Chapter 514: The Church
TL: Rui88
“That is indeed the worst-case scenario.”
A spasm of dread went through MacDonald’s heart.
If, as he had suggested, the tenth appearance of the Star of Calamity symbolised an invasion in general, rather than a specific enemy, then the scope of the threat was even greater.
Aldridge was also frightened by his own conjecture.
“Therefore! We must prepare a powerful military force to face the worst-case scenario.”
Seeing the two men almost frozen in a daze, Scholar Arvis spoke loudly. The forcefulness in his voice brought them back to their senses.
“Arvis is right. We must strengthen our power.”
Reminded by his junior colleague, the sharp glint returned to Aldridge’s eyes.
He said, “Marshal MacDonald, we are now going to tell you the main topic of today’s conversation.”By this point in their discussion, MacDonald had actually already figured out most of the inside story.
The struggle for the succession to the throne, Prince Antonio’s origins, the mysterious wizard organisation, the White Tower abandoning its neutrality, the legendary Demon Race, the terrifying prophecy of the apocalypse.
He had already connected all these things together.
“Just as you should be able to imagine in your heart right now.”
Aldridge said, his tone now filled with sincerity.
“The White Tower has abandoned the neutrality it has always upheld in politics and has joined this struggle for the throne, all in order to be able to build up a powerful force. And the most convenient, most effective way…the decision we made after careful consideration…is to unite with the wizards. Therefore, we chose Prince Antonio, who has deep ties to the wizarding world. Of course, I do not deny that my friendship with Prince Antonio’s maternal grandfather, Sycor Hewitt, had a great influence on my choice. But…”
“In any case, it must be admitted that wizards possess a mighty power that is beyond the reach of mortals. If the invaders of our human world are the legendary Demon Race, and if the Demon Race truly possesses all sorts of strange abilities as the legends say, then the best weapon we humans have to fight them is the wizards. As the saying goes…use magic to defeat magic.”
“And as you know, the image of wizards in the secular world is very poor. Due to the long-standing public opinion shaped by the Church, they have always been misunderstood and even feared by the world. Every wizard must carefully hide their identity in order to survive. But they also want to walk openly in the sunlight, so…”
MacDonald understood at once. “The White Tower desires power, and the wizards desire a public identity…”
“Yes, we hit it off immediately.”
Aldridge nodded to him in confirmation. He paused, looking at MacDonald. Seeing no expression of disgust or anger on the other’s face, he continued with relief, “Marshal MacDonald, do you know how that child you were looking after was rescued?”
“You mean Jonny?”
MacDonald was startled, but then he realised that since the White Tower was on Prince Antonio’s side, it was not at all strange for them to know about this matter. It was even possible that the wise man before him had been the one to suggest rescuing Jonny to the prince.
MacDonald had asked how Prince Antonio’s men had rescued Jonny that night, but the prince had only been vague, saying he would tell him when the time was right.
Had the right time finally come?
“Yes, Marshal MacDonald, that very child. I might as well tell you plainly now. It was the wizards of the Arcane Society who rescued Jonny. Using the wondrous powers they possess, they broke through the heavy guard, extracted Jonny’s location from the mind of a powerful, highly-trained assassin, and finally rescued the child, all while concealing their actions perfectly from the world.”
“If ordinary people had been sent…and by ordinary people, I mean in comparison to wizards…it would have been impossible to achieve such a perfect result. Ordinary people would either be unable to break through the heavy guard, or they would be unable to do it without a trace. It is highly likely they would fail at both.”
After hearing Scholar Aldridge’s description, MacDonald nodded inwardly in agreement.
“Marshal MacDonald.” Aldridge asked, “Do you think what the White Tower has done is correct?”
MacDonald stroked his beard and answered honestly, “I cannot raise any objections, at the very least.”
“Do you not hold the secular prejudice against spellcasters…as the wizards call themselves?”
“Oh, to be specific, I at least have no prejudice against their abilities. Just as a weapon is neither righteous nor evil, what matters is whether the person using the weapon is righteous or evil.”
“But…” MacDonald asked doubtfully, “If it’s just a small team, it’s fine for carrying out an assassination or some sabotage. But for a large-scale army battle, it seems somewhat inadequate.”
“Therefore…” Arvis continued, clenching his right hand into a fist in mid-air, “we need the support of the power of the state to build an army of wizards, in order to fight against the powerful enemy that is to come.”
“An army of wizards?”
Arvis’s words struck MacDonald as utterly incredible.
Such beings were nearly the stuff of legend themselves, and now they were to form an entire army?
What’s more…
“The Church, or rather, the Holy See, would they allow it?”
MacDonald thought of the most critical problem.
“Heh heh. Of course they won’t allow it.”
Aldridge let out a cold laugh, a hint of chilling iciness mixed within it.
“The Church will be the biggest stumbling block on our path forward.”
Arvis also chimed in, “This stumbling block must be cleared away.”
Clear away the Church like a stumbling block?
Although MacDonald had received more than enough shocks for one day since entering the White Tower, at this moment he was still utterly stunned by the two scholars’ words.
To the people of Gabella, the Church was God’s representative on earth. What’s more, behind the Church was the Holy See, which was already no different from a powerful nation…in that sense, it would be more appropriate to call it a Papal State.
“Are… are you serious in what you say?”
MacDonald asked the two scholars, his face a picture of disbelief.
“Of course, my dear Marshal. I won’t hide it from you. You know that the eldest prince is backed by the Dias Family, but who is behind the Dias Family? To tell you the truth, it is the Gabella Church that is supporting them. No matter what, we must face this behemoth, the Gabella Church. It is a… massive stone.”
“What is it?” Aldridge saw the fleeting hesitation in MacDonald’s eyes. “Could it be that the Marshal’s loyalty is beginning to waver?”
“You!”
MacDonald was enraged.