From Witcher to Lord of the Empire.

Anyone who is involved in the field of magic can't get around the name "Alzu". He is recognized as a ceiling-level warlock and has achieved countless achievements during his lifetime.

Most notably, he led the Warlock Research Group and pioneered the Witcher Mutation Trials.

And the reason why the gray owl, who is not familiar with magic, can know Arzu's name is that Arzu's influence on the political history of the northern border is too far-reaching.

In the big event that affected the pattern of the northern border, the magic [Alzu Double Cross Summoning] was the protagonist again——

Legend has it that in the last century, Prince Maribor and Duke Elland launched a protracted [Endless War] in order to compete for the throne of Temeria, and swords and soldiers faced each other for generations.

But the war finally ended under the mediation of Alzu, a warlock, and his method of mediation was to use [Alzu's Double Cross Summoning Technique] to summon a salivary demon from another world—a centipede-like appearance with a size that The largest living thing that ever lived.

Then swept the army of the Duke of Ireland.

"Have you learned this spell?" The gray owl made an unbelievable voice. This is a powerful spell that can destroy a city!

If Vigfortez really learned [Alzu Double Cross Summoning], then he would undoubtedly become the strongest warlock in the world, and also the warlock with the most strategic value!

"If I could, then I wouldn't be here with you for so long." Vigfortz smiled mockingly.

The gray owl was immediately disappointed, but at the same time breathed a sigh of relief.

"But you have to know that a new celestial sphere convergence is about to open recently... Maybe you don't understand what it means, but for warlocks like us, this is an excellent opportunity." Vigfortz sneered, "I have always had several bioalchemy projects for monster research, and I have made a big breakthrough recently."

"If these powerful monsters unite with the monsters that have increased recently..."

Vigfortez looked up in the direction of Brokilon Town: "Destroying a city may be difficult, but destroying a town is definitely far beyond. The resulting riots can also create opportunities for you to bring people in to capture Ciriella."

The taupe owl accepted Vigfortz's reasoning.

The two talked about the details of the sneak attack on Brokilon Town, and then the imperial coroner joined his team through the reappeared portal and continued to make preparations for going north.

Until he was the only one left in the study, the calmness that Vigfortz had always maintained finally disintegrated little by little.

He looked at the battle report handed over by Emperor Emhyr, and his body began to tremble uncontrollably.

"Magic teleportation without spells, range magic that killed hundreds of people in an instant burst, and the combat ability of one person raiding tens of thousands of Chinese army camps... It's only been less than two years, less than two years!

"The blood of the ancients actually endowed Lannister with such great power!"

"The blood of the ancients can indeed conquer the world!"

Vigfortz became more confident in his interpretation of the prophecy, and his desire for the blood of the ancients reached a peak at this moment.

"It's coming soon, it's coming soon..."

Vigfortz took deep breaths to calm himself down.

However, he immediately became puzzled: "Why didn't the ancient blood burst out with such a strong force in such a short period of time?"

He dug out a thick tome with a dense and complicated blood genealogy, and he counted the past one by one, recalling the abilities these people had demonstrated in history.

Apart from the first-generation elf sage Laura Doron, the most famous one is just the "prophet" Adalia.And Adalia is just the ability of the traditional magic source level, and the other party finally gave up magic in order to become the queen of Cintra.

After a long time, a realization suddenly flashed in Vigfortz's mind.

"Could it be... because Lannister is a witcher?"

"Alzu's real purpose in studying demon hunters is not to destroy monsters and protect human beings as advertised by the outside world, but to find a shortcut to activate the power of the ancient blood?!"

……

Not to mention what outrageous conclusions Vigfortz, who has become obsessed with the blood of the ancients, has come to.

On the other side, after Lydia Van Braidwalt separated from Wigfortz, she immediately opened the portal and returned to the magic laboratory in Arethusa.

There are canvases everywhere here, on which are all kinds of completed or half-finished oil paintings.

The doors and windows are wide open, and the cool sea breeze and sunlight come in from the outside.

Lydia first looked at the desk in the center of the room. There were several magic notes and textbooks spread out on it; then she turned her gaze and found no one in the room.

The magical phantom covered Lydia's face that was ruined because of the failed experiment, but she knew that her covered face was already frowning at this moment.

"Clang—clang—"

Just at this moment, a heavy bell sounded melodiously from outside the window.

As a former student and short-term faculty member of Arethusa Academy of Magic, Lydia is very familiar with this bell.

This is the "ringtone" for the start of the day at the School of Magic.

And after getting along for a period of time, she has become familiar with it: if Arethusa's female apprentices are in class, then a missing person will return.

So she pulled a stool over, chose a painting that was only half finished, and started mixing paints.

When Ace pushed open the door, he saw Ms. Lydia in a plain dress who was painting.

She sits closest to the window, so the sun can just shine on her body, so that the circle of small pearls around her neckline and the amethyst necklace on her chest flash a clear texture under the light, giving the painter a unique and beautiful look. There is a halo of halo around it.

An indigo tunic wrapped from below Delia's ribs to above her hipbones.She is not the kind of exaggerated plump figure, but rather thin and thin which is rare among sorceress groups, so she doesn't have many curves.

But on the contrary, it is this reserved temperament and lines, combined with her cool temperament, which makes people unable to move their eyes away.

She is painting, but she is like a painting.

As expected of Ms. Lydia, Ace let out a real sigh in his heart.It's not at the same level as those little girls in the Magic Academy.

Hearing the sound of Ace opening the door, Lydia didn't look back, but there was a slight vibration of chaotic energy in the air.

Then a voice came directly into Ace's head.

"Why don't you practice magic?"

Ace paused after hearing the sorceress' question, with a shy expression on his face: "I have encountered some problems, but you are not here, ma'am."

"I know you've been busy recently, so I can only go and discuss with other apprentices to see if I can get some inspiration..."

Lydia still didn't look back: "What's the problem?"

That posture seemed to be fulfilling his duties as a teacher.

"About the portal." Ace's eyes lit up.

Lydia's movements paused, and the paintbrush in her hand stopped smearing: "That's not a spell you should master at this stage, and even many college graduates can't use it freely."

"You should focus on shaping magic, that's what you're good at."

Ace scratched his head: "I see, Ms. Lydia."

Lydia said magically, "This is not the first time we've talked about this."

"Yes, Lady Lydia."

The sorceress recalled the conversation she had had in the secret lab of Vigfortz.

After thinking for a while, she finally turned around and stared at Ace with her almost emotionless eyes.

"You were sent by your earl with high hopes. You are the first sorcerer apprentice in Cintra to start training independently in so many years. You shouldn't waste time like you are now, and you shouldn't be so ambitious."

Lydia seldom, or for the first time, said such a long series of words in one breath.

"Yes, Ms. Lydia." Ace lowered his head obediently, as if he was very shy at Lydia's reprimand.

As for what he thinks in his heart, no one can know.

"However." Ace's face suddenly beamed with joy, "Ms. Triss told me some time ago that your lord is already a duke!"

Lydia didn't respond, just looked at Ace quietly.

Suddenly, a needle-like tingling sensation enveloped Ace's scalp. Ace is still unable to cast spells freely, but he is already familiar with the feeling of chaotic energy.

He knew the mind reading had started again.

Then, the attention began to diverge——

[Ms. Lydia seems to be very busy recently, I don't know what is bothering her.It's a pity that so many beautiful paintings were not completed in time...]

[If you learn the portal, will you have the opportunity to be with Ms. Lydia in the future?At least when she leaves, you can help her open the door to her destination, so that she will be less injured...]

[Speaking of which, Ms. Triss told me that the Lord Duke has gained new powers, and now he seems to be able to perform miraculous repairs on people from the inside out, and even help a skinned demon hunter get newborn……】

[Recently, I heard some rumors about Ms. Lydia, despicable rumors... But if it is true, can the power of the Duke help Ms. Lydia? 】

[Sure enough, I should learn the portal as soon as possible, and sneak back to Sintra to ask about it...]

The feeling of being pricked by needles quickly disappeared.

Lydia, the assistant and private secretary of Vigfortz, looked at Ace quietly, looking at the attendant of the Cintra lion, the descendant of the Cintra knight.

Obviously Vigofortez's plan is to kill lion cubs and lions, and even destroy Cintra...

There was no expression on the face shrouded in the magical phantom.

After a long time, Lydia finally spoke with magic:
"The portal is a very advanced and dangerous spell. In the future, don't practice it secretly without my supervision."

"What's your problem?"

Ace was overjoyed.

A new round of private magic lessons has begun.

But only Ace knew that his thoughts had already flown to Sintra.

I wonder what Lord Lannister is doing now?
-
"Well done, as expected of Lei Suo!"

Sintra Frontline Troops, Center Battalion Tents.

Ten miles away, there are still Nilfgaardian troops confronting the Sintra army, but the atmosphere in the tent has now begun to warm up.

It was really because the news brought back from Lei Suo was too exciting.

Marshal Visekid excitedly rearranged the deployment of troops on the sand table.

"The largest granary of the Nilfgaardians is gone, and their forces must shrink."

"Their troops have already passed the guerrillas and become jittery. According to our information, their various troops outside are now moving as far as possible to the south, around Joachim de Witt."

"The only problem is that that guy has been hiding in the Ortagar Fortress as the commander of the west. It will be very difficult to attack with our troops..."

"No, Marshal." Lann laughed. "With our 'strength', it is the easiest to attack the city now."

Ortaga Fortress is the largest fortress in the south of Sintra.When the territory of Sintra was not so large, this fortress played the role of border guard and guarded against multiple neighboring countries at the same time.

A small town was also built around this fortress, which can accommodate tens of thousands of people at the same time, including civilians, soldiers, merchants, etc.

Now this fortress is full of Nilfgaardians, and the once strongest barrier of Cintra has become Nilfgaard's protection. This is a thorn in the hearts of these Cintra officers—even if Jinsheng has Calanthe, with tens of thousands of troops, may not be able to attack the Ortagar Fortress occupied by the Nilfgaardians.

But at this moment, listening to Lane's words, the eyes of Marshal Vesselkid burst into a gleam.

"Could it be that... Mahakam's armor for the ice giant is ready? Can our war monsters in Sintra roar at the black sun?"

The Marshal was excited, but Lane dismissed his suspicions

"It's almost ready." Lane nodded, "But I don't plan to use Jotun here."

"The height of the Ice Giant is still somewhat disadvantageous when facing the city wall, and the defense equipment is still a bit tricky for him. I plan to put him in the decisive battle with the Central Army in the future, and that will be his stage."

"Then what do you mean?"

Facing the marshal's question, Lan turned his gaze to Sakia who was staring at the sand table intently.

Xiao Longnu seems to be very keen on military knowledge, and has been studying eagerly during this time.

"In the face of a high-walled city, many people will think about more powerful and advanced siege equipment." Lan En said with a smile, "but the best way, isn't it just - fly in?"

"It would be better if they all huddled in the city..."

The Marshal listened to Lann's plan and looked at the Black Sun War Chess on the sand table, his expression kept changing, and finally he no longer had any doubts.

"Lan, do you have a way to replicate the tactics you did in the Eastern Army?"

Blessed to the heart, the marshal suddenly put forward an idea: "That's the one, the one you proposed... Kill the general and capture the flag?"

"This kind of city defense battle, if the general and senior officers are suddenly assassinated, the blow to morale will be far greater than that in field battles."

The marshal's eyes became brighter. He was very greedy, but it was the greed that all Sintra people would have.

But Lane shook his head unexpectedly.

"No, Marshal. I'm not going to do that this time, on the contrary—I'm going to let this Duke of Werther flee and let him go back to Nilfgaard."

The marshal was taken aback for a moment, but quickly realized: "You want to extend the war to politics?"

Lan nodded affirmatively: "There is something that I have always felt is very wrong. When I was in the Eastern Army, they had more abundant arms and equipment, and even a whole army of warlocks led by senior warlocks participated in the battle. But our The Western Group Army on the side—”

Lan spread out his palms: "There is nothing. Everything seems to have returned to the most primitive state of war."

"This is normal for countries in the north, but for Nilfgaard, this is abnormal."

The marshal breathed a sigh of relief, and the "country in the north" seemed to include the former Sintra.

The war at that time was still very traditional and simple.The battlefield is where honor is earned, and it is generally considered an act of weakness among officers and nobles to involve warlocks.

"So it's not that I want to extend the war to politics. I suspect that Emperor Emhyr of the Empire has already used war to continue his own politics."

"His main force is in the Central Army of Marshal Mennonite, and Duke Witte is the cannon fodder. He hopes to eliminate Duke Witte through us Sintra people, and the Western Army is our gift for completing this 'entrustment'; and we are accepting this A gift we can't refuse, and at the same time consume a lot of vitality..."

Marshal Vesekid showed an incredulous expression: "Using tens of thousands of troops as cannon fodder, it's too..."

"Not only them, we are also cannon fodder." Lan En said leisurely, "It's just that we have hidden too much power, too much power beyond the emperor's expectations. This gives us the confidence to accept this 'gift'."

"So many Nilfgaardians, such thick Black Sun blood... is enough to wash away the shame of the Cintra people." Lan narrowed his eyes, "And as a reward, I plan to send his Duke back."

"Is it because Werther is dissatisfied with Emhyr? It's better to keep such a person than to kill him, what do you think?" The marshal also has a rich political mind, and he easily followed Lane.

"But as far as I know, Emhyr's attitude is very tough. What if he directly executed Werther who was defeated and returned to the country?"

Lan En chuckled: "That's good too, isn't it? Anyway, we don't lose money anyway." (End of this chapter)