CHAPTER 464: CHAPTER 442 ANGEL INVESTMENT FROM FALAN

Stepping down from the carriage, Casani looked up at the palace supported by white marble columns, its triangular pediment adorned with carvings of angels, saints, volcanoes, and vines.

This was the Apadi Palace, the residence of the former Speaker, and, along with Meigedi’s Uffizi Palace, it was acclaimed as one of the two architectural gems of Rapids City.

Casani couldn’t help but curl his mouth.

The architecture of Thousand River Valley, with its straight lines, seemed so outdated, reminiscent of the structures before the Hundred Years’ War. As a native of Huaqiu City, he had seen too many of them.

In his hometown, the Royal Capital of Falan, there had already been a rise in more free-spirited designs of domes, curves, spirals, and ovals. A building like this would be ridiculed in Falan.

"Mr. Casani, I seem to have heard some banging sounds." Gigano stepped down from the carriage with the aid of a stool, showing no reaction to the building before him, but rather expressing concern.

"There’s nothing to fear, it’s just those Night Watchers using black iron pipes to hit people."

Recalling those peg-legged Night Watchers with spiked helmets firing stone bullets, Gigano had to admit that despite having a lame leg, they were far quicker to respond to thieves and robbers than the four-legged Security Knights of the Royal Capital.

He still remembered last year in the Huaqiu Central District, a Security Knight watching from five meters away as he was robbed by a Pantsless Man, leisurely having afternoon tea.

It wasn’t until Casani walked over to confront him that he stood up and pretended to mount a horse to chase for a while.

But in terms of security, this district where Uffizi Palace was located in Rapids City was definitely better than any district in Falan.

Once the other two Falan merchants disembarked, the four reassembled, with Casani standing second, closely following Gigano.

Although Casani was just a minor trainee notary, he had been authorized by the Falan Consultative Council to act as a recording officer in this secret contact with the Salvation Army.

"This way, please."

Led by several attendants, the four passed through the steps and beneath a painted dome to meet the legendary Saint’s Grandson.

Casani was somewhat disappointed, as he had expected this hero who led tens of thousands of farmers to defeat the Decree Chain to be a "noble savage," a hero with grandiosity and high moral character but little culture.

But that was hardly the case with this slightly short, somewhat dark-skinned youth in front of him, who exuded an air of scholarly frivolity.

They were certainly lacking in Thousand River Valley.

After several awkward introductions and small talk, they were seated one by one under Catherine and the attendants’ guidance.

The dishes on the table were soon served. Under Horn’s frugal demands, this public banquet was considered grand, but to the discerning Falan folk, it was merely of middle-class level.

Considering the background of the Salvation Army, they said nothing more, merely sweating profusely under the gaze of two Witches while mechanically eating.

Instead, Casani relaxed, drinking heavily, eating meat heartily, and soon filled his stomach to its roundness.

Horn, who usually led by example with work meals, finally got a good feast and naturally ate heartily.

In the first half of this banquet, the two people most meant to discuss serious matters instead indulged themselves, delaying the serious talks.

"Mr. Casani, you seem to be looking at my two female companions all this while?" Without putting on any pomp of a Pope, Horn raised the silver wine cup in his hand to Casani.

"It’s my first time seeing them, Saintess." Raising his wine cup in return, Casani cleverly paused, "Ordinarily, Witches I’ve only seen on the Falan’s stakes. It’s my first time seeing a talking Saintess."

"You dislike Witches?"

"They bring the witch plague to others, which is indeed very annoying, I won’t deny it.

But that’s ultimately not their intention. Seeing young and beautiful faces consumed by flames pains me equally." Casani, formally trained in etiquette, maintained impeccable expression and gesture.

"The Holy Father condones enemies thrice, and I think if given a chance, a Witch might be willing to convert to the Saint Master’s faith." Horn chuckled, skewering a piece of steak into his mouth.

Seeing Casani trying to speak again, Gigano interrupted him, for this was a sensitive topic, and there were two Witches at the table.

Upsetting them could mean this meal would be their last.

Wiping the grease from his lips with a napkin, Gigano straightened up, finally mustering the courage to steer the conversation onto the main topic.

"Falan and Leia have always been friendly nations, with a history of hundreds of years of friendship. As your opposition within the Leia Kingdom, in theory, we should not be in contact with you.

However, your pursuit of freedom and justice has deeply moved some scholars and nobility within Falan, hoping we can extend a helping hand to you."

After Gigano finished speaking, Horn was still slowly sipping the cream mushroom soup, seemingly listening to his words, yet somehow as if he hadn’t.

Glancing at Casani, who was yawning and rubbing his stomach beside him, Gigano braced himself and continued:

"To be honest with you, we have no right to judge the actions of the Leia people, but we have heard about their crimes in the Thousand River Valley. It’s truly horrifying.

I dare say, if the Thousand River Valley were under the Falan Church’s jurisdiction, I’m sure things like the Blue Blood Orphans would never happen.

You know, everyone loves Grandiva, and Grandiva supports everyone. He would never stand by and ignore those poor orphans."

"Tch." Jeanne, with her arms crossed over her chest, snorted disdainfully.

"It seems Miss Jeanne has a bit of a prejudice against the Falan people," Casani said with a sly smile, taking a sip of the refreshing tea to perk up.

"If you sympathize with us, why don’t you directly intervene militarily?" Jeanne glared at him and retorted.

Casani shook his head with a smile: "The territory of the Falan Kingdom is twice the size of poor Leia squeezed between cracks. If we dispatched troops for everything, even a hundred thousand troops wouldn’t be enough.

Moreover, we Falan people are naturally peace-loving. Problems that can be resolved without bloodshed should never be solved through bloodshed."

"I’ll drink to that," Horn raised his glass and clinked it with Casani’s.

Casani grinned widely, enjoying watching Horn indulge himself with the meal. Say what you will, this young pope is much better than the mystical Grandiva.

If Casani could vote in the papal election, he would certainly choose Horn now.

"For the sake of the Saint Master, let’s not beat around the bush anymore. I’ll get straight to the point."

Casani rinsed his mouth with red wine: "Lorenzo wants to give the Leia people some trouble. He doesn’t mind paying to see them embarrassed, especially that Prince Kongdai.

In our estimation, the future of the Thousand River Valley is destined to be a tripartite division. Our Advisory Council’s think tank even analyzed that the Thousand River Valley would split.

Behind Prince Kongdai are the Leia people, behind Moliat are the Norn people, and who stands behind you? Black Snake Bay? They can’t even protect themselves!"

"Can’t we establish an independent nation? Doesn’t Black Snake Bay exist too?" Jeanne interjected again.

"Hahahaha." Casani laughed heartily. After all, this witch came from a village and didn’t understand the twists and turns behind the scenes.

In the Empire’s vast territory and massive population, either directly or indirectly controlled by the three great kingdoms and the Church.

Any forces breaking away from control would be jointly attacked by the entire Empire, never allowing any territory to secede from the Empire. This is an unwritten rule.

As for Black Snake Bay being independent, that’s just ridiculous.

They exist because the Empire needs them to, and standing behind Black Snake Bay is the Blood and Flesh Royal Court. They aren’t independent either.

"It’s not unprecedented in the Empire’s history for rebel forces to occupy a place.

I’ll tell you a secret: in Changge City, the Lanfeng Clan, sitting on the Leia throne, falsely claims to be descendants of the Three-headed Horse Clan.

But did you know their first ancestor became a self-proclaimed king during the Empire’s great war period as a peasant rebel leader, and later still turned into a noble Imperial Count?

Nations that successfully break away from the Empire and become independent are, pardon my directness, currently zero.

I cannot deny that it might happen in the future, but I believe it won’t occur in my sixty-year lifetime."

"May I ask why we should choose you instead of the Norn people?" Catherine stirred the tea in her porcelain cup with a spoon, smiling slightly, revealing nothing of what she was thinking.

"We allowed the Shen’ermati Farmers’ Republic in the southern development area, we allowed the Governor Company in the Xilan Islands, and our vassals and territories are diverse.

We Falan are the most advanced, civilized, open, and relaxed kingdom in the entire Empire.

Leia and Norn cannot accept a so-called Chosen Pope’s small kingdom, but we Falan can. As long as you declare yourself as bishops to outsiders, we don’t mind if you privately act as pope."

Horn, after listening for a long time, finally spoke up, "But what benefit does this offer to you?"

"Of course, there is. We want to weaken the Leia people and reclaim Windmill Land," Casani raised his last finger, "Most importantly, we need your market. Regardless of whatever agreement we eventually establish, mutual market opening and unified tariffs will always be a priority."

"Your Excellency, what do you think?" Gigano’s eyes locked intensely on Horn.