When the Saint comes, she does not collect food

Chapter 1247 I Too Can Go
"Sand sculptures can carry people and fly?" Horn leaned closer to the battle report booklet.

Sunlight streamed in through the windows, illuminating the shimmering dust particles in the air and the three high priests in the Whitehall.

Thomas, as the "Grey Cardinal" of the Father Worshipping Order, was primarily responsible for the external affairs of the Father Worshipping Order.

Hakuto is the exorcist chief, and he played a significant role in the communication and training between the Black Legion and the Holy Alliance.

As for René, needless to say, he was in charge of foreign intelligence.

Upon hearing Horn's words, René stepped forward first: "To be precise, they don't carry people, they transport people."

Vampires also spread their wings when flying, only propelled by giant eagles.

"This will save a lot of vampires' stamina?"

"Yes, it conserves both physical strength and magic power. That's how they captured the coastal defense fortifications and held out until the Royal Navy arrived."

Those who can fly are basically high-ranking vampires of noble blood.

Arranging the vampires from lowest to highest rank reveals the scope of the royal court's military units.

The lowest level are blood slaves or wandering vampires, who, apart from inheriting all the vampire's drawbacks, are almost indistinguishable from humans.

Vampires who can use Blood Claw or Blood Explosion can be conscripted and are known as Viscounts.

Above the viscount rank is the baron rank, mostly serving as officers; they are already capable of using blood magic.

Above the Baron class is the Earl class, which has wings and can fly.

Interestingly, if a vampire is born without wings, then they will never have wings in their lifetime.

In other words, a count-level vampire knows he is a count from birth.

Only at this level can one inherit various spells from the clan and use necromancy.

This is quite similar to the secret society and wizard families of Black Snake Bay.

"This time, hundreds of count-level vampires were deployed for the attack; the bloodshed is considerable," Hakuto couldn't help but remark.

Unlike the empire, the royal court and the empire have earl-level vampires who actually have earl titles and corresponding territories.

In a strictly hierarchical royal court, a situation like that of an empire, where a count's territory is less than that of a knight, is impossible.

For the royal court, count-level vampires were not just common combat power, but definitely high-end.

Their numbers were not large, but the fact that they dared to send out hundreds of earl-level vampires in such a desperate gamble forced the royal court's southern army to their wits' end.

“It’s not bleeding, Your Majesty,” René continued. “According to the intelligence we’ve gathered, these vampire counts are very likely of low-caste origin.”

"Can a low-class clan produce a count-level vampire?" Hakuto couldn't help but question.

Similar to the Vampire lineage, the upper limit of a family's members is determined by the progenitor.

Therefore, most earl-level nobles came from the thirteen supreme clans.

“We suspect it’s the effect of the flesh feast.” René lowered his head. “The Sacred Tree Sect overseas told us… that Serfaye seems to regard the clanless vampires of the royal court as a flesh feast…”

"If vampires use vampires to hold a flesh and blood feast, then why are they coming to the Holy Alliance to kill humans?" Even Thomas was stunned this time.

René looked at Horn: "It seems that they need both vampire blood and human blood. According to the Sacred Tree Vampires, if humans are like wheat, then the Seedless Vampires are like yeast."

At this point, Horn almost couldn't hold back his emotions.

So you vampires, besides grinding humans into blood wine, also grind your own people into blood wine?

No wonder Serfaye's Feast of Flesh and Blood could raise the upper limit of bloodlines, while the Feast of Flesh and Blood mentioned in history books was just an honorary title.

After closing the battle report, Horn's expression turned serious: "What were the losses?"

Thomas, Hakuto, and René exchanged glances, and then Thomas stepped forward: "The Black Legion in the city has suffered more than half its losses, and the rest have left by boat."

The soldiers dispersed into smaller groups, recuperating at Brotherhood guild centers on nearby islands and in nearby villages.

"Where are the two commanders?"

Thomas pursed his lips: "Gier is seriously injured and unconscious, recuperating on the nearby Yezi Island."

As for Lord Todd…

"What happened to him?" "Lord Todd was responsible for covering the rear and died in a bloody battle with vampires at the port."

The atmosphere, which had finally become a little lively, fell into a gloomy mood once again.

The Black Legion was defeated, Brand City was lost, and among the leaders of the Windmill Land Fighting Faction—

Todd and Lemington are dead, Mattis's fate is unknown, and Guillaume is seriously injured and in a coma.

The once-powerful Black Legion and Windmill Village self-rescue movement have fallen into a complete slump.

However, in Horn's view, Windmill Land's self-rescue has only just begun, and this moment is like Thousand Rivers Valley after Juano's death.

It will either erupt in silence or perish in silence.

"Have you found out who planned and led this campaign?"

"Officially, he's called the Prince of Vladislav, but everyone knows he's an incompetent old vampire; he's most likely still that one."

"This Koniaz really gave us a lot of trouble right from the start; his reputation is well-deserved."

"I will activate the Cheka, gather a large amount of intelligence on him, and compile it into a file."

Gathering intelligence on enemy generals and summarizing their command styles and personal habits was also part of the Cheka's work.

Due to the centralized system that distinguishes the Imperial and Vampire generals, their behavior can be largely predicted by possessing this private information.

Especially considering that the Holy Alliance also possesses divination and the Difference Engine.

Unlike the Holy Alliance's advisory group, which is impossible for others to figure out.

As for Horn's own strategy, he wrote it down openly and published it in Pravda, leaving no room for speculation.

“Todd, I still remember him.” Horn stood up and went to the window. “He has been with us since the time of Joan of Arc. He participated in the Battle of Black Mountain and the Second Battle of the Thousand Rivers.”

He later joined the Black Legion because of the events in South Mandeshire; he was definitely a good believer.

“I understand.” Hakuto immediately understood. “We will publish a memorial in the newspaper and include it in the Cathedral of the Dead.”

Looking at the sunlight outside the window, Horn suddenly felt a sense of loss.

He thought he had long been accustomed to sacrifice, but perhaps the stability of the past decade had made him lose his former edge.

Only when faced with Todd's death did he see, in the reflection of the windowpane, his own version of himself during the two Thousand Rivers Valley battles—a version of himself numb to sacrifice and ruthless in his pursuit of victory.

But this time, facing the war against vampires, he may once again have his hands stained with blood.

Enemy's, allies', even his own...

The Sage Pope Horn did not grieve for a moment over the end of peace; next to appear was the War God Pope Horn Galar.

Although they didn't know what had happened, everyone present felt a chill run down their spines when Horn turned around and sat back down in his chair.

With his fingers interlaced in front of him, Horn rested his chin on his palms: "The Black Legion is destroyed, shouldn't the vampires send out their troops?"

“According to reliable intelligence, the Southern Route Army has completed its preliminary preparations and reconnaissance work.” René said with his hands behind his back, “We suspect they have two directions: one is to attack Golden Horn Bay from the north and south, and the other is to advance westward along the Nauan River and capture Changge City.”

"What about Norn?"

"After a summer offensive, the Norn have reached a stalemate with the vampire northern army, with our help."

With the vampires' formal invasion, various information and intelligence are being exchanged among the allies.

Judging from the current situation, although the Holy Alliance is still too far away to exert its influence, it is already able to affect the front lines through its alliance.

However, the distance is too far, and the energy loss from projecting power is too great, so we still need to recruit soldiers and develop our forces first.

This does not mean doing nothing.

"Your Majesty, what is our next step?"

“I said,” Horn said calmly, “are those clanless vampires who were used as yeast really content with that?”

"You mean..."

“Where there is oppression, there is the Holy Path Sect.” Horn leaned back in his chair. “I think many vampires in the Royal Court are quite oppressed.”

(End of this chapter)