Shadow of the Evil God

"Perhaps not until I think they are truly feasible," Cesar said. "Would you bring out your wild ideas and talk about them? I wouldn't have shared these ideas with my petty nobles until the battle was over. It's you who insisted on coming here to ask for the truth."

The thoughtful princess looked him over, seemingly trying to decide the most tactful words possible. "Isn't it true that this system of command will work even if you don't tell them your true feelings?" she asked.

"Yes, I haven't discussed it in depth with them yet. I'm just experimenting...what do you want to say?"

"If others ask you about the theories behind these things, Mr. Cesar," Altinia said, looking into his eyes, "will you also tell them everything?"

Cesar had grasped the underlying meaning of her words. "Everyone has the right to ask questions, Your Highness," he told her politely. "I don't agree with the divisions among mages, nor do I want to seal knowledge in parchment scrolls and lock it deep in the basement."

She nodded. "Yes, I've already sensed that you're a teacher who's willing to teach anyone, but I think some things should probably wait until they've truly borne fruit before being made public."

“This is a bit difficult

You must know that I...”

“You are a teacher,” Artinya interrupted him gently but firmly, “but in this confusing and unsettling land, perhaps those who respect knowledge and those who know

It is better to accept your thoughts… It is true that everyone has the right to ask questions, but not everyone can accept the turmoil that these thoughts may cause.”

Cesar thought it was remarkable that this guy could talk about knowledge barriers and prejudice so well. "You want to talk about yourself?"

"I heard you haven't accepted any students yet," she said nonchalantly.

"That letter doesn't count?"

"It's not really, after all, our Lady Diana hasn't made a decision yet," said Altinya, who made no comment on her preemptive action.

“I have shared my knowledge with many people.”

"Yes, I can guess," Her Royal Highness said. "You must have imparted your knowledge to many people, Monsieur Cesar, and you didn't care about the name, the favor, or the status of the two parties. You simply wanted to share it and let more people know it. However, I would like to accept your teachings as a student and discuss with you which knowledge is shareable and which requires further discussion and consideration."

Cesar's eyebrows twitched. "I've never known a student to ask a teacher to decide what to do and what not to do."

Chapter 144 I am your first student

Altinia stared at Cesar, as if he had said something incomprehensible, something that defied her accustomed notions. Of course, he couldn't understand the attitudes of someone like Altinia. He was merely a noble in name only. In reality, his life in this world was a journey from a cult sacrificial site to the slums of the city, from sacrifice to refugee, and then, using his fictitious noble identity to deceive others, a deception he had perpetuated until now.

Until now, he has not developed any identity, and even his own ideas about doing things have never changed.

"That's my fault," Artinia explained. "From the Imperial Court to the Kingdom of Domini in the south, I've received much instruction and had many teachers. But all I've seen and heard are either old men spouting clichés or young teachers spouting self-proclaimed, shocking, yet ultimately meaningless rhetoric. Neither is worthy of my attention. You're also aware that many young nobles form secret societies to assist each other in military, political, and business matters, right?"

Cesar thought it was strange that he knew this.

"What are you trying to explain by telling me this?"

She spoke in an orderly manner: "I have declined other people's invitations, and I have also invited others myself. Whether they were teachers or students, there was actually not much difference. They just happened to be standing in a certain position and playing a certain role, that's all. The words just now were all our usual rhetoric, behind which were a series of conflicts, compromises and exchanges of interests. I use these rhetoric too much, so I... am not good at communicating with people who are more concerned with knowledge itself. Many of my expressions are out of habit, so please forgive me." Altiniya expressed her apology to him in a perfect way.

"I don't believe you haven't been to the Academy of Sciences." Cesar pointed out the problem with her statement.

"I've been there," Her Royal Highness replied, "but in my opinion, the Academy is just a series of more complex alliances of aristocratic families, just younger than the old-school aristocrats. They don't necessarily care much about knowledge, and the power struggles within them are even more intense than those of the old-school aristocracy."

This guy's words were no longer intended to conceal his disparagement of the various kingdoms' academies. "Did I mention I'd been invited to the Olidan Academy of Sciences?" Cesar asked her.

"No, but I know," Artinya said nonchalantly. The implication was that she had dug up everything she could about Cesar. "No academy of sciences is a good place for academics, I can guarantee that," she added, "but it doesn't seem quite right for me to say that, as if I were the only choice..."

"Very inappropriate," Cesar pointed out.

"You're right." She tapped her delicate brow lightly. "How should I put it... Please forgive my selfish opinions? I have to say that a mage from a school that doesn't regard ordinary people as fellow human beings would actually send a letter to Diana, saying that someone could be her teacher. This matter is actually more ridiculous than you think."

Cesar now found that letter absurd. That school's mage didn't even consider ordinary humans his own kind. For him to write such a letter was beyond comprehension. Limited by his own knowledge and perspective, he'd made too many unwarranted decisions. If he hadn't managed to keep a lid on the rumors and fabrications he'd fabricated, he'd have died more than once.

Altinya changed the subject, "But now I know that no one fits the description in that letter more than you do. I offered this advice with selfish motives, and I wanted to put my name at the top of your list of future students. However, I can promise that I will accept instruction as a student should, without any other considerations. If I've made any mistakes, please point them out, and I will reflect on my actions from the perspective of a student."

Cesar looked at her in return, feeling

I felt like I was the one who had heard something incomprehensible. "Are your words always so exaggerated when you're trying to win people over?"

"Do I look like that? No, I don't think so. Seeing things outside the existing order and putting

My own ideas have truly been put into practice, establishing a truly viable order. These two points, taken individually, are not uncommon in one person, but only when combined can they produce truly credible results... Are you willing to believe that I, too, have the ambition to personally establish a new order? In the past, I was simply trying to increase my leverage and recruit people, but now, I am trying to preserve a revelation that should not be missed."

"Isn't the covenant enough?"

"It's enough in most cases," she said, taking a step closer, tilting her head and looking at him with violet eyes. "But I want to know those ideas that you're reluctant to express, to discuss their details with you before anyone else, and to personally participate in and realize them. Considering all this, the covenant is too mundane. In the past, I would rather give up everything in the court and go south. Compared to this, why is it so strange to solemnly accept someone as a teacher?"

Altinya raised her hand, her gleaming lips pursing the edge of her glove, her fine white teeth nibbling as she plucked it from the sleeve of her uniform. Her right hand was incredibly beautiful—first the delicate, porcelain-like wrist, then the softly bony back of her hand, and finally the slender fingers, curving like white jade and tapering to the tips.

"You know, I'm not as unappreciated at court as people think," she added nonchalantly.

This last remark startled Cesar so much that he wanted to step back, for hearing secrets from others usually carries a price and risk. But Altinia had already placed a hand on his shoulder, stopping him from retreating. It was the first time she had touched him, and the sensation was delicate, like the caress of a warm breeze on your cheek.

Her fingers were barely exerting any force, just resting there, yet it felt as if they were being stained by the dust on his shoulders.

"You didn't retreat. Can I take it as a response?" Altinya blinked deliberately with doubt.

"I don't want to answer every question." Cesar was silent for a moment, then replied.

"Really? Then I'll have to guess. If my guess is correct, you'll nod in agreement."

"I'd really like to say no," he added.

A smile played on her lips. "So you agree. In that case, I will treat you, Mr. Cesar, regardless of your family background, as the only de facto teacher I will ever have."

Cesar felt strangely manipulated. Before he could even formulate a response, she continued, "I remember you saying you'd risk your life attending the banquet, then have the others capture the fortress at night. If there's anything you're unsure about, you can leave it to me."

"Are you serious? I thought you were just here to watch."

"The facts will prove everything," Altinya said, still gazing intently at him. "I'm your first student. If you're unsure about this banquet, I can deal with some of the people there, depending on the situation. If you're unsure about launching an attack at night, I can also take charge of the most difficult siege. Either way, tonight will make this task easier. After all, most of your officers aren't particularly reliable, am I right?"

Chapter 145: Thank you for your trust, sir

"You can be the commander-in-chief of this operation." Cesar said calmly.

"What did you say?" Altinya expressed considerable confusion.

Cesar felt that with someone like her, it was best to get some things out as soon as possible. Rather than letting her discover that he wasn't good at commanding and dispatching troops on the battlefield, it would be better to use the art of speech to get ahead of the situation, conveying the facts while also redirecting her attention.

"I'm not a professionally trained officer," he said. "Many times, I'm forced to stand where I have to, sword in hand. Like now, I'm going to appear at the banquet to attract Vermeer's attention, forcing him to focus entirely on killing me, so that others can take Gonzales by surprise. Do you think someone who can't let go of command would put himself in this situation? If you think you are better than the officers under my command, then go and prove it."

"You said you weren't a professionally trained officer, so what are those tactics?" she demanded.

"To prove that as long as tactical decision-making and organizational methods are ahead," Cesar said, "I can defeat the enemy without having to compete with the enemy commander in intelligence and strategy on the battlefield like in chess. I know why you regard me as a brilliant commander, but you should have noticed by now that I don't focus on battlefield strategy, but on the preparations before the battle - the acquisition and utilization of intelligence, the transformation of command structure, the improvement of communication methods, the coordination between different soldiers, and recording these standards so that anyone with professional military training can understand and use them. Have you noticed that I didn't command any troops on the battlefield? I just stood there, making sure the artillery positions and the command post flags were not lost, that's all."

"This statement is indeed surprising..." said Altiniya, "It is beyond my common sense. Perhaps this is why humans are wary of the unknown.

Do you know the attitude of the Kasar Empire towards the unknown and uncontrollable things?

"I do not know."

"It is a restriction and blockade, sir." The princess said, "The empire uses the exploration of the Overa School to

The search has resulted in the mages of the Origin Society being blocked, and the preemptive killing of exceptional individuals has prevented the Beastmen from forming large groups. I believe that, given time, if no one halts your ascent, unimaginable turmoil will ensue. Before the ideological plague spread, those mages considered themselves merely conducting insignificant preliminary experiments.

Cesar studied Artinya's face, trying to find any hint of mockery or deception, but then gave up. The man had the serious demeanor of a knight, and any hint of uncertainty was fleeting, almost imperceptible.

"You are so startled," he had to say.

"I've often heard speeches more shocking than yours, but your ideas are all practical and valuable. That's the difference." Altinia actually smiled as she spoke. "I don't think my instinctive wariness is a cause for alarm. So, in order to overcome the centuries-old imperial traditions within me, I should get to know you better. Simply discussing and learning about military reforms isn't enough."

"You're expecting too much," Cesar added. "I don't even know what I can teach you."

"Whether I have excessive expectations of you, time will tell," Her Royal Highness replied, then added, "I have heard of and witnessed your artillery reforms. I am very interested in the tables, but I am even more interested in learning your calculation theory itself."

"Do you believe me when I say that it's divine revelation?"

"It doesn't matter. Even if you invent a nonexistent ancient kingdom and claim it's the result of your archaeological work, it doesn't matter. If you have already written them down in a book, I would like you to teach me. If you haven't written them down in a book yet, I would not only ask you to teach me first, but also ask you to allow me to help you compile them into a book."

"Are you serious? Do you have someone around you who can compile a book?"

"I will compile it myself," she said calmly.

Cesar felt that this guy's initiative was truly unprecedented in his life, as if there was a thick wall in front of him, and she was determined to split it with a sword. While he was still thinking about Gonzales's private affairs, this guy had already considered everything she could think of while observing him.

"Is this really necessary?" He asked not only about the book.

"Perhaps it's because I want the book's cover to be signed by myself, not anyone else," Altinia replied. "There are many things I have to do myself to get the results I want. If even this had to be left to servants, I wouldn't have left the palace in the first place. And besides, many things would be much easier if I could be taught by your side."

Cesar could only shake his head: "I don't really know how to be a teacher."

"That's good," she said nonchalantly. "To be honest, sir, I don't want you to have many students. Not only because the knowledge they provide can cause a lot of turmoil, but also because... some relationships, once they're no longer rare, lose their ability to hold promise."

He noticed that Altinya's words contained neither joking nor pretense, not even a tactful rhetoric. Instead, they were filled with an indescribable solemnity. The mental pressure of having this person as a student must have been greater than the pressure of being in charge of an entire class at Olidan University. In the tradition of knightly mentorship, she was definitely the kind of student whose mission was to defeat her teacher.

"Well, well," Cesar said, "what should I call you?"

"Aya can do it."

He patted his bag and pulled out a few scrolls of paper. "This is a map of the buildings within Gonzales City. I've agreed with the various commanders on the bugle call combinations and their different meanings. I've written about ten pages here. Here you go. Each unit has its own code name, and each building block has a specific marking. Different bugle call combinations can convey accurate information. Before I go to the banquet, I'll transport the captured artillery to these towers. The muzzles can be turned directly into the city to bombard difficult areas."

"But this is a night battle. How can we determine the bombardment area?"

"I hope the artillery can coordinate with the infantry. Each team will have a messenger to observe the enemy situation and decide when to call for reinforcements. You can dictate when they can call for assistance and decide the level of fire support to provide. As long as you can provide accurate fire strikes in the direction indicated by the request for assistance, you can ensure that the soldiers advance under the protection of the artillery and clean up the mess along the way, rather than fighting frantically in the dark. This is what I mean. I don't like playing chess with others, nor do I want to compete fairly in strategy and wisdom on the battlefield. I just want to use the most reliable preparations to directly crush the enemy."

"I understand." Altinya nodded, then looked at him and blinked. "But, have you forgotten something? You asked that question yourself, so you wouldn't have forgotten it in the blink of an eye, would you?"

Cesar paused for a long moment, "I hope you can prove your ability, Aya, although I don't think you need to prove yourself."

"Thank you for your trust, sir." She smiled, "I will certainly not let you down."

Chapter 146 Eat Her at Night

......

Artinya is very decisive, and Cesar has not recovered yet.

She then called a meeting of the officers who had participated in the battle. They gathered at the foot of a cliff, sitting next to the captured artillery. This was their first meeting since the last ambush.

Not long after, Her Royal Highness the Princess

She delivered a rousing speech. She presented a promising future for the officers present, including not only her achievements in suppressing the rebellion but also her involvement in the Northern War under her name. Her status might have been insignificant to the nobles, but in the eyes of these lesser nobles and knightly families, she presented a bright path to self-realization.

Regarding combat, Artinia believed that the number of night battle teams should be further reduced, while the number of officers in each team should be further increased. She claimed that each team should be led by multiple noble officers at the same time, ensuring that they had a tacit understanding and could cooperate to complete each responsibility.

"Too many troops will easily lead to confusion, and the calls for support will interfere with each other. I think a handful is enough." She pointed to a map of the fortress and said, "Valedo, I want you and a few colleagues you know to be in charge of the camp. You can assign tasks based on your understanding of them - who will be responsible for observing and analyzing the enemy, who will be responsible for issuing accurate calls, and so on. These tasks should be assigned to people who are good at them."

As Artinya spoke, she insisted that each team follow the routes she had mapped out. "These routes will maximize our coverage of several important buildings, ultimately encircling the Governor's Palace of the rebel leader, Vermeer." Then, changing the subject, "One more thing, I believe some of Gonzales's soldiers are untrustworthy. I want you to place these men at the forefront of the night battle team. If they show any suspicious behavior, temporarily halt their advance while they engage the enemy and request artillery support if necessary—I mean, bombard them with artillery fire."

Some thought Artinia's instructions were sound, while others objected, feeling the princess was too extreme and unacceptable. Cesar remained silent, accustomed to the officers' differing opinions. They were all nobles and knights born in military academies, all receiving similar elite educations. Now that they had won several victories, it was inevitable that they were eager to show off their abilities.

Meetings like these were bound to be filled with debate. Cesar had many reasons for emulating the staff system, one of which was that he wanted them to resolve conflicts and arguments in meetings, avoiding complications after tactics and strategies had been finalized. With Artinya stepping up, he could fill the gap in the meeting center that had previously been missing.

Of course, the conference center should have been his, but he didn't want to be confined to that position.

As the debate continued, the military nobles gradually reached a consensus on some obvious matters, such as which officer groups, already fraternizing at the Military Academy, should step forward and lead which specific divisions. Factionalism in the military was a bad thing, but Cesar was merely a fictitious noble, and Artinia was merely a runaway princess; they hadn't reached the point where they needed to deal with it yet.

When the day comes when we have to take action, many things will definitely be completely different from what they are now.

As Cesar pondered, he realized that Artinia had cleverly deflected the conflict with her rhetoric. Some of the criticism directed at her had inadvertently been directed at others, turning it into a conflict between different groups of military nobility. She observed the scene with a gentle smile, observing the escalating argument with a cold gaze—if using vicious insults to attack each other could be called an argument.

It seems she is very good at handling this.

At that moment, Gouzi emerged from behind him, musket in hand. "She changed the formations and bugle calls I calculated!" she protested. "I'm very familiar with the knowledge of those military nobles. The numbers and combinations I provided are perfectly balanced and suitable for their abilities. Why would they agree with that person? Is my calculation incorrect?"

Cesar reached out and scratched her fair, slender chin, watching her squint and hum softly. "Perhaps the numbers and combinations you calculated are too precise," he consoled her. "Humans always have to consider errors when they act, don't you think?"

"Is that so? I don't quite understand." Gouzi said, resting his chin on his palm, closing his eyes, and rubbing it gently. "Besides, the officers I ate also thought there was nothing wrong with me."

"The group of people that Urbino gave me together are not necessarily more capable than her alone," Cesar pointed out.

"Well, maybe that guy is smarter than the officer I ate." She opened her bloodshot eyes and cast a predatory gaze at the meeting place. "Even if several officers come together, they can't beat her. So what do you think, Master, how can I become smarter than her? Should I eat officers of a higher order, hoping that the quantitative change will lead to a qualitative change, or should I eat her herself at night? The former may require hundreds or even thousands of officers, but the latter..."

Cesar's cheek twitched. Was it because he'd been asking her to do too many statistics and calculations lately? If this guy did something too frequently, it would disrupt her entire behavior. He hugged her close, covered her mouth, and whispered in her ear, "If I don't give you an order, you'll just follow me. Don't run around or do anything else. Do you understand?"

"What about the dinner?" Gouzi uttered a word from between his fingers.

"You'll come with me to the dinner."

......

The banquet was held in the manner that Cesar had expected. Before he returned to the camp, or even before he set foot on the

After entering the fortress to confer further with his officers, Vermeer sent for him to the Governor's Palace, claiming to be welcoming him. He took a seat in Vermeer's living room, where the decor was consistent with what Artinia had hinted at—simple and solemn. While many famous paintings adorned the walls, they were in reality fakes, barely worth a dime.

Needless to say, as long as anyone who has not actually entered the Governor's Palace of Vermeer comes here for the first time, they will think that this man's corrupt deeds are to decorate his seemingly luxurious castle.

As if to keep him at the banquet for a while longer, before the main meal was served, Vermeer's people brought a lot of desserts and appetizers, including walnuts and cheese, beer and red wine. There were also servants waiting by, waiting to take his orders to prepare food that would better suit his taste.

Cesar wondered what Vermeer had in mind for him, while he held the dog on his lap and whispered to her. He ate nothing himself, but instead shoved dish after dish of poisonous desserts into her mouth, pouring glasses of various drinks into her mouth. He listened to the dog's comments on the precious botrytis cider, saying that the rotten juice was not as delicious as the broth, while he picked up the empty bottle and shook it, urging the grim-faced servants behind them to bring better wine.

Since the Governor was willing to drop his disguise and have an in-depth exchange with him, he would naturally drop his mask and have a candid exchange with Vermir.

Cesar was the first guest to take his seat. He didn't recognize the others who followed, but none of them were the nobles or courtiers who had frequented the Doge's Palace. One noble even had a mistress, though not as openly as Cesar. However, the presence of a noble with a mistress at a dinner with such clear intentions was strange enough. He wondered what Vermeer was up to—was he trying to turn the murder into some grandiose theatrical spectacle? Could these people just be the audience?

Chapter 147 Do you think she cares?

However, Cesar did not care what the governor wanted. While Vermeer was still trying to kill him with an elaborate lie, he had already made all preparations to attack the fortress at night.

He wasn't as adept at the political intrigues and schemes of the nobles, at least not as proficient as they were. But he knew that as long as he had the ability to flip the table, he could skip all the troublesome confrontations and reach the final step. Finding the body, fabricating or even fabricating charges wasn't difficult; at least it was much simpler than confronting a living person.