CHAPTER 521: CHAPTER 499: THE EVE OF THE ALLIANCE OF 5 FORCES

Exiting Mole Manor located by the river embankment, Horn glanced at the flickering candlelit windows, silent.

After arriving at this residence, he discussed many things with two elders of the Juanist Faction, but now as he recalls, he surprisingly can’t remember anything.

"Your Grace, it’s raining, please get on the carriage," an Attendant Monk approached.

Horn nodded, patted his shoulder, and boarded the carriage.

The wheels turned with a clatter, kicking up mud and rainwater, the weeds on both sides swayed as if bidding him farewell.

After settling Ludvik and others, as he previously mentioned, he went to visit.

Following the principle of a major meeting for minor matters, a minor meeting for major matters, and a private meeting for essential matters, Horn intended to breathe out the content of the meeting the day after tomorrow.

This included Kasha County’s status after conversion, the treatment of monks at the Blago Monastery, and some legal content in dispute between both parties.

After all, truly important matters can’t be discussed publicly, can they?

But during the conversation, Ludvik and that fat monk always talked more about doctrine, discussing actual issues less.

Every time the related content was brought up, either they pretended to be hard of hearing or feigned dizziness, otherwise acting as if they hadn’t heard, naturally talking about earlier topics on doctrine.

To know, Horn’s policies are rather beneficial, even granting Kasha County partial autonomy, offering the position of Evangelist at the Gospel Court.

Yet they still evaded the topic, talking about irrelevant things. After a couple of times, Horn understood that these two didn’t want to discuss this for the time being.

To say these two are just some old, pedantic priests, only knowing scripture and doctrine, Horn certainly wouldn’t believe that.

Cunning like a fox acting as a pig, treating people as blind?

Rubbing the stubble on his chin, his body swaying with the carriage, Horn gradually formed a guess in his heart.

Their attitude probably stemmed from internal disagreements, unwilling to discuss matters openly even in private meetings.

The internal resistance at the Blago Monastery was larger than he imagined.

Otherwise, this time he could step back and aim for a second-best option, not settling a specific alliance, but forming a nominally loose alliance instead.

Wait for Ludvik to take Horn’s beneficial Kasha policies back for promotion.

Then bring over important figures from Kasha County for a visit, let them see the prosperity within the territory, and simultaneously apply the threat of martial unification.

If it takes more time, then let it take more time.

With the stronghold of Xiaochi City, even if they rose in opposition, they couldn’t breach the Ibe River defense line.

"If they refuse to drink a toast only to drink the penalty wine," Horn looked at the map pinned on the carriage, "then we’ll just have to show them black hands."

After some thought, Horn told the Attendant Monk next to him, "Later, retrieve a book from my study and give it to Martin."

Martin surely could read, avoiding repeating the mistakes of the past.

Riding the carriage back to his home courtyard, Horn quickly finished dinner, read for a while, and then went to bed.

After all, tomorrow he might need to get up early to welcome the envoy from Black Snake Bay.

Half a day ago, the Town Mayor of Black Pottery Town had sent a letter.

It said a group of 300 people of unknown origin was currently staying in town, claiming "they do not look like humans," and that after seeing them, they were "trembling with fear, wanting to flee."

Horn could roughly guess this must be the envoy from Black Snake Bay, after all, Black Snake Bay is notoriously known for its free-spirited nature, having its own unique approach to aesthetics.

However, this Town Mayor of Black Pottery Town seemed a bit overly sheltered, what would make them tremble with fear?

Blowing out the candle, Horn lay on the plush mattress, resting the back of his head on a soft feather pillow, quickly drifting into slumber.

......

Noon the next day.

South of Joan of Arc Castle.

Putting down the telescope, Horn furrowed his brow, he glanced in that direction, confirmed it, and then once again raised the telescope.

"Is that human?" Putting down the telescope, Horn was silent for a long time before turning his head to confirm with Busak beside him.

"Yes... probably." As the reception personnel, Busak broke into a sweat.

Raising the telescope, in the dark field of view around him, Horn could see the long, serpent-like road winding through the wheat fields, reeds, and grasses, extending behind the hill.

Rounding the hill, there were dozens of Kush Knights paving the way with Grandmother Alco’s carriage following.

At this point, Horn could confirm they were humans, and he was sure the group behind them was the envoy from Black Snake Bay.

But upon seeing that envoy, he had some doubts again.

The envoy from Black Snake Bay was composed of a convoy, with a total of seven or eight large carriages, and the draft animals were creatures similar to hippos but smaller and more agile.

Surrounding these large carriages were groups of Black Snake Bay... people in a riot of colors?

Picking up the telescope, Horn confirmed repeatedly, again and again.

Due to the backward dyeing technology, all colored fabrics, especially those with multiple bright colors, were premium products in the Divine Ai Empire.

So, it was usual for the knights to wear gaudily colored garments.

In the modern view, simple and nice clothing, in Horn’s era, appeared too plain, like something a servant would wear.

For example, the plain clothing with similar patterned colors Horn distributed to the soldiers got criticized by the knights as old-fashioned.

For nobles, red, blue, and white checkered coats with flamboyant purple breeches and green woolen tights were more common fashion attire.

In Horn’s view, streamlined fitted monochrome clothing was, in their view, just aligning with the stereotypical view of an old farmer.

After such a long time, he had thought he had already adapted to the garish attire of this era.

Yet when a group of Black Snake Bay people appeared before him, Horn was still shocked.

Looking around, fiery red hair, purple and blue lips, glowing green skin...

Not to mention, just by that glowing green, he initially thought it was form-fitting clothes, but upon closer inspection, he found it was actually painted on.

In other words, apart from the cloth skirt pants around their waists and grass shoes, they were entirely unclothed.

But upon closer inspection, Horn discovered many of them were adorned with decorations similar to brooches.

To be honest, he really didn’t dare to think where those brooches were fastened.

"It’s worn on your head," Patrick seriously told Horn, "You must be very curious."

"Thanks, I thank you!" Horn forced a grimacing smile at Patrick.

Seeing Horn’s astonished expression beside him, Catherine coughed awkwardly and explained, "These are indigenous tribes from Black Snake Bay, they have a tradition of painting their bodies during non-rainy seasons.

The more important the person they meet, the heavier the paint they apply; they do this only on important occasions, you can consider this their ceremonial attire."

Meaning they specifically change into strange outfits in front of a cutscene?

Watching the convoy coming closer step by step, Horn finally understood why the Black Pottery Town Mayor would say they didn’t look human.

The convoy slowly stopped by the roadside, a slender leg extended out from the luxurious carriage as Grandmother Vivian Alco poked her head out.

Her gaze scanned the crowd until she saw Patrick, then she smiled.

"Long time no see, madam," Horn said, pulling the trembling Patrick alongside him, approaching the matriarch of the Alco Clan.