Chapter 439

Among the people Orson knew, only Lit and Virgil had asked for leave to go back. There were less than ten people in the entire Imperial Academy who applied to leave school.

"Good morning, big brother." Lena said, smiling and greeting Orson.

These days, after Lit left, the person who went to and from get out of class with Lena changed.

"Yeah, good morning." Orson said, looking at Lianka who was standing next to Lit.

"Lianka, you too, morning."

"Yeah... morning... good morning." Lianka heard Orson take the initiative to greet her, turned her face away, and replied uncomfortably.

After Lit left, Lianka took the initiative to take over the task of taking Lena.

In fact, Lena has been enrolled for a while, and it is completely okay for her to go to and from school alone.

"It's just because Lena is a new classmate, and she happens to be in the same class. I did this to help Lit, not to please you, Orson."

When Orson thought of Lianka's awkward look and fear of rejection, he felt funny.

Chapter 72: Francois was assassinated

Although the Imperial College seemed peaceful and tranquil, in fact, the topic of discussion among students every day had changed from life to the war in the south.

"I heard that Giovanni, Duke of Napoli, seemed to be a member of a society that was planning to resurrect the devil. Wasn't there a rumor that there were traces of devils outside Saint Laurent before? I heard that it was Giovanni who did it." In the college square, several students were sitting together at this moment, discussing these things.

The members of the news agency were the busiest these days. They needed to obtain first-hand information from the newspapers in Saint Laurent and publish it at the first moment.

"Eh? Is that so? I always feel that the soldiers on the front line will be in danger. What if a demon appears..."

"Don't worry about this. If a demon really appears on the front line, Giovanni's men will be the first to resist him."

"Now he should have given his subordinates a vaccination and told them that these are all rumors, but I guess as more and more people know about this, he will eventually be deserted by his friends and relatives."

"I hope so..."

A snow-white figure passed through the square. After hearing the students' description, she paused slightly and then continued to move forward.

"Orson." As soon as Olivia walked into the student union office, she told Orson what several classmates had just discussed in the square.

"Giovanni's true strength should not be what he showed. Are you really not worried about the front line?" As she said this, a trace of worry appeared in her eyes.

Although Lit is also a genius, he still has too little experience. Let Lit go to the front line to command an army alone, the risk is too great.

If Giovanni is really ready to fight to the death, will Lit really be in danger?

Putting aside his abnormal feelings for Orson, I still like this brother-in-law very much.

It's not the kind of liking for the opposite sex, but the kind of care and appreciation between the senior and the junior.

"It doesn't matter. Didn't I say that I have laid such a good foundation for Lit. The rest is to fight against the enemy and cover the water."

"If you can't fight a favorable battle, what's the point of talking." Orson said this and smiled.

"Besides, Giovanni is not the only one who has a trump card."

Lit is the real child of destiny. This time, Orson arranged her to do this to test whether she can really turn danger into safety by relying on her destiny as in the original plot.

Of course, he knew that Giovanni was very dangerous and could turn people into demons. Although he was just a heterozygous demon with extremely thin blood, he should not be underestimated.

At the beginning, Mudrick made the seventh-level lion suffer a lot.

This is a test for Litt, to test whether she has really grown to the point where she does not need Orson's protection.

And Orson's stay in Saint Laurent City is not as he said, he also has his own things to do.

"Let's talk about something else first." Olivia said, looking at Orson. "Because Duke Lucius and Litt are both on the front line, the meeting held at noon today may be prepared for you to represent the Stranik family to attend. My father asked me to inform you in advance. What do you say?"

"No problem for me." Orson nodded.

After all, they are no longer there, and only Orson can represent the Antica region.

Moreover, with Orson's ability and qualifications, he is indeed qualified to attend this meeting.

Solving the orc problem that has plagued the empire for a thousand years and expanding a large area of ​​land to the east, this would have required splitting the land and making it a marquis in the past.

Then, it was noon, and Orson, as a representative of the Stranik family and the Dukedom of Antica, attended the meeting inside the court.

There were three factions attending this meeting.

The royal family, the Duke, and military and business representatives.

Among the military and business representatives, Orson saw familiar faces.

Chelinina and Scaloni.

Whenever the empire encountered a major event, it would choose to hold a conference to gather the major interest groups of the empire for consultation.

This was not democracy, but a negotiation between a group of people representing different interests.

In this incident, each force has its own demands. For example, the royal family's biggest goal is naturally to annex the entire Duchy of Naples. The dukes will obviously not let the royal family do this. The two sides will repeatedly pull on this issue and finally compromise to a plan that everyone can accept.

The same is true for military and commercial representatives. The army hopes to establish a military district in the Naples area, divide a piece of military territory, and improve the status of the army.

The commercial representatives are ready to take over the post-war reconstruction affairs of the Naples area.

Naples has not yet died, and even 70% of the land is still in their hands, but it has reached the point where it is divided on the negotiation table by everyone.

After all, at present, no one thinks that the Duchy of Naples can still fight back.

And the mistakes he made have indeed reached an irreparable level.

The meeting discussed for a whole day, but in the end no suitable results were discussed.

Several dukes jointly proposed that if the royal family wants to annex the Duchy of Naples, then the electoral system needs to be implemented, otherwise the overly powerful central government will only suppress the local areas.

The electoral system has always been the bottom line of the royal family and is impossible to accept. The problem is stuck here.

If the meeting continues like this, there will be no results.

So, on the second night, an astonishing news spread throughout the city of Saint Laurent.

Duke Francois of Orleans was assassinated.

Yes, after the meeting, when returning to the residence, more than a dozen assassins suddenly appeared on both sides of the road and surrounded the Duke of Orleans's convoy. In the end, Francois's guards were almost wiped out.

Orson also came to the place where Francois was killed almost at the moment he learned the news.

At this moment, the surrounding area has been completely blocked by the imperial army.

And the person in charge of guarding on duty is Prince Alsace.

Such a major event has happened. As a representative of the army and also a prince of the empire, of course he has to come forward.

The assassination of the Duke in the imperial city can be said to be a very serious political crisis.

"Your Highness Alsace, can I see it?" Orson came to Alsace and asked softly.

"Yeah." Alsace nodded, and then brought Orson to the carriage.

At this moment, the two horses pulling the carriage had been frightened and broke free from the reins and fled, leaving only a frame of the carriage.

Before he got close, Orson smelled a strong smell of blood.

When he lifted the curtain, the scene in front of him was even more horrifying.

The noble and exquisite wooden carriage was now covered with blood. Francois was staring at the door of the carriage. From his chest to his abdomen, a huge wound of more than 20 centimeters revealed the cause of his death.

Looking at his face, Orson could vaguely recall the man who ignored Mary's request for help at the banquet that night and even blamed her and kicked her away.

"Alas." The complex emotions finally turned into a sigh.

But I don't know who he was sighing for.

Chapter 73: Poor Child (4K)

The political significance of Francois's death is very huge.

Although he is not without an heir, after his death, his son Henry will inherit the title according to law.

But his son is only fourteen years old now. Although he is not a child who knows nothing, he is completely incapable of governing. His wife also died of an illness a few years ago. According to the law, his only direct relative Mary should be the regent now.

But Mary is also dead.

This means that power will be obtained by the collateral family.

It also draws a clear line between the assassination party and the Antica party.

If Mary is still alive, then Mary has the motive to organize the assassination, but now even if Francois is dead, the ruling power of the Duke of Orleans has nothing to do with his family.

Orson lowered the curtain and turned his head to look at Alsace.

"Your Highness, are the guards of Duke Francois very weak?"

"Not really." Alsace shook his head. "Most of Duke Francois's guards are level 6 elites, and the guard captain is level 7. If an assassin wants to attack him, even an eight-level assassin cannot break through the guards' defense line and assassinate Duke Francois in such a short time..."

"Unless the assassin himself is stronger, or there are more than one person who assassinated the Duke, right?" Orson asked.

"..."

At this time, Odysseus also came to the scene accompanied by Elsa, and he walked to the two of them.

"Alsace, the security of the imperial city should be your responsibility, right?" Odysseus said, questioning Alsace.

"Yes." Alsace nodded.

"In broad daylight, one of the most distinguished people in the empire was assassinated here." Odysseus said, touching his neck.

"This makes me very worried about whether I can keep my head tomorrow."

"...I'm sorry, father, I was negligent." Arthas certainly heard the dissatisfaction in Odysseus' words, and quickly knelt on one knee to apologize.

"You should apologize to the Tullus family instead of me." Odysseus pointed to the carriage, and then looked at Elsa beside him.

"Elsa, this matter is left to you, how to solve it specifically."

"As you say." Elsa nodded after hearing this.

"As for Arthas, what do you want to do?"

"Father, what do you mean?"

"Now you have two options. You can choose to lead your troops south and temporarily get through this public opinion storm, because if something like this happens, someone will inevitably accuse you. You can use the war to acquit yourself and make meritorious service, which can be regarded as a diversion."

"Or, resign from your position, go back to the palace and stay behind closed doors, and then come out after the discussion is over. What do you choose?"

"..." Alsace was silent for a long time, and then loosened his tight fists.

"Father, I am the one to blame for allowing assassins to sneak into the city to carry out assassinations. Please remove me from my position."

"Is this your choice?" Odysseus heard this and nodded.

"It seems that you are not only interested in the army, Alsace." After saying that, Odysseus passed him and came to the carriage.

Just like Orson just now, he opened the curtain and saw the tragic scene inside.

"Oh, François, I will find the ultimate murderer."

After speaking, he shook his head and followed the guards back to the palace alone.

From beginning to end, he never spoke to anyone else.

Including Orson standing aside.

As for Alsace, ever since Odysseus said the last words to him, he had kept his head lowered and sweating continuously. It was not until Odysseus left that he stood up straight again.

At this time, he realized that his back was already soaked with sweat.

Not just because of nervousness, but because of what Odysseus had just said to him.

"Brother Imperial, you are not to blame for this matter." Elsa also came up at this time and comforted Alsace. "The city of Saint Laurent is so big. If you have the ability at this moment, you can sneak in from some unknown dark corners. No matter how good the security is, things like this will inevitably happen."

"If you ask me, with your ability, it is the safest plan to lead troops to the front line to fight a big victory. Then let alone the issue of dereliction of duty. The reputation of your victory has spread throughout the empire, and no one will help you. Cheers.”

"Your Majesty's words are serious, how can I have any ability." Alsace shook his head, and then he didn't focus on chatting, he found an excuse and ran away.

At this time, Elsa turned her attention to Orson.

The piercing gaze seemed to pierce through Orson's heart.

"You did it?"

"Do I look like someone with so much power that I can influence the Duke's life or death?"

Elsa smiled and didn't say much, then she ordered her men to start investigating Saint Laurent City.