Todd flipped through the booklet in his hand, which detailed the list of top leaders of the church army and their recent actions.
Turning to one of the pages, Todd's hand stopped.
"Who is this Katili?"
Yarbrough replied: "Katili is the southern contact person for this weapons procurement. I heard that this person has a close relationship with the imperial army."
"What kind of person is he?"
Yarbrough pondered for a moment and then said: "This man is obviously from the southern empire, but he has the face of a northern plains man. Whether he talks or acts, he does not look like a soldier, but more like a down-and-out noble.
No matter when and where, I always wear thick clothes and have a lingering strong scent of perfume."
"Katili...Katili."
Todd recalled it carefully, but the name didn't have much of an impression in his mind.
Just as she was about to ask more questions, Evie walked up to Todd, leaned down in the latter's ear, and said softly: "The grand leader of the Muxi Knights is back."
Todd paused, then turned his head and asked, "Is he the only one in Cumberland?"
Evie curled her lips and said in a lower voice: "The Queen of the Holy Acropolis is here too."
Todd nodded, indicating that he understood. He turned to Yarbrough and said, "I have a general understanding of the situation. I will let the Prime Minister of the Kingdom confirm the details with you."
Knowing that the king wanted to leave, Yarborough lowered his head, bowed slightly and took a few steps back.
Todd stood up from his seat, turned around and walked into the passage at the back of the hall.
Evie followed closely and walked out, raising her eyebrows and asked: "Who do you plan to see first?"
Todd glanced at her sideways: "Cumberland, of course."
Evie shrugged: "Cumberland is in the king's audience room, and Mary is in the palace. I'm just worried that you are going in the wrong direction."
Todd shook his head helplessly, followed the corridor stairs, stepped onto the second floor of the main hall of the palace, opened the door and walked into the king's audience room.
Wearing a suit of armor, Cumberland didn't even have time to wipe off the dust on his body. He stood like a javelin in the audience room.
At Cumberland's age, if placed in another world, he would be considered an elderly man.
But no matter in his words, deeds or behavior, he still gives people an indescribable sense of majesty and tenacity.
"His Majesty."
Cumberland gave Todd a simple military salute, and then spread a large stack of reports and letters on the table in the audience room.
"The situation on the eastern border is not very good. Perhaps it should be said that it is very bad. The kingdoms that support Protestantism and the Church of Heavenly Father have been divided into two incompatible forces."
Pointing to the dense red crosses on the map, Cumberland said in a deep voice: "Graham, Gonzano, Far Lake... every parish has become a battlefield, and fire and smoke can be seen everywhere on the land.
"
"The children of the Knights eat and sleep on horses every day, just to save one more village and kill more bastards!"
"Last week, because the distance was too far and reinforcements could not be sent in time, the Principality of Queconaville was captured by thugs overnight. The Grand Duke's family, who were Protestants, were stripped naked, their limbs cut off, and they were hung upside down in a tree with their abdomens
A cross wound was made and all the internal organs were removed."
Cumberland, who became more and more angry as he spoke, hit the table with his palm: "Your Majesty, we can't go on like this!"
Todd looked through the documents and stretched out his hand to stop Cumberland's roar: "I met with the cardinal of the Church of Heavenly Father today, and he brought a document of ordination."
Cumberland was stunned: "Consecration document?"
"They hope to unite the Protestant Church with the Church of Heavenly Father and elect me as the new pope."
Cumberland was a little confused: "Why?"
Todd spent a few minutes giving a brief introduction to Cumberland about the factional struggles within Heavenly Father's Church.
The latter quickly reacted: "Your Majesty! This is a good opportunity!"
"I understand that if everything is true as the cardinal said, then this is the best time to resolve the religious dispute once and for all."
Cumberland rubbed his hands and said excitedly: "I'll go back and start arranging the armaments and counting the soldiers!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Cumberland turned around and walked to the door. Just when his hand touched the handle, he stopped again.
"Your Majesty, there is one more thing."
Cumberland turned around slowly, with a subtle expression on his face.
Todd asked strangely: "What's the matter?"
Cumberland's face showed a rare hesitation: "Your Majesty, I don't like to mince words. I would like to ask, for you, has the Knights of Muxi lost their value?"
Todd looked at the old knight in surprise: "Why do you say that?"
Cumberland sighed: "In the north, you single-handedly established the Crusaders. These alien soldiers, who are no longer human, are superior to the knights in combat capabilities. My subordinates often tell me that Your Majesty values these soldiers more.
The Holy Crusaders and Knights have come to an end."
Todd frowned and did not interrupt Cumberland's speech.
"There are many members of the Knights who have heard that the Crusaders are servants of gods and can enter the Kingdom of Heaven after death. In order to have a good place to live after death, they either leave forcibly, or leave without saying goodbye and give up everything.
I took a boat to the north to participate in the transformation ceremony."
Cumberland shook his head and said: "Especially those young people, who yearn for the power and status of the Crusaders, regardless of the opposition of their parents and the persuasion of their wives and children to stay, they would rather sever ties with their families and give up all their wealth to go to the north.
Go and try the Transformation Ceremony
.In their words, if you succeed, you will not only have unrivaled power, but also become a member of the servants of God. Even if you fail, it doesn't matter. When your soul returns to heaven, it will always have a good destination.
, and will not be sent to hell to suffer.”
After saying these words, Cumberland lowered his head. Fatigue made the old man look even older.
"Except for those strong-willed old men, the hearts of the Knights have gradually dispersed. People no longer advocate honor and responsibility, but instead pursue the power and immortality brought by aliens."
Cumberland raised his head and looked at Todd: "Your Majesty, if you wish to replace glory with faith, then I implore you to at least give the children of the Knights a suitable way out."
"As for me... I'm old... When I get up in the morning, I can even hear the rusty sound between my bones. I'm used to being a human being. I don't want to see my old man in heaven after I die.
When you are with your wife and son, you look like a foreigner, and you will be laughed at."
"Your Majesty, when the Knights are no longer needed, it will be time for me to retire..."
After saying these words, Cumberland gave a military salute to the king and walked out of the king's audience room with heavy steps.