Industrial Revolution of the Mage Lords

Chapter 492 The Weird Priest
After using five magic-powered cannons to blast open the gates of Lanjing City, a special operations team composed of bloodline warriors quickly climbed onto the city wall. With the help of alchemical short weapons and revolvers, they easily defeated the hundreds of defenders stationed on the city wall.

After occupying the city wall, the main combat force began to enter the city in an orderly manner under the cover of airships. Several high-explosive bombs hit the Bluethorn Knights' headquarters, the Duke's Palace, and the silver foundry that was clearly flying the flag of the Border Grand Duke. In a short while, they were all engulfed in flames in the violent explosion.

Several groups of cavalry rushed out from the narrow streets and alleys, trying to block the Northern Army's advance into the city. However, urban combat was obviously not a comfort zone for cavalry. The roads that could only accommodate five or six knights charging abreast made the team extremely crowded, making them perfect sitting ducks... It only took three or four rounds of rifle volleys for these fearless knights to not even have the chance to swing their swords, and they were shot and died on the street one after another.

However, the piled-up corpses of enemies and horses still blocked the road to a certain extent, slowing down the Northern Army's advance. Pierce keenly realized that Duke Carlo was using the lives of his knights to buy himself time to escape.

"Commander, we spotted a group of light cavalry leaving the city through the south gate, heading towards Maple Leaf City, the capital of the Barclay Kingdom... They didn't fly any emblems or flags, so we're not sure if they're Duke Carlo's men."

Pierce waved his hand and said nonchalantly, "It must be him. He's quite self-aware. Once he realized he couldn't withstand our attack, he decisively ordered the city to be abandoned and fled when it was breached. He's smarter than most of the foolish nobles who stubbornly resisted."

They had no intention of doing anything to Duke Carlo. After all, he was a feudal noble from a neighboring country. According to convention, when two countries were at war, they could not kill nobles without reason. If they captured him alive, they would only get a generous ransom.

The main purpose of their trip was to obtain the property and food supplies that the Duke left in his fiefdom.

"After taking control of the Duke's Palace, seal off all areas including the castle's granary, underground treasury, and the cavalry station where war supplies are stored. Try not to disturb the local population. We will begin confiscating the supplies after nightfall and quickly transport them out of the city."

Pierce was giving instructions for the next action plan when he suddenly heard a commotion coming from the front. A soldier suddenly screamed, and someone else shouted something...

"What happened?" he asked with a frown.

Battalion Commander Vaughn, who had been fighting alongside the soldiers, trotted over and panted, "Commander, ahead is the cathedral built by the church in Bluethorn City. We originally planned to storm in and arrest and deport the priests... but those civilian believers are desperately blocking the entrance, unarmed, putting their chests at the soldiers' guns."

The Northern Army has always strictly required soldiers to avoid killing civilians as much as possible during combat. Faced with this terrible situation, most soldiers were a little at a loss. Although they still obeyed orders and stood firm with the civilians on the steps in front of the church, no one dared to pull the trigger and fire the first shot to kill civilians without the commander's order.

Pierce understood the situation and raised his hand to order: "All troops stop advancing, surround the church and remain on guard!"

The soldiers immediately received the order and changed their formation in unison. They divided into two teams to block the front and back doors of the church. A group of snipers even climbed to the high point of a nearby building, set up their sniper rifles and aimed at the church members trapped inside through the huge windows of the church.

"The combat priests and bloodline knights escorted Archduke Carlo out of the city... The only ones left in the cathedral were priests with little combat power, as well as some ordinary ascetics and priests."

Pierce curled his lips, remembering Harvey's advice before leaving - when facing the church's non-combat clergy, there is no need to use overly extreme measures, just destroy the church facilities and drive them away.

The church is also a major money-maker. Having operated in a wealthy city like Bluethorn for so long, it's inevitable that they've amassed a vast fortune. While Pierce intended to let the men go, he wasn't prepared to let go of this enormous sum of money. "They're using the flesh and blood of ordinary people as a shield to stop us. It's truly hypocritical and shameless. Send someone to give them an ultimatum and expel the people from the church. I can guarantee that no priests will be harmed."

Before he finished speaking, the huge door of the church suddenly opened, and several priests in pure white robes walked out. They walked past the believers who were devoutly guarding outside the church gate and walked leisurely towards the Northern Army.

The guard soldier mercilessly raised his gun and pointed it at the church priest who approached him, shouting, "If you take another step forward, we will shoot immediately!"

The leading priest lifted his hood, revealing his aged face and sparse gray hair and beard. He shouted towards where Pierce was standing, "We seek an audience with the supreme commander of the army!"

Pierce didn't intend to talk to them up close. He spoke loudly from a distance of about ten meters: "I am the commander. What do you want to say?"

The elderly priest trembled as he pulled out something resembling an emblem from his bosom and handed it to the soldier beside him. He said loudly, "We are no longer permitted to operate openly within Saint Valen... This is our only chance to reach you... We have a letter from the Holy City, personally written by His Holiness the Thirteenth Pope to your Lord."

Pierce was stunned and sneered, "A letter to the City Lord? How could I not know that the City Lord and your Pope have such a harmonious relationship, to the point where they can even exchange letters?"

Battalion Commander Wayne, standing nearby, was even more merciless, mocking him unscrupulously. "What? After we wiped out an entire Order of Inquisition Knights outside Jinhui City, the Pope finally remembered to write to our City Lord?"

"Want to initiate peace? How much compensation does Grace intend to pay for the war losses?"

Several priests looked pale, clearly suppressing their anger but daring not to lash out. The leading elder priest, however, remained unmoved. He whispered, "Please put bygone matters aside for now. The Pope's letter involves extremely important secrets, and the stakes are high, so there's no room for error. I'm from Goris, intending to travel via Barclay to the northern border of Saint Valen..."

He paused and added, "If you can promise to deliver the letter successfully, we are willing to unconditionally disperse the believers blocking our way and take all the property in the church without any resistance."

Pierce curled his lips and raised his hand, saying, "Deal! Bring me the letter!"

Several young priests slowly retreated, leaving only the old priest hunched over and standing there.

"Where's the letter?" Pierce frowned and asked in confusion.

The old priest raised his finger and pointed at himself, saying slowly, "I just believe... This is the Pope's oral order. Apart from the Northern Territory Lord himself, it must not be easily disclosed to anyone else. So... please send me to the Northern Territory."

(End of this chapter)