Sophia's beautiful purple eyes instantly turned green, like a bottomless cold pool. She used her fighting energy to suppress the shock in her heart.

The elegantly decorated small reception room was silent for a moment, as if even the air was frozen by the characteristics of the void water element. After a few seconds, Sylvia broke the cold silence, pressed the back of Sophia's hand, and said calmly:

"Don't be fooled by this guy's words. The power of the Lord of Glory does not only refer to divine magic, it is more like the core political power of the human kingdom. Since Pope Enoch founded the Church of Glory, countless people have sought the power of the Lord of Glory.

The most successful representatives of power are the six paladin families. In order to seek the power of the Lord of Glory, they even overthrew the Pope. What does it matter if Victor wants to do this?"

A strange smile appeared on Victor's face, he shook his head and said: "Sylvia, you are not surprised, but I am surprised."

"What's so strange about this? At a certain stage, almost every great lord will have similar thoughts. I would be surprised if you don't have such thoughts." Sylvia chuckled, "The difference is that I have

This ambition has no good solution. And you not only thought about it, but also started to plan it. It's just your plan that I can't understand."

"I... don't understand at all." Sophia smiled bitterly. Seeing Sylvia drinking coffee slowly and showing no interest in explaining, she turned to her husband for help.

Victor smiled and said: "For thousands of years, the Knight family has been testing a question, does the Lord of Glory have self-awareness? The default conclusion is no... This leads to the second question, if Glory

The Lord has no self-awareness, so he is a powerful force that can be controlled. Since His Majesty Enoch can control this power, why can't we?"

"From the Golden Age to the Bronze Age, the most important political struggle in the human kingdom was to seek the power of the Lord of Glory. The knights and aristocrats continued to penetrate into the church. More than 1,500 years ago, the six major families of the Paladins united with the aristocratic forces in the church to set off

He became the biggest winner after joining the line of the Pope. More than 300 years ago, the secular lords in the south united with some aristocratic forces in the church to challenge the Knights of Radiance and seek a place in the Vatican Council of Cardinals... To this day, there is no struggle.

Once it stopped, Sylvia was involved."

Facing Sophia's inquiring gaze, Sylvia nodded and said: "Nahtigar was responsible for Neovist's raid on Lane. King Ayr wanted me to support Neovist and restore the Lant Empire.

Thereby expanding secular influence, and then cultivating and absorbing low-level clergy through the Lant Empire, helping them return to the center of power of the church. Ultimately, it is also to seek the power of the Lord of Glory."

"However, the Guardians of Light have long been marginalized by the church, and their potential is limited. If I get involved with them, I will only be further away from the power of the Lord of Light... The York family was still very weak at the time, even if they could dominate the New Lant Empire

Occupy a high position, and after my demise, York will be attacked from all directions, and may even be exterminated."

Sylvia chuckled and said lightly: "So, I moved my family westward, seemingly to the western edge of the human kingdom, but politically, the York family is close to the Cardinals and the Knights of Radiance."

Sophia was stunned for a long time and said quietly: "I really didn't know that you nobles think about these things all day long... I thought the church was very peaceful now."

Victor smiled and said: "You like the church to be peaceful and don't want the church to be turbulent, because the clergy have created a fairer environment. If you encounter trouble, you can appeal to the church. But you have forgotten the extraordinary attraction properties... I am in the Kingdom of Na'ville

When I meet Templar Dimat, he is a junior knight. After mastering divine magic, he has the power, authority and status of a golden knight. What status can a junior knight who is unnaturally promoted have in the Centaur Hills?

Having served the family for decades, they are nothing more than a minor lord. If they had the opportunity to master divine arts, do you think they would be willing to throw themselves into the arms of the church? However, there are only so many positions for clergy, such as the Knights of Radiance, the College of Cardinals, and the Presbytery of the Monastery.

It’s impossible not to fight. And the fight within the church affects the entire human kingdom, and we can’t help but participate in it.”

"... When the ant wave swept through the Centaur Hills, I almost lost my life... I was wondering why the Knights of Radiance transferred all the paladins from all over the country to Sasan because they were also lords and paid the same tithe.

The empire turned a blind eye to Centaur Hill? Clement used all his strength to gather less than a thousand paladins to support Centaur Hill, and they were all new soldiers!"

Victor suppressed the anger in his eyes and said coldly: "From that moment on, I secretly made up my mind to seek the power of the Lord of Glory."

Sylvia raised the teapot and filled Victor with snow fungus tea gracefully. She lowered her eyes and pursed her lips and smiled: "My dear, I look forward to your method even more."

Victor thought for a moment and said: "The political structure designed by Pope Enoch is very clever, and there are almost no loopholes...The knights control the secular world, and the priests control the divine power, but in the vertical direction of time - the rise and fall of the knight family alternates

; In the horizontal direction of space - geopolitical forces compete with each other. This vertical and horizontal division divides the knight family into pieces, while the church is rooted in the largest group of mortals and draws on the power of faith. This is like the church forming a group.

The trunk of a big tree. The knight family is the branches of the big tree. The branches can never fight against the trunk. When the branches representing a certain knight family wither, the tree trunk of the church will immediately grow new branches to replace it. The human country is therefore resilient.

Perfect."

Sylvia's expression moved slightly and she tried to ask: "Seven major paladin families?"

Victor nodded and said: "Testil supported the Sasanian Empire, and the legitimate daughter of Reilgarel became a partner with Neo West, and the territory of the South Continent was spread. They were all branched out by the Holy Knight family.

Example. I believe that there must be many similar examples in history." After a pause, he praised: "His Majesty Enoch is really an outstanding figure. The big tree he planted has lasted for more than 9,000 years, even if the Pope

One lineage was eliminated, and the clergy of the church always held the highest authority in the human kingdom. The scattered secular lords could not fight against a complete church, and the church would not allow the secular lords to unify into a large empire. If the secular regimes were unified, both parties would

The contradiction will be irreconcilable, and the final result will be everyone's demise together."

"Sharp confrontation is definitely not the solution to gain the power of the Lord of Glory!" Victor said sonorously.

Sophia thought about it again and again, and while Victor was drinking tea, she asked: "Dear, I think... isn't this good?"

Victor glared at her with hatred, and sneered: "How about that? The Paladin family has begun to develop secular power. If we let them continue to develop, how much magical support can we get? If we don't fight for the Glory,

The power of the Lord has been completely marginalized!”

"Okay." Sylvia put down the silver spoon and said dissatisfiedly: "In the future, if you have the opportunity, you will close the door and learn one by one...I just want to know now, how can you use the Golden Group to conquer the Lord of Glory?

strength?"

Sophia bit her lower lip gently, snickered and gave Victor a wink.

"Well..." Victor coughed dryly and continued: "I found that the church has two insurmountable flaws. First, the greater the number of believers, the greater the number of clergy, but the number of clergy cannot dominate.

The total number of believers. Otherwise, the church will kill the Black Emperor and fully control the voice of secular politics, and it will not retreat under the attack of the orcs... Their manpower cannot control so many people."

"Secondly, ruling and being ruled are always antagonistic. The church that relies on the power of faith cannot stand on the opposite side of believers. Believers will migrate to the rear when encountering danger. Production will stagnate, defense lines will collapse, knight families will follow suit, and the church will be in a hurry.

There’s no point in jumping.”

"The church needs secular lords. Both parties are interdependent and influence each other. Testier felt that the secular lords were disobedient, so they supported the Frederick royal family. The Sasanian Empire and the Radiant Knights assisted each other, and the Holy Knight family's voice in the church changed contingency

It is getting bigger and bigger, and it has the tendency to overwhelm the two major factions of Clement and Tamor."

"As the Paladin family continues to expand its secular power, if we do not take other measures and continue to develop at this rate, Centaur Hills' influence on the church will only become weaker and weaker. The Golden Company can break through geographical limitations and penetrate the human kingdom.

Major towns connect countless free people, and they have unimaginable potential. For example, the Guerrero Faun poses a serious threat to the Teutonic Principality. Once the Teutonic Principality falls, our people and horses will also be affected. I don’t want to myself

I will entrust my destiny to the Knights of Radiance and the Moon Bear Family, and I can send power support to the barbarians and the Teutonic Principality through the Golden Company... The secular power of the Golden Company is so powerful, what will happen if she supports Clement?"

Sylvia's eyes lit up and she smiled: "I understand, you want to use the Golden Group to support an agent within the church."

"That's right." Victor stood up and said with high spirits: "Developing the Golden Group is like digging a canal. Each member family is a reservoir node. Our control of the Golden Group's management rights is like controlling the control gate, draining all the people.

Putting power in the palm of your hand, help Clement or Tamor gain greater power, and they will in turn help us control the Golden Company... Of course, I prefer Clement, because he particularly needs the support of secular power.

, and the Diocese of Wharton Prairie is also in his hands."

Victor turned his gaze to Sophia, sat down again, and said: "Sofia, let me tell you, what would have happened to the Golden Group without my intervention? Various free private business organizations popped up like mushrooms after the rain, and then

The Holy See established unions of free merchants and merchants in each major parish, and the king managed them and collected taxes. Your Golden Company has also been included under the king's rule, but it will still not belong to you."

"That's why I'm anxious. We must dig the Golden Company's ditch before things get out of hand and not give other lords and kings a chance."

Sylvia held the back of Victor's hand, looked at him lovingly, and praised: "It's very exciting! My dear, I can almost foresee your success."

"Dear cousin, what did you say?" Sylvia turned her head to look at Sophia and asked with a deep look.

Sophia Yingying stood up, pushed away the chair and took a half step back, raised her skirt, bent her knees and said, "I am willing to join."

"But I insist on retaining the management rights of the Golden Company. I hope that the two highnesses will stay behind the scenes of the Golden Company in accordance with the family guardian system."

Sylvia stood up and stepped forward, held Sophia's hand, helped her back to the chair, and said affectionately: "Don't be so serious, your and Victor's child will inherit the Golden Group. The two of you will discuss the affairs of the Golden Group."

That's it. I won't interfere or ask. If things change, I will step in to clean up the mess."

"Victor, you should show your sincerity and withdraw the Bear Group and your mercenaries. In this case, it will be easier for Sophia to win the trust of Marquis Dwemik and Princess Angel and quickly occupy two important trade hubs. Just log in

Once Stone City and Bronzehalberd City join the Golden Group, other free people and private business organizations will not be able to transcend geographical restrictions."

Victor frowned and said: "The bear group without armed forces is like a piece of fat meat that is left to be slaughtered."

"It's just a temporary avoidance." Sylvia said to Sophia again: "Sofia, I must remind you that the Golden Group is particularly easy to be penetrated. If you want to control her, you must introduce another force to form an internal balance... There is no Biwei

Kedo's men have better choices."

"I agree, I will arrange this matter." Sophia nodded in agreement, smiled sweetly at Victor, and asked: "My guardian, how will the Golden Company develop next?"

Victor said confidently: "You are in charge of the route to the north, and I am in charge of the route to the east for the time being. When you open up the trade routes to the Sasan Empire, I will hand over all the trade routes network in my hand to you. In addition, you will find someone in the near future.

It's the right opportunity to meet Countess de Keyser."

"Mrs. Dolly?" Sophia asked doubtfully.

"Yes." Victor nodded and said, "When you establish a cooperative relationship with her, you will enter Clement's sight. Later...if my guess is correct, he will take the initiative to find you and talk to you.

The matter of building a port on the shores of Lake Fes."

Sylvia frowned and asked, "Are you planning to build a port for Neovist?"

"No, it is to build a port for the Golden Group... The Golden Group must win the shipping rights from the Jinshui River to the sea!" Victor paused, and a sly smile appeared on the corner of his mouth: "I suspect that His Majesty Clement is with Ni

There is some kind of connection with the Owest family...because the port on Lake Fes is related to his strategy of the Middle Kingdom. With the help of the Pope, commercial shipping on the Jinshui River is simply within our grasp."

Sylvia still wanted to ask for details, but the sound of high heels hitting the floor came from the corridor outside the door.

After a while, the door was opened from the outside, and the beautiful girl Trisili, wearing a white dress, leaned against the door and asked coldly:
Chapter completed!