuinely said these words for Serafe’s benefit.

Serafe understood this point, yet felt apprehensive about Konyaz’s control exceeding her own.

Even knowing he was undoubtedly acting for her, she must test, must question.

"What do you want?"

"I want Your Majesty’s promise."

"What promise?"

Konyaz did not raise his head but murmured, "Please, Your Majesty, listen to my heartfelt plea."

"..." Serafe closed her eyes, and two seconds later, she abruptly opened them, anger visible, "How audacious, do you want to seize my military authority?"

Saying so, she kicked out, striking Konyaz with a crack of teeth, rolling on the ground for several circles before stopping.

Around, the Royal Court elites were filled with muted exclamations, shocked once for Konyaz’s audacity, surprised again at Konyaz’s favored status.

For anyone else, even another mission leader, the moment they spoke, it might have ended in "dragged out and executed/confined to sober up/stripped of military rank."

Yet Konyaz merely took a kick, an immense concession.

From the prone position, the first mission leader scrambled up, continued to bow.

"The twelve mission leaders leading troops are all Your Majesty’s Angels; who could seize your military authority? It’s just that abroad, a thousand miles away, Your Majesty’s plan ultimately isn’t as swift as the Holy Alliance’s deceitful changes."

"Courting death!"

"Audacious, daring to speak ill of Your Majesty!"

"He’s a Holy Alliance spy, drag him out..."

Standing in the center of the hall, Serafe, usually calm and decisive, now showed indescribable fear and hesitation.

"Your Majesty!" Konyaz finally raised his head; with a single loud cry, the whole room fell silent, as every vampire present could see two streams of blood flowing from Konyaz’s eyes.

"If you ask me whether I support your direct strike against the Holy Alliance, my answer is supportive, and it must result in victory, no defeat allowed!

If you ask who shall command the entire campaign, my answer is it must be myself.

For if it continues this way, my fear isn’t for the safety of the hall’s Dukes and Princes, not the disgrace of failing to return to the Western Land, as even returning there means no burial ground!

Should we fail to destroy the Holy Alliance now, the quickest century would see us devastated instead and our Royal Court doomed!

The Royal Court may seem to have countless retreats, but without progression, each is a death road, a bottomless abyss!"