Lord of War

  The royal capital has always been a symbol of the pinnacle power of a country.

It may not be an economic center, nor a cultural center. After all, it is not the capital of any country, and it can be a typical representative in many aspects, but the capital of a country is definitely the center of power of a country and the center of the entire country. Spiritual symbol.

  The royal capital of the Kingdom of Ryan was finally completed by several generations of talents. It was once the economic, cultural, and power center of the entire Kingdom of Ryan. It was not until the first time that the kingdom was defeated and became a vassal state. King Ryan lost these laurels. However, after the war against Darbion was over and the kingdom's status was regained, even though the city of Ledesne is still not the economic center of the entire Kingdom of Lane, it has indeed regained the two crowns of culture and power.

  However, since the death of the sixth king of Ryan, the seventh king has not been elected. Now, this city with a history of hundreds of years is now plunged into a haze.

  It's just this kind of haze, and it's mostly unfounded worry.

A group of aristocrats who were fed and had nothing to do gathered together, and then they thought they knew very well about the throne inheritance; and the servants who served in order to show their own special status, they also regarded these specious contents as talks. Said it out; then, just like a plague, false news and so-called inside stories spread out in the entire capital city.

  Only the real high-level people who can now be regarded as the mainstay of the Ryan Kingdom or the nobles with unique abilities that people cannot ignore can they know the truth of the facts.

  Unlike the chaos circulated in the outside world, the current competition gap for the throne candidates is actually not messy at all, and some clues can even be seen faintly.

  Different from what many people expected, the candidate with the highest administrative score was not Arlan, Frcis, Adams, etc., but the five prince Grenn who joined the contenders halfway through.

  The political talent shown by the youngest prince is far higher than that of the third prince Arlan and the fourth princess Frcis. Although the handling and arrangement of some things were not smooth enough because of their young age, they were still a little bit inadequate in the decision-making of many major events. Often it can hit the core sharply, and the proposed countermeasures can also solve the urgent need and properly ensure the smooth operation of the affairs.

   However, even though the administrative score is extremely high, he can only be ranked third in the ranking of candidates.

   Ranked second is [Lane's Heart] Vulhis. The reason why her comprehensive score can be ranked second. All thanks to her incredible approval rating. Up to now, in the case of having to stand in line, Vulsis almost has the terrible approval rate of more than two-thirds of the nobles of Ryan. If it were not for the civilians who did not have the right to vote, I am afraid the current Vulsis It should be the well-deserved seventh king of Ryan-or the queen.

   Ranked first is the third prince Arlan.

  His administrative score is inferior to Grain, and his military score is inferior to Adams. The approval rating is also not as good as that of Forchys. But the most rare thing is that he does not have any obvious shortcomings, so his overall score is naturally the highest.

Although Grain has a high administrative score, he is like an idiot in terms of military affairs. He doesn't even understand the most basic way of deployment. Although Fulches has a very high approval rate, it is also because she is more effective in dealing with people. Neutralization is not radical and can take into account the interests of many people, but she is not excellent in terms of political or military capabilities. Even saying "Mediocre" is a bit reluctant.

  As for the eldest prince Adams, this guy is a completely typical contrast with Grain-except for military capabilities. He is useless. As a commander, general, he is the best candidate, but if he is allowed to govern a country, no one is willing to support him except his supporters of the northern aristocracy. Even the few banquets he held in the king's capital were few participants, and many nobles didn't want to get involved with this moody and reckless tyrant.

  ……

   "If there is no accident, your Highness, you should be able to become the seventh king of Lane."

  Arlan stood in front of a huge floor-to-ceiling window, looking up at the scenery outside.

Compared with what Sean had seen before, Arlan now has a calm, confident and indifferent temperament. If Sean sees His Royal Highness Arlan again at this time, then he will find him and the previous old king. There are many very similar overlaps.

  This kind of concealed high-ranking aura has become more and more like a real kingdom ruler.

  At this moment, the place where Arlan is located is also the study room that the old king liked the most.

What    said, it was not Arlan’s personal attendant, the elf swordsman, Fannie.

  But the Marquis of Floris, who has been serving as the personal faithful minister of the former His Majesty the King.

  He wore a well-tailored black dress, which was not the style loved by the nobles, but the dress style more like a housekeeper. For a marquis of real power behind his back, wearing this kind of clothes is not a symbol of properness, but more like a servant, which is almost a kind of humiliation. Just looking at the expression of the Marquis of Floris, it is obvious that he has no resistance to this kind of dress.

"So, my sister has given up the competition?" Arlan did not reply immediately, but continued to stare at the busy traffic outside the window, and then said after a long time, "She is now my most powerful contender. If we continue to fight, It’s really hard to tell who will kill you.... She must have some other thoughts when she gives up at this time? Let’s talk about her conditions."

"You know, there is a feast between Grand Duke Asuna and His Royal Highness Adams..." When the Marquis of Flores said this, he carefully observed Arlan. After seeing his expression as usual, he didn't seem to dislike it. After the expression, he continued: "Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that His Royal Highness Adams will not take any coercive actions against Grand Duke Asuna. This is the first point."

   "Continue." Arlan nodded slightly, indicating that he had heard it.

  "Princess Fulcis will move out of the royal capital and go to the territory of Grand Duke Asuna. I hope you will allow this." The Marquis of Flores continued.

  According to traditional rules, after the struggle for succession to the throne fails, unless they are those who sacrificed in the competition, they will usually leave the capital. However, only a very small number of people have the power to choose where to go. The vast majority of people will be placed in a territory directly under the management of the royal family under centralized and unified management. In addition to still retaining the status of nobility, these people are basically equivalent to losing their freedom, and their descendants want to return again. The power center of the royal capital requires several times more effort than others.

  However, there is one key point in this tradition. That is all female royals. Both must abide by an ancient contract: to become victims of a political marriage, they must unconditionally obey the husband chosen for them by the current king. Of course, it’s okay to refuse. The Kingdom of Lane is not so inhuman, but since it refuses the obligation, then the result will be deprived of the status of the royal family and nobles, and also need to pay a "compensation fee" to compensate the royal family for so many years of nurturing.

  Her Royal Highness Princess Fulhis. Has a high reputation. Moreover, she is the best choice in terms of appearance and figure. If she fails to compete for heirs, she will become a very valuable political bargaining chip.

   "Yes." This time, Arlan was silent for a while before nodding and agreeing, "Anything else?"

"There is one more requirement." The Marquis of Flores said, "His Royal Highness hopes that after you become the king, you can open some trading policies that restrict the development of the duchy...including import and export restrictions on some products. . And the right to purchase rare products."

   "This requires further negotiation." Arlan did not immediately agree this time, but instead chose a reserved response.

  For Arlan’s choice. Floris also expressed understanding.

  "Master Flores, if my sister leaves, what choice will you make?" Arlan said suddenly.

"I think His Royal Highness Arlan should not be assured that I will continue to stay, so I have basically arranged the related transfer procedures and work, and I can definitely let your designated heirs regain control of everything within a month." Lorris seemed to have known this for a long time, so he replied simply, "But before that, I want to remind His Royal Highness.... Regarding the assassination of His Majesty the King, and the previous series of conspiracy and assassination incidents in the capital, so far There is still no clues or clues. The other party doesn't seem to act personally, but implements the plan by buying murder, so..."

   "I see." Arlan nodded slightly, and a haze flashed in his eyes with his back facing Floris, his face gloomy as if dripping water.

Not long ago, he had encountered an assassination. If it wasn't for Vannie's keen sense of smell, coupled with the hidden strength, he had made the opponent's estimation wrong and faced that perfect to extreme siege. He estimated that there was no hope of surviving. But even so, he still suffered some injuries, and he gradually got better after he was raised for a while, and Vannie was injured in order to protect him, which kept Arlan suffocating anger.

  In that assassination, all the evidence directly or indirectly pointed to Vulhis.

  But Arlan is not a fool. His political sense of smell is far superior to that of his younger brother Grenn, who has a unique talent in politics, so he didn't directly tear his face with Folhis. Obviously, some people hope that the most direct conflict between Arlan and Fulhis will break out, and if you guess according to the thinking of this kind of third-party profiteer, the layout person is likely to be Grain.

  However, Arlan was not inferior to Vulhis as to the degree of understanding of this younger brother, so he knew that this was also impossible. Even based on this matter, he was able to draw a conclusion: assassinating the old king, trying to raise the level of internal fighting among the four heirs, so as to provoke the entire Kingdom of Lane, the conspirator who would not be one of the four heirs. one.

   "Marquis Floris, you should be very clear, right?"

   "I know." Marquis Floris nodded.

  "Isn't my sister planning to intercede for you?" Arlan finally turned his head and looked directly at the Marquis of Floris.

At this moment, the Marquis of Flores smiled: "The mercy of Her Royal Highness Princess Evrches, of course, is to intercede for me. In fact, my life can be regarded as an exchange content. But... I don't think there is any. Meaning, because you cannot agree to such a request, Your Highness Arlan, after all, I know too many secrets."

   "If you stay and help me, then this is not undiscussed."

   "His Royal Highness Arlan, thank you for your kindness, but the object of my loyalty is not the Kingdom of Lane. It is the last King of Lane." Floris smiled very contentedly.

   "I understand." Arlan nodded slightly, "But before you officially leave, Marquis Floris, I have one thing I want to ask you."

   "Your Majesty, you are polite." The Marquis of Floris was a little frightened.

  "You should know the latest thing about Grand Duke Shaun, right?"

  The face of the Marquis of Floris became a little weird.

  As the intelligence chief of the Kingdom of Lane who has not officially left. He is also a great figure who controls one-third of the underground dark forces in the entire kingdom. Naturally, Floris knew a lot of news. Even when the tribes of the Barren Lands that had already taken refuge in the Void Principality suddenly rioted, he already knew that this incident was a conspiracy led by the Fascist Kingdom, but because the news came too late, plus The riot had already begun, so he didn't have time to remind the Void Principality.

   But what everyone did not expect, the Void Duchy’s response was not only exceptionally timely. Moreover, the methods are extremely simple and neat.

  Until then. Only then did the Marquis of Floris know that the Void Duchy has always hidden a hole card: a super strong!

  It was precisely because of the opening of this hole card that no one thought it was incredible that the Void Principality would form an empire afterwards. In fact, in the eyes of everyone, the most incredible thing is to have a Void Duchy with a superpower if it does not want to get rid of its status as a vassal state and upgrade to an empire. But facing this is a matter of normal choice in everyone's eyes. But it also made countless people feel unusually worried and helpless.

  Void Principality, when did it start? Become so powerful?

Nobody knows.

  In the eyes of many people, the mystery of the Void Principality has not disappeared with the passage of time and people’s understanding of this principality and that Grand Duke, but has become deeper and deeper.

"I know." The Marquis of Floris nodded, "According to the information I have heard, there may be more than one super power in the Void Principality.... Just about half a month ago, Grand Duke Sean had been completely thorough. Occupying the wild fortress of the Millennium Covenant Empire, almost all of the main force of the Void Principality are now stationed here, and successfully resisted an invasion by an undead army. After that...they declared war on the Kingdom of Fascism."

  Arlan’s pupils shrank slightly, but the sudden loss of consciousness was quickly calmed down by him: "What was the size of the undead army that time?"

  As for the Void Duchy’s declaration of war on the Kingdom of Fascism, Arlan naturally also knows, this matter is not a secret at all, after all, Sean is directly and honestly preaching. Of course, the outside world guessed that this was because Sean could not perform surprise attacks on the Fascist Kingdom. After all, this time it was a mighty 300,000 army set off. There was no way to hide the movement so great, so it was better to declare war directly.

  As the Kingdom of Ryan, Arlan, who is almost the default next king, knows better than others. At present, the kingdom of Ryan is close to the border of the Fascist kingdom, and the lord and nobles are also a little ready to move. Especially the Lord of Rome, Florence was once the second pioneering knight under Asuna. The Marquis of Wiles personally led the Holy Roman Knights and the Roman Fanatic Legion to move toward the border.

  Furthermore, the Boulder family from the agave collar and the Hobson family with the black mandola collar located on the border of the Fascist kingdom and with skirmish wars all year round have extremely obvious signs of war mobilization. The other is Florence in Rome. After the Marquis of Wiles took action, the private army of the lord from the Baidi family also began to take action. Large-scale strategic resources were constantly mobilized in these four territories, forming a large-scale logistics supply line.

  It was also at this time that the Marquis of Flores suddenly expressed his willingness to withdraw from this election for the throne on behalf of Vulhis.

  Arlan naturally smelled a very unusual smell.

"Three hundred thousand." Floris replied, "I don't know the specific situation of the war, and I don't know the casualty rate, but I can be sure that Grand Duke Sean successfully resisted the invasion of the undead army. And killed a fallen one."

"It seems that there is indeed more than one super strong." Arlan nodded, "Then how much do you know about Grand Duke Shaun's declaration of war on the fascist kingdom? ... His Royal Highness, in It’s a coincidental time to propose a peace talk at this time."

"Grand Duke Sean once sent a secret letter to the Marquis of Florence, although the content is not clear, but I guess it should be related to the life experience of the Marquis of Florence." The Marquis of Flores knew Arlan's expression. The prince must know many things. "After all, Lord Florence was born in the Wiles family of the Kingdom of Fascism, and he was chased by his eldest brother after failing to participate in the Patriarchal Competition. This time it is likely to be his. The battle for revenge."

   "So what about the other people's movements?" Arlan asked with a smile.

"In fact, the others were not in the invitation of Grand Duke Sean, but were invited by Lord Florence." Marquis Floris said, "Master Asuna is actually not in the invitation, but Princess Fulcis His Royal Highness feels that the internal friction caused by such competition is not conducive to the future development of the kingdom, so he intends to take this matter to abandon the competition and return to the Principality of Garrod with Grand Duke Asuna for a long stay."

  "Should the boat go smoothly?" Arlan's eyes narrowed slightly.

  But at this moment, Fannie suddenly appeared in this study room.

Her appearance is obviously very abrupt, but it did not give people any sense of disobedience, as if she had been in this study from the beginning, but everyone had subconsciously ignored her existence until now her sense of existence suddenly increased. At that time, everyone realized that there was another person in the room.

   "What's the matter?" Arlan knew that Vannie would not appear in front of him if there was nothing urgent for Vannie. There must be something important to appear suddenly at this moment.

"About one kilometer from the north gate of the royal capital, a black cavalry unit appeared." Fannie said with a weird face. "Before this, no one had noticed this unit at all, as if they appeared out of thin air. It’s the same. I believe this time, if this troop hadn’t taken the initiative to expose its trail, I’m afraid we would only find out when they appeared under the city gate."

   "What's the matter?" Arlan's face changed slightly, "Mysterious troops? Are there any marks?"

   "There is a flag, it is the church flag, but the mark on the flag is a mark I haven't seen before."

   "What kind of?" asked the Marquis of Floris.

  "Red shading, the top of the square flag is a black meniscus, and the bottom is a black spear inserted into the ground."

"It's the Gun of Darkmoon." Floris's intelligence reserve is indeed much wider than that of Vannie. "It was originally a reserve force of the Twilight Church, but it is now the symbol of the strongest Knight Order of the Twilight Church. ...They should have come for this bone invasion. It's just that... Didn't all the church troops as a support force go directly to the Millennium Covenant Empire? Why did the Twilight Church troops reach us?" (to be continued) ~^~)