Master the Abyss, starting from an apprentice priest.

Chapter 710 Lemonster (Second update, 7k4 today)

Anthony also left the papacy.

Before he could truly begin preparing for his promotion, he had one last task—to arrange official accommodations for "Cardinal" and "Merciful Saint" Hardy Lambert at the church.

Apart from that, Anthony was truly free of responsibility within the church. All the tasks fell on Luo Xiu's shoulders, and Luo Xiu's tasks were Huber's tasks; in a sense, they all fell on Huber's shoulders.

Hubbard said he was used to it.

He had served as Luo Xiu's "Acting Bishop" for a period of time, handling the affairs of the Red Maple City Church in Luo Xiu's stead, and thus was quite adept at it. Huber also knew that in a few days, the "Heavenly Ring Paladin" Daveld would return from Pine Plains City, and someone would be able to share some of the burden.

He remained calm, while Luo Xiu looked at him for a long while before asking:

“Before I returned to the Red Maple City Church, the clergy told me that the church had welcomed several distinguished guests.”

"Hardy, the 'Compassionate Saint,' is one... So, how many others are?"

Luo Xiu had already sensed from Hardy, Hubbard, and Anthony that they exuded an aura of "anxiety."

Although none of them said anything about it, it was clear that the other "distinguished guests" besides Hardy were a thorny problem for all the clergy of the church.

When only Hubbard remained in the Holy See, Rothschild asked him directly.

"You're as perceptive as ever, Luo Xiu..."

Huber sighed and said:
"You'll see them sooner or later. We all wanted you to get some rest when you first returned to Red Maple City, so we didn't tell you yet."

"In fact, at the border of the [Supreme] - the chief of the 'Sky Pillar Knights', the Imperial Marshal, the eldest son of Emperor Augustusville, Prince Lemonster Nolan, has already arrived."

—Lemonster Nolan!
Hearing the name from Hubert startled Luo Xiu. His mind raced, and he quickly realized that this was the "Supreme" Emperor, the one monitoring him!
Emperor Augustusville bestowed upon him the title of "Radiant Wise King," so there was no way he would be completely unprepared for him. Originally, Luo Xiu thought that the emperor would send down a "Sky Pillar Knight" to monitor all his actions, but he did not expect that Emperor Augustusville would send down Lemonster, his eldest son!
"It wasn't just 'Imperial Marshal' Prince Lemonster who came to Red Maple City. He also brought four Sky Pillar Knights, who are preparing to establish a new military system in Red Maple City... or more precisely, in the territory of Saint Carlos."

Hubbard's expression had become more serious than ever before. His voice was low and trembling as he spoke to Luo Xiu:
"News has come from the borderlands. Having just concluded the 'Judgment War,' Marshal Lemonster has received orders from the Emperor to establish a 300,000-strong border legion in the territory of Saint Carlos, to prevent or suppress any incursions by the remnants of the Dark Army. But there are other objectives..."

"The bigger purpose is to monitor and control me," Luo Xiu said, picking up where Hubert left off, half-murmuring and half-responding to Hubert.
"Lemonster... plus the four 'Sky Pillar Knights.' If I make any unusual moves, they will surround me with all their might to eliminate my threat to the Empire, right?"

"..."

Hubbard did not answer.

His expression fell silent, which was a tacit agreement with Luo Xiu's words.

"..."

"……call."

Luo Xiu let out a long breath, and his expression became serious and solemn.

He had certainly considered that Emperor Augustus would value him highly and therefore be quite wary of him—but he never expected him to be so wary of him.

Lemonster, along with four "Sky Pillar Knights"—Emperor Augustusville had sent nearly half of the Sky Pillar Knights guarding the Imperial Court to the territory of Saint Carlos to his side.

If I were Augustusville, I certainly wouldn't do that—it's clearly a huge waste of high-level combat power.

Although the empire is currently at peace, it is nominally at war with the other force in the "Judgment War," the Theocracy. In Luo Xiu's plan, top-tier combat forces like the "Sky Pillar Knights" should be deployed to the battlefield against the Theocracy.

But Augustus the Great did just that—he showed an unusual level of importance placed on himself. Perhaps it was because… it was because he had displayed the Seven Luminaries of Revelation during that investiture ceremony?
"……I see."

Luo Xiu nodded.

Many thoughts quickly formed in his mind. Although he was shocked by the arrival of the "Imperial Marshal" with four Sky Pillar Knights, he quickly regained his composure.

He soon realized that he didn't actually need to be afraid of anything.

Strictly speaking, with himself now, plus "Demon God" Quesanx, "Six-Winged Angel" Tadia, and "Pale Death Lord" Chaos Sather, and even "Compassionate Saint" Hardy, he has the equivalent of five "Sevenfold Fate" combatants on his side.

Quesanx even possesses overwhelming combat power compared to most of the "Sevenfold Fate"—so if a conflict were to break out with that "Imperial Marshal" Lemonster, he would have the confidence to overturn the table, although that would not be a good option. But "having a sword but not using it" is a different matter from "not having a sword in hand."

"They are guests too, so there's nothing to worry about."

A calm smile appeared on Luo Xiu's face. Looking into Hubert's still slightly trembling eyes, Luo Xiu said calmly:
“They won’t do anything to me right now—and even if they really wanted to, I’m prepared and don’t need to worry about me.”

"Compared to this, it is more important for us to do our own thing well. Afterwards, I plan to hold a grand ceremony to announce the establishment of the Saint Carlos Territory and to proclaim to everyone that I will be the sole 'Radiant Wise King' of the Saint Carlos Territory, ruling over everything within it."

"Before that, Hubert, please extend an invitation to several old friends on my behalf, such as Mil of the Forging Manor, the two abbots of the Square Monument, and Judge Baines of the Frontier Court. Invite them to the Church, to the Holy See Hall, where I will discuss the construction and development of the territory of Saint Carlos, and to formulate new laws and agree on new regulations."

"If that 'Imperial Marshal,' Prince Lemonster, happens to be in the Borderlands, let's invite him as well. Coincidentally, this will be my first formal meeting with him, and I'd also like to hear what suggestions or opinions Prince Lemonster has regarding the development of the Saint Carlos Territory."

With that, Luo Xiu pushed his hand away and stood up from the main seat. "That's it, Hubert. Now, before considering Prince Lemonster as a 'threat,' let's treat them as allies and show our goodwill."

“Go to the Borderlands yourself. See how Lemonster treats you, and then decide how we should treat him.”

"..."

“Okay.” Huber nodded.

When Luo Xiu gave him these instructions, he felt that Luo Xiu exuded a confident and calm aura.

He seemed initially shocked by the arrival of the "Imperial Marshal" Lemonster in Red Maple City, but later returned to calm and composure. Hubert had a vague feeling that even if Lemonster really intended to do something, Luo Xiu probably wouldn't be afraid and would have enough confidence and strength to deal with the "Supreme".

This made Hubbard more confident.

Although the "Sky Pillar Knights" from the "Supreme" side still made Hubelt feel extremely oppressed, after Luo Xiu's words, he now felt that he was not so afraid to face them.

Therefore, Hubbard solemnly said:
“I will go to the border court, representing the ‘Church’ and you, as the messenger of the ‘Radiant Wise King,’ to extend an invitation to Prince Lemonster.”

“As your saint, I will not bring shame upon you.”

……

Red Maple City, Frontier Court.

In the Frontier Court—now a palace converted into a magnificent palace—Lemnester Nolan, the successor to Emperor Augustus, the emperor's eldest son, and "Marshal of the Empire," sat at a large table.

There was nothing else on the table except for stacks of slightly dusty files scattered on it.

Lemonster was sitting in front of the large main seat, pulling out and unfolding one of the scrolls, his gaze sharp as he stared at the file containing the information of “Bishop Rosius Carlos”.

He had already removed his helmet, a thick-faced helmet that was clearly made with extremely exquisite craftsmanship, and hung it on a bronze helmet stand, revealing his face.

It was an undeniably handsome face, with a high nose bridge, deep-set eyes, and slightly curly platinum blonde hair that fell just to his cheekbones. His sword-like eyebrows were slightly raised, and his slender lips were slightly pursed. His face held an expression of contemplation and amusement.

Unlike most other Sky Pillar Knights, Lemonster's face showed no signs of battle, appearing instead as delicate as if it had been well-maintained, like a pampered young nobleman who had never experienced the harshness of war.

But any of the highest knights knows that Lemonster was actually able to become the chief of the "Pillar Knights" precisely because he had experienced countless of the most brutal wars—

Each of Emperor Augustusville's sons received the most rigorous, even cruel, training befitting their status, and this was especially true for Lemonster, the emperor's eldest son.

From the age of twelve, he joined a war to quell a rebellion under the personal leadership of the Emperor and killed a rebel leader with a 'sixth destiny'. At the age of twenty, he had already advanced to the 'supreme' seventh destiny and become a 'Pillar Knight'. At the age of thirty-two, he was promoted to the chief of the Pillar Knights, a position he has held for more than ten years.

There were no battle scars on his face, simply because he had never encountered any enemy who could leave a mark on his face.

"Luo Xiu..."

Lemonster's gaze swept over the dossier in front of him, and he muttered to himself:

"At nineteen years old... no, not even nineteen, he has already advanced to the seventh level of destiny as a cardinal, the youngest cardinal in the recorded history of the 'Holy Court,' and even the youngest 'seventh level of destiny' saint in the recorded history of the Empire."

"Interesting people...and dangerous people."

"..."

Lemonster murmured to himself. Before him, in the main hall of the palace, the four "Sky Pillar Knights" who had accompanied him stood like statues. The only sound in the hall was Lemonster's self-talking murmur.

As footsteps approached, Lemonster looked up and saw a sixth-degree "Heavenly Knight" entering the hall—

"Your Highness Lemonster."

That day, the knight came to the hall, knelt on one knee before Lemonster, and bowed respectfully. Then he reported:

“A saint from the church, the holy deacon Hubert, requests an audience with you.”

"..."

Lemonster put down the file.

"Let him in."

……

(End of this chapter)