When the Saintess Arrives, No King Exist-Chapter 753 - 708 Immortal Army

The winter sunset's remaining light streams into the deep Knight Hall, this fortress that Duke Nedbach invested heavily in constructing, yet now lacks the bustling atmosphere of its inception.

The narrow, pointed-arch windows break the sunlight into strips of beams, illuminating the Lanfeng family crest held in hand, surprisingly presenting a pale purple hue.

Sitting in the high-backed seat beside the main chair, Abbot impatiently taps the tabletop with his index finger.

Soldiers filling the sides of the pillars line the hall like a corridor, and on both sides of the bright red wool carpet are two neat rows of powerful vassals and ministers of the court.

The hall is silent at the moment, with a silence somewhat desolate.

The vassals and courtiers bow their heads, occasionally turning to see if Duke Nedbach has arrived at the main chair.

Unfortunately, they waited from the orange sunlight to the red, yet the Duke's grand arrival never came.

Until a servant clad in blue robes hurried over with small steps, breaking the tranquility.

Leaning in close to Abbot's ear, the servant whispered a few words.

Abbot's forehead throbbed as he waved his hand and rose: "Everyone, His Grace the Duke is unwell, and our Minister of Foreign Affairs—that is, myself—will act as proxy to preside over the meeting."

Despite these words, the vassals below bowed their heads in whispered discussions.

Especially the vassals in the front row, having heard the word "hunting" from the servant's ear, need not guess where the Duke has gone.

Now the Duke is besieged within a county, roads closed, and food about to deplete.

While all the Knights and vassals are fighting for glory, he went hunting at such a time?

Does this look anything like a ruler?

Abbot felt a headache, as Duke Nedbach has maintained this ostrich posture ever since losing the imperial court case against King Jiji.

Originally, the two dukes held all the advantage, only to lose everything overnight, their spirits long drained.

He coughs to signal the spitting ministers to quieten, the loyal Minister of Foreign Affairs loudly announces:

"Today's agenda is still about how to deal with those Red Knights."

Upon hearing the word Red Knights, many vassals and ministers reveal complicated expressions.

The so-called Red Knights are mercenaries from the Blood and Flesh Royal Court hired by King Ginijis.

In essence, similar to Nidesar's people, namely the southern human desert nomads of the Blood and Flesh Royal Court.

In the previous imperial court trial of "accusing Ginijis of colluding with vampires," the main evidence was these Red Knights.

Most are heavy cavalry draped in red robes without helmets, extraordinarily tall and robust, extremely fierce and ruthless in battle.

In the Battle of Han Jin Mountain, three hundred Red Knights broke the formation in the rainy night, remarkably repelling the formidable Edict Regiment, leading to the defeat of the two dukes.

A single Red Knight often requires several Extraordinary Knights' joint assault to barely knock them off horseback.

According to a Knight who fought them, he witnessed the Red Knight's skin withstand sword and blade.

And these Knights are unlike vampires' mindless undead or skeletons, unable to ride horses.

Red Knights have unclear consciousness unable to communicate, yet ride proficiently.

After the battle, the Duke's army retrieved Red Knights' bodies, and the physicians dissected them, discovering that these Knights not only have up and down two stomachs but also abnormally enlarged hearts.

Moreover, this heart is clearly not a human heart but a transplanted heart from a large magical creature.

Additionally, a large number of mutations have occurred in their various internal organs.

Aside from blood magic, Abbot can think of no other possibility.

Yet blood magic is for the dead, how exactly is it used on the living?

Regrettably, at most, it can prove that the Blood and Flesh Royal Court's mercenaries used magic, but cannot prove Ginijis used magic.

Furthermore, Ginijis is on the brink of victory, so naturally, the Imperial Council wouldn't rule him guilty at this time.

"We couldn't win against those three hundred Knights back then, now those Red Knights are even more numerous," a minister complains, "Militarily we are powerless, we can only rely on the Imperial Council."

"What use is there in denying Ginijis's reign if we don't achieve military victory, even if we succeed in the Imperial Council?"

"At least force Ginijis to negotiate peace!"

"How could that happen? At this point, if I were in his shoes, I wouldn't negotiate peace."

"We're surrounded by over fifty thousand troops, with only less than twenty thousand ourselves, how can we fight without negotiating?"

"Back then the Great King of Kronsval only had a village's worth and still defeated the rebels?"

"In fact," an intelligence minister stood up, "Lord Abbot, are you aware of Prince Kongdai's disastrous defeat in the Thousand River Valley?"

"Remember, nine decrees were enacted, and only 400 knights managed to escape back, even the Prince himself died in battle." Abbot shook his head, "Why are you bringing this up?"

"I received some news, it's the secret of how the Thousand River Valley People defeated Prince Kongdai." Saying this, that courtier took out an iron tube set in a wooden frame from his bag. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"This is an alchemical crossbow. Although we haven't found a way for ordinary people to use it on a large scale, since it can defeat the decrees, could it not also be applied to these Red Knights?"

After elaborating on the power of this weapon, the surrounding few vassals looked at each other in dismay.

Among them, a few knights showed expressions of disgust, as this weapon was "despicable" in their view as a projectile weapon.

"You say this here, nobody knows if it's true or not, the power can only be known by testing." Abbot, also intrigued by the weapon, snapped his fingers.

Soon, a few servants wheeled in a large cage.

Inside the cage was a tall man dressed in tattered red clothing.

Though the Red Knights are strong, they're not Great Knights; it's possible for them to be captured after breaking a leg or being injured.

Currently, there are 3 Red Knight prisoners held in the dungeon of the Knight Hall.

Along with them, a young girl with her hands and feet bound in chains was brought in.

She looked like a frail, rough-skinned peasant girl, yet she was weighed down by iron shackles almost half her body weight.

The whip cracked, leaving a few bloody marks on the girl's back.

She cried out in pain while, under the restraint of two knights, she gripped a wind-up gun.

As she struggled to twist, the clockwork whirred and clicked.

The strong figure in the cage, his eyes rolled white, seemed to sense something and suddenly lunged at the bars, shaking them madly.

"Snap." The whip landed on the girl's back again, "Why stop, continue."

With tears, the girl continued to turn the clockwork.

And the strong figure's shaking of the bars grew more and more violent.

Until a click was heard, and she could no longer support herself, collapsing to the ground.

At the same time, a sharp whistle resounded, and within three to five meters, even a low-quality, knock-off wind-up gun would not miss its target.

With the gun's boom, the figure who had been shaking the bars shuddered violently, crashing his back against the cage with a clattering sound.

Then, in the surprised gazes of Abbot and others, the strong figure slowly slumped to the ground.

"Excellent." Clapping the armrest, Abbot suddenly stood up from his seat, just about to step forward but stopped, "Tom, you go check."

The unfortunate attendant cautiously stepped forward, picked up a cane, and gently poked the figure in the cage.

"Dead, dead." Seeing that the figure did not respond, the servant dropped the cane, shouting with excitement.

However, he did not see the excitement in the eyes of the courtiers and vassals but rather considerable fear.

Immediately, there was a roar that did not sound human from behind him.

The next moment, a veined arm reached out from the bars, gripping the servant's neck from outside the cage.

With a loud clang, the ministers present were all startled.

When they came to their senses, a body with bones shattered lay half inside and half outside the cage.

White bones protruded from flesh, emitting heat, as the Red Knight opened its maw and frantically devoured the servant's flesh.

The thick scent of blood spread in the air, leaving the ministers speechless at this brutal scene.

It was only after the Red Knight had taken seven or eight bites that his movements gradually slowed and then stopped, standing like a statue in the cage.

This time, the soldiers learned their lesson and used a spear to prod; seeing him fall stiffly, they breathed a sigh of relief.

"So this weapon does work on the Red Knights?"

"They weren't wearing armor, otherwise this lead projectile would only get lodged in the skin." Abbot shook his head in disappointment, "And they don't die immediately when hit; unlike humans, they continue charging into battle before dying, not of much use.

But it can be used for castle defense; it's just there's too few of them, too late to forge, and requires an alchemist to operate, feels less useful than a siege crossbow."

"It's my oversight."

"No, it's very useful for castle defense, just came too late." Edmund looked around the hall, nodding at a few courtiers as if in encouragement, "Does anyone else have new ideas?"

Unfortunately, aside from lousy ideas like assassination and poisoning, there wasn't even a wind-up gun.

"Alright then, let's discuss the defense plans..."