Throne of the North.

Chapter 672 The Pope Returns
In an instant, the eight knights became the focus of attention. Everyone was tense. Their clothes seemed to be ill-fitting, and their taut bodies made them look fuller.

"Yes, it is."

“Lord Ryan is right. There are indeed many orcs in the North. We only need to walk for half a day to see an orc tribe. They seem to have migrated here not long ago.”

The leader of the eight knights spoke, still relatively calm. He had noble blood in his veins, and as a member of a collateral branch, his face was flushed with excitement.

Will the orcs really invade our land again?

The nobles frowned in skepticism. They were not as easy to talk to as they were to Ryan when facing the Eight Knights, fearing that these Eight Knights were deceiving them.

"We...we don't know either. Maybe there are just that many orcs in the North."

The eight knights' voices softened, but they were still picked up by the nobles.

"Impossible. The North cannot support too many orcs. Otherwise, those disgusting and lazy monsters would not have invaded us. Besides, we already killed so many two years ago."

"Orcs also feel fear. They are terrified of the human superhuman legions and will not want to get close to humans."

Count Sauron offered a fair analysis, though he also expressed his doubts.

The time was too short; the beastmen's memories hadn't completely faded, meaning they still remembered the human's butcher's knife.

But under such circumstances, why would they dare to get so close to human land?

Suddenly, apart from the nobles of the Kingdom of Coran, others were less opposed to Ryan's so-called Northern Military Council's claims.

Since they didn't directly refuse at first, they naturally kept pushing their limits.

Ryan wasn't lying; the threat from the North was indeed imminent. He understood that only by revealing more and more of the truth could the Northern Military Council proceed smoothly.

"But Ryan, if we ally with the kingdom's nobles, what will happen to His Majesty the Emperor?"

Viscount Hogg spoke with concern, saying that they were all nobles of the empire, and this alliance with the kingdom's nobles was somewhat worrying.

This is completely different from marriage alliances between nobles.

Ryan narrowed his eyes slightly. He had thought about this problem, but couldn't come up with a solution.

If establishing the Northern Military Council placed him in the position of "King and Sovereign," then with the emergence of the title of Emperor Flor, the identity of King and Sovereign no longer belonged to him, Ryan.

In an era when nobles still wielded immense power, the emperor's authority was not as great; otherwise, the Earl of Clayton would not have needed the nobles' support to become the fifth Grand Duke.

However, within the special system of monarchs and nobles, the emperor's name was unavoidable.

“Our Emperor has abandoned the Northwind Province, and... this year’s tax revenue will all be handed over to Meyers. The deal between His Majesty and Meyers still exists.”

"I simply drove Meyers away, thwarting one of their objectives."

Ryan took a deep breath, raised his head, and said seriously.

"For the next twenty years, the tax revenue of Northwind Province will be in Meyers' hands. If His Majesty the Emperor inquires, I think the nobles of Northwind Province are also entitled to know what kind of deal His Majesty made with Meyers regarding Northwind Province."

The essence of political struggle is negotiation and compromise; who can be perfect?
"I don't believe you can say there's nothing in here."

The nobles were the same; they didn't believe there was nothing inside, just as they were curious about the conflict between Meyers and Ryan.

However, no one is willing to say it.

Viscount Hogg remained silent. Ryan's meaning was clear: even Emperor Flor could not prevent the military alliance of the lands in the North.

What is happening to this world?
The banquet proceeded as scheduled, but the nobles were all in a daze. Overnight, they discovered that the world was so strange and unfamiliar to them.

……

"Their kingdom's legions are the same? Controlled by nobles?"

Galic came to Ryan's side, and he was also at a loss. The Kingdom of Coran was so well-positioned that it was the first time that the nobles of Coran had come into contact with the outside world.

Many nobles were curious about why the empire was so powerful. Galic had been in Zero Crossing City for days, but he couldn't figure it out either. He felt he couldn't even copy everything.

"No, only the Kingdom of Kolan is special."

Ryan said, glancing at Otto and Roland beside him.

"As expected, Otto will be the commander of the Kingdom Legion of the Kingdom of Sera, while Roland will become the leader of the mages."

“The situation in the Kingdom of Andara is different, but the legendary knight [Mammoth] Daryl will become the legion commander, becoming the kingdom’s supreme commander in a legendary capacity.”

In this light, the Kingdom of Kolan is indeed special, and the key position has fallen into the hands of Grand Duke Gelan.

Galick learned why his father was unwilling to break ties with Ryan: he couldn't bear to give up the power he held.

Thinking of this, Galick looked at Ryan with a hint of fear in his eyes.

"Have you never failed?"

"Aren't you afraid that everything you do will fail and leave you utterly defeated?"

Galic was filled with apprehension. As Ryan's student, Ryan always imparted more knowledge and secrets to him, which he felt very clearly, and thus felt lost.

Ryan laughed and said:
“Mr. Galick, it’s a bit late for you to ask me this question now.”

"Everything I'm doing now is so that I won't fail in the future. You may think that the Northern Military Council is a result of the North, but in reality, it is the foundation for the future."

"Therefore, whether what I am doing now will succeed or fail depends not on today, but on the past."

"The nobles won't directly refuse my request to form a legion and demand the price of soldiers because I have given them so much, saved them so much, and helped them so much over the past few years."

"Because of one thing after another, the nobles have lost the confidence to refuse me."

“And every time I supported the nobles in the past, that’s what earned me their support today.”

"This is the difference between success and failure. You can't just see my glory today and ignore my past efforts."

Ryan smiled. Many of the nobles present were carefree and complacent. Their previous melancholy had been completely overwhelmed by the flattery, and they began to boast about their families' glory and honor.

Deep down, these nobles from different places were actually related by ancestry. Galic didn't understand: if past efforts were for today's success, what were today's efforts for in the future?

He shook his head, refusing to think about these things, and began to get acquainted with the two princes of the Kingdom of Ottoroland. In a way, it seemed that their status became more equal at this time.

What are you expecting?

Ryan stared at his spiritual panel alone. It seemed he could no longer get entangled with the nobles. As he rose higher and higher, fewer and fewer people surrounded him.

On the spiritual panel, the legendary gifts that belonged to him shone brighter and brighter, as dazzling as a rainbow.

It was about to burst forth and be exposed to Ryan, but it was as if there was still a membrane separating them, making Ryan's vision blurry.

"I've done so much, and it's still not enough?"

Although Ryan already possessed power comparable to a legend, he was also aware that there was a difference.

He did not possess the special essence brought by the legendary blessing; he was now like a puppet with legendary combat power, lacking the core of legend.

The fact that today's banquet went smoothly already shows that Ryan has truly changed this vast land in front of the North. Everything he did today is destined to be recorded as the first page of a new chapter in history. Even so, it is still not enough for the spiritual panel to nurture his true legendary gifts.

We're just one step away from success. How can we achieve that?
"If this continues, I'll have to build a new kingdom and become a real king."

Ryan sighed; the spiritual panel held legendary blessings, preventing him from even exploring new alternate dimensions.

"According to the plan, when the Festival of Divine Grace arrives, the kings will be able to announce the formation of the Kingdom Legion. At that time, I can also announce the formation of the North Wind Legion, allowing history to enter a new chapter, centralizing power, and making the integration of human civilizations more rapid."

Ryan looked forward to it, but he also knew that when that day came, the most dazzling place in the world would not be the North, but the imperial capital of the empire.

I doubt any nobleman wouldn't be curious about the meeting between the Pope and the Emperor.

If it weren't too far, Ryan would also like to visit the capital city; that day would surely be exciting.

"There are less than two months left. After the Festival of Divine Grace, the entire continent of Norris will enter a new chapter in its history."

Ryan has consolidated the lands in the east, and in his view, the world has once again returned to peace. It has become somewhat difficult for Ryan's name to continue to grow stronger.

Standing at this vantage point, Ryan finally understood just how difficult it was for Earl Clayton, his dragon knight father, to become the fifth Grand Duke of the Empire.

The world is too stable; there are no opportunities.

Even the previous war between the Empire and the Papacy was considered a stable part in the face of the title of 'Fifth Grand Duke'. If Earl Clayton wanted to become the Fifth Grand Duke, he would probably need even more extreme chaos than the previous wars.

"Unless he can kill the Pope on the Holy Mountain."

Ryan thought to himself that there was a slight possibility to it, after learning the Pope's secret.

……

Victory and defeat are intertwined. While the northern nobles rejoiced in their victory in the war, the defeated Dawn Holy Mountain had been shrouded in dark clouds for months.

The sun shone brightly overhead, and the glory of the great Lord of Dawn remained ever-radiant, yet the atmosphere on the holy mountain was no different from that of the dead; the gloom stemmed from the hearts of the people.

In the war with the Empire, the Papacy finally realized that they were no longer powerful, no longer the rulers of this world; they had failed, and failed miserably.

In addition, in the hearts of all believers, the Pope is the embodiment of God, holy, supreme, and the body of God on earth. The scandals that have occurred to the Pope have naturally dealt a great blow to the faith of the Dawn Church.

Faith is incredibly dangerous. Once trust is established, believers will believe everything the Pope says because of their faith. Conversely, the betrayal that comes from this extreme trust can plunge believers into the abyss.

Ryan seized this opportunity to recruit countless Dawn followers, but for the believers of the Holy Mountain, no one could lead them out of their suffering.

If the emperor of an empire dies, at worst, a new emperor will be appointed. But if a scandal occurs involving the pope of the Holy Mountain, the pyramid will collapse.

They knew that His Holiness the Pope had entered the abyss to cleanse himself of his filth, but the believers did not know how they should welcome His Holiness the Pope's return.

Just like today.

It was the day that Pope Saint Solarion of Dawn returned from the abyss to atone for his sins.

Throughout the holy mountain, everyone watched in silence as the void rift opened, and amidst the dazzling and magnificent holy white light, the venerable Pope of Dawn returned from the abyss of darkness.

They should have been excited, they should have been celebrating, but today the Dawn Cultists were unusually calm.

Solarion said nothing. He knew why, and he was glad it was just this one thing. As the Pope, he understood even more how to win these people back into his loyal followers.

He needs a miracle.

It is perhaps a pity that the great Lord of Dawn has only bestowed one holy blessing upon Archbishop Adriana in recent decades, and He is still asleep.

But it doesn't matter, Solarion has a way to bring down the true holy light, to purify and cleanse his soul and body, and to make the Pope of Dawn holy and sacred again.

He can do it.

Seated atop the highest cathedral, Pope Solarion summoned all the clergy, large and small, from the holy mountain.

"The Lord has given me divine grace and divine pronouncements."

"After seven sunrises, the Lord will bestow upon me the great blessing of His divine grace."

"And I, Solarian, will also represent the will of the Lord of Dawn to welcome the Lord's great followers back."

"The dawn will reclaim everything that belongs to Him. The Flor Empire will name next year the arrival of the new world, but the empire has forgotten that, whether it is windy or rainy, the glory of the dawn will rise every day."

"We may be unable to see the brilliance of the sunrise because of the wind and rain, because our eyes are blinded by the haze above."

"There are too many corrupt clergy within the Vatican, which is the biggest reason for our failure."

"And I, as one of those who have fallen, will reclaim the glory that belongs to the dawn."

"Only by deeply witnessing the glory of the Lord can we purify our own defilement. The Lord loves the world, and I will purify the world for Him."

"Go, let all the people of Dawn throughout the world know that their Pope has returned."

"Solarion will emulate His Holiness the First Pope and guide the flame of human civilization; this is the divine message bestowed upon me by the Great Lord of Dawn."

(End of this chapter)