When the Saint comes, she does not collect food

#557 - My destiny is to move forward

“Even the Holy Father can't stop me, I'm telling you!”

With a bang, the door brushed past Lacunio's nose, slamming heavily against the doorframe.

King Konrad, who had been growing impatient with Lacunio, left these words behind before retreating into the study of the rural villa.

Lacunio knocked on the door several times, but the only response he received was—

“I have important things to do, don't bother me!”

Left with no choice, Lacunio could only smile wryly and walk down the stairs.

Several priests and monks in the small garden gathered around, looking at Lacunio expectantly.

Seeing Lacunio shake his head, they sighed in frustration.

“I've tried to persuade the company commanders, but their only concern is abandoning Molieti; they have no reservations about returning to Feiliu Fort.”

“These Edict Company commanders only listen to His Highness the Prince.”

“The two mercenary团 commanders have some ideas, but they can't express them.”

After summarizing with the priests, Lacunio felt an even greater headache.

Ever since the rebellion of the Hottam County nobles, His Highness the Prince had been in a state of not listening to anyone.

Every day, he muttered about executing all the rebellious nobles.

Despite Lacunio's repeated persuasion over such a long time, and even attempts to unite other company commanders in a remonstrance, he had not succeeded in changing King Konrad's mind.

On the battlefield of Upper Ruifo County, King Konrad led the Edict Companies in repeatedly defeating Molieti's mountain knights, once again trapping them in the high fort.

But anyone with information could sense that the situation was shifting in a direction unfavorable to His Highness the Prince.

Especially when the Salvation Army sent troops to control ZhiShui Dock, and the deputy fort knights showed almost no reaction.

From ZhiShui Dock to Feiliu Fort is only a three-to-five-day voyage!

Even if Hown needed 3-4 days to gather troops and transport ships, by the time the news reached them, the Salvation Army should have already set off.

In fact, Lacunio was right. The Salvation Army only took two days to assemble their troops and begin marching towards ZhiShui Dock.

Because the monks had prepared for Hown's summer counteroffensive, the ships and supplies were readily available.

They simply changed the direction of their main attack from north to west.

Pulling his clothes tighter, Lacunio looked at the snow in the garden through the window panes with a sense of helplessness.

The weather had been truly abnormal these past few years. It was already March, but not only had the snow not melted in Upper Ruifo County, there were even faint signs of more snowfall.

In the current situation, the best course of action would be to directly head north and seek refuge with the Duke of Thorns.

The Duke of Thorns would likely not refuse four Edict Companies.

But His Highness the Prince actually forbade it!

You must know, once the Salvation Army controlled Feiliu Fort and its surroundings, plus the rebelling earls, then this army of over ten thousand would have their retreat cut off!

Then the Salvation Army would be invincible in the Thousand River Valley.

But King Konrad stubbornly believed that the Salvation Army wouldn't have time to take Feiliu Fort, and that they would definitely be able to defeat the Salvation Army when isolated and without support.

Lacunio never understood what King Konrad was thinking.

But he hadn't given up after all.

After instructing a few priests, Lacunio went to the kitchen, asked someone to make King Konrad's favorite roast lamb chops and stewed chicken, and returned to the study door.

“Konrad, it's time to eat. This is lamb chops with pepper.”

Lacunio didn't get a response, and thinking King Konrad was asleep, he knocked on the door again.

“Konrad, it's me, you can't skip dinner.”

With a creak, the study door was pulled open.

“I've decided to advance to Grand Knight.” King Konrad's first words upon leaving the study startled Lacunio greatly.

He stood there stunned for a full three seconds before denying, “You can't do it. Advancing to Grand Knight requires nine potions, and it would take at least a year.”

There's no such thing as an on-the-spot breakthrough for Grand Knight advancement. Or rather, the concept of Grand Knight didn't exist originally; it was created by humans.

Because a Grand Knight is a high-level knight transformed into a humanoid monster through potions, it's an extremely slow and painful process.

These nine potions are named after nine types of dragons, from Gold Dragon to Red Dragon.

In the eyes of normal people, or even low-level transcendent knights, these nine giant dragons are poison.

Even a knight with the Nine-Section Breathing Technique, if not proficient, would be unable to withstand the medicinal power and die if they rashly drank them.

It must be a strong, physically powerful high-level knight with a proficient Nine-Section Breathing Technique to slowly absorb the medicinal power.

But even the most powerful knight wouldn't drink nine bottles in a row.

Often, to ensure safety, those titled knights preparing to advance to Grand Knight would rest for a full year after drinking the relatively safe first four bottles before drinking the last five.

King Konrad opened the door to the study behind him, with an empty potion bottle and two unopened potion bottles placed on the table:

“I'll spend four days digesting each bottle. By the time we return to Feiliu Fort, my personal strength will definitely crush champion titled knights.

As long as I control my food intake, my weight won't increase in time. I won't need a dragon-blooded horse; a regular mixed-breed horse will do…”

“Slap!”

Lacunio slapped King Konrad in the face, trembling all over, his hair standing on end.

“You're crazy! Do you know what a Grand Knight means?” The old general, who had never blushed, roared hysterically, “Ten years from now, you'll be fatter than a pig. Twenty years from now, you'll become a demented idiot. Thirty years from now, you'll lose your life!

You're trying to reach the third step of advancement within a month. Perhaps you won't even need thirty years; you'll die!

You're only forty years old. You don't even know if the mistress's child is a boy or a girl, or if it will even be born! What about the Golden Finch family's bloodline?

Longevity, offspring, and sanity will all leave you, and you'll only become a war puppet that barely follows orders.”

“I know, Lacunio, I know.” The white vapor exhaled from King Konrad's mouth actually carried a faint mist of blood.

“Then you still want to do this? Come with me now to see the monks. There's still a chance to wash out your stomach and dispel the toxicity.” Lacunio grabbed King Konrad's wrist, but couldn't pull him.

“Lacunio, a young Golden Finch is already lucky enough to have come this far.”

King Konrad gasped for breath, “But what is the price of this luck? Do you know? I'm a prince, I'm a king. People treat me like a dog.

I'm a champion titled knight. I killed the vampire grand duke. This is the honor I earned myself, but the nobles in the Holy See still treat me like a dog, summoning me at will!

First I was the bishop's dog, then the knight order's dog, and then the pope's dog.

I finally broke free from the cage in the Thousand River Valley, but now you want me to be the Duke of Thorns' dog?”

Standing in front of King Konrad, who resembled a giant lion standing upright, Lacunio didn't know what to say.

Holding onto the doorframe, King Konrad, with veins bulging on his forehead, almost roared, “No! If I can't get freedom and dignity, then I'd rather die!

Thirty years, how many thirty years do I have left? I must consider whether the Thousand River Valley is my only opportunity in this life…”

“Then what will you do in the future? Even if you can win!” Lacunio pointed at his nose and shouted.

King Konrad didn't answer directly, but instead, his chest rose and fell as he constantly adjusted his breathing. After adjusting for almost a minute, he smiled faintly:

“My child, whether male or female, will depend on you from now on.

I know I always ruin your plans, but now you have a puppet that will never ruin your plans and will completely obey you, a Grand Knight puppet.

With this Grand Knight puppet, the nobles won't be afraid of me retaliating, because I've lost the ability to become king.

With this Grand Knight puppet, even if the royal family tries to take back the Thousand River Valley, I believe you'll be able to resist their army.

With this Grand Knight puppet, the young Golden Finch might once again soar to the crown! Take back what is rightfully ours!”

The stunned Lacunio could even hear the sound of King Konrad's heart pounding in his chest through his flesh, as if it was about to burst through his skin.

“I don't understand those conspiracies and tricks, nor do I understand those roundabout schemes.”

“My destiny is to move forward without hesitation!”