The development of the magic-guided alchemy industry has been more successful than Charlotte anticipated.

Of course, Charlotte knows this is only the beginning.

Currently, it is just about improving the financial situation of Falling Star Kingdom, but the series of social changes brought about by the industry's innovation is what truly matters.

Moreover, with money, the kingdom can officially start reforming its military, as a powerful transcendent army is indispensable on the Mireya Continent.

Charlotte also needs to prepare for the Holy Presence Day.

Her own strength is one aspect, but even a True God is not omnipotent, and the extraordinary power controlled by the secular realm cannot be underestimated.

Charlotte still does not know how much strength "Helios" has accumulated in this era, but from her observations, the other side has likely infiltrated quite a few forces in Mireya, just like the Old Gods Alliance did throughout historical crossings.

Charlotte is very likely to face enemies similar to the Old Gods Alliance in the future, and for this, she must be thoroughly prepared.

The development of the magic-guided alchemy industry is one of the two major changes in Falling Star Kingdom, while the other change is in the kingdom's church.

In the three and a half years Charlotte was absent, the Dark Night Church, worshiping the God of Darkness and Order, has developed greatly in Falling Star Kingdom, with the official silent and overt support, it has nearly managed to contend with the Holy Royal Court's branch in Falling Star, and has even faintly become the kingdom's largest church.

Even the Church Authority Country, which originally supported "Saintess Charlotte," has sent seven protests and three warnings to Falling Star within these three and a half years.

If not for Falling Star Kingdom's distance from the core area under the Holy Royal Court's rule, and the severe decline of the Holy Royal Court itself, along with the Dark Night Church still advocating that "the God of Darkness is also a member of the Holy Royal Court," the church branch in Falling Star would have ceased operations in overt terms...

Otherwise, the Holy Royal Court would have long since acted against the Dark Night Church.

To be honest, Charlotte's amazement at the change in religion far surpasses that of the magic-guided alchemy industry.

She is surprised by her church's rapid development but even more surprised at the Holy Royal Court's inaction.

Frankly speaking, long before her slumber, one of her greatest concerns was the Holy Royal Court interfering with the matters of the Dark Night Church.

But the truth proves... this is beyond neglect. Even though the Church Authority Country has issued multiple protests and warnings, practically speaking, the Holy Royal Court's attitude towards the Dark Night Church's growth is akin to a form of "toleration."

Charlotte clearly remembers how the Holy Royal Court's texts advised dealing with heresies and pagans, which she witnessed firsthand in New Moon Kingdom.

In some sense, their reaction to Falling Star Kingdom's Dark Night Church can be described as mild.

"Has the Holy Royal Court's Judgement Court also remained unresponsive?"

Charlotte looked towards Nisi and asked.

This fellow is, in a certain sense, considered an unofficial member of the Holy Royal Court, and is on good terms with several high-tier priests in New Moon Kingdom. Charlotte knows it has some private channels to grasp certain secrets within the Holy Royal Court.

"No."

Nisi shook his head and replied:

"Logically speaking, Falling Star Kingdom belongs to the New Moon Diocese under the Holy Royal Court, but these years, even the New Moon Diocese of the Holy Kingdom is struggling to manage its own affairs, so naturally, it can't spare energy to look after us."

"The New Moon Diocese is struggling to manage its own affairs?"

Charlotte's heart slightly stirred:

"Has Louis V taken action against the church?"

Nisi nodded:

"Yes, Louis V has acted against the church powers of the Holy Royal Court within New Moon Kingdom. In recent years, it's said that not only did he subdue the Falling Star Nobles thoroughly, but he also replaced the diocesan chief priest of the New Moon Diocese with someone loyal to him, nearly turning it into a puppet of the New Moon Royal Family."

"Oh, by the way, the Church Authority Country has protested repeatedly, and the Xi Younai Empire, where the Holy Royal Court's influence is strongest, has reacted strongly as well. Two years ago, the new emperor of the empire, Ferdinand II, even mobilized the empire's army to launch a campaign against the New Moon Royal Family, supported by the Church Authority Country, with the empire's emperor mobilizing a total of 150,000 troops."

"However, the empire's allied forces were no match for New Moon Kingdom, and were defeated thoroughly by Louis V. The New Moon's Royal Knight Order even chased the empire's routed army like pursuing dogs all the way to Xi Younai Empire's capital, Yonette City, six months ago. Ferdinand II had to sign a peace treaty under the mediation of the Church Authority Country, even ceding some border territories."

Goodness, did New Moon Kingdom actually fight a war with Xi Younai Empire?

Charlotte displayed a look of astonishment.

She finally understood why the documents presented by Nisi did not indicate any border conflict between New Moon Kingdom and Falling Star Kingdom, daring to say that New Moon Kingdom had clashed with its eastern neighbor.

To be honest, New Moon Kingdom's coveting of Castel Domain and Romany Duchy was Charlotte's second greatest concern before her slumber. At that time, she had even discussed emergency plans with Sebastian and Nisi for the event of a war between the two countries during her slumber, yet hadn't expected that New Moon Kingdom had instead fought a battle with Xi Younai Empire in these years.

However, these two countries are historically archenemies.

If it weren't for the weak cohesion among the various principalities within Xi Younai Empire, with the emperor chiefly controlling just one Yonette Duchy, similar to the loosely organized Holy Roman Empire in Charlotte's former life on Blue Star, the outcomes might be uncertain.

Incidentally, Charlotte's greatest concern before her slumber involved the mysterious force on Moon God Island, suspected to be "Helios."

However, Charlotte roughly glanced at the records provided by Nisi. In recent years, the Moon God Island has been very quiet, still in a closed state.

Charlotte estimated that this might also be related to Helios' "crossing."

Additionally, Charlotte finally understood why the Church Authority Country hadn't acted against the Dark Night Church in recent years.

The supporter behind the Xi Younai Empire is the Church Authority Country, and according to Nisi, the less-than-two-year war between the New Moon Kingdom and the Xi Younai Empire is actually, in a sense, also a war between the New Moon Kingdom and the Church Authority Country.

The Church Authority Country was restrained by the New Moon Kingdom, of course having no more strength to deal with the "heresy" far away in the Falling Star Kingdom.

After all, to the Church, heresy is the enemy, and so is the puppet church's royal authority, while the New Moon Kingdom is the core region of the Church.

But on the other hand, since the Xi Younai Empire and the New Moon Kingdom have already reconciled under the mediation of the Church Authority Country, then... the upcoming situation is quite delicate for Charlotte.

It's crucial to know that for the New Moon Kingdom, the Falling Star Kingdom occupies the enemy territory of the northern core, while for the Holy Royal Court's Church Authority Country, the Dark Night Church is also an enemy.

In other words, they are all potential enemies of Charlotte.

And when two forces with a common enemy make peace, it's hard not to think more about the situation.

At this thought, Charlotte's expression also became serious.

It seems that careful attention must be paid to the actions of the New Moon Kingdom and the Church Authority Country in the coming period.

The good news is that this less-than-two-year war has revealed a problem.

That is, the decline of the Holy Royal Court may be far more severe than Charlotte had anticipated...

"By the way, Lord Charlotte, there's one more thing."

Nisi pulled out a beautiful document marked with the Ring Cross from the materials and handed it to Charlotte:

"The election for the Chief High Priest of the Holy Royal Court is changing hands, with the official succession date set for three months later. The newly appointed Chief High Priest Gregory XII has sent an invitation, inviting you to attend the ceremony." The Chief High Priest of the Holy Royal Court has changed?

Charlotte raised her eyebrows.

While opening the invitation, she asked in confusion:

"I remember the Chief High Priest of the Holy Royal Court is a lifelong position, isn't it? Wasn't the former Great Priest still very young? Probably named Benedict VIII? Seems like he was just over fifty, how did it suddenly change?"

Nisi snorted:

"What else could it be, he fell from power. The defeat of the Xi Younai Empire also equated to the defeat of the Church Authority Country. Half a year after the treaty was signed, the former Chief High Priest Benedict VIII 'fell ill,' and more than three months later, he passed away."

Charlotte: ...

The fact that the Chief High Priest of the Holy Royal Court, who excels in Holy Healing Technique, died of illness is somewhat black humor.

However, this is also a detail.

Charlotte noticed the protests and warnings sent by the Holy Royal Court over the past few years, about half of which occurred in the past two months, which in a way already represents some attitudes of the new Chief High Priest.

With that in mind, Charlotte browsed the contents of the invitation:

"To the chosen one of my lord, wise and merciful Falling Star Queen, Saintess Charlotte de Castel——"

"I shall hold the succession ceremony at the Yute Cathedral in the Holy Capital on October 10th, Holy Calendar 1450. On behalf of the Chief Priests and myriad believers of this Church Authority Country, I sincerely invite you to attend the ceremony.

—— Elbino Saint Gregory, June 23rd, Holy Calendar 1450"

The invitation wasn't long.

It was personally written by Gregory XII, with his private seal left on it.

"Three months... does the preparation period for the succession ceremony of the Holy Royal Court's Chief High Priest always take this long?"

Charlotte curiously asked.

Nisi replied:

"Pretty much, you know that the Church Authority Country of the Holy Royal Court has limited control over various dioceses. To strengthen control, every time there's a chief succession, the diocesan chiefs from various dioceses are required to forcibly go to the Holy Capital for an audience."

"There are dioceses near and far away, even with the exclusive teleportation array of the Church for traveling back and forth, it takes a long time. Additionally, there won't usually be just the Chief High Priests from various dioceses going to represent the Church Authority Country, hence the preparation period is generally long, and invitations are usually sent out two to three months in advance."

Upon finishing, Nisi looked toward Charlotte and curiously asked:

"Lord Charlotte, do you... plan to attend?"

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