When the Saint comes, she does not collect food

The grayish-white sky faintly revealed a hint of dark blue. Through the gaps in the dawn redwoods, one could see the rolling mountains behind the distant lake.

Beyond the eastern mountains were towering peaks and snow-capped mountains, while beyond the western mountains, the skyline was blurred by mountain mist.

If one were to cross the western mountains, they would see at the foot of the mountains, flat river valley lands divided into blocks by the high mountains, and undulating earthen slopes and hills.

Thousand River Valley had a terrain that was low in the west and high in the east. All five mountain counties were in the northeast, and all four plain counties were in the southwest.

A slightly cool breeze swept in through the gaps in the tent, causing Hohn to shiver involuntarily.

He added a buttoned jacket over his original clothes and changed into deerskin boots.

After crossing the small river by raft and arriving at this secluded path, Hohn and the others traveled day and night for half a day, until they found a mountain depression to set up camp the next morning.

Because of this night march, nearly half of the Papal State's people fell ill with colds, and the entire camp was filled with the smell of medicinal soup.

Fortunately, most people's illnesses only lasted for three to five days.

By today, the third day, only a little over a hundred people were still sick. After consumption, the grain and medicinal materials in the carts had freed up space.

There was no problem putting the sick people in the carts and continuing to move forward.

During this time, Hohn was not idle. The weather turned cold, and they received a lot of animal skins, wool, and fine yarn from the beastmen, so they simply started making autumn and winter clothing.

They sewed smock-like long outer garments in five sizes: extra-large, large, medium, small, and extra-small, for wind protection.

As for whether they fit, just tighten the belt.

The original number of tailors was certainly not enough to make smocks for thousands of people.

So Hohn handed over all the simple tasks, such as cutting, to the idle people, and the tailors only had to handle the most difficult tasks, such as sewing.

With this small assembly line, three hundred sets of smocks were made in three days. Hohn calculated that even while marching, they could make forty to fifty sets a day.

Standing at the entrance of the camp, Hohn looked out over the small mountain depression, where hundreds of canvas tents stood.

Soldiers in black cloaks patrolled everywhere to maintain order, and several children ran around with wooden swords and long sticks.

Jeanne sat in a grass shed, patiently listening to several villagers who were litigating their cases, while two bruised and swollen elders glared at each other.

In another corner, soldiers from two divisions of the Imperial Guard sat on the open ground, listening to Bonner teach them Hohn's simplified Franconian alphabet.

Franconian and Leia share a common origin, and the letters are universal. Hohn changed all the letters to lowercase letters that could be written in one stroke, to make it easier for the soldiers to learn and practice.

If it weren't for the pursuers behind and the uncertain road ahead, this scene would be a rare moment of peace.

Hohn turned his head, returned to his seat, and continued to correct the assignments of the Children's Army.

In a corner of the tent, Carrie frowned her pretty eyebrows, carefully studying the sheep bone flute in her hand, occasionally blowing it, but besides the "hissing" sound, there was almost no other sound.

She tilted her head, carefully examining the sheep bone flute, as if studying some great problem.

He only hoped that she would discover the hole that Hohn had blocked with a wad of paper later, so that it would at least be quiet for a while.

Hohn had become more curious about Carrie's origins recently.

You know, the path they were taking looked like it had been built in the last few decades, but it was estimated that it hadn't been maintained for seven or eight years.

On this road, at least until now, Hohn had not seen the so-called long-haired monsters. The most common were all kinds of slimes.

The number was astonishing!

Who would build a road in this place?

What was the purpose of building this road?

How did Carrie know about this road?

With countless doubts, Hohn continued to correct the assignments of the Children's Army.

After several months of study, the Children's Army could already perform simple reading and addition and subtraction within twenty, and multiplication and division within ten.

If Hohn ran away in the future, with this skill, although they wouldn't be able to make a living, the probability of being deceived by tax officials, priests, or lords would be much smaller.

A chill struck, and Hohn knew that someone had entered the tent. He turned his head and saw that it was Madelaine.

Madelaine had just recovered from a serious illness, his beard was unshaven, he was thinner than before, and his hair was already gray at the age of thirty.

"Have you visited Frick's and the others' graves?" Hohn put down the assignments of the Children's Army and turned to face Madelaine.

Madelaine nodded silently as he approached.

He came to Hohn's side, carrying a faint smell of alcohol. He hadn't drunk alcohol for ten years, and this was the first time.

"Your Majesty, I have spoken with the Sisi brothers," Madelaine said in a muffled voice. "When we arrive at Jeanneburg, I may want to join the Joanists."

"That is your choice," Hohn stared into Madelaine's eyes. "But don't seek revenge for the sake of revenge. Their lives have a more important meaning."

"I know, I have heard your sermons," Madelaine squeezed out a smile. "Your Majesty, do you have time to receive my confession?"

"You are welcome anytime."

"Doo——" A piercing, knife-like continuous flute sound rang out. Although it was an ordinary flute, Carrie had managed to blow out the effect of a magical item.

Hohn and Madelaine covered their ears at the same time.

But the continuous "doo doo" sound did not stop for a moment, until Carrie blew to her heart's content, blowing for a full half a minute before stopping.

"Papa, look how well I played!"

Hohn forced a smile and gave a thumbs up: "It was so wonderful that my ears went deaf."

Looking around, Hohn picked up a wind-up little frog and handed it to Madelaine, whispering: "Take this and quickly lure Carrie away, let her go out and blow it."

Madelaine took the wind-up little frog, stepped forward, twisted the wind-up key a few times, and confirmed that it was tightened and could not be twisted anymore, before handing it to Carrie.

Carrie obediently took the little frog out of the tent. Madelaine turned his head, only to see Hohn looking at him with a ghostly expression.

"Your Majesty, what's wrong?" Madelaine was a little confused.

Hohn stared at his hand: "You just, used this hand to wind up the key?"

"Yes..."

"You wound it yourself?"

"Your Majesty, I don't quite understand, what are you talking about?" Madelaine was confused by Hohn's attitude.

Hohn took a deep breath.

You know, in order to use this wind-up little frog to consume more of Carrie, this mischievous child's exuberant energy, the wind-up key was made of orichalcum iron alloy.

To consume her magic power almost completely, so that this huge thing would not bother Hohn or Jeanne after nightfall.

Although it was an alloy, relying on brute force alone, I am afraid that only a knight could wind it.

How could Madelaine wind it?

"Madelaine, how are you feeling now?"

"Are you asking about my body?" Madelaine scratched his scalp. "It's almost recovered, but sometimes I still feel dizzy suddenly, I just felt it a little."

Hohn stood up and dragged over a chair: "You sit down first."

Walking to the entrance of the tent, Hohn said to the guard of the Children's Army: "Go, call the Sisi brothers, and then, let him bring the orichalcum rod."

"Okay, you can start confessing," Hohn dragged his chair to the opposite of Madelaine and said with a smile, "However, after the confession, I have a small matter that needs your help."