Chapter 696 Foreign Threat?
While things in Peters City were heating up, with the Ritter family leading local efforts in various directions, things were quite different for power from Utrary.
In a family north of that state, the death of three of their Saints had already scared the entire family and turned their people's attention to Leopoldine.
Someone in Leopoldine powerful enough to kill Saints had appeared, and they could not ignore it!
The three of them were only on a trip to investigate what had happened to the young master of this family, a Transcendent. But such a thing had led to the death of even a Celestial Saint!
This was something unacceptable, and such a family was already moving to give a response.
...
In the capital of Utrary, a group of 12 powerful people were gathered in a large luxurious hall, where some armed men were standing around.
At the most important point of the palace, a woman with a beautiful gemstone tiara was sitting on a golden throne, looking at her vassals.
"Everyone is here, so let's get started." She said as she casually looked at those people, in general, Celestial Saints.
But besides her, three people in that group of 12 were one level up, at level 21!
"I called all of you here at the request of patriarch Jung." She indicated to a red-haired man of the same level as hers standing there a few steps ahead.
Everyone looked at one of the queen's most powerful vassals and waited to hear what he had to say.
"Go ahead, present your concern, patriarch Jung."
Hearing his queen's orders, Philipp Jung thanked her and looked at the men and women of this group of vassals.
"Old fellows, I am here to bring my concerns to your families. Recently three of my Saints were killed in Leopoldine."
Immediately after those direct words, everyone there became more serious, noting that this was not just any conversation that would lead nowhere.
Patriarch Jung's intentions were not peaceful!
"Before that, my son, Karlo Jung, had been missing for decades. But then, one of his items resurfaced in that state. As my men went after that item in an attempt to find out what had happened, they were brutally killed.
From the signal sent by the formation containing their vitalities, I can tell that all three of them, including a Celestial Saint, were killed mercilessly by someone stronger." He said in a deep tone, showing his concern for these people.
"So I'm not here to ask you to help me avenge my people but to warn you about the possibility that Leopoldine gave birth to a Supreme Saint!
This state has always brought us bad feelings, but before, they were just low-level idiots doing their silliness. However, if they now have Supreme Saints, their actions can affect us.
Therefore, I propose we deal with them before they deal with us."
Some of these people knew nothing of what had been happening in Leopoldine since their state was stronger than this neighbor, even considering the high-level powers in its shadows.
But one of those leaders there already knew about many things happening in Leopoldine!
One of them was a partner in the Ritter Motor Company, with 2% of it.
This person, a level 20 woman with brown hair and black eyes, narrowed her eyes as she saw this threat to her investments.
She said with a bitter smile on her beautiful face. "Patriarch Jung must be joking. There are no Supreme Saints in Leopoldine. Perhaps you are interested in creating a war for revenge? Don't forget that our neighbor's powers are enough to cause losses to our families."
"Nonsense! I wouldn't have to do that!" That man looked at such a woman with an ugly expression. "Not to mention that we are much stronger than them! If we act quickly, we can neutralize them before bigger threats hit us."
"Not without first losing some of our strongest men." She said in a higher tone than that man.
Even though he was a Supreme Saint, she had no fear of him.
She then turned her back on him and looked at the queen. "Your Majesty, if the state is in danger, I will keep all the promises made by me and my ancestors. But I don't see any danger coming from Leopoldine.
As far as I know, Patriarch Jung sent people to a state not allied to the kingdom alone. So he must bear his losses alone. My family will not participate in any action against Leopoldine before that state assaults our powers and borders."
"Matriarch Josten!" Karlos' father said as his eyes trembled with anger.
The queen looked at Maya Josten, one of her most loyal vassals, who had never failed to protect the state, even when her life might be in danger.
"Matriarch Josten, don't you consider the murder of three of our experts an action against us?" The queen questioned her, while each person in that group had their own thoughts about it all.
Maya replied. "No. For all we know, this may not even be related to Leopoldine. After all, Supreme Saints haven't appeared in this state in tens of thousands of years, and no one can stop experts like that from passing through our states, not even us.
Who can assure us that it was a power from Leopoldine that acted against these three? The person who did this may be far away from this empire now!
And ultimately, Patriarch Jung did what he did without communicating his intentions to us, acting out of his own interests. I will not stand for it. I will not lead my people into a senseless war because of his mistake."
Those words were wise, and the queen herself couldn't help but think about the things raised by Maya.
As Patriarch Jung simmered with anger at Maya, one of the other Supremes there said. "How about that? Let's watch Leopoldine and strengthen our borders with that territory. If we get any worrisome signs from our neighbor, we'll reconvene to address the issue."
Most there agreed to this, and the queen followed through with this recommendation, indicating for her vassals to return.
But the queen was smarter than these people thought, and as Maya was leaving, she said. "Matriarch Josten, stay a little longer. I want to talk to you alone."
"With me? What's wrong, Your Majesty?" Maya returned closer to this woman while everyone else had already left.
The queen dismissed her men, and when she was alone with Maya, she asked.
"Maya, were your previous words on account of your sincere opinion about what is a risk to the state, or was it to protect the Ritter Motor Company?"
Maya's eyes opened wider as she realized that the queen knew this.
"Yes, I am aware of your agreements, Maya. Then tell me honestly your motives for saying those words." She said seriously, looking deep into her vassal's eyes. "You do know that the founder of this company is possibly a hybrid, right? Are you comfortable supporting someone persecuted by the Seraphim Church?"
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