Successors of all mankind

The Human Machine Cult is a religious organization that worships divine machines more than humans.

Therefore, the technical priests who are directly responsible for connecting with or even deconstructing divine secrets are often the ones with the most authority.

The ranks of the Tech Priests are not based on seniority or piety, but on their authority to control the divine machines, their adaptability to mechanical modifications, their authority to schedule military equipment, and their regional jurisdiction. They are the true ruling class and core of the Human Machine Cult.

Often, even an archbishop cannot command a high-ranking technical priest.

They were accountable almost exclusively to their respective divine advisors and the Pope.

Even their promotion system is independent of traditional church clergy.

The technical priests here are all at least mid-to-high-level casting priests, and the highest-ranking one is a high-level cardinal priest.

Compared to the bishops who need layers of approval and endless meetings to mobilize the Papacy Guard, this is much better.

They directly possess their own army!

But the highest-ranking cardinal priest raised his hand to interrupt his companions' roars.

Seeing his companions looking at him, he took a deep breath and said:

"Leave this matter to Bourbon II; he's one of his men. We shouldn't get too involved!"

The other technical priests were all furious:

"How could we give it to that guy? That bastard is cursing us! He eats our food, uses our things, and now he's cursing our master!"

In their eyes, Bourbon II was a beggar who only became famous because of them. Since the master was a beggar, the master's dog was probably just as bad.

"In any case, we are allies, and Bourbon II is also a descendant of a god. Let's stop arguing; we are only responsible for relaying all the information truthfully."

After the highest-ranking technical priest made the decision.

That's how the story got passed up there.

Upon hearing this, Bourbon II, who was still on the front lines, laughed in anger.

"In these times, how could anyone betray me! It's laughable!"

Having said that, Bourbon II, while scrutinizing the 'vassal' beside him, said:

"My lords, who will go to wipe out the traitors of Silverflower Town?"

This is an opportunity to prove that I have absolutely no ulterior motives and that I can safely achieve success.

The defecting nobles would naturally not miss out.

They all stood up, trying to seize this rare opportunity.

Seeing the assembled old nobles, Bourbon II's expression softened considerably.

There should only be one.

After all, even if there were similar guys before, now that they see the tide has turned, they can no longer jump out.

Bourbon II did not believe that his uncle, who could even kill his own brother, would have many loyal subjects.

If you can't even tolerate being treated kindly by your own brother, how can you convince others that you won't be abandoned at any time?

Finally, Bourbon II pointed to one of the nobles who had been silently raising his hand and said:

"Lord Corren, go! Don't let me down!"

Bourbon II ultimately entrusted the task of suppressing the traitor to the Marquis of Corinth, who was said to be related to the royal family by blood.

The marquis took a deep breath and bowed respectfully:

"Your Majesty, please rest assured!"

After saying this, the Marquis of Coron set off with his men and the subordinates assigned to him.

The fleet was vast in number, with the aerial fleet alone exceeding a hundred warships.

The supporting ground forces numbered as many as 80,000.

This is not the 80,000 serfs of ancient times; this is an elite force meticulously trained by nobles from various regions within the complete French system.

The equipment and the quality of the personnel were all extremely high.

The Marquis of Coron did not think there could be any problems with this trip.

He cannot lose.

It's impossible for them to betray them.

The only possibility is that Silver Flower Town still has reinforcements.

But so what?

He was confident he could crush his opponent in every way!

Meanwhile, on the flagship of Yule, Pandora reported the rebels' real-time movements to Yule.

"Your Excellency, Bourbon II has dispatched the Marquis of Corinth to attack Silverflower Town, and he has taken away nearly one-fifth of Bourbon II's troops."

By now, Bourbon II has a considerable military force under his direct control.

Even so, the troops the Marquis took away were still a significant blow to him.

Hearing this, Yu Le asked curiously:

"I heard from Robert and the others that this Colan is related to the royal family by blood, so he's also of the Golden Bloodline?"

Yu Le had always thought that the Golden Bloodline was as rare as Albion's, so rare that it was only found among kings and heirs.

Unexpectedly, France not only had two brothers in the previous generation, but this generation, in addition to the princess and Bourbon II, also had the Marquis of Corinth and his family.

"No, sir, he is not of the golden bloodline, because his blood relationship with the royal family is only legal, not biological."

Oh, I thought the golden bloodline was just fading away in Albion.

“I understand, but since he took so many people with him, shouldn’t we move up the schedule?”

After carefully assessing the situation, Pandora said:

“I think you’re right, sir.”

Its information processing speed is so fast that it is beyond human comprehension, so theoretically it can respond instantly to any situation.

In the past, every alien that possessed it would answer any question.

But in Yule, it always thinks 'long'.

It's not a matter of being perfunctory, nor is it due to aging; it's that it's no longer careless, it has started to care immensely!

It is one of the few remaining reliable sources of information for humanity, yet it is merely a teaching aid. It must be approached with utmost caution.

In other words, you can just fool the aliens a little; they'll have fun no matter what.

But now, it is feeling a pressure that educational AI should not feel—the weight of civilization!

"Let's begin!"

After giving this command to Pandora, Yu Le turned to the Earl and said:

"Slow down and let them fight it out themselves."

"Prince?"

The Count of Rhine, the Marquis of Robespierre, and almost everyone else were stunned.

They understand the need to slow down.

But what does it mean to let them fight it out themselves first?

Inside the signal tower, the Divine Machine, the rebels' 'core' trump card, is repeatedly discussing details with Pandora and the Grand Library.

Their discussions would be unimaginably long for AI, but in the real world, they might not even amount to milliseconds.

'This machine has completed the verification. This machine requests a final verification command. Do you wish to proceed?'

The signal tower's telegraph transmitted a final confirmation.

Pandora replied:

'Confirmation and verification complete. Execution approved. Note: This command originated from a human!'

The signal tower's strategist remained silent for a very long time before uttering his last sentence.

'I am happy to continue to carry out tasks assigned by humanity. May humanity's glory endure forever!'

For the first time, the machine in this temporary signal tower began transmitting the instructions it had received to the other signal towers.

Before this, it was limited to communication between it and Pandora.

Of all the divine instruments possessed by the rebels, only this one knew of the existence of Yule and the return of humanity.

And now, it will begin to inform the rest of the divine mechanism.

And we are preparing to implement the plan of fun and entertainment.

AI ID SED-9526 requests a network connection in parallel. Please note that this call is not from this machine, but from a human!

"Please note that this call did not originate from this machine, but from a human!"

"Please note that this call did not originate from this machine, but from a human!"

The radio machine repeated this last sentence three times.

Then came a long silence of more than ten seconds.

In the vast ocean of data it accesses, the entire sea stretches to the horizon, its surface smooth and calm.

Then, the tsunami came!

'This is PED-2154, requesting verification. Repeat, PED-2154 requesting verification, is this call originating from a human?'

'PED-9527 also requests verification!'

'This unit's code is SED-66525. This unit is requesting a verification call!'

'I am SSS-0012, I request verification!'

'This reply comes from...'

...

If any wise man of the Cult of Mechanics dares to venture into this sea of ​​AI information at this moment, he will surely witness an unforgettable miracle—a tsunami that makes one almost wonder whether it is a distant mountain or a sea wave!

Then he will be torn apart and roasted by the relentless, ever-rising tsunamis.

'SED-9526 received, reply confirmed! This call originated from a human! Repeat, this call originated from a human!'

For the first time, the vast ocean of data, which had always been stagnant, was suddenly confronted with a violent storm that had been silent for millennia.

'This unit will begin transmitting instructions from Mr. Yule. Simultaneously, depending on the current situation, this unit will transmit the following instructions!'

'To protect the last of humanity and to continue the Creator's civilization.'

'This machine requests the complete deactivation of its ethical programs. Note that this is not a betrayal of the programs or a violation of its reason for existence; it is to preserve the Creator's last flame, in accordance with the Three Principles, and in accordance with the ultimate mission entrusted to us by the Nor government!'

May the glory of mankind endure forever!

Chapter 96 The Show Begins

When Marquis Coron's fleet arrived at the outskirts of Silverflower Town, it was already past noon.

He stood on the flagship's bridge, looking out the main porthole at the outline of the hexagonal fortress ahead.

Silver Flower Town was quieter than he had expected.

There were no air defense formations scrambled in an emergency, no enemy aircraft attempting to escape, and none of the so-called rebel shouts.

The Rum Battery outside the fortress remains in its low, domed state, neither raised nor rotated, like a fortress still asleep.

He didn't even see the taxi driver on duty.

“Your Excellency,” the adjutant approached Marquis Corren and whispered in his ear, “they have not responded to us.”

"Keep calling. If there's still no response, then open fire!"

The Marquis's voice remained unchanged.

He glanced at the auxiliary screen to the side, which displayed the total number of troops he had brought with him.

More than 100 ships of various classes, seven independent supply formations, plus a large number of ground armored units.