I Pioneered Scientific Magic

"I believe that powerful thunderous weapon is their final trump card!" Pearson stated firmly.

The attending bishops nodded in unison, unwavering in their belief that the cultists of the dark gods were already weakened...

After all, it made no sense for them to suffer such heavy losses while the opposing side remained strong. It's very likely they were just a hair's breadth away from retreating before the wizards could no longer hold on.

"But how much would such a forceful attack cost us?" a cardinal frowned discontentedly, countering the argument.

Even if they successfully captured the capital by brute force, the losses incurred would be unacceptable.

The combined forces of the kingdom's nobles could perish, but if the divine punishment army and the griffin knights suffered too much, each one of them would face trial!

Within the pure white tent, several bishops voiced their opinions vehemently, their faces flushed with intensity.

The cacophony of debate caused Edweil, seated at the head, to grow increasingly displeased. An indescribable sense of pressure began to pervade the entire tent.

As if some force had forcibly gripped their mouths shut, the disputes within the tent almost instantaneously subsided.

Even Pearson, also a cardinal, felt extremely uncomfortable, as if something were suppressing his body, making speaking an extravagant luxury.

Struggling, Pearson turned to Edweil seated at the head, his face aghast, immediately recalling the rumors he had heard within the inner sanctum of the church.

There were whispers that Edweil had received the Lord's grace, stepping towards being the next appointed High Judge!

This military expedition against the kingdom was meant to boost Edweil's image, allowing him to achieve feats substantial enough to win the people's favor.

Initially, Pearson had dismissed these rumors. After all, in terms of seniority and devotion to the Lord, Edweil wasn't at the forefront among the cardinals. How could he gain the favor of the Lord?

However, it seemed this assertion might not have been baseless...

Once the commotion in the tent had settled completely, Edweil finally spoke, "Gentlemen, our adversaries this time aren't the usual disorganized cultists of the dark gods. They hail from the demonic realm, lurking in the shadows, amassing power for centuries, even daring to challenge the church and the empire's council of wizards."

"Of course, that's nothing but the folly of the ignorant. Yet, no one knows how many bizarre and potent magics these wizards have developed in recent years, nor how many innocent souls they've devoured..."

"You must have already witnessed the new weapons those wizards have crafted," Edweil surveyed the assembly, continuing to inquire, "Against weapons capable of unleashing lightning, how many among you could withstand their onslaught?"

The assembly of bishops was momentarily stumped, recalling the terrifying speed of the electromagnetic railguns.

Pearson felt somewhat indignant. If he had been the target earlier, he could have easily evaded the attack before it arrived.

But upon reflection, Pearson refrained from rebutting hastily. Yes, he could dodge given the distance, but within five hundred meters, if a few rounds were fired in succession, he might not be so lucky.

"So, this attempt was not without any gains. At least, we now have some understanding of the new weapons those cultists possess," Edweil said in a grave tone.

In a way, the primary strategic objective of the initial battle had been achieved—they had verified all the new-style weapons of those cultists mentioned in the kingdom's intelligence reports.

As for the colossal alchemical creations capable of soaring into the sky, under the pressure brought by the griffin knights, they dared not ascend carelessly.

The only unexpected factor was the unidentified lightning web that covered vast swathes of airspace, severely crippling the griffin knights and preventing their swift capture of the capital.

After a moment of contemplation, Edweil's gaze suddenly shifted to the side. "Vid! How much progress have you made on the task I assigned earlier?"

Vid immediately knelt, producing a blueprint, and respectfully stated, "Reporting to Lord Edweil, we have thoroughly investigated the defenses within the capital!"

With a thought from Edweil, the blueprint in Vid's hands levitated, unfolding itself and displaying before the assembly.

They had already seen this map several times on their way here, but the wizards occupying the area had been there for over two months. Hence, they were unaware of any internal changes.

Vid, however, had diligently recorded these changes. For instance, in case of an attack, there were a total of thirty-seven locations within the capital protected by magical barriers.

The places likely to be granaries or armories were marked with red lines.

One of these locations, the Guardian Forest, was even more heavily guarded than the royal palace. It was protected by over a thousand riflemen and over ten wizards, nearly causing the probing party of griffin knights to be repelled.

"This might be where the wizards are congregating!" a bishop speculated.

Only the residences of the grand wizards could likely be more secure than the royal palace.

"No, it's impossible..." Pearson shook his head. This area was vast, previously used as a training ground for the kingdom's knights. The grand wizards would never stoop to dwell in such a place.

Eight or nine out of ten, this was likely the site for manufacturing those magical weapons...

To Pearson's surprise, areas protected by magical barriers even included several churches within the capital.

It seemed that, despite the cultists occupying the capital, they too feared the divine authority and refrained from wanton destruction of places dedicated to the Lord!

Pearson thought this way, completely unaware that these churches hadn't been demolished because their rooftops were perfectly suited for manufacturing lead bullets. In reality, their interiors had been completely transformed, even melting down the statue of [Aila]. Otherwise, Pearson would've stormed into the capital, furious at this blasphemous act.

"Excellent!" Edweil, after examining the map, revealed a faint smile. Then he had someone bring in a noble from the kingdom.

It was an elderly noble, around fifty years old, with a thin face lined with wrinkles. As soon as he laid eyes on Edweil, he eagerly knelt before him.

"Sir Suth, I believe the secret passage leading to the capital remains undamaged by those cultists?" Edweil asked with certainty.

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