Imperial Crown

The rainstorm stopped, the dark clouds dispersed, and the moonlight fell.

In the dead woods, William was holding Margaret's stiff body in a daze.

In a trance, he suddenly heard a familiar voice: "Dear... help me..."

William closed his eyes tightly and murmured: "I'm sorry, sorry, I shouldn't hide my shortcomings, I should have tried my best to deal with Gul'dan, otherwise, you wouldn't..."

At this point, William was already crying.

But the voice that he thought was an illusion did not disappear, but became clearer and more real: "Dear, help me..."

Is she not dead?

With a full of uneasy expectations, William slowly opened his eyes, and then froze there.

I saw that there was an extra head on Margaret's neck, and the connection was filled with thick black air.

The head was not as beautiful as William had seen before. It was gray-brown in color, bald on the head, with a few wet algae-like hairs growing sporadically, two pointed and flat ears, a surprisingly large nose, and only a small slit in the mouth.

The gap opened, revealing yellow teeth: "Dear, can you help me scratch my ears? It's a little itchy there."

A chill climbed up William's shoulders along his spine, causing him to scream, leaving Margaret in his arms and disappearing into a black wind.

"Heh, man..."

Margaret muttered in dissatisfaction, but there was nothing she could do.

Gul'dan's attack did have a fatal effect. If it weren't for the curse power connected to Raven's mysterious and powerful blood curse, Margaret would have died long ago.

Even so, Margaret has lost the characteristics of Parisil forever, which not only means that she can no longer look like Parisil, but also that she can't use necromancy.

Now Margaret can only wait slowly until the wound on her neck is completely healed and she regains her ability to move, and then go find Raven.

Only the essence of the corrupted soul can restore her strength.

The night passed, and the morning light was dim.

Eric came to Raven's writing room and placed the Hate of Hyperion on the table.

Raven said nothing, but sighed: "Alas..."

Gul'dan died.

Gul'dan must die.

The locust plague had just passed, and the nobles needed a peaceful Nord province to recover and lick their wounds.

The Church of Light was facing a good situation, and did not want any trouble to disrupt their deployment at this time.

Not to mention Anthony.

So, Gul'dan became the public enemy of the whole province, and it was impossible for him to walk out alive.

And Raven could not let Gul'dan leave his territory unscathed, because then he could no longer conceal the fact that he was harboring Gul'dan.

But Raven still gave Gul'dan a chance to survive.

If it really came to a final decision, then Margaret, William and Eric would besiege and kill him together, and Gul'dan would not survive anyway.

Letting the three of them set up checkpoints layer by layer was Raven's deliberate arrangement. If Gul'dan could get through, Raven would not chase him anymore.

Unfortunately, Gul'dan still fell at the last level.

Holding Hyperion's Hate in his hand, the three magic crystals on the scabbard have all shattered. Gently pulling it out, the sharp sword has twisted into an iron bar.

"Hate of Hyperion..." Raven stroked the scabbard, with a hint of complex emotions in his eyes.

This sword was made by the legendary swordsmith Hyperion.

When it was forged, it had no name.

Hyperion made this sword for his friend, hoping that it could help his friend break through difficulties and kill powerful enemies.

But things went against his wishes. The power of this sword was too great, and Hyperion's friend could not control it. Although he defeated the enemy, he also died under the runaway power.

This is why the sword got its name.

Hyperion's "hate" represents a kind of regret.

Raven put the sword down, looked away, and fell into some deep thoughts.

Gul'dan, the young master of the Fox family, was proud all his life, but ended up like this.

Does he have regrets too?

An inexplicable feeling surged from his heart, and Raven sighed:

"Gul'dan, Gul'dan..."

"But, sir." The knight standing in front of him lifted his armor and pointed at his big and small eyes:

"I am Eric."

Raven was speechless for a moment, and wanted to explain something, but it turned into a helpless smile on his lips: "I know, I've been busy all night, go and rest first."

Eric took the order and left. Raven put away the hatred of Hyperion and looked out the window.

The morning glow has risen.

After the spring rain, all things are blooming. On the originally bare mountain, the saplings and grass seeds that survived the mouths of locusts sprouted. From a distance, you can see a vague green.

The serfs didn't care about the cold after the new rain. They pushed the oxen and took the farm tools to plow the wet fields and sow wheat seeds one by one.

Things like backpacks are often equipped by people who go into the mountains to collect herbs or grow fruits, but now they are standard equipment for all serfs.

With the lesson learned last year, they were very precise and picky. Whenever they saw locust eggs, they would immediately pick them out and throw them into the backpack.

The children no longer had time to play around. Instead, they followed their parents, running around and stuffing the locust eggs they saw, or anything similar-looking, into the backpack.

With their help, a backpack would be filled up in no time.

The serfs gathered the contents and poured them into the carriage, which was then transported to the bank of the Crystal River. After washing away the dirt with water, the contents were burned.

As time went by, Raven's territory became visibly greener.

As the temperature gradually rose, locusts inevitably appeared in the territory.

And not only in Raven's territory, but also in the entire Nord Province, locusts appeared. The Sky Eagle Platform was in an uproar, and many nobles were discussing how to deal with it.

Lady Doreen, who had just returned to the Stone Territory, sent Raven a secret letter to seek refuge here.

Raven was somewhat amused, so he used his unrevoked status as the head of the No. 3 warning zone to order the nobles of the five northwestern counties to organize the people and the army to take the initiative to kill the locusts before they became a disaster.

And not long after this order was issued, Anthony also issued a similar call to the Nord Province as the governor.

Facts have proved that this move is very effective.

After the locust plague last year, the nobles dealt with the locust eggs. Although the number of newly born locusts was not small, it was not enough to cause a disaster.

Coupled with the organized pest control, the Nord Province successfully killed a new batch of possible pests in the cradle.

Time came to mid-May.

In the Fox Castle study, there was a knock on the door.

After getting permission, Akori elbowed the door open and walked into the room, holding a wooden box in his hand.

"Governor, you are really amazing." Akori's eyes were full of surprise and admiration: "I didn't believe it at first, but I didn't expect you to be right!"

Anthony raised his head from the document and rubbed his eyebrows: "What did I say?"

Although the locust plague passed smoothly, Anthony's mood did not improve much.

It was all because of Viscount John's letter listing his "seven sins".

In normal times, this letter would be fine, and His Majesty the King would not do anything to him.

But now the empire is defeated and His Majesty the King is unhappy, so this letter has become a sharp sword. As long as His Majesty the King wants, any of the above charges can make Anthony lose several layers of skin.

But Anthony himself has done nothing good in his tenure.

So, at this time when everything is revived and the nobles in the Nord Province have begun to resume social activities and hold cocktail parties and banquets, Anthony has to close the door and shut himself in his home.

This is of course just a superficial effort.

But if you are not willing to do even superficial work, how can people believe that you are really loyal?

"You said before that Gul'dan's head would be delivered to you!" Akori held up the box in his hand with a little excitement: "Now, it's really here!"

Anthony smiled slightly: "It's just that I'm standing high enough. If you sit in my position one day, you will make the same judgment."

"Who sent this box?"

Akori was stunned and said: "... This, I don't know. A mercenary sent it to me."

"According to the mercenary, someone gave him 5 silver coins and asked him to help pass it on. I also sent people to find the payer, but no clues have been found yet."

Anthony waved his hand gently: "Then there's no need to look for it."

"You mean, you know who sent it?" Akori was more and more unbelievable: "Who is it?"

Anthony did not answer: "Okay, put the things down, and call Ezio to me by the way."

"This... is a bit difficult." Akori said awkwardly.

"What does this mean?" Anthony frowned.

Akori scratched his earlobe and told the whole story.

This morning, Ezio was seen.

When he was seen, he was not wearing any clothes.

The woman lying with him was also not wearing any clothes.

Unfortunately, the person who saw them was the husband of the woman.

What was even more unfortunate was that the husband was a knight who originally belonged to the Fox family.

Ezio was chased and hacked by the knight for most of the street, and finally jumped into the sewer, and is still missing.

"Okay..." Anthony sighed helplessly: "Anyway, when you find Ezio, bring him to me!"

After the door was closed, Anthony took the wooden box in front of him and opened it, and saw Gul'dan's head with eyes wide open.

Anthony breathed a sigh of relief.

The last bloodline of the Fox family was finally cut off here.

Although Gul'dan's death was nominally confirmed before, the fact that he was alive could not escape the eyes of those who were interested.

After all, there is no parchment that cannot be burned in the world.

After the fall of the Fox family, there have been rumors that Gul'dan is still alive, and with the arrival of the locust plague, the people of Nord Province were in panic, and this rumor spread quickly and had a considerable market.

Even in Feldoro County, many secret cults that were making trouble, under the banner of Gul'dan, claimed all kinds of so-called "truths" and poured pots of dirty water on Anthony's head.

Now, Gul'dan is finally dead.

With this head, His Majesty the King can start the process of finding the bloodline of the Fox family and cultivate a new Count Fox who is close to His Majesty the King.

As for who sent this head, Anthony himself has a conclusion.

Since Gul'dan fled, he must go to the noble territory he trusts.

In fact, the Slater family is the best choice.

Anthony saw it clearly. Although Earl Tyrone was respectful to him now, his fundamental position was still on the side of the family's interests.

If Gul'dan surrendered to Earl Tyrone and hid until he had safely passed the storm and Anthony left the Nord Province, Tyrone would most likely help Gul'dan restore his title and inheritance rights, so as to gain a firm ally and consolidate and expand the influence of the Slater family.

But after Anthony's observation, neither Montreal nor Gul'dan had such political wisdom.

Therefore, Gul'dan could only choose one place, that is, Raven's territory.

On the other hand, Gul'dan had the strength of the third level and eight stars when he fled. After more than a year of precipitation, it is not impossible for him to reach the third level and nine stars, or even ten stars.

In the entire Nord Province, except for Anthony himself and the Slater family, only Raven could kill a strong man like Gul'dan silently.

"Smart and decisive decision."

Anthony showed a hint of appreciation in his eyes.

The Nord Province could not withstand the turmoil, and the same was true for Molinier, who was also hit by the locust plague. Gul'dan, the source of the turmoil, would have no way to survive wherever he ran.

Raven took the initiative to deliver the head, which not only completely cleared his guilt of harboring Gul'dan, but also won Anthony's favor in time.

Snap.

The box was closed, Anthony took out the parchment, held a feather pen, and began to write a letter.

The letter had a long header, but Anthony wrote it very carefully and slowly, not daring to make any mistakes.

Because it was a letter to His Majesty the King.

In the letter, Anthony asked about His Majesty the King's health, frankly confessed his improper handling of the locust plague, and expressed deep remorse.

Then he changed the subject and described how the Nord Province was recovering.

And said that although he heard that some people were proposing to exempt the four western provinces of the empire that suffered from the locust plague, Anthony would never let the Nord Province become a burden at a time when the empire was in danger.

Nord Province, no tax reduction or reduction is needed!

At the end of the letter, Anthony mentioned tactfully that Baron Raven of the Griffith family had performed outstandingly in the process of resisting the locust plague and deserved to be rewarded.

Moreover, it was not a long-term solution for Raven to serve as the county governor as a baron. In order to avoid people's unrest, he hoped that His Majesty would make a decision early.

After sealing the letter, Anthony smiled and said:

"This boy has the appearance of a viscount."

Boom.

Suddenly, a piece of the ceiling collapsed, and a green figure appeared in the room.

Subconsciously, Anthony's hand flashed with lightning, turned into a long sword and stabbed it fiercely.

The figure also condensed a ball of lightning on his body to meet it. The two collided and exploded at the same time, making the entire study a mess.

"Governor, it's me!" In the smoke and dust, the figure showed its shape.

"Ezio!?" Anthony restrained his fighting spirit: "Why are you here?"

Ezio was naked, with only a green nightgown around his waist. He smiled and changed the subject: "I said I was repairing the floor, do you believe it?"

The next moment, a roar came from the ceiling:

"You humiliated my wife, and you dare to defile my daughter!?"

Ezio's face became even more embarrassed.

Anthony rolled his eyes and sighed helplessly.

After sending away the knight with a green head, Anthony handed the letter to Ezio:

"Go."

"It's better to replace Ajani."

...