"Is this... the legendary Master Benjamin? We have heard about your name for a long time, and it is our honor to finally see him today."
In the northernmost part of the Kingdom of Hori, in the dense forest leaning against the Ghost Abyss, six nobles came here in disguise and met Benjamin, who had come for an appointment. They didn't look very energetic, but when they first met, they still used the flattery that they relied on for survival, and looked up and down while talking.
Benjamin twitched his lips when he heard this.
"When I was living in the royal capital, you all have seen me countless times, so don't say such things." He really didn't want to be polite to them, so he asked directly, "Tell me, why are you looking for me? "
The nobles were obviously a little embarrassed when the flattery was slapped on the horse's leg. However, they exchanged glances, and soon Duke Colin stepped forward and said, "We want to know the truth about His Majesty's death."
Benjamin shook his head and asked: "What's the truth? Does it still make sense to you now?"
Duke Colin said resolutely: "Of course, it is very important!"
"Okay then." Benjamin sighed and said slowly, "It was Grant, your Majesty the Pope, who followed me all the way from Coster and finally found the king's location. During the battle between me and him, he used I cheated and killed His Majesty the King, and I had no time to stop him, so... things became what they are now."
“Pope…”
After hearing this answer, the nobles looked at each other and took a breath of cold air in unison, but if they really looked at their eyes, they couldn't say how surprised they were.
It seemed that they had expected this result.
"What's going on in Havenright now?" Benjamin asked in passing, "The king has passed away, the queen has passed away... and there is no longer even a nominal puppet. What is the church going to do?"
“… They plan to raise a little princess.”
"She is only four years old, right?" Benjamin frowned, "What's the difference between supporting a four-year-old girl and usurping the throne? Can you accept it?"
The nobles shook their heads in unison.
"It is precisely because we cannot tolerate this kind of thing happening that we must meet with you." Duke Colin gritted his teeth and said, "Let's just say it bluntly. Including me, the six people present are all in their own territory. He secretly raised an army."
"army?"
"Yes, the army, well-trained soldiers who can compete with the regular army." Another noble also said, "We dare not raise too many, but the combined strength of everyone is almost 50,000."
Hearing this, Benjamin was really surprised.
Is there really an army
The Kingdom of Hori strictly prohibits private armies, which is the most resolute directive implemented by the church. Because of this, the nobles have always behaved like weak chickens. They only resorted to small tricks and did not look like they had the courage to engage in an army.
Moreover, the nobles had always shown a tendency for peaceful reform and did not dare to break up with the church. However, now they say that they actually still have an army, which is really sudden.
These people...are hiding too deeply, right
"Under the surveillance of the church? Do you really have an army?" Thinking this, Benjamin expressed his doubts unabashedly.
"There are many remote places in Horli Kingdom, and it is impossible for the church to penetrate into every corner." Duke Colin replied, "In fact, not only the army, but also the number of mages trained by each of our families totals three digits. "
"...You are telling me this, are you serious?"
"Of course we are serious." Duke Colin looked a little worried. "The Pope has begun to doubt us. If we don't do something, no one will be immune when the time comes."
Hearing this, Benjamin touched his chin and fell into deep thought.
If what these nobles say is true...
So, after losing the support of the royal power and the situation reached a deadlock, a new turning point finally appeared before their eyes. Although an army of 50,000 people is not a big deal, it will surely arouse a new round of dissatisfaction once the church officially puts the princess on the throne. Just like General Stewart taking power in Frieden, there will be spontaneous uprisings among the people to resist the rule of the church.
And when the time comes, those rebels... are actually their own people.
In addition, a group of mages from the Magic Academy are already rushing here. If Benjamin were more ruthless, it would not be difficult to piece together an army of several thousand mages.
—They will have the ability to fight head-on with the church.
"Since you have this power, why didn't you tell me earlier? Do you have to delay it until now?" However, Benjamin still asked.
“… This is the trump card we use to save our lives.”
"If you take out this trump card earlier, His Majesty the King might not even die."
“…”
The nobles were speechless and lowered their heads, wondering if they regretted their original decision.
"I need to see your army, and we will discuss everything after I confirm it." Benjamin continued, "I hope you understand that when things have developed to this point, you have no way to turn back and can only resist the church. in the end."
"Of course we understand, otherwise we wouldn't be telling everything today."
Benjamin nodded after hearing this.
In this way, after a brief meeting, he and several nobles left the remote woods and rushed towards their respective army stations. The next action would become very dangerous, and it was necessary to confirm it with his own eyes. Otherwise, he would not be sure whether what the noble said was true or false.
In about half a day, they flew all over the Hori Kingdom, and Benjamin also saw these six armies hiding in the deep mountains and old forests.
Although it is secretive, each camp is well-equipped, and these nobles obviously spent a lot of money on it. Surprisingly, each army has a history of at least four or five years of formation. It seems that the nobles have been preparing for all this a long time ago.
"This is the deepest secret of every family. For example, the Foer family raised an army of more than 20,000 people. Unfortunately, when their family was destroyed, the secret army was also discovered and buried alive by the church in the World of Warcraft. The outskirts of the mountain range." While watching, Duke Colin introduced this, which made Benjamin feel frightened.
So... will the Riese family have such an army
He didn't know, but after so much time, this question had obviously lost its meaning.
After walking through six camps, Benjamin carefully sensed every corner of the camp, and the system scanned the entire process. Finally, he could be sure that everything the noble said was true.
Under the nose of the church, they actually secretly hid an army of 50,000 people.
"Now, can the dean believe in our determination?" Later, they met again in the village by Pearl Lake. The six nobles looked at Benjamin as if they were looking at the last life-saving straw. "We can start talking about how to Something that brought the church down.”