The river flowed swiftly, rolling silver moonlight along its banks.

The wooden planks of the dock walkway creaked as dockworkers hurriedly loaded and unloaded goods by torchlight.

Among the goods were oats and sausages from Mountain County, purple eggs and sweet beans from Black Snake Bay, and crates of wine sealed with wax stamps and tax seals.

In the heat, Harbin wore a hooded cloak, walking on stilts with a cane, pretending to be an old man, limping behind Theodora.

Compared to a few years ago when Theodora was frail, she appeared much more vigorous now after recovering from a back sore and her passion for horse riding.

She wore a fitted long dress with a feather-adorned mask, stopping in front of a tall tavern.

Clarr Tavern, located on the southern side of Rapids City dock area.

This used to be the church bishop's residence, sold to a local businessman after the war in the Thousand River Valley.

Later, to make a profit, the businessman rehired the internal chef and transformed it into a club-style tavern.

Monks and representatives of different regions and political views would gather here to talk.

However, today someone had reserved the place for a masquerade ball, only admitting those with tickets.

"I'm just a businessman, I have no interest in politics." Standing still, Theodora didn't enter, but instead said to Harbin, who was squinting at the schedule on the wall.

"I know, so I said you don't need to force yourself." Harbin imitated an old voice.

"No, this is to repay the kindness of the Saint's Grandson for curing my back sore."

"And to safeguard the Crab Roe Castle Publishing House, and your assets in Thousand River Valley, right?" Harbin couldn't help but say, "You're a businessman, I understand."

Theodora glanced at him and stuffed the all-covering mask into his hand: "You are only to watch and listen, not to ask or speak, understood?"

"This little thing, I understand."

Entering the tavern, they handed their invitation to two burly men guarding the stairs, and a waiter led them to the second floor.

The once spacious second floor was now covered with numerous black curtains, partitioning it into dressing rooms.

Harbin and Theodora passed through these changing rooms, entering the lively hall.

This masquerade ball was introduced from Black Snake Bay.

In the Thousand River Valley, where liberal attitudes were on the rise, such excitement appealed to the middle class and children of wealthy families.

After all, even the Saint's Grandson said that what you love is your life, and you don't need to mind certain rules and regulations.

Those were for the monks and priests to follow.

However, in the current hall, this dance had transformed into something entirely different.

Monks sat at oak barrel tables, drinking wine in large gulps, complaining about the demands from their superiors and the lack of rest.

Merchants gathered by the fireplace, each holding a naive Old Nun in their arms.

Various middle-class citizens, including lawyers, notaries, and artisans, carried their glasses, weaving between the maids and roast meats.

As long as one wore a mask and wasn't recognized, it was as if the austerity campaign launched by the Holy Alliance didn't exist.

But wine, meat, and women were just garnishes—the real reason for coming was never about these.

Theodora and Harbin each held a glass of craft beer and found a seat by the window.

In the meeting venue made up of all the wine tables, only a round space and a square table were left.

Allegedly, on the previous bloodless night, citizen representatives Rangbang and Liborole stood on this table to call for a march.

Now, someone still stood on this square table to express opinions.

However, unlike the debates in academies, this was a speech—if it was too deep or esoteric, the speaker would be booed off by others.

A little humor or simplicity was required to earn a round of applause from everyone.

In essence, it was a kind of political talk show.

This political club culture had unknowingly spread among the citizens and middle class in the Thousand River Valley.

Nonetheless, many senior monks viewed these table speeches as excessively shallow.

Harbin thought so too; these citizens talked about nothing meaningful.

"I dare say that the Thousand River Valley is the most free-spirited place in the Empire. Do you agree!"

"Agree!"

"Let's toast to the Saint's Grandson!"

"Cheers cheers cheers cheers——"

After finishing this line and drinking the toast, the speaker jumped off the table, and someone else, who had been waiting, jumped onto it:

"...We want bread, not war. Do you know how much a loaf of bread costs on the market now? Five dinars..."

"Hoo—"

"Surrender faction, get out!"

After the previous speaker who advocated surrender was heckled off the stage, another rotund masked man struggled to climb onto the table.

"Let me make it clear in advance, I have never defamed the great His Majesty Horn, nor do I intend to question His Majesty Horn's greatness.

But I must say, do you know the current situation in the Thousand River Valley?"

Theodora held down Harbin's raised beer hand and nodded at the speaker in front of them.

After downing the third glass of beer, Harbin turned his head in perplexity, only to hear the speaker loudly proclaiming:

"...These few examples all illustrate that royal power and ecclesiastical power should be separated, otherwise, the church will end up dividing and scattering the kingdom, the worldly matters should be left to the King, and the heavenly to the church.

Back then, Prince Kongdai and Constans, among others, acted against the common good by establishing the Blue Blood Orphanage and oppressing believers.

Our great His Majesty Horn raised the banner of justice, rallied the believers, and swept away the decrees, then swept away the Prince, earning fame across the empire..."

At the level of rhetoric and logic, Harbin straightened up and aimed his face at that fat man.

He had thick knuckles, with traces of frostbite on the back of his hand.

His accent was almost that of Leia's, but the well-traveled Harbin could still discern a few upward Norn tones.

Is he a Norn spy who snuck in?

"...Later, the mountain folks coveted the small benefits of wool, while Her Highness Moliat was overly indulgent.

Unexpectedly launching a war on the Shattered Stone Plain, causing King Jinijis to have no choice but to wage war on our Thousand River Valley.

Fortunately, thanks to the persuasion of His Majesty Horn, Her Highness Moliat has already resigned due to her mistakes, yielding the position of Autocrat.

Since this is the case, the conflict with Leia no longer exists for us!"

Harbin instinctively opened his mouth to rebut but was pinched on the arm by Theodora.

Theodora gestured for him to look around, and as Harbin turned his head, he noticed that the majority in the hall were nodding repeatedly.

How could they believe such rhetoric? Harbin was at a loss.

"...Why did His Majesty King Jinijis launch an attack, even dragging the Pope into forming the Chao Character Army?

It was precisely because, during His Majesty Horn's campaign, to ensure the defense line, he had to temporarily assume the power of the Autocrat with his position as the Great Shepherd of the Thousand River Valley.

Although not the Autocrat, he was the de facto acting Autocrat.

In his capacity as the Thousand River Valley Bishop and Great Shepherd of the Holy Path, he concurrently assumed the role of Autocrat and proclaimed himself Pope.

We ourselves know this was His Majesty's measure to prevent the disorderly troops from Leia—we must admit, there are good and bad people everywhere—from causing even more damage to the Thousand River Valley.

Therefore, our hero from the Thousand River Valley, His Majesty Horn Gallar, had to endure slander from heretics and even spies of the Blood and Flesh Royal Court.

Such a noble person, yet he has to endure such terrible misunderstandings, today, I feel heartbroken!"

The fat man clutched the collar of his shirt, exaggeratedly as if he truly felt heartache.

Yet the people present seemed to buy it, abandoning their food and drink, their frivolities, all attention turning to this man.

"In essence, there are no longer any disputes between the Thousand River Valley and Leia, our forces have also withdrawn from the Shattered Stone Plain.

The Holy Father's people, the brothers of faith, are already weary from the fight.

This is a meaningless war, neither a holy war against demons nor a counterattack against invasion.

I believe everyone present harbors a heartfelt wish, which is peace.

For the sake of peace, we need the support of the core forces within the Thousand River Valley."

It was unclear whether it was prearranged or someone was genuinely curious: "So how do we support?"

"It's quite simple, we need to emulate the petition from the Bloodless Night, only this time it's to re-elect an Autocrat!"

The rotund man raised the scroll of parchment in his hand, deliberately amplifying his voice.

"We propose to the Advisory Council to hold a vote on whether to re-elect an Autocrat and propagate an open letter to the Nine Counties via the Advisory Council Gazette."

At the table next to Theodora, a drink-sodden artisan impatiently asked, "What's in the open letter?"

"The content of the open letter includes two things: Firstly, informing the subjects that we are to elect a new Autocrat, a new ruler for the Thousand River Valley.

Secondly, informing the believers of the rationale I just mentioned, telling them we have petitioned His Majesty, hoping to end the war shortly in this manner.

This is not forcibly ousting His Majesty from power, nor is it surrendering or admitting defeat, but rather that the justification for war no longer exists, and thus, the war shouldn't either.

His Majesty Horn Gallar can continue as the Great Shepherd of the Holy Path and Bishop of the Thousand River Valley, but the earthly matters should be managed by the people of the earth."

As if filled with immense enthusiasm, the rotund man was teary-eyed, his voice nearly sobbing: "This way, the Thousand River Valley shall cease the gnawing of swords."