Imperial Crown

After all, no matter what your plans are, you still have to save your face.

A team of six cavalrymen passed through Eagle Town. Each person was covered with the Slater family's "Typhon's Fang" standard cloak. But looking at it with the Eyes of Truth, except for the leader whose strength reached the second level, these six people There is nothing extraordinary in it.

Raven was heartbroken.

It seems that the landlord has no surplus food at home.

The cavalry stopped in front of Eagle Castle. The leader dismounted and took off his hood. He nodded and saluted: "It's an honor to meet you, Baron Raven. I, Eberron, am a knight of the Slater family."

If he hadn't known his identity, Raven would have thought that the other person was a tutor, scholar at a certain university, or a white glove who specializes in handling people's accounts.

Because Eberron really doesn't look like a knight.

He looks to be around thirty, with brown-black hair, cold white skin, and a pair of gold-rimmed glasses on his tall nose, which makes his already bookish face look even more feminine.

After introducing himself, Raven was about to say something more for the occasion when Eberron spoke first: "Baron Raven, the situation is urgent. Let's get down to business as soon as possible."

Raven raised an eyebrow and said, "Please follow me."

"Vlaf, entertain the squires of the Knights of Eberron."

Following Raven all the way into Eagle Castle, even the well-informed Eberron had to admit that this was indeed a very excellent castle.

The whole building is built of solid and beautiful granite, with towering walls and a moat. In terms of scale alone, it is almost as good as Viscount John's Snow Maple Castle and far exceeds many baronial castles.

No wonder Master Hyde would never forget this place.

Soon, both parties sat in the conference room.

After a brief greeting, Eberron stood up, took out a scroll from his pocket, opened it, and read loudly.

The format is that of official documents commonly used in the Keynesian Empire. It is long and boring. There are eight adjectives and adverbs in ten words. It may not be possible to extract useful information after listening to three sentences.

The useful content of the scroll that can be dragged from the chest of the 1.76-meter-tall Eberron to the table can be condensed into one sentence:

Meng'en City can't hold on any longer. Come here and help!

"...Tyrone Shiva Slater."

After reading the message, Eberron rolled up the scroll and handed it to Old Gordon next to him. Old Gordon came over and handed it to Raven.

Raven didn't answer.

"Baron Raven, do you still have any doubts?" Eberron frowned slightly.

Raven shook his head and showed a long-lost noble smile: "Indeed, there seems to be something missing from this scroll."

Eberron asked, "What is it?"

"The seal of the Governor-General."

Hearing these words, Eberron's pupils suddenly tightened and he stared into Raven's eyes, while Raven maintained his smile and looked up without retreating at all.

This gesture made Eberron's heart tighten, and an ominous premonition enveloped his heart.

The power of the Nord province is roughly divided into three parts.

The first is the local meritorious nobles. Most of them made contributions in the empire's foreign conquests in the early years and thus took root in the Nord province. The leader is the Slater family.

As one of the only two powerful earl families in the province, the Slater family has held the command of the "Iron Legion" for generations. For hundreds of years, the "Iron Legion" is said to be an imperial army, but it is actually the same as the Slater family. Private soldiers are no different.

Second, there are the nobles who have migrated from other places over the years. After the empire's territory has been basically stabilized, they have used various means to seize part of the land.

Because it is difficult to integrate into the local aristocracy, these people are more inclined to cooperate with the royal family. The most typical one is the Fox family.

As the only nobleman in the Nord province who can compete with the Slater family, the Fox family has held the position of governor of the Nord province in their hands for more than a hundred consecutive years.

The third is the Church of Light.

Although there are no troops stationed in the Nord province, there are nearly a hundred priests and priests who have penetrated into the noble territories of the Nord province. Some churches in big cities also have "inquisitor" troops specially designed to fight against the secret sects.

Its successive archbishops in the province of Nord have all been deeply involved in the political operations of the province, affecting all aspects of the province.

This kind of effort is not fruitless. At this point, even the most stubborn Nords will not object to shouting "Lord of Light" while worshiping their ancestors.

These three parties, the Church of Light is beyond the ordinary, the Slater family and the Fox family are in tit-for-tat confrontation, but no one can do anything to the other, and together they maintain order and peace in the Nord province.

The governor's orders did not go beyond the fief, but the taxes that other nobles had to pay to the king were never less.

But now, this balance has been visibly disrupted.

Since the siege of Mon'en City, the Fox family has begun to stand still, and the Church of Light has also remained strangely silent. It is obvious that they are happy to see the Slater family defeated.

As a last resort, Earl Tyrone would bypass Governor Montreal and issue a so-called "transfer order" on his own.

This transfer order is not legally binding.

Although hundreds of years of accumulated prestige and the nobles' worries about losing their lips and teeth have successfully mobilized some nobles who are neutral or originally on the side of the Slater family, the overall number is actually not optimistic.

Combat prowess is only secondary, and the Slater family needs more nobles to express their stance.

Only by letting the Fox family and the Church of Light see the appeal of the Slater family, and letting the current king "Cairns XVI" see the appeal of the Slater family, can this crisis be fundamentally resolved.

That's why Eberron endured until today and rushed to Eagle Castle when the time limit for the request was reached, just to show his sincerity as much as possible and win over Raven.

I have long heard that the youngest daughter of the Fox family lives in Eagle Castle. Could it be that... the Griffith family has completely turned to the Fox family?

Taking a deep breath, Eberron suppressed the anger and uneasiness in his heart: "Baron Raven, it is true that there is no seal of the Earl of Montreal on it, but Viscount John, Baron Angel, and many nobles from the Nord province have sent My own main force!”

"If you stay put and wait until the war is over, how will the Griffith family deal with themselves among so many nobles?"

Raven nodded slowly: "These words indeed make sense, but please allow me to ask - what does this have to do with me?"

Eberron was suddenly stunned: "You are a member of the Griffith family and a member of the nobles of the Nord province. How come..."

"That's not what I'm talking about." Raven waved his finger: "I want to ask, what benefits does participating in this action bring to me, Raven?"

Eberron said matter-of-factly: "Only war can bring glory to nobles. If you join this just struggle, then the entire Nord province will praise the reputation of the Griffith family, and your name will also be recorded in the history!"

"On the contrary, if you don't participate in this war, aren't you afraid of having a reputation of being timid and cowardly, and bringing shame to yourself?"

"Alas..." Raven sighed longly:

"I have no morals, so please don't use morals to kidnap me."

Eberron's eyes widened when he heard this.

This is too shameless!

Seeing that the special envoy was still not on the right track, Raven had no choice but to get straight to the point: "Profits, I want more practical benefits!"

"The Order of the Hand of Death is so powerful that it trapped Count Tyrone in Meng En City. I am a small baron with no more than a hundred soldiers and less than one extraordinary hand. Joining a battle of this level is tantamount to risking death. !”

"Is the Slater family so stingy that they would hire someone to live through life and death for you, but they still don't want to give up any benefits?"

Eberron's face turned blue and white.

After coming out of Men'en City, he had already met dozens of nobles, with all kinds of attitudes, but this was the first time he saw nobles like Raven who were just asking for benefits like a rogue in the market!

This is simply ripping off the Slater family!

"Baron Raven, do you know how you are provoking the majesty of an earl family!?"

"Oh oh oh, don't get excited." Raven spread his hands with a hint of sarcasm on his face: "You have to know that empty threats are always the most ridiculous."

"The 'Typhon's Fang' is so majestic. From the premise, it has been well-known in both the aristocratic circle and the underground world. But now, can it still come out of Men'en City?"

Eberron's words were choked in his throat, and he couldn't utter even half a word.

When he left Men'en City, the situation in the city was already quite bad. Due to his early contempt, when the Order of the Death Hand attacked the city, a sudden rebellion broke out in the lower city of Men's City, and he almost died. The city gate was opened from the inside, allowing Meng'en City to completely fall.

Typhon's Fang pressed hard against it, filling it with more than thirty transcendent beings, and then barely put an end to this drastic change.

However, the environment in the city was complicated. Although the leader was killed, the Death Hand members in the city were not able to be wiped out in one fell swoop. Under the chaotic situation, these people penetrated into every corner of Meng'en City.

Typhon's Fang had to be scattered out piecemeal, and everyone was on guard to put out the fire.

If it weren't for the lack of manpower, a second-level knight like him wouldn't be allowed to go out to ask for help.

Eberron gritted his teeth: "Baron Raven, have you made up your mind to side with the Fox family?"

"I will stand by whoever can give me more benefits." Raven said.

"So, Baron Raven, what do you want?" Eberron asked.

Raven spread his hands: "Then it depends on what the Slater family can give me."

Eberron fell silent: "...I cannot be arbitrary."

"It's okay, I understand." Raven said with a smile: "There are still guest rooms in Eagle Castle. Why don't you, Mr. Special Envoy, stay for a while and let's discuss and negotiate slowly?"

The smile on Raven's face was still warm, but in Eberron's eyes, he seemed as greedy and shameless as a goblin. He snorted: "No need, I will come to visit you again when I come to a conclusion."

"Mr. Baron, please think carefully about whether your choice is right or wrong!"

After saying that, he turned around and left.

"Wait." Raven suddenly called out to Eberron.

The special envoy thought things had turned around, but as soon as he turned around, he saw Raven say: "You forgot to take this transfer order."

Old Gordon walked up to Eberron holding the scroll.

Eberron grabbed the scroll, slammed the door, and left the conference room. The force was so strong that it even shook the dust off the door frame.

"Lord Baron, do you really want to side with the Fox family?" Old Gordon hesitated.

Raven stopped smiling, shook her head and said, "Absolutely not."

Old Gordon looked relieved, bowed his head and left.

After pouring himself a glass of Angel's Tears, Raven shook the glass, walked to the window, and looked at Eberron going away with a deep look.

The reason for not choosing the Fox family is simple.

Although it is unknown what role the Fox family played in the turmoil of the Hand of Death this time, one thing is certain, that is, the Fox family will definitely choose to sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight, and only enter the scene strongly when the dust is close to settling, and share the greatest benefits.

The Fox family has its own circle of interests. Raven is just a small baron. If he follows them, he may not even get a mouthful of soup.

Raven is not naive to think that just because Nancy is in the Eagle Territory, the Count of Montreal will look at him differently.

But this does not mean that Raven will kowtow to the Slater family.

On the contrary, only in such a critical moment can Raven get a relatively equal negotiation opportunity for a short time and strive for the greatest benefit for himself.

After all, no matter what the outcome of this battle is, the Slater family will be seriously injured. The weaker they are, the more they need allies. As long as they are not too greedy, they will not be suppressed and retaliated by them.

"It's up to you, Eberron Envoy." Raven raised his glass, made a toast, and drank the Angel's Tears.

For the next two days, Eagle Castle was busy and peaceful, and Raven's life was fulfilling, boring, and orderly.

Until January 26, the eighth day after Raven returned to Eagle Castle, a visitor who was unexpected by everyone came to Eagle Territory.

Baron Angel.

...