However, this could only be regarded as suspicion and not evidence. Since Mangrove was willing to take the risk to come here, he must have real evidence. Brando continued to ask, "And then?"
"Then, just a week ago, Cruz's diplomatic group arrived in Erouine," Veronica replied.
"What do you mean?" Brando frowned. This news was not new. A commander of Cruz's army and the first heir to the throne had mysteriously disappeared in the explosion. It was reasonable for Cruz to send a diplomatic group to investigate. It would be strange if they did not. He did not know why Veronica would make an issue out of this. He could not help but look at her suspiciously.
"On the surface, yes." Mangrove put down his pipe and replied slowly, "But the problem is that there's an extra person in this envoy group."
"An extra person?"
"That person is called Donus Burney, a secret envoy of His Majesty. Before he left the Empire, we learned that he came to Erouine to confirm the death of the eldest prince."
Brando seemed to suddenly understand. In other words, there was indeed someone who wanted to confirm the death of the eldest prince, and this person was very likely to be the Silver Empress, because Viscount Burney was one of her confidants. However, he was still a little cautious. The succession of the throne was no small matter, especially for an Empire. He looked at the two people in front of him, thought carefully, and continued to ask, "The appearance of this person can only explain one aspect of the problem. After all, the succession of the throne is not a small matter for the Empire. It is reasonable for them to send someone to confirm the death of the heir."
Veronica glanced at Mangrove, then replied, "Indeed, but we have another witness."
"Who?" Brando was slightly startled. He wondered if these two people had kidnapped someone from the diplomatic group and brought them to his territory. That was a little too bold. Unexpectedly, the female army commander asked, "Brando, do you still remember the Lizardman Sword Saint you met in the Spiral Hall?"
"Jiu," Brando called out the name immediately. The experience of life and death had left a deep impression on him. "I know this person."
"You know it?" Veronica was a little surprised.
Brando nodded. "There aren't many Sword Saints in the first place. Besides, I'm on good terms with the Grey Fin Naga, so I'm not unfamiliar with their enemies. This person is from the Red Ring Lizardmen, and the Red Ring Lizardmen are the servants of the Dark-scaled Naga, so I know him. He was the most famous warrior among the Red Ring Lizardmen when he was young, and he has been a Sword Saint for decades. "
"It's now locked under this hostel."
"What?!" Brando wanted to jump up again. He thought that the guy had escaped back to the Glittering Sea after the explosion. He did not expect that he would become Veronica's captive. But he suddenly realized something and could not help but blurt out, "Could it be …"
Veronica fanned the smoke in front of her with her hand and replied, "Brando, you must not know that the Dark-scaled Naga has formed an alliance with Her Majesty the Silver Queen."
"So …?" A bold idea was forming in Brando's mind.
The female general did not answer, but nodded affirmatively. To her subjects, discussing these issues was treacherous. If she had to say those words personally, it would be no different from treason in their relationship. But that was enough. Everything was logical in Brando's mind. This person was indeed sent by the Silver Queen to assassinate the eldest son of the Emperor, Lenarette.
He could not help but feel a little funny. He originally thought that the other party was targeting him, but now he thought that it was indeed full of loopholes. If the Dark-scaled Naga wanted to find a land ally, how could they choose Anrek, who was like a stray dog? He instinctively thought that since the Grey Fin Naga had formed an alliance with him, then their enemy would naturally find their enemy. But he suddenly realized that his vision was too limited to Erouine. The reality was that the Dark-scaled Naga looked down on Anrek. What they needed was a strategic ally who could support them on land, not an enemy who would cause trouble for Brando.
In this way, Cruz was indeed the best choice, and if the Silver Queen did have the ambition to unify Wohnde, she did indeed need a partner in the ocean.
What's more, when Anrek appeared in the Spiral Hall, his first reaction was that the other party was here to assassinate him. But now that he thought about it, there were some problems. If the Dark-scaled Naga wanted to deal with him, then the best choice should be in Tónigel. Because Tónigel was close to the sea, although it was said to be his base camp, the so-called master in this base camp was actually only his teacher Mephisto. But the Dark-scaled Naga chose to go deep into the Deadly Frost Forest. Not to mention how much trouble it would be for the Sea Lizards and Nagas to arrange an assassination plan deep into the inland, one must know that at that time, Brando had Veronica, Mephisto, and Aloz, three masters by his side. These three were known to the outside world, so the Dark-scaled Naga would not have no news at all.
So, Anrek's appearance there could only be because of another purpose.
What was the purpose?
Of course, it was not to help Anrek. The Dark-scaled Naga was not a charity organization that would support the resistance group in Erouine from thousands of miles away. One must know that this resistance group was related to All For One. But if the Dark-scaled Naga had already formed an alliance with the Silver Queen, then this made sense. Anrek's target could only be the eldest prince of Cruz.
Further to the conclusion, this unlucky Lizardman Sword Saint was very likely caught red-handed by Veronica when he was ambushing the eldest prince. Veronica in history was naturally not Anrek's opponent, but after the battle of the Loop of Trade Winds, the strength of the female army commander had grown very quickly, far surpassing her at the same time in The Amber Sword. So, Anrek thought that it would be foolproof, and in the end, it was not surprising that it was caught off guard.
In just a few breaths, Brando came to this conclusion. Since Veronica was so sure, it meant that Anrek must have confessed everything. After all, it was not a death warrior of Cruz, and it was unlikely that it would not let go.
Brando crossed his hands, and for the first time, seriously considered whether to agree to Veronica's request.
He could help Veronica hide the news of their arrival in Tónigel, because as he said, it was just a small matter. But this time, he had to think carefully. It was definitely an extremely dangerous thing to be involved in the battle for the succession of an empire. For supreme power, the nobles would do anything. In other words, his decision may involve the newborn Tónigel again in danger. Brando did not want to see Cruz's spies appear in the streets of Abies.
But on the other hand, this was indeed an opportunity.
Although if the news that the eldest prince was in Tónigel was leaked, it was very likely to anger the Silver Queen. But in fact, if the Silver Queen was determined to expand, then Erouine, who was close to the Cruz Empire, would bear the brunt. In fact, in fact, in fact, in reality, in fact, in fact, in reality, in fact, in the Cruz Empire, he would first face the thunder of thunder from the Empire. But in fact, if Anrek used this opportunity to rope in the military and even some of the secular forces of the Cruz Empire, when the time comes, if Her Majesty wants to do things her way, then when the time comes, the Cruz Empire will be divided internally, and there may be a civil war.
If that was the case, it would be too exciting. Brando simply wanted to laugh out loud in his dreams.
Not to mention that there was also the Holy Cathedral of Fire. Although there was pressure from the dragons, there was resistance when there was oppression. How could the existence of a supreme existence like Valla be willing to be trampled on by others? The Queen ruled the Cruz Empire for forty years, and he swallowed the humiliation for forty years. Just when liberation was about to be seen, now that the dragons were interfering, it was simply intolerable. Brando felt that if he was in Valla's position, he would not be able to tolerate it. Although Valla was known to be wise and farsighted, even a clay man has three points of temper. If the Holy Cathedral of Fire were to be impulsive, then the civil war in the Cruz Empire would be 70% certain.
Brando was silent for a long time, repeatedly thinking about the details in the details. He was originally not good at these tricks, so he was very slow to think about it. However, Veronica and Mangrove did not seem to be in a hurry. Veronica sat down and took a sip from her teacup. Mangrove, on the other hand, had finally packed the tobacco and lit the fire. He took a deep puff and narrowed his eyes. He seemed to be enjoying it very much.
The room was quiet for a while, and Amandina stared at the two people sitting opposite her lord. She seemed to have heard an extremely ridiculous story before, but this story had now involved all of them. There was no room for her to participate in such an important decision. In fact, she did not dare to speak, and could only wait silently for Brando to make a decision.
Brando finally let out a long breath.
"Other than letting Prince Lenarette stay in Tónigel, what else do you plan to do?" He asked a question.
This already represented a change in attitude. Veronica put down the teacup, sighed softly, and replied, "Not only His Royal Highness, but also Shido and the Folded Sword Knights. Otherwise, there will be too many people, and the news will inevitably leak out. Although they are all students I trust, this matter is too important, and I don't need to let these young people bear the responsibility. "
"You plan to go back to the Empire?" Brando heard a hint of clues.
Veronica nodded, "If Shido and the others can't go back, and I go back to the Empire alone, I will definitely bear the responsibility for the death of the first heir of the Empire and the destruction of the entire Folded Sword Knights. But it shouldn't be a big problem. The heir to the throne has to be prepared for all the unexpected when he goes out to experience the world. This is not unprecedented in the history of the Empire. The responsibility I will bear will only be that of improper command, and will not be aggravated by anger. Otherwise, no one in the Empire will dare to do anything in the future. Everyone understands this truth — the more you do, the more mistakes you make. "
She glanced at Mangrove, "The three noble families in the north have all agreed that the military will do their best to protect me. I think I may be demoted, but I will keep my title. Her Majesty needs a trusted commander, and this is also part of our deal with her. But as long as Lenarette is still alive, there is still a chance for everything in the future. "
Brando glanced at Veronica with some pity. This female commander was considered an outstanding commander in the history of the Empire. It would be a pity if she was left idle because of the internal transaction of the succession of the throne. But this was a good thing for Erouine, not to mention that he had a very small hope in his heart: anyone could see that this commander and his teacher, the Sword of Mephisto, might have some unknown stories. If, and he meant if, in the future, the Silver Queen stirred up trouble in the Empire, and Veronica was left idle, maybe Erouine would have an outstanding duchess in the future.
Although Veronica would certainly not be willing to fight with Cruz, Erouine did not only have Cruz as his opponent, but also Madara. In history, Veronica and Freya had a master-disciple relationship for a period of time, of course, during the period when the two countries were at their best. And if the two could re-establish this relationship in this period of history, and the two goddesses of war, one old and one young, would appear on the battlefield against Madara at the same time.
Brando was simply excited at the thought of it.
But he still said, "But have you two considered a problem? What if the situation is not as you expect, what if the eldest prince does not return to the Empire, and Her Majesty the Empress designates another heir?" Sitting on the sofa, he slowly said these words behind the veil of smoke, appearing very mysterious. Veronica and Mangrove exchanged glances. From their expressions, it could be seen that the two Empire Legion Commanders had considered this question before, but the answer they gave was: "What do you think?"
They still had to take a gamble.
"His Highness the Prince himself agrees?"
Veronica nodded slowly. Brendel understood that it was the Lizardmen Sword Saint's verbal evidence that gave them great confidence. Indeed, the Red Ring Lizardmen had always had nothing to do with the Kirrlutz people, and the sphere of influence of both sides did not intertwine with each other. There was really no need for them to slander the Queen of the Empire.
Brando lowered his eyelids and pondered for a moment. Then he raised his head again, as if he had made up his mind, and said, "Let's discuss the details."
The female commander's eyes were filled with surprise. Of course, she knew how difficult it was for Brando to make such a decision. This matter had nothing to do with him, and this young man probably made such a decision because of their relationship. This made her feel both ashamed and touched. Ever since the incident at the Loop of Trade Winds, it seemed that this young man had been helping her, and she, as his elder, had been causing trouble for him. Thinking of this, Veronica's gaze towards Brando became much friendlier. It was somewhat like a real elder looking at her own family's younger generation.
She sighed, feeling a little ashamed, but she did not know that the whole thing was completely different from what she had imagined. In her mind, an outstanding talent like Brando would always be able to obtain the status of a noble no matter how the situation changed. If he served the Empire in the future, his status might even be higher than it was today. In the eyes of nobles like her, the power of royalty and the power of local nobles were separated. Erouine's fate was the fate of the Erouine Royal Family, and the rise and fall of Erouine had nothing to do with local nobles like Brando.
That was the truth.
But Veronica would never have dreamed that Brando's Kingdom of Erouine was based on the concept of nationality. The Count's considerations were based on the interests of the entire Erouine, so he agreed to this request. In fact, it was a beneficial and harmless hindrance to Tónigel's interests, but it was a more beneficial choice for the entire kingdom. In the eyes of outsiders, Brando suffered a great loss, but Brando himself felt that he had profited greatly.
Brando certainly noticed the change in Veronica's attitude at this time. He also wondered why the female commander would suddenly be so moved, but this was a good opportunity for him. Although it had been confirmed that Prince Lenarette would be given political asylum, there were too many details in it that were worth deliberating. He had to fight for the best compensation for himself.
"I have a request," he said, "The entire Folded Sword Knight Regiment will stay in Tónigel. This is naturally a last resort, but the problem is that this is a Knight Regiment. They are all young and energetic, and there are many of them. If no one manages them, I'm afraid they will become a hidden danger sooner or later. What's more, Tónigel is not their hometown after all. To let these young people live in anonymity thousands of miles away from their hometown for reasons that have nothing to do with their own interests, this is a bit too much. "
He looked at Veronica and interrupted her unfinished words, "I understand, Madam Commander. You want to say that they are soldiers, and soldiers have to obey orders. But soldiers are also people, and now that they have taken off their uniforms, it will only take a while for them to forget order and glory. Without a sense of glory, they are nothing. "
Veronica could not help but shut her mouth after hearing this. She had to admit that what Brando said was very reasonable. She was indeed taking things for granted. Mangrove nodded. He had been in the army for a long time, so he understood the logic of the young man in front of him. He put down his pipe and replied, "What the count said is right. How do you think we should solve this problem?"
"I hope they can take off Cruz's uniform and join my army. As long as they stay in the land of Erouine, they should swear allegiance to me and Prince Lenarette at the same time," Brando replied, "Erouine is going through a drastic change, and there is a place for these young people to show their skills. What's more, the army is a huge collective. Even if such a group is integrated into this collective, it will be difficult for the outside world to know about it. This can also minimize the risk of news leakage. On the contrary, the appearance of hundreds of people in any other place may attract the attention of people with ulterior motives. "
"The most important thing is that these young people will have the opportunity to train in this land. I guarantee that when they return to Cruz in the future, you will get a group of experienced generals, not a group of resentful and useless young people. When Prince Lenarette returns to the Empire one day, these young people who have sworn allegiance to him will become his right-hand men. "Brando stopped his short speech and looked at the reaction of the two corps commanders in front of him.
Mangrove nodded, but Brando suspected that his last sentence had moved the old soldier. Veronica hesitated for a moment. After a while, she said to him seriously, "But you have to promise me that you will protect them. Each of them is my favorite student."
"Just like how I protect Freya," Brando replied, "They are Freya's comrades, and also my comrades."
Veronica nodded her head in satisfaction.
"You are a very good lobbyist. You can consider a career in politics. It's hard for you to deal with us soldiers. "Mangrove finally concluded. He bit the pipe and blew a smoke ring.
Brendel's heart was filled with ecstasy. Success! Now he had a group of Gold-ranked officers, the most outstanding group of Kirrlutz's star officers in the future. They were now under his command. Not to mention whether the Empire would fall into civil war in the future, just such a gain was enough to wake him up from his dreams with a smile.
…
(PS: The second update is still 5500 words. This weekend's extra update ends here. I wish you all the best in your work and studies next week. What, you're asking me if I missed anything? Do you see the cross and the pile of firewood over there?)
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