Knight Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 223 Youth is a gang crime
As Oliver said, Her Majesty Verena is the goddess of knowledge and justice.

Their church's motto is "Tell the truth. Speak the truth."

The symbol of the church is a pattern of a long sword with the blade pointing downward and a horizontal scale. The scales are the sword rim, extending to both sides, with two golden plates hanging on them, symbolizing justice and balance.

Among the gods, some myths feature Verena as the bride of Morr. While this might seem an unlikely pairing at first glance, they are united by the shared theme of judgment. They simply oversee different aspects of the same concept. Morr judges the dead, while Verena judges the living.

Some myths even say she is the mother of Shalya, the goddess of healing and mercy, and Violet, goddess of the sun. A stoic and serious goddess, she is a benevolent force, and many call on her to free themselves from despotic rule.

The members of the Church of Shalya accepted this myth, but Her Majesty Violet's followers scoffed at it, calling it nonsense. The members of the Church of the Blazing Sun believed that Violet had ascended from a mortal to a god.

On this point, there is tension between the followers of the Church of the Fiery Sun and the followers of the Imperial State Religion, Redmar, because the latter believe that only the Human Emperor Redmar was promoted from a human to a god.

But no matter what, these three goddesses have formed a subtle alliance in the southern part of the empire, because compared with the violent and barbaric male gods in the northern part of the empire, such as Yurik, Redma, the Bear God, etc., these three gods have a common characteristic, which is that they all respect knowledge and wisdom.

The Verena Church, in particular, tends to operate and fund universities to promote learning and education.

Different groups within the Church of Verena may have different motivations, but one thing unites the various sects: the preservation of knowledge. They are dedicated to acquiring works on any subject, collecting this knowledge in their vast libraries, from where they can give back a portion of this knowledge to the collectives they support.

Because the cult is so dedicated to preserving knowledge, the invasion of Chaos is particularly terrifying to the Verenans. Every war brings destruction, destroying treasures of knowledge and stripping humanity of generations of accumulated knowledge. Therefore, when such a threat arises, the Verenans are quick to help organize the Empire's defense, rushing to the front lines to carry scrolls and tomes to safety, even stepping over the screaming wounded.

As a direct result of its obsession with knowledge, the cult of Verena often finds itself at the center of controversy more often than other rival cults. Among some of the cult's more radical clergy, there exists a belief that all writings, regardless of their content, are worthy of protection. This view brings the cult into conflict with witch hunters, particularly the Imperial State Church's Cult of Redmar, who would like to see such heretical texts consigned to the purifying pyre. This is a serious point of contention within the cult, but it's one that Verena's followers are willing to set aside in order to protect the cult's highest interests.

Therefore, from various perspectives, the Verena Church is the perfect ally of the Hesse Territory, and this alliance can even last until Su Li attacks the throne.

In the electoral college, the elector who believes in the Church of Verena will definitely support Su Li.

In this way, if Su Li unified the border prince's territory, he would have three votes, because the Church of the Goddess of the Fiery Sun would definitely support Su Li.

However, it is worth mentioning that since they do not possess absolute violence, the Church of Shalya and the Church of Verena do not have the right to vote in the Electoral College.

The Imperial Ecclesiarchy has three votes, the Church of Ulric has two, and the Church of the Sun Goddess only recently gained one.

The empire is essentially one that advocates violence. Only those forces that control military power and possess outstanding combat capabilities are qualified to decide the future direction of the empire.

And the elector who believes in the Church of Verena is none other than Grand Prince Surander!

So after Oliver finished introducing Verena, Su Li looked at him with interest and said, "Let's be frank. You've been exaggerating from the beginning. Is it because of the white terror in Sulande Province?"

Oliver straightened his collar and said calmly, "That's right. Lord, you probably don't know that a white terror is about to befall you. At least four chosen ones will launch an assassination attack on the members of your castle tonight."

After saying that, Oliver waited for everyone to panic.

No one can remain unmoved in the face of the assassination attempt by the Four Chosen Ones, not even a Legendary one!

If the Sanctuary does not appear, the Legendary level will be the top combat force on the continent.

The sudden attack by the four God-chosen assassins caught them off guard, and even a legendary assassin would be at risk of falling.

But Oliver's collar was ruffled, but he found that in the face of such shocking news, all the knights around him were indifferent, as if the people who came were not four chosen ones, but four sneaky rats!
Oliver smiled and said, "It seems the rumor that you, Lord, are the all-knowing person in Hesse is true."

Su Li looked at him calmly and said, "And you, Your Excellency the Chosen One, should be honest about the purpose of your visit. As Verena's Chosen One, were you also caught up in the white terror in Sulande Province?"

Oliver flung his white scholar's robes behind him. These white robes symbolized purity and justice in the teachings of the Verena Church. He calmly replied, "Our church does not participate in worldly political struggles. Contrary to what you might think, I was entrusted by someone to come and see your territory. That person once helped and showed me kindness, and according to the teachings of the Goddess of Justice, I must repay him. So, I couldn't resist his kindness and came to Hesse to take a look."

Su Li had never thought that this was the reason. Who had entrusted him to come to Heisen Territory?
Is there anyone among the people Su Li knows who could be chosen by the goddess of justice?
Could it be that the Earl of Bauhinia is helping behind the scenes again?
Since the arrival of Knight Connor, Su Li has also strengthened his ties with Stranglethorn Vale and sent two gifts to Bauhinia Castle, one was 10 dragon blood stones and the other was 5 consecrated wisteria pods.

Although these things are relatively common specialties in Hesse Territory, they are precious materials worth a lot of money outside of Hesse Territory.

In particular, the five consecrated wisteria pods can extend the lifespan of five people. It is said that the elders of the Bauhinia family praised Su Li highly.

The voices within the family about Earl Suna's favoritism and support for Su Li suddenly died down.

So when Count Suna was happy, did he use his connections again and entrust this chosen one to come to Hesse?
Su Li then asked curiously, "May I ask who entrusted you with this task?"

Oliver said calmly, "Of course. It was Kurt who was in charge. He came to the Royal Griffin Military Academy in Mordheim to visit me."

Kurt is in charge?

The head of the West High Chamber of Commerce!

Su Li had never expected it to be this fat guy. The cause he had sown had finally borne fruit.

Su Li then said in surprise, "I never thought that Chief Kurt actually knew a Chosen One. How could he have been so kind to you in the first place?"

Oliver didn't shy away from the topic and said, "Back then, my village was attacked by the Vampire Count's Graveyard Guards. Kurt's Chamber of Commerce happened to be passing by and only managed to repel the powerful Graveyard Guards at the cost of more than a dozen casualties among their guards and mercenaries. Otherwise, I would have perished at the hands of the vampires."

"Later, I passed the Mordheim Royal Griffin Military Academy with excellent grades. When I needed a letter of recommendation, it was he who took the initiative to find a priest from the Church of Justice for me. That's how I was successfully selected into the academy among the many finalists."

Su Li nodded with emotion. The empire has never lacked talents!

There are top talents everywhere, but only those young people who are recommended by celebrities can get more opportunities.

This is the imperial version of "there are many good horses, but there are few good horse trainers."

Su Li then asked, "Your Excellency has also observed it in Heisen Territory. What do you think?"

It was completely different from what Su Li expected. Oliver sighed and said, "Your territory feels like it's all show and no substance."

"It's true that the buildings in the territory are tall and magnificent, clean and tidy, and even thieves are punished with death. The public security situation is good."

"But in the corners that your lofty gaze cannot see, corruption is rampant, criminals are rampant, and even rebels and coup plotters are hiding in the city."

"Externally, you lack powerful reinforcements and have failed to establish solid alliances. Surrounded by powerful enemies and threats, you face a wide range of crises capable of destroying your territory.

"To sum up, your situation is as precarious as an egg, and you are in danger of collapse at any moment. In the current situation, even if you win every battle, it will not be enough to turn the tide. A single defeat will bring disaster upon you."

Upon hearing this, Tiberus became furious and said, "My Lord, don't listen to his alarmist rhetoric! This guy is nothing but a big-mouthed liar who loves to bluff!"

Laun nodded in agreement and said, "My Lord, I second your opinion. This could just be a shady priest who's trying to deceive people. Our territory is thriving, how could it be in such a precarious situation?"

But Su Li frowned slightly, not angry, because he felt the same way! It should be said that this dark and desperate world is always in crisis.

Su Li also deeply felt that the territory was always encountering various crises, but he didn't know why, and he didn't know what strategies and decisions should be used to solve this problem.

Although Oliver's words were deliberately exaggerated, scholars, especially talented ones, are always prone to arrogance. Su Li also felt that he really needed a top bureaucrat to help him build a strategic vision for his hegemony and lay the foundation for his grand ambitions. So Su Li didn't argue with him, but instead said seriously, "Her Majesty Verena is the goddess of bureaucrats and scholars. Since you are chosen by Verena, you must have a wealth of knowledge to help me. May I ask, if you were to serve as the president of my provincial government, how would you help me achieve my goals?"

Oliver finally smiled and said, "If I were the head of the Provincial Council, my first priority would be to select talented individuals for my lord! Wherever I see a talent, I will not miss a single one. There's a famous saying in the far East: 'Within ten steps there are fragrant grasses, and within a town of ten houses there are surely some beautiful and extraordinary people.' From my own experience, the empire is not short of talent; what's lacking is the discerning eye to select them."

"As the chosen one of the Goddess of Justice, I have a pair of hawk-like eyes, just like my title. Under my selection, any bloodline that has the potential to break through to become a knight will not be left out."

"Later, I will promote education and enlighten the knights' wisdom, significantly increasing their chances of advancement and breakthroughs. Furthermore, I can observe the knights' bloodline states and help them choose the most appropriate time for a breakthrough."

"If all the talented individuals within the towns and farms were selected by the Lord, then the rebels and coup plotters would quickly vanish. The internal troubles and corruption within your territory would be greatly alleviated."

"Finally, I will work diligently for the lord, rectifying the administration and taxation, increasing the territory's finances and significantly reducing construction costs."

Su Li nodded and said, "The internal affairs of the territory do indeed need a capable and good official to take the helm."

If the Hessen Territory can defeat the Green Dragon's minions, it will need to recuperate and improve its finances for a considerable period of time.

At least it cannot be like it is now, with a fiscal deficit every month and relying entirely on windfalls and spoils of war to replenish the treasury. Once the windfall is insufficient, the territory will suffer a deficit or even financial collapse in just two or three months.

Su Li really needed such a good official, a chosen one of the God of Bureaucracy and an apostle of the God of Justice, to clean up corruption and rectify government affairs.

But Lao En felt threatened and cautiously advised Su Li: "My Lord, you can't just trust his one-sided words. What if he is a spy sent by the Sulande Province?"

Oliver, far from being angry, nodded in satisfaction and said, "Be wary of suspicious individuals, but be even more wary of those who have no suspicions. This is the philosophy of our church. As part of the sect's mission, we must spread the ideas of knowledge and justice, so our church always takes the initiative to roam the Old World as missionaries. These missionaries go to Kislev, the Imperial Duchy, and the Border Princes, which are ruled by tyrants. In these places, the concepts of justice and knowledge are either ignored or set aside in favor of autocratic rule. If you were not so arbitrary, I could demonstrate my value. For example, as the Chosen One, I could help you see through the enemy's conspiracy tonight and increase the success rate of your ambush tactics."

Su Li nodded and said, "If you can help us successfully ambush the four Chosen Ones, that will be enough to demonstrate your value. As a fellow southern faction that respects knowledge, I can even allow your Verena Church to preach in the Hessen Territory and support you in establishing a higher education academy. The territory needs a higher education academy to cultivate more outstanding talents."

Oliver bowed slightly and said, "With great pleasure, my lord. While Her Majesty Verena isn't as skilled at fighting as Her Majesty Violet, her church also includes the Knights of the Eternal Light, the Knights of the Sword and the Libra, and the Knights of the Scroll. Our priests are highly skilled in using strategies to help the Knights win."

Su Li waved his hand and said to everyone, "Then take him back to the castle."

The Hesse Territory is in need of a wise and top-notch strategist. The territory is a little too focused on grandeur and neglects conspiracies and intrigues.

Oliver just made up for this lack.

After returning to the castle, Su Li went straight to the bathroom. At this time, the bathroom was under martial law and only Violet, Orstein, Ron and Dietrich could enter.

When the knights guarding here saw Su Li, they immediately straightened their bodies, gripped their halberds tightly, and opened a passage.

When Su Li walked in, he saw Hilde standing at the door of the bathroom with his arms folded, and Priest Rong En lowered his head and remained silent. The sound of Orstein's mixing could be heard from inside.

Su Li walked up to Hirud and asked with concern, "How is the arrangement going? Why don't I see anyone else?"

A faint smile appeared on Hildreth's handsome face, and with a somewhat strange expression, he said, "It went quite smoothly. The others probably didn't want you to see them. Is the person behind you the talent we are looking for?"

What do you mean you don't want me to see it?

Dietrich is a priest of the Shalya Church.

The alliance of the three southern goddesses, the goddess of the scorching sun, the goddess of healing and mercy, and the goddess of wisdom and justice, the priests of the three churches are all here, the only thing he has never seen is the priest of the medical church.

Dietrich has joined the Hesse Territory for some time, and Su Li has never met him. Today is a good opportunity to talk to him. Why doesn't he want him to see him?
Oliver didn't think too much about it. He took a step forward and said to Hildreth, "You are the recently famous Saint of War, Hildreth Cosonia, right? I am Oliver Samuel, the Chosen One of the Goddess of Justice."

War Saint?

Su Li looked at Hildre in surprise. He didn't expect that she had such a famous name outside the territory.

However, considering the divine power [Holy Guidance Arrow] she was given, the direction of her battle will indeed be to inspire the countless believers of the Sun Goddess behind her like a saint.

Hildre said to him calmly, "Welcome to our territory. I look forward to fighting alongside you and bringing glory to our territory."

Just as Oliver was about to explain that his abilities were different from the knight's, Knight Orstein emerged from the bathroom with a strange figure.

But this figure behaves strangely and seems to be evasive. He doesn't look like a knight, but rather a follower of Lanold. Why is he afraid to see people?
Su Li raised his eyebrows and asked Knight Orstein, "What's going on?"

Seeing Su Li's inquiring gaze, Orstein tacitly stepped aside and said, "Let His Excellency Dietrich introduce him to the Lord."

Having said this, Dietrich, who had been keeping his head down, finally couldn't hide anymore and had to raise his head and said to Su Li: "Greetings, Lord. Shaerya, you will be free from all diseases."

Seeing his appearance, everyone couldn't help laughing and had to hold back their laughter with great difficulty.

This handsome middle-aged man had a dark bruise on the corner of his eye, like a giant panda. It was obvious that he had just been beaten up and was in a very miserable state.

Dietrich was well aware of the severity of his situation, so he quickly changed the subject, saying, "My Lord, we've deployed four religious statues here. One is a large shrine, a statue of Her Majesty Shalya, installed between the baths and the fountain. The ratmen can't even detect it. It's inscribed with a powerful passive spell, Light of Life, which illuminates the target's heart and dispels darkness and fear."

"If the Skaven Alchemist uses effects like curses and fear, our knights can be immune to their negative curses and controls."

Immunity to fear, this is a very powerful ability.

In a small, close-quarters fight, even a two-second spell of magical fear from a scarecrow could be enough to kill an opponent, causing the ratman to stab multiple times with his blade, severely damaging a knight.

"There's also a religious icon engraved with the divine spell [Enhanced Healing]. After activating this religious icon, you can perform a healing blessing on your allied knight every 10 seconds. However, this is a shrine built into the wall. When the blessing is released, a golden light will shine. If the ratmen destroy this shrine, the effect will be lost."

"The other two religious icons are from the Church of the Blazing Sun Goddess. Lord Rong will introduce them to you."

"Dietrich, you wicked bastard, you never think of me when good things happen, but you never leave me out when bad things happen. Back in Heiliger Castle, when you went to the obstetrics and gynecology department to see a beautiful lady, you always acted alone in secret. When her husband and his clansmen came to beat you up, you dragged me to help you share the beating!" An angry roar came from the grass in the corner, and Ron stood up from the ground in frustration.

Su Li looked in the direction of the voice and finally couldn't help laughing, he burst into laughter, he saw a huge shoe print on Ron's face, and two streaks of blood running down his nose, he looked extremely funny, standing next to Dietrich, the panda, they didn't look like two serious religious patriarchs, but rather like two naughty kids who had just returned from a fight!

Dietrich's face flushed crimson at the surprised looks of Hilde and Oliver. He angrily cursed, "You... you treacherous fellow! Your oaths are truly untrustworthy. You swore in Shalya's name that you would never mention any of this to anyone else! And for that, I even treated you to a thirteen-gold-coin meal! Do you know I nearly pawned my pants for that?"

Ron spoke confidently, "I'm no longer a follower of Shaurya, so of course I can expose your past. Not only do I know you almost pawned your pants, but I also know that to pay off a debt, you accompanied a countess of Heiliger Castle. When you left, you took her stockings and underwear. You lied that you were keeping them for yourself, but in fact you sold them to the bastards of the Pleasure Association."

"When the Countess found out about this, she was furious. She almost mobilized the entire city's high-ranking retainers to hunt you down. Who do you think cleaned up your mess?"

Su Li couldn't help but exclaim in admiration, this was truly a wonderful past.

Looking at the passionate expressions on their faces, who could have imagined that they were almost breaking up and would never see each other again?

However, this also made Su Li sincerely envious. No wonder some people say that youth is vigorous and vigorous, and the four words "vigorous and vigorous" sound like gang crimes.

These two religious patriarchs who now look highly respected and elegant were actually so frivolous and unruly when they were young.

(End of this chapter)