It was a rather stressful day for Yrellea. She had organized multiple meetings with the delegates from the Church of Mubesni.
She required their assistance to help Aurelio, Generous Blazing Archer, sneak into the Pinhian Republic.
The borders of both countries were extremely tense. In the last month, they had engaged in multiple skirmishes, and the Kingdom of Beria came out on top.
To prevent the Berian Kingdom from advancing further, a senior general was forced out of retirement. This senior general used multiple schemes and tactics, which caused significant losses to the Berian Kingdom's forces.
The Berian Kingdom's forces understood that the situation had changed. It would be detrimental if they continued to attack.
They still occasionally sent a force and gauged the response of the Pinhian Republic's forces.
Unfortunately for the Berian Kingdom, the Pinhian Republic's force's response was extremely quick and decisive. They displayed no openings when they countered. And they swiftly retreated to fortify their defense.
The credit for this swift response belonged to this senior general who came out of retirement. Perhaps it is his experience that allowed him to look past these schemes. If it was any other general, he might have been caught up in the enemy's stratagems and attacked the enemy's army. This would have been a blunder.
Fortunately, time had taught patience and maturity to this senior general.
The Pinhian Republic's border forces certainly required someone like him.
On the other hand, his rigidity made it extremely challenging to assist Aurelio in his attempt to enter the Pinhian Republic surreptitiously.
Thus, Yrellea required the Church of Mubesni's assistance for this task.
She knew that the Church of Mubesni possessed the influence to accomplish this task. It was because the senior general that had become the commander of the border's forces fighting the Berian Kingdom was an avid follower of the Church of Mubesni.
Apparently, the Church of Mubesni had sheltered him when he was young and even endorsed him a bit so that he could study in the national academy.
This general is a great friend of the High Pontiff of the Church of Mubesni. If the High Pontiff makes a request, this senior general won't deny him, no matter what it is.
Yrellea's idea of using the Church of Mubesni to help Aurelio sneak into the Pinhian Republic could work. However, there comes a big question.
Just why would the Church of Mubesni help Yrellea?
The Church of Mubesni has helped Yrellea quite a bit. Only through their assistance did the Vicious Lightning Paragon agree to escort Tiana to the Empire of Qian Guo.
To persuade the Church of Mubesni, Yrellea informed them that the Church of Mubesni had already extended its branches to the neighboring kingdoms.
The Church of Mubesni utilized their contacts and was shocked to discover that Yrellea was telling the truth.
Even the High Pontiff was left speechless as he didn't understand how Yrellea was developing the Misty Flower Pavilion so quickly.
Even religion couldn't expand so rapidly.
When his delegates asked this question, Yrellea answered, "To expand a religion, you require faith and time. But to expand my business, I just require wealth. And not to brag or anything, I have plenty of that."
The High Pope was both amazed and terrified by the Misty Flower Pavilion's meteoric expansion. He predicted that within a decade, the Misty Flower Pavilion's influence would eclipse that of the Church of Mubesni.
This was a significant threat to the Church of Mubesni. However, the High Pontiff believed that he could contain this threat for now. And since he could prevent this threat, he wanted to benefit from the Misty Flower Pavilion's meteoric expansion.
It would be wonderful if he could use the Misty Flower Pavilion to boost the Church of Mubesni's growth.
Thus, the High Pontiff agreed to Yrellea's request in return for his conditions.
The Misty Flower Pavilion must actively convert people to accept the Church of Mubesni. They must sell Mubesni Idols, Books, Rings, and other forms of merchandise.
Naturally, this will be distributed by the Church of Mubesni and the Misty Flower Pavilion will act as a retail outlet.
Moreover, the Misty Flower Pavilion will pay 10% of its income annually to the Church of Mubesni.
These conditions were rather excessive. But surprisingly, Yrellea accepted them without even negotiating.
It was as if she was satisfied with these conditions.
Well, Yrellea had her own plans regarding this partnership with the Church of Mubesni.
Just as the High Pontiff had guessed, Yrellea also predicted that it would take her Misty Flower Pavilion an entire decade to surpass the Church of Mubesni's influence.
Yrellea felt that the period was too long and wished to shorten it.
The only way she could do so was through a collaboration with the Church of Mubesni.
She knew that going down this path meant becoming the Church of Mubesni's enemies in the upcoming future.
Yrellea predicts that she had three years before the Church of Mubesni confronts the Misty Flower Pavilion, which further leads to a massive battle.
Thus, Yrellea had to make the Misty Flower Pavilion strong enough to safeguard it from the Seven Star Archangels of the Church of Mubesni.
And this is where monstrous talents like Aurelio and Rueben come in.
Yrellea's ultimate objective was to acquire the allegiance of these two warriors and boost their growth.
After four days, Aurelio reached the border town of the Berian Kingdom as per Nancy's instructions.
Nancy informed him that someone would guide him into the Pinhian Republic.
This guide turned out to be an old man wearing clerical clothes.
He handed Aurelio a set of clerical clothing and informed him, "Changed into these."
Aurelio remained dumbfounded for a few seconds before nodding.
He donned the clerical outfit and followed the old man toward the Pinhian Republic's borders.
The Berian Kingdom's army stopped them and asked them what they were doing.
Aurelio frowned slightly as he wondered if he should reveal his identity. This matter will quickly be resolved if he reveals his identity.
Fortunately, Aurelio didn't need to do anything. The old man pulled out a crimson badge from his sleeve.
Aurelio raised his brow in astonishment as he noticed this was the prime minister's crimson decree.
Anyone possessing this edict may use it once, and the recipient must act as if the words came directly from the prime minister.
The old man spoke, "Let us pass without any restrictions."
Those words were all the old man had to say before the army created a way for the two.
Aurelio felt rather giddy as he left the Berian Kingdom's borders. He was somewhat curious about the Pinhian Republic's force's response.
He knew that things wouldn't be as straightforward with them.
Only when Aurelio was about to enter the Pinhian Republic did he understand just how wrong he was.
The Pinhian Republic's border army's commander personally appeared and led the two into the borders.
The senior commander only talked to the old man with a respectful gaze in his eyes, "Did your pilgrimage go well, High Priest?"
"Hmm. It was okay. I did find an apprentice in the foreign lands. This is Aur from the Berian Kingdom. He has catered to my needs in the Berian Kingdom and expressed his desire to follow me into the Pinhian Republic. I hope it won't be an issue for you, general."
The senior commander gauged Aurelio for a brief moment before responding merrily, "Please don't be worried, High Priest. The High Pontiff already informed me of this situation."
"Good," the old man nodded in satisfaction. Even Aurelio took a breath of relief. He didn't want to fight right now.
It wasn't the Pinhian Republic forces that scared him. Aurelio felt that fleeing shouldn't be an issue if he fought at full strength.
However, it would be a significant issue if someone finds Aurelio's identity here and broadcasts it. His master will definitely come and take him back to the Berian Kingdom. That would be disastrous.
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