……
The granite steps of the Eternal Winter royal capital's cathedral were stained crimson with blood, the sweet, metallic stench in the air thick and almost unbearable.
Many bodies lay scattered on the ground—members of the Divine Punishment Army, devotees, their own people, and Mojin tribe sand people. They were in various states of disfigurement, most bearing scorch marks, with shattered limbs and entrails strewn about. Fareen knew they had fallen victim to the devastating impact and burning effects of potent snow powder.
With each step he took, he felt a sticky sensation beneath his feet. The combat will of the church's inquisitorial army and believers could only be described as insane. Facing the numerous drug-enhanced slaves, they showed no sign of retreat, using their bodies as shields to desperately entangle the enemy, all to buy their comrades a chance to deliver a fatal blow—though the pills granted strength and numbed pain, the heart, neck, and head remained vulnerable, and Her Majesty had no surplus armor to equip these cheap slaves.
If it weren't for the snow powder, the battle's outcome might have been uncertain.
But we won… Fareen's heart burned with fervent heat, we finally won! The Azure Water Queen's banner now flew over the city walls, and even the church's most heavily fortified stronghold couldn't withstand this assault. This freed the Black Sail Fleet from its predicament of being trapped in a corner of Greycastle, preventing it from slowly being drained of its lifeblood in a ceaseless war of attrition with Tyferco.
The cathedral's main hall was similarly in shambles, littered with shattered glass and pools of blood, but he paid no heed to it, walking straight to the woman standing in the center of the hall, radiating brilliance, and knelt on one knee. "Your Majesty, all four city gates have fallen into the hands of the Black Sails. Eternal Winter Royal Capital is yours."
"Well done. Rise," Garcia said, offering her hand.
Fareen gently grasped the Queen's hand, placing a symbolic kiss on the back of her fingers, then stood beside her.
"Strange customs," Cabala remarked abruptly. "You didn't even touch her hand, so why strike that pose?"
The question was so unexpected that he couldn't help but frown. However, as the Chieftain of the Sandstone Clan, he couldn't publicly reprimand her rudeness, so he said coldly, "These are common noble courtesies, representing politeness and respect. Touching is impolite. It's normal that you, as a sand person, wouldn't understand."
"Is that so?" She raised an eyebrow, pointing to her neck. "We're supposed to be allies fighting together, and we've just finished a battle, yet you're putting something like this on me. The mainlanders' politeness and respect are truly perplexing."
Cabala wore a ring of iron bars around her neck, bulging in the middle, appearing like an ornament at first glance, but Fareen knew it contained a piece of God's Stone of Retaliation. Only a special key could unlock the bars, and the key was in Garcia's possession. She was a witch, so caution was necessary. However, she had indeed contributed greatly to the battle. Without her Instructions, those slaves carrying potent snow powder probably wouldn't have dared to charge into the believers' tight formations. He opened his mouth but couldn't think of a retort.
"Enough, no need to argue over such trifles," Garcia interrupted. "Don't forget our purpose here—can't you endure even one stone in exchange for vast lands to live on?"
"I was just saying," Cabala shrugged. "I hope you'll honor your promise."
"Of course. It's the foundation of our cooperation," the Queen said with a slight smile.
"What should the Black Sails do next?" Fareen asked.
"We'll discuss the next plan later. For now, let's watch a good show." Garcia clapped her hands and instructed her guards, "Bring her in."
Soon, two armored guards escorted a woman with her hands bound behind her into the cathedral.
She was about thirty years old, with unremarkable features and messy brown hair falling on either side of her face, wearing golden church robes. Such exquisite, high-quality garments were typically worn only by Hermes's bishops. Now, the splendid robes were torn in several places, with patches of blood around the tears.
"This person is… a bishop?"
"Indeed," the Azure Water Queen curled her lips. "I've had the local nobles confirm that she is one of the church's three great bishops, Lady Heather." She turned her gaze to the woman. "Well, am I wrong?"
"…" Heather didn't answer, but Fareen could see deep scorn and disdain in her eyes.
Clearly, Garcia sensed it too. She chuckled softly. "I also figured you wouldn't surrender, so out of kindness, I brought you here to the cathedral, to return to God's kingdom. You can slowly beg for divine salvation, or you can beg me for forgiveness. I will slowly cut off your fingers, limbs, and facial features, so you can fully experience the pain and helplessness of Azurewater Port's people."
"And then?" The female bishop spoke unexpectedly. "Crushed to dust by the church's army? Or do you plan to drift at sea forever, never reaching shore?"
"You don't need to worry about that," Garcia signaled the guards to act. "In comparison, the church's army is currently attacking Wolfheart City. Hermes is like an undefended city, which is far more important than my fate. I may not be able to set foot on the new holy city, but I can still reduce the old holy city beneath the highlands to ruins. You should have heard of the Styx River in the extreme southern corner of Greycastle. It's extremely flammable and very difficult to extinguish. This time, I brought an entire ship of it."
The guard drew a bishou and approached the bishop held on the ground, cleanly severing two of her fingers.
Heather bit her lip, not uttering a single cry of pain.
The Azure Water Queen ascended the main steps of the hall, sat on the large throne, propped her chin with her right hand, and revealed an amused expression.
…Three more fingers were cut off. Now, the woman's left hand was a bare, bloody stump. Beads of sweat appeared on Heather's forehead.
"Do you have to do this?" Cabala shook her head. "If it's not to deter the enemy or extract information, this pure torture is unnecessary."
"Unnecessary?" Garcia laughed. "You should tell that to her. Do you know how the witches who fall into the church's hands are treated? I guess you wouldn't be interested in knowing."
"Hahaha…" At this moment, Heather, who had lost all ten fingers, suddenly burst into laughter. "You don't understand the greatness of the church, nor will you understand how important everything the holy city is doing. You are always accompanied by ignorance, yet you are oblivious to the impending destruction! Hermes will show you what true power is—those who oppose the church have no end but annihilation!"
"Is that so…" Garcia crossed her legs and smiled. "Then I'll wait and see."
Until the Archbishop's death, she did not utter a single word of begging for mercy. But what surprised Fareen was that she also did not call out the name of God, hoping for divine salvation. In the end, as Heather lost too much blood and was about to lose consciousness, her expression was terribly cold, as if she was not suffering punishment, but rather watching a drama that had nothing to do with her—through those eyes, Fareen seemed to see his own predetermined future.
This feeling made him feel inexplicably oppressed, almost suffocating.
"Cut off her head and hang it at the church entrance," Garcia ordered after confirming the bishop's death. Then she looked at Fareen. "Next, we can talk about the next plan."
"Yes, Your Majesty," he suppressed the discomfort in his heart. "Are you planning to attack Hermes?"
"That's right, but not with the entire army." She unfolded a leather map she carried with her. "Leave only the minimum number of sailors and some Eastern Territory slaves on the Black Sail Fleet to steer the fleet westward along the river to the old holy city. We will head directly south, crossing the Eternal Winter border, with our destination being Wolfheart City."
"Wolf… Heart?" Fareen was stunned.
"I have reached an agreement with Wolf King Woolf," Garcia said directly. "If he is helped to defeat the church's attack, he will assist me in occupying the entire territory of Eternal Winter. In this way, if the church does not withdraw its army, the snow powder and Styx River water loaded on the ship will be enough to set the old holy city ablaze—unlike the new holy city, it is a city without walls. Without gathering enough manpower, it is impossible to stop the slaves' attacks from all sides."
"If they retreat, Wolfheart City will gain a chance to breathe, and the two countries will be bordering each other,
and can work together to fight the church in the future!"
"Indeed," the Azure Water Queen nodded. "And we will also gain a foothold in Eternal Winter."(。)