In the lobby of the hotel, a brief analysis of the case continues.

"Blacksmith, magic apprentice?" Hannina asked, frowning, staring at the agent with a blank face, "So, have you investigated the background of the blacksmith and the magic apprentice?"

The agent nodded, "The blacksmith's name is Yavis, half of the high-quality weapons on the black market in the imperial capital are from him, the guard has his file, and the magic apprentice may be an assistant who helped him draw a circle on the weapon." ”

"His weapons on the black market are not something that a magic apprentice can sketch!" Perus reminded.

"Not bad. The agent agreed, "So, it's highly likely that the magic apprentice is a disciple of the magician he worked with." ”

"Then find the magician!" Hanina glanced at Pedi, "It seems that your lieutenant is in the right direction, we just need to continue his train of thought." ”

"But now they're all dead!" said Perus.

"Owa has left a clue and we need to find it. Pedi reminded the crowd.

"The scope is too big and we don't have enough people. Harus shook his head.

"Don't worry about this, the headquarters has agreed to the establishment of a task force, I am the team leader, and Sheriff Peidi is the deputy team leader, the headquarters is very concerned about this case, and they will send at least a hundred guards over. Hanina glanced at the group, "You'll also be in the professional group." ”

"I have to say, that's good news!" Pedi shrugged.

"No, it's not good news!" Hannina's expression was solemn, "His Majesty the Emperor is already paying attention to this case, and he has asked our guard department to solve the case within half a month." Moreover, preparations are already being made within the Security Service for the impeachment of Director Gus Air, and if we can't solve the case within half a month, imagine what the consequences will be!"

Hanina's words shocked everyone present, and the impeachment of the chief of the guard is not a trivial matter.

"Let's assign tasks!" Pedi looked at Hanina, "we don't have time to waste. ”

......

The imperial capital of Sukh City, under the golden throne of Lionburg, is attended by all members of the Imperial Cabinet.

This is an important meeting once a quarter, which should have been held more than half a month ago, but has been delayed because of the case of the deputy military minister.

"The commander of the Fortress of Coron, Sir Yale's envoy, told me that the 1,000-round crossbows they had requested from the War Department had not yet arrived. Duke Nick stared at the War Secretary, Marquis Eden, "The barbarians have assembled their troops along the border, Marquis Eden, you need to explain. ”

Marquis Eden's neatly trimmed little beard sparkled in the light of the lamp, and he always liked to stroke his beard when he spoke, "Duke Nick, Felder has received the Keren Fortress almost across the entire continent of Alan, and it will take time. ”

"I remember it was half a year ago, right?" said Duke Nick, looking at the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Count Tus Gara.

"9 months and 13 days to be exact, I have a record of the transfer here. Count Tuss said formulaically.

"It's all the weather's fault, the Duke, and the craftsmen of the Felder Lords refuse to rush to work in the winter, claiming that their tools are frozen!" the Marquis of Eden smiled indifferently.

"Bang!"

Duke Nick threw a stack of papers in front of the Marquis of Eden, "This issue has already been discussed, I remember that we gave three times the price for the craftsmen to rush to work, have your memories been eaten by dogs, or have you been brainwashed by magicians?"

But Duke Eric Jean replied that the craftsmen refused to start work. Marquis Eden humbly bent down to sort out the papers on the table, and looked at Duke Nick with a smile on his face.

Eric Jean, brother of Empress Dibere, lord of Feld, guardian of the southern realms of the Empire.

"Are you accusing Duke Eric of embezzling that portion of the gold?" Duke Nick asked loudly.

"No, no, no!" Marquis Eden shook his head repeatedly, "Felder Ling's repeating hand crossbow requires high-precision calculations, but it can't be made in winter, so three times the price doesn't make an ideal hand crossbow." Perhaps, at that time, we should have asked the craftsmen of the Felder Collar first, and we would not have wasted that large amount of military money!"

"Marquis!" Duke Nick's voice suddenly exploded, "I don't need your explanation, I just ask you, as Minister of War, do you know what it means for your crossbows to arrive at the Fortress of Coron on time?

"I know war better than you do, and it is impossible for a barbarian to get out of his barren mountains in such a season. Marquis Eden shook his head.

"Marquis Eden. His Majesty the Emperor Laubert stopped playing with the wine glass in his hand, "Tell me how long it will take for a thousand crossbows to reach the fortress of Coron." ”

"A month and a half at most, Your Majesty, because the agreement was not signed at the beginning, Duke Eric of Feld refused to provide transportation services, and..."

"An imperial moth with no sense of honor!" the prime minister said bluntly.

"Hey, my old friend. Emperor Laubert stared at Nick, "You can do it, I'm going to sleep with the women of the Jean family every night." Then he looked at the Marquis of Eden, "If anything goes wrong with the fortress of Cologne during this time, you will be charged with dereliction of duty and lose your seat as Minister of War." ”

"Yes, Your Majesty. The Marquis of Eden replied nonchalantly.

"So, let's move on to the next topic. Emperor Laubert said.

Duke Nick frowned when he heard this, but Marquis Eden kept a humble smile. Immediately, Duke Nick glanced at the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Count Tuss, without knowing anything.

There was a brief silence in the hall.

"Ahem!"

Count Tus cleared his throat, "The next issue is still the military department... I have received a report here that the original establishment of the first army of three corps is actually less than two and a half corps, and there is a vacancy of nearly 3,000 men, and this kind of thing is said to have started five years ago. ”

Marquis Eden hurriedly explained: "Those 3,000 people were transferred to serve in the Yekjel Military Port five years ago, and I still have the transfer order at that time in my filing cabinet, with the Prime Minister's signature on it, I think Duke Nick will not forget it." ”

At that time, the Imperial Ocean-going Navy was reorganized, and the military port needed to be garrisoned, so 3,000 men from the First Army were urgently dispatched there. "But, since three years ago, that unit has been assigned to the navy, and their salaries have long been paid by the navy, while the First Legion continues to receive the salaries of three thousand men." ”

Count Tus smiled, "The salary of an ordinary soldier is 80 copper coins a month, the salary of three thousand people a month is 24 gold coins, 288 gold coins a year, and 864 gold coins for three years, plus the maintenance, supply, and training expenses of weapons and equipment, at least two thousand gold coins are needed in three years." However, 2,000 gold coins is only the standard of ordinary legions, and according to the training standards of the first army of the empire, the financial expenses of a regular soldier of 3,000 people for three years are at least 5,000 gold coins. ”

"So, Marquis Eden, tell me where all the five thousand gold coins went?" Duke Nick looked at Eden with a blank expression.