Undercurrents Stir in the United Kingdom

The plan has reached its final stage.

As time passed, Catherine clearly noticed this. Although Li Lin hadn't informed her when the final battle would begin, Catherine had already started preparing. After the previous disaster, Catherine immediately realized the seriousness of the situation. Although she didn't know anything about the affairs between the upper Lower Planes, she was certain that the one capable of causing such a severe calamity was Arcane Mage. While she didn't know if Li Lin was testing a new weapon or demonstrating something, Catherine had no doubts. Of course, that wasn't entirely accurate; she still had questions—in Catherine's view, if the goal was to gather the strongest elite forces and annihilate the enemy in one fell swoop, shouldn't they use temporary peace to numb these people, instead of making such a grand spectacle?

Even so, Catherine persisted in her actions. Ignoring opposition, she deployed her elite troops to the front lines and the central region of the United Kingdom. Simultaneously, she ordered the eviction of border residents under the pretext of "preventing undead invasions and damage to the borders," relocating all border dwellers to the central region. This costly and labor-intensive undertaking drew widespread complaints. Relocating villages and people, even with a sparse border population, resulted in a massive influx, proving incredibly time-consuming and expensive. Although Catherine had already allocated a large portion of the national treasury's reserves to resettle these residents, skepticism persisted. The concern was that if the treasury was depleted, what would happen next year?

As for such questions, Catherine didn't even need to explain. Next year? By next year, the entire Five-Nation Alliance will be dead. Why should you care about next year? Judging from the timeline, none of you will even live to see the end of this year!

The dead have no future, nor do they need to care about it.

Of course, although there was much dissent, no one could defy Catherine's orders. According to the rules she established as president of the United Council, Catherine possessed complete leadership over both the military and political spheres. This power was granted to her by the people and the nobles and was recognized by them. No one could defy the rules that they themselves had agreed to and established. Therefore, even though Catherine's orders were unsettling, they were carried out anyway.

At first, things didn't go smoothly. After all, the people living on the border were indeed struggling. But it was their own land, and leaving the land where their ancestors had lived for generations to go to a strange place was something very difficult to accept. Even in the face of natural disasters, it was hard to make the decision to leave. So, at first, Catherine's orders were not easy to carry out.

But soon, without the soldiers urging them on, those people automatically packed their belongings and began to march towards the capital.

The reason is simple.

All the magic used by those priests has vanished!

Since that massive earthquake, plagues and diseases naturally ensued. When the clergy and paladins went to treat the wounded, they were astonished to discover that no matter how much they prayed to the gods, they received no response. They could neither acquire nor cast any divine spells; even the artifacts in the Temple had lost their power! This naturally led to chaos. For a long time, people had followed the custom of treating minor illnesses with herbs gathered from the mountains, but serious illnesses required the treatment of priests and other clergy. Imagine if one day all the doctors on Earth were unable to cure diseases—society would immediately descend into chaos. (Of course, the Magic Empire didn't face such pressure. Most mages were unbelievers and naturally prepared healing potions for themselves. They also had many spells to protect them from illness and injury; therefore, clergy were not necessary for them.)

And that's exactly what's happening in the United Kingdom now. With the clergy unable to cast their divine spells, the entire society immediately began to unrest, including the wealthy. Yes, with ordinary threats, they could save their lives by spending enough money. But what about now? Disease is nothing like that; it's not attracted by money, nor does it retreat because of power. It treats everyone equally, commoners and nobles alike.

However, even in this desperate situation, hope still exists.

Just as the people of the royal city were filled with fear and unease, Catherine, who had never shown herself before, appeared. She radiated unparalleled holy light, enveloping the entire city. The intense light dispelled everyone's illness and worry. And now, this news spread like wildfire.

Although the Temple can no longer use divine magic, our Holy Maiden can!

As soon as the news spread, everyone immediately packed their belongings and headed towards the royal city of Dideyasi. They desperately needed comfort; after all, in their eyes, they not only faced the threat of the Scourge Legion, but also natural disasters and rampant diseases—something ordinary people like them could hardly handle! Moreover, since the Temple could no longer offer them any help, staying there was pointless. So, whether farmers, nobles, artisans, or merchants, they all packed their belongings in the shortest possible time and began their journey towards the royal city.

Under these circumstances, expanding the defensive line was pointless, so Catherine simply ordered the majority of the troops from the border regions to be recalled and stationed near the capital. Firstly, this would help stabilize the growing population around the capital, and secondly, it would boost morale. After all, it would be strange for the army to be guarding empty villages and towns on the border if all the civilians fled. Moreover, reports had come from many places that soldiers had secretly deserted and returned to the capital in hopes of receiving healing from the Holy Light. If this continued, the entire border army would soon be wiped out; it was better to bring them back, at least maintaining order and overall stability.

However, this placed an even heavier burden on the treasury, so Catherine ordered all local reserves to be brought to the capital. This forced desperate civilians to gather in the capital, otherwise, what could they do alone in their homes without soldiers to protect them, without anyone to talk to, and without even enough food?

Although significant losses were incurred in the previous natural disasters, and many died from the plague, there are still millions of residents gathered near the capital. This is almost at the limit of what is needed, not to mention the garrison troops on the outskirts who need to eat even if they don't receive pay. Currently, all supplies can only be drawn from cities near the capital. This quickly led to discontent among others. If this continues, by the end of the year, the national treasury will be insufficient in both food and money.

Catherine maintained the same attitude towards this. Although she said publicly that she had her own methods, she still had her own plans.

The dead have no need to worry about the future, because they have no future.

"Call..."

Stepping onto the balcony, Catherine folded her wings, wiped the sweat from her brow, and flew out like this every morning, showering holy light upon the royal city and surrounding areas. This served two purposes: to ward off disease and to stabilize the people's hearts. For Catherine, who possessed power at the level of an archangel, this was not a difficult task, especially since Li Lin had given her magical items to enhance her strength. So, although it looked very arduous, it was actually quite easy.

"Thank you for your hard work, Your Highness Catherine."

As Catherine entered the room, Nalu hurriedly went forward and handed her a towel.

Why don't you stay a little longer?

As he spoke, Nalu looked out the window, where, on that bustling street, many people were still standing, calling out Catherine's name loudly, praying that she would give them light and warmth.

"Since these worthless things will eventually become corpses under the great master's command, why not let them enjoy their last moments of warmth?"

"Human desires, in their ugliness, have no limits."

Wiping the sweat from her brow, Catherine gazed at the crowd outside the window with a look of disdain and contempt, as if looking at a pack of barking wild dogs.

"If I weren't a saint, if I didn't possess such immense power, would they just stand there watching? I can tell you, Nalu, those nobles would be itching to capture me, keep me like a dog in a house, and make me serve them. They might even want to ride on me, having sex with me while demanding my blessing. That's the ugly desire of humanity. The only reason they haven't done that is because I've temporarily alleviated their fear. But what if one day I announced that my holy light could only satisfy tens of thousands, thousands, hundreds, dozens, or even just a few? Would they still be as calm as they are now? No, they would immediately send troops to slaughter those lowly people, and then attack each other—oh, not only that, they would also compete to see who can capture me first, who can raise me like an obedient bitch, and then that person would survive... Hmph, just a bunch of inferior humans. The only one worthy of my wagging tail is my master. What right do these vermin have to want my blessing?!"

It must be said that, in some ways, Catherine is increasingly resembling Angela.

"But, Lady Catherine."

Hearing this, Nalu was somewhat puzzled. Although she had also been influenced by it, she was, after all, a "second-hand" influence. The Glorious Holy Light had never received any direct instruction from Angela, so naturally she wouldn't react as intensely as Catherine.

"If that's the case, why don't you just announce it now? Let these ugly humans kill each other, wouldn't that save the master the trouble of intervening? Besides, we can give their corpses as gifts to the master... Wouldn't that be a good thing?"

"If the two sides are evenly matched, I naturally wouldn't mind using this method, even though it seems dangerous. I'm not a fool."

Catherine snorted and then sat down in the chair.

"But now, Nalu, you must see clearly that no one can stand against the Great Master. What he intends to wage is not a war of equal strength, but a one-sided massacre. He will use the blood of the people of the Five-Nation Alliance to appease his hatred! What he wants to see is everyone here crying, struggling, begging for mercy at his feet, and then dying in the most miserable and ugliest way. Only such a scene will please the Master. And this is a right that only he can exercise; none of us can do it. If we really do this, then the Master will surely abandon us and throw us into the mud like garbage to vent his anger."

As she spoke, Catherine took a sip of the wine in her glass. Then she stretched out her hand, gazing at it with a complex expression.

"Sometimes, I truly hate my parents, hate my fate, and hate my birth. If I weren't the bastard child of the Five-Nation Alliance, if I weren't the descendant of those filthy heroes, I could be like Miss Angela, staying by my master's side, serving him wholeheartedly. I would entrust everything to my great master, letting him, not those hypocritical gods, decide my fate. Although my great master is still willing to hold me, possessing my body and soul, I know he won't make an exception for me. Because no matter what I transform into, I cannot hide the fact that the filthy blood of the Five Heroes flows in my veins. I am a member of the Five-Nation Alliance, a descendant of the murderers who destroyed my great master's country... I will not forget these things. I understand that my fate was predetermined at birth, but at least my master gave me a happiness I had never experienced before, and that is enough for me, so..."

Catherine's voice lowered considerably, and she didn't continue, but Nalu understood what she meant.

"However, perhaps I should also be grateful for my cursed bloodline and identity. If it weren't for that, I wouldn't have been captured by Miss Angela, I wouldn't have met my master, and I wouldn't have realized my true soul."

The sorrow between Catherine's brows lessened somewhat.

"At least now I have the opportunity and the qualifications to prove my worth to my master through my actions."

As she spoke, Catherine stood up, her expression gradually calming down before finally looking at Nalu.

"So, how's our 'Dog Training Plan' going?"

"Everything went very smoothly, Your Highness Catherine."

Nalu lowered his head, a smug smile appearing on his lips.

"We already have a pack of loyal family dogs."

With that, Nalu turned around and opened the hidden door in the wall.

This place was originally a secret passage in the royal city, but now it has been modified by Catherine for other purposes.

The dark stone corridor was filled with a chill, which even the warmth of the firelight did little to alleviate. Catherine followed behind Nalu, slowly descending the corridor. Her steps were light and leisurely, as if she were on her way to a party. Of course, in reality, the entire royal city hadn't held a party in a long time. For security reasons, the city's security system had been strengthened several times over, and the nobles, fearing infection with the plague or other infectious diseases, minimized their contact with others. Apart from family, these nobles rarely even saw their once very close friends.

Fortunately—fortunately, Her Highness the Holy Light could also dispel the plague, which put everyone here at ease. In fact, every morning they would stand in their own gardens or on their rooftops until they were completely enveloped in the Holy Light and enjoyed that wonderful and healing feeling before they had the confidence and courage to carry out their work and life for the day. Otherwise, they probably wouldn't even dare to leave their homes.

The secret passage was extremely well hidden, and as the two walked deeper into it, the atmosphere gradually changed. The air began to warm, and a faint fragrance wafted into their nostrils, making them feel relaxed and comfortable. Moreover, faint sounds drifted over, carrying a hint of unspeakable lewdness.

Nalu pushed open the heavy door.

The secret room, originally intended for hiding, had been transformed into a luxurious space. Warm flames and comfortable fur carpets were everywhere, along with expensive sofas and chairs laden with delicious bread, meat, and fresh fruit. But that wasn't all. As Catherine looked around, she saw nothing but white, intertwined bodies! Men and women, naked and entwined, greedily indulged in everything, including the food, wine, and sweet pleasures.

"To date, we have over 1,300 dogs."

Nalu reported, using a double entendre.

"Now, there are already five thousand paladins who have given their lives for you... Her Highness Saint Catherine. When the time is right, we can send them to various key passes to stop the refugees from escaping when the Scourge Legion invades!"

Are you sure they're trustworthy?

Catherine was staring at a woman reclining on a sofa, her eyes rolled back, drool dripping from her mouth, her legs spread wide as she panted under the caresses of three paladins. Just a few months ago, she had been a pure, lovely, and upright priest, but now, she had completely abandoned even the last vestige of human dignity.

"Of course it's believable."

Nalu gently grasped the holy book in his hand, revealing an undeniable smile.

While forging this weapon, the God of Justice, driven by a desire to rival the "Eternal Library," also granted the Glorious Holy Light the authority to use many kinds of divine magic. Among these were many evil spells used by dark and wicked gods to manipulate, tempt, and incite humanity. "Now, these men are content with just wine, meat, and women to play with. They've become no different from lowly bandits; they don't even care about the people they're protecting... You see."

As he spoke, Nalu snapped his fingers, and then the wall beside him suddenly became transparent and disappeared. From within it emerged dozens of trembling men and women in tattered clothes.

"They were all captured by the Paladin Order under the pretext of maintaining order."

As he spoke, Nalu turned to the soldiers who were "working hard".

"I'm telling you, everyone, please stop for a moment. There are targets here that you must eliminate. Only those of you who can kill them first using the most ruthless methods will be allowed to remain here... Otherwise, I'm sorry, those who don't get their turn will have to go back to their hometowns."

Upon hearing Nalu's command, the knights, who had been panting heavily on the girls, froze, instinctively raising their heads to stare at the pitiful creatures with beast-like eyes. Before they could react, the paladins, naked, drew their longswords and charged into the crowd with a roar. Faced with the strong and powerful paladins, the unarmed and weak civilians had no chance to resist. Soon, screams erupted as the paladins severed their limbs, cleaved their bodies with sharp blades, and even gouged out their tongues and eyes. Yet, amidst this bloody scene, the girls lying on the ground, on the beds, and on the chairs showed no fear. Their eyes were hazy and alluring, and even when someone witnessed the scene, their expressions showed no disgust; on the contrary, they even revealed a hint of anticipation and excitement!

"Please look, Your Highness Catherine."

Nalu gazed at the corpses being slaughtered in the most brutal ways by the paladins, a smug and self-satisfied expression on his face.

"These paladins once swore to protect these poor people with their blood and lives, and now they are using the blood and lives of these people to protect everything they have gained... and their desires."

"That's true."

Catherine nodded, then glanced at the panting girls, her expression turning cold.

"These male dogs deserve only to be slaves to desire. After all, not every man can be as noble as their master... However, it's rare to see them so lowly. As for these women, hmph, if you get tired of them, just kill them. Anyway, there are priests everywhere who can't use divine magic. Since they can't contribute with divine power, then giving them their bodies and virginity is just as good!"

"I understand what you mean, Lady Catherine."

Nalu gently bent down.

"I will seek new, suitable assistants to come here and dedicate themselves to their gods."