The autumn sunset in Anzeruta was very beautiful. The forest between the mountains blended with the mottled rusty red, like flowing colors on an oil canvas. It depicted the long and narrow foggy valleys of the Anzeruta region and the basin plains scattered among the hills. But in the late winter, the scenery changed again. The forest took off its branches and leaves, and the bare woodland revealed the steep cliffs and precipitous cliffs. The snow was white, steep, and majestic, like a giant guarding the canyon basin. The delicacy and warmth of autumn suddenly turned into the firmness and majesty of winter.
The change of the four seasons was the most fascinating natural scenery in this place. In the season away from war, adventurers from all over the world came to explore this place every year. But at this moment, the Lion Army was approaching day by day, and the Wind Elves of Saint-Ausol were also fighting with the Imperial Army in the Wilderness of the Four Territories in the north. This charming mountain wilderness was unusually quiet.
Brando, wrapped in a thick fur coat, stomped his feet in the snow under the pine trees. His eyes looked at the strip of plains under the foot of the mountain, or it should be called the basin, scattered among the rolling hills. But the further west he went, the lower the hills were, and the flatter it was, gradually, an endless plain. Then to the west, the mountains surged again, forming the shadow of the mountain far away in the horizon. That was the Broken Sword Mountain Range.
"Let them shut themselves in their own castles and reflect on their actions," Brendel replied as he looked at the valley below his feet. He was answering Miss Eugenie's question about what to do with the nobles of Cruz that he had captured. The Duke's daughter stood in the woods, keeping a certain distance from him, as if she would be involved in any trouble in the future if she got a little closer. He didn't care about this, and continued, "Earl Alconse and Earl Jean don't seem to be willing to pay us the ransom, so they are preparing to continue their revenge."
The Duke's daughter stood there unwillingly. She had thought that this was just a normal group of envoys, but later it became a rebel army, and now it had become something similar to bandits. Ransom for hostages in the noble's war. She was surprised that the count could come up with such a name.
But she couldn't say no. What could she do? She had already boarded the pirate ship and was tied to this damn diplomatic group. Even if she wanted to deny that all this was caused by Brando, well, she would have to wait until she met the Queen of Cruz or returned to Erouine. As for now, she couldn't leave the group and run back to Erouine alone, or simply surrender to the nobles of Cruz. Although she really wanted to do that a few times, after thinking about the consequences of doing so, she gritted her teeth and endured it.
"Count …" The Duke's daughter took a deep breath and finally asked, "I would like to ask what you want to do. You broke through a fortress of the Empire, humiliated the local nobles of Anzeruta, and defeated the Knight Regiment of Cruz. Well, let's forget about that. The former can be said to be a lesson to the arrogance of the Rogelia Legion. As the diplomatic group representing Erouine, we do have the right to do so. The latter is because they attacked us first, and we just fought back, which is reasonable. But now, why are you doing this, you are actually asking for a ransom from Cruz?"
"That's right, so what?" Brando asked back.
Eugenie almost fainted. Normally, the nobles of Erouine would be more respectful to the nobles of Cruz, but this Count was different. It was as if he didn't want to embarrass the Cruz Empire enough. However, the nobles of Erouine could be shameless, but the Empire couldn't. The Empire had many vassal states, and many pairs of eyes were watching every move of this behemoth. How could it let a small country like Erouine ride on its head? At least the rulers of the Empire had a little bit of intelligence, and it wouldn't be difficult for them to realize this.
And this was also what she didn't understand the most. What benefits did the count have by doing this? To build up his reputation? Well, he was famous enough now. He was so famous that almost everyone from the south of Erouine to the capital of Cruz knew about him. In half of the Empire, and in the entire Kingdom, all the nobles had reduced their outdoor activities since winter, so they should be talking about this Count's glorious deeds every day.
But this kind of reputation probably didn't bring any benefits, because according to what she knew, even the ambassadors were betting on when this Count would be unlucky.
Of course, whether Brando was unlucky or not had nothing to do with her, and she didn't need to worry about it. But what made this Duke's daughter worried was that they were in the same boat. If this Count's boat capsized, she would inevitably fall into the water.
Thinking of this, she glared angrily at Brando, and the latter's nonchalant expression almost made her grit her teeth. Does this idiot know what he's doing?
Eugenie became angrier the more she thought about it. She thought that this young and arrogant man had completely ruined this diplomatic mission. She originally wanted to join this diplomatic mission as a tourist, but she didn't expect it to turn into a war. "Count Brendel, I know that you have great power in Aouine today, and I'm just an insignificant daughter of a duke. But I still want to remind you that there are many people in this envoy group. There are your students, the future king of the kingdom, your subordinates, and many innocent people. We don't want to be destroyed because of your stubbornness. Do you understand what I'm saying?" Brendel's eyes were filled with anger. His eyes were filled with anger, and he looked at Brendel with disdain, "Count Brendel, I know that you have great power in Aouine today, and I'm just an insignificant daughter of a duke. But I still want to remind you that there are many people in this envoy group.
Brando looked back at the Duke's daughter, and thought that it must have been hard for her to endure for so long. Someone like Avram would have been so scared that he would hide in his carriage and not care about the outside world. It was funny how he followed the ostrich policy. Only then did he reply, "You're exaggerating, Miss Eugenie. I've never wanted to harm anyone."
"I don't want to listen to these pompous words, Count. I've had enough! You said that you know what you're doing, but please tell me, why didn't you let those nobles, the Alcons, and the Jean families go? Why did you ask for ransom from their families instead? "asked the Duke's daughter impatiently.
Hearing this question, Brando's face became stern. "Miss Eugenie, although I accept your opinion, I still want to tell you one thing. These people are now my captives. As for why they became my captives, it's because they provoked us. We didn't invade their territory for no reason. They want to take revenge for the failure of the Black Sword Rampart. Logically speaking, the Empire is the one who is in the wrong, not us. So, since they planned to bully the weak from the start, they should have been mentally prepared for this. "
He patted the snowflakes on his fur collar. In fact, with his strength, he didn't need to wear such thick winter clothes. He just didn't want to appear too special. Besides, people were lazy and hated work. If he could be warmer, he didn't need to make himself look like an ascetic. Then Brando continued, "As for what you said about me asking them to pay the ransom for the hostages, isn't it natural? Are you saying that the historical war between the Erouine and Cruz nobles is so noble that they don't have to pay the ransom?"
"You're twisting words." Since she had completely let it go, the Duke's daughter no longer tried to use any euphemism. She had read as many books as Brando, so she directly replied, "Count, you and I both know that they are from Cruz. The disputes between Cruz and Cruz, the disputes between Erouine and Erouine, and the disputes between Erouine and Cruz are different. In name, the people of the Kingdom and the Empire are born equal under the rule of the Holy Cathedral of Fire. But in reality, this is just an empty statement. Everyone knows that the Empire doesn't have to give face to the Kingdom, but the Kingdom can't not give face to the Empire. Today you're happy, but tomorrow the Empire will wait for an opportunity to take revenge. What will we do then? "
"I don't believe that you don't know this, Count. You don't have to pretend to be crazy. Outsiders call you crazy and give you the nickname 'Crazy Count'. They call you the 'Sword Saint of the Gates', but the people in the envoy group can see it clearly. You know better than anyone that you have a lot of capable people. Even if you can't see this, I think they will remind you. But your subordinate, the wizard named The Shire, and the Elven Knight lady, they are very smart, but they let you do whatever you want. This shows that you already know that everything you do has a clear purpose."
Eugenie replied coldly, "But this purpose, other than you and your people, you have kept all of us in the dark. You said that you are fighting for the reputation of the Kingdom, but you are treating all of us as fools."
At this point, Brando understood that the Duke's daughter was really here to lay her cards on the table.
He nodded and said, "Alright, you're right. Everything I've done is indeed for another purpose."
Eugenie looked at him coldly as if to say, "You better tell me everything clearly, or I won't play with you. If you don't want to lose, there is a third way other than a draw or a win, and that is to flip the table."
"But Miss Eugenie, you are still mistaken about one thing." Brando shook his head again.
Eugenie looked at him suspiciously, as if she was wondering what the count was up to.
Brando looked back at the valley and then replied, "Erouine's strength is not important to you, but it is very important to me. You may find it unbelievable, but I wanted to teach the Rogerians a lesson at the Black Sword Fortress for a legitimate reason. As for why I did this, it was precisely to make the Empire unable to retaliate against us. "He paused for a moment, as if waiting for the Duke's daughter to digest his words, and then continued," Do you think that if we stop now, the nobles of the Empire will let us go? If we return the hostages in our hands, they will let us leave Roseff smoothly? "
"Then I can only say that you are thinking too much. Miss Eugenie, you are very smart, but your understanding of the Empire is often influenced by others. I have already told you that the Empire is only so-so. But if we return the hostages in our hands today unharmed, won't we be telling them that they can provoke us without any cost? " Brando shook his head, "This is impossible. I want them to understand that every time they provoke me, they will feel the pain until they can't bear the loss."
Hearing this, the Duke's daughter felt that the count was being stubborn. She couldn't help but ask coldly, "Alright, my lord. Perhaps what you said makes sense, but have you ever thought that this matter will only get bigger and bigger? Do you know who is behind the Alcos family and the Jean family? It is Duke Palut, and the Palut family can be said to be the most powerful noble family in the Empire. If they come to the stage to deal with you, Count, can you still make such a bold statement to make them feel the pain? "
There was indeed such a possibility. Although Brando was confident, he was not arrogant enough to claim that he could challenge a colossus like the Palut family.
But things would not develop to that point.
He shook his head again, "Don't worry, Miss Eugenie, things will not develop to that point."
"What makes you say that?" The Duke's daughter asked in annoyance, "Based on your so-called intuition?"
"You don't believe me?" Brando raised his eyebrows, "Then how about we make a bet?"
"What bet?" Eugenie said in a huff.
"You help me convince the nobles of Cruz that I will do what I say. If they can't pay the ransom, I will tie them up and take them to Rushta. I will take them to see Her Majesty and reason with Her Majesty." Brando replied.
The Duke's daughter looked at him in surprise, "You still want to make things worse? Are you crazy?"
"I'm not crazy. Didn't you say that I understand?" Brando looked back at the Duke's daughter and asked in a provocative tone, "What, you don't dare to make this bet with me?"
"Why not?" Eugenie gritted her teeth and replied in annoyance, "But you only said half of it. If I do it, what about you?"
Brando replied, "If you can do it, I promise you that after this matter, it will not affect me, you, the whole delegation, and the kingdom at all. Not only that, this mission will be an unprecedented success, and you will also gain the reputation you want. At least your father will not marry you to some unknown nobleman so early. Maybe some famous scholar will take a fancy to your talent and accept you as his disciple. Then you will be able to fulfill your wish."
The Duke's daughter was obviously shocked by this sentence. She could not help but look at Brando with great shock, "You, how do you know? Did you use some evil magic on me?"
"I didn't." Brando smiled mockingly, "I bribed your maid."
"Shameless!" The Duke's daughter finally could not help but curse.
Brendel laughed in his heart. He did not have the time to bribe a maid. He only occasionally learned about this young lady's deeds. In his previous life, she was just an ordinary NPC. His understanding of this young lady was actually limited to this. He just used it casually, but he did not expect that it would really scare her. He smiled and continued, "How about it? Now it is good for both of us. If you turn back now, whether you go to Cruz or return to Erouine, you will not be able to escape the blame. The crime of offending the Empire and the Holy Cathedral of Fire will eventually fall on your head. But if in the future I have some merit, you will not be able to get a share because of your hesitation today."
Eugenie looked at him and replied with gritted teeth, "What kind of merit can a person like you have? It is really the misfortune of the Kingdom. But since I promised to make a bet with you, I will naturally do it."
She paused for a moment and suddenly became a little suspicious. "You're not telling me this because you've found your conscience. But then again, you seem to have better people around you to complete this task. Why do you want me to do it? That wizard called The Shire, and that Elf lady, they are loyal to you. Aren't they better people? "
Brando could not help but feel a little embarrassed. He thought to himself, Do I look so untrustworthy? She even doubted this.
He thought for a moment and replied, "It is because The Shire is loyal to me that they are even more unsuitable for this task."
"Why?" The Duke's daughter was puzzled, "What do you want me to do?"
"I forgot to explain to you that I want you to convince the Kirrlutzian nobles, and at the same time, you have to pretend to let one or two of them go, and at least make them believe that you and I are not in cahoots. Yes, just like what you're thinking now, you just have to explain to them that I'm the only one who's going crazy, and the rest of the envoy group is being held hostage by me. Just tell them exactly what I'm saying, and then let them go and let them go to deliver the message." Brando looked at Eugenie who was staring at him with her mouth agape, and could not help but shake his head, "Don't look at me like that. I know that this is what you are thinking now."
"You do have some self-awareness," the Duke's daughter replied, gritting her teeth. "But I don't understand why you're doing this. Isn't your purpose to stop those Kirrlutzians from coming to trouble us? But it looks like you're afraid that your trouble isn't big enough?"
Brando raised a finger and shook it at her.
"Because to beat a snake, you have to beat it to death. It is that simple."
…
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