When the Saintess Arrives, No King Exist-Chapter 695 - 653: The Witch Council of Celestial Maiden City
December 10, 1446, Black Snake Bay, Celestial Maiden City.
Celestial Maiden City, located in the central area of Black Snake Bay, is nestled among low mountains and jungled hills. As a trade hub, it suffers attacks every few decades.
This can be seen in the hidden dents within the gray-white stone patterns and moss on the city walls.
Compared to the Empire, here it seems like time has frozen a thousand years ago. People wear wide linen robes without pants, exposing their knees, with just sandals on their feet.
If it weren't for the two teams of soldiers clad in chest armor patrolling back at the city gates shaded by trees, people would really think they had traveled back a thousand years.
Moonlight flows like water along the winding stone steps, streaming into the town marked by lights and rising smoke.
On the low mountain south of Celestial Maiden City, a gray-white ribbon made of stone steps winds around the green mountain body.
When the people of Celestial Maiden City look up, they can see Celestial Maiden Palace, hidden in the dense forest, which is said to be the holy sanctuary of the ancient Norn tribe.
Due to multiple renovations by the Snake-men, Norn people, Falan, and the Black Snake Bay Secret Faction, it has long lost at least half of its original appearance.
It features slender and graceful Doric columns supporting arched corridors and complex carvings covering the walls and steps.
The gaps between the bricks and stones have been taken over by a dark green vine, with curled leaves and stems adorned with a few drops of moist dew, glinting subtly in the moonlight.
An attendant in a humble white vest stood outside the palace gate, wearing sandals, eyes lowered, showing no intention of listening to the many witches arguing within the main hall behind him.
"Order! Order!" Ottatila, the lifelong president, knocked the table expressionlessly, "Quiet down!"
Under the president's authority, the constantly bickering witches jumped off the table, dusted off the dust on it, and sat back on the wicker chairs.
As the discussion and quarrel gradually subsided, Ottatila looked around. A total of eight beautiful witches sat on both sides of the circular long table.
With long hair or short hair, wearing wizard robes, tight dresses, or even pajamas, there were those writing quickly with feather pens, those leisurely toying with the purple crystal balls, and others stirring hot tea in porcelain cups with silver spoons, emitting small clinking sounds.
But without exception, judging by appearance alone, they were slender, young, and beautiful women, though their average age was close to fifty.
This was still because of two teenage girls lowering the average age.
Including the president herself, there were nine witches here.
They included Ottatila, the lifelong president of the Secret Faction Joint Witch Council, the leader of the Ruo'an Faction Louise, Athena of the Golden Cross Association...
Although there were nine witches here, not all witches were present.
In the Green Dragon Forest Sea and the deep mountains of Black Snake Bay, there were still at least five elder witches whose activity areas were marked as forbidden zones.
The Secret Faction Joint Witch Council in Celestial Maiden City is considered the largest Secret Faction alliance organization in Black Snake Bay, but it does not represent all Secret Faction organizations joining.
Thus, outside of the Secret Faction Joint Witch Council, there were at least two or three rogue witches unwilling to join.
Moreover, many witches who had joined the Witch Council often remained in a state of listening without taking orders.
However, due to the impending threat of war in Clove Corridor, the vast majority of witches from Black Snake Bay had gathered in Celestial Maiden City.
Once again they gathered, to address three issues.
First, whether to collectively join the Holy Axis; second, whether to get involved in sugar trade; third, whether to accept Horn's visit and bring military aid from Thousand River Valley.
As for Saint's Grandson, they were still unfamiliar, having only heard a little impression from circulating information and merchants.
Horn himself remains undecided whether he was their own demon or a fanatic resembling a strange believer; Black Snake Bay was yet to arrive at a conclusion.
Some Secret Factions even suggested Horn was a spy for the Pope.
A Secret Faction mainly composed of alchemists had seized a territory of the Leia Kingdom; finally, Black Snake Bay had an ally, and the Secret Factions should have celebrated.
Yet, ironically, it was reported this Secret Faction was a rebel army under the Miseria banner, insisting on calling alchemists Alchemist Priests.
This self-deceiving behavior made them greatly disdain it.
It's like selling meat porridge under a stink sign; though the porridge is fine, seeing the sign still feels repulsive.
Hence, regarding whether to collectively join the Holy Axis, the Witch Council's answer was to delay until the war begins.
Currently, the witches were debating the second and third issues.
"Are you sure the sugar trade agreement can bring us more profits?" Athena, whose territory is the farthest from Thousand River Valley but borders Clove Corridor, naturally detested Horn.
"Certainly, your trade with Clove Corridor would lose considerable business tax, but within the Holy Axis, not only do we only have to collect consumption tax when selling white sugar and spices to them, we also get a share of their tariff on selling white sugar and buying goods." Louise immediately explained.
Blowing out a smoke ring, Athena tapped the table with her pipe: "But the sugar trade agreement hasn't started yet, and our interests have already suffered."
"If it wouldn't bring more profits, why would the nobles prohibit it, even risking war?" Solan from the Shadow Council said in a low voice.
"We previously spent countless manpower, material, and finances to support Thousand River Valley; shouldn't they be helping us? Why use an alliance as leverage?"
"When would an alliance be used as leverage; it's because we lack justification. Even nobles know to fabricate a declaration before going to war, fool!"
Even though ordered to sit down, the witches wouldn't relent verbally, still forming cliques and ridiculing each other.
"Three days have passed, a vote must be made today." Shaking her head secretly, Ottatila stood up, "According to the rules, I'll cast the final vote. As usual, a thumbs-up means approval, down means opposition!"
Ruo'an Faction witch Louise was first to raise her hand: "I've said all I need to; Horn can bring us more benefits."
Lyrical Witch, "Phoenix" Selomis curled her lips: "He claims to be Miseria's son, disgusting, oppose."
Mechanical Soul Sect witch Novia gave a thumbs-up: "Approve, I like his clockwork gun, I'm eager to meet him."
Dreamless Scholar Association's Istria smiled with closed eyes: "Approve, not for any other reason, but because it's too interesting."
The Dreamless Scholar Association is much like the Dragon Language Alchemy Society but focuses primarily on the knowledge service industry, having deep expertise in the mind and astrology.
Istria has always been mysterious, with few numbers, famous for following whims.
Shadow Council's Solan also gave a thumbs-up: "Approve." 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂
Known for assassination and smuggling, the Shadow Council's location near the north allows them to trade via the Ibe River, no longer needing to smuggle.
Thus, they smuggle spices and dark sugar from the south to the north, acquiring ample funds and daily necessities from Thousand River Valley.
At this moment, Solan naturally supported Horn's visit and joining the Holy Axis.
Golden Cross Association's Athena lowered her finger: "With the current Holy Axis performance, I suspect they want to annex us, oppose."
Athena's loyal supporter, Tarot Society witch Veronica and Golden Cross Association's Miria both cast opposition votes.
Soon the Witch Council presented a classic four votes of approval versus four votes of opposition, with everyone's attention focused on Ottatila.
Looking left and right, Ottatila was troubled; she pondered for a while before struggling to give a thumbs-up: "Approve, with our own power alone we may not be able to withstand these noble alliance armies of Clove Corridor."
"Damn it." Annoyed with a pout, Athena got up barefoot and left, Veronica attempted to block but was stopped by Miria.
"Bang!" With another knock on the table, Ottatila looked around, announcing, "We welcome Mr. Horn to visit Black Snake Bay in advance, train our troops, and join the sugar trade agreement after the war."
