Taking the "Night Shuttling" scroll, Lucian tried to maintain his smile but found he couldn't manage one. "Master, things won't deteriorate that badly. Even if Saer de betrays us and the Pope appears and unleashes the Divine Descent at full power, the most they could do is kill one peak Legendary directly. They'd still need to guard against the Northern Church and the Dark Council. Managing to field seventeen or eight Legendaries would be considered good enough, and the Council's lords won't be any fewer."
"If the situation takes a sudden turn for the worse, you'll need to factor in Saer de and the five other Holy Spirit Priests, plus the seven Epic Knights from the Holm Kingdom, the Colette Kingdom, the Brianna Kingdom, the Gallet Duchy, and the Northern Coastal Corridor — that's nearly thirty Legendaries. Add the quasi-divine Pope, and it's anyone's guess how many of our Legendary mages could fight their way out in a straight confrontation." Fernando would rather prepare for the absolute worst from the outset.
Then his crimson eyes flickered with amusement as he looked at Lucian. "Don't underestimate the Pope. Without the Divine Descent, he's still a quasi-divine being. Apart from powerhouses like Douglas, Dracula, and Brook — who've been at the peak of the Legendary rank for many years — and can hold their own against him for a time, most other Legendary powerhouses might not survive a single blow from him."
At this point, Fernando — who was either lecherously unserious or sternly irritable — rarely let out a wistful sigh. "Moreover, the power of the Divine Descent is terrifying. Once it locks onto a peak Legendary, it's an instant kill, whether you're alone or several gathered together. For Douglas to bring the 'Eternal Blazing Sun' anywhere near that level, he'd need to ascend to quasi-divine status at minimum. That's precisely why the Council is taking the risk of cooperating with Saer de to act before the Pope's Divine Descent recovers."
"Otherwise, ten years from now, who's going to drain the Divine Descent? I doubt that by then, whether it's me, Hathaway, Douglas, or Brook, any of us would have the noble character to sacrifice ourselves for the greater good. And if we try to fight together, we all die. Besides, most importantly, for the seven Epic Knights, whether or not the Pope has access to the Divine Descent will strongly influence their final decision."
"Once they fully side with us, it'll be the Pope's turn to weigh the pros and cons. After all, the maximum force the Southern Church can muster will only equal ours — they'll no longer have an overwhelming advantage. He'll have to consider the devastating scenario of burning through the Divine Descent, only to have most of his remaining Holy Spirit Priests and Holy Knights fall as well in a pyrrhic victory — which would be an enormous windfall for the Dark Council and the Northern Church."
Lucian nodded, understanding the Council's strategy: use this plan to create favorable conditions that would flip the seven Epic Knights. Once that was accomplished, the grand momentum would be set. Even if the Pope recovered the Divine Descent, he'd have to face the reality that a full-scale war would very likely end with both sides shattered, leaving others to reap the benefits.
"As for Natasha, we've already set certain things in motion. Combined with Saer de's provocation, there should be a good chance of getting the nobility to fully side with us. And the overall lean of the nobility will certainly affect the Epic Knights' decision. Master, what if we do this..." Lucian proposed a small suggestion — one he'd prepared well in advance.
Fernando nodded gravely, his expression somber. "No matter the effect, anything that adds weight to our side is worth doing. Among the seven Epic Knights, we've quietly won over five to some degree. Before the situation tips in our favor, even if they choose to watch and wait at first, they shouldn't refuse to hear us out. I'll communicate with them."
The two then ran through projections of what moves Saer de might make depending on his true objective, his arrangements, and their corresponding countermeasures.
"If Saer de's goal really is what we think, I'll notify you immediately. Heh — let's hope your response proves effective. As for you, since you'll be near Neksa Palace, do everything you can to help Natasha seize control of the palace's Divine Arts defense array over the entire city. That's a critical step to guard against any changes. Morris and the other Holm royal family mages will cooperate with you." The Storm Dominion issued his orders — sending Lucian there wasn't merely about giving him an escape route. It also stemmed from his special relationship with Natasha, which would allow her to cooperate without reservations.
Londet's overall Divine Arts defense array wasn't as powerful as those of the Cathedral of Radiance or Neksa Palace, but it was still superior to Altor's. Once activated, its controller would gain a considerable advantage. Control was divided into two relatively independent sections: one in the Cathedral of Radiance, and one in Neksa Palace. The former would be handed over to the Council as soon as Saer de left the cathedral. The latter depended on Natasha.
Lucian said nothing more, nodding solemnly in agreement. Then, with a touch of curiosity, he asked, "Master, why didn't we reach out to other factions to cooperate?"
"A plan like this must be kept absolutely secret. If we tried to bring in the Northern Church or the Dark Council, the information would very likely leak early, alerting the Church. Moreover, their options are limited — they'd either wait for both sides to bleed each other dry and then swoop in as the winner-takes-all, or use the opportunity to attack the Church's vulnerable interior. They wouldn't rush to join the battlefield. What we need to seize is this time differential — use the grand momentum to deter the Church from daring to wage a full-scale war." Fernando offered a brief explanation. "As for our other allies, those willing to come will definitely arrive once they sense the shift. Those unwilling won't come even if we seek them out in advance."
This matter, even within the Arcane Council itself, was known in detail only to the High Council members and a handful of top-clearance mages like Lucian. Those who merely knew it existed were limited to a few members of the Affairs Committee. The vast majority of Archanists and Magic Apprentices had no idea that a seismic shift was imminent. On the other side, Natasha had told no one but herself, simply guiding the nobles toward deepening their rift with the Church and nurturing their desire to find a new balance.
…………
The fourteenth day of the Month of Raging Flames, noon.
On the thirty-fifth floor of the Alinger Mage Tower, reports continued to sound out:
"Confirmed: Pope Benedict II is preaching in the holy city of Rance today. He has not left."
"Confirmed: Saints Mermos, Anastas, Maria, and others are near the Pope. None have left."
"Confirmed: Ascetic leader Saint Otin is in the new extra-dimensional space. He has not left."
"Confirmed: Ascetic leader Valenshil has entered the confession chamber in the holy city of Rance to pray. He has not left."
"Confirmed: Adjudicator Bahaula is at the Tribunal headquarters. He has not left."
"Confirmed: Radiance of God Belial is at the Northern Fortress. He has not left."
……
Confirmation after confirmation streamed in, keeping the High Council and the mages participating in the operation — Lucian among them — fully apprised of the situation.
"Unable to confirm the movements of Tribunal giant, Nightwatcher Saint Anthony, Deputy Inquisitor Brentes, or the Night Watch's top-ranked 'Flame of Origins.'"
"Unable to confirm……"