The Holy Church Begins with Bestowal of Blessings

Chapter 365 : Pulling the Nobles’ Teeth

Priest Agamemnon did not read on; after he had obtained the answer he wanted from Borien, he departed.Only Borien was left, his face twisted with indecision.

But within a few days, Borien sent over the definitions and ranks for knights.

“‘First-tier: knight apprentice; second-tier: knight; third-tier: titled knight; fourth-tier: legendary knight,’” Priest Agamemnon said.

This was an impromptu session of the Senate.

Because guild matters still needed to be handled, the other councilors remained in York City; it was rare to have all councilors assembled outside of a plenary session.

“‘Second-tier knights were also called Sequence Knights, and a sequence meant that one either possessed a knightly will recognized by the Knight Guild — such as the Church’s Guardian Knights or the Oath Knights of the Adrian Territory — or that one held an unwavering personal conviction,’” he continued.

“‘Those knights were either called Guardian Knights or Oath Knights.’”

“‘The third tier naturally indicated that a knight within a sequence had reached an extreme. You are all councilors and should know that a knight’s promotion was a metamorphosis of will; once a firm will completed its metamorphosis, the knight could naturally take on a title and thus become a third-tier titled knight, having his own title.’”

“‘As for the fourth tier, I think Knight George and Knight Richard themselves could be considered legends.’”

“‘So tiers one through four actually corresponded to the monastery rank system’s three through six tiers.’”

When Priest Agamemnon finished speaking, the Senate fell silent.

They all felt a flicker of fear.

Finally, Councilor Fenrir spoke hesitantly and asked, “‘If implemented this way, would one have to be certified by the Knight Guild before being called a knight?’”

A smile crossed Priest Agamemnon’s face as he answered, “‘Of course not.’”

When he said that, the Senate visibly relaxed — it did not appear to be the worst-case scenario they had feared.

“‘There were knights in other realms, so it would be impossible to say that only those certified by the Guild could be called knights. But within the kingdom, of course, people would have to be certified by the Guild before they could be called knights,’” Priest Agamemnon added.

The atmosphere in the Senate suddenly grew oppressive; breathing felt difficult.

Priest Agamemnon swept his gaze across the councilors — all of them, except Councilor Julian, had bowed their heads.

His fingers tapped lightly on the table, producing a thudding sound that seemed to echo against the councilors’ hearts.

Finally his gaze rested on Councilor Puniel and he asked, “‘Councilor Puniel, do you think this is appropriate? After all, once knights were classified into sequences, your Warrior Guild would also need to take on the certification of fourth-tier warriors and above.’”

Puniel raised his head with difficulty and looked at Priest Agamemnon.

He felt a kind of suffocation, as if an accusing pressure pressed on him: why him again?

This time, though, he was truly conflicted.

Clearly, this was an opportunity for his own benefit.

He wanted it — of course he wanted it. Under this standard, putting aside whether fifth tier was at issue, if fourth-tier warriors were folded into his Warrior Guild, his influence would be greatly increased.

But he also knew very well that this decision would pit him against all the nobility; it would pull out the sharpest teeth from the nobles.

Look at the examples of Sequence Knights Priest Agamemnon had given — those knights would sooner pledge themselves to their ideals than to a noble.

And the nobles, even after the Sequence system was implemented, could still use money and favors to buy the loyalty of fourth-tier fighters; but warriors were not necessarily knights.

Who knew whether those warriors would be truly loyal like knights?

Puniel and the other councilors were no longer ignorant old-style nobles — the monastery stood nearby, and Caleb the scholar’s political treatises included how names and offices could be used to shackle people.

For a noble, the word “knight” had been a guarantee of trust; if the nobles were only recruiting warriors, then no matter how magnanimous a noble might be, he could not trust those warriors as he trusted knights.

So if this sequence were implemented, it would basically pull out the nobles’ teeth.

At the very least, it would strike a hard blow to their faces and loosen those hard teeth.

Moreover, the number and standard of knights that nobles could ennoble had long been regulated by the Senate. If nobles were required to have the knights they ennobled be Guild-certified knights, what would happen to those allotted slots?

Puniel was a noble too and had knights he had ennobled; according to the document’s standards, those knights he had granted titles to could only qualify as first-tier knight apprentices.

They were loyal, but that loyalty derived only from their status as “ennobled knights.”

Yet their combat power was not much weaker than genuine second-tier Sequence Knights, so how could they accept the label “knight apprentice”?

If this edict were enforced, they would all be stripped of their knightly status.

Puniel dared not imagine what chaos would follow; after all, fourth-tier power was high-end everywhere. If they really chose to make trouble, ordinary lords and barons could not withstand them.

And what if the nobles refused?

Puniel glanced toward Julian with a small look of hope.

Julian was in charge of the army, and there were quite a few fourth-tier knights in the military.

But Julian did not even look at him; he was as ready as ever to raise his hand in agreement.

Puniel realized: as before, Julian would follow whatever Priest Agamemnon proposed.

He cursed inwardly — Julian did not seem to consider the effect this decision might have on the army; those fourth-tier people were middle- to high-ranking officers.

At least Puniel understood that trouble would come later; for now Julian seemed unlikely to help him.

He turned to his right and looked at Councilor Jeffrey.

Jeffrey happened to glance at Puniel at that moment.

Their eyes met.

‘You were the one who started the sequence issue; say something!’ Jeffrey’s look seemed to read Puniel’s thought.

Jeffrey had initially not wanted to interfere in such matters, but seeing Puniel look unsupported, he hesitated and followed along.

After all, Puniel would get much of the benefit; and once the decree was issued, at least nominally it would be the Senate making the decision.

Besides, by the rules a majority of councilors had to agree for an edict to pass.

Although they all knew that practically any policy Priest Agamemnon proposed would pass.

It was a power above the rules, but Priest Agamemnon preferred to act within the rules and actively maintained them.

Under the rules, it seemed they still needed at least two more councilors’ support.

Once Puniel was on board, Jeffrey thought it ought to be his turn; after all, he was a vested beneficiary of the guild system.

After thinking for a moment, Jeffrey spoke. He asked, “‘You are wise, so you should know that once this system was implemented, it would surely make the nobles oppose it.’”

Jeffrey was a noble too, but he was also a councilor — and sitting in the Senate now, he naturally put his position as a councilor first.

Priest Agamemnon did not take offense that Jeffrey’s question had been directed to Puniel; smiling, he answered Jeffrey, “‘Does the nobles’ opposition matter?’”

He spoke plainly.

“‘They were loyal to the king, and the Senate now exercised the king’s authority, so they must obey the Senate’s orders. If the councilors present believed this policy would make the kingdom better and stronger, then it could be implemented. As for the nobles, do not worry about them.’”

After he finished, the smile left his face. He cast his eyes calmly around the chamber and raised his voice, “‘So, councilors present, do you think such a policy can be implemented? Is it appropriate to classify knights separately?’”

When his voice fell, Julian immediately said, “‘I think separately classifying knights is very appropriate and can be implemented.’”

He spoke bluntly, without even offering a reason.

Hearing Julian’s forthrightness, Puniel cursed inwardly at the sycophant.

He too prepared to agree.

But Councilor Fenrir beat him to it. He said, “‘I think once this policy is implemented, it will, like the Scholar’s Association, tighten the Senate’s control over the nobles, and only when royal authority is further centralized will Greenwood truly become a single entity, a kingdom.’”

“‘Moreover, I respect knights. If anyone who mindlessly killed people could call himself a knight, it would be an insult to the word. Take that baron Hobert who awakened an evil deity — that cruel mercenary calls himself a knight. The thought of his self-styled title makes me want to vomit. I consider that an insult to knights.’”

This councilor explained his reasons and even cited a negative example, his face full of disgust.

After he finished speaking, his expression suddenly grew calm; the corner of his mouth carried a smile that matched the noble standard, and he continued, “‘If those nobles dare oppose us, then they would be disloyal — and disloyal nobles should be killed. Conveniently, the assassins I oversee, if they wish to be promoted to higher sequences, would need to kill nobles. I think making them die in their sleep would be merciful — at least it would not disturb the commoners with war.’”

All the councilors except Priest Agamemnon and Julian felt their hair stand on end at Fenrir’s words.

Hastings could not help but ask, “‘Has the business regarding the Assassin’s Guild already been completed? But your sequence proposal has not yet been brought before the Council.’”

Fenrir smiled without answering.

Priest Agamemnon said, “‘Councilor Fenrir submitted his sequences to me some time ago; I thought them appropriate.’”

Only then did Fenrir add, “‘Assassins should of course remain in the shadows, and…’”

He did not finish; he only looked at the councilors and smiled quietly.

That smile made the councilors’ necks feel cold.

They suddenly realized what Fenrir had said: that assassins would have to kill nobles to advance to higher sequences. Except for Priest Agamemnon, all of them held noble titles.

And if even higher sequences required assassinating higher-ranking figures, would that mean… the councilors themselves might have to be targeted?