Why did the lord rebel

"You have a very rich imagination. Would you consider going to Dongbingku to write a novel?" Xia Houyan looked at William Hyde coldly, with sarcasm, "Mr. Hyde, I am sorry to break your fantasy, but the rise of Shuangfengling There is no dramatic reason behind it, but it is the result of the combination of weather, location, people and a little bit of blood, tears and sweat from myself. As for saying that I am 'not from this world'... Mr. Hyde, Am I really so outstanding that it makes you suffer from paranoia?"

"No, no, respected Lord Shuangfengling...you don't have to bother trying to hide it in front of me." Hyde smiled triumphantly, "Maybe some people will attribute your transformation to enlightenment, the return of the prodigal son, or the fact that you got Advice from certain hermits...but please don't forget that I am a person with an intelligence background-I have come to the conclusion that I will always rely on information-information that is harder than a rock."

"Information?" Xia Houyan crossed his fingers in front of his chest, staring at William Hyde.

"Look, what a magical land the eastern border of the empire is! Nearly a thousand years ago, before the establishment of the Mage Academy and the rise of the Glorious Federation, because it was located in the center of the mainland and adjacent to the eastern states, it was once the land of the entire Haven. The center of magic and element research on the mainland. Now, even though the magic capital of the whole continent has become a mage school city, there are still many magicians who are obsessed with the magic relics of the East Territory. After the governor of the district, he launched an investigation on the local reclusive elemental power users, and accidentally discovered a middle-level magister who lived in the driftwood——Sillian Samonin."

Samoning... This surname is somewhat familiar to Xia Houyan.

"Perhaps you have heard of one of the legendary 'Three Heroes of the Phoenix', Arthur Samonen, the master of summoning magic? Our master Xilian is the younger brother of Master Arthur, and he is also from the same school as him He is an expert in summoning magic. However, Cillian does not like to show his face outside like his brother Arthur, but chooses to retreat at home for a long time to study magic with great concentration-considering that summoning magic is a side magic, it has long been criticized by the mainstream magic world Rejection, and what happened to Master Arthur Summernen... I think Master Xilian made the right choice."

When William Hyde said this, a look of memory appeared on his face:
"After I learned about the existence of Master Xilian Samonen from the villagers, I immediately realized how helpful an intermediate magister could be! So I went to Driftwood in person, hoping to convince Master Xilian Serving the Glorious Federation. Compared with those stupid knights, priests and shamans, magicians are usually more pragmatic-they don't care much about racial barriers, and they don't care which country they serve, do they? "

Xia Houyan snorted softly: Due to the conflict between elemental beliefs and God of War beliefs, magicians and shamans are naturally at odds, and there are not many human magicians who work in the Glorious Federation; however, there are indeed many human magicians who let go Regardless of the blood feud between the two clans for thousands of years, they went to the territory of the southern demon clan to earn the demon clan's sword.

Of course, he thinks that Shuangfengling's own foreign policy is actually very practical like a magician.

"All in all, I personally knocked on the door of Master Xilian Samonen, and was warmly welcomed by the old mage. Master Xilian warmly introduced his research project to me... Guess what, he What are you researching at home?"

Xia Houyan knew that Hyde was waiting for him to continue asking questions, but he didn't speak.

"Old Mr. Xilian Samonen is studying a different world! Another world!" Hyde said with a smirk, his thin face distorted like a crazy beast due to excitement, "I don't know if you know—between the void and black domain, scattered There are many planes similar to our Haven Continent, and summoning magicians like Xilian and Arthur Summeren summon alien creatures from other planes in the void and black domain to assist them in fighting But that day, Master Xilian told me that he suspects that there may be other, more mysterious and ancient worlds outside the void and black realm, in an extremely distant dimension, where the tide of elemental power may even have completely disappeared. Dissipated, leaving only the mortal country like a stranded beach! Can you imagine, a world without elements and gods at all!"

"It is indeed possible." Xia Houyan said lightly, "But this is at best just Master Xilian's conjecture, and there is no evidence."

"Ha, evidence, that's what I want to say! Master Xilian Samonen thinks he has found the evidence!" Hyde laughed, "Of course, he refused to say it at first, but after I used a little Small... strategy... Later, our respected mid-level magister still spoke. He told me that 20 years ago, after he lived in seclusion in the driftwood field, he built a huge, unprecedented and unique The magic detection device is specially used to detect the communication between the planes! Master Sirian claims that whenever any summoning magician on the mainland summons creatures from any plane in the void and black domain, All of this information will be captured and recorded by this detection device!
"In the beginning, Master Xilian built this device to collect enough data to summarize the common characteristics of cross-plane summoning and discover the hidden magic laws... But everything happened nearly three years ago. September, nine hundred and ninety-three years, has changed! On that day, Master Xilian’s detection device simultaneously detected two waves of energy fluctuations from the behavior of interplanetary transmission. The first wave came from the void black area itself , it is huge and vast, but it is not unusual, perhaps some lofty existence close to the level of gods travels between planes. Fluctuations of similar magnitude have been detected many times by Master Xilian, and it is commonplace. But the first The second wave, oh, Master Xilian told me that the second wave of the day was weak but extremely strange, completely different from any one that Master Xilian had ever detected... The master said, This fluctuation comes from an extremely distant plane, even beyond the scope of the void and black domain, as far as the ancient world that no one has set foot in. Since the distance traveled by the plane is too far this time, Master Xilian asserted that from that distant The things that come to the Haven continent from the world can't even have any material form, but can only be...

"...soul." Hyde said slowly.

The study room was a little quiet, the flames on the lampstand crackled, and the air seemed to be freezing.

"Out of curiosity about that distant world, Master Xilian immediately operated the detection device and tracked the destination of this second wave of interplanetary energy fluctuations, and all the clues eventually pointed to the former Blackwater Town of the Empire. Surroundings of the ruins—that is, the undead-infected area known to people today. Unfortunately, Master Xilian’s investigation can only go so far: it is impossible for him to set foot in the undead-infected area full of zombies, and once his own The discovery is made public, and the Supreme Church and the Inquisition, which have always rejected these fallacies and heresies about 'beyond the void and black domain', will definitely come to trouble Master Xilian."

"Very sensible. The Inquisition is not easy to mess with." Xia Houyan said without any emotion.

"It's a pity that Master Xilian was worried for nothing, the Inquisition could no longer find him - he died in my hands that day, and I burned his detection device... After all, Information that is only known to me in the world is valuable, right?” William Hyde said complacently, “However, at the time, I didn’t know what the use of this seemingly precious mysterious information was. It was hidden in the bottom of my heart. However, after meeting you in Burning Crystal Canyon, I grabbed it from the back of my mind. In those days, I went through various documents like crazy, and sent several batches I went to Frost Maple Ridge to do investigation work... Heaven pays off, I finally found out that the Igor family relocation convoy you led set off from Eagle's Rest Castle in July 93 and went all the way south through the Central Plains of the Empire. , and Master Xilian detected the cross-plane fluctuation on September [-]th, your convoy just arrived at the edge of the undead infected area. After that, you seem to have accidentally entered the infected area for some reason—I I haven't found any detailed information about the relevant incidents—but what I can confirm is that by the time you walked out of the infected area, Elliot Igor was a bit of a different person, resolutely deciding to take on the responsibility of the family lord. Is this true? Is it just a coincidence? Sir Elliot Igor, Duke of Frost Maple Ridge, or should I call you by your previous name in another world?"

Xia Houyan leaned back in his chair, looking at Hyde playfully:

"So, this is the information you want to use to trade with me? A fantasy story about me actually being a 'guest from another world'?"

"This information is quite valuable, isn't it?" William Hyde put his hands in the pockets of his silk vest, staring at Xia Houyan without blinking, "Think about it, once the Lord of Frost Maple Ridge is not the real What kind of uproar will the news of Elliot Igor' spread out? Even a master of magic like Arthur Summernen was rejected by the Inquisition and the magic world for communicating with other worlds. And in the face of a real visitor from another world, even pretending to be a noble lord, what kind of severe measures will the empire take?"

"Is this your plan?" Xia Houyan laughed dumbfounded, "Use such absurd and nonsensical rumors to blackmail me and blackmail me?"

"Whether what I said is a 'rumor', you know very well." Hyde shrugged, "And I must remind you that the reason why Frost Maple Ridge and the Igor family are loyal to you is that you are Eliot Igor is the sole heir of Vincent Igor and the legal lord of the empire. If they find out that you are not the original Eliot, will anyone choose to abandon you? "

Xia Houyan smiled and replied:
"I tend to think that people are loyal to me not because of who I am, but because of what I do."

"Would you like to take a gamble?" Hyde asked softly.

For a while, the room fell silent again, and the soundproof runes on the door shone faintly.

"I want you and the empire to let me leave Shan Chagang safely. I also want [-] gold coins—I know you guys in Frost Maple Ridge can afford it." William Hyde finally bared his fangs like a jackal catching prey, "I also want the manufacturing blueprints and technical blueprints for the 'Apocalypse' chariot, as well as the recipes for 'Flame Sandwich Candy' and 'Big Ivan'. You, Frost Maple Ridge, must have the blueprints for the empire's main battle siege equipment, and I have all of them." Yes. As long as you give me the things I said, I can keep the secret about your identity—now that Xilian Samonen is dead, I am the only one who knows these things in the whole continent. I don't mind making a confidentiality agreement with you Magic contract, but correspondingly, you must first make a contract to ensure my safety and give me what I want."

"My God, you want to extort these things from me. Are you ready to take these technical blueprints as a certificate of honor and vote for Mingzhu after you leave Shanchagang?" Xia Houyan laughed loudly, "You want to return to glory?" The Federation still wants to go to the Demon Race—I think they should be very interested in our technology in Frost Maple Ridge."

"Where I will go has nothing to do with you." Hyde said with a grin. "You see, I have always held my destiny in my own hands, and now, you can also consider your own destiny."

"What if I say, I refuse?" Xia Houyan stared fixedly at Hyde, "What if I say that I am not a person who likes to be coerced?"

"Then you just wait for your identity to be leaked to every street and alley in Haven mainland. I don't believe that people in Haven have any affection for outsiders. No—don't even think about attacking me, I know you really do." Let me die with a secret now, so I have already prepared." William Hyde quickly wiped under the table, and in an instant, there was a brand new seahorse hand crossbow in his hand, shiny and clean. The point of the crossbow arrow was aimed at Xia Houyan.

"If you kill me, you won't get any benefits." Xia Houyan glanced at the crossbow in Hyde's hand, and said coldly.

"It's just a necessary precaution. If you insist on going to hell with you, I don't mind going to hell with you." Hyde shrugged indifferently, "But of course I prefer to communicate with you in a civilized way—even if it's two A civilized person from a different world. You give me what I want, I keep your secrets, you continue to be your lord of Frost Maple Ridge, and I can have a bright future - I can't see how to refuse this The reason for the transaction."

"Do you really think you can scare me with a hand crossbow?" Xia Houyan said with a cold expression, "You'd better not shoot this arrow in a wrong direction, otherwise I can blow your head off right away."

"As usual, of course I have a second layer of insurance." William Hyde grinned while holding the hippocampus hand crossbow, and kicked a mechanism under the table with his foot.

Accompanied by a harsh rubbing sound, the bookshelf behind Hyde slowly moved away, revealing a deep tunnel hidden behind it.

At first, Xia Houyan didn't feel that there was anything in the secret passage, but then, a heavy and hollow footstep came from the depth of the secret passage.

As the footsteps got closer, a warrior in a strong blue robe came out from the darkness of the secret passage with a long sword in hand.

The samurai's eyes burning with hatred and his long pointed ears reminded Xia Houyan of the other party's identity immediately:

"General Virgil?"

In his vague memory, this elf general was considered to have unfortunately died in the Burning Crystal Canyon due to the collateral damage caused by the "Hercules" air strike.

"To be precise, it was General Virgil who was first kidnapped and lured to the front line by you, and then was ruthlessly bombed by your empire's 'friendly forces'." While William Hyde was speaking, the Elf General of Eternal Sun City next to him pointed his nostrils. Breathing heavily, "I know that I may not be able to beat you alone. After all, I also know the glorious deeds of you beating your duel opponents in the imperial capital. However, General Virgil is very happy to fight with you Be my bodyguard once when I face you—in my opinion, it’s really self-defeating if you do many injustices, what do you think?”

Xia Houyan narrowed his eyes to examine General Virgil and William Hyde.Judging from the resentment in General Virgil's eyes, if William Hyde hadn't stopped him, he would have rushed over and smashed the lord of Frost Maple Ridge into pieces.

Regardless of how General Virgil survived the bombing of the "Hercules" at that time, the elf general who once commanded the "Fengyun Brigade" seems to be no longer the same person-now, General Virgil seems to have abandoned his homeland , and turned to serve the Glorious Federation and William Hyde.

Thinking of this, Xia Houyan suddenly realized that behind the mutiny of the elf "Fengyun Brigade" that dealt a heavy blow to the Imperial Army at the end of last year, there may be the shadow of General Virgil who incarnated the god of revenge: the soldiers of the "Fengyun Brigade" at that time As if suddenly possessed by a demon, they openly betrayed the empire on the front line of the Burning Crystal Canyon and scattered, seriously hurting the low morale of the imperial army; even to this day, most of the members of the "Fengyun Brigade" at that time are still missing , many of the elf soldiers are believed to have gone to Thorn City to join the federal orcs.

If it was General Virgil, who was obviously in collusion with Hyde, and planned all this in secret, then there would be a reasonable explanation for the original mutiny scandal: as long as General Virgil wrote a personal letter, the "Wind and Cloud Brigade" loyal to the leader Of course, the elf soldiers would turn their guns without saying a word.

However, compared to General Virgil's conspiracies against the empire, Xia Houyan is more concerned about his own force at the moment:
William Hyde, who carried a hand crossbow, was fine, but General Virgil, the former head of the "Storm Brigade", was a genuine elite warrior.Xia Houyan knew well that his three-legged cat kung fu was good enough to deal with some useless nobles, but he must not be able to please them in front of these two people; even, as long as he made a slight change, General Virgil would definitely be able to kill him on the spot kill.

——If it was Alice Comstock and the two magicians, of course they could take care of the two offal as they wished, but at this time, Xia Houyan couldn't call the three waiting outside the door because of the existence of the sound-proof rune. horse boy.Considering the distance factor, even if they can warn them, it may not be able to quench their thirst.

The reason why Hyde placed General Virgil here is obviously to add a layer of "coercion" double insurance in addition to "lure", so as to force Xia Houyan to accept the deal.

"You and I don't want any bloody incident that can't be ended today, right? It's all harmful but not beneficial." William Hyde pointed to the sharp sword in General Virgil's hand with his left hand, and said quietly, "My lord , as long as you agree to my conditions—and return Lord Virgil’s wife to him, everything in the past can be written off.”

Xia Houyan looked at the Hippocampus hand crossbow in Hyde's hand, then squinted at General Virgil, who was full of hatred and said nothing, and folded his arms and said:
"It doesn't look like I have much choice?"

"Yes." Hyde said almost cruelly, "You have been dazzled by the long-term victories and glory, so you arrogantly chose to come to my site, dreaming of a heroic dream of 'going alone'... Now , It's time for you to pay for your arrogance."

"I want to confirm first..." Xia Houyan lowered his eyes and said, "No one else on the mainland knows the 'secret information' you have?"

"I can swear that I'm the only one—I still have the sincerity to do business." Hyde said, "Even Mr. Virgil doesn't know what I'm talking about, right, Mr. Virgil?"

The elf general at the side snorted coldly.However, from his slightly confused eyes, it seems that General Virgil, who has been hiding in the deepest part of the secret passage, really did not hear a single word of the conversation between Xia Houyan and Hyde - this is of course also due to Hyde's careful arrangement: Every time one more person in the world learns the true identity of the Duke of Shuangfengling, the value of the top-secret information in his hand will decrease accordingly.

"My lord of Shuangfengling, I am completely thinking of you! I am the good friend who wants to help you keep the secret!" Hyde tilted his head exaggeratedly, "So, what is your answer? Yes Agree to my terms, or let me reveal the secret to the world, or are you simply going to touch Lord Virgil's sword?"

"I hope you reject him." General Virgil, who had remained silent all this time, spoke, perhaps because of the aftereffects of being bombed by "Hercules" and being burned by flames, General Elf's voice was extremely hoarse and unpleasant, "In this way, I have a reason to The sword killed you, little human bastard of the Igor family."

"General Virgil, why is this necessary?" Xia Houyan turned his head when he heard the words, and looked at General Virgil who was about to move his sword in his hand, "As the elf general of Eternal Sun City, do you really want to betray the empire and Anya?" Your Majesty, go to work for William Hyde, a despicable human traitor? Leaving aside the affairs of the empire, but there is not much personal hatred between us, right?"

"No deep hatred? No deep hatred?! Hahahaha!" General Virgil laughed wildly, his scarred cheeks twisted violently, "Eliot Igor! The one who sent someone to kidnap my Wendy , is it you?"

"People are in the rivers and lakes, they can't help themselves." Xia Houyan shrugged and said apologetically, "If you were in my position, you would make the same choice..."

General Virgil let out a loud roar.He raised the sharp blade in his hand, pointed at Xia Houyan tremblingly, and said angrily:
"Little thief...I swear to kill you...!"

Xia Houyan knew that the final negotiation with General Elf had failed.He was silent for a while, then shook his head, turned to Hyde and said:

"Mr. William Hyde, I must admit that your plan is good. For an unlucky "Governor of the Occupied Area" who was besieged in a small town on a hill, it can be regarded as a rare lifeline. But, I I think you missed two things...you missed two very fatal things."

"Two o'clock?" Hyde's tone suddenly became sharp, as if a mouse was suddenly stepped on its tail.

"The first point is that I am not a person who likes to be pointed at by arrows to make deals. If you ask me about my choice, I would rather let everyone die together than agree to the enemy's conditions under duress. You will not easily hand over the scientific research results of the territory for nothing. If you want to blackmail me with something, you are looking for the wrong person." Xia Houyan smiled and said, "As for the second point... If you want to know this point, it is true It is not within your ability. Mr. Hyde, you also know that I have studied in the mage academy city, but I am a junior magician, right? But I guess from your point of view, my shallow magic practice is not enough for you There is no trouble in front of General Virgil..."

"Can you?" Hyde snorted angrily, but there was an indescribable and inexplicable panic behind the contempt, as if he was vaguely aware of a huge problem that was emerging.

"It was originally impossible. It is said that at such a close distance, facing a master like General Virgil, no junior mage has the slightest chance of winning... But, you probably don't know, the last time in Rock Creek City At that time, an old man named Bartholomew de Hashi showed me his skills, taught me by example, and I finally learned something new. Although I can't do instant magic like him, after my humble Practicing hard, chanting mantras in my heart while talking to you to achieve silent hair, at any rate, I have succeeded a few times..."

Before Xia Houyan finished speaking, General Virgil, who instantly realized the danger, tightened his expression, and rushed towards Xia Houyan with a sword—but no matter how fast the elf general moved, it would not be as fast as Xia Houyan had already prepared The tutor-level magic of -

A pitch-black "Bite of the Nether" shot out from Xia Houyan's palm, and suddenly hit General Virgil's chest. The experienced general of Yongsun City did not even make a sound, and fell over because of a heart explosion. On the ground——

How amazing is the power of mentor-level necromancer magic!

——At the same time that General Virgil was being recruited, Xia Houyan had already yelled out the shorter ancient spell of "Ghost Arrow".The ghostly magic power shot out from his fingers rushed towards William Hyde like a dragon crossing a river.Even though Hyde reacted very quickly and dodged desperately to the side, the magic arrow that exudes a gloomy cold air still pierced through his right arm, blasting out a death scorched black covered with hoarfrost, and also smashed the hippocampus he was holding. The hand crossbow fell to the ground.

However, the crossbow arrow fired by Hyde when he pulled the trigger at a critical moment just flew out obliquely against Xia Houyan's body, pierced into the wall with a "poof" and trembled continuously—and Xia Houyan didn't even look at it.

"No! No! Don't!" William Hyde, who fell on the ground, struggled and shouted hoarsely. He didn't know whether it was because of the pain caused by necromancer magic or the unwillingness in his heart. His voice had mutated into some kind of sharp scream, "No ! No! Don't!"

"History has proved that anyone who despises magicians will pay the price, won't they?" Xia Houyan kicked away General Virgil's body, stood in front of William Hyde who was rolling on the ground, and looked down at the situation with pity. A "Governor of the Eastern Occupied Area", "Mr. Hyde, you are right, the long-term victories and glory have indeed dazzled me, but at the same time, these victories and glory as the lord of the territory have also made you Some forget that besides being a model lord, I am also a pretty good magician."

Shamelessly attribute the gift of Brother Hades to his own achievements, Xiahou Daguan, picked up the brass lion lampstand from the desk beside him, and said to Hyde on the ground with a little emotion:

"How amazing is fate. When I first came to this world, I saw a lion lampstand of the same style. I didn't expect you to have one here too—this thing is probably a best-selling model back then? But It doesn't matter anymore..."

Holding the brass lampstand, he stepped over to William Hyde, who was in pain with his arms, and raised the lampstand high:
"...it will be the last thing you see in this world."

Then, he slammed it hard on Hyde's head.