The King

  The continent of Aslante in September was lively. First, the Holy See fleet was destroyed in the sea of ​​mist, and then there was news that Pope Pius VII had broken through the sanctuary.

  Looking at how doggy Hudson is, one can tell how much influence a sanctuary powerhouse can have on the structure of the continent.

   It caused a sensation because it was the pope who broke through the sanctuary. If it were another person, it would be a folk talk after dinner, and it would not achieve the effect of sensationalizing the mainland.

  The only ones who were really stimulated were the eighth-level powerhouses who were stuck outside the gate of the sanctuary.

  In the past, everyone stopped at the peak of the eighth order, and even if there was a gap between them, it would not be too great.

  But now, in the blink of an eye, that guy Pius VII broke through the sanctuary first, and directly opened up a level with everyone, which made many old antiques unhappy.

  For a while, everyone is retreating, looking for opportunities, looking for opportunities, anyway, no one is idle.

  In addition to his unusual status, the strength of Pius VII is also the focus of everyone's attention. In the eyes of many people, he has a three-piece magic weapon in his hand.

  The inheritance artifact bestowed by the Lord of Dawn fully matches the attributes of Pius VII, and the power of backlash when used is definitely the smallest among all artifacts.

   At the eighth level, the pope, who holds a three-piece set of artifacts, can fight against the strong in the sanctuary. Now that this threshold has been crossed, the strength of the artifact against Pius VII will be even stronger.

   Pius VII, who has gathered magic attack, physical attack, and comprehensive defense artifacts at the same time, is an invincible existence in the eyes of many people.

  The title of the most powerful man in the mainland has now fallen to Pius VII. Hudson looked envious.

   What I envy is not the title of the number one powerhouse, Pius VII who lost two attack artifacts, this number one powerhouse is too dehydrated.

  Even if the Holy See has other artifacts, they were snatched from other places, and their use is definitely not as smooth as inheritance.

   Pius VII, with full defensive attributes and insufficient attack power, is obviously not the most powerful person on the mainland.

   It's okay to bully those under the sanctuary, but you can only take advantage of the strong ones of the same level.

   After all, although the artifact is easy to use, it also consumes a lot of energy!

  The guardian enchantment released also has a time limit. Gathering more than a dozen powerhouses of the eighth rank to besiege, Pius VII will be able to escape.

   Of course, it is limited to driving away. The strong at the sanctuary level, as long as they don't die, they basically can't die.

  Invincibility is always relative.

  However, the sacred crown in the hands of Pius VII still made Hudson drool enviously.

   Exclusive defensive artifacts, the number of such gadgets is really too rare. With the sacred crown body protection, the personal safety factor will definitely be greatly improved.

  Affected by Pius VII's breakthrough in the sanctuary, a special meeting was held in the kingdom.

  Different from the previous meetings, except for the prime minister and the king, the rest of the participants in this meeting were eighth-rank powerhouses from all over the world.

   As the kingdom's combat power, Hudson will naturally be missing.

  …

  "Pis VII broke through the sanctuary, proving that the door of the sanctuary is open to humans again. In the next few years, the mainland will surely emerge strong.

  I invite you to come here today, mainly to provide a platform for you to exchange cultivation experience and exchange cultivation materials. I hope you can break through the sanctuary as soon as possible. "

   Caesar IV said expectantly.

  The sanctuary can't be broken through just by thinking about it, it seems like a reincarnation. Every few hundred years in the mainland, there will be a wave of strong people, followed by hundreds of years of silence.

   Those who catch up with the times are full of powerful people, miss the opportunities of the times, and those who can break through against the world are the talents of the sky.

  Looking at the entire Aslant continent, there are not many eighth-level powerhouses in the Alpha Kingdom, but these powerhouses are all coming out of the battlefield, and their combat effectiveness is slightly better.

  But to break through the sanctuary, these alone are not enough. Rich combat experience and comprehension of laws are two completely different fields.

   There is no need to think about the treasures that help comprehend the law at all. They are all legendary things, which can be encountered but not sought.

  What the kingdom can do is to provide a platform for everyone to communicate and communicate, hoping that someone can take this crucial step.

   In this regard, Hudson has no say. Although he has a sanctuary mount, he is still weak.

  Dragon and Bear are both born with talent, and their breakthrough experience has no reference value for human beings.

  Communication means that everyone is responsible for speaking and Hudson is responsible for listening.

   "Your Majesty, many of us have been stuck outside the sanctuary for many years, and now we are short of the final touch.

   But it was precisely this last step that trapped countless heroes throughout the ages.

  If it was before the destruction of the Holy See Fleet, I would suggest friends of the dark department to plan the core of the ghost ship. But now, I can only advise everyone to give up the idea of ​​looking for external assistance. "

   Morrison said meaningfully.

   Those who can step into this realm are either talented or crazy. Now the sanctuary realm has become an obsession in many people's hearts.

  In order to break through the realm, they can do anything.

  It is not easy for the kingdom to accumulate some masters. Morrison doesn't want to see everyone rushing to the misty sea to die in order to seize the opportunity.

   "Morrison, what you're talking about is nonsense. The three major fleets of the Holy See all set out, accompanied by eighty if not a hundred eighth-level masters, and they were all wiped out in the end.

  There are only eight powerhouses in the kingdom who cultivate the dark system. Isn't it to give away their heads? "

  Robert said angrily.

   It seems to be complaining to Morrison, but it is actually directed at the strong practitioners of the dark department in the crowd.

  While speaking, Robert deliberately glanced at the two great undead magisters who were eager to try, full of warning.

   After a little hesitation, the two great undead magisters finally did not refute.

   They are also among the top experts in the kingdom, but when it comes to the network of connections, the Dean Robert beats them all.

  Even if the dark-type powerhouses mobilize contacts together, it will be difficult to pull everyone to take risks with them.

  The Alpha Kingdom can't afford to gamble, and the forces behind the powerful can't afford to gamble either.

   What's more, even if you get the core, it's not enough for everyone!

  …

  Lutetia Palace, Charles III, who also received the news of Pius VII's breakthrough, looked at the crowd and said mockingly:

   "The Holy See is out of skills this time!

  The expedition fleet was completely wiped out. I thought they would take revenge and destroy the ghost ship hiding in the misty sea with thunder.

   Never expected that they would use the news that Pius VII broke through the sanctuary to divert their attention.

  As the spokesperson of the Lord of Dawn in the world, half of the popes in the past have broken through the sanctuary, and it is not surprising to add another one.

   But I don't believe it was such a coincidence that he broke through.

   I'm afraid that the Holy See's layout failed one after another, and Pius VII's position as pope was unstable, so he had to announce it to the outside world. "

   Breaking through the sanctuary is a good thing, but this kind of news is always announced as late as possible.

  The current stimulation has stimulated the fighting spirit of the eighth-level powerhouses in the whole continent, which is not of much benefit to the Holy See.

   It seems that a lot of reputation has been restored, but in the eyes of real powerful forces, this has exposed the weak nature of the Holy See.

   If you really have the confidence, then immediately start revenge and go back, showing the domineering power of the top forces.

  Three ghost ships, as long as the Holy See is willing to spend, they can definitely take them down.

  The outside world does not care about objective factors, let alone the risks involved. Everyone only sees that the Holy See is cowardly.

  The strength shown by the Holy See will directly affect the foreign policies of various countries towards them.

   "Your Majesty, after this continental war, the power of foreign races will surely decline further. Now that the Holy See is showing signs of decadence again, this is indeed the best opportunity for the kingdom to go further.

  Our next plan can speed up the pace.

   It is necessary for the front line to speed up the destruction of the half-orc kingdom. If it takes too long, it will be troublesome if the situation in the North Continent collapses first. "

   Prime Minister Duke Bergson said murderously.

  As the first kingdom on the mainland, the military strength of the Frankish Kingdom is no worse than some empires in the history of the human race.

   It failed to become an empire. In addition to the opposition of various countries, the most important thing is the obstruction of the Holy See.

  Empires in the past all had one common feature—divine authority of the emperor.

  Before the Holy See grows stronger, the power of the empire is still guaranteed, and the most honorable status on the mainland is the emperor.

  But after the Holy See grew stronger, theocracy slowly took the dominant position in the struggle, and the Pope gradually became the boss on the mainland.

  The next collapse of the empire, in addition to internal interest disputes, the Holy See's fuel is also an important factor.

   After overthrowing the rule of the Holy See with great difficulty, the Kingdom of Franks was naturally unwilling to bow to the Holy See for the sake of the name of an empire.

  As the kingdom continued to grow stronger, the voice of establishing a separate Holy See became louder and louder in the Frankish Kingdom.

   If there is no legal basis, then find a way to create it yourself. If the Holy See is not obedient, then change to an obedient Holy See to manage the faith.

   "Prime Minister, once we destroy the orc kingdom, the elves will definitely join the battle immediately.

  The collapse of the situation in the northern continent is almost a foregone conclusion. The Alpha Kingdom is likely to adopt a strategic contraction and let the elf army go south.

  Currently, the war situation among countries in the mainland is still in a stalemate, and the advantages of the human race have not been brought into play. If the elves army joins the war, the situation in the central mainland is likely to reverse.

By the time…"

  Foreign Minister Marquis Jesús said worriedly.

   Not all human nations are as powerful as the Frankish Kingdom; nor are all alien races like the half-orc kingdoms, who are dying of being suppressed by them.

  The current stalemate on the battlefield is mainly due to the fact that the Frankish Kingdom is training with half-orcs and has not launched an offensive with all its strength.

  Once it gets ruthless, it will naturally destroy the Orc Kingdom.

   After all, this war was initiated by them when they were prepared.

   "The situation on the mainland really needs to be considered.

  Among the major powers on the mainland, the Alpha Kingdom is under the greatest pressure. They simply cannot stop the elf army from going south.

  However, the strength of the three major kingdoms in Central China is not weak. They still have spare power, which should be to prevent the army of elves from going south.

  Even if they can't defeat the elf army, they can hold back the enemy, and the situation won't deteriorate much in a short time.

   When we stabilize the fruits of victory, we will send troops to support them, and there will be enough time in terms of time. "

   Prime Minister Duke Bergson said lightly.

   It can be seen that he is not concerned about the life and death of the countries in the central region, and even plans to take the opportunity to consume the three countries.

  Politics is so realistic. After annexing the half-orc kingdom, Frank's national power will further increase, and its advantages over other countries will become more obvious.

  As the boss, suppressing potential threats in advance can only be regarded as a routine operation.

   "The prime minister is right. The current situation has changed. Some of the kingdom's foreign policies in the past also need to conform to the times.

   Pass down the order to intensify the offensive strength of all ministries. I hope to defeat the Orc Kingdom within three months and completely destroy them within one year! "

  Charles III said domineeringly.

  …

  In the Kingdom of Hesse, Alexander V was startled when he first heard that Pius VII broke through the sanctuary.

  Don’t panic, as one of the participants who made trouble for the Holy See fleet, if the Holy See investigates deeply, they will be able to find them out sooner or later.

   Facing the Holy See directly, Alexander V still felt a little bit drummed in his heart. It's just that this anxiety disappeared quickly.

   "The Holy See actually gave up?

   Pius VII had at least three artifacts in his hands, all of which happened to restrain ghost ships.

   There must be other reasons behind such a good opportunity for him to give up. "

   Alexander V frowned and said.

  The same thing falls into different eyes, and the problems seen are naturally different.

   Among the contemporary monarchs, Alexander V was not a pushy person. When encountering problems, they usually think twice before acting, a typical representative of a moderate monarch.

  Even if he was also unhappy with the Holy See, Alexander V never confronted the Holy See directly.

  For example, this time the survivors of the Holy See fleet were black-handed, and they all acted in pirate vests, leaving enough room for buffering.

   "Your Majesty, the Pope didn't take the opportunity of breaking through the sanctuary to launch a counterattack. Perhaps it is not the ghost ship that is afraid, but the Alpha Kingdom.

   suffered a loss once, if they take action again, they will definitely not be able to take the fleet together.

   Without the protection of the army, just a group of masters ran to the sea area of ​​​​the Alpha Kingdom to do things, and the danger inside was definitely not small.

  In case the Alpha people suddenly turn their faces, it will be difficult for them to leave.

   Apart from other factors, the three inherited artifacts in the hands of Pius VII alone are worth the secret hands of the Alpha people.

  Even if their family can’t eat, they can ask the Franks who are also at odds with the Holy See for help. There are so many forces who are concerned about inheriting the artifacts, and they don't have to worry about having no allies.

   It was easy for Pius VII to take these artifacts out, but it was difficult to bring them back. "

  Duke Milton analyzed with a smile.

  Don’t say that Alpha and Frank are two countries that are hostile to the Holy See. Even a big country with a good relationship with the Holy See will most likely not be tempted.

   This is the legal order of the Holy See, and whoever gets it will have the initiative.

  Whether it is negotiating with the Holy See to strive for more rights, or directly establishing a new portal, this is the most important bargaining chip.

   "It's exactly as the Prime Minister said. If Pius VII dared to come out with the artifact, I couldn't help but shoot it.

   Forget it, this kind of good thing is impossible to happen.

   Pius VII was not stupid, even if he came out with an artifact, he would visit in an aboveboard manner.

  We can't miss the artifact, let's think about how much benefit we can get from the destruction of the Holy See fleet! "

  Alexander V shook his head and said.

  Disappointment is false, and relief is the truth. It would be a real problem if the holy artifact inherited from the Holy See had been delivered right under his nose.

  As a middle-continent country, the Kingdom of Hesse inevitably became the site of the Fourth World War. It is a treasure for other countries to take the artifact, but they have become a disaster when they take the artifact.

   When it comes to the artifacts of the legal system, whoever grabs the legal system does not follow whoever, and it must be proved that the source of the artifact is legal.

  The reason for obtaining the artifact can be made up at will, but the only thing is that you can't grab it openly. Once something is on the surface, there is no way to do it.

   "Your Majesty, the destruction of the Holy See fleet and their international influence plummeted, which is of great benefit to the Kingdom's overseas trade development.

  However, these are long-term benefits. In a short period of time, the benefits we can obtain are mainly the payment ratio of tithes, which can be further reduced.

  How much it can be reduced, still needs to be negotiated with the Holy See. If the kingdom is firm, no matter how much we propose to drop, they will choose to compromise. "

   Earl Backstrom said enthusiastically.

  Before the outbreak of the war, the finances of the Kingdom of Hesse had been very good. As long as there is no major natural disaster, the treasury will have a surplus.

  As soon as the war broke out, the situation changed drastically. Years of accumulation of finances and taxes are not worth mentioning in front of the gold-swallowing beast of war.

  Although there is no high debt at present, the fiscal deficit of the Kingdom of Hesse has indeed appeared, and it is still expanding rapidly at a speed visible to the naked eye.

   If there is an opportunity to cut the flesh of the Holy See and make up for its own financial insufficiency, the Ministry of Finance must of course strive for it.

   "The countries that are demanding to lower the tithe should not be one or two countries. There is no need for the kingdom to rush to the front.

  First use the need for war as an excuse to withhold this year's tithe. After the war is over, the results of the negotiations between the Holy See and all parties are estimated to have come out.

   At that time, refer to the negotiation results of various countries, and then use the results to negotiate with the Holy See. I think their acceptance ability should be improved a lot. "

  Alexander V said calmly.

   Didn’t mention how to deal with the “tithes” withheld during the war, and it’s clear that it’s a bad idea.

  The resumption of negotiations after the war seemed to be full of sincerity, but in fact they were waiting for an excuse to cut the "tithe tax".

  War, there must be some damage. Exaggerating the losses is the best justification for cutting taxes.

  Anyway, this kind of war with other races can be crowned as fighting for living space for the human race, and the force will be full in an instant.

  If the Holy See continues to decline during the war, the Kingdom of Hesse will be able to gain greater initiative in future negotiations.

  Even following the example of the Alpha Kingdom and the Frankish King, it is not impossible to pay a symbolic gold coin every year.

  To be precise, the two countries have not even cashed in a single gold coin. It's not that they don't want to give this last gold coin, but that the Holy See felt insulted and refused to accept it.

  As for the disappearing "tithe tax", it was naturally spent by the local church under a clever name. Repair churches today, do charitable donations tomorrow, and start public welfare the day after tomorrow...

  It’s just an account, and the Holy See has no ability to verify it anyway. The essence of these face-saving projects is that the ruling class wants to maintain its own legal system.

  …