Chapter 323
Chapter 323: The Goddess: About to Be Corrupted
A Count dressed in magnificent gold-trimmed clothing sat quietly inside a Carriage.
His hands gripped tightly around the black, finely crafted walking cane in his grasp, his gaze deep and thoughtful as he looked out the window.
The Carriage traveled along a rough, uneven street, producing a low, resonant clatter-clatter sound.
The Carriage swayed unsteadily, yet this Count seemed to have grown completely accustomed to the bumpy road.
Through the Carriage window, he looked behind them.
Behind him was a convoy of Carriages carrying the other Imperial ministers.
Surrounding them were the Empire's Knights, riding white horses, circling close to the Carriages.
The Knights wore silver armor, their expressions as rigid and cold as ice, carrying immense authority.
At the very front leading the Knights was a figure astride a white horse, silver hair flowing freely.
The piercing, commanding aura she radiated gave the Count goosebumps along his spine.
This Knight, statuesque as an ice carving, must be Councilman Clavena's fiancée—Gwen Delin?
It was said that this Knight also possessed peak-level strength.
According to the descriptions of those foreign affairs ministers, she even possessed the ability to reach the heavens, even capable of communing with Gods and wielding divine power.
For an Imperial Knight, this was quite absurd, for the Empire was a country that prohibited any form of divine worship.
Yet even so, to become a Count in the Carencia Empire at such a young age.
Her strength was absolutely not to be underestimated.
Count Laurien actually wanted to spar with this fellow Count, Grand Knight Gwen, hoping to gauge what level this young Imperial Grand Knight had actually reached—but…
He came back to his senses, his gaze shifting to the man seated across from him.
The man wore a black Coat, with an emblem bearing 3 shattered skulls hanging from his chest.
His expression was cold—even colder than Gwen outside by a few degrees.
At this moment, he simply sat quietly with his hands folded together, resting on his lap.
Yet that cold, piercing gaze always made Count Laurien's body give an involuntary shudder.
That's right—this was the Councilman Viktor Clavena spoken of in rumor.
He was sitting in the same Carriage as him.
Though at first glance his entire body seemed full of openings, the immense oppressive force emanating from him continuously pervaded the Carriage cabin.
He still remembered, just a moment ago.
When this Councilman Viktor had stepped off the Magic Train.
He had simply extended his hand, pointing it toward the badly damaged Magic Train and lightly clenched his fist.
At once, the Magic Train—which had still barely retained some semblance of its original shape—was gradually crushed by his powerful Magic.
In the end, the train carriage that had originally held over a hundred people.
Was gripped and compressed into a square block of scrap iron, now resting quietly in the corner of the station.
The moment he stepped off, he had cleverly displayed his power to the Kingdom's assembled people.
It was perhaps a show of authority right from the outset.
But Count Laurien genuinely fell for it.
After all, by the time they arrived here, those ministers had already spoken of it.
The Nangabur Valley had been half blown apart.
In everyone's eyes, this was an almost impossibly extraordinary thing.
The Nangabur Valley was a towering gorge that separated 2 great nations from each other.
Its existence had forced the Kingdom and the Empire—2 colossal neighboring nations—into an uneasy peace.
After all, if it were simply a matter of mutual visits, that would be fine enough.
One only needed to board a Magic Train to swiftly travel back and forth between the 2 neighboring nations through the airspace above the gorge.
However, if one nation truly harbored intentions against the other and wished to declare war.
They would be forced to circumvent this enormous gorge, taking an extremely long detour.
This would make the journey an immense logistical burden.
Provisions and grain would be too slow to transport, placing the aggressor at a severe disadvantage in any prolonged war of attrition.
And the attacking side, if its army sustained losses, would find it nearly impossible to call for reinforcements.
So should these 2 nations ever go to war, regardless of who attacked whom.
The defending side would invariably hold a tremendous advantage.
After all, the gorge separated the entire nation, making reinforcements far too slow.
And the Kingdom had once proven, through a bloody lesson, the gorge's critical strategic significance.
Their harassment and encroachment along the Empire's border ultimately ended in failure.
That was a matter from long ago, when the Empire was nowhere near as powerful as it was today.
But even so—the fissure in that gorge stretched for hundreds upon hundreds of miles?
Was it truly possible to blow that away with a single spell?
Possible.
For this Councilman Clavena, it was an absolutely possible thing.
That earth-shaking sea battle broadcast by the Mage Council—he had naturally seen it too.
In that moment, the name Viktor Clavena had long since embedded itself deeply in hearts everywhere, recognized by countless people across the world.
On the international stage, he had already established a remarkably prominent standing.
And he himself…
Laurien Nis.
Was no more than a 3-star Count.
In terms of age and seniority, he may indeed have lived somewhat longer than Viktor.
But in terms of strength.
10 of him likely couldn't match 1 Viktor alone.
There was no need to invite hostility between them over a desire to spar with Viktor's fiancée.
If it truly went too far, Viktor's side would feel aggrieved first.
Yet if he lost, the one shamed would be the entire Kant Kingdom.
A Count of the Kant Kingdom, unable to defeat a young Imperial Knight of the same rank.
Said aloud, it would genuinely invite ridicule.
In short, neither outcome served him.
Laurien exhaled a long breath, then shifted his gaze to Auréliane, who sat beside Viktor.
He addressed Auréliane amiably:
"Your Highness, welcome nonetheless—a long journey you've made."
"The hour is already late. I have prepared accommodations for you in advance. We'll depart for the Royal Capital tomorrow."
Auréliane listened, nodded gently, and responded with great courtesy:
"Thank you for Count Laurien's thoughtful arrangements."
Amid the interweaving sounds of hoofbeats and wheels grinding across gravel, the Carriage steadily drove out of the city, advancing along a winding rural path through the fields.
The surrounding land was bent heavy with plump rice and wheat, golden waves of wheat dancing in the wind, green rice leaves nodding steadily, as though welcoming their arrival.
The Count turned to look at Viktor and Auréliane, who were still quietly observing the scenery around them, and smiled as he introduced:
"Welcome, both of you, to my territory—Shorebourne."
This was Count Laurien's territory.
This rural town with its thriving agricultural development, together with the city they had passed through earlier, all formed part of Count Laurien's domain.
Magic Trains arriving from abroad would only run as far as this city—this single stop.
Here, Count Laurien assumed the duty of receiving foreign guests.
Auréliane responded to the Count with a polite smile and a gentle nod.
She understood that this territory symbolized this Count's influence and power.
All foreign visitors would be watched at all times by the territory's lord.
In the Empire, this was something nearly unthinkable.
At this point Auréliane turned her head, gazing at the densely planted crops in the fields, and noticed the wheat fields separated into plot after plot.
On each plot of land stood an upright post, with a golden wheat ear hanging from its top.
At the sight of this, Auréliane couldn't help but ask the Count curiously:
"Why are wheat ears hung in the fields?"
Count Laurien had not yet opened his mouth when Viktor calmly began to explain to Auréliane:
"Those are wheat ears representing the Goddess of Abundance."
Count Laurien was mildly taken aback, then smiled at Viktor and said:
"The Councilman truly is knowledgeable. Indeed, our Kingdom differs from the Empire you come from in many ways."
"The greatest difference among them is—"
"We believe in the existence of Gods."
Their faith was nothing complex in doctrine—merely an understanding of the Gods who had once existed.
They held simple rituals at regular intervals, presenting offerings, seeking a measure of comfort through this.
Hanging wheat ears atop tall posts carried the meaning of a bountiful harvest.
Though at times the crops still failed due to weather and other causes, the Kingdom's commoners would still choose to believe in the existence of Gods.
It was a faith both shallow on the surface, yet deep within the soul.
By the same token, many cults of various Gods did indeed exist within the Kingdom.
On this point, the Kingdom—unlike the Empire—did not prohibit cults from existing within the nation.
Some Lords even needed these cults to stabilize their own territories.
Laurien, for instance, had always done so.
"It is said that within the Goddess of Abundance's cult, there exist wheat ears that truly carry divine blessing."
Count Laurien spoke:
"The cult members craft a portion of wheat ears imbued with divine power, and if noble families can obtain these wheat ears, their territories will welcome a great harvest come autumn."
"However, as objects carrying divine power, even the Goddess of Abundance's cult may not be able to craft 10 wheat ears in a single year."
Speaking of this, Count Laurien's chest puffed up slightly, the grip of his hand on the walking cane tightening—filled with pride and self-satisfaction.
Auréliane had understood as well. Looking at the somewhat proud Count Laurien, she cleared her throat and played along, saying:
"That is to say—you possess those sacred wheat ears?"
Auréliane expressed this with great astonishment as she said it.
"No wonder, Count Laurien, the fields here are so fertile."
Hearing Auréliane's words, Count Laurien was in fine spirits.
He laughed lightly, looking out at the bountiful fields around him, his eyes filled with an uncontainable pride.
"We are grateful to the Goddess of Abundance."
"For bringing us year upon year of plentiful harvests."
At this moment, Weija on Viktor's shoulder suddenly opened its single eye.
It stretched its neck and lowered its voice near Viktor's ear, speaking in a tone only Viktor could hear:
"What this person says is true. In the fields, there is indeed some power promoting growth."
"Tsk, tsk—even the Goddess of Justice would leave behind a scale imbued with her divine power. So just how many interesting things did the rest of those Gods leave behind after departing the mortal realm?"
Saying this, Weija gave its full plumage a single shake, its already hoarse voice becoming somewhat trembling.
Whether from excitement, or some other reason, it was unclear.
It narrowed its single eye, and its sharp voice slowly rose:
"I truly want to take all of them."
"And corrupt them, one by one."