[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-reborn-king":3,"chapter-the-reborn-king-the-reborn-king-chapter-187":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Reborn King",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},1100944,1437,"Chapter 187: Using the Past","the-reborn-king-chapter-187",187,"\u003Cp>\"This is the fifth one.\" In a suit that was out of place in the damp dungeon that reeked of blood, he looked at the figure hung on the wall, his wounds telling of the torture he had endured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The church is moving fast it seems.\" The man next to him sighed as he looked at the body of the preacher. \"How have the people been taking on their words about the prince?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Dismissive for now. The rally held here has secured a strong imperial sentiment but in those places where it’s weaker.\" The man shook his head getting a click of the tongue in response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did you get anything from this one either?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Once more, a church official approached him, giving a script to follow.\" Walking over he touched the body getting a small twitch from it. \"But they never have anything more.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Another beggar then.\" The man nodded walking to the side and grabbing a bag of coins, throwing it at the other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Same exact bribe.\" Opening the pouch a few gold coins lay. \"The problem is if we let things continue there is no telling what will happen.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Has Mayor Desmond ordered anything?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah. It seem...\" A door opening from behind had the two on alert as they pulled their weapons and stared at the entrance. The dim light hid his appearance but his slow footsteps echoed throughout the halls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"New orders.\" A voice called out as he revealed himself. His appearance was tired but the two gave a deep bow towards the man. They knew he was someone directly under Esmond and had been in the Commonwealth until recently. They weren’t high enough to know the reason but anyone who was allowed to work abroad had a level of prestige they had to respect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No more killing preachers. Watch them for a while. Find the source.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sir.\" One spoke up. \"We know the Church is the source already.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man scoffed walking over. Stepping passed he stood in front of the beggar hanging on the wall who was between life and death. Reaching towards the small tray at the side he plunged a knife through the man’s heart ending his torment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Idiots. Thats obvious. We need to know which bishops have given the order for this.\" Wiping his hand with a handkerchief he pulled from his pocket, the man threw it to the ground. \"His Majesty and Lord Esmond already have an idea but we need to know for sure.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walking passed them he stopped and turned his head. \"Also get in touch with Desmond. He has been given full privilege to run the operation here by those above.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Understood.\" The two bowed. \"Sir. Will you be remaining here?\" One asked the question before he could leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His step paused once more. \"No. I have been summoned to Brookhaven and will be relocated to somewhere more fitting for my expertise.\" Ending to conversation he walked out of the damp dungeon leaving the two alone who gave knowing nods to each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Issac. Sit please.\" Alfred offered the seat in front of him with a graceful smile as he poured them both a drink. Issac looked at the brown liquor for a second before downing its contents and returning it to the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You are a member of the Empire’s inner circle now. But I have been at a loss on how to use you. Everyone from your father to Abu has a role within it. But you seem to be the odd one out.\" Alfred saw Issac drop his head slightly with a bitter smile as he could only give a small nod. \"That doesn’t mean I don’t respect your opinion. You, after all, have made suggestions that have benefited my Empire. That is why, in our war with the church, what do you believe is the most important thing right now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alfred leaned back in his chair and watched as Issac fell into thought. Whilst he had his own opinions, it wasn’t good if the organization relied on him for everything. He needed those below to think for themselves, especially young blood Issac who would be working with him for decades to come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I assume I can speak freely,\" Issac asked getting a nod in reply. \"In that case, the easy answer is Esmond’s work. The church has already begun to move behind the scenes and we need a force to counter that or we face ruin.\" Alfred nodded agreeing with his analysis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But. The church isn’t only playing that game. Moves behind a veiled curtain can only go as far after all. So we have to wonder what is their end goal.\" Issac saw Alfred’s smile widen and knew he was on the right path. \"If what I think is correct, and forgive my language, it would be to shackle the Blessed One.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shackle me?\" It was an amusing way to put it, but Alfred didn’t disagree with the term. \"In what way.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"May I smoke?\" Alfred nodded and Issac pulled out his pipe putting a few green herbs in it before taking a few puffs. It was a habit he picked up from his father as his responsibilities increased and he finally understood why he did it. \"You are a wild card, to say the least, for them. We have seen in the past how a Blessed One upended the church before, and I’m sure the Church would not wish to have it happen again. Especially considering the Ammerians, Bactria, and Prodora are becoming bolder.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To have you tied to the church they can call on your power when the time comes, but also proclaim the church as the true way to reach Sol evident by the Blessed one being under it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It would have been hard to understand how the church would have done this before, but the reports of the preachers popping up around the Empire told me.\" Issac took a few more puffs of his pipe as he let himself organize his thoughts. \"Make it so the people believe it. Have them in a state where they don’t consider following you through a schism.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So the most important thing is?\" Alfred’s smile deepened as he asked and Issac looked deep into his eyes returning a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Public opinion. This isn’t a war of might but control after all. Giving them the right to education whilst good can’t be allowed to happen. It buys time as Father put it. If we let this foster and don’t deal with it time, we have given the tools to let them influence the younger generation.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alfred felt himself wanting to burst into laughter at Issac’s analysis. It reminded him so much of his old world.’To think of a propaganda war in an age of such few technologies.’He had to give Issac credit. He may not had his father’s ability when it came to war, but he was truly a born and bred politician from the idea to carve up the Empire into states to limit control to now thinking like this. It made Alfred want to let him bloom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So public information. Let me ask you this. How do you win this war then.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I think it’s a case of being faster and more persuasive.\" Issac grabbed his chin not happy with his own answer. \"No. Even if you are faster, the church has the ability to spread the news to a wider range through their temples around the Empire. Whilst we can hold parades and such, they are expensive and require a lot of manpower.\" He let out a sigh. \"If only a way to get our word out at a rapid and mass succession existed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alfred felt his eyes go wide at Issac’s words as he covered his mouth.’Is it time to create that?’Before Alfred had never bothered to entertain the thought of creating the printing press. There was no point. His people were illiterate and those who would value it were a small minority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Getting up he went to his cupboard, Issac watching in confusion. With a stack of documents he had received from Raven over the years, he pulled those from the most recent results of his education reform.’It’s not enough here. There it would work. No. Yes. No. Yes. Yes. No. Yes. Yes.’Issac watched as ALfred’s eyes lit up with a strange glow as he traced his finger down numerous papers his smile getting wider.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Issac,\" Alfred called out with a happy voice. \"Have your father send me the best craftsmen he knows. \"I don’t care who. Blacksmiths, carpenters, textiles, everything. Tell him to be quick.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty. What is this about?\" Issac was confused and he knew that he may have overstepped his place to ask so bluntly but he could see Alfred was going mad with happiness at whatever he decided.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s as you said, Issac. We just have to be able to get our narrative out quicker than them to more people.\" Alfred ran over and grabbed the man by the cheeks looking deep into his eyes. \"You beautiful bastard. You may have just led the greatest enlightenment without knowing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Issac shivered from the pure joy that came from Alfred’s voice as he tried to slip out of his hands. \"I will talk to my father Your Majesty.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Go. Quick. Tell him we can’t waste any time on this.\" Alfred practically pushed him out of the room before nearly dancing around when alone.’It’s finally time.’In his past life, he was a history teacher, one that was obsessed with it. To replicate the first printing press was an easy thing for him. How could he not know the details of one of the greatest inventions to be made?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure he couldn’t make a modern one, even if he had the resources he wouldn’t know where to start. But this was different. He had studied it, seen them firsthand, and asked about the finest details for them. Everything was in his mind. Whilst the fear of introducing such a technology lingered in his mind, it was fine. It was not something so extreme like electricity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He jumped around once more, going to his bottle and pouring another glass. \"Thank you, Issac.\" It was something he should have seen, but he had tunnel vision. he wanted to laugh at his own short-sightedness.\u003C\u002Fp>",1724,"2026-06-03T11:17:48.775Z","2026-06-03T11:17:51.400Z",1,"novelbin.me","3bc836050b6e067038c1972f80ff44d91fc481db7b240a0d94dd85e19d34db5a","the-reborn-king-chapter-188","the-reborn-king-chapter-186",487,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-reborn-king-cover.jpg"]