I was a lord farming, how did I become an emperor?

Chapter 352 The Concept of a Teleportation Array
……

……

The little girl closed her eyes.

Under Lu Sen's gentle and persuasive guidance, golden light slowly appeared between the little girl's fingers.

The light grew brighter and brighter, eventually becoming as bright as the incandescent light bulb in Rhodes' previous life.

Within this radiance, Rhodes sensed the familiar aura of the clergy casting spells.

Celine, leaning on her crutches, hurried over, her face almost touching his, to examine him closely.
"It's holy light, a very warm holy light."

Celine said solemnly, "It's even purer than the energy on those holy symbols."

Rhodes nodded and said to the little girl, "Alright, child, stop casting the spell."

The little girl took a deep breath, and the holy light in her hand turned into a speck of light and disappeared into the air. She stood there helplessly.

"Don't be afraid, child. What's your name?"

Rod asked in as gentle a tone as possible.

“Salia, Salia Breeze, sir,” the little girl answered softly.

"A very nice name, Salia."

Rhodes crouched down and said with a smile, "Did you just learn this golden light today, or did you already know it before?"

Salia didn't answer, but instead shrank back and looked at Lucien beside her.

“Don’t be afraid, child. This is Lord Rhodes, who gave your mother fifty catties of wheat.”

"Just tell me whatever you know," Lu Sen said softly.

Salia nodded and whispered, "We used it once many days ago... A robber stole our bread and cut open Mom's belly with a knife."

“My mother was bleeding a lot at the time, and I couldn’t stop the bleeding with my hands no matter what I did.”

“I was terrified, afraid that my mother would leave us like my father did, and then this golden light appeared in my hand.”

"Later I fainted, and when I woke up my mother's injuries were healed."

Salia whispered, "Mom said I saved her and told me never to tell anyone."

After the girl finished speaking, Celine nodded slightly. "Holy light does indeed have a strong healing effect. The pure holy light just now could heal even a half-meter-long wound."

"That sounds reasonable."

Rod also thought it made sense, and then turned to look at Avril.

Avril understood and walked to Rhodes' side, "Find two maids to give her a good wash and change her clothes."

"Ah."

Avril nodded, a warm smile on her face, and took the girl's hand. "Come on, Salia, I'll take you to buy new clothes."

Salia looked at Avril with some fear, but still obediently followed her away.

After the two left, Rhodes looked at Lucien and whispered, "Tell the guards where Salia lives and find all her family members to investigate thoroughly."

Upon seeing that Salia could cast holy light, Rhodes's first thought was that she was a spy for the church.

Although this scheme was incredibly foolish, and even Gunther wouldn't have thought of it, it was still something to be wary of.

After all, there are people who specifically exploit this psychology.

"Yes, my lord."

Luxem nodded and immediately relayed the order to his guards.

Rod returned to his seat and asked Celine, "What do you think?"

"If she really isn't a church spy, then she really is a witch."

Celine frowned slightly and exclaimed, "But if it's really like that, it's truly astonishing. I've never heard of a Holy Light Witch before."

"If Salia really is a witch, that would be good news."

Rhodes smiled. "This means that holy light is a naturally occurring energy, not something unique to gods."

“This also means that we can use the Holy Light as well,” Rhodes added.

Celinesha agreed, "Yes, it will also give us more opportunities to study the Holy Light."

"Is there another possibility?"

Rhodes casually flipped through the pages of a book on the table and slowly said, "Is Salia related to a fallen god from ancient times?"

The gods are exceptionally powerful; even if they perish, their shattered bodies or souls retain a certain amount of power.

If a divine soul retaining divine power or a fragment of a divine object carrying divine power attaches to Salia and merges with her, it is very likely that the little girl's body will be altered.

On the other hand, Rhodes's own attributes will greatly awaken the talents of the people in the territory, and may also awaken the holy light power hidden in the little girl's body.

"What you said makes some sense."

Celinesa seemed to be deep in thought, naturally also thinking about all the strange things that had happened in the nearby forest.

“If that’s the case, then we should be wary of Salia.”

Celine said seriously, "If she awakens her heritage someday, she might side with the Church."

"That's not necessary. We can guide and educate her properly."

Rod said with a smile, "Only with her here can she better control everything."

Having the Seed of Nature, Rhodes is least afraid of having his subordinates stand against him.

“You’re right, we must keep her here with us.”

Celine smiled. "No matter what, she can't let the Church of Dawn know."

"Suppress this news first, then send a witch to teach her how to control her power."

Rhodes instructed, "Also, give her all the church-related ornaments and emblems, and see if she can use them."

Celine nodded slightly and immediately stood up to take her leave.

"correct."

Rhodes suddenly waved his hand and called out to Celine, "For the next while, I'll leave things here to you."

"I must find time to go back to the North; there are still many things I need to take care of there."

“And what about your coronation ceremony?” Celinesa asked.

“They’re preparing now, and it should be almost done by the time I get back,” Rhodes said.

The raids on homes in the western provinces were not yet over, and Gunle was taking over border defenses with Kyle. Rhodes was not in a hurry for the coronation ceremony.

At least the coronation ceremony can only take place after everything has settled down and stabilized.

"The North is indeed quite far from us, alas."

Celine sighed helplessly and lamented, "If only there were teleportation arrays like in ancient times."

"Isn't such a high-level facility as a teleportation array a bit too fantastical? Can our extraordinary abilities even reach it?" Rhodes asked with a smile.

Rhodes definitely wants the teleportation array; the importance of long-distance teleportation facilities will always be at a strategic level.

"Teleportation spells and teleportation arrays are different."

Celine explained, "Teleportation spells are very advanced spells, but teleportation arrays are the infrastructure."

“We have discovered teleportation arrays in ancient temples, wizard towers, and wizard laboratories, both complete and incomplete.”

Celine said, "We don't lack information about teleportation arrays, but we lack the magic crystal ore to drive them."

"So, if we have magic crystal ore, we can rebuild the teleportation array?" Rhodes asked in surprise.

"If all the materials are available, I will personally study the setup and also send more people to assist,"

Celine said confidently, "It may take some time, but it will definitely succeed, especially the single-person teleportation array."

"It would be wonderful if we could really set up a teleportation array."

Rod smiled and dreamed.

Celine is a high-ranking wizard apprentice; she might actually be able to build a teleportation array.

"Wouldn't it be simpler if we had an ancient teleportation array?" Rhodes asked.

"Of course, in that case, it can be used as long as it is repaired, or even completely restored after the magic crystals are added."

Celine added with a smile, "That is, there are two teleportation arrays and their spatial coordinates are known."

"I know this."

Rhodes' eyes gleamed. "You study the teleportation array first. As for the magic crystal ore..."

Send some people to explore the surrounding mountains; perhaps there are any magic crystal veins somewhere, since both beasts and plants have mutated.

"Perhaps the mineral vein will also mutate."

If all else fails, Rhodes can transport magic crystal ore from the North, even if it's a bit far. After Rhodes finished speaking, Celinesa was slightly taken aback, then a look of joy appeared in her eyes.

At this moment, she knew in her heart that since Rhodes had said it, it was very likely to happen.

"Okay, I'll make arrangements right away."

After saying this, Celinesa bowed slightly, turned around, and quickly left.

After Celinesa left, Rod continued with his work.

Not long after, Durant arrived at the council chamber.

"Your Majesty the Duke."

Durant bowed respectfully.

"Looks like there's a lot to do today."

Rod casually waved his hand, indicating that Durant should dispense with formalities, and asked, "Are you done with the military matters?"

"Not yet, the reorganization is only halfway done. I'm here to report on something else."

Durant looked somewhat serious, took two steps forward, and reported, "The church hunters captured Manshu while arresting clergy."

The Church Hunters are named after the "Witch Hunters," a group within the Holy Council specifically tasked with dealing with witches.

Correspondingly, there are teams of church hunters specifically tasked with capturing clergy.

“Manxiu…”

Rod leaned back in his high-backed chair and sighed softly.

Rod knew that Manxiu was a follower of the Church of Dawn when he first met Manxiu.

But Rhodes always thought that Mansh was just a casual believer, and he never expected that Mansh would get involved in such things.

"What happened?" Rod asked.

"The church hunters are capturing those hidden clergy in Oak City. Manshu hid three deacons and one priest in a caravan in an attempt to evade capture, but they were discovered by our people."

Durant reported, "The captain of the Church Hunters is from Frostleaf Town. He recognized Manshu and reported it to us."

"Does Manshu have close ties with the Church of Dawn?" Rhodes asked.

Durant reported in a deep voice: "He had previously donated a lot of money and supplies to the Church of Dawn. The priest personally treated his mother's injury once, but nothing else was found out during the interrogation."

Rhodes fell silent, lost in thought.

Putting aside the previous friendship with Mansh, if it was just a donation relationship, the church hunters would generally not deal with it severely, at most they would fine him some money.

But harboring clergy is a serious crime.

"Fine, as an old friend, I'll give him a chance."

Rhodes ordered, "Bring him here and hear what he has to say."

"Yes, my lord."

Durant nodded in response.

……

……

The following day, Mansh, dressed in a linen prison uniform, was escorted alone by Durant to the Emperor's private garden.

No one except Rhodes can freely enter or leave this garden now.

"Good day, Your Majesty."

Manshu knelt down before Rhodes, who was sitting at the stone table, bowing his head and speaking with great respect.

"Get up, Manshock."

Rhodes said in a deep voice, waving his hand at Manxiu.
“We shouldn’t have done this, Manshu. I was planning to entrust you with the management of the trade routes in the western provinces.”

“You are the businessman I trust most, Manshu, but now you have disappointed me greatly.”

Rod frowned, his tone filled with a sigh of disappointment.

This isn't just empty talk; these are all Rod's true feelings.

The flow of goods is very important, especially now that the empire is undergoing reforms.

"I'm sorry, Your Grace, I didn't mean it this way either."

Manshu lowered his head, gritting his teeth in pain, "But they are truly innocent."

"I can't just stand by and watch them get arrested and executed..."

Manxiu shook his head vigorously, his voice growing softer and softer.

Have you heard about what happened in Stone City?

Rhodes slowly opened his mouth and asked, "I fought my way from the North to Rock City, and my military discipline was strict. There was not a single instance of massacring or looting."

"But in Boulder City, Earl of Blue Lake surrendered, and the Church of Dawn killed five thousand of my subjects."

Were those five thousand civilians innocent?

“I know that Bishop Salido is a madman.”

Manxiu nodded vigorously, then looked up, his eyes filled with sorrow, and said, "The four girls who were hiding in my car were all very kind... They had all helped homeless beggars and raised orphans without parents."

“This is war, Manshu, not a drama.”

Rhodes gazed at Manxiu and slowly said, "In a war, between enemy and friend, can you tell me which soldier is good and which is evil?"

"As long as that soldier continues to obey the commander's orders, he is the enemy."

"Before arresting these clergymen, I had posted notices informing everyone that they could be spared the death penalty if they surrendered voluntarily."

Rhodes questioned Mansh: "Why did they try to escape? Why didn't they surrender?"

"I tell you."

"Because they still need to escape back to serve their gods and obey their commands."

"They are still a group of soldiers who obey the commander's orders."

Manxiu lowered his head and fell into complete silence.

Because Manshu knew that some of what Rod said was true.

None of the four girls gave up their faith, which is why they ran away.

And I, out of consideration for our past friendship, couldn't help but offer my protection.

“I’m sorry, Your Grace,” Mansh said in a low voice.

“These words are meaningless, Mansh, I’m sorry, it won’t change anything.”

Rod said with great distress, "Hiding clergy is a serious crime. Not only you, but your mother will also be imprisoned."

"Your Grace, this matter has nothing to do with my family!"

Manxiu immediately cried out, "Please don't implicate my family, I beg you!"

With a thud, Manxiu knelt heavily on the ground!

"Originally, this had nothing to do with the Silver Dove family, but according to Durant's investigation, most of your family members are believers."

Rhodes stood up, helped Silver Dove to his feet, and sighed deeply.
“I don’t want to see you like this either. I want to help you, Mansh, really.”

"But the church is not my only enemy. I need a reason to spare you."

Rod said sincerely, "A reason that can convince everyone."

"What should I do?" Manshu asked anxiously.

"I do have a way to help you make amends for your mistake."

Rod said solemnly, "If you are willing to save your family."

“I do!” Manshu said without hesitation.

"Many church hunters escaped while they were capturing clergy from various churches."

"But no trace of their departure has been found anywhere along the border. I suspect they are still within the Empire and may be plotting something."

The church is not only the Church of Dawn, but also the Blood Society, the Church of Nature, the Church of Pain, etc., which Lusen mentioned before.

Rhodes could not prove it directly, but there was a lot of indirect evidence that they were all related to the Holy Council.

For example, the previous assassination attempt on Rhodes.

Rod looked at Mansh and said, "If you can figure out where those four people hiding in your caravan are going, perhaps Durant can find more church members."

"Then your matter becomes insignificant."

"I will also protect you and your family."

(End of this chapter)