Act 7 Wizards, Dragons and Empires IV

But this can only be called suspicion, and it is still not evidence. Since Mangrove is willing to take the risk to come here, he must have real evidence. Brando thought of this and continued to ask: "Then what?"

"Then just a week ago, the Cruz envoy arrived in Eruin." Veronica answered.

"What do you mean?" Brando frowned. This news is no longer news. A Cruz army commander and the first heir to the throne disappeared inexplicably during the big explosion. The Cruz people were unreasonable. They should send a mission to investigate. It would be strange if they didn't. He didn't know why Veronica would make a fuss about this, and couldn't help but look at the other party suspiciously.

"That's the case on the surface," Mangrove put down his pipe at this time and replied slowly: "But the problem is that there is a redundant person in this envoy."

"Excess people?"

"The man's name is Donners Bernie, and he is His Majesty's secret envoy. Before he left the empire, we learned that he came to Eruin to confirm the death of the emperor's eldest son."

Brando seemed to suddenly realize, that is to say, someone did want to confirm that the eldest son of the emperor was dead, and this person was probably the Silver Queen, because Viscount Bernie could be regarded as one of her confidants. But he was still a little cautious. The matter of succession was no small matter, especially for an empire. He looked at the two people in front of him, thought carefully before and after, and continued to ask: "Isolated evidence does not stand up, and the appearance of this person cannot be established." It can only explain one aspect of the problem. After all, the succession of the throne is not a trivial matter for the empire, and it is reasonable to send someone to confirm the death of the heir."

Veronica glanced at Mangrove and replied, "That's true, but we have a witness."

"Who?" Brando was slightly startled, thinking that these two people had kidnapped people from the envoy and brought them to his territory. This is a bit too bold. But unexpectedly, the female legion leader asked: "Brando, do you still remember the lizard man sword master you met in the Spiral Hall?"

"Hey," Brando called out the name in one breath. The life and death experience at that time was really too impressive for him: "I know this person."

"Do you know it?" Veronica was a little surprised.

Brando nodded: "There are not many alien swordsmen, not to mention that I have some friendship with the gray-finned Naga, so I am naturally familiar with some of the situations of their mortal enemies. This person is from the red-ringed lizard people. The red-ringed lizard Humans happen to be the servant race of the Deep Scale Naga, so I know it. When it was young, it was the most famous warrior among the red-ringed lizard people, and it has been a sword master for decades."

“It’s now locked up in the basement of this hotel.

"

"What!" Brando was about to jump up again. He thought the guy had fled back to the Sea of ​​Flash after the explosion, but he didn't expect to become Veronica's prisoner inexplicably. But he suddenly realized something and couldn't help blurting out: "Could it be that..."

Veronica fanned the smoke in front of her with her hand and replied: "Brando, you must not know that the Deep Scale Naga has formed an alliance with Her Majesty the Queen."

"So...?" A bold idea was forming in Brando's mind.

The female regiment leader did not answer. He just nodded affirmatively. For the ministers, discussing these issues is treason in itself. If they want to say those words personally, it is almost the same as treason in their feelings. But that was enough, everything was already in order in Brando's mind. As expected, it was the Silver Queen who sent to assassinate the eldest son of the emperor, Lenaret.

He couldn't help but feel a little funny. He originally thought that the other party was targeting him. But now that I think about it, it is indeed full of loopholes. Deepscale Naga wants to find a land ally. How could he choose Enlek, who was like a lost dog? At that time, he instinctively believed that Gray Fin Naga would form an alliance with him, so their mortal enemies would naturally find their mortal enemies. However, he suddenly realized that his vision was too limited to Eru. Because of this, the reality is that Deep Scale Naga looks down on Anlek at all. What they need is a strategic ally who can support them on land, rather than giving him Brando a troublesome opponent.

In this way, the Cruz people are indeed the best choice, and if the Silver Queen really has the ambition to unify Warnd, she does need a partner in the ocean.

What's more. When Noon appeared in the Spiral Hall, his first reaction was that the other party was here to assassinate him, but now that he thought about it, there were some problems. If the Deep Scale Naga wanted to deal with him, the best choice should be in Tony Geer. Because Tonigel is close to the sea, although it is said to be his base camp, the so-called master in this base camp is actually only his teacher Mephistopheles, but the Deep Scale Naga chose to die deep inland. Frost Forest took action, not to mention how much trouble it would be for the sea lizard and the Naga family to arrange an assassination plan deep inland. You must know that Brando had Veronica, Mephistopheles and Aloz beside him at that time. Master, these three people are all well-known to the outside world, and Deep Scale Naga will not have no news at all.

So the reason for appearing there at noon can only be for other purposes.

What's the purpose?

Of course, it is impossible to help Anlek. The Deep Scale Naga is not a charity. It has traveled thousands of miles to support the resistance organization in Eruin. You must know that this resistance organization is still related to the Union of All Things. But if the Deep Scale Naga has already formed an alliance with the Silver Queen, it makes sense. The target can only be the eldest son of the emperor among the Cruz people.

It was further concluded that this unlucky lizard swordsman was probably caught by Veronica while sneaking a sneak attack on the eldest son of the emperor. Historically, Veronica was naturally no match for Zen, but after experiencing the Ring of Trade Winds, the strength of the female legion leader grew rapidly, far surpassing her at the same time in "The Amber Sword", so At noon, I took Lao Huangli and thought that his move was foolproof, but in the end he was caught off guard and it was normal for him to miss and be captured.

In just a few breaths, Brando came to this complete conclusion. Since Veronica is so sure, it means that Ming Ming must have done everything. After all, it is not the death of the Cruz people, and it is unlikely to die. Biting and not letting go.

Brando folded his hands. For the first time, I seriously considered whether to agree to Veronica's request.

He was able to help Veronica hide the news of their arrival in Tonigel, because as he said, it was just a piece of cake, but this time, he had to think carefully. Being involved in a struggle for the succession of an empire is definitely an extremely dangerous thing. For the sake of supreme power, those nobles will do anything, which means that his decision may involve the newly born Tony Geer in danger again. Brando does not want to see Cruz spies appearing on the streets of Fir City. Alley.

But on the other hand, this is indeed an opportunity.

Although once the news about the eldest son's stay in Tonigel leaks out, it is very likely to anger Her Majesty the Queen. But in fact, what will happen if she doesn't anger her? If the Silver Queen is interested in expansion, then Eruin, who is close to the Cruz Empire, will bear the brunt. In other words, in fact, he doesn't care whether he angers the other party or not. They must first face the wrath of thunder from the empire, but if they use this to win over Cruz's military or even some secular forces, then Her Majesty the Queen may go her own way, which may cause the Cruz Empire to split internally and lead to civil war.

If that were the case, it would be so exciting that Brando would laugh out loud in his dreams.

What's more, there is also the Temple of Flame, despite the pressure from the Dragon Clan. But where there is oppression, there is resistance, and there are beings like Vala who hold supreme power. How could he be willing to be on top of others all the time? The Queen had ruled the Cruz Empire for forty years, and he had endured it for forty years. He was about to be liberated, and now the Dragon Clan has come to interfere. This is simply unbearable. Intolerable. Brando felt that he couldn't bear to be in Vala's position. Although Vala was said to be wise, the clay man was also earthy. If the temple had the same impulse, then the civil war in the Cruz Empire would be seven. Very sure.

Brando was silent for a long time. As he repeatedly considered the details, he was not good at these conspiracies, so he was very slow to think about it. But Veronica and Mangrove didn't seem to be in a hurry. Veronica sat down and picked up the tea cup and took a sip, while the latter finally packed the tobacco, lit the match, lit the fire, and took a deep breath. , squinting his eyes, seeming to enjoy it very much.

The room was a little quiet for a while. Antitina stared closely at the two people sitting opposite her lord. She seemed to have heard an extremely ridiculous story before, but this story now involves all of them. Such a major event It was decided that she had no room for intervention. In fact, she did not dare to speak and could only wait silently for Brando to make a decision.

Brando finally breathed out a sigh of relief.

"Besides letting Prince Lenaret stay in Tonigel, what else are you going to do?" He asked a question.

This already represented a loosening of attitude. Veronica put down her teacup, breathed out softly, and replied: "Not only His Royal Highness the eldest son of the Emperor, but also Shiduo and the Broken Sword Knights must stay here, otherwise people will If you talk too much, the news will inevitably leak out. Although they are all students I trust, this matter is too important and I don't need to let these young people take responsibility."

"Are you planning to return to the empire?" Brando heard a clue.

Veronica nodded: "If Shiduo and the others can't go back, and I go back to the empire alone, I will definitely take responsibility for accidentally killing the first heir to the empire and causing the destruction of the entire Broken Sword Knights. . But the problem should not be big. The heir to the throne has to prepare for all unexpected things when he goes out for training. This is not unprecedented in the history of the empire. The responsibility I will bear will only be for improper command, and I will not be arbitrarily Increase your anger, otherwise no one in the empire will dare to do things in the future. Everyone understands this truth - the more you do, the more mistakes you make."

She glanced at Mangrove: "Three northern aristocratic families have passed away. The military will try their best to protect me. I think I may be demoted but retain my title. Your Majesty needs a trusted regiment commander, and this is also It’s part of the deal we made with her, but as long as Lenaret is alive, there’s still a chance for everything in the future.”

Brando glanced at Veronica with some pity. This female army commander was considered an outstanding army commander in the history of the empire. It would be a pity if she was left idle due to internal transactions of throne replacement. But this is a good thing for Eruin, not to mention that he still has a very small hope in his heart: everyone can see that the legion commander and his teacher Mephisto's Sword may have some bad intentions. A well-known story, if he means that if the future Silver Queen stirs up troubles in the empire, and Veronica has been idle, maybe Eruin will have an outstanding duchess in the future. .

Veronica certainly wouldn't want to fight the Cruzes though. But Eruin doesn’t only have Cruz as his opponent, doesn’t he also have Madara? Historically, Veronica and Freya had a master-disciple relationship for a period of time. Of course, it was during the period when the relationship between the two countries was at its best, and if during this period of history, the two could re-establish this relationship. And if two female war goddesses, one old and one young, appear on the battlefield against Madara at the same time.

Brando just felt emotional just thinking about it.

But he still said: "But have you ever considered an issue? What if the situation is not as you expected, if the eldest son of the emperor fails to return to the empire, and Her Majesty the Queen appoints another heir?" He sat on the sofa, Slowly speaking this sentence behind the smoke screen of clouds and fog, it seems full of mystery. Veronica and Mangrove exchanged a look. It could be seen from their expressions that the two imperial army commanders had not considered this question, but the answer they gave was:

Still have to take a gamble.

"His Royal Highness himself agrees?"

Veronica nodded slowly. Brando understood. It seems that the oral evidence of the Lizardman Sword Master gave them great confidence. Indeed, the Red Ring Lizardman has always had nothing to do with the Cruz people, and the spheres of influence of the two sides are not intertwined with each other. There is really no need to slander an empire. Her Majesty the Queen.

Brando lowered his eyelids and pondered for a moment, then he raised his head again, as if he had made up his mind and said: "Let's discuss the details."

The female regiment leader's eyes showed surprise. Of course she understood how rare it was for Brando to make this decision, and it had nothing to do with him in the first place. This young man made such a decision, most likely based on their relationship. This made her feel both ashamed and moved. Ever since the Ring of Trade Winds, it seemed that this young man had been helping her, while she, as an elder, had been causing trouble for him. Thinking of this, Veronica looked at Brando with much more kindness, like a real elder looking at the younger members of his family.

She sighed, feeling a little ashamed, but she didn't know that the whole thing was completely different from what she thought. Come when she wants to. An outstanding talent like Brando can always obtain the status of a noble no matter how the situation changes. Even if he serves the empire in the future, his status may be higher than it is today. In the eyes of a noble like her, royal power is separate from the power of local nobles. The fate of Eruin is just the fate of the Eruin royal family, and the rise and fall of Eruin has nothing to do with local nobles like Brando. .

This is also true.

But Veronica never dreamed that Brando's Eruin Kingdom is based on the concept of nation. The Earl considers issues based on the interests of the entire Eruin, so he agreed to this request. In fact, It is a harmless nuisance to Tonigel's interests, but it is a more beneficial choice for the entire kingdom. In the eyes of outsiders, Brando suffered a huge loss, but Brando himself felt that he had made a huge profit.

Brando certainly noticed the change in Veronica's attitude at this time. He was also a little surprised why the female regiment leader was suddenly moved like this, but this was indeed a good opportunity for him. Although it has been confirmed that Prince Lenaret will be provided with political asylum, there are too many details worthy of scrutiny, and he must seek the best compensation for himself.

"I have a request," he said: "The Knights of the Broken Sword remain in Tonigel. This is naturally a last resort, but the problem is that this is a knightly order, and they are all young and energetic people. There are a large number of people. If they are unorganized and have no one to manage them, they may become a hidden danger sooner or later. Besides, Tony Geer is not their hometown after all. These young people are allowed to remain anonymous thousands of miles away from their hometown for reasons that have nothing to do with their own vital interests. , which is a bit overwhelming anyway.”

He looked at Veronica, interrupted the other person's unspoken words: "I understand, Ms. Legion Commander, you want to say that they are soldiers, and soldiers are bound to obey orders. But soldiers are also human beings, not to mention that now they are out of control. After taking off the military uniform, it only takes a while for them to forget about order and honor. Without a sense of honor, they are nothing."

Veronica couldn't help but shut up after hearing these words. I have to say that what Brando said made sense, and she did take it for granted. Mangrove also nodded. He had a longer military career and better understood the meaning of what the young man in front of him said. He put down his pipe and replied: "Mr. Count is right, so what do you think should be done?" How to solve this problem?"

"I hope they can take off Cruz's military uniform and join my army. As long as they stay in the land of Eruin for one day, they should swear allegiance to me and Prince Lenaret at the same time," Bu Lando replied: "Eruin is going through a drastic change. There is a place for these young people to show their strength here. What's more, the army is a huge group. Even if such a group is integrated into this group, it will be difficult for the outside world to recognize it." You know, this can also minimize the risk of information leakage. On the contrary, if hundreds of people appear in any other place, it may attract the attention of interested people."

"The most important thing is that these young people will get the opportunity to exercise on this land, ensuring that when they return to Cruz in the future, you will get a group of experienced generals instead of a group of young people full of resentment and accomplishing nothing. One day Prince Lenaret returns to the empire, and these young people who have sworn allegiance to him will become his right-hand men." Brando stopped his short speech and looked at the reactions of the two legion commanders in front of him.

Mangrove was nodding, but Brando suspected that it was his last words that moved the old soldier, while Veronica hesitated for a moment, and then she said to him seriously: "But you have to tell me I promise, you must protect them, each of them is my most beloved student."

"Just like I protect Freya," Brando replied: "They are Freya's comrades, and they are also my comrades."

Veronica nodded with satisfaction.

"You are a good lobbyist. You can consider entering politics. You are wronged by dealing with our soldiers." Finally, Mangrove concluded, biting his pipe and puffing on the smoke ring.

Brando felt a burst of ecstasy in his heart. Now he has a gold-level officer corps. The most outstanding star officer corps of the Cruz people in the future is now under his command. Not to mention whether the empire would fall into civil war in the future, just such a gain was enough to wake him up from his dream with a smile.

…

(ps: The second update is still 5,500 words. This weekend’s additional update ends here. I wish you all the best in your work and study next week. What, you asked me if I missed something? See the cross and firewood over there? Is it piled up?)

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