Shinji Matou At Your Service

Chapter 282: The White Wing Lord’s Plan

Since they were called upon, the executives did not refuse and took turns to speak.

Chariot said, "My opinion is to fight and fight fiercely. Our Chelon Canticle Brigade has had a relatively long period of rest, and we need the stimulation of the battlefield and enemy blood. The newcomers also need the experience of the battlefield to become seasoned veterans."

Judgment added, "I also agree to fight. Although the Clock Tower's control over Italy may not be as strong as Britain's, it is still much stronger than the Church and the Dead Apostles. Additionally, the Association's branch is located in the Po River Plain, so if we engage in battle there, we will have a certain advantage."

King chimed in, "The latest intelligence indicates that the number of followers led by White Wing Lord does not exceed fifty, and half of them are low-level followers who have recently been converted into Dead Apostles. If that is their entire strength, I don't believe our Brigade would lose."

Pope continued, "The intelligence personnel from the Department of Law and Politics have already communicated with representatives from the Church, confirming that the Church's executors have taken care of the aftermath of the Night of Wallachia and have left behind warning mechanisms. Although there are still remnants of ether particles, these remnants should not pose a danger to us."

Justice said, "Otenrosse is currently not in his territory; it is said that he went to meet Van Fem in Las Vegas."

Van-Fem, the 14th seat of the "27 Dead Apostle Ancestors," whose real name is Valery Fernand Vandelstam. He is one of the oldest Dead Apostles.

He is a very unconventional Dead Apostle who does not hide in the darkness like other Dead Apostles. Instead, he is enthusiastic about socializing and holds a considerable position in human society. He is the head of one of the world's few enormous financial conglomerates and is known as the ruler of the financial world rather than the dark world's demon king.

This Dead Apostle cares a great deal about human society and enjoys meddling in trivial matters. For the past few hundred years, he has been passionate about ecology and devoted to protecting the Earth's environment. After the First World War, he began to try to expand his influence without resorting to blood-sucking methods.

Because he is extremely wealthy, many Dead Apostles seek his financial assistance. Otenrosse is also one of the recipients of Van-Fem's sponsorship, and the two ancient Ancestors meet periodically.

Hermit took over the conversation, saying, "Because of his absence, some of his second and third-generation followers under him have lost their leader and have started fighting amongst themselves. The intelligence about White Wing Lord heading to Italy was secretly leaked to the Association by another one of Otenrosse's followers."

Dead Apostles are mostly humans who have been transformed, and humans often vie for power and profit. They are no exception, and due to their extended lifespans, their struggles are even more enduring than those of humans.

The opinions of the six executives are quite unanimous, and that is to fight.

Internal needs, external pressures, the enemy's strength, the battlefield environment, the enemy's movements, and the sources of intelligence—almost all the factors that need to be considered in a battle have been taken into account, and they are all advantageous to our side. This is an excellent opportunity, and it would be a pity not to seize it.

Immediately after, the members of the Brigade also started expressing their opinions.

"Captain, I agree to fight."

"That's right, we have to fight, no doubt about it."

"Let's fight, Captain."

...

Their attitudes were quite unanimous, with almost everyone shouting for a fight. The few dissenting opinions were drowned out by the clamor.

However, at this moment, Shinji wanted to say, "Comrades, we can't fight."

Of course, it wasn't a joke; he had genuine concerns.

Who is the enemy? It's a Dead Apostle, an immortal, led by White Wing Lord, a second-generation follower of the Dead Apostle King, a centuries-old monster.

Even if it's a pig, after living for so many years, it should have become cunning, let alone an important figure under the command of the White Wing Lord. How could they leave behind such a perfect, too-good-to-be-true opportunity?

—There must be a problem in all of this!

But where exactly is the problem? What did we overlook?

..

Under the cover of night, in an unknown courtyard.

A handsome young man dressed in white attire held a cup of crimson liquid and gently swayed it under the dim moonlight.

"Problem? Of course, there are problems. If there were no problems, Bathomeloi wouldn't have been in opposition to my father for thousands of years."

Father, a special title within the sphere of influence of the White Wing Lord, is the revered title given by the second-generation followers to the supreme Dead Apostle King, Trhvmn Ortenrosse.

Since such a title is used, it's not difficult to guess the identity of the young man—the target that the Brigade needs to eliminate, the ancient Dead Apostle codenamed White Feather.

At this moment, he was explaining his plan to his subordinates and followers, and one of the third-generation followers raised concerns similar to Shinji's.

"I want them to see the problem and then ponder where the problem lies."

Saying this, the young man raised the crystal cup and took a sip. The crimson liquid soaked his pale lips but didn't trickle down the corners of his mouth. Instead, it was directly absorbed by his lips.

"Human hearts, they're strange things. When the seed of doubt is sown, humans will find ways to resolve that doubt. If they can't, they'll keep thinking, thinking endlessly. Even if they say they've let go, deep inside their hearts, they'll unconsciously continue to ponder."

"The information Barthomeloi received is all true, without a trace of falsehood, so their doubts remain unresolved. This seed of doubt will constantly drain their energy, sprouting little by little, growing stronger and stronger. It will make them hesitate in everything they do, and that's precisely what I want. If they charge at me like a bull, I would be somewhat troubled. After all, I didn't bring too much bait this time, just to lure them in."

"What if they hesitate too much and dare not come?" another follower asked.

"They won't," the young man shook his head confidently. "No matter how many doubts they have, they will come. Because they are Barthomeloi, the ones who oppose us Dead Apostles, who view my father as their mortal enemy. They won't retreat when facing us, and we are the same. Once the two sides meet, it's destined that one side will fall."

"I'm just not sure who will come in the end. Initially, I wanted to lure out a few potential heirs of Barthomeloi, preferably that little girl named Lorelei. I want to taste her blood and see what it tastes like."

The young man indulgently narrowed his eyes, raised the crystal cup, and emptied its contents in one gulp.

"Unfortunately, she has already been designated as the next successor of Barthomeloi and is undergoing magic crest transplantation. She can't come out in the short term—so we'll have to take a step back and target her subordinates instead."

"Are you referring to that magus group that caused a stir recently? It's called... the Chelon Canticle Brigade, right?"

The young man smiled and confirmed his subordinate's guess. "Father has mentioned that the Brigade is composed of exceptional and young magus. If we allow them to continue growing, they will undoubtedly become a threat to us. Threats must be eliminated in their infancy."

"But, how can you be certain that the Chelon Canticle Brigade will come?"

"Because Barthomeloi's other forces are unable to move—our friends will keep Barthomeloi occupied, at least on the surface. As for whether Barthomeloi will employ hidden powers unknown to the public, I can only say it's best for them not to. Otherwise, hmph."

The Magic Association is not like the Church, and the relationship between magus and Dead Apostles is quite ambiguous, with many individuals having a foot in both worlds. Even in the Clock Tower, Barthomeloi is not all-powerful.

The young man's lips, still tinged with red, curved into a supremely confident smile.

"The stage has been set, and now we only need to wait for the curtains to rise. I guarantee that the events of that night will be unforgettable for the rest of your lives."