In any case, Benjamin took these people back to their temporary stronghold in the Kandela Mountains.
Along the way, he learned a lot about the king. And when they all reached this point, the king obviously had no other choice but to rely on Benjamin, so he had to tell everything he knew.
This also gave Benjamin a deeper understanding of the current political situation in Carrites.
Although the church can control the palace, most people outside the palace are still loyal to the king. Officials and ignorant people everywhere... they may not say they love the king, but they at least respect him.
After all, in their hearts, the word "king" means the supreme power.
Benjamin can take advantage of this.
Moreover, the king's flight was a huge problem for the church. In the past, they used the king to control the situation, "holding the emperor hostage to order the princes." But now, the king is no longer in their hands, the church has also lost the command arrow in its hands, and cannot continue to control the situation in Carites.
That is to say... the situation is very favorable for them!
"We should immediately announce it to the whole country, expose the church's conspiracy, and let everyone know that the king has left the palace. By then, the church can only run away with its tail between its legs."
During the meeting, Benjamin slammed the table and said so.
Hearing this, the other mages nodded in agreement.
The king is already on their side, so what else do they have to fear
However, just as the mages were rejoicing, Miles raised his hand and said hesitantly: "I don't want to spoil your fun, but... I have to remind you that the church has secretly prepared for a substitute."
The mages were all stunned when they heard this.
substitute…
A bad premonition suddenly appeared in Benjamin's heart.
"You mean... the church has found a person who is very similar to the king, who can completely replace the real king?"
Miles shrugged and said, "I'm not sure. They do some things very carefully and it's hard to detect. I've found some signs before, so I have to remind you."
When Benjamin heard this, he couldn't help but shake his head and sighed.
It's too early to be happy...
Thinking about it, the church has extremely rich experience in how to usurp royal power - how could they not think of such a basic operation as a substitute
"Trouble." Benjamin's face became solemn, he thought for a while, and said, "I need you to go out and find out the situation. What is Glory's movement, and whether the king's escape has caused any changes, you should try your best to investigate these things as clearly as possible."
Hearing this, Miles didn't say anything, nodded, turned around and left the simple meeting tent.
There is someone who can do practical things quickly and neatly.
Seeing this, Benjamin's heavy mood eased a lot.
But... if there is a possibility of a substitute, then the whole situation will be overturned.
When the substitute appears, there is a king on the church side, and a king on Benjamin's side. When the drama of the real and fake king is played out, the appeal of the royal power is at least halved, and maybe even more. After all, the king opposite is sitting in the palace, wearing a crown and sitting on a throne, but their king... forget it, let's not mention it.
The situation suddenly became very pessimistic again.
"Teacher Benjamin, what should we do?" Frank saw that he didn't speak for a long time, so he could only say, "If we attack Glory, what are our chances of winning?"
"Basically zero." Benjamin immediately shook his head and rejected the proposal, "Besides, even if we can fight, we can't do this. Whether the church can control Glory is still unknown. If we fight, the people in the city will We didn’t know the situation clearly, but we suddenly became united and actually helped the church.”
"Then we should follow the original plan and spread the news about the king's escape. At least we have a king here, which can always convince some people." Wallis suggested.
Benjamin didn't shake his head, but he didn't make a decision either.
After thinking for a moment, he spoke: "Let's wait until Miles gets back the information. There are many informants in the church, and we can no longer act as unscrupulously as before."
The mages also nodded after hearing this without any objection. The meeting was over, and they all walked out of the tent.
Benjamin was left alone, leaning on the table and thinking silently.
"...Master Benjamin? Your meeting is over?"
Suddenly, a voice came from the tent entrance. Benjamin looked up. I saw the king put on ordinary clothes and walked in like an ordinary person with a slightly uneasy look.
Seeing this, Benjamin hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, "It's over for now."
"Then... what are you going to do?"
"I don't know." Benjamin spread his hands helplessly and said, "The church may have prepared a substitute for you. You escaped with one foot, and they lifted the substitute to the throne with the other foot. The wind is sunny in Gloria, and everything is fine."
When the king heard this, he was stunned.
"Is everything you said true?"
Benjamin nodded and said strangely: "Didn't Miles tell you? I thought you knew about this."
The king did not answer again.
At that moment, his expression was as if the sky had fallen, and he was a little confused with despair.
There is no doubt that the existence of the substitute is like a thunder that can knock him to hell and never be reincarnated. If, with the support of the church, the substitute really secures the throne, then the king in front of him will no longer be a king.
He is just an ordinary person.
For a person who has been raised as a king since childhood, this fact is indeed too cruel, cruel enough to destroy his entire world.
But... at such an old age, it's time to understand what true cruelty is.
Thinking this, Benjamin walked over with a cold face and held the king's shoulders.
"It feels uncomfortable to have your identity usurped by another person." He shook the king out of despair, stared into the other person's eyes, and said slowly, "But... identity, name, these are all Foreign objects. Tell me, strip away the halo that the throne brings to you, what is left in your life?"
"Who are you? The king of Carites? Or a fat, half-bald, middle-aged man with nothing to offer?"
"You..." The king seemed a little frightened. After a moment of astonishment, he said in a panic, "How dare you speak to me like this? I am... I am..."
Benjamin shook his head, showing a pitiful smile.
"Tell me, who are you?"
"me… "
The king felt as if a stone had stuck in his throat. He was stunned for a long time and could not speak.
Seeing this, Benjamin shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, you really disappoint me." After saying that, he ignored the king's reaction, turned around, and left from the door of the tent.
He walked to the door, and the king finally stopped him.
"… sorry."
When Benjamin heard this, he turned his head and looked at the king. But the king just lowered his head and turned his back to Benjamin, like a dejected sculpture, not daring to look at him.
"I won't accept it if it makes no sense," Benjamin said.
"Then what do you want?" The king turned around and stared at him with a pair of despairing eyes.
"Go and do something practical." Benjamin raised his eyebrows expressionlessly and said, "Verbal apologies and determinations are meaningless. Before becoming a king, you need to think about how to become a useful person. "
After saying that, he was too lazy to say anything else, turned his head back, and left the tent on his own.