The perfect outcome for Erwin would be if Mackney and Onen's armies could completely wipe each other out.

He was hoping that the two sides would completely exhaust all of their forces during this battle. If the damage sustained by either side were insufficiently severe, then they could pose a major threat to Erwin in the future.

Right as the battle on the Canston Plain was reaching white-hot intensity, Erwin emerged from the Ero Valley with the Universal Church Freedom Army, which consisted of close to 800 men.

At this point, Shiba and Georgina had already reunited with Erwin alongside Elder Lia and the others.

Erwin and Lia were riding at the forefront of the unit on horseback, and they were followed by Onean and Turan, who was, in turn, followed by Menpo, Sherry, Georgina, Shiba, and the others.

There was also an airship that was following along behind the army at a leisurely pace, carrying Lanyon and all of the magicians.

"What do you think? We've got some decent numbers already, don't we?" Erwin smiled as he turned to Lia before indicating toward the newly assembled church army behind them.

Lia was decidedly unimpressed. Even though the martial artists in the first row of the army were clad in suits of Xuanwu armor, it was clear from their uneasy and jittery demeanors that they had never gone into actual battle before.

"Truth be told, I didn't think that you would make your move so quickly." As Lia was speaking a hint of clear displeasure appeared on his face. It was clear that he was unhappy with Erwin for organizing all of this without telling him anything.

"Truth be told, I didn't think that you'd actually be able to return with approval from the Universal Church," Erwin replied, responding in kind.

In saying this, Erwin was emphasizing the notion that he was doing this because prior to this day, he hadn't completely allied himself with the Universal Church.

"What are your plans from here onward?" Lia asked as he turned to glance at Erwin.

Erwin pointed toward the brand-new legion flags that were flapping in the wind amid the ranks of their mercenaries. "You see that flag? That is the flag of the Universal Church Freedom Army."

"What are you trying to say?" Lia asked, prompting Erwin to elaborate further.

"This is the army of the Universal Church, and you have just been assigned the role of the archbishop of the southwestern parish, so these are naturally all troops under your command," Erwin replied with a smile. "Of course, that includes me as well."

Erwin naturally wasn't expecting Lia to believe this, and Lia certainly wasn't so naive that he would believe this.

"I've never been able to figure out exactly what you want, but I have to warn you that there are many things that aren't as simple as you think."

Erwin heaved a faint sigh in response. "Trust me, I'm not the type of person to oversimplify things."

"I can leave the army under your command for now, but you have to tell me in advance if you're going to do something," Lia said as he turned to Erwin.

Erwin looked back at Lia before giving a slight nod in response.

"I just don't want these innocent people to perish as a result of your insanity," Lia said in an indifferent voice.

"No one is truly innocent in this world," Erwin replied with a faint smile. "Even if there are some people who hold noble and lofty visions, that doesn't mean that they don't have selfish desires, isn't that right? In fact, I daresay that in most cases, people's so-called visions are just glorified selfish desires."

"I'll admit that I was completely drawn in by the vision that you described to me," Lia said with a self-deprecating expression. "Abolishing the nobility system and returning the land to the people will be the vision that I dedicate the rest of my life to achieving. Also, I've noticed that you have a tendency to think the worst about people."

Lia turned to Erwin with furrowed brows as he spoke.

Erwin gave a faint smile in response. "You aren't the only person who's said that, and in response to that, I've always given a consistent answer: human nature is not something to be tested."

Lia nodded in response. He wasn't as pessimistic and cynical as Erwin, but he was still very much in agreement with this sentiment.

"That Turan that you introduced me to just now looks like a smart man," Erwin said in a meaningful voice.

"I haven't even told what his previous job was," Lia said as he turned to Erwin.

Erwin smiled as he shook his head in response. "I don't need to know that. All I need to know is why you brought him with you."

"What do you mean by that?" Lia asked with a puzzled expression.

"I'm assuming you brought him with you in order to constrain me, right?" Erwin asked as he turned to Lia with a meaningful expression.

Lia heaved a faint sigh upon hearing this. "You can think of it that way, but it's a little... narrow-minded."

"You don't need to explain this, I don't mind," Erwin replied with a carefree expression. "However, I hope that our collaboration won't be built on the mutual intention of using one another. That would not be a healthy collaborative relationship."

"That's exactly what I wanted to say to you as well," Lia replied. "Even if I'm guarded toward you in any way, I'll be open and honest about that."

"Rest assured, I'm not good at pulling strings behind the scenes," Erwin said with a smile.

"Is that so? Then how did this battle between Count Onen and Mackney end up happening?" Lia asked with an unconvinced expression.

Erwin couldn't help but burst into laughter upon hearing this. "This is something that had to be set into motion sooner rather than later. Neither you nor I can afford to wait, so this is beneficial for both of us. If I didn't accelerate the progress of history, the shell on my back would start growing mold."

Lia was rather perplexed to hear this, particularly the part about the shell on Erwin's back.

This was something that Erwin had thought of while coining a name for the suits of armor. The Xuanwu was essentially a turtle, and he was insulting himself as he felt like he was just like a turtle. He had exact vengeance on so many people, yet he was constantly hiding in his own comfort zone like a turtle cowering in its shell.

He was always consoling himself with the notion that things like revenge weren't important, yet he wasn't sufficiently gracious to actually accept such a notion.

...

Right as Erwin and Lia were chatting with one another, Turan was also trying to engage Onean in conversation. Of course, the urge for conversation wasn't mutual between the two of them. Primarily, it was Turan speaking to Onean, while Onean was placating him with an indifferent expression.

"My family and loved ones can only reunite with me in dreams... What an exquisite phrase," Turan praised with a genuine expression, then asked, "You're from the south, is that correct?"

"That's an impressive memory you have, Elder Turan," Onean replied with an indifferent expression, choosing not to directly answer Turan's question.

Turan's mention of the fact that she was from the south immediately evoked an instinctive sense of wariness within her. She knew that Turan had most likely been informed of this by either Erwin or Lia, but she still couldn't help but wonder why he had decided to ask this question.

"There's no need to be so wary of me. I'm not a nosy person, I was just trying to make some small talk," Turan said with a benevolent smile.

"Is that so? Why do I feel like that's not the case?" Onean countered with a faint smile.

Even without any warning from Erwin, Onean was more than intelligent enough to know that the churches of the north were extremely complex organizations. The fact that this man was Lia's friend indicated that he had to have also been quite an important figure in the Universal Church.

Furthermore, neither Erwin nor Onean had openly stated this, but both of them were unconsciously rather wary of these clergymen.

Turan faltered slightly upon hearing this, then chuckled, "What a brilliant young woman you are."

"It would be appropriate for you to say that if you were 40 years younger," Onean said in an aloof voice as she took a glance at Turan.

Turan was stunned into momentary speechlessness upon hearing this, but the stunned look on his face quickly turned into amusement, following which he suddenly began to chortle with mirth.

"Looks like Mr. Erwin must be a brilliant young man as well," Turan remarked.

"Why do you say that?" Onean asked as she took a puzzled glance at Turan.

"If he were just an ordinary man, how would he have been able to catch your eye?"

"You seem to be very interested in us," Onean mused as she turned to Turan with a meaningful gaze.

"There you go again! There really is no need to be so wary of me," Turan said with a resigned expression. "At my age, I'm only interested in hearing the stories of brilliant young people like yourselves. As for information like your identities, I would sooner let that knowledge rot in my stomach than reveal it to anyone else."

"We have no interesting stories, nor do we possess any remarkable identities. We're just an unlucky couple who ended up here due to some unfortunate circumstances," Onean said with a faint smile.

"If people with such stunning looks and talents as yourselves can be referred to as unlucky, then I don't think anyone in this world can be considered to be fortunate," Turan chuckled.

This comment reminded Onean of something that Erwin had said to her back in Xeto: "Humans were born to suffer. You were blessed with exceptional beauty and talents, so you'll have to suffer more than the average person as well."

At the time, it felt like something a shady fortuneteller would say, but thinking back now, it's turning out to be quite a prophetic statement, Onean thought to herself as she shook her head with a wry smile.

Turan took a glance at Onean, and to him, it was clear from her expression that she was thinking about something related to Erwin.

Regardless of how much Onean resembled a celestial maiden that didn't belong to this world, she would inevitably display worldly emotions from time to time. When it came to the vast majority of people and things in this world, she was aloof and detached, but thoughts related to Erwin never failed to draw a reaction out of her. 

This was also why Turan had a feeling that Erwin and Onean were only lovers and not husband and wife. The expressions that a woman displayed when thinking of her better half were different prior to marriage compared to during marriage.

Once a couple became married, their relationship would also change, and that was something that Turan was well aware of.

"I suppose you're right. There are some things that we're born with and will remain a part of us for as long as we live. It would indeed be rather unfair to lament our ill fortune considering everything we already have," Onean said with a self-deprecating expression after some contemplation. "After all, no one can control fate, not even your Universal Lord."

"It's already been many years since I last had any ties with the Universal Church, so I don't want to state any opinions when it comes to the Universal Lord," Turan replied with a smile.

Onean was quite taken aback to hear this. She had thought that Turan was definitely someone from the Universal, but the tone of his voice suggested that he actually harbored some distaste toward the Universal Church and the Universal Lord.

Turan was able to identify Onean's surprise, and he smiled as he explained, "I'm nothing more than a retired old man trying to get by through writing terrible poetry."

Onean was naturally aware that Turan's identity wasn't as simple as he proclaimed. After all, there was no way that Lia would bring back a useless old poet with him.