Chapter 1410: Chapter 887: Fury of the People (Part 2)

"And those people venting dissatisfaction everywhere in Maniya City! They are also potential threats, they must be arrested as well!"

The nobles spoke in unison, filled with righteous indignation.

As the Empress, Theresa, wearing a crown and holding a scepter, sat reservedly on the throne, seemingly at a loss.

"Your Majesty! Please make a decision quickly! The pressure of war is increasing, we must gather enough funds and troops as soon as possible to strike back! Otherwise, those heretics may invade the remaining lands of our empire!"

A representative from the Electoral Prince Family of Borrenzia stood up and spoke solemnly.

"Your Majesty! Please issue an order for severe punishment of those involved in the riots!"

Other nobles quickly echoed.

Being shouted at by hundreds of nobles in unison, Theresa II clenched her fists, her fingertips slightly pale.

Her expression was bewildered and tense, tightly pursing her lips, she couldn’t help but ask:

"My lords... is this... truly beneficial for us to achieve victory in the war?"

"Of course! Though it will be brutal, it is indeed the fastest way to gather strength! Your Majesty, in a holy war, it’s either you die or I survive. For survival, we must become the victors! And the victors will naturally gain everything, and what was once given up can be regained among the spoils of war!"

The representative of the Borrenzia family passionately said.

Theresa II still seemed somewhat hesitant.

She timidly glanced at the emotional nobles, nervously asking:

"Then... what can the commoners gain from this war?"

The nobles were slightly taken aback.

"Peace, peace, and tranquility..."

An elder voice answered the Empress’s question.

It was Duke Correns.

He smiled slightly, his expression solemn, and said:

"Your Majesty, achieving victory in the war will naturally bring us peace, and the commoners will no longer have to be drafted, they can return home with the spoils from the war and live happily..."

Theresa II fell silent.

She thought for a moment, then couldn’t help turning her head to look at the three church Electoral Princes who hadn’t spoken, especially at Wenster Archbishop, the first of the Regent Ministers:

"Lord Bishop, what... what do you think?"

As soon as she spoke, all the nobles’ gazes fell on Bishop Wenstar.

Those gazes carried sneers, arrogance, disdain, and warnings.

Feeling the various gazes, Bishop Wenstar slightly shook his head in his heart.

He took a deep breath and sighed:

"Your Majesty, this war... the empire can’t stop it now."

"I see..."

Theresa nodded, seemingly understanding.

After pondering for a while, she endeavored to sit up straight and said to the nobles:

"If that’s the case, then let’s proceed as you say! May this war end soon, and may everyone lead a happy life!"

"As you command, the sun of the empire, Our Great Empress!"

The nobles cheerfully saluted.

After the meeting ended and the nobles departed, Theresa II finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Her back was already soaked with sweat from tension.

She impatiently took off the heavy crown, then seemed to recall something, hesitated, and earnestly put it back on, then turned to look at the only remaining Regent Minister, Bishop Wenstar:

"Lord Bishop, when do you think... the war will end?"

Bishop Wenstar was slightly stunned.

He lowered his eyelids, smiled, and said:

"It will, Your Majesty, the war will end sooner or later."

Theresa II seemed somewhat dissatisfied with this slightly evasive answer.

She furrowed her beautiful brows but then quickly stopped dwelling on it, instead caressing the scepter in her hands, murmuring:

"I will do my best... I will strive to be an Empress who brings happiness to her people..."

"I will try my best, strive to learn as much as I can!"

She said firmly.

Listening to the young Empress’s words, Bishop Wenstar’s gaze grew complex.

He slightly lowered his head, concealing a trace of guilt deep in his eyes.

...

Meanwhile.

In a solemn and majestic noble castle in the eastern part of the Western Domain.

Demacia sat on the City Lord’s throne, casually playing with the exquisite spoils of war just obtained while scrolling through various continental intelligence in the game system.

This was compiled by players scattered across the continent and had been continuously reported by all players ever since the war began, many of which were provided by the Amway Chamber of Commerce.

Therefore, although he had been leading troops in guerrilla warfare in the Western Domain recently, Demacia was well aware of many affairs happening on the continent.

"Tsk... the Empress of the Holy Mania Empire has passed away, and the new Emperor is a girl less than fifteen years old, who has issued a series of tax and conscription decrees just after taking office, making the empire’s commoners truly miserable."

Not far away, several other Heart of Nature players were also watching the "news" of the Segis Continent, slightly shaking their heads.

Demacia paused slightly.

He put away the luxurious noble ornaments in his hand, pondered for a moment, and then stood up from his seat.

"Moli, where are you? Come over and lead the group for me."

He messaged in his friend list.

It wasn’t long before a Valkyrie player in splendid armor pushed open the castle doors.

She frowned slightly, puzzled:

"Dema, you’re not leading anymore? Are you logging off?"

"No."

Demacia shook his head.

While packing his gear, he said:

"I plan to make a trip to Maniya City, there’s something I need to do."

"Maniya City? Now? What are you going there for at this time?"

Moonlight Jasmine furrowed her brows tightly, very confused.

Demacia smiled slightly:

"To fulfill a friend’s wish, to fulfill a promise of mine."

With those words, he walked out of the castle.

Outside the castle, he whistled.

Shortly afterwards, a Two-legged Flying Dragon landed in front of him.

Without hesitation, Demacia mounted the dragon’s back, and the dragon took to the sky, heading east...

...

Not many players noticed Demacia’s departure.

And after he left the Western Domain, Theresa II’s decree was sent to various parts of the empire.

With the issuance of the new decree from the Holy Mania Palace, Imperial Nobles rightfully began a harsh crackdown and pursuit of the rioters.

For a time, citizens who rose in anger to resist due to the new tax and conscription decrees were easily suppressed.

After all, ordinary and unorganized citizens ultimately have limited power.

Against nobles wielding extraordinary powers, they were as weak as children.

Even though these nobles were also significantly weakened by the holy war, their remaining might still lingered.

However, during the suppression, few nobles noticed that the guards they dispatched seemed less enthusiastic about the suppression than usual.

After all, guards are also people.

And many of those who became professional guards were, after all, of common birth.

Faced with such harsh decrees, even guards serving the nobles did not support them as much as it appeared.

Yet, this calm did not last long.

As the decrees were formally implemented and the frequency of pursuing rioters and rebels increased, the accumulating dissatisfaction among the people grew stronger and stronger...

A very subtle, powder-keg-like atmosphere began to spread through Maniya City and various other cities of the empire.

Simultaneously, in places hidden from noble and clerical eyes, the preaching efforts of the Life Church began to develop rapidly at a swift pace in cities across the empire.

This naturally provoked stronger suppression from the nobles and clergy, yet stronger suppression only resulted in a more powerful will to resist.

This resistance, over time, through repeated suppressions by the nobles and clergy, finally reached a tipping point...