The next morning, after the first day's report had concluded.

As the cardinals and representatives took their seats, Horn appeared in front of everyone in a tailcoat-like formal dress.

He rode a white horse, waving to the surroundings, looking quite spirited, having had a good night's sleep.

However, it became apparent that when Horn stepped onto the wooden stage of the venue and shook hands and chatted casually with the representatives, they all had dark circles under their eyes.

When he came before the cardinals, every single one of them also had dark circles under their eyes.

It was then that he realized today was the day of inquiries.

Likely, everyone was preparing last night.

Horn, of course, didn't need any preparation, as the inquiry was a competition between the monastery and the Advisory Council, and he was the judge.

With the Saint's Grandson's level of public support and vested interests, nobody could stop him from implementing or excluding any policy he wished.

Therefore, the biggest goal of both the monastery and the Advisory Council, besides using this political ritual to consolidate power, was essentially to persuade Horn.

The inquiries were actually meant to persuade others to collectively persuade Horn.

From the Battle of Pavia to the present, Horn's power base has been incredibly solid, and his authority is unimaginably vast.

The simplest example being the "Pope's Wanpiao Act," which still hasn't been repealed.

Even though many citizens hope the Advisory Council gains more power, not a single person dares to challenge this mountain.

The authority of the founder is that immense.

The cardinals and representatives, along with Alexei and others, all bore dark circles under their eyes.

Alexei, a persistent individual, had spent an entire night questioning the fiscal state of Bear Castle Territory, ultimately realizing that no response is also a response.

Or rather, Gloev and Thaomir's non-response indicated they simply could not answer.

Bear Castle Territory hadn't formed a stable tax system and statistical measures like the Holy Alliance, and even needed to patrol Sogon.

They had no way of knowing how much tribute could be extracted, nor how much of these tributes were exported.

For the first time, Alexei began to have doubts in his mind regarding his ability to turn Bear Castle Territory into something like the Holy Alliance.

How had this Saint's Grandson achieved all this?

Ginijis was equally perplexed, albeit for entirely different reasons than Alexei.

The first day was naturally about showcasing achievements, but why were they dragged into the second day?

The second day was about inquiries!

Last night, the others had slept in soft beds, drifting into a deep slumber.

Ginijis, however, had tossed and turned, sleepless, knowing the Holy Alliance, with just one province (Black Snake Bay + Thousand River Valley + Shattered Stone Plain) and five counties, received nearly 60% of Leia Kingdom's annual tax revenue.

Leia Kingdom's yearly tax revenue was only 1.2 million, while the Holy Alliance collected 700,000 from just one province.

Calculating this, Leia Kingdom's three provinces should gather 2.1 million pounds, so where were the remaining 900,000 pounds?

Besides, 2.1 million pounds was already a conservative estimate, considering the lands downstream of the Nao'an River were much more fertile compared to the Armored Wood Province where the Holy Alliance was situated.

If he could successfully reform, Leia Kingdom's annual tax revenue should be analogous to Falan's over four million gold pounds.

Slow a step, slow every step.

Ginijis stepped onto the observation deck and, through the narrow window, drank a large cup of coffee to stimulate his spirit.

Though trapped currently, the future remained uncertain; why succumb to depression and despair?

Since today was about inquiries, they were bound to hear about shortcomings of the Holy Alliance, which, just like its strengths, could be learned from and emulated!

Just as Ginijis was concentrating, he suddenly felt a waft of dust breeze by his face and fall into his cup.

With a slight obsession with cleanliness, Ginijis furrowed his brows, knowing that previously, he would have dragged the person upstairs out for execution.

But now, being a prisoner, he could only endure.

"Wash this cup, and ask the attendant whether the people upstairs could lower their noise."

Duke Rabban held the telescope produced by Falan, pacing to and fro by the window.

Even Casani felt helpless due to his actions: "Your Grace, Lorenzo's little birds have already set the plan to attack the carriage; finding King Jiji now would be of no use."

The attack was planned on the carriage because from the well-guarded ry Court Barracks to the Holy Trinity Monastery lay a stretch of defensively relaxed rural road.

The Flanlaya Spies will ambush near this road, attack the carriage carrying King Jiji, and take him away.

A commotion in the city would likely be swiftly quelled by the peculiar Wizards of Black Snake Bay before escaping.

The current Night Watcher system has quite a few Black Snake Bay Wizards in office.

However, Duke Rabban could not settle down; it was bearable when he didn't know.

Now that he did, remaining calm would be miraculous.

Knowing his first task with the plan was to capture King Jiji, how could he not be tense?

Given his task, he had entered a feverish state, fully absorbed in the fantasy of being a "solitary loyalist."

The door to the observation deck swung open, but it wasn't a Flanlaya Spy but a rather timid attendant.

"What is it?"

The attendants clearly disliked this arrogant and rude duke, so the attendant glanced around the room: "The guests downstairs reported to us that you're being too loud, disturbing his ability to listen..."

"Nonsense, should I, a duke, bow to some ragged commoner from nowhere?"

Casani quickly calmed Duke Rabban, turning to the attendant: "We will be quieter."

"Your Grace!" Pressing down on Rabban's shoulder, forcing him to sit, Casani spoke sternly, "Your anxiety won't quicken time, but rather might disrupt the plan, please be calm!"

Only then did Duke Rabban calm down, picking up the soft cloth on the table, lamenting, "Alright, still no wine."

With quiet restored upstairs, King Jiji could finally focus on listening to the inquiries between the representatives and cardinals.

This Advisory Council indeed had merit, offering a balance with local bureaucrats and attracting public forces, making them feel valued.

One must admit, this peasant-born pope had some knowledge and skill, with such a highly ordered and balanced system truly being advanced.

But just as King Jiji pondered this, a shout erupted from the venue.

"Chervis, you fake liquor peddler, having never been on a battlefield, what makes you think you can swagger here."

"'Prohibition Order?' More like your money-making order! Your Grace, I suggest beheading Chervis."

"You representatives with ten fingers untainted by malt water! Do you know what a 'national strategy' even means? Can you spell 'national strategy'?"

"Of course I can."

"Show me your spelling."

"Why should I spell it, prove first you have embezzled through the 'Prohibition Order'!"

"But I, Harvey, speak truthfully, Chervis' intention may be for profit, but 'Prohibition Order' is a good law, is alcohol good?"

"Rubbish, show the evidence of my embezzlement, show it!"

"People do have a demand for alcohol, you old baldy, not everyone is a bitter monk; why pursue earthly contentment, aiming for Earthly Heaven!"

"Scoundrel! Degenerate!"

"The octagonal cage is right by, have the guts to clash in there, wimp!"

The Advisory Council, in theory, inherited the Senate, with many senators also being delegates.

Except the council didn't preserve the positive inherited, but all of the negative, including the octagonal cage.

Vulgar language, saliva flying, disregard for order; simply the name of advisory council's political debate.

"Alas." Horn covered his forehead, letting out a long sigh.