Laing immediately went downstairs to open the door.
When the door opened, a dozen griffin knights were standing at the door. In the middle of the knights was the Griffin Duke, Ivan Ferdinand. He was wearing a set of dark gold plate armor. He had a handsome face and long black hair. His right hand was holding the silver griffin holy sword at his waist. He stood at the door of Laing's house and smiled at him.
In addition, a young knight who looked to be around 30 years old was also wearing griffin armor. He stood next to the Griffin Duke. When he saw Laing come out, he happily shouted, "Oh! Laing! Long time no see! "
"Oh! Anton! " Laing happily ran out and gave the young man a big hug. "Long time no see! Laing! "
Anton Ferdinand was the eldest son of the Griffin Duke. He was 33 years old.
The two of them hugged. Laing turned around and looked at his Godfather. "Long time no see, Ivan!"
"Long time no see, my godson!" The Griffin Duke opened his arms to Laing. The geno prototype and his Godfather hugged. "Ivan! I did not expect the Empire to send you. "
"Little brat, you have done a lot of big things recently. Even the king asked me about you. He said your godson is really something." The Griffin Duke hugged Laing and then said in his ear with evil intentions, "But you little * sshole became the Lady of the Lake's chosen one. You are embarrassing me."
"Ugh …" Laing felt guilty and embarrassed. He knew he owed two people by becoming the Lady of the Lake. One was his adoptive father, Norman, and the other was his Godfather, Ivan. His adoptive father, Norman, was a white wolf knight. It was he who led Laing on the path of a white wolf knight.
The Godfather, Ivan, had been to Nord when Laing was young. After seeing Laing's amazing talent and excellent character, he officially accepted Laing as his godson when Laing was eight years old. He personally taught Laing military knowledge and culture.
As a result, Ryan had now switched his faith to the Lady of the Lake and became the Chosen One of the Lady of the Lake. This meant that he would enter the core of Brittania in the future. The Gryphon Duke accepting him as a godson was a little like "supporting the enemy", so Ivan would have some opinions, and Ryan would also feel a little guilty.
"Anyway, let's talk about this later. Laing, come with me to the city!" The Griffin Duke patted Laing's shoulder.
"Okay!"
Ten minutes later, Clayon was riding a fierce warhorse on the streets of Marlin Castle.
In the sky, several griffins were flying in the clear winter sky of Marlin Castle. They glided freely and roared angrily. Whenever they came close to the ground, there would always be waves of screams and praises.
On the ground, the Gryphon Knights marched through the streets. The elite Gryphon Knights were wearing plate armor and holding lances. The Empire's double-headed eagle flag and the Gryphon Knight Regiment's flag were raised high in the sky.
In the first row were several griffins. Even the nobles of Marlin Castle had only seen these legendary creatures in the Royal Zoo of the Empire. The real Griffin Knights were riding on tall and powerful ferocious beasts. Each of them was at least a legendary champion, exuding a powerful aura. Behind them were dozens of half-griffin knights. Half-griffins were the product of hybrids. Although they were not as tall and ferocious as griffins, these half-griffin knights were still bigger than ordinary warhorses.
Marlin Castle was in an uproar. The citizens rushed out to watch. When Leon and Ivan joined the crowd, the crowd on both sides of the road was already densely packed. The Iris Flower Guards of Marlin Castle had no choice but to mobilize in full force to maintain order.
The citizens of Marlin Castle were stunned when they saw this legendary army. They had never seen such an elite army before. It was February, and the cold air was like a sharp blade that brushed past people's faces. However, the Griffin Knights and their mounts held their heads high, their backs straight, and their sharp lances pointed towards the sky. The Griffin Knights' faces were as calm as water. A majestic and domineering aura radiated from their souls. The fierce Griffins and the swift and fierce Griffins slowly advanced. Every Griffin Knight's face was like a statue.
This was a truly powerful army. Every Gryphon Knight needed at least ten years of nurturing before they could take shape. Only the Empire could afford to raise such a powerful monster army.
As they walked, the team of knights rotated seamlessly like gears. The uniform team of knights seemed to want to crush all the enemies in front of them. Their moving momentum suppressed the soldiers of the Iris Flower Guards. The guards who were usually arrogant and bossy to the citizens were as soft as frosted eggplants. They didn't dare to speak loudly anymore.
This was one of the three great knight groups of the old world, the Griffin Knights!
This was the super power of the Empire!
This was the army of the Empire!
The citizens of Marlin Castle were stunned. It was as if they were under a spell. Then, they completely cheered and shouted. From the moment the Griffin Knights appeared until they gradually entered the next block, cheers, drums, and shouts swept through Marlin Castle like a tide, echoing in the sky above the city.
What was a green skin? The Griffin Duke was here! The Empire's Griffin Knights were here to support Marlin Castle!
The Empire didn't give up on us!
Compared to the citizens who were purely happy and cheering, the nobles and merchants of Marlin Castle didn't think so. They looked at the Griffin Knights with mixed feelings. Their expressions were filled with anticipation and caution.
The nobles didn't expect the Empire to send out their trump card, the Griffin Knights. Now, it seemed that they didn't need to worry about the safety of Marlin Castle. Instead, they had to worry about what the Empire wanted.
The Griffin Duke Ivan personally rode his giant Griffin Calamity of Beasts at the front of all the knights. When this giant Griffin roared, the knights of the Iris Flower Guards fell off their horses. The mercenaries looked at their horses lying on the ground in shame and anger, shivering in the face of Calamity of Beasts.
The Griffin Duke smiled disdainfully at these soldiers and mercenaries. He then pulled the reins, and Calamity of Beasts flew into the sky, straight towards the city hall of Marlin Castle.
At the entrance of the city hall, the upper and lower houses of Marlin Castle were already waiting for the Griffin Duke's arrival. They stood in the square in front of the city hall. Ever since the nobles of the upper house learned that the Griffin Duke was personally leading the Griffin Knights to support Marlin Castle, their hearts were in a mess.
What they were waiting for wasn't the Griffin Duke descending from the sky. Instead, it was a giant flag that flew down from the sky, making a loud noise in the winter sky. The flag tore through the air, making a tearing sound.
“boom！” The square was filled with smoke and dust. The nobles of Marlin Castle had no choice but to retreat. They looked a little pathetic.
The flagpole pierced straight into the ground of the square. The flag had a golden double-headed eagle drawn on it, the symbol of the Empire. It fluttered in the wind at the entrance of the city hall of Marlin Castle. Then, the giant Griffin Calamity of Beasts glided down from the sky, landing in front of the nobles of Marlin Castle. "Good afternoon, gentlemen!"
The Griffin Duke jumped down from the back of Calamity of Beasts. Just as his feet touched the ground, the Griffin Knights had already entered the square in front of the city hall.
"Sir Ferdinand, what are you trying to do?!" Before the Gryphon Duke could say anything, Baron Graymeyer, a member of the Marlin Castle House of Lords, immediately walked up. His face was flushed red, as if he had been greatly humiliated. "To think that you would use such a method to humiliate us. Could it be that Lord Ferdinand has never learned etiquette?"
"Etiquette?" The Griffin Duke raised his head, looked at Baron Graymeyer, and said without any self-awareness, "I don't know which etiquette I have broken? Can you please teach me? "
Baron Graymeyer immediately pointed at the golden double-headed eagle flag that had caused a huge commotion at the entrance of the city hall. "This is a declaration of war!"
"Oh no!" Duke Vanderguber Schultz's expression changed slightly. "Graymeyer is being impulsive."
"A declaration of war? Baron Graymeyer, I'll give you one last chance to reorganize your words. " Unexpectedly, Ivan did not seem to care about Baron Graymeyer's warning. Instead, he asked all the nobles of Marlin Castle present, "Tell me, gentlemen? Which country does Marlin Castle belong to? "
The members of the upper house looked at each other, not saying a word. The impulsive Graymeyer suddenly realized something, and the Baron's face turned pale, and he quickly retreated.
"Speak! The founding ceremony written by His Majesty, Emperor Ludwig, stipulated that Marlin Castle has the right to self-rule, but! Yes! Which country does Marlin Castle belong to? Gentlemen, please tell me. " Ivan walked in front of Baron Graymeyer and looked down at him. "As the Griffin General appointed by His Majesty, I have raised the double-headed eagle flag of the Empire in the territory of the Empire. What do you think, Baron Graymeyer?"
Wherever Ivan's sharp eyes passed by, the space would show signs of collapsing. The light dimmed under Ivan's movements, leaving behind an unfathomable darkness. It told everyone that the Gryphon Duke had stepped into the Sanctuary-realm.
Seeing several giant griffins rushing into the city hall with their heads held high and dozens of half-griffin knights rushing in from all directions, Baron Graymeyer and the other members of Marlin Castle all paled. They knew that this was a warning from the Empire.
Being rich didn't mean you could do whatever you wanted. At least, the nobles in Marlin Castle were sure that even if they brought out all their private armies and all the guardians of Marlin Castle, they still wouldn't be a match for the Griffin Knights and the Griffin Duke.
The Grand Duke of Marlin Castle sighed and said to the Griffin Duke, "Graymeyer is a little confused. Marlin Castle has always been a part of the Empire since the time of Emperor Charlemagne. It has always been."
"On behalf of the members of Marlin Castle, I welcome the arrival of Duke Ivan Ferdinand of Marlin Castle!" The Grand Duke of Marlin Castle was the first to welcome Ivan. The members of Marlin Castle, who had lost their momentum, also welcomed Ivan's arrival. Everyone was forced to reiterate that even though Marlin Castle had the right to self-rule, it was still an inseparable part of the Empire.
Laing and Ivan's eldest son, Anton, stood in the distance. Looking at his Godfather showing off his muscles, Anton smiled helplessly. "Godfather is still so mighty."
"These princes of the business world are too arrogant. This time, father wants to teach them a lesson." Anton hugged his long sword, his eyes glowing dangerously. "A few years ago, due to the political turmoil in the Empire, these princes of the business world had a few good days. But it's different now. Under the new emperor, the Empire has begun to stabilize. Father thinks it's time to take some time out to teach them a lesson."
"Ah … Okay." Laing smiled bitterly and shook his head. Then he asked Anton, "So the reinforcements this time will be led by Godfather?"
"Yes, that's right. This is His Majesty's order." Anton suddenly patted Laing and laughed. "Long time no see, Laing. You've been in the limelight recently. I can't help but want to spar with you."
"Sure, but don't bully me with your gryphon." Laing could feel danger from Anton. The eldest son of the Griffin Duke was slightly weaker than him, but not by much.
"Hahahaha …" The two looked at each other and laughed.
"Speaking of which, how many people did Godfather bring to support Marlin Castle this time?" Laing thought of something important. "According to the report of the scouts, the number of Green Dwarfs gathered in the Gold Mine has exceeded 10,000, and there are signs of rising. The final number of Green Dwarfs is estimated to be at least 30,000."
"We brought 3,000 people this time." Anton was a little embarrassed when he mentioned the specific number.
"3,000 people? Anton, are you kidding? "Laing's mouth opened wide. No matter how elite these 3,000 people were, this number was too small.
"It's going to be spring plowing soon. The number of soldiers we can recruit will be greatly reduced. Rick Territory just quelled the rebellion not long ago. Many troops can't be mobilized easily. Also …" The eldest son of the Griffin Duke narrowed his eyes. "When the reinforcements will arrive depends on the conditions that father has negotiated with these princes."
"Okay!" Laing understood what Anton meant. If the conditions were good, then the reinforcements would be endless. If the conditions were bad, then the reinforcements would be nowhere to be seen.
Next, in the city hall of Marlin Castle, the Griffin Duke Ivan and the diplomats sent by the Empire had a frank, efficient, and constructive discussion with the parliament members of Marlin Castle.
The conditions that the Empire gave were as follows:
"1. Marlin Castle must reduce the huge trade deficit with the Empire by at least 80% within the next 20 years."
"2. The Empire will directly lead Rick Territory to export goods to Marlin Castle. The specific amount must be negotiated with the Empire."
"3. Marlin Castle must open its market to the Empire. The Empire must not oppose or obstruct the Empire's investment in Marlin Castle."
"4. The military expenses of this trip will be borne by Marlin Castle, and Marlin Castle must pay at least 50,000 gold marks."
"5. The Empire will send troops to ensure the safety of Marlin Castle."
The parliament members of Marlin Castle were stunned.
What kind of conditions were these?
These conditions were simply asking for too much!
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