Chapter 1329 - 1247: I Too Can Go
"Sand eagles can still carry people in flight?" Horn leaned his head closer to the report booklet.
Sunlight streamed in through the window, illuminating the glimmering dust particles in the air and the three high monks in the Papal White Hall.
Thomas, as the "Gray-Robed Cardinal" of the Saint Father’s Association, mainly managed external affairs for the Holy Sect Saint Father’s Association.
Hakuto was the Exorcist Leader, and his efforts were significant in the communication and training with the Holy Alliance by the black army.
As for René, he was in charge of external intelligence.
Upon hearing Horn’s words, René stepped forward first: "Strictly speaking, they don’t carry people, they bring people.
Vampires also spread their wings during flight; it’s just that the giant eagles provide the power."
"Does this save a lot of vampire stamina?"
"Yes, it saves both stamina and magic power. They used this tactic to seize the coast defense battery and hold off until the Royal Court’s navy arrived."
Anything that can fly is basically a noble high-class vampire.
If we arrange vampires from low to high, we can see the categories of Royal Court troops.
The lowest level is blood slaves or wandering vampires; aside from all the vampire weaknesses, they are almost identical to humans.
Vampires who can use Blood Claw Spell or Blood Explosion Spell can be drafted into the field and are called Viscount-level vampires.
Above Viscount-level is the Baron-level, mostly serving as officers; they can already use Blood Magic.
Above Baron-level, there are Count-level vampires with wings capable of flight.
Interestingly, if a vampire is born without wings, they will never have wings in their lifetime.
This means that Count-level vampires knew they were Count-level from birth.
Once at this level, they can inherit various spells from the clan and use necromancy magic.
This aspect is similar to the secret parties of Black Snake Bay and the Wizard Clan.
"They sent hundreds of Count-level vampires this time in the attack; it’s quite a ’blood cost,’" Hakuto couldn’t help but speak.
The Royal Court differs from the Empire; Count-level vampires indeed have the count title and corresponding territories.
The situation in the Empire, where a count’s territory is less than a knight’s, is impossible in the strictly hierarchical Royal Court.
For the Royal Court, Count-level vampires are not ordinary combat power but absolute mid-to-high-end force.
Their numbers are not many, risking hundreds of Count-level vampires in such a life-and-death game meant the Royal Court’s southern army had no other options.
"Not really ’blood cost,’ Your Eminence," René continued: "Based on our intelligence, these vampire counts are likely from the lower breed clans."
"Lower breed clans producing Count-level vampires?" Hakuto couldn’t help but question.
Vampire inheritance is similar to the secret party inheritance; both are decided by the family founder.
Therefore, most Count-level aristocrats come from the supreme thirteen clans.
"We suspect it is the effect of the blood feast," René lowered his head, "The overseas Holy Tree faction tells us... Serafe seems to be using the Royal Court’s clanless vampires for their blood feast..."
"Vampires using vampires for a blood feast, then why do they come to the Holy Alliance to kill humans?" Even Thomas was dumbfounded.
René glanced at Horn: "It seems both vampire blood and human blood are needed. According to the Holy Tree faction vampires, if humans are the wheat, then clanless vampires are the yeast."
Hearing this, Horn nearly lost his composure.
So you vampires, besides turning humans into blood wine, also want to turn your own kind into blood wine?
No wonder Serafe’s blood feast can raise the bloodline limit, while historical blood feasts were merely honorary titles.
Closing the report, Horn’s expression became serious: "What are the losses?"
Thomas, Hakuto, and René exchanged glances; then Thomas stepped forward: "Within the city, the black army has lost over half, and the remaining parts have left by ship.
The soldiers are scattered to heal within the Brotherhoods on nearby coastal islands and villages."
"What about the two commanding officers?"
Thomas pursed his lips: "Jill was gravely wounded and is unconscious, recuperating on the nearby Yezhi Island.
As for Lord Todd..."
"What happened to him?"
"Lord Todd fought to cover the retreat at the port and perished in battle with the vampires."
The atmosphere, which had been a bit lively, grew somber again.
The black army was defeated, Branded City was lost, among the leading figures of the Windmill Land resistance—
Todd and Livingston were dead, Mathis’s fate uncertain, Jill gravely injured and unconscious.
The once high-profile black army and Windmill Land self-rescue movement had plummeted to a low point.
However, in Horn’s view, Windmill Land’s self-rescue was only just beginning, akin to the time after Juan’s death in the Thousand River Valley.
Either explode in silence, or perish in silence.
"Who is the mastermind behind this campaign, have you found out?"
"On the surface, it’s said to be Prince Vladislav, but everyone knows he is an incompetent old vampire; most likely it’s still that person."
"This Konyaz really left us quite the trouble from the start, a man of true reputation."
"I will mobilize Cheka to collect large amounts of intelligence on him and compile them into archives."
Collecting enemy general intelligence and summarizing their command styles and personal habits is also part of Cheka’s work.
Due to the Empire and vampire generals’ distinct centralized styles, mastering this personal information can greatly predict their behavior.
Especially with the Holy Alliance’s divination spells and differential machines.
Unlike the Holy Alliance’s Staff Team, nobody can get a clear grasp on them.
As for Horn’s own strategies, he writes them boldly and publishes them in the Truth Newspaper, leaving no room for speculation.
"Todd, I still remember him." Horn stood up, walked to the window, "He should have followed us from the Joan of Arc Castle days, participated in the Battle of Black Mountain, and the Second Thousand River Valley War.
Later, because of the South Mangde County incident, he went to join the black army; he definitely was a good church member."
"I understand," Hakuto immediately realized, "We will commemorate him in the press and include him in the Heroes’ Great Cathedral."
Gazing at the light outside the window, Horn suddenly felt a sense of loss.
He thought he was used to sacrifice, but perhaps the stability of the last decade had dulled his edges.
Facing Todd’s death, he saw in the reflection of the window glass the self who was numb to sacrifice during the two Thousand River Valley Wars, who would stop at nothing for victory.
Yet this time, facing the vampire war, he might once again have blood on his hands.
The enemy’s, his own people’s, and perhaps even his own...
Sage Pope Horn did not spend a moment mourning the end of peace; next to appear was War God Pope Horn Gallar.
Though no one knew what had transpired, when Horn turned around, returned to his seat, everyone present felt a chill.
Hands intertwined before him, Horn rested his chin beside them: "The black army is destroyed, the vampires ought to deploy their forces now, right?"
"According to reliable intelligence, the southern army has completed the preliminary preparations and reconnaissance," René replied with hands behind his back, "We speculate they have two directions: one is to advance from north and south to pincer Golden Horn Bay, the other is moving westward along the Nao’an River to seize Changge City."
"What about on Norn’s side?"
"After a whole summer offensive, the Norn people have fought the vampire northern army to a standstill, with our help."
As the vampire invasion formally commenced, various information and intelligence were exchanged among the alliance.
Given the current situation, while the Holy Alliance still struggles to reach, it can now influence the front through alliances.
However, due to the far distance and the large loss of power projection, recruitment and growth are necessary first.
This does not mean nothing is done.
"Your Eminence, what is our next step?"
"I ask," Horn’s demeanor was calm, "do those clanless vampires made into ’yeast’ consent?"
"You mean..."
"Where there is oppression, there will be the Holy Sect," Horn leaned back against the chair, "I think many vampires in the Royal Court are quite oppressed."