Chapter 515.

Chapter 515 The Trial
MacDonald was so furious that he stood up and slapped the stone table in front of him with such force that the countertop clanged.

“Aldrich, if you were a warrior, I would be demanding you to go outside and fight me right now.”

His nostrils spewed anger as he snarled this before sitting back down on his ass on the stone bench.

The reason he was a little alarmed upon hearing that he was going to fight against the Order was not out of his religious beliefs, but out of the reaction of a battle-hardened soldier who had thought calmly about the strength of both sides.

These scholars who stayed in the White Tower all day doing research, were their heads broken?

“Oh, Lord MacDonald, I apologize, I was just provoking you just now, I wasn’t really doubting your loyalty, as wise as you are, I think I must have seen it by now.”

Aldrich apologized to him with a contrite face.

“In truth, you need not worry at all, our power is not as weak as you believe. Our fellow spellcasters have already demonstrated their might in every way, and I think you, as an Imperial soldier, will be happy to look into the military applications of magic after seeing what they can do.”

MacDonald eased his breath slightly, “It is not the Church within the Empire that worries me, but rather the Holy See that stands behind it, a power that is no less powerful than the Empire as far as every aspect of its performance is concerned, and backed up by fervent believers from all parts of the continent.”

“Haha, Lord MacDonald.”

Yarvi took his words.

“Someone will go ahead of us to trip the waters of the Order.”

“Who?”

“Corner Bay.”

MacDonald snapped to attention, “Could it be that you guys are behind the recent situation in Corner Bay …… are running the show?”

“Ahem, Lord MacDonald, it’s not [you], it’s [us] now.”

Aldrich reminded him that they were now on the same page.

“You guessed correctly, the situation in Horn Bay has developed into what it is now, and there is indeed a push from us playing a role in it. And it will intensify there until it drags the Order down with it.”

MacDonald said skeptically, “With the strength of those city-state nations, can they stand up to the Papal armies?”

Aldrich stroked his beard and laughed, “Ho ho ho, Lord MacDonald, don’t underestimate those brainy merchants in Horn Bay, they have long held the trade between the east and west, and they have made a fortune year after year, they have the financial strength to support a high-quality army, and now it is just a matter of reducing the weight of their wallets. And once the battle looms near the sea, their true ferocity will be reflected, many sea merchants are pirates in the back. In short, the Holy See will have to lose their skin anyways if they dive in headfirst.”

“We, on the other hand, will be able to carefully observe the performance of the Holy See with our eyes wide open, assess their strength, and then formulate countermeasures accordingly.”

MacDonald’s demeanor returned to normal, “It’s cunning, but it’s really a sound strategy for us.” “Besides.” Aldrich continued, “We will borrow the name of a certain country in Horned Bay to publicize the existence of spellcasters at the right time, openly recognizing the legitimacy of spellcasters to the entire continent as a way to see how the countries react. If it doesn’t cause a swarm, then we’ll repeat the act in Gabella – after His Highness Antonio inherits the throne, of course.”

MacDonald asked, “What if it causes a mob of nations?”

Aldrich replied, “Whatever the reaction of the nations, it will be favorable to our plan. Lord MacDonald, know that as long as the first country does it, then when the second country does it, people’s mental capacity or acceptance will be much higher, regardless of whether they are in favor or against it.”

MacDonald was no longer as worried as he was before, his heart was now becoming more and more curious about that so-called secret method will, with a hint of awe mixed in with his curiosity.

Oh, and these two …… in front of him are sort of old friends of their own, so much so that they have done so much without saying a word.

“There is one more thing, does your majesty know about this?”

MacDonald asked with some concern, strictly speaking, the current emperor is the object that one should be loyal to, if he does not know anything, then he and Aldrich, and Yarvi, will not become a mutual collusion between ministers.

“I don’t know!” Aldrich’s swift reply made MacDonald’s heart tense.

The old maester said ruefully, “Bartlett …… is an upright but antiquated man, and with his character would not have been fit to sit on the throne, which, it must be said, was the result of his father s hand in molding him so as not to pose a threat to his elder brother, who was supposed to inherit the throne. But fate sent his elder brother away early, and Bartlett was rushed to the throne. Of course, Batri was very clever, and he had a good grasp of what should make a competent ruler in theory, but loathed much of it in practice.”

“When is not to say that his character is bad, in fact I very much like and admire him for it. But if Bartlett had known about it, he would have found a way to talk to the Holy See, which he very ideally thought – in the face of such a great matter as the survival of mankind – would have abandoned its long-held prejudices in favor of reconciling with the wizards against a common enemy. Wow, Lord MacDonald ……”

Aldrich saw the look MacDonald projected, “I beg you not to doubt it, for I have tested him on the sidelines, and please believe in the art of the skill of speech that an old White Tower scholar possesses in probing the true attitudes of others.”

Here Aldrich shook his head regretfully, “Alas …… it is precisely this point that I fear he will open up to the Holy See, and if Bartley could be like his son – any one of them would do — what a saving of trouble I shall have then.”

Macdonald said hesitatingly, “But in any case, His Majesty is the one thing we can’t get around, and this country belongs to him.”

“It belongs to him, and in the future even more to his son.” Aldrich’s eyes turned cold, and he said in a low tone, “Compared to the crisis of the demise of human civilization, personal feelings, and old morals are inconsequential. But no matter what, I will make sure that the country of Gabella will be passed down in Bartlett’s bloodline.”

After saying these words, emotions such as sadness, guilt, determination, and firmness flashed across the old maester’s face one after another.

Yarvi patted MacDonald’s shoulder and comforted him, “His Highness Antonio will not make things difficult for his father, he will be given the respect he deserves and a corresponding position, please rest assured.”

MacDonald lowered his head and seemed to be in deep thought for a long time before he raised his head and looked at the two maesters, then said firmly:
“Maester Aldrich, and Maester Jarvi, thank you for all you have done for Gabella, and for humanity.”

“I …… am honored to be a part of your cause in a personal way.”

(End of chapter)