Amber Sword

"That’s because they don’t get the benefits they deserve," Brand replied, shaking his head and sighing. "After all, Erune is a country under the Flame Temple. This internal turmoil is also under the jurisdiction of the Flame Temple. How could the Wind Queen Temple intervene? The Four Great Sanctuaries have a tacit understanding about this."

"Exactly." The Princess nodded.

"In that case, we can declare the newly born Erune joins the Wind Queen Temple," Brand answered matter-of-factly.

"This...but..." Princess Griffine was immediately stunned, looking at Brand as if he were a monster. She couldn’t understand how he could have such an idea. After all, Erune is the descendant of the King of Flames and a human kingdom, psychologically, all Eruein also prefer to belong to the Flame Temple rather than the Wind Queen Temple. Therefore, the nobles have considered relying on the Wind Queen Temple— but their maximum intention was to use the Wind Queen Temple to restrain the dominance of the Flame Temple.

It’s like bargaining, but ultimately, they still want to fall into the embrace of the Flame Temple.

However, no one expected that Brand would be an oddity, as half a transmigrator, he had no sense of belonging to the so-called Four Great Sanctuaries. In the previous life, he lived under the jurisdiction of the Flame Temple, Wind Queen Temple, and Light Holy Temple one after another. As a player, he preferred the Light Holy Temple of Fanzan—at least until they stabbed him in the back in the game.

In this life, the Wind Queen Temple’s Otarais had accompanied him in his adventurous growth. Comparatively speaking, he probably felt more affection for the Wind Queen Temple.

Brand quietly watched the look of hesitation on the Princess’s face.

Princess Griffine’s expression quickly cleared, she raised her head and seriously looked at Brand: "I admit it’s a choice, but we will only consider it at the last moment, okay, Mr. Brand?"

Brand nodded, understanding that not only the Princess but the Erune Nobles would find it difficult to accept this proposal immediately. Change requires time and an opportunity, and he roughly understood the Princess’s desire to use this as a bargaining chip for the final negotiation with the Cruz people.

She is very likely to succeed.

Erune’s geographical position is too important. To the south, there is endless barbaric land and the Black Forest, and it is also a crucial gateway to monitor Madara’s movements. To the Empire, Erune is not only a resource site but also a natural buffer zone, and the Cruz people’s attention to Erune is not without reason.

But for the Wind Elves, it is the same. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have supported Eck in founding the country hundreds of years ago, and secretly supported Oberg the Seventh in establishing a new fleet, helping Eruein train naval talents. Although the Ptolemy-class Battleships are no longer the main warship type for the Wind Elves, technically speaking, they were first-class battleships from a decade ago.

The Cruz people understand the significance. If the Princess party announces joining the Wind Queen Temple, it might prematurely trigger a Holy War between the Flame Temple and the Wind Queen Temple.

However, perhaps fearing a misunderstanding between the two of them, the Princess added: "Mr. Brand, please believe me, I am not being headstrong. But the kingdom’s people themselves, as descendants of the King of Flames, have a generational belief in the Flame Temple. Such notions cannot be changed overnight."

"Princess, you don’t need to explain," Brand felt a bit touched. In fact, the other party had no need to explain to him. She truly is the Princess. Theoretically, he is her knight, her subject—of course, Brand himself may not have this concept. To him, everyone is born equal—but he understood that someone raised in the Royal Family like the Princess would never think so. Her carefully divulging her thoughts to him proved she regarded him highly.

Everyone is born needing each other, and Brand enjoyed this feeling of fulfillment.

"But the Knoelia Fleet must be completely destroyed, we must occupy Ambeser, only then can we have the confidence to negotiate." Brand still reminded her, though he felt slightly unsure himself. Completely destroying the Knoelia Fleet is a minor matter; killing Williams under many eyes was truly substantial. After all, the fleet belongs to the Empire, and the Templar’s Deputy Commander belonged to the Flame Temple.