Faltering Frontlines

The Radiance Envoy, unfazed by the hostility, responded with a cold sneer."Do you dare? Do you even understand your own worth?""The Radiant Church is nothing like it once was. They say the Radiant God has fallen from a Lesser Deity to a mere False God. In this Holy Alliance, your church is nothing more than a dispensable existence. Worry about your own survival first."

His words were like a sharp blade, stabbing directly into the Radiance Envoy's pride, exposing the brutal reality of power struggles within the Holy Alliance—where strength alone dictated one's status.

The Radiance Envoy turned to the Light Envoy and demanded,"What is the stance of the Light Church? Are you going to intervene or not? We are all waiting for the Light Church's fair judgment!"

But at this moment, the Light Envoy found himself caught in a dilemma.On one hand, the higher-ups had ordered that large-scale conflicts between churches were to be left alone. The law of the jungle ruled within the Holy Alliance—only after the war played out would any decisions be made.On the other hand, he couldn't completely turn a blind eye to the Glorious Church's blatant violation of the one-year truce. Ignoring such transgressions would tarnish the credibility of the Light Church among the other factions.

As he struggled to find the right words to maintain balance in this precarious situation, the Glorious Envoy added fuel to the fire."Light Envoy, you should be well aware—now that the Radiant God's power has waned, the Radiant Church is but a shadow of its former self. Nothing more than a minor, irrelevant player."

The Light Envoy frowned slightly before finally speaking."The conflict between your two churches is not something the Light Church will intervene in lightly. However, the Glorious Church's violation of the truce will not go unpunished. I will ensure appropriate sanctions are imposed in accordance with the Holy Alliance's charter."

Hearing this, the Radiance Envoy felt a deep sense of bitterness.In this so-called Holy Alliance, rules and justice were nothing but empty words before absolute power. Strength alone dictated fate.

He clenched his teeth and spat through gritted teeth,"Mark my words. The humiliation we suffer today will be repaid tenfold in the future. So this is the Holy Alliance you speak of? What a joke!"

Yet, in response to his fury and resentment, the other envoys merely sneered in amusement, disregarding his threats entirely.To them, the decline of the Radiant Church was a foregone conclusion, and in this ruthless game of power and ambition, it was destined to be swallowed whole.

The Radiance Envoy knew further arguments were meaningless. Without wasting another word, he immediately ordered his men to relay the details of the meeting back to his church. The higher-ups would have to make the next move in these dire times.

Rowan received news of the meeting and chuckled coldly."You started this. Don't blame me when I return the favor."

Meanwhile, war continued to rage on. Time had flown by, and Evelyn was now on the verge of giving birth. The situation on the battlefield, however, was grim.

Several major cities had already fallen, with the Lann Duchy losing a quarter of its territory to the invading forces of the Loran Kingdom. Though part of this was due to Blake's strategic retreat, it didn't change the fact that morale was crumbling.

The only silver lining was that the Knight Order remained intact.

But fear had already spread like wildfire. Nobles, both high and low, were losing faith in the Radiant Church. Many were secretly making plans to flee.

To suppress the growing chaos, Ian led the Inquisition's enforcers and ruthlessly executed a number of deserters, barely managing to restore order.

Rowan, however, was waiting.

Waiting for his child to be born.Waiting for the system's rewards.Waiting to make his next move.

This war had become a test, revealing the true loyalties of those around him. Ian was already gathering intelligence—who could be trusted, who had potential, and who would be valuable allies for Evelyn once she ascended.

Inside the grand council hall of House Caesar, the atmosphere was tense yet filled with heated debate.

A crucial decision was being made, one that would determine the very future of their family.

Augustus Caesar, the young and ambitious patriarch, stood at the head of the table. His sharp gaze swept across the gathered members, radiating an air of authority and conviction. There was a certain brilliance in his eyes—a fusion of power, foresight, and unyielding determination.

His voice was steady yet commanding as it echoed through the hall."Ladies and gentlemen, we are all aware of the current situation. The Radiant Church may appear weak now, but do not be deceived. They still hold vast territories, and their foundations remain intact. A comeback is not impossible."

"Most importantly, we cannot underestimate Rowan, the Pope. That man is no fool—he is calculating, ruthless, and dangerous. Defeating him will not be so simple."

"Our House Caesar is but a mid-ranked noble house among many. However, fate has placed an opportunity before us. If we dare to take a gamble—to bet on the Radiant Church's victory—then the rewards will be beyond imagination. We could rise to the ranks of the great noble houses, securing a future of unprecedented power and influence."

"But if we choose the coward's path, like so many others, and flee… well, tell me, where in this vast world would we find true refuge? Who would welcome us with open arms? Where could we rebuild what we abandon?"

His words struck like a hammer, stirring the room into a storm of uncertainty.

An elder of the family furrowed his brows, his voice heavy with concern."Patriarch, while your argument has merit, we cannot ignore the immense risks involved. Fleeing may be uncertain, but it at least offers a chance of survival. As long as our bloodline endures, there will always be hope to rise again in the future."

"But if we bind ourselves to the Radiant Church, and they fall—then we fall with them. Our centuries of legacy will be wiped out. There will be no second chances."

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the council, the weight of fear evident in their expressions.

Augustus, however, remained steadfast.

"I, as the head of House Caesar, have made my decision. We will stand with the Radiant Church. We will endure. We will rise alongside them."

"But," he continued, his tone sharp and unwavering, "I will not force anyone to follow my choice."

"Those who wish to leave are free to do so. I will ensure you are given enough wealth to start anew elsewhere. However, be warned—any who depart will no longer be part of House Caesar. From this moment forth, you will be exiled from our family, with no right to return."

A hush fell over the room.

"You have a choice," Augustus declared. "But let me make one thing clear—no one is to touch the family's wealth without my permission. Everything will be distributed according to my decree. If anyone dares to act in secret, to take what is not theirs… they will be dealt with. Severely."

His words carried an undeniable finality, his authority undeniable.

The fate of House Caesar had been decided.