Chapter 509: Gathering of the Apostles

"Why have you come so early? Did I not set a deadline of forty days?"

The discussion meeting for the Eighty-Five Plan was in full swing, and every participant knew that playing a sufficiently important role in the future "main storyline" meant more resources and opportunities. As soon as it ended, Suleiman, the Apostle in charge of the Araby sector, rushed to Gaoyuanbao.

"With the Lord's summons, how could your most loyal servant dare not come to serve by your side?"

The permeation of Sinuoli's divine power warded off the traces time had left on the middle-aged man; his goatee was dark and shiny, and the wonderful power had swept away his former poverty-stricken air.

"Although it is because you are close to the source, speaking truthfully, you have done quite well, even the best. It is a pity that the external environment is different, so others cannot use your experience as a reference."

"How can it not be referenced? With one word from you, I will order the Shenjiao army to march north!"

Suleiman had created a theocratic Divine Kingdom on earth in Araby. With the overt and covert support of various forces, including the Butcher Pirates, he controlled four city-states and raised a religious armed force of five hundred camels.

He turned and directed Sinuoli's gaze toward his attendants—to create the mystery of a Zunjin Daoshushi, Suleiman had supported his father-in-law, brothers, and sons-in-law, four people across three generations, to occupy one city each and manage government affairs for him.

"The Four Caliphs, is it? I have heard of your reputations. Work hard; there will be a place for you in my Divine Kingdom."

Sinuoli nodded slightly; he naturally supported his Apostles in developing reliable subordinates. When selecting people, he had arranged for them to return to their hometowns to spread the faith precisely to utilize existing social relationships such as friends and family.

"We have had several contacts with the Bright Flame Knightly Orders of the Bretonnia Expeditionary Force; I request your decision on how to handle them. Also, regarding policy, there is still..."

Suleiman reported his work and asked for advice on the use of Sinuoli's divine power. On the other side, on a ship departing from the port of Bordeleaux, four fellows dressed in different ways gathered around a square table in the inner cabin, drinking and toasting. Those with sharp eyes would find it hard not to notice that they were all high-level divine officials and that their divine power seemed to originate from the same source.

"Lailun of the Border Prince Territory is, after all, a Knight of the Blazing Sun who believes in the Goddess of War; he has provided me with convenience, but not much! The Vault Mountains were originally a good place, but as a result, more than half of the Dwarfs have run off to Eight Peaks!"

The first fellow to speak dressed himself like a Warrior Priest of Sigmar, with a tabard over his armor and a Warhammer never leaving his hand; besides shaping his image, it was not hard to see the chaos of his location.

"Your place has many opportunities. I heard there is even a small alliance opposing Lailun? He is a decent man, but that chaotic and turbulent land cannot tolerate decent men."

Another person with blonde hair and blue eyes, dressed in a white robe with gold trim like a proper priest, muttered in a low voice. He leaned a scepter against the table, with a small statue that Sinuoli had bestowed upon them years ago placed at the top.

"After receiving the divine oracle, we returned to our respective regions. Both of us thought it appropriate to open up the situation from Bordeleaux. Duke Kangsitanting already had a friendship with the Divine Lord, and his fleet's cooperation with the Southlands is so deep. Who would have thought he would say that weighing between the Lady of the Lake and the Sea God was already difficult, and not wanting to get involved, he insisted on escorting the two of us out of the territory."

The priest was originally a cadet branch of a Knightly noble family; his martial strength was lacking, but he had read many epic stories, so he recounted the situation in Bretonnia, then looked at the dark-faced man beside him, waiting for him to add more.

"You have a good background and understand the ways of those bitches. But it was hard for me, Yagebu. I sought a remote village to spread the doctrine, but within a few days, I was reported to the officials. I borrowed divine power to beat back two waves of lackeys, but in the end, I attracted a Grail Hermit. I had no choice but to fight and retreat, temporarily hiding in the Chalons Forest."

Despite changing into formal attire, the second Apostle of the Bretonnia sector could not hide his rough complexion. Yagebu was originally an ambitious Infantry Regiment Captain and had some accomplishments in military affairs, but in Bretonnia, his best ending would have been to return to the village to be a village elder after he grew old and frail.

Unwilling to accept this, he came to the Southlands to join Sinuoli's command. Sinuoli had hesitated over whether to include him in the ranks of the Apostles or leave him in the Southlands with an official post, but considering the difficult situation in Bretonnia, he believed a tough guy was needed.

"How did you pull together your team? We didn't dare to speak too clearly in previous letters."

"There was originally a gang of bandits in that forest. Sigh, calling them bandits, they were actually just poor people who couldn't survive under the oppression of the Knight lords. They originally relied on the grace of Ta'er and the Lady of Compassion to barely survive, but who would have thought that even this would become a luxury."

"Did the nobles organize a suppression, or did you run into trouble with a Knight Errant?"

"They couldn't say clearly either. In short, the Ta'er priest died covering the retreat, and the Lady of Compassion did not respond to their prayers in despair. I came along and just happened to fill the void left by Them."

Yagebu sighed. Long-term survival in the wilderness together had reshaped his beliefs—from seeking personal glory and wealth to leading the poor people gathered around him to live a life of common prosperity. This also meant more responsibility and constraints.

"I am a bit better off than you. After being turned away at Bordeleaux, I went north all the way to join the Dwarf Kingdom of the Grey Mountains, Kalake-Zifulin, which is related to the Divine Lord. While preaching in the fortress and looking for opportunities, after much inquiry, I really found a good target."

"Weifengbao, I know. Her eldest Princess is married to the Divine Lord's elder brother, and the Prince is His registered disciple!"

"Leaning against a big tree makes for good shade; I'm afraid your performance is the highest among us, brother!"

"Wait, let me finish. Through the introduction of a merchant, I visited a Count of Mengtefute—this is not the kind of title handed out indiscriminately in your Border Prince Territory; it's the real deal, with a castle and several towns."

Facing the flattery of his colleagues, Apostle Peter hurriedly reached out to press it down. After all, they were on a ship in Bordeleaux, and it was better to keep quiet about poaching the Lady of the Lake's followers.

"That Count was originally the youngest in the family but ended up picking up a title. His father set off on the quest for the Grail and never returned, and several older brothers died one after another in chivalric wars, knightly tournaments, and Beastmen invasions. This made him firmly believe that his family had lost the favor of the Lady of the Lake, and after I manifested divine grace, he became a believer in our God."

"I thought this would be a good start, but I didn't expect the Duke of Mengtefute and his Prophetess to become suspicious very quickly. There was no chance to further expand the influence, and I was busy covering up; I don't know what will happen after getting through the present."

Peter's mood was also not high. Choosing the upper-class route allowed him to start fast, but it became harder to walk the further he went. A slight carelessness could lead to being crushed by the entirety of Bretonnia.

"As for me, Duoluomao, I am far behind you in developing believers, but I have fought against the followers of the god-defying Ranald seven or eight times, destroyed three of His temples, and ten Shenkan. The Divine Lord gave His word that He would record a great merit for me."