The embarrassing topic finally ended, and Gao Wen and Hetty both felt relieved - then their attention was re-emphasized on the Trailblazer Shield.

This shield with legendary reputation lay quietly on the table, weathered and corroded metal cladding wrapped the faint silvery, almost brand new alloy body, sunlight shone on the surface of its metal parts, and the glimmer seemed to have accumulated centuries of time. Hetty looked at it with some trance for a long time before coughing gently to break the silence: "Ancestor, how do you plan to promote this?"

If it were Hetty a few years ago, her first reaction after seeing the Guardian Shield must be that the family glory has been consolidated, and it is a treasure that has returned to Cecil's treasure house. What he thought of was the improvement of the family status and the restoration of influence. However, years have changed her. At this time, without Gao Wen's reminder, she would know how to maximize the value of this lost treasure.

"We just announced the Dragon Clan friends of the Empire to the public and helped us find this shield. Apart from that, do not make any official supplements or statements - leave everything to the public opinion and let the Military Intelligence Bureau pay attention," Gao Wen said casually, "There is indeed no insider in this matter itself, so the official caliber only needs to say so much."

"Yes, ancestors," Hetty nodded, and then once again couldn't help but turn his eyes to the Guardian Shield, "I just didn't expect... it would come back like this..."

"In the war years, this shield was a crucial property of the Expeditionary Force. Many people's life and death were placed on it, but that era has passed," Gao Wen shook his head gently, his tone was plain and low, "It's just a shield now-the symbolic meaning behind it may bring us some benefits, but that's all."

Hetty glanced at Gao Wen and thought: "Do you want people to pay too much attention to the return of the 'Keep Guardians'?"

"We have many more important and practical things to pay attention to," Gao Wen said casually. "On the other hand, the excessive attention and publicity of the 'Keep Guardians' may re-inspire the old knight class and the down-and-out nobles' enthusiasm for noble ancestry and family glory, and bring the social atmosphere back to the worship of aristocratic pomp and blood justice - we finally pressed this thing down and must avoid it from making a comeback. Therefore, in the 'Keep Guardians', the Government Affairs Office can only do the most basic publicity and positive guidance."

Hetty immediately lowered his head deeply: "Yes, I understand."

Gao Wen nodded and said nothing about this topic. Instead, he pondered for a while and asked casually: "How is the observatory project that Carmier applied for before now?"

"Are you talking about the Paramel Observatory project?" Herty blinked and quickly sorted out the corresponding information in his mind. "The project has passed the review of the Government Affairs Department and has begun construction. The first batch of technical workers arrived at the Paramel Heights last week, and the project is currently progressing smoothly. In addition, the resident scholars of the first phase have also been selected. The great magician Mr. Morgan Hugo, the head of the Paramel Observatory."

Gao Wen recalled the name he heard: "Morgen...I remember he was the former Wang family wizard from Saint Sunil."

"Yes, Master Morgan is a member of the former Saint Sunil Royal Mage Association and the Astrologer Association. He has served as an astrological consultant to the old royal family for decades. He is an expert in astrology, astrometry and planetary museums. He has calculated the rough distance between our planet and the sun, and accurately predicted the date when asteroids pass through the sky twice. It is trustworthy in his knowledge. After the siege of Saint Sunil, the star-gazing tower of the old capital was severely damaged in the war and has not been completely restored. Therefore, this 'star expert' accepted the invitation of Master Carmier to come to the southern border. Later, he heard that the Paramel Heights would build a new observatory based on modern technology, so he volunteered to sign up."

"Scholars like this are the treasure of the empire, and they must be treated with care," Gao Wen nodded and said, "In addition, the Paramel Observatory can add a fund - it is one of the best 'windows' in the empire calculated by Carmire. The sooner it can work, the better."

"Yes," Hetty immediately took the order, and then she couldn't help but look at Gao Wen with a smile, "Ancestor, you really attach great importance to the plans proposed by Master Carmeer to set up an observatory and observe the starry sky."

Gao Wen couldn't help but have a conversation with Melita and Noreta, recalling the impressions of the Viplanton Observatory and the glorious technology of Gondor in the past. Although many memories are not his, the regrets and feelings that permeate with the memories are truly filled with his heart. This made him sigh softly and look at Hetty and said solemnly: "Research projects involving the stars are important - although they may not see as huge economic benefits as railways and mines in the short term, in the long run, they may brew various technological achievements that change the world. Even if they do not consider these distant things, curiosity about the unknown and the distance is the biggest driving force for the development of mortals - Hetty, the most mysterious and unknown place in the world, is in the starry sky above our heads."

"I understand your words," Hetty smiled, with a hint of happiness in his eyes. "Ancestor, don't forget - I am also a mage. Although I can't be as intoxicated in research as before, I am still a mage, and the mage is the most keen on exploring the unknown."

Gao Wen looked at Hedy who was smiling in front of him. After a few seconds, he also smiled.

"In the ancient Gondor era, humans had become curious about the starry sky above their heads. Various observatories and stargazing stations were spread all over the 'windows' everywhere. Our scholars observed the starry sky in the universe through natural channels intertwined by magic ripples in the atmosphere, and speculated about the secrets of our world itself. It was a brilliant and exciting era... However, before they really developed, the magic wave smoothed out everything.

"Now, maybe it's time to get a part of our sight back into the stars."

...

Malm Dunit, wearing a golden and red robe, lowered his eyelids, folded his hands on his chest, and the gold beads and amulets wrapped around his wrists drooped down, shining slightly in the light.

In his devout prayer to the God of War, his heart gradually calmed down, and with the sound of vagueness in his ears, as if infinite knowledge was contained, gradually fading away. The burly and strong old man slowly opened his eyes and looked at Matilda Augustus standing in front of him.

"On behalf of the church, I would like to thank the royal family for their support for this year's God of War Festival and for their consistent protection for the believers," he said with a low voice, "May the God of War protect you and your family, and may the glorious Augustus stand forever on this land blessed by the Lord."

"Supporting the operation of the church in the empire is the obligation of the Augustus family, and protecting the people of the empire is our innate responsibility," Matilda nodded slightly to the old man in front of him, and said in a polite and respectful tone, "The Church of the God of War is the strongest church in Tifeng. You have a huge influence on the tens of thousands of Tifeng people-Our Majesty hopes to see you, as always, correctly influence the believers and let them walk on the right path."

Malm Dunit nodded slightly with a calm smile on his face: "This is also the obligation and responsibility given to me by the Lord."

Under the solemn and magnificent iron spire, the Great Hall of War is brightly lit, and thick white candles lit up in the niche like stars, illuminating the sacred temple of the God of War. The annual God of War Festival is approaching, and this is the greatest religious festival in a country with the belief in God of War as the mainstream sect. As a representative of the royal family, Matilda sent gifts and letters written by the emperor on this day according to tradition. Now, this routine and ritual visit has been completed.

After all the links were over, Matilda breathed a little relieved. She looked at this solemn and oppressive palace and saw that the bishops and priests on the scene had left the scene in order of process. Then she withdrew her gaze and nodded to the Pope, the God of War in front of her: "This year's festival activities should be more grand than in previous years - the economy is rising, and wealthy citizens now have more wealth to celebrate the festival, and many people in the surrounding countryside have also concentrated in Aldernan."

"The foreseeable prosperity," Malm Dunit nodded, "The church will control order, and we will not allow things that embarrass the royal family."

Matilda looked at the old pope in front of her and smiled: "Of course, my father and I trust you in this - you have always been friends of the Augustus family."

"Personal friendship, I know, personal friendship," Malm Dunit's always stern face softened after a smile from the woman in front of him. The strong-bodied old man who had been a military priest smiled, with a hint of teasing in his tone, "You will not come to accept my baptism."

"The Augustus family members were not baptized by any other church," Matilda smiled and spread her hands. "I think this will ensure the balance of the royal family on religious issues - we are not only one church."

"...Roseta has been dealing with me with this statement for many years. Now it's your turn to say the same thing," Malm glanced at Matilda helplessly, and then changed the subject, "We won't talk about these things anymore. Matilda, before going back, will you tell me about your experiences in Cecil?"

"Of course, I still have some time," Matilda nodded, but then he glanced at the old pope in front of him with some confusion. "But why are you suddenly interested in my experience in Cecil? You know, it has been half a year since I returned from Cecil, and you have never cared much about things outside the church."

"...Even if you are addicted to the indoors, you will hear thunder," Malm said slowly, "and there are more and more things about Cecil in this city recently, and all kinds of news have even been spread to the Great Hall. Even if you don't care, I've heard and seen it."

"That's true..." Matilda sighed with a hint of emotion, "In the era of economic exchanges... the circulation of information has become different from before."

"But just over a year ago, the situation was completely opposite to today," Malm shook his head. "We and Cecil were at odds. Almost everyone thought we were about to usher in a war. Countless war priests were ready. The Great Hall even lit incense and essential oils dedicated to the God of War in advance - and then peace came suddenly."

"Do you regret this?" Matilda looked at the Pope in front of her and asked seriously.

Malm glanced at the "Pearl of Empire", and a smile suddenly appeared on his old but still energetic face.

"Your Highness, I am the servant of the God of War, but the servant of the God of War is not a war-crazy maniac - we are just serving the order and fairness of the war, rather than waiting for the world to be full of war at all times. Of course, I am indeed a pro-war pro-war faction, but I admit that a prosperous and stable situation is more beneficial to the people. However, this sudden 'peace' really caught people off guard... I was a little surprised, and many bishops and pastors who were ready for war were a little surprised."

"It is understandable, after all, the priests of the God of War have always been an important member of the Imperial Army, and the current situation of "peace" is indeed beyond everyone's expectations..." Matilda nodded slightly and said with understanding and approval, but then she pondered for a few seconds and shook her head slowly, "But in my opinion, the statement of "peace" is not accurate."

The burly pope couldn't help but raise his eyebrows: "Oh?"

"We just avoided a bloody war, but the bloody war may continue," Matilda said seriously. "This is the judgment of the parliament and the royal advisory group - we will compete with the Cecils for the market, we will compete with them for influence and voice on the mainland, we will compete with them for literacy rate, city size, technology investment and results. We put away our swords, but began a more comprehensive competition, economy, politics, technology... and all of this ultimately points to national interests.

"My father told me that this is also a war, a war that is not about swords, does not require blood, does not hear the battle, but does not stop every minute and every second, but this war is named peace, and all people can see on the surface of the war is prosperity - at least before the two giant beasts decide the outcome."

Malm Dunit listened quietly to Matilda's words, his deep brown eyes were filled with Chen Ning. He seemed to be thinking, but no expression was revealed.

After a moment, he put his hands back on his chest, whispered the name of the God of War, and his mood gradually calmed down.

"You should be able to understand what I said." Matilda looked at the respected old man in front of him. Although the Augustus family has always kept away from all gods, at least in private interactions, this admirable old man was a friend of the Augustus family for many years. She had received a lot of attention from the other party in her childhood, so she was willing to say more to the old man. She knew that although the other party seemed serious and old-fashioned, he was also a wise man with quick thinking and excellent understanding. He could understand these words immediately.

"The war has always been around, but the form and scope of the war have changed." She nodded at last and said in a concluding manner.

"Thinking," Malm Dunit nodded after a moment of silence, and said in a deep tone, "this is an angle I have never considered."

Matilda smiled: "You just don't mind saying these deep words in front of you."
Chapter completed!