Richard combined his own life experience to verify a little, and had to admit that Sauron's words were indeed reasonable. Now is an impetuous era, the goods are better than shouting, honestly.

The income-generating plan was declared bankrupt, but for Richard, who was in charge of the iron trade, he didn't really care too much, and took it out to talk about power to adjust the atmosphere.

That's the end of the light-hearted topic, and then the real drama is next.

Richard and Sauron looked at each other, each smiling, and at the same time scolding each other in their hearts for being cunning like ghosts, and very tacitly withdrew from their respective retinues.

"Sir, I have to thank you. ”

Richard was the illegitimate son of the old Marquis of Orlando, and the filthy feud between him and the Orlando family was actually very unseemly in the traditional aristocratic concept.

After all, this world is realistic, and in the face of such unequal positions of power, it would be good for ordinary people to be able to help each other.

But what did Sauron do as a lobbyist for the Orlando family? With a wave of his hand, he generously offered interest-free loans far above Richard's psychological price. In private, he also sent his illegitimate son to show favor to him, this attitude is not a second or five boy, but it is also very subtle.

Without him giving the green light all the way, the lord's pioneering journey would not have been as smooth as it is now.

"I guess you're wondering why. Sauron took out a gem-encrusted gold snuffbox, poured a pinch of brown powder into the palm of his hand, and sniffed it up twice.

A blush appeared on his face and neck, and his whole person was quickly invigorated.

"I do want to know. "Your Excellency is genuinely curious.

He was ready to shout at the beginning, don't bully the young man to be poor, and then go it alone, but he didn't think about it, and he was lonely.

"There are three reasons – first, they are all illegitimate children, and I have some sympathy. Sauron pulled a cushion behind him, half-lying on it, looking at the sky with empty eyes, "Second, the Orlanda family still has some power in the Southern Province, and they can't reach us here, so even if I do some tricks, they won't be able to find out." ”

Probably because it was hot, Sauron moved his lips twice and rubbed the sapphire ring on his index finger with his thumb, and the lord suddenly felt a steady and cool breeze coming towards him, and it was much cooler at once.

"What about the third?" Richard knew that the third must be the most important.

The first two articles only provide the possibility of implementation, but the realization of any behavior, one must be possible, and the other must have a drive, and there is still a lack of drive.

Just like the lord usually cleaned up Nehru, those various reasons are to provide possibilities, and the real source of motivation is actually "depending on your anger". Therefore, if Nehru wants to be cleaned up less, he must either try to do less stupid things, or he must find a way not to dislike the lord so much.

Unfortunately, the hardships and setbacks he suffered may not be enough, and this simple truth has not yet been understood.

"Listen to me. Sauron stretched out two fingers and shook them, pulled away from the topic and asked something unrelated, "Do you know that there have been two major factions within our Pompeii over the years. ”

"I don't know. Richard shook his head.

Although he is now a nobleman, he is not comparable to the traditional aristocracy in opening up aristocratic news channels. The lord is basically blind to the upper echelons, not to mention the secret of factional struggle, and he can't even figure out what the name of the current crown prince is.

"It can't be two princes competing for the throne, right?" he replied.

Richard swore that if Sauron dared to nod his head, he would turn around and walk away immediately. Fighting for the throne and not falling on his head Richard, why go to troubled waters.

Sauron turned over and sat up, laughing and crying, "We have only one Highness in Pompeii, who is fighting with him?" besides, Your Majesty is still in the prime of life, and it is far from the time to abdicate. You don't have too much imagination, okay. ”

Richard laughed twice: "Which two factions?"

"One faction leans towards the Church of the Light, hoping that Pompeii will be accepted into the diocese. The other faction is more inclined to the goddess of ice and snow, and does not want to have too much to do with the Holy See. ”

"Oh. The lord nodded knowingly.

The Church of the Holy Light is currently the mainstream denomination in the entire human world, and most of the ancient beliefs that once flourished have been sidelined and disappeared.

At present, about one-third of the large and small human countries have the word "holy" in front of their names, which is a symbol of their piety and a symbol that the Holy Light Church has almost ruled the world.

The reason why I have to say almost, is because in Pompeii, the northernmost country of human territory, the largest area, and the second most populous country, the Church of the Holy Light is still in its infancy, and the goddess of ice and snow is the object of the people's trust.

There are many reasons for this - first of all, it is indeed related to the climate, and severe ice and snow disasters often occur in the winter in the north of Pompeii, which is objectively more conducive to the spread of the belief in the goddess of ice and snow. In this regard, Richard himself was well aware that when he was in the Southern Province, he could still see the evangelistic organization of the Holy Light Church, and the further north he went, the more difficult it was to find a trace.

But more importantly, Pompeii's temperament is slightly different from other countries, not only faith, but also some other things can not be urinated into a pot. Specifically, such as: military, political, folklore, art, terroir, blood...... And so on and so forth.

"You and Wenger belong to two factions?" the lord looked suspicious.

Although he had never dealt with the half-marquis Wenger, he thought that the intelligence of the Marquis of real power was not so low that it could penetrate the floor, so how could he entrust political enemies to help.

"No, no, no. Sauron waved his hand, "Little Wenger is the one who resists the Church of Light, but the mage doesn't believe in the gods, so I'm secular—that is, neutral. ”

"Mages don't usually smoke. Richard gestured to the snuffbox in Sauron's hand, which was more pungent than ordinary tobacco leaves. For mages who seek the sublimation of their minds, irritation itself should be eliminated.

"It's not snuff, giant beaver brain powder. Sauron tucked the container back into his robes and tapped his forehead with his index finger, "Relieve my migraines." ”

Migraine is considered an occupational disease among the mage community, and it is the result of a weak body and a high intensity of use of the brain.

"I'll tell you a secret, I don't believe in any gods. Richard looked at Sauron's face, waiting for him to be taken aback.

After all, there has never been a definite record of the coming of a true God, and the so-called miracles seem to be unconvincing. With the experience of the lord growing up under the red flag, it is a dream to ask him to believe wholeheartedly in something that does not exist or not.

This time, though, he was doomed to disappointment.

"I've investigated you a long time ago, and untrustworthy people like us are too rare among the nobles of the kingdom. Sauron scratched his gray hair, "It's because rare species deserve protection that I decided to help you." ”

"That's it?" was the one who was taken aback, but it was Richard, and the reason was so casual that he couldn't believe it.

"Otherwise, what else will lead you to a whole court battle drama?" Sauron took a sip from his teacup and smiled at him, "There is no need to think about some things complicated, because the truth is simple. ”

"Wait, you're not going to want to pull me into the neutrals, are you?" Richard was distracted by Sauron, but he finally got back on track.

"Yes, there is this idea. Sauron nodded calmly.

"Damn, don't even think about it!" Richard didn't know that when it came to disputes, the neutrals were fighting at both ends, "There was a bard in ancient times who was neutral, and as a result, he was constantly deposed regardless of the power there, but his poems are really good. ”

Sauron shrugged, "If one day in the future comes to the point where you have to take sides, I personally recommend that you choose the Church of Light. ”

"Why?"

Sauron fumbled for a moment from his bosom and took out three pieces of metal and placed them in the palm of his hand, "Look at this. ”

Richard turned over and looked at the front and back, it was Pompeii's gold, silver and copper coins. He thought there was something special about it, but on closer inspection, it was just the most ordinary coin.

"The Holy Light Church wants to pay me off?" the Lord could only guess, and his snort suddenly became heavy with excitement, he had never encountered such a good thing.

The Silver Bullet Offensive may have a mediocre effect on other nobles, but it is definitely a good one to use against the Lord of Alpine Fort.

"Lord Richard, what do you have in your head?" Sauron said, covering his face and sighing repeatedly, "I mean—they are exchanged for one gold coin for twelve silver coins, and one silver coin for twenty-four bronze coins. In fact, Pompeii was fully capable of adjusting the weight of the coin to a more easily calculated number, but did not do so. ”

"It's because the goddess of ice and snow has twelve wings on her back, and there are twenty-four divine envoys sitting on her. "This common sense Richard still knows.

The clergy of the Church of the Ice and Snow Goddess have very sharp ice magic skills, and they have a lot of power in Pompeii, and the current value of the currency is the result of their struggle with the royal family.

"Yes, but it's not easy for the market to calculate. Sauron smacked his lips in disgust, "God has twelve wings, but we humans have only ten fingers. ”

Richard nodded in agreement, he didn't have experienced the life of a civilian, so he naturally understood how troublesome it was to use.

"The Church of the Ice Goddess has had too deep a secular influence, and now His Majesty Sagre of Pompeii is a great monarch. ”

"At least developed mathematics, even a three-year-old child knows that 12 times 24 equals 288. ”

Richard threw the gold coins into his pocket while rambling around, returning only the silver and bronze coins to Sauron. It was nothing more than a dispute between divine power and royal power, and the lord of the mountain fort who was still nesting in the wilderness did not intend to worry about it.

"I say, you're a person of fame and status now, and you have to take advantage of this little advantage?" Sauron shook the two coins in his hand and laughed.

"Poor. The lord looked confused, "Mosquito legs are also meat, and besides, I owe you a thousand gold coins." ”

"It's one thousand and one now. Sauron said quietly.

"Damn!" Richard hurriedly threw the gold coin back, "You are also a person of fame and status, and you have to care about a gold coin?"

"As you said, mosquito legs are also meat. ”