Inside the council chamber of Gabella Imperial Capital, crystal chandeliers under the dome refracted a dazzling light, while ministers and senior advisors from the Arcane Society stood solemnly on either side.
Antonio, dressed in royal robes, sat on the throne, holding a scroll of the armistice agreement that had just been delivered to him.
The emperor's majestic gaze swept over the crowd below, and he announced in a loud voice: " Gabella and the Holy See of Light, cease all hostilities from this day forward."
As soon as he finished speaking, a commotion arose in the council chamber, which quickly turned into a heated discussion.
Antonio raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet, and continued to report the results of the negotiations: "The Vatican has officially recognized the complete independence of the churches within our territory and will no longer interfere in their affairs and personnel appointments; at the same time, the Vatican must pay our country three million gold coins in war reparations to make up for the losses caused by the war."
He reviewed the key terms of the agreement again and continued, "The Papacy agrees to relinquish its asylum rights over five buffer states, including the Duchy of Wallonia and the city-state of Bruges. These states will formally fall under Gabella's sphere of influence and become vassals of the Empire, paying tribute to it."
"Long live Your Majesty!" The Minister of Finance was the first to kneel down, his voice trembling with excitement.
Following closely behind, ministers and advisors bowed in salute, and cheers echoed throughout the council chamber, as the joy of victory swept through the hall like a tidal wave.
No one expected that The Holy See of Light, once regarded as the "spokesperson of God" and of a transcendent status, would suffer such a crushing defeat in the war against Gabella.
"This victory is enough to change the landscape of the continent." Doughty Matte, Senior Royal Advisor and Managing Director of the Arcane Society, stepped forward, his eyes gleaming. "For a long time, the Papacy and the churches loyal to it have used their divine authority to constantly shrink the living space of us Spellcasters. Now that we have defeated it, it means that the myth of divine authority has been shattered. From this day forward, within Gabella, the Spellcasters will completely shed the label of heresy and walk openly in the sunlight!"
David Aldrich, the leader of Scholars Tower, nodded in agreement: "Lord Matt is absolutely right. The authority of the Holy See stems from the lie of so-called 'divine right,' while our victory in this war with the Spellcaster legion is enough to prove to the world that the power of magic is far more capable of protecting humanity than ethereal gods."
Antonio raised his hand to silence the murmurs of the crowd. "Immediately send people to post the news of the ceasefire victory in all squares and markets of the capital, and issue a general amnesty decree—except for those convicted of treason and rebellion, all other prisoners shall have their sentences reduced or be released. Let the people of the empire share in the joy of this victory."
"Your Majesty is wise!" The eunuch bowed and accepted the order, then quickly left the council hall.
Within two hours, news of the victory spread like wildfire throughout Gabella's capital.
The bulletin board in the central square was packed with people. As soon as the official reading the message finished the last sentence, a deafening cheer erupted in the square: "Long live the Emperor! Long live Gabella!"
Children ran through the streets waving small flags, vendors spontaneously took out their treasured wines and distributed them to passersby, and even the usually solemn church entrance was filled with people who lit bonfires and sang and danced to celebrate the victory.
The tense atmosphere caused by the war has completely dissipated. Every household hangs the empire's golden lion flag in front of their doors, and laughter and clinking glasses can be heard from the windows on both sides of the street.
The prisoners who had been held for their crimes walked out of the prison after receiving the amnesty decree. Looking at the bustling streets, their eyes were filled with the relief of surviving a disaster. The empire's victory had restored their freedom, and their reverence for His Majesty Antonio had been further enhanced.
Antonio stood atop the palace tower, watching the jubilant crowds in the distant streets, a smile spreading across his usually serious face.
This victory not only consolidated his imperial power but also strengthened the bond between the Spellcaster and the Empire. As the people associated the glory of the victory with the Spellcaster's contributions, the Spellcaster's legitimate status in Gabella became unshakeable.
Ministers and advisors continued to discuss the details of the subsequent takeover of the buffer state, while the wave of celebration in the capital quickly spread to every corner of the city.
The heated discussion lasted for nearly four hours, as the sunlight outside the window had changed from the midday heat to the afternoon gentleness. The ministers discussed in detail the plan for receiving the border buffer states and the allocation of war reparations.
Antonio was listening to the Minister of Finance's proposal on the distribution of the compensation when the door was suddenly pushed open and a series of hurried footsteps sounded.
Everyone looked over and saw Marshal MacDonald stride in.
This veteran of the Imperial military, known for his composure, looked anxious at this moment.
He knelt on one knee as soon as he stepped into the hall, "Your Majesty!"
A hint of surprise flashed in Antonio's eyes. According to the plan, Old Marshal was supposed to continue to reorganize the military in the North and guard against the orcs taking advantage of the war between the Empire and the Papacy to launch a surprise attack from the south. His sudden return at this time obviously meant that something important had happened.
He gestured for the other man to rise: "No need for formalities! You're not stationed in the Northern Border, why have you suddenly returned to the capital? Has something happened?"
"First of all, I wish to congratulate Your Majesty!" MacDonald rose and bowed respectfully toward the throne. "The war against the Papacy has been a great victory, the empire's territory has been expanded, and the Spellcaster's position has been firmly established. These are achievements worthy of being recorded in the annals of the empire!"
The ministers in the council chamber echoed his sentiments. After a brief moment of merriment, Antonio's tone turned serious: "Enough with the pleasantries. What exactly happened in the North?"
MacDonald regained his composure: "Your Majesty, a dramatic change has indeed occurred in the north. According to the latest intelligence from the northern scouts, Aldor's army has penetrated deep into the grasslands and has defeated Abar's main orc force."
"What?" Like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, a collective gasp filled the council chamber.
Doughty Matte of Arcane Society frowned: " Abar's orc army... this time it's in his homeland, Great Prairie! Who can defeat orcs on the plains? How... how could he be defeated by the Aldor so quickly?"
MacDonald continued, "Moreover, Aldor's Sentinel Legion has once again advanced eastward into the Redstone Desert —those desert oases that were once taken by Abar are now under Aldor's control, and the kingdom's flag has been planted on the trade routes and fortresses of the Redstone Desert."
Antonio suddenly stood up. He had always thought that Aldor was mired in internal strife and orcish invasions, and even if it could barely protect itself, it would be powerless to expand outwards.
After all, the Arcane Society's plan to weaken Aldor had been progressing smoothly, with Giles ' rebellion and the two orc invasions keeping Aldor in a state of continuous bleeding.
Unexpectedly, the situation has suddenly reversed.