Chapter 199: The Mysterious Green Letter and the Loss of the Key to Humanity’s Victory
Listening to the voice, Arshley and Edward turned their heads and noticed a young man in light armor approaching. He stopped before them and bowed respectfully, his nervous expression evident.
“Good afternoon, Saint Arshley and Venerable Edward,” he greeted, his voice slightly stammering.
It was clear from his appearance that he was a new guard. However, Arshley and Edward received him warmly, responding with a nod to his greeting.
“Do you have something to tell us, young man?” Edward asked calmly.
The young guard met Edward’s gaze, his nervousness evident as he replied, “Earlier, I apologized for interrupting your time, Venerable Edward, but there are two recent and important pieces of news that need to be conveyed to both you and Saint Arshley.”
Upon hearing this, Edward and Arshley exchanged a glance before Edward turned back to the young guard and said firmly, “Inform us immediately about these two pieces of news.”
The young guard swallowed nervously and nodded as he began to explain, “Venerable Edward, just a short while ago, there was a report from the border stating that in this war, the Holy Empire of Elysium’s human forces are being suppressed by the Demon race’s forces.”
As these words reached Arshley and Edward, their eyes widened in disbelief.
“Suppressed by the Demon Race’s forces on the battlefield? Are you certain this news is accurate?” Arshley, who had remained silent until then, asked sharply and skeptically.
In the long history of wars between the Demon race backed by the Demon Empire and humankind supported by the Holy Empire of Elysium, the Demon race had never once tasted victory. For 7,000 years, humankind had always successfully suppressed the demons, and this situation had never been reversed.
Now, upon hearing this unexpected news, how could she not be shocked?
Her bewilderment deepened with the realization that the war had started mere hours ago!
Across from her, Edward, equally taken aback, quickly regained his composure and began to contemplate the implications.
The young guard nodded repeatedly and replied confidently, “Certainly, Saint. This news has also been confirmed by the chief of intelligence at the Holy Orthodox Hall.”
“Furthermore,” he continued, “the chief of intelligence mentioned that this development could signify a probable victory for the Demon race in the ongoing war.”
Arshley fell silent upon hearing this, her mouth opening and closing as if searching for words.
A hush settled over the garden until Edward finally broke it, saying, “Thank you for bringing us this information, young man.”
The guard smiled with relief and nodded, saying, “You’re welcome, Venerable Edward.”
He then retrieved a light green letter adorned with an exquisite dark green leaf pattern from his armor pocket and respectfully handed it to Arshley.
“Regarding the second piece of news, Saint Arshley, this letter is specifically for you,” he said carefully and respectfully.
Upon seeing the letter, Arshley was slightly surprised but calmly accepted it, examining its exquisite craftsmanship.
The material, made from delicate tree fibers, felt soft to the touch. Its light green color and intricate dark green leaf motifs added to its allure, making it captivating to behold for an extended period of time.
However, due to the unique shape of the letter, she couldn’t discern its origin, prompting her to glance back at the guard for clarification.
“Do you know who sent and wrote this letter?” Arshley inquired curiously, handing the letter to Edward.
In response, the guard shook his head and explained, “This letter was delivered by a merchant who recently returned to the capital from the east. He mentioned being approached by individuals in green cloaks who asked him to deliver it to you.”
“They assured him that the letter carried no malice towards you or the Holy Orthodox, but rather conveyed goodwill through its contents.”
As Arshley processed this information, she couldn’t help but pause, deeply contemplating the implications.
‘The people in green cloaks? Who are they, and what could they want?’ Arshley pondered, trying to guess their intentions.
The eastern region, under the control of the Holy Orthodox, is renowned for its fertility, natural beauty, and abundant resources. Yet, its dense, pristine forests contribute to its lower population density compared to other regions.
Hence, who were these individuals in green cloaks, and what were their motives?
Arshley continued to ponder, but no matter how hard she tried to guess, no answer came to mind, forcing her to set the matter aside for the time being.
Turning her gaze back towards the guard, she nodded lightly, her expression softening as she said, “Thank you for bringing this matter to my attention.”
“You’re welcome, Saint. It is my duty,” the guard replied politely and respectfully. “In that case, I would like to request permission to withdraw first.”
Arshley gave a small nod in response, and the guard quickly walked out of the garden, leaving Arshley and Edward alone once more.
Watching the guard depart, Arshley turned her gaze to Edward and asked, “Did you find any clues?”
Edward, still studying the letter, immediately shook his head as he handed it back to Arshley.
“Unfortunately, Saint, I couldn’t discern any clues from this letter. Its material, though derived from tree fibers, differs significantly from any known to me. The texture is remarkably soft, lacking the usual roughness found in similar papers.”
“As far as I know,” he added, “no craftsman from either the Holy Empire of Elysium or Holy Orthodoxy has ever produced paper with such a texture.”
Listening to this, Arshley sighed, retrieving the letter from Edward and studying it once more before placing it back on the table.
“Alright, that’s fine,” Arshley said calmly, her expression gradually turning serious. “Let’s set this aside for now. I would like to hear your opinion on why the Demon race’s troops have gained the upper hand so quickly in this war against mankind.”
“You’re aware this war only began a few hours ago, correct? Doesn’t that strike you as unusual?”
This unsettling turn of events left her feeling uneasy and incredulous, prompting her to seek the perspective of Edward—the man known as the Angel of Wisdom.
Edward shook his head and smiled faintly, raising a finger. “Saint, this should have been easy for you to deduce. The Demon troops’ success in suppressing the human forces was predictable and tied to one crucial factor.”
“Tied to one crucial factor? What might that be?” Arshley asked, eyebrows raised in surprise.
Edward didn’t immediately answer her question; instead, he calmly picked up the teacup and took a sip.
After a moment, he set down his cup and regarded Arshley seriously. “It all boils down to one thing—the absence of the figure who was pivotal in humanity’s previous victories against the Demon Race: the sword hero, Leon Kruger.”
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