688 Shadow

After the autumn harvest, time gradually flowed into winter.

For the people of the Stan Duchy, an important festival was about to arrive.

Celebrating the day of the founding of the duchy, a massive celebration would be carried out in the capital city, Santana. To increase the festive atmosphere, the ruling family would also be distributing free food and alcohol. This was perhaps the only opportunity in the year the lower class serfs could eat until they were full.

The founding celebration this time seemed to be grander than before. Many nobles had rushed over from faraway, making Santana City look like a sea of people.

This was all because the beloved daughter of Grand Duke Stan, Princess Amerie, was about to marry!

It was rumored that this princess had a voice akin to as skylark and was a favorite of the Grand Duke and his wife. However, for unknown reasons, the person she was marrying was actually not some earl or marquis, but just a baron.

At first, when they received this news, a huge commotion broke out among the noble circles of Santana City.

There were many noble youths whose hopes were dashed and wanted to find Baron Shawshank for a duel.

"Relax, Timo. Have the stature of what a baron should have!"

In this atmosphere, a simple noble procession entered the city in a low-profile manner.

Riding his horse, Fang Yuan looked at Timo beside him, smiling and encouraging, "Relax! Those people won't receive information about you entering the city."

Although Timo was already twenty-one years old, he was still a shy big boy, even seeming a bit too frail.

Hearing the words, he instantly gave a bitter laugh. "But… there's no way I can avoid the wedding ceremony!"

He had always regarded Knight Luhn as his elder brother.

Fang Yuan smiled and bantered, "To be honest, you being able to pluck the most beautiful flower out of all the Stan flowers is really too unexepected to too many people…"

Hearing this, Timo blushed a little. "I also don't know what's going on. The royal family's envoy suddenly announced this marriage. I heard… that this was my father's arrangement that year. She was originally supposed to marry my elder brother… "

"So it's like that!"

Fang Yuan nodded his head.

As the royalist, it went without saying that the previous Baron Shawshank had communication channels with the ruling family.

However, Fang Yuan found it hard to understand what that baron had actually done, or what feats he had actually accomplished, to reach the extent of Grand Duke Stan permitting his beloved daughter to marry down.

As he was thinking, their group arrived at a villa.

Here, a somewhat unexpected person seemed to have long been waiting for them.

"It's been a long time, Lord Baron, and… Knight Luhn!"

Bishop Daniel wore a black robe and stood smilingly in front of the villa that they were preparing to stay in.

Fang Yuan glanced at the other's golden thread on his ferraiolo and smiled, saying, "So it's Bishop Daniel. Oh, no, Archbishop!"

The strength of the Church of Death was greatly damaged, but it also brought about some benefits. For instance, Daniel, who originally was not qualified enough in strength nor status, not only was not investigated for the shame of defeat, but instead was promoted to the position of archbishop.

After all, the entire Church of Death was relocating to the Stan Duchy and had to promote and assign some local appointments.

Seeing this person, Timo's entire body shivered and was a little frightened, but also had a little resentment.

This expression was observed by Daniel, further making his smile wider. "I haven't congratulated you yet, Baron. Congratulations on marrying the wife of your heart's desire!"

Fang Yuan asked loudly and clearly, "You came representing the Church?"

"No. Only representing myself." A small gleam flashed through Archbishop Daniel's eyes. "And Knight Luhn, your wisdom and chivalry remains fresh in my memory!"

Is this guy here to take revenge? Coming here to inform the other party so brazenly, is it to see the enemy's fear? Or is he just a total idiot?

Fang Yuan looked at Daniel's performance and a trace of suspicion flashed through his eyes.

"The Church's Headquarters will be relocating to the Stan Duchy later. We will have many future opportunities to work together, like this time, where the baron's marriage officiant is the Pope. Farewell"

Archbishop Daniel smilingly bowed and left, while Fang Yuan pitifully glanced at Timo.

Although it was indeed a very honorable thing for the Pope of a True God church to preside over a wedding, but letting the Pope of Death be the officiant?

Timo evidently also thought about this awkward scene and couldn't help becoming flustered.

Seeing off Daniel and looking at the soldiers and servants carrying the luggage, a thought suddenly flashed through Fang Yuan's mind. "However, if the Church of Death has enough ambition, by cooperating with the Stan Duchy, they can indeed obtain much more."

If the Church of Death cooperated with other forces, even if they divided up the Stan Duchy, they would at most be allocated a small portion.

However, if they worked together with Grand Duke Stan and cooperated in resisting external forces, although it was a little risky, they would obtain many more benefits should they succeed.

From this, the personality of the current Pope of Death could be seen, and he was definitely not old-fashioned.

It's also only right. Only this kind of person would simultaneously form such a plan in the mortal world and also cooperate with the Gods to cause an uprising in the Netherworld. It's unfortunate… He was originally a good ally for Grand Duke Stan.

…

"Archbishop!"

After Daniel left the cottage, he boarded a horse carriage.

The aide respectfully bowed and, shortly after, drove the carriage away slowly.

Daniel closed his eyes and silently thought, Knight Luhn was previously a high-level professional. Now, I'm afraid he has already ascended into a Quasi-Legend?

This time, the Pope intentionally joined forces with the Stan Office. In other words, he and the Shawshank forces of the royalist party became allies.

Although it seems a little bizarre, in the upper class world, it was a really common matter in the face of benefits.

However, with this general direction, would the individuals involved really be able to forgo everything?

Archbishop Daniel closed his eyes, and it was as if he had instantly returned to the night of the castle ambush.

The frightening flames and astonishing falling rocks, the gleeful soldiers and knights—everything was so vivid. His fists clenched tightly.

"Princess Amerie marrying a lower class man of the Grand Duke's is just a cover. During the wedding, a truly huge transformation will happen!"

Daniel suddenly opened his eyes and released a bright light. "Now, so what if one or two knights died? Furthermore, in this aspect, there are people willing to provide assistance to me."

…

Santana was built by the first Grand Duke Stan, and afterwards, it had continuously expanded, having various very complete functional zones.

Other than the palace that the ruling family resided at, its close neighbor was the living quarters of the nobles.

Among them, there were around ten buildings that were particularly magnificent, directly facing the plaza and a huge, marble sculpture.

This was the glory bestowed upon by the first Grand Duke Stan, who especially built a lavish living quarters for the Legend knights, and its style was even a match for the palace.

At this moment, somewhere in an earl's mansion.

The current Earl Floren was receiving a noble guest.

The guest wore a black robe and had a cold expression, and his aura had an unparalleled fierceness that also brought some gloomy cold air. Generally, it was very similar to the atmosphere of spies.

"You… came representing the secret agency?"

Earl Floren played with the spotlessly white porcelain in his hands, looking at the swirling black tea inside, and couldn't help laughing. "Weren't you all always interested in the 'Descender' from another world?"

According to his intelligence, they were currently muddling along uselessly on the continent.

After Apophis, the most powerful Descender and the Master of the Nine Tier Purgatory, had descended, the secret agency had become a laughing stock.

How would they seize a powerful Evil God who could directly defeat the Death God and the Sun God?

Although it was rumored that the secret agency had indeed formed a number of insane plans to attack the Purgatory, it was clear that they had not been carried out once. Even going to the Netherworld to explore was seldom carried out.

"Lord Earl, don't pretend that you know nothing!"

The person from the secret agency in the black robe laughed lightly. "Don't you nobles always hope to recycle the inheritance of Death Hands? Furthermore, for this, you didn't hesitate to give up the lives of a few successors. Unfortunately, the inheritance was eventually obtained by a concubine's descendant. This is a massive humiliation!"

Once this was mentioned, Floren's expression became stagnant with a few shades of unhappiness.

The person in the black robe appeared oblivious to this and continued to expose this wound. "Also, even after he obtained the inheritance, your petty actions have never stopped, right? These years, there were at least six waves of men dispatched toward the Shawshank Territory."

"No, it was nine waves. The outcome was complete annihilation." Earl Floren started speaking coldly, "Because of this, I suspect that he has already advanced the Disaster Knight to a very high level, perhaps even being a Quasi-Legend! So the plan has already been stopped."

"However, this time is actually a very good opportunity!" The person in the black robe laughed slightly. "I'll give you another piece of intelligence, free of charge. Grand Duke Stan is preparing to act during his beloved daughter's wedding and exterminate all the nobles in conflict with the ruling family in one fell swoop. The Floren Family is unfortunately on the namelist as well."

Earl Floren's face changed.

Clearly, he had similar predictions, but did not actually believe that the grand duke would actually make a move.

After a long while, he said slowly, "I didn't think that the secret agency, which has always dissociated itself from politics, is also starting to have its own position?"

"Everything requires change, Lord."

The person in the black robe slightly bowed. "Just like how you also require our power!"

"Indeed…." Earl Floren stood determined. "I can provide a piece of intelligence for you that is related to the promotion of the Disaster Halo. Although the ancestor did not leave behind any inheritance, according to some ancient records, in order to promote the Disaster Halo, huge amounts of dead spirits and grievances needs to be absorbed!"

"This… I understand, the Church of Death?"

The person from the secret agency in the black robe was elated. "If there's tangible evidence, that would be even better!"