King-Chapter 1444 - 8: The Pope Should Use Open Strategies_3

"The true test laid before us has only just begun. Only by removing these two nails can the Holy Court turn danger into safety!"

Shelter VII said fiercely.

However, the cooperation among everyone isn’t good; the disparity in strength is just too great. Even in one-on-one duels, the military power of the Clergy lags behind both sides.

They don’t even need to use their full national forces; just the troops entering the Papal State can pose a significant threat to them.

Using the Church Army, which has lost its morale, to challenge the enemy’s battle-hardened troops, what’s the difference from sending people to their deaths?

The only advantage is they are fighting on their home turf, allowing them to mobilize a larger number of experts.

"Your Majesty, while various nations are withdrawing their troops, they have thrown the trouble onto us. Clearly capable of suppressing the Magic Cataclysm, they have driven the heretical creatures into our control zone.

Without clearing these heresies, it will be challenging for us to fully commit to the new round of wars!"

Blake said boldly.

The war has reached this point, with the internally recognized "famous generals" of the Clergy nearly wiped out, leaving only him as the sole survivor.

Blake knew very well what he was made of. Leading an army to bully disorganized heretical creatures was already somewhat difficult; how was he supposed to fight against the Frank Empire and Alpha Kingdom?

Indeed, the Clergy has many experts, but in the past half year, they’ve lost quite a few. Besides having more Sanctuary Powerhouses, they don’t have a noticeable advantage in Eighth-order Strongman or Seventh-order Strongman.

It’s not about evening out the numbers; it’s about the choice of battlefield.

In one-on-one duels, they wouldn’t hold back. But once on the battlefield, their experts of the same rank are hardly opponents for the enemy.

Especially those from the Alpha Kingdom, who excel at cooperative operations on the battlefield. Even if the same number of personnel enters the battlefield, gradually it feels like the enemy multiplies.

In an external duel, three Seventh-order Strongmen can only hold back one Eighth-order, but on the battlefield, the enemy can kill one Eighth-order.

Under close observation, in the chaos of the battlefield, the enemy can always timely assist their nearby comrades.

Conversely, their performance is quite the opposite. Forget helping comrades; being able not to create chaos would already show they are well-trained.

It’s rooted in the system; the Alpha Kingdom’s powerhouses are battle-hardened, with cooperation ingrained in their bones.

The Clergy’s strongmen come from the Holy Sanctuary, from the Inquisition, from the Ascetic Monk Camp...

Various departments are represented, but few have risen from grassroots officers, growing in the midst of warfire.

From childhood to adulthood, the training received was personal combat training. Even cooperation was aimed at individual experts’ formations, hardly suitable for battlefield use.

One against one, the victory or defeat is unknown; ten against ten, more losses than wins; a hundred against a hundred, only losses and no wins... If the numbers are magnified to ten thousand, only slaughter awaits.

No one believed this rule at first, but after a series of failures, everyone had to accept it.

In Blake’s view, with similar individual qualities and identical equipment, the enemy can sweep through three of their corps.

Unless they tear up treaties, allowing the Sanctuary Powerhouses to directly engage and play guerrilla tactics, slowly wearing down the enemy.

But under the current situation, the nations of the Continent stand united, and such thoughts of abandoning principles can only remain private.

Violating rules turns it into a relentless fight to the death. Facing the Human Alliance’s strangling, it’s undeniably self-destructive.

"Fool!

Who let you decide to fight the enemy to the death?

Use your brain to handle things!"

Shelter VII immediately scolded.

Even a military novice, after experiencing a series of failures, knows the state of their army’s quality.

Initially, in one-on-one duels, they couldn’t even take down a detachment of the Frank people; now, the Clergy’s military strength is less than seventy percent of what it was, how can they fight two at once?

With bare suggestions, everyone suddenly understood. If military means cannot solve the issue, then use political tactics.

As long as they can make the enemy withdraw troops, the process isn’t important. At least buying off the last two families is less costly than buying off all nations together.

Fighting to the death is the last resort when there’s no choice. The current situation decidedly has stepped back from the edge of a cliff.

Settling things with political means resolves not just the current troubles but also covers up issues like the "Magic Cataclysm."

Furthermore, the Clergy isn’t without bargaining chips; if truly pushed hard, they can manage to fall alongside another.

Even if the rule-violating Sanctuary Powerhouses face accountability from the Human Alliance later, that’s an issue for then.

Without the Clergy’s constraints, loners from the Sanctuary hiding in obscure corners have little chance of being found.

"Your Majesty, whether the Frank Empire or Alpha Kingdom, their appetites are vast!

To make them withdraw troops, the cost will certainly not be small!

It’s certain: they will demand we acknowledge the legitimacy of the North and South Holy See!"

Bishop Asprilla spoke up.

The bitter truth has to be said upfront. Otherwise, further negotiations won’t even begin.

Especially acknowledging the legitimacy of the North and South Holy See, which is a deadly political mistake within the religious organization!

"Whether we recognize it or not, the independence of the North and South Holy See has become a reality; if they want a nominal title, give it to them!

As long as they agree to withdraw, gold, silver, jewels, silk, and satin can all be given to them; even splitting two enclaves from the Papal State can be discussed!"

As he spoke, Shelter VII’s heart bled internally.

"The worst Pope in history!"

"The disgrace among Popes!"

...

A series of titles will accompany this decision and fall upon him.

Sure, worrying about posthumous reputation is somewhat redundant. With the situation deteriorated to this point, Shelter VII has long been notorious within the Clergy.

If not for the current dire situation, the papal position being too hot to handle, whoever sits there would suffer misfortune—the internal impeachment might already be flying high.

"Copy the news about the Cataclysm of ten thousand years for them, including the sealed part, then open talks with both nations!

Especially you boy, stop constantly thinking about conspiracy, a Pope should rely on open techniques to command the world!"

Fabrizio said irritably.

As a Sanctuary’s Second Order Powerhouse, he ought to pursue the Longevity Avenue, retreating overseas for cultivation.

But the Clergy has a nurturing debt, according to rules, he must cultivate a second Sanctuary’s Second Order Powerhouse before he can leave here.

His remaining duty is both to protect the Clergy’s legacy and oversee the Human Race’s dominance over the Continent. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com

The Human Race needs no worry, being able to crush other races on the Continent, holding the position of Continental overlord firmly.

Yet issues have arisen with the Clergy he emerged from, making Fabrizio very angry.

Originally, he wasn’t involved in Clergy affairs, but the disgraceful performance of these juniors forced him to intervene.

Being reprimanded suddenly, Shelter VII looked embarrassed. Clearly, such a face-less scolding showed dissatisfaction with his earlier decisions.

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