Chapter 1419 - 1331: The Night Before the Campaign

Chapter 1419: Chapter 1331: The Night Before the Campaign

This mobilization meeting wasn’t large in scale, but its spread and impact were exceptionally wide.

Meanwhile, in the diplomatic arena, due to Konyaz leading troops to battle, the diplomats from the Holy Alliance left in anger.

Thus, in the realm of public opinion, be it among the populace or officials, all Imperial people continued reporting simultaneously.

Some of which, in Horn’s view, bordered on defamation, with Falan attributing its scandals to the Royal Court.

Regardless, apart from a few "those asleep while I alone am awake" types, most humans were disappointed with the negotiations and the Royal Court.

They gradually realized that this war wouldn’t cease casually anymore.

Yet they also acknowledged that, according to the Holy Alliance, this is likely the last major battle.

Win or lose, this is the final decisive deal!

Within the Empire, a frenzy of conscription arose, as young men from Leia, Falan, and Bear Castle Territory sought to enlist.

Unlike before, many hailed from families of citizens and scholars, equipped with manifold exemption means.

Of course, most had no military training and couldn’t serve as proper soldiers.

As for the Holy Alliance, picking some for training in boot camp to serve as temporary junior officers or soldiers was possible.

The rest could serve as militia, handling logistics competently.

For Falan, this solved an urgent problem, conveniently boosting literacy rates within the Falan Army.

Otherwise, the Falan Army lacked the strong tactical self-regulation and fault-tolerance of the Holy Alliance Army.

By mid-October, Horn, who had been discussing battle plans at the Holy Mechanism Court, received the news—

The Royal Court had waged war unannounced, advancing directly towards Golden Soup Castle, intending to first rescue the fifty thousand emaciated prisoners.

Upon receiving the news, Horn decisively decided to take the train directly to the front line.

Now that the Ethereal Tower in Xia Lvcheng was completed, Horn’s special train could virtually supply mercury indefinitely to drive the Spring Machine.

The day before departure, Horn ceased handling political and military affairs, spending the entire day playing with his daughter and wife.

Living through two lives, Horn, in mental age, is almost fifty years old; this is his first daughter, indulging her boundlessly.

As for Jia Li, she seemed to forget her previous claim that what lay in her belly was "trouble," constantly revolving around her daughter once born.

Not only them; Catherine and Hilov, despite their busy schedules, always found time to play with little Bellia.

Due to excessive pampering, the populace began calling Bellia the Grand Princess early on.

Horn disliked this term, but stopping people’s mouths was hard, especially since Jia Li enjoyed it.

On the day Horn headed to the front, besides Jeanne, he, Catherine, Hilov, and Jia Li all gathered to play with little Bellia.

As the feast ended, Bellia, having spent some time with Horn, grew tired and fell into a deep sleep.

Knowing they would rise early the next day, Hilov and Catherine went to bed, leaving Horn and Jia Li alone in the living room.

"When is Hilov departing?" Jia Li, having calmed Bellia to sleep, asked Horn.

Horn stood up, moved to the nursery window, and replied blandly, "She will be on standby in Xia Lvcheng next month, proceeding to the designated battlefield based on circumstances."

"What about Catherine?"

"She delegated work to several subordinates at the Bureau of Holy Production Guardianship; I’ve appointed her as head of internal affairs, responsible for military logistics and commercial liaison."

"And me?"

Horn drew a deep breath, expecting the crux of the conversation: "You’ll stay at the Holy Mechanism Court, oversee the situation, in case vampires cause trouble locally."

"René could handle it similarly."

"Someone needs to stay, and you hold sufficient prestige, plus Bellia needs you."

Horn gazed through the glass at little Bellia, rocked by the nanny in her cradle.

"If I perish in battle, or something happens, and the Holy Alliance cannot smoothly transition to a republic, then Bellia would have to assume the position temporarily."

"I disagree!"

"Doesn’t this align with your wishes? A Three-King bloodline Bellia Empress..."

"Keep saying that, and I’ll get angry." Jia Li approached Horn, cradling his face with both hands, "I indeed crave power, but it doesn’t mean I don’t love you."

Horn grasped her hands: "What about little Bellia?"

"What difference would it make?" Jia Li shook her head, "If the Witch resurrects, the flames of apocalypse shall consume everything, how could my Bellia survive?"

Horn fell silent: "Did Hilov tell you?"

"I don’t particularly like her, but on this matter, we share the same opinion." Jia Li lowered her head, resting her forehead against Horn’s, "We need to ensure you have sufficient leverage on the battlefield."

"You aren’t my leverage..."

"You’ve staked yourself; don’t we possess such courage?" Jia Li’s faint scent enveloped Horn’s face as he quietly embraced her waist.

Horn knew, given Jia Li’s intelligence, she had certainly deduced it.

For if Serif dies, and the True God Witch resurrects to bring the end times, why bother staying behind or entrusting the child?

Horn is someone who values logic, and Jia Li trusts that his affection for the four witches is equal.

He couldn’t be so selfish, nor could he favor anyone.

Thus, the only possibility remains: he found a way to prevent the apocalypse should Serif die.

In fact, that’s precisely the case.

While in Black Snake Bay, Horn stayed in the Underground Palace conversing with Cynthia, seeking if Lilith’s untimely demise occurred, how to hinder the resurrection of the True God Witch?

The Red Dragon, likewise, provided a proposal from the shared dragon memory: forcefully utilizing the Holy Tree for suppression.

Unfortunately, this required Horn to permanently sit on the throne beneath the Holy Tree, nearly forfeiting freedom.

Such a scenario is undesirable, yet Horn secretly instructed the Mechanical Palace to modify the throne under the Holy Tree per the Red Dragon’s blueprint.

Through dialogue with the Red Dragon, the true nature of the Holy Tree became apparent.

For comparison, the Holy Tree resembles a satellite—a black-box technology distinct from dragon language ether.

Divine Art requests specific technology from this satellite.

Eventually, should that day arrive and Serif be dead, with the True God Witch set to resurrect, he’ll immediately take the throne.

Provided he doesn’t harbor or act upon ambitions of becoming the True God Witch, the Holy Tree will continually suppress with Divine Art.

But that necessitates constructing numerous monasteries and churches to accommodate praying monks.

Previously, while praying, worshippers supplied coordinates and channels to activate Divine Art from the Holy Tree.

Now, merely to suppress the True God Witch, expending these resources became necessary.

Horn’s greatest fear is that the Holy Alliance he’d spent half his life building, altering the world, would revert to the former Divine Essence Sect.

His Holy Sect would be akin to hanging a sheep’s head while peddling dog meat, spouting theology against theology.

If he truly becomes a god—and only maintaining his divine status averts apocalypse—the Holy Sect becomes a literal sheep’s head selling sheep’s meat.

Therefore, it’s a battle that must be won under specific conditions.

But Horn must proceed!

"It’s perilous; my biggest fear? That I complete the True God Witch’s sealing, but you perish in battle..."

"Didn’t you always say ’no flagging’? How come you’re flagging now?" Jia Li pressed a finger to Horn’s lips, "Are you that confident? Perhaps we’ll die together?"

Horn shrugged: "That’s not a bad ending."

Jia Li laughed mildly, resting her head on Horn’s shoulder: "What’s your definitive take?"

"Sigh—" Horn tiptoed, both nestled their heads on each other’s necks like entwined swans, "Then let’s go together; we’ve always been together anyway."