Alien world

Chapter 1103 25. Fooling Girardi
"Since you're so worried, why don't you help him more."

Annan shook his head, "I'm not a fool. If I get too involved I'll be tied to the kingdom's chariot. When the ratmen attack, we'll be easily trapped."

Annan could accept an alliance and some help, and even accept debts owed, but it could not accept Free City being dragged into the quagmire of war.

There are now more than 300,000 citizens and thousands of professionals in Liberty City. The school is expanding. The gains from the previous war are enough for them to digest for several years, so it is not suitable to start any more wars.

Speaking of this, Olmedo remembered something: "Archduke Girardi came to Liberty City again."

"When?"

"He arrived not long after we returned."

He is worthy of being called the Grand Duke “Squirrel”.

This Grand Duke of Montabullock, who was supported by the Free City himself, was similar to Vitalig. I don't know if he was traumatized by the Mad Dog Grand Duke, or he just loved the Free City too much. He ran to the Free City all day and wanted to merge the Principality into the Free City.
If Annan hadn't refused, he would have done so.

So much so that Grand Duke Girardi took the blame for Annan - the people of the principality looked at the wealth and beauty of the people of Free City on the other side of the city wall, and complained why Free City was not allowed to incorporate the principality into its territory.

The nobles were not affected. They were rich and could buy a house in Gem Bay with their wealth, and naturally became citizens of Free City.

Civilians also have their own little wisdom. In addition to various ways of smuggling, the most ingenious one is undoubtedly that the "Gem Bay" boundary marker placed on the border between the two places is always found to be inexplicably moved several hundred meters towards the Principality.

If a passing merchant had not happened to discover how the boundary marker had ended up in the principality, there would have been several more villages and towns in Gem Bay by now.

The more Montabullock complained about Liberty City, the more confident the outside world was about Liberty City. Other rising star forces wanted to control all the forces around them like a male dog in heat. Liberty City, on the other hand, didn't have time to dodge, and could spit out anything it put into its mouth.

Because of this, the Empire did not take much precautions against the Free City and sent envoys to tell them earnestly that you are a part of Middle-earth and should assume the responsibility of guarding the border.

The implication is to let Annan develop his territory so that when ratmen and demons come from the northwest, he can take the lead.

Annan is not that stupid. If the rat people come, he will be the first to run. If they want to run, he will be the first to run.

But the addition of more than 300,000 citizens is indeed a problem...

Annan rubbed his chin and thought, "Will the Principality of Montabullock be interested in the Guardian?"

Olmedo slapped away Annan's groping hand and said, "You want to cultivate the principality?"

"They are to our north. If the ratmen go south, they will either bypass Rekhaner or capture Rekhaner. Then it will be the old land that is flat, and then the principality."

Assisting the Principality of Montabullock is just as important as assisting the Kingdom of Rekanel, or even more important.

Liberty City is currently positioned as a trading city. With people and money, nothing is more important than development. Others go to fight, and I make money by myself. They still have to thank me for my timely help.

"Let's do it. Where is Girardi?"

"Morning Tavern."

……

I don’t know why, but the Dawn Tavern is not well-known among the people, and its business is much worse than the Morning Breeze Tavern next door, but many people who know Annan are willing to stay here.

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that they heard Annan got his start in the Dawn Tavern?
Noon at the seaside is always dazzling. Annan walked into the Morning Tavern, whose windows were blocked with wooden boards.

The store manager Wood was wiping the tables at the front desk, and the assistant store manager Martin was on the night shift. There was a card game on the left side of the pub, and there was also a card game on the right side.

Annan walked to the counter first: "A glass of lemonade."

"I'll be right there." Wood happily turned around and prepared.

Annan raised his head and looked around, and paused for a moment when he saw the "Vampire Savior" banner hanging above the wine cabinet.

"How does it feel to be a hero?"

"That's great!" Wood placed the lemonade in front of Annan. The rising bubbles were as refreshing as summer. He continued, "I feel like I have a group of relatives and friends. They care about me, tell me their true feelings, and I help them..."

Wood did not become the master of those people because of donating the blood of the first embrace, which was good for Wood and those people.

After chatting for a while, Annan asked, "Is Girardi here?"

"there."

He pointed to the board to the right.

In the center of the table, Archbishop Girardi, dressed in aristocratic attire, was playing cards happily with the people.

Annan walked over and patted Girardi's face, who was still annoyed by losing the game.

"Let's talk?"

……

"I like it here. Only they don't care about my identity. They beat me unscrupulously, force me to drink, and drag me to find charms..." Grand Duke Girardi spoke with a smell of alcohol.

In the corner of the tavern, Annan and Girardi sat opposite each other.

Annan pushed the lemonade over and said, "Don't you care about the principality?"

Girardi froze, and kept turning the lemonade cup around like a big boy who had been wronged: "I feel like they all look at me strangely... they think I'm a puppet..."

"So you gave up on yourself?"

Girardi lowered his head, and Annan sighed: "You are still not confident enough."

"confidence?"

"That's right. If your enemy is against you, it means you are doing the right thing. If your enemy supports you, it means you are doing even more right. If your friend supports you, it means you are doing the right thing again. If your friend is against you, it means he is actually your enemy. If a stranger supports you, it means you are doing the right thing. If a stranger does not support you, it means he is sent by the enemy."

“If enemies, friends, and passers-by all support you, it means you are on the right path.”

"Is... is that so?" Girardi looked confused.

"Why do you think I succeeded?" Annan spread his hands. "A few years ago, I was just a little kid in the countryside of the North... the King of the North. But now, I am a guest of honor in the Empire, a future ally of the elves, and the victor of Rak'ar."

Even though this statement has many loopholes, the fish that has slipped through the net is standing right in front of us.

Girardi liked to listen to others, so he believed it: "Can I... be like you?"

"Why not? Did you see it?" Annan said, pointing at the counter.

Girardi turned his head and saw the "Vampire Savior" banner behind Wood, who nodded and smiled at him.

Looking back, Annan pointed at himself and said, "I am the coward killer."

"Your problem is that the nobles of the principality pretend to obey you but actually disobey you. I can't command them. Then I will give you a group of golems that will obey you completely..."

Annan praised the Guardian as if whoever possessed the golem would possess the principality.

The desire that Girardi expressed represented half of his success, but the subsequent embarrassment represented the unsuccessful half: "I have not been taking care of my official duties, and I don't know how much money the principality has... It's probably not enough."

"It doesn't matter. Those nobles are rich. You can pick out a few troublemakers and confiscate their property, or exchange them for mineral resources. You can even buy them on credit first..."

"You are so nice..." Girardi said with emotion.

Annan patted his shoulder and said, "After all, we are allies who are as close as brothers."

(End of this chapter)