CHAPTER 83: CHAPTER 74: DEPARTURE CEREMONY

Today in Jerusalem, many streets seemed quieter and emptier than usual.

People gathered before the Holy Sepulchre Cathedral to watch the departure ceremony of the Crusaders heading north.

A dense crowd blocked everything, making it impassable.

With Regent Raymond needing to go north, all matters of the Jerusalem Knight Order piled into the hands of Baron Godfrey, the Commander.

He rode a warhorse side by side with Losa, patrolling everywhere.

Losa joked with a smile, "Baron Godfrey, your dark circles are like the eye powder used for decoration by those Saracen female slaves. It seems the position of Commander isn’t that easy."

Godfrey replied with displeasure, "I haven’t had a good sleep for three days; the Jerusalem Knight Order is much larger than the Royal Knight Order!"

The total number of members of the Jerusalem Knight Order exceeds thirty thousand; of course, this includes many honorary members.

But those remaining in Jerusalem, directly under the king’s command and the leadership of the Grand Master, number as many as three thousand armed personnel, not including non-combatants like servants.

Compared to the Royal Knight Order, which has a total of only eight hundred members, the Jerusalem Knight Order is indeed a gigantic entity, not much weaker than the forces left in Jerusalem by the Hospital Knight Order and the Templar Order.

Losa teased, "I hope Tiberias (the Regent King) does not leave a Commander in the Knight Order like Baron Godfrey, who whole-heartedly wants to overthrow the Grand Master."

"Oh? So Baron Godfrey is the Commander, then it’s fine."

Baron Godfrey fumed, "This year, I’ve had to spend half my time on my fief, even taking a boat trip to Provence. The affairs of the Knight Order had to be handed over to Count Philip, which greatly increased his prestige in the Order. But how could I have known he would blatantly step up to challenge your position?"

They were actually in a good mood after Count Raymond and other Noble Faction members, along with some Empress Faction nobles, left Jerusalem for the expedition.

The King’s Faction finally gained more power.

The nearly eight hundred soldiers of the Royal Knight Order and the three thousand soldiers of the Jerusalem Knight Order were respectively under the control of Losa and Baron Godfrey, both staunch members of the King’s Faction.

Although the City Defense Army, the private troops of the Empress Faction nobles, and the newly formed Crusaders by the Pilgrim remained under the Empress Faction and Noble Faction.

But the balance of power finally tended toward equilibrium.

Losa bade farewell to Baron Godfrey and joined his Personal Guard Winged Cavalry, heading towards the Holy Sepulchre Cathedral—where a grand departure ceremony was taking place.

Groups of soldiers marched past the cathedral, receiving blessings from the clergy.

First came the elite knights wearing chain armor, cloaks, and mantles. They, with their attendants, bore various banners, standing proudly as they received the crowd’s salutes.

Some cavalry even covered their mounts with mantles and leather armor to shield against the arrows of the Saracen cavalry.

White-crossed Templar Knights, black-crossed Hospital Knights, crosses, eagles, brown bears, lions, lynxes, and fleur-de-lis... various heraldry adorned the chests of those nobles and knights.

There were over five hundred knights heading north. Including their attendants, they could muster over a thousand armored cavalry, and this was not even half of Jerusalem’s strength.

This was all thanks to Baldwin IV’s recent summoning decree and His Holiness the Pope’s call for a new round of Crusades, leading many scattered knights to cross the ocean and come to the Holy Land.

Next were the orderly soldier teams.

They advanced in phalanxes, also wearing cloaks representing their respective forces, colorful yet clearly distinct.

In their very center, they escorted a gigantic war wagon.

On the wagon stood a massive golden cross; this was not the true cross, as the real Holy Object was stored under the cross in a box on the wagon, guarded by an entire team of combat cultivators.

Since it was just a wooden piece left, unable to be held aloft for everyone to see, this golden cross was forged to indicate the Holy Object’s presence in the army.

Lastly came the Crusaders formed by the Pilgrims.

Their ranks were somewhat disorganized, barely maintaining a relatively orderly state.

They couldn’t even ensure everyone had a battered iron helmet, and many used long spears with rusted iron heads.

Their worn cloaks had hastily painted red crosses, obvious as being made in a rush.

Fortunately, they could ensure one shield per person, but most lacked any covering skin.

The sum of gold donated by Henry II was significant, but even scouring all the armory reserves couldn’t arm such a vast army quickly.

Moreover, the northern army was only half of Jerusalem’s forces; along the way, they could be supplemented by forces contributed by various local lords.

So the Pilgrim Crusade, whose true equipment barely counts as adequate, mostly stayed within the Holy City, still in training.

Losa and his Winged Cavalry, the Royal Knights, were guarding in front of the cathedral, protecting behind them the King’s Throne, which was still unoccupied.

On the minaret, the bells rang continuously.

Ordinary citizens crowded the street sides, even the second-floor buildings along the roads, with their windows filled with onlookers.

They raised images of the Holy Son, the Holy Mother, and the Saints, praying sincerely for the warriors to return victorious and eradicate the heretics invading the border.

Archbishop Tyr and many clergy stood before the throne, shouting: "May Saint Michael bless you, devout believers, as you pass by the Holy Sepulchre, and bathe in the divine radiance. Wish you are invincible on the battlefield, and neither arrows nor blades and guns can harm your bodies!"

"Even if you perish in battle, you will be redeemed, gloriously ascending to the Celestial Kingdom, with past sins erased!"

"In the name of the Father!"

"This is the will of God!"

The people shouted fervently.

On this day, regardless of rank or status, it seemed everyone was eagerly declaring their devotion to those around them.

At this time, inside the cathedral.

Servants carried the palanquin, slowly moving forward, arriving at the throne.

Baldwin IV, who had not appeared for a long time, stood up from the palanquin and, with the servants’ assistance, ascended the throne.

His movements were graceful and slow.

Except for still wearing a veil and being wrapped tightly all over, he looked almost no different from a normal king.

Your Majesty the King, today wore a white royal robe, with a golden crown on his head, and held a golden scepter in his hand. The top of the scepter was curved, a golden cross denoting divine endowed authority.

That is—the King of Jerusalem is both a secular king and a theological "shepherd."

Gold and white colors are the colors represented by the Jerusalem royal emblem.

Just as the King of Gaul favors blue, the King of Albion favors red, and the Imperial Family favors purple.

A plainly dressed attendant, holding a sword, stood beside Baldwin IV, looking just like Prajna follows Losa, always inseparable.

He was the attendant responsible for conveying the king’s will to Count Raymond, and each time leading Losa to meet the King.

Usually so inconspicuous, cautious, and silent.

But now Losa realized, this attendant was definitely not a simple person because Losa observed carefully—the sword sheath of the sword he held was made of Demon-Blocking Gold.

Which meant this attendant’s imaginary enemy was the elusive and mysterious wizard!

With Your Majesty the King raising the golden scepter high in the air, all the nobles, knights, soldiers, civilians, and clergy shouted long live the King.

This was their first time seeing Your Majesty the King for a long time.

Although the legend stated the king was cursed with leprosy as an impure one, he was also the destined monarch who saved Jerusalem from the iron hooves of Saladin—viewed by most as the closest existence to God.

Some knights and nobles began loudly reciting their family maxims, signifying their return with honor from this expedition and ensuring that their family maxims remained unsullied.

Your Majesty the King did not speak; he merely held the scepter high, allowing people to admire the radiance emanating from it.

Baldwin IV did not linger long before he returned to the palanquin and proceeded into the Holy Sepulchre Cathedral.

The massive procession started orderly leaving the city, which was a lengthy process, and many nobles standing on the grandstand felt their legs tingling.

But they still had to stay there for the ceremony.

Losa, along with Prajna and Furin, cautiously surveyed their surroundings, guarding against anyone intending to stir up chaos.

For this ceremony, all the heretics in the city were ordered to stay indoors.

Even the Holy Altars and temples of the Fire Worship were entirely closed.

Additionally, with the fires of war about to ignite, the Saracen caravans dared not casually visit Jerusalem, fearing being robbed by Crusader nobles like Count Reynard, who habitually "breaks the contract."