"That Princess spends day and night immersed in banquets and operas, and under the diplomat's suggestion, has exempted all tariffs and taxes."
Inside the warm Lord's Mansion, Charles was speaking to everyone about the absurdities of the Royal Court's upper echelons.
"Now is the best time to seek benefits." There was a hint of urgency in Charles's tone.
"Are those Royal Court ministers just allowing Alliance merchants to harvest resources?"
Lin Lan was a bit puzzled: "Aren't they worried about major problems in the kingdom's economy?"
"Lord Roland, the Lionheart nobles have always been foolish and shortsighted."
Ed shook his head, speaking harshly: "In their eyes, no matter how many resources the Alliance takes, resources will continuously emerge from the commoners."
Lin Lan tugged at the corner of his mouth.
Wendy pursed her lips, remaining silent.
Only Sean, the 'local,' appeared bewildered, trying hard to listen but still couldn't keep up with the group's thoughts.
"Let's put aside the Lionheart nobles' corruption for now, everyone."
Lin Lan led the topic: "The problem we currently face is Prince Ryan's plan to destroy the entire kingdom; the Blood Plague Curse he unleashed is spreading towards the kingdom's Southern Territory!"
His voice was firm and powerful: "We absolutely cannot sit idly by!"
Everyone felt a chill in their hearts.
"According to the intelligence I've gathered recently, the Blood Plague Curse spreads through 'knowledge.'"
Lin Lan continued: "The more the victim knows about the Blood Plague, the more they'll establish a connection with the Abyss, and eventually be drained alive by the curse."
A cognitive-type curse indeed!
At this moment, Charles' eyes widened, his legs felt a bit weak, but thinking of Roland's various extraordinary aspects, he gritted his teeth and continued to listen, forcing himself onward.
Ed, on the other hand, showed no sign of fear.
This Alliance officer frowned, posing his own doubts:
"Lord Roland, why hasn't Prince Ryan extensively promoted knowledge about the Blood Plague?"
He pondered, "His subordinate Lionheart Knights are spread throughout the kingdom and can post the knowledge on bulletin boards in each territory at any time."
"I'll let Wendy answer this question."
Lin Lan smiled, looking at the girl beside him.
Wendy nodded gently, flipping through the notes left by her father, her blue eyes full of determination.
"According to my father's research and my past symptoms, the power of the Blood Plague Curse is actually limited."
The girl softly said, "In a short period, if a large number of ordinary people acquire Abyss knowledge, the power of the curse will instead be greatly diluted by the numbers."
Upon hearing this, Charles breathed a sigh of relief but suddenly felt something was amiss.
"Wait a minute..." He scrutinized the girl's expression: "Did you once suffer from the Blood Plague? Alone?"
"Yes." Wendy nodded calmly: "But I've already been cured by Lord Roland."
"To be precise, the curse was smashed head-on by the Lord..."
Ed spoke softly from the side: "I was right there on the scene that time..."
Charles was momentarily dumbfounded.
The curse was smashed head-on? What does that mean?
"Ahem... let's get back on track." Lin Lan quickly pulled the topic back.
"According to Wendy's research, although the Blood Plague cannot cause large-scale casualties, it can be gradually nurtured."
Lin Lan recalled the state of the refugees last night and Sean's account.
He added, "Currently, the Lionheart Knights are spreading the Blood Plague in small ranges, controlling the number of informed people to a certain extent, then slowly chasing and tormenting the commoners..."
"And during this process, the power of the Blood Plague will gradually strengthen as people's will weakens."
"In other words..."
Lin Lan turned his gaze to the priest, coldly saying: "Prince Ryan is creating 'sacrifices,' and the refugees led by Sean are among them."
In a few exchanges, the outline of the events had become clear.
Sean sat in place, shattered.
He lifted his head, his eyes full of endless regret and self-blame.
"Most of the dead were children, the orphanage children..."
His lips quivered slightly: "It was I who took them along during the escape, I who told them the Abyss was approaching, I who spread the knowledge that killed them..."
The cruel truth had already broken Sean's spirit.
The expressions of those around were complicated.
"Self-pity won't solve any problems, Sean."
Lin Lan's tone was merely indifferent: "How much do you know about the Lion Heart Knight Order?"
"They typically ride white steeds, clad in pure golden armor, each with immense strength, capable of directly defeating raging brown bears."
Sean uttered despairingly: "I used to always tell the children that the Lion Heart Knights were heroes who protected the nation, until the day they entered the town..."
"I saw with my own eyes them slicing children in half before women, then laughing wildly at the screams of women."
"They'd publicly rape innocent maidens, then decapitate them and display the heads on their horses to show off to companions."
"They held murder competitions in civilian markets, trampling elderly people hiding in corners to death with their horses."
"I furiously questioned the knights, only to be told the truth of the Abyss by the knight commander, and then they left the town satisfied. Since then, I've always seen blood-red eyes around me."
Recalling that nightmarish experience, Sean's voice grew raspier.
"A bunch of animals." Ed clenched his fists, muttering.
"Truly barbaric and backward..."
Charles couldn't help but comment: "Even the cold and orderly Northern Empire probably wouldn't commit such cruel atrocities..."
Lin Lan made no comment.
He merely closed his eyes and pondered for a moment.
For Lin Lan, the much-feared Blood Plague wasn't as terrifying as imagined; it was no longer a threat nowadays.
A single high-threat cursed eyeball could be easily resolved with a Philosopher's Stone, and the anemia symptoms of groups could be cured through mass-produced Blood Activation Gel.
Now, he only needed to focus on dealing with that group of Lionheart Knights.
Moments later, Lin Lan looked at the cold-faced Alliance officer.
He asked, "Ed, if I assign the young and strong in the town to you, can you train them into qualified warriors in a short time?"
"As long as there's enough food, I am absolutely confident in this."
Ed responded instantly.
Lin Lan nodded: "Then proceed, starting with my attendants."
"Yes, Lord." Ed stood up and left, swift and decisive in action.
Lin Lan then looked towards the leader of the White Sail Caravan.
"Charles, if I provide you with more rare Deep Sea Treasures, what support can you offer me?"
"I happen to have some connections among major caravans, Lord Roland."
Charles smiled: "Talents, minerals, weapons, or even advanced technology from the Alliance, I can provide you with whatever you desire."