The imperial capital of Suke, the war has not changed this bustling city, the morning and night markets are as crowded as ever, if it were not for the rising prices that have made the lives of the citizens start to become much tighter, otherwise it is really difficult to see that the empire is at war.

Once inside the city, however, the signs of war were clear, with nearly three times as many patrolling city guards as before the war, and almost every junction leading to Lionburg and Patwede Street was checkpointed.

Even Pedy's entry into Patved Street at the most important checkpoint had to be greeted by Penny herself.

Pedy's return to the imperial capital is a surprise to Penny and Fili, and more to the delight.

Especially Phyllis, she was so excited that her face was flushed, and she was trembling even when she spoke, and she kept pulling Pedi to talk non-stop, if it wasn't for Pedi being too tired, she might have talked for a day and a night,

Penny was much more reserved, but unlike Phyllis, she was well aware of the current situation of the war in Clan, so she was more happy with some sadness.

...

At three o'clock in the afternoon of the second day after Peidi returned to the imperial capital, the sun was shining brightly on a summer afternoon.

Penny has been busy after her nap...

She was busy with the tea party that the three siblings had not seen for a long time, and she cherished this kind of time, because she was smart enough to know that time like this was becoming less and less common for her.

In the tea room of the Prime Minister's official residence,

Paddy lay lazily on a chaise longue, staring out the window at the busy gardener in the scorching sun, and after Penny filled him with tea, Paddy said lazily: "The imperial capital is still the same as before... Mesmerizing and nostalgic. ”

With a smile on her face, Penny poured tea for Pedi, then sat down on the sofa opposite Pedi in a dignified and elegant manner, and after Pedi sighed, she said: "This is just the superficial prosperity, in fact, the Empire's finances have long been unable to support this war... The war tax levied by the Cabinet on the merchants was taken back from the citizens intact. ”

Phyllis stared at Pedy with wide eyes, "What are you obsessed with?"

Pedy glared at Phyllis with some amusement, then looked at Penny and asked, "Do you mean skyrocketing prices?"

"Yes, the businessmen began to huddle, they hoarded supplies, they drove up prices, and there was nothing the cabinet could do about it. Penny's face was full of concern, "This is the contradiction between the traditional aristocracy and the new aristocracy, and the Imperial Chancellor of the Exchequer is behind the back of those merchant aristocrats. ”

"He's playing with fire, I think he should go to the front line to see how the Imperial soldiers are fighting, and he should go to see the state of the northern frontier of the empire at the moment under the iron hooves of the orcs. "I recognize the importance of merchants, but now is not the time to bargain. ”

Penny was not surprised by Pedy's reaction, she picked up a famous book on the coffee table and opened the bookmark at random, and said absentmindedly: "The merchants just want the empire to cancel the war tax." ”

"Reasonable request. Peidi subconsciously said, "The empire shouldn't let the merchants pay for this war. ”

Penny looked at her brother strangely, "I thought you would be on the side of the cabinet and the emperor." ”

Pedi twitched his nose and sniffed the tea, and said, "I'm just talking about things." ”

"But the Imperial finances have long been unable to make ends meet. ”

"It was a matter for the cabinet and the emperor himself, and it had nothing to do with the merchants of the empire, who paid their taxes on time every year according to the laws of the empire. After Pei Di finished speaking, he took a sip of black tea, and then blurted out, "Good tea." ”

Penny frowned at Pedy's words, stuck the bookmark in the page, closed the book, glanced at her sister who was eating pastries, and waved at the maid at the door of the tea room...

After the door was closed, Penny said solemnly, "My dear brother, I must remind you that in our position, the war tax must be right, and even if you know it is wrong, you must declare its legitimacy!"

"Where we stand," Pedi whispered.

"Why?" Phyllis stared at her sister with big eyes, "My mentor said that what is wrong is always wrong, just like a formation, even if a wrong formation can build magic, it will eventually backfire. ”

"Phyllis can understand the truth. Petdy rolled her eyelids at Phyllis, and Phyllis immediately 'giggled' and laughed so happily that she probably thought Petdy was complimenting her.

Penny directly ignored the interaction between the two siblings, she looked directly at Pei Di and said, "Now the upper nobles of the empire are very sensitive to this issue, I heard that His Majesty the Emperor has made up his mind to raise his butcher's knife again, I am worried..."

Pedi sat up from the recliner and looked at his sister, "Are you worried that our Reagan family will become the executioner of His Majesty the Emperor?"

"Isn't that what the Prime Minister is set up for?" Penny stood up and filled Pedy's empty teacup with tea, "Why did you return to the Imperial Capital at this time?" I heard from the people in Lion Castle that you were recommended as the First Chief of Staff of the Military Department and the Minister of Logistics, and your task was to cooperate with Count Stu to collect all kinds of war supplies for this war. ”

"Oh?" said Pedy, who had told him about being the First Chief of Staff when he was in Kwyn, but didn't tell him the inside story.

"Is that really the case?" said Penny, frowning.

At this time, Phyllis suddenly walked up to Pedy's side and sat down, grabbed Pedy's arm and said, "Don't worry, Brother Pedy, Penny likes to talk about things very scary, but even if it's true, don't be afraid, because I'll help you." ”

"Haha. Pedi laughed, rubbed Phyllis's hair habitually, and then looked at Penny and said, "Don't underestimate my father's wisdom, he has already helped me reject the 'kindness' of the military department." ”

Penny nodded thoughtfully, "It seems that my worries are unnecessary, and my father has been prepared for this... And how are you coming back this time?"

"I won't stay in the imperial capital for long, my father asked me to return to the family domain. Pedy's eyes darkened, "Phyllis will come back with me." ”

"Really?" Phyllis looked happy, "The Imperial Capital is really boring, I've wanted to leave here for a long time... Also, can I use the purple gold powder when I get home?"

"That must be... No, of course, if you can make a valuable magic scroll, I'll let you intercede with your mother. Pedi smiled.

"Then you can lend me a little first. Phyllis looked at Pedi dryly.

Peddy pretended to think about it and said, "You can consider this, but you have to have a magic lab first, right?"

"Huh?" Phyllis's little face suddenly collapsed with excitement, "I hate gold. ”

Penny had a smile on her face at the moment, but she was bitter in her heart, and she did not deny that when she was very young, she longed for the back garden of Lion Castle, and like all noble ladies, she hoped to be the mistress there when she became an adult.

Now, her wish was within reach, but suddenly, she wanted to escape from there and return to the harbor she knew when she was a child, to her familiar room in Crewe City,

But now, Penny's ideas are the real dream!

"Are Brother Omar and Mother alright? I've almost forgotten what they looked like. Phyllis asked suddenly.

"Didn't you just write to your mother last month?" said Penny, staring at Phyllis with some jealousy.

Phyllis immediately glared at Penny, "That's a letter, and we haven't met." ”

Pedi noticed that there was something wrong with Penny's mood, and he immediately reflected why, but there was nothing he could do about it, so in the end, he could only say, "If you miss us, you can write to us, and I will definitely get back to you as soon as possible." ”

"Is that okay?"

"Of course, we're brother and sister, aren't we?" said Pedi as easy as she could.

"That..."

"Tuk Tuk"

A sudden knock at the door interrupted Penny's words, causing her to frown, but then her habitual smile was masked by her whispering to the door, "Come in." ”

The person who pushed the door in surprised Penny that it was Pedy's subordinate Wren, so Penny naturally set her eyes on Pedy.

"My lord, I think you will be interested in the latest battle report of the military department. Wren stood in the doorway and politely saluted the three of Pedy's siblings, who were now nominally Pedy's lieutenant at the military headquarters.

Pedy's eyelids fluttered wildly when he heard this, and Penny immediately recruited Wren and signaled that he could come over.

"Is that good news?" asked Pedy.

"I guess it's bad news. Wren stubbornly said, "The war in the Crane Territory has come to an end..."

It is not allowed to be taken out of the military department by the current affairs military newspaper, so Wren can only dictate.

On the morning of the 18th,

The defense line on the south bank of the Kemir River was breached, and the 7th Combined Army finally broke through to the Monteburg area, with less than 2,000 men!

The victory of the Todkoth Farm the day before did not change the fate of the Seventh Combined Legion, and at this moment, the remaining 30,000 people of the Todkoth Farm were evacuated to the Twak Territory under the leadership of Duke Gna.

Nearly half of the civilians in Klan have been evacuated, most of the others who have not been evacuated are unwilling to leave their homeland, and more than half have taken refuge in the nearby mountains and forests, and the Emperor and his cabinet intend to follow the scorched earth tactics practiced by Klan in Klan City a few months ago, and the specific plan has already begun to be implemented.

Duke Ron, who was the lord of the Crane Lord, did not leave with the evacuated troops, and he chose to stay in the city of Crane, which was expected by Pedy.

"Still hasn't heard from him?" Petdy glanced at Phyllis beside him, "You should know who I'm talking about." ”

"I'm sorry, but neither the military intelligence nor the security department have found any eyeliners. Wren whispered.

Pedi nodded silently, and then began to play with the ruby ring on his thumb, and Phyllis next to him obviously felt that her brother's mood had become depressed, and she couldn't help but grasp Pedy's arm tightly.

"You seem to have something else to do, Wren. Penny sat across from Wren and could clearly observe the change in Wren's expression.

Pei Di, who was in deep thought, was stunned, subconsciously turned his head to look at his servant, and asked, "Is it?"

"Yes, sir. ”

Pedi was stunned, and in Pedi's impression, Wren rarely took the initiative to mention anything other than what he asked.

"It's Cowlier. Wren said, "He's in some trouble..."

"What's the trouble he can have?" said Peedy, who suddenly became interested.

Wren replied, "Didn't you tell him to investigate the Radiant Force? ”

"When I... Oh, yes, he seems to have said that. Pedi reacted immediately.

"Brother Pedy, are you investigating them?" Penny was surprised.

"No, I never thought to investigate them. Pedi shrugged, "Well, there was some misunderstanding during this period, maybe one of my retinues misunderstood what I meant. ”

Penny frowned and said, "I want to remind you that the paladins of the 'Radiant Power' are a bunch of crazy people who have long forgotten the oath of their ancestors, and now, they are just executioners in the hands of the emperor!"