When the Saintess Arrives, No King Exist

"Work-for-relief projects and perpetual tenancy rights are indeed the best entry points for Immortal Stone Field’s current affairs."

"The reason for adopting work-for-relief is simple, due to the influx of cheap grain from the Royal Court, the population of the Empire has exploded."

"In other words, every inch of land in the Empire has an owner, yet there remain large numbers of refugees."

"Just like the situation at Joan of Arc Castle back then, wherever there’s a large city, large groups of casual laborers and refugees gather."

"To accommodate them, new jobs are essential, whether farmer or worker."

"Thus, there is a need to vigorously develop industry and commerce everywhere, or drain swamps, cut down forests, and open up new fields."

"Then the question arises, why hadn’t Immortal Stone Field done this before?"

"Why are all the Empire’s commercial and industrial cities concentrated along riverbanks?"

"Why does the Holy Alliance have so many small commercial and industrial towns?"

"The answer is obvious—transportation issues."

"Solving this transportation issue can be approached in two directions."

"One is to dismantle the privately set tolls by nobility, thus improving the circulation of goods from a policy perspective."

"The other is to build new roads and canals, thereby increasing the flow of goods from a physical perspective."

"Then, using familiar incoming material processing to disperse village handicrafts to promote perpetual tenancy rights, to aid the Holy Alliance’s rural outreach."

"The most crucial aspect of work-for-relief is the start-up capital provided by the Holy Alliance for large infrastructure projects."

"Such large projects will require considerable manpower and resources."

"Thus, local Holy Alliance officials can seize this opportunity to intervene in local affairs."

"This will undoubtedly lead to increased control by the entire federation over local areas."

"Therefore, no matter where the Holy Alliance occupies, even barren and desolate places like Shattered Stone Plain, the first thing they do is large-scale construction."

"The large construction in Immortal Stone Field has military significance, which is to resist the vampire onslaught."

"The first confrontation between the Holy Alliance and the Royal Court was a stalemate, and future wars will surely be acute."

"’Vampires...’ Jeanne muttered to herself as she watched the two leave."

"She couldn’t help but recall the horrors recorded in the internal bulletins of the Holy Alliance."

"Regarding the issue of refugees, the Empire, the Holy Alliance, and the Royal Court each have their own solutions."

"The Empire chooses to pretend not to see, the Holy Alliance resorts to work-for-relief, while the Royal Court opts for suppression."/p>

"For the Holy Alliance, refugees are compatriots; for the Empire, they are maggots; for the Royal Court, they are a buffet."

"Groups of refugees or excess rural population are slaughtered, and their blood-drained bodies are processed in blood magic workshops."

"They either become zombie skeletons and blood clouds or parts of flesh and blood Titans or other flesh-based weapons."

"But refugees are people too; did they voluntarily leave their homes?"

"Wasn’t it those nobles, those oligarchs, and those damned priests who forced them out?"

"Sometimes, Jeanne feared reading those war reports and documents, each account was a living person’s life lost."

"They did nothing wrong, yet they suffer such treatment."

"Thanks to the revelations of Lamington, Mathis, and others, the Holy Alliance has fully understood the vampires’ role as the earth’s natural enemies."

"Whether it’s for those innocent refugees or for the Holy Alliance’s celestial dream."

"’Vampires... I must truly defeat you,’ Jeanne silently gazed towards the west, ’truly.’"

......

"By May, the weather in Windmill Land had already begun to warm up."

"The scorching sun shone on the dykes along the coast, making the stone embankment hot to the point of burning feet."

"Yet, if one advances a few more miles, they would find the sunlight suddenly dimmed."

"It felt like an invisible hand drew a boundary line in the air, separating the sunlight from the cold."

"Looking up, they would see reddish clouds covering the sky, and people within those clouds still wore high-collared woolen coats."

"At the heart of this red cloud, one can see a circle of gray chimneys, surrounding the City Hall building of Dam City in the Windmill Land."

"Due to its spindle-shaped construction, it’s known as the Sailboat Hall."

"The black leather boots stepped across the black-and-white marble floor, past statues of former mayors and empty altars, and Cataloni paused outside the Sailboat Hall."

"The royal guards had long been at the door, wielding halberds, axe guns, and blood rifles, among them was a vampire resembling a barbarian, revealing muscles."

"He stood at least two meters tall, with a bare upper body, high cheekbones, and a face seemingly chiselled by a knife and axe."

"’Cataloni, I heard you suffered secretly at the hands of humans at Immortal Stone Field?’"

"’How about it?’ Cataloni responded coolly."

"’Pfft.’ The burly man made an exaggerated snicker, almost as if afraid Cataloni wouldn’t notice."

"Cataloni’s expression did not change: ’Are you a child? It’s boring.’"

"’Hey, don’t leave.’ The burly man blocked him with a chuckle, ’Tell me, how did you fail? I’m just in time to learn.’"

"’I will explain it to everyone later,’ Cataloni glanced at him, ’or do you feel you cannot understand, and need me to tutor you, Samuji, Head of the Envoys?’"

"The name of this burly vampire was Samuji Baroque, an uncommon member of the southern clan, but he joined Serafe early."

"Currently, Serafe’s royal guards are divided into six envoy groups, with the fifth led by Cataloni, and the third led by Samuji."

"Although they couldn’t be called best friends, their relationship was more of intense rivalry."

"Samuji’s eyes twitched twice: ’If you could fight like you talk, you wouldn’t have suffered defeat at Immortal Stone Field.’"

"’I have already reported the situation of Immortal Stone Field to His Majesty, and His Majesty does not believe I was at fault.’ Cataloni slowly rose from a low to level view."

"’What else do you have to say, defeat is defeat.’"

"’Are you questioning His Majesty?’"

"’You lost the battle, what’s that got to do with His Majesty?’"

"’Don’t you understand Baroque language?’"

"’You lost the battle.’"

"’There are reasons for it, you fool.’"

"’You lost the battle.’"

"’Boring!’ Cataloni’s cloak fluttered violently, ’Move aside, I’m going in.’"

"’Go ahead, walk in.’ Arms crossed, Samuji remained still despite his words."

"’Alright, seems like certain fools must see blood today.’"

"’Gladly accompany...’"

"’What are you making a fuss about?’ A short-haired vampire woman walked from the corridor, ’Blocking the door, how will other governors or commanders enter?’"

"Samuji uncrossed his arms, while Cataloni slowly floated down to the ground: ’Lady Kemira.’"

"These two hulking vampire men knew this imperious woman well."

"Kemira Sorrido of the second envoy group, a true kin of His Majesty Serafe."

"’Samuji, continue security arrangements to guard against those human assassins.’ Kemira glanced at Cataloni, ’Come with me.’"

"Samuji immediately snickered loudly, and Cataloni glared at him coldly before following Kemira away."

"Shortly after the two left, vampires began arriving in the corridor one after another."

"There were generals in haste from the northern army in Roaring Corridor, Shahrul An and Commander Lakunio."

"New Windmill Land Governor Valerius Van Dro, replacing Arkhadra from the homeland, and some southern governors with reinforcements."

"And Central Army Generals East John and Bowmas, who hadn’t yet launched an attack."

"Virtually all high-ranking military and political figures in the Royal Court of the Empire, essentially the leaders of the three armies, gathered here."

"As the last high official hurriedly entered, darkness fell, and Serafe arrived dressed in a purple silk robe."

"Behind him, Kemira and Cataloni followed obediently with their heads bowed."

"’Your Majesty.’ Samuji immediately half-knelt when he saw Serafe arrive at the door."

"Serafe stopped and suddenly extended both hands, and the two vampires quickly moved forward, lowering their heads towards him."

"’You are all my good children.’ Serafe caressed both vampires’ heads gently."

"The usually defiant generals now appeared as docile as small animals, accepting Serafe’s head pats."

"’Be patient, my children, this is a temporary hardship.’ Serafe spoke with doting and compassion, ’When the doomsday flame sweeps across the world, you will become the apostles of a new world!’"