Imperial capital.

Outside the east gate of the Imperial Palace, there is a narrow alley, less than 50 meters away from the moat of the Imperial City, and the courtyard walls on both sides of the alley are more than 5 meters high, making this path also underlit during the day, and it seems quite deep.

A steam cart stopped at the entrance of the alley, and a man in a gray regimental uniform got out of the car, straightened the collar of his double-breasted woolen coat, and put on the military hat in his hand. The man's shoulders were adorned with two huge epaulettes, and the edges of the epaulettes were also adorned with tassels, but everyone who knew the four large golden five-pointed stars lined up on this epaulette would be in awe of the man, because the style of this epaulette represented the commanders of the eleven legions in the whole empire who were qualified to wear this four-star epaulettes.

The man wearing the epaulette of the captain walked slowly into the alley alone, and another legionnaire in a regimental uniform stood silently at the mouth of the alley from the cab of the steam car.

Of the eleven commanders of the empire, only two of them lived in the imperial capital all year round, namely Captain Fokker of the First Legion and Benson, the only naval commander of the Tenth Legion.

The 2nd to 9th legions were guarded in each of the four regions of the empire, with two legions in each domain. The legion commanders of each region generally stationed in their respective legion cities all the year round, and rarely came to the imperial capital, and the eleventh legion, which was established for the shortest time, was stationed in the New World.

The Eleventh Legion, which had only been in existence for twenty years, was the product of a compromise between the parties after the end of the colonial war, and was not accepted by the other legions, along with the Tenth Naval Legion, which was ridiculed as an empty shell. In the minds of many legionnaires, there are only nine legions in the Empire.

Unfortunately, the man walking in the alley was the captain of the Eleventh Legion, and the galloping bison on the shield badge on his chest was the emblem of the Eleventh Legion.

The captain of the Eleventh Legion walked to the end of the alley, turned left and there was an old wooden door, and the man behind the door opened the door for him in time to lead him to the courtyard.

Different from the quiet of the alley, the courtyard suddenly became noisy and busy, some people were rushing with papers, several people were arguing about something together, and there was even a special training area in the courtyard, where many people exercised.

The captain followed the guide through the courtyard and finally to a reception room.

After entering the room, the master was already waiting, the gray-haired man got up from the sofa, walked a few steps quickly to the captain, stretched out his right hand, and said: "Welcome, welcome! I heard that Captain Grant is reporting on his work in the imperial capital, and I have taken the liberty to ask you to come over and delay your time, please forgive me." Please sit down and have tea......"

Captain Grantwan's footsteps suddenly stopped, and said: "Director Odoka, it turns out that you are here to invite me to 'tea', don't look at me for many years in the New World, I still understand what it means to 'drink tea' in the Investigation Bureau." ”

Odoka hurriedly waved his hand and said, "Look at it, you will joke with me as soon as you come, I sincerely invite you to taste the top tea from the envoy of the Bright God Kingdom." The main reason for inviting you to come here today is to ask you to assist us in some of our study tours, and there is absolutely no other meaning. ”

After the two sat down, Odoka poured hot water into the glass teapot, and the tea leaves at the bottom of the teapot floated, one by one erected on the surface of the water, slowly blooming, the water in the pot changed from light yellow to yellow and green, the greenery gradually deepened, and some small tea leaves that were floating and tired gradually sank, and the fragrance of tea permeated the whole room unconsciously.

Odoka poured the tea into two small teacups, took one to himself, and drank it himself, and then motioned for Captain Grant to drink. Grant picked up the delicate teacup and drank it slowly, the fragrance of the tea filled the entire mouth, and he felt refreshed for a while, leaving a sweet aftertaste after a slight hint of sweetness and bitterness.

Seeing that the captain drank the tea, Odoka said: "Actually, it is mainly a private matter to invite you here today, you know who is behind me, and he is particularly interested in the exploration and investigation of the interior of the New World. No, does the Imperial Capital Royal Academy have a mentor who wants to organize an expedition, and that one not only finances, but also helps recruit manpower. Please assist with some of the expedition's support work in the New World, you see......"

Grant thought the tea was delicious, and poured himself another cup.

"The second prince is interested in the New World? It's the first time I've heard of it! Isn't he busy taking power in the Northern Regions? What, do you want to use the New World as a back road? Or do you want me to be his help? I'm a soldier, I speak straight, what can you say directly, the imperial capital has been annoying to me these days. ”

"Everyone says that Captain Grant Wan has a heroic temperament, and if this is the case, then I also made it clear that this cooperation is mainly to assist the mentor and friends of the second prince in the exploration of the New World, and secondly, I also want to use this cooperation to form a good relationship with you. The expedition needs some guards, preferably two hundred elite warriors and some supply support, you can mention the cost of it, we can meet it, and if everything goes well, the second prince has an extra gift for you. ”

"If that's it, I'm fine, you can talk to my guy if you need that detailed support, and he'll tell you what we want. However, this does not mean that I am on François's side, my army and I are only loyal to His Majesty the Emperor, and if the second prince can ascend to the throne, I will also be loyal to him. ”

The two put down their business and talked about many interesting things about the New World, anecdotes from all over the world, and Fengyue in the imperial capital. Half an hour later, Odoka personally sent Captain Grant to the steam car at the entrance of the alley.

Odoka returned to his office, where a young man sat on the couch and sipped the tea left over from the pot. When he saw Director Odoka, he said, "Master, tell me, how can the biggest warlord in the whole empire behave like a reckless man?"

Odoka replied: "He is a man who has become a captain entirely by virtue of his military exploits, unlike the two captains in the Northern Regions who rely on the shadow of their ancestors. He seems to be speaking directly, but he is actually very cunning. When he was chatting with me just now, several of the people he mentioned were secretly supporting the eldest prince. I only found out after secretly investigating, otherwise he would have been just gossiping about other people. He mentions those people to warn us that he is in the New World, but he knows these things clearly, which shows that he has a lot of hidden energy. ”

"Is my father just letting him go? This is a rare opportunity......

François, it's been two years since I took over the Bureau of Investigation, but not everyone I can trust. Odoka said hurriedly.

......

September 9, 977 in the Western Saharm calendar

François, the second prince, defeated the silverback ape in the opening exhibition match of the Transcendental Tournament.

That night, the emperor summoned the second prince, and the father and son talked until dawn.

On September 10, the emperor decreed that Odoka Hendrick be appointed director of the Royal Bureau of Investigation and sent the second prince to the city of Norland in the Northern Regions to observe the government.

Since then, the 18-year-old second prince François has embarked on the road of competing for the throne.