A Call from the Gallop Plains

Chapter 45: 43. A Call from the Gallop Plains

In the Imperial Capital, on the 100th floor of the Tower of Purity, the God Emperor—god of human knights and mages, guardian of the Human Empire—awoke from his meditation.

"Your Majesty, you are awake?" the Attendant hurried forward. The God Emperor's meditation was unlike mortal sleep; besides restoring his energy, he would split a vast portion of his divine consciousness to answer the prayers of his followers and monitor the movements of nobles at every rank within the empire.

Over the centuries, the God Emperor had descended countless times into the minds of peddlers, apprentices, and beggars in various cities, observing the lowest tier of the Human Race's Mana-Less—their lives, their joys, their sorrows.

After each such instance, the God Emperor would always make decisions more favorable to the common people. It was precisely for this reason that no Lord dared—or could—deceive the God Emperor.

"How is that matter progressing?" the God Emperor asked.

"It is ready. It is the Child of Zhuoqin, in good health, and he has already reached the rank of Intermediate Priest."

"Good. Send him to the training room on the 75th floor."

"Isn't that too high? It might frighten the child." In the Tower of Purity, the higher the floor, the closer one was to the God Emperor.

"Then use the one on the 45th floor. And be careful not to let me slip out."

"Yes."

"Lately, it feels strange. I think I've gained a new batch of followers."

"All power belongs to the God Emperor; the people's faith in you flows like an endless river."

"They aren't Human Race followers. They come from the Gallop Plains. The feeling is very vague, and very unfamiliar. I even suspect they are a group of Barbarian believers."

"Barbarians?... Believers?" The Attendant found the combination of those two words utterly baffling. "Who is spreading your divine miracles there?"

"I don't know. I'd guess some reckless fool."

"How could that be? Your Majesty pays such close attention to the Gallop Plains; it would be perfectly normal for you to have followers there."

"If Night-Kirin City were ever reclaimed, I wouldn't be surprised to have any number of followers there. Speaking of which, where is Lord Ben now?"

"He has reached Dragon Tooth City. Lord Ben did not alert the local nobles; he disguised himself as a traveling Intermediate Mage."

"He won't even use a Teleportation Portal. Why must he be like this?"

"Lord Ben says he is on a pilgrimage."

"A waste of time."

"Your Majesty, there is another matter." The Attendant picked up a slip of paper. "This year, the Barbarian Gray Goose Tribe from the Gallop Plains has caused... rather significant trouble among the Dragons." At this point, the Attendant dared not continue. After all, just a month ago, he had been the one helping the Palace Front Department report to the God Emperor. Back then, he had thought these Barbarians were merely struggling to survive the winter. Now it seemed the Palace Front Department had either not told the truth or had completely misjudged the situation.

"Out of control?" the God Emperor said casually.

"Er... Dragon Tooth City says their Count Bristle-Wolf can hold the line, but the Palace Front Department... they..."

"What about them? They've just stepped in it, haven't they!

The Gallop Plains are thousands of miles away. Even when I led the army on a personal campaign, I wouldn't dare claim to have everything under control. And now that brat Charlton thinks he can hide behind the Salt and Iron Department in the Imperial Capital and remotely command the Gallop Plains through schemes and tricks?

Does he really think that legendary dwarf Sherman's head is filled with nothing but rocks?"

"Your Majesty sees clearly."

The slip of paper in the Attendant's hand rose without wind, catching fire midair, and by the time it landed, it had turned to ash.

"One of them has a Barbarian force pressing against a key city, with the Count fighting bitterly to no avail. The other has lost all eyes and ears on the front lines, with every plan gone awry—and yet both report to me that everything is under control.

It seems their definition of 'control' has been refined."

The Attendant remained silent. The God Emperor's throne was exalted, but the current ruler was his great-grandson. Even the God Emperor could not bypass the Emperor to directly issue decrees reprimanding an independent kingdom or an official imperial institution.

Now, the God Emperor's displeasure was all too obvious, and the Attendant found it hard to offer words of comfort.

The God Emperor was silent for a long time, pondering how to break the deadlock.

"I recall that the Kaul Family still has a young man over in the Dragon lands?"

"Yes, it is the high-rank Paladin Bert Kaul. He is a distant nephew of Lord Ben."

"Have him keep an eye on things at the front. Don't let the Barbarians dig out the wolf's den while the Dragons aren't paying attention."

"Yes."

At the same time, in the Mirror Hall of the Dragon Kingdom, the King was holding a secret meeting with several National Pillars.

"What in the blazes is that damned Palace Front Department up to?" said the Legend Priest Gorkesh Red-Dragon.

"They must have their eyes on the Gallop Plains. Otherwise, there's no reason to invest so much effort," said the Legend Mage Benite Wyvern.

"If they really have the guts, they should send their own people. The entire empire is full of their spies and planted agents—let them all come and fight the Barbarians to the death! But no, they have us Dragons hold the line against the Barbarians while they swoop in to reap the harvest. They're nothing but parasites!"

"With such vermin surrounding His Majesty the Emperor, how can he possibly govern the country well?" added McLaren Blue Dragon.

"Enough, my Lords. I understand everyone's feelings.

But as things stand, there is very little we can do.

Count Bristle-Wolf has indeed watched helplessly as the Viscount's territory under his command fell. And now, we too are watching as Bristle-Wolf finds himself in a tight spot.

But you all know that old wolf Caspian. He can't see anything beyond the food bowl right in front of his nose. He won't take the initiative to request reinforcements—in fact, he even canceled the support request he previously submitted to Lord McLaren."

"So how do we solve the current Barbarian problem without letting those insects in the Palace Front Department make a fuss about it?" Dragon King Dusen Whiteowl seized on the key point.

"I think..."

"Please go ahead, Lord Benite."

"Doesn't the Temple Alliance have a contingent of Dragon Knights stationed at Dragon Tooth City? What if we send them to the Northwest Territory under the pretext of escorting the High Priest of Dragon Tooth City to spread blessings?"

"Oh?"

The Dragon Knights belonged to the Temple Alliance's provincial detachment, stationed on the Dragon Kingdom's front lines as a support unit. Their cavalry mounts were all low-grade Magic Beasts, visually resembling the ancient triceratops from Landen's original world.

"Their purpose is escort, not combat. We'll have the High Priest make a circuit through the entire Northwest Territory, proclaiming the divine edicts of the gods."

"If they encounter Barbarians, they can eliminate them along the way."

"When Old Bristle-Wolf comes to repay the favor, he can offer up the sacrificial post in Bristle-Wolf City." Benite said with a smirk. Count Bristle-Wolf was notoriously stingy—trading a priestly appointment in Bristle-Wolf City for a powerful cavalry unit was well worth it, but it would make the count wince for a long time. Benite found the thought quite amusing.

"Alright, but what about those two territories?" The king's word settled the plan; now came the discussion of Baron Gallop's Territory and Viscount Rothe's Territory's fate.

"That Hark of Baron Gallop's Territory did manage to report the Barbarian intelligence. His people fled into the Great Forest, so he successfully preserved his subjects."

"If they've lost too many people, we can help them make up the numbers."

"As for Rothe Territory, they brought it on themselves. Viscount Rothe colluded with the Barbarians—his death is no loss. But his territory guards Korniko Pass, a critical position, and that's exactly why the Palace Front Department has its eyes on it." Gorkesh Red-Dragon's disgust for Viscount Rothe's actions was plain.

"How about we find a girl from one of our houses to marry into the Gallop Family?"

"Your meaning is...?"

"Promote the Gallops to viscounts, then send one of our own to keep an eye on things."

"Hmm, that works."

"Good. As it happens, I have a girl in mind who's quite suitable." McLaren suddenly thought of a fitting candidate.

"Then it's settled. Thank you all for your counsel, my National Pillars." King Dusen was very satisfied. This small, focused meeting had been highly efficient. As for what Count Bristle-Wolf would think when he heard...

"As you wish, Your Majesty."

"Hard to imagine how much it'll sting Old Bristle-Wolf when he finds out he has to give up the priestly post in Bristle-Wolf City."

"Then why not make him build a new chapel?"

"You might as well take his life."

"Ha ha ha ha!"

The meeting ended in a cheerful atmosphere, with words like "hogging the trough" and "guarding the feed" bouncing around the room.