Gou is a dark elf in Warhammer

This sentence was not said by Mannan, but by Champion Marsian.

In the entire hall, apart from the elves, there were the temple guards who were responsible for protecting the pyramid, Master Xia who was dozing off on the sedan chair, and Chupakoko who was hiding behind the sedan chair watching the fun. There was no room for humans.

If what Mannan said is true, then it is really...

Of course, it wasn't Tzeentch who said this, but it does have a little bit to do with Tzeentch, because the words came from the mouth of the famous Tzeentch's Chosen One, Darkius.

His eyes were as sharp as a hawk, scanning the group of Druki in front of him. He knew how to deal with this group of Druki too well. He had learned too much about the art of ruling from Malekith. For this group of Druki, authority must be established and fear must be instilled, otherwise any mild promise would be nothing but an empty joke.

The cake was finished, and the sweet date was bitten. Now, it was time to swing the stick before eating the cake. But fortunately, he was not going to kill anyone, and judging from the reactions of the Druki present, he was a bit like a void enemy.

The Trident of the Sea appeared silently before the admirals' eyes, as if it had emerged from thin air. The cold breath made the whisper of the sea tide faintly spread in the air. The Trident rotated slightly, and the three sharp spikes flashed with cold light, symbolizing the boundless power of the ocean.

The admirals and captains were secretly shocked and did not dare to look up. They could see the trident close at hand, but they did not dare to reach out and touch it. Everyone knew that this sacred artifact symbolized the power of Matheran, which was the glory they had always dreamed of but could only look up to.

The Dacus not far away was completely different from the last time they saw him. At that time, Dacus did not have a trident. Now that Matheran had made a choice, they had to accept the fact that Dacus was not only their leader, but also the champion crowned by Matheran himself.

At this time and place, any resistance is meaningless. The only thing they can do is to bow their heads and pledge allegiance, hoping to gain a place for themselves in this storm.

Even those Duruchi who had followed Daqius all the way felt the unspeakable oppression at this moment and lowered their heads.

Daxus's eyes were cold. He could feel the fluctuations in the hearts of these Druki. His eyes wandered over their drooping faces, but he did not raise the corners of his lips slightly, revealing a meaningful smile.

The trident trembled slightly, as if responding to the admirals' inner awe, and then disappeared into the air, as if it had never existed. However, the cold pressure still remained in the hearts of every Matheran believer.

"Everyone, look up and take a look." After seeing the look in Daxus's eyes, Serene knew it was time for her to appear. With a flick of her finger, the water that had just solidified turned into silver light and flickered slightly, like a scroll being spread out on the sand table. Her eyes were calm, revealing a trace of unquestionable power, and she looked around at the admirals and captains who were looking up nervously.

"Everyone, what you are witnessing today is not only the expansion blueprint of Chapeyuto, but also the blueprint for your future. The blessing of Matheran will not only illuminate the port, but also guide you in the direction of progress." Her voice was soft but carried an invisible authority, as steady as the waves, but could surge at any time.

Dacus took a step back and crossed his arms. He knew that this was Serene's turn. He had always been very clear about the divisions. The subsequent planning of the entire Chapeyuto was the responsibility of Watt, the project construction was the responsibility of Master Xia, and the temple area and the cult system were the responsibility of Serene. He was only responsible for coordination, that is, organizing people.

The admirals and captains gradually turned their attention to the sand table. The design of the temple area in front of them was more magnificent than they had ever seen, and it complemented the expanded Chapeuto.

The water flow controlled by the daughter of the sea is like her pet, gracefully wandering on the sand table, outlining the outline of the temple area. Under her command, the water flow sometimes turns into the temple's colonnade, and sometimes solidifies into the stone steps of the altar. Every detail reveals a kind of exquisiteness and majesty beyond mortals, as if this place has become a sacred and inviolable place.

The admirals and captains were both in awe and vaguely understood that this temple area symbolized more than just faith, but also a power center that they could not touch. For them in the future, the temple area was not only a religious place, but also a point of intersection of politics and power, and Serene, who was in charge of all this, was undoubtedly the core of it.

"From today on, the Matheran belief system will be fully taken over by the Storm Weaver Cult, and the faith and awe of all believers will be gathered here. You once looked up to my father, and now, my father's power will reach you and respond to you." Serenie's voice sounded again, and her eyes swept across the group of Duruchi with a firm look.

As soon as the words fell, the admiral and the captains involuntarily bowed their heads again, and their respect for Matheran became even deeper. They knew that with the joint efforts of Dacus and Serene, their future had been paved with an unavoidable track.

"Now..." Serene deliberately dragged out the last syllable, and glanced at the admirals and captains in front of her with a playful smile. Although her voice was soft, it contained a majesty that could not be ignored.

The admirals and captains raised their heads cautiously, their heartbeats seeming to accelerate with the rhythm of Serene's voice. Everyone understood that what would be decided next was the distribution of benefits.

"Regarding the construction work of the Temple District, I think you all understand its importance. You also know that this is not only a symbol of faith, but also an opportunity for you to show off."

Her eyes swept across the crowd, as if she was examining who was up to the task. The water flowed through her fingertips again, dancing gracefully in the air, like the silk thread of the gods pulling the tapestry of fate. The water flow once again displayed the layout of the temple area on the sand table, and the outlines of the magnificent buildings gradually emerged.

"The great temples, spires, and residences in the temple area... these all require the most sophisticated craftsmanship to complete. Every stone and every pillar is a bridge to the glory of Matheran." Serenie pointed at the buildings on the sand table one by one and introduced them.

The admiral and the captains looked at each other again. They knew that undertaking the construction of the Temple District was not just a simple construction task, but a deep game involving power, religion, and wealth. Paying out of their own sovereigns to maintain the project was undoubtedly a huge expense, but they also knew that such an investment was an unavoidable cost.

Once these projects are taken and a part of the temple is completed, it will not only mean that the individual's position in the Druch Navy system will be consolidated, but also that their influence in the cult system will be greatly enhanced.

Compared to His Majesty the Witch King, they were more willing to trust the current Witch King's hand. Dacreus had demonstrated unparalleled leadership and ruthless decisiveness in the past. Although Dacreus's promises were always obscure, compared to the Witch King's unpredictability, at least they were in front of them and could be obtained. Hadris, who stood with them, was the best proof of this.

In religion, the construction of the temple symbolizes their loyalty and dedication to Matheran, and this dedication will undoubtedly bring them greater rewards, such as the recognition of Dacus, the admiration of sailors, bragging rights, the support of the cult, and even the placement of family members into the cult.

Every Druki present understood that in the struggle for power and wealth in the navy system, the power of religion would become the most important factor that could not be ignored. If they could obtain the blessing of religion, they would be able to stand firm as a rock in the turbulent political situation that was to come.

"The great temple will be built by the cult. In addition to being used daily by the cult and receiving believers, it will also be a large, centralized, specialized and safe supply site." Just when the admiral and the captains thought they would be assigned tasks immediately, Serenie changed the subject.

According to what Dacus had thought about before and what he had discussed with Serene before the meeting, the Great Temple also served as an enclosure, similar to the Royal William Enclosure in Portsmouth. But unlike the enclosure, it did not have storage rooms and warehouses such as wine cellars, bakeries, warehouses, slaughterhouses, and freezers. Now, unlike before, these warehouses were still placed in the Great Temple, which was a bit...

Therefore, he made some changes. In addition to storing the necessary daily necessities, the Great Temple would no longer have these warehouses, and a special exchange would be opened in the future.

"Everyone, after your ship arrives at Chapeiuto, the first step will be to go ashore. This is nonsense, because it is necessary. Then you will go to the Great Temple to pray." He walked to the sand table again and gently tapped the location of the Great Temple. This kind of thing has to be his turn to play the bad guy. His voice carried unquestionable authority. The admirals and captains listened with bated breath, and their attention was fully focused on his words. Even if he made an unfunny joke, they did not laugh.

"Every captain will thank Matheran for his protection, for letting you get through the storm and land safely. Whether it's through faith or wealth, the priests will accept your offerings." The captains looked at each other. Although they didn't say it, they knew in their hearts that this was just another way for Dacus to collect "taxes". Moreover, this was very Dacus, because they couldn't refuse it at all. After all, wealth with a clear price tag was indeed the best way to express dedication to Matheran.

"Don't worry, everyone. In the future, there will be temples of the Lord of the Abyss in every port." Daxus, who knew what the Duruchis were thinking, grinned and revealed a simple and honest smile, but this smile on the elf's face looked a little weird and funny. Then he continued, "But... Matheran will respond to your dedication. This is my promise to you as the champion of Matheran. The specific process is that after the dedication is completed, the priest will issue you a document with a mark, and you can use this document to exchange for points."

He is not short of money. He can hold his head high and proudly say that he is the richest person in the whole world, no doubt about it. After all, the continent of Lustria is here, and if that's not enough, there are still the jungles of the South.

He had no need to make money in this way, as he had learned from the Mannan sect when he sailed in the Claw Sea. He planned to use the money as funds to maintain the daily operations of the sect.

He thought he was really generous? He was not a Pixiu who only took in but never gave out, and the members of the cult were not Puritans who could fast. They needed money to maintain a relatively decent life. In addition to the individual, the cult also needed money for the daily operation of the cult. Buildings needed to be maintained, sea gold needed to be mined, and those deep-sea monsters needed to be fed. All of these required money.

And he thought that paying money was better than offering Matheran in other ways, just like when Loxia killed Dastan, it was a sacrifice to Matheran and Loik...

"Again!"

Hadris sighed in his mind when he heard the word "points". He would never dare to say this out loud. As the new admiral of the Valahal family in Hag Graves, he knew the word "points" too well. It was because of points that he ordered the return to Hag Graves as soon as he got the news that the damned Chagorosh got the position of Valahal.

Similarly, the captains from Hag Graves had strange expressions when they heard the word "points", but the expressions only lasted for less than half a second before returning to normal.

The captains from other cities also knew what the word points meant. They held their breath and felt a hint of anticipation in their hearts.

"These points... are the same as last time, but unfortunately they cannot be exchanged for positions. There is no time limit this time, and you can exchange them for many valuable items. Sails with Matheran's blessing can speed up your voyage, allowing you to control the direction of the ship in a storm and sail smoothly. When necessary, you can cast smoke or illusions to cover the ship."

As the saying goes, Dacius plays the bad guy and Serene plays the good guy. Just as he was speaking, a phantom formed by water flow appeared in the air like a sail.

Then the image of the sail disappeared and turned into a talisman, flashing blue light.

"Matheran's amulets and accessories have different functions. Some can allow the wearer to breathe after falling into the water, some can prevent the wearer from being wet by the waves, some can help you determine the direction at sea, and some can even protect your ship from attacks by sea beasts. Any sea beast that dares to approach you will feel the power of this amulet and retreat in fear."

The phantom transformed into an ancient book, which was engraved with texts and nautical charts.

"Various books, some record sea charts, some record the wisdom and experience of navigators when sailing on the sea, or fantastic adventures? You can compile them after the meeting. After the content is reviewed by the cult, it will be exchanged for corresponding points."

Then, the phantom changed again, this time into a Messier knife that flashed a cold light.

"Weapons blessed by Matheran are not only extremely sharp, but can also summon water and lightning to assist in attacks when necessary."

Finally, the phantom turned into a huge, majestic and ferocious deep-sea horse, its scales shining with cold light and its mouth wide open, revealing its sharp white fangs.

"This is the Deep Sea Steed. I don't need to introduce it to you too much, right? In addition to these, there are more supplies, equipment, sea beasts, instruments, and ship discount coupons. Do I need to explain the coupons to you?" Dacus answered himself at the end. "For example, it takes 50,000 Sovereigns to buy a ship. You will get a corresponding discount after using the discount coupons. All of this is for you to serve Matheran better."

He talked a lot, but he omitted a few key words...

The admirals and captains saw the temptation of these rewards and were also evaluating the risks involved. To their surprise, they found that there seemed to be no problem. Anyway, the money had to be paid no matter what, as long as the exchange rate was not as exaggerated as 1:10,000.

After the significance of the points became clear, their hearts were filled with anticipation. This was not only material support, but also a symbol of their status and honor. For a moment, flattery filled the entire hall again.

A long history has its advantages. In the previous world, his country had experienced countless changes of dynasties, wars, reforms, and system improvements over thousands of years. All social models had been tried, all roads had been walked, all pitfalls had been stepped on, but the only thing it had not taken was the road of the integration of politics and religion.

After all, there is no real God in that world. No matter how many times you shout, even if it is heart-wrenching and blood-curdling, there is a God in this world! In this case, why not use this to take a path that has never been tried before?

There's still something missing from the Sigma Empire. Unlike the Next Era, it lacks a certain cohesion. Bretonnia... um.

He believed that building a system that closely combined religion and secular power around the true God was not only an excellent way to consolidate power, but also a political innovation. It could also bring those spirit gods back to life, make them active, and make them more spiritual.

The religious system can be used as a powerful ruling tool. Through the power of the cult, it can penetrate into every level and every corner of society, extending the will of God and the rule of the Phoenix King to the most remote villages and the most barren islands. This is more effective than simple military force or economic suppression, because religion is deeply rooted in people's hearts and souls.

He called it: a new way of reversing!

The champions and the chosen ones are not only the spokesmen of the gods, but also the executors of national policies. All fields such as economy, law, and military will be tightly controlled through the ties of religion. The Phoenix King is the controller of all these things in the mortal world and the only representative of Asuryan in the mortal world.

On the other hand, on Isildur's side, Asuryan is at the top of all gods. Of course, this top refers to the elven gods, not including those four.

And there seemed to be no risk. There was no possibility that once the power of religion became too strong, it might backfire on secular power? That depended on how to define secular power in this world, and then how to find a balance between divine power and royal power, and between various religious groups. This was something he had to think carefully about.

But this did not prevent him from launching the pilot project first. After all, his identity and status were there. In terms of the Maseran faith, Serene, as the daughter of Maseran, was one with him, and he had absolute say. Moreover, there was a long trial period, and any problems could be adjusted in time.

"Next, you will go here." After suppressing the flattery that was still pouring out, Dacus pointed to a building in the temple area and continued to introduce it. (End of this chapter)