When the Saintess Arrives, No King Exist-Chapter 838 - 789: Horn: King of Poaching Talent

The clock was ticking.

For some reason, the three people waiting outside the door felt time passing exceptionally slowly.

It wasn't until a Secret Monk poked his head out and announced their names that the feeling of torment dissipated.

"Lady Bolenaia from North Mangde County, Monk Bryson from South Mangde County, and Mr. Lux from Shangruifo County, are you all here?"

"Present, present."

"Prepare yourselves, you may enter."

As the door opened, under the watchful eyes of the Secret Monks, the three invited representatives entered the study.

Unlike the overbearing and radiant Saint's Grandson they imagined, this black-haired youth seemed exceptionally approachable.

Not only did he arrange for them to sit, but he also personally helped Lux up after Lux instinctively knelt down.

"How was the feast? It was all mountain cuisine." Horn sat down with a tray of tea.

"Delicious." Looking at Horn, Lux felt much less nervous, even managing to flatter him.

Horn laughed heartily, "Don't flatter me; although I'm from Shangruifo County, I don't favor it. Mountain cuisine doesn't make the grade.

In the north side of Leia, the only noted cuisine is the fresh fish dishes from River Island. Next time, I'll get some chefs specializing in river fish dishes to treat you all."

The three naturally responded with smiles.

"What is your view on this war?" Before the tea had even touched their lips, Horn unexpectedly brought up the serious matter.

"That's not something we could comment on, Your Majesty." Lady Bolenaia quickly clarified her stance.

"Although the Leia people are coming aggressively, the Autocratic Duke and Great Shepherd will surely defeat them." Lux followed up.

Horn took a sip of red tea, seeming lost in thought, without continuing the conversation.

Since the Saint's Grandson wasn't speaking, the others naturally remained silent too.

Despite the silence, each of the three had their own concerns.

Previously, some had hoped that the Leia people wouldn't invade, or that Grand Duke Moliat could bow down for forgiveness and retain everything.

But as the Leia people actively led their armies to massacre the Mountain People's Military District, these delusions vanished like a flood.

More terrifyingly, the honored Female Grand Duke, considered a War God by the masses, was in a dire situation.

Despite a continual string of victories, in the end, Xia Lvcheng was surrounded, and the Leia army was pointing toward Shangruifo County.

A faction of stealthy Leia loyalists naturally cheered in their hearts, but these three were uneasy.

What if Moliat were defeated?

More importantly, if Moliat lost and Horn fled to Black Snake Bay, what would happen to those who benefited from the Thousand River Valley system?

"Do you know why I summoned you here today?" Horn's words jerked the three back to reality, their heads bowed in silence.

"Wish to talk to us?"

Lux said something trivial, yet it made Horn laugh, "To be precise, I want to hear your honest thoughts, Mr. Lux?"

"Hmm?" Lux instinctively sat up straight.

"As, let's call you small landowners, what do you ultimately want?" Horn picked up the teapot and refilled this fellow townsman's red tea.

Lux glanced at the bright tea and softly said, "We just want to live peacefully, without harassment from Knights or the Church, and without floods or droughts..."

Horn's gaze turned to the noble widow Bolenaia: "Lady Bolenaia, what do you think?"

"What else can I think?" The plump Lady Bolenaia covered her red lips with a fan, "Your little Dwarf envoy has driven those of us relying on the mines to survive without food, whatever you want me to do, I'll comply with."

Hearing Lady Bolenaia's sickly sweet voice, the other two lowered their heads.

Horn's expression remained unchanged: "So you hope to continue relying on the mines for survival."

"If I could rely on you to live, then the mines wouldn't matter."

Ignoring the flirtatious glance from Lady Bolenaia, Horn lastly focused his gaze on the middle-aged Priest.

The solemn Bryson raised his head, "To serve the believers..."

"That's your duty, not your desire. I'm asking for what you want, which isn't in conflict with your work." Horn interrupted the formal recitation by Bryson.

Glancing at the candid statements of the local gentry and nobility beside him, Bryson cautiously said, "My son was just born, and I hope to live in a good house, for him to survive to adulthood and marry a good wife."

Unlike his previously numb existence, the old Monk Bryson had a personal goal for the first time.

Perhaps the goal wasn't as grand as Ansel's, but it was a goal nonetheless.

"That's a very good goal." Horn pointed at him with a smile, "Individual happiness is also a purpose of our Saint Father Order Monks.

I can even say, pursuing personal happiness is also one of the goals of the Saint Father's Association, as you are part of the believers too."

Bryson's previously hunched back straightened a little.

"So, your ultimate demand is to live a good life, isn't it?" Horn looked at the three.

"... You could say that." The three exchanged glances and agreed with the statement.

"How do you define a good life?" Without waiting for them to answer, Horn straightforwardly continued, "If your good life is trampling on the heads of ordinary people, recklessly squandering and desecrating life—

Then I can tell you straight away, it's impossible; if that's the case, you can leave immediately."

Lady Bolenaia teased coquettishly, pretending to hit Horn in the air: "Look at what you're saying, how could we? Our mine workers have the least deaths."

Lux and Bryson shook their heads repeatedly.

With a glance at their faces, Horn's smile widened further.

"Regardless of what you're thinking, I will generously give you the benefit of the doubt." Horn maintained his gentle attitude, "So can we temporarily define a good life as crossing social classes and a heightened material enjoyment?"

The three raised their heads, surprised at His Majesty Saint Sun's stark candor.

"Compared to the past, do you consider now a better life?"

Compared to the past...

Bolenaia considered that she was no longer harassed by the Church or forcibly violated by the Archbishop, Lux thought of how he couldn't recklessly annex but was permitted to run countryside workshops.

Bryson, needless to say, was now a Monk of the Saint Father's Association, performing well enough to be promoted within three years.

"These are the fruits of our hard-earned effort, the wealth, laws, and status we struggled for..." Horn leaned over the coffee table, "Will these things still exist after the Leia people enter?

To be more explicit, will the Leia people acknowledge the things you now possess?

Would those hidden among you who are loyalists to Leia allow you to keep them? Could there be retaliation?"

Bolenaia forced a smile: "Surely it's not that serious, Your Majesty. Isn't the Autocratic Duke still at the front line holding his ground?"

"You saw the tragedy at the Mountain People's Military District in Hotam County; who were leading the charge for them?" Horn took a document from beneath the table.

The document contained a list of those who initiated the massacre at the Mountain People's Military District, along with a massacre investigation report.

The list was given to him by the Prime Minister of Falan, Lorenzo, and the investigation report was compiled by the Defenders.

"Casimir De Kula, originally from Lvwa Village, Hotam County, noble origin..."

"Anton Sveika, originally from Doke Town, Kasha County, gentry origin..."

"Musetus Yabai, originally from Mountain Pass Village, Mande County, merchant origin..."

The more she read, the more nervous Lady Bolenaia became; she even saw several familiar names.

Meanwhile, Lux and Bryson, sweating profusely, were scanning through the massacre reports on the table.

"It's too brutal." Lux couldn't help but exclaim in anger, "Clearly it's their own fault, forcing us to resist, yet we're made out to be the criminals?"

Bryson also spoke, "If, and I mean if, the Autocratic Duke loses, will our Mountain County face the same fate?"

Horn said nothing, but his calm eyes seemed to convey everything.

"Before I fall, it won't."

Taking a deep breath, Horn tapped the document on the table, "Facts speak louder than words. I don't want to boast about myself; the undeniable facts can be seen with your own eyes."

"We..."

Lux began to speak, but Horn immediately interrupted: "Don't rush to express an opinion. Once you've thought carefully back home, there will be occasions for you to express your stance."

Full of their own thoughts, the three nearly bumped into a Secret Monk when leaving.

Petier entered the study: "Do you need a break?"

"Have someone take these cups away, wash them, and then heat another pot of tea." Rubbing his temples, Horn tucked the document beneath the table, "Call in the next group."