After returning to Riley City, Benjamin issued orders to the resistance organization strongholds in various places, informing them to gather as soon as possible. Two days later, they gathered in a forest outside the city.
—Now that he has a future direction, Benjamin should also give an explanation to the people who follow him.
At the same time, the time Stewart provided for him to think about it was naturally forgotten by him and he was too lazy to care about it. From the moment he entered Riley City, he was like a drop of water falling into the sea, hiding all traces and disappearing completely.
In addition, in the past few days, the situation in Frieden has been turbulent again, and rebellions have broken out in several places. The general was so busy that he naturally had no time to care about him.
So, two days passed without any accidents.
"Thank you all for being here today, but as you can see, the church has been driven out of Freden by us. I have also verified this, and it is true and correct news."
That afternoon, in the quiet woods, Benjamin looked at the mages with different expressions in front of him and smiled, convening the last meeting of this resistance organization.
Upon hearing this, the mages all smiled with joy, as if the burden on their shoulders was finally lifted.
For these mages living in Freeden, facing the hostility of the church for the first time, they performed well enough. To a certain extent, they saved the other mages in Freden who stood by and defended this relatively free living environment.
Benjamin also felt relieved.
He took a deep breath and continued: "Therefore, this will also be our last gathering. In order to resist the church, everyone has sacrificed a lot, changed their appearance, and remained anonymous... Now, it is also time for everyone to live a normal life again. Life, disband this organization.”
When everyone heard this, many people showed a little reluctance. After all, after fighting side by side for so long, it is inevitable that there will be some feelings. However, returning to their old life is what they long for!
They looked at each other and smiled, like companions at the end of a journey, patting each other's shoulders with emotion.
"Then... what are your plans in the future? If I want to join the force you were in, am I qualified?" Someone spoke and asked Benjamin.
Some mages also looked expectantly.
Benjamin shook his head and said: "If you really want to come, of course we will not refuse. It's just... we won't be in Freden soon. Are you really willing to follow us and leave home?"
Hearing this, the mages all became stunned.
"Lord Benjamin... do you want to leave?"
Benjamin nodded: "We would not have stayed in Freden. In fact, we are not the Icol mages we previously claimed. We are from the Kingdom of Hori - yes, it is the one completely ruled by the church. The mages are even A country that did not dare to take to the streets. Forced by life, we escaped from that place, but we are still looking forward to the day when we can return to our homeland."
The first twenty or so mages smiled and looked at each other. I don’t know who suddenly spoke up and said, “Back then, we were still clamoring to overthrow the church.”
The remaining mages were a little confused.
Obviously, they didn't think that much. To them, the Kingdom of Hori is simply another world. Driving the church out of their country would have been a complete victory.
Benjamin didn’t want to force them.
"We will leave Freden in the next few days and go to another country. There will also be many church forces there. Our future plan is to spread the ideas you have learned to that country and let the people there The mage stepped forward and joined us. Eventually, we will drive the church away from there. When we accumulate enough strength, we may counterattack the Kingdom of Hori."
He didn't describe the blueprint in too much detail. There are too many variables in the future, and he has been slapped in the face so many times, so how can he dare to speak nonsense again.
Today's meeting is just to give everyone an explanation.
"... That's about it. You don't have to feel sorry. After all, you are already doing great things by being able to drive the church out of here. So... that's it for today's meeting. Let's disperse."
Just like that, he didn't know what he was talking about. In the end, Benjamin saluted the mages, turned around, sighed slightly, and walked out of the woods. It was considered as a tribute to today's gathering. Made a closure.
How many people will follow him
Although he told himself not to have too much hope, in his heart, Benjamin still couldn't help but think so.
He was too embarrassed to look back, so he had to observe secretly using the water element sensing method.
I saw more than twenty mages who had escaped from the Kingdom of Hori hurriedly following him. Their expressions did not look disappointed at all, but looked very happy. The remaining mages looked at each other, some bowed deeply to Benjamin's back, and then turned and left with regretful expressions; some stopped where they were, at a loss; some hesitated and followed.
Some people chose to leave, while others followed.
Benjamin felt that his palms were slightly hot.
"Lord Benjamin, all the friends I know have been burned together with the Freemasonry. You can't leave the three of us here." Tony followed up with his two companions and said with a smile.
"You walk slower and be considerate of me, a guy in a wheelchair." Maurice was pushed by the four thieves and squeaked to catch up. "I have some grudges to settle in the Kingdom of Horli, so I will follow you first. You."
"It's interesting to fight against the church. Anyway, we are tired of living in the desert of the East. If the elders follow you, we will follow you." The reclusive mage came up one after another, and the entire team suddenly grew.
Finally, a group of them came to the edge of the woods. Benjamin was finally able to look back and nodded.
The team of hundreds of people... was larger than he imagined.
At that moment, he was really touched.
"Thank you all." Faced with this situation, he didn't know what to say, so he turned around and said, "No more nonsense... let's change the place and make him turn upside down again!"
Immediately, the mages who decided to follow also burst into cheers.
Benjamin smiled.
It seems that the people who like to follow him have an indelible troublemaking gene engraved in their bones.
As for the boss lady and the old blacksmith, although they are not young, they all look a little excited at the moment. In the past, Benjamin had never seriously spoken to them about "returning to the Kingdom of Hori". Although they hate it there, hearing such words can still arouse an unspeakable emotion.
Whether they miss their homeland or have unresolved feelings... Probably, deep down in their hearts, they are longing to return to the country controlled by the church with their heads held high as a victor.