Chapter 453: Nearing the Capital
Cardinal Carsius did not mind what Prince Wilmar had done, and he agreed to follow the prince’s plan. However, he still thought it was too excessive to gather an army of this size just to serve as a decoy. In his view, it would be far better to use the minimum resources necessary and strike Aldrian as quickly as possible using the Heaven’s Punishment Spear and the Heavenly Sovereign Sanctuary Staff.
He didn’t believe Aldrian could survive against those two artifacts. And now that he himself had broken through to the peak emperor stage—the highest cultivation level one could achieve on the continent—he was confident the outcome would be swift.
"Anyway, are you sure he’s someone even the Church reveres? The one prophesied by the Saintess herself?" Prince Wilmar suddenly asked.
Cardinal Carsius had already been informed of all major developments while he was in seclusion, and he had seen the sketch of Aldrian’s face. The resemblance was close enough that he recognized Aldrian immediately and revealed the identity of the mysterious swordsman, along with his connection to the Church.
After hearing this, Prince Wilmar finally understood the true relationship Aldrian had with the Church. It was no wonder the mysterious swordsman had gone so far as to help the Church, even involving himself in the civil war—something completely unlike his usual behavior.
The swordsman’s past was filled with battles against devils, and Prince Wilmar had never heard of him interfering in another empire’s internal affairs—unless it involved the threat of devils.
However, even after clearing his doubts about Aldrian’s connection to the Church, Prince Wilmar still felt a wave of fury—both at himself and at Cardinal Carsius. That is because—
Doesn’t this mean that by accepting the cardinal as a refugee, he had inevitably invited that man into the empire? If he did not give the cardinal protection at all, doesn’t that mean the man would have eventually left Atria on his own?
But it no longer mattered. The milk had already been spilled, and there was no use crying over it. All that remained now was damage control—starting with killing the mysterious swordsman.
"Well, if there’s no one else with a face matching that sketch, then I’m pretty sure he’s the one," Cardinal Carsius replied.
"Then from your perspective, do you think that if we kill that man, the Church will bear animosity toward us? Isn’t he the prophesied one the Church has been waiting for? Although he’s not a direct member, I’m quite sure that, with his status as the prophesied one, many in the Church already see him as one of their own and would readily follow him if he asked."