"Your Highness Tiran, why are you looking at me with such a strange look?"

"...It's nothing, go on." Tiran resisted the urge to make a sarcastic comment and changed her gaze from one of imbecility.

"Do you still remember the doctrine of the Temple Church, Your Highness?" Heinrich sighed.

"I have some impression, something about the equality of all beings. Anyway, don't all you grand religious organizations have to come up with similar doctrines? Otherwise, tell everyone that this world is inherently unequal and that someone with a better background can step on your head, then where would your believers be? They would hate you and may even want to kill you."

"Your Highness Tiran sees it very clearly." Heinrich's expression on his face was very stiff, he felt a tightness in his chest and discomfort. Although he knew what Tiran said was true, why did it sound so harsh when it came out of her mouth?

After all, she was a good boy who grew up in the 21st century under the banner of the Red Flag. If she could be lured by this religious superstition, then hell must have frozen over.

"Even if I am in the Temple Church, I understand very well that the so-called Temple Church is just misleading people. Perhaps the Goddess of the Light truly exists, but I don't think it's an existence worthy of our belief. After all, since the end of the mythical era thousands of years ago, the so-called deities have never shown themselves again. Until today, human beings have relied on their own strength to move forward step by step."

"Unfortunately, those idiots in the Elder Council of the Holy See are still trying their best to completely overthrow the monarchy of a certain kingdom and replace it with theocracy...how foolish."

"Hey, hey, what if I tell the church what you just said? How would they deal with you, the Archbishop?" Tiran looked at Heinrich maliciously.

"Please feel free to say it. If His Highness Brad succeeds today, the church will be different in the future." Heinrich remained calm and unaffected by Tiran's threat.

"Different?"

"Yes, a... new country, Milanía Saintdom. If His Highness Brad succeeds, all the sanctuaries within Milanía will break away from the Holy See and become independent."

"Has the old man gone crazy?" Even Tiran couldn't help but change her expression slightly when she heard this. "Didn't you say..."

"Yes, it is unrealistic to replace monarchy with theocracy. Such a regime is not sustainable, so I have no intention of doing so. After Saintdom is established, the kingdom will be ruled by His Highness Brad, and the Holy Knights Order will break away from the church and be independent for military affairs. The church itself will give up the pursuit of power and only guide the people's faith."

F*ck...why does this sound so familiar?

Seeing Tiran's silence, Heinrich's proud expression couldn't help but show on his face. He continued,

"The starting point of the Temple Church is good. It is a good thing for every ruler to have a firm belief among the people. However, after growing into a behemoth that covers almost all countries on the continent, the Temple Church has put too much attention into competing for power and influence with rulers, to the point where many countries are consciously excluding the church."

"War King's new legislation will be the spark. I have no doubt that other human countries will begin a series of measures to restrict the church. But even so, the idiots in the Elder Council still haven't seen the situation clearly... Since they can't see it, then I'll have to show them myself."

"What about your brother?" Tiran sighed, "You've talked for so long, but you still haven't said why your father disagrees with your brother becoming king. And even if that's the case, your brother has no reason to commit treason. He's not someone who covets power."

"Heh, indeed, His Highness Brad is the only person I have seen who does not covet power...um, perhaps I should also add Your Highness Tiran and His Majesty War King," Heinrich touched his nose and sighed again at this eccentric family, "but you still don't understand your elder brother well enough."

...

"You, boy, are really stubborn."

Granzon tsked, already understanding Brad's thoughts. "I've already told you before, your ideas are good, but the current situation in Milanía simply cannot support your plans!""Why not? You haven't even tried. I've already tried in my own territory, and although there were some problems with the details, overall it went smoothly!" Brad's tone had a hint of emotion.

"I know, but that was just a village. Besides, your attempt didn't last very long, did it? Three months, what can that prove? Everything you've done is based on a fragile foundation that cannot support a large country. I can't risk the fate of Milanía."

"There has to be a pioneer." Brad gritted his teeth. "And besides, can the current kingdom provide a prosperous life for every citizen? The hardworking farmers at the lowest level work all year, but most of their harvest has to be handed over to the local lords, and they still worry about not having enough to eat. On the other hand, the nobles only need to enjoy the fruits of their labor and live a wealthy life... Even in a flourishing capital like the royal city, there are dark sides, not to mention the remote areas! Father... Dad! I've traveled all over the kingdom in these past two years, I've seen all of this with my own eyes!"

Indeed, these were all facts, undisputed facts, but also an unfortunate reality. Despite the existence of magical powers like Chi and Magic, Milanía was still an agricultural country like most others, lacking the productivity to create a more advanced and complete social system.

The result of forcibly implementing Brad's ideas would only be chaos and disintegration.

"It's impossible. I cannot agree with your ideas. They can be preserved as a good concept in the archives for future generations to try when they have the conditions, but not now." Granzon shook his head firmly.

Brad's hand holding the spear trembled. "So, there's no room for discussion?"

"No discussion. Put down your weapon and come back. We'll settle this at another time."

Brad took a deep breath, his trembling hand steadied, as if he had made a decision. "If that's the case, I'm sorry, father."

In the next moment, he rode forward, charging straight into the center of the Iron Wall Battalion's formation!

Granzon's face slightly changed, instinctively wanting to stop him.

According to the rules of the military, anyone who dared to charge into the formation after it had been formed would be killed without mercy.

But... The formation of the Iron Wall Battalion parted like waves encountering a rock, making way for Brad!

"Now, it's up to you, Corinne." Brad's corner of the eye twitched.

Corinne nodded coldly and clenched her right fist.

At the same time, the archers on both wings pulled arrows from their quivers on their backs in almost synchronous motion and attached them to their bowstrings, followed by a dense humming sound of bowstrings vibrating.

...

"The Church's so-called equality for all is just a deception for the commoners, but Brad has a genuine dream of making a world where everyone can live an equal and prosperous life. Setting aside whether it can succeed or not, I admire your brother for this matter." Tiran's forehead broke out in a few drops of cold sweat. From the words of the Archbishop, could it be that his big brother is...

"Brad described his ideal Milanía to me as a country that establishes no class, no exploitation, no oppression, and achieves the self-liberation of humanity."

"@$%!*&%*&" Tiran suddenly felt that his expression was lacking, because he couldn't find a proper expression to convey his complex feelings at the moment. His big brother was not an ordinary person. This... this was not socialism, was it?

To propose such an advanced idea in a world transitioning between magical and agricultural civilizations, even Tiran, a university dropout otaku, wanted to knock open his big brother's head to see what was inside.

It's a great idea, but even Tiran, who has not yet graduated from college, knows that without sufficient social productivity, Brad's idea is just an unrealistic fantasy. Jokingly, even my own Great Heavenly Dynasty hasn't achieved such a society, so how can a feudal country do it?

He's quite an idealistic guy, my big brother.

...

Even the renowned War King, perhaps never imagined that one day he would be attacked by his own army.Granzon's face showed a hint of astonishment as he faced the onslaught of arrows flying towards him like a swarm of locusts.

In a coordinated volley, thousands of arrows shot towards the palace's tower. However, these arrows had no chance to reach the palace itself. They were obstructed by the protective barrier surrounding the palace, softly bouncing off and falling to the ground.

Although no actual damage was done, this scene brought immense shock to everyone, including Granzon.

"Corinne, are you planning to... rebel?" he asked.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Corinne remained seated on her horse, her expression showing no emotional fluctuations.

"Eighteen years ago, I protected you from the blades on the battlefield. Now, I have entrusted the Iron Wall Shield completely to you, entrusted the defense of the royal capital to you. Is this how you answer my trust?" Granzon's hand tightened slightly on the railing, leaving a faint dent on the iron bar.

Corinne's gaze flickered. "Your Majesty, I am grateful for your trust, but I hope that the world described to me by Prince Brad can become a reality, just like we had agreed upon."

Eighteen years ago, Corinne followed Granzon into battle because she believed he was the person who could save this crumbling kingdom. To rebuild the glory of Milanía, to establish a new nation without social classes, without inequality. That was the promise the two young people made to each other.

Today, Milanía had indeed become a first-class powerhouse on the continent. But at what cost? In Corinne's eyes, Granzon had lost his former fighting spirit. He had compromised, appeasing the nobles, the church, and other countries, in exchange for the kingdom's strength, deviating from the initial agreement.

Corinne had questioned herself countless times if this was what he truly wanted, until she almost succumbed to reality.

It was not until that year, when Prince Brad, who had just completed his coming-of-age ceremony, arrived at the Iron Wall Shield for training, bringing a glimmer of hope.