The moment Loren stepped into the City of a Thousand Tents, it was not the magnificent city walls, nor the towering Duke's castle, nor the towers and towers that were heavily walled.

Unlike the towns of Byrne and Sackland, or even Lothair, the layout of the city is also very tight, and even the most ordinary dwellings are walled with stone, more akin to a giant fortress like Fracture Mountain.

What really caught his attention was the streets of the city and the people who lived in it.

The narrow alleys were almost entirely covered with corpses, both centaurs and Boi, and the messy corpses were stacked on top of each other, and there were few "chances" to step on the stone pavement from the moment you entered the city.

Several streets have even been blocked with bones, turning them into "artificial" fortifications, piled up with corpses that make it impossible to tell which ones have been piled up and which ones have fallen on top of them after a terrible death.

The viscous plasma has long since coagulated, the color has become darker, and the strong stench has blown away the cold wind in the early morning, and it will stick to the boots when you step on it, and some will slip.

Loren and his party stepped on the blood of the bones and followed Count Seth Braha into the City of a Thousand Tents - not only the little wizards, but also Luson and McAfee, as well as many of the Byrne knights, were all pale and resisted the vomit that came up from their stomachs and chests.

It wasn't until he was almost at the Duke's Castle that Loren discovered that the people of the Thousand Hordes... Not only are they thin, hurt, and ragged, but they are only a group of gray-haired old people and a group of emaciated children.

As for where have the adult men and women gone...... The silent group knew that no one would stand up and ask this question.

Loren suddenly thought of the villages and tent camps outside the city that had been swept away by the centaurs—I was afraid that these were the only living people left around the Thousand Tents.

Only when you see "these" can you really understand what kind of test you have experienced after being besieged for three months, breaking the city several times, taking the city several times, changing hands repeatedly, and finally holding on to the Thousand Tent City that Byrne's army rushed to.

Is that... The test of blood.

From beginning to end, Seth Braha, who led the way, did not say a word, but walked silently ahead, even more silently than the other Boi hussars.

It was only when he passed by the people that he paused for a moment, and soon continued his steps.

"When the city of a thousand hordes was besieged, the family of Count Seth, and his four-year-old son, were in the city. Master Harlem van Ashamai, who was walking behind Loren, suddenly lowered his voice and said:

"On the day we broke out, his wife, Madame Bosival, who had come from the Peak, had joined the defenders—there was no one from his family in the crowd. ”

Loren bowed slightly, silently.

So... Would this Count of Seth be so eager to know how many reinforcements he had brought, and why would he be so unconfident in front of Bosival?

"Here it is. ”

Seth Braha, whose expression remained unchanged, suddenly stopped, slowly turned around, bowed to Loren, and said in a deep voice: "Justice Laszló Varna awaits you, Grand Duke of Loren Turin!"

Just as the entourage was about to enter together, they were stopped by the Boi hussars.

"What does that mean?" said Count Eckert, frowning slightly, his sharp gaze sweeping toward Seth Braha.

"In the main hall, there is only Archduke László Varna alone. The Count of Seth was neither humble nor arrogant: "The only person he wants to invite is the Grand Duke of Loren Turin, that's all." ”

"For the rest of you, please rest in the side hall for the time being, we have prepared a room for you—as for you, Master Haringvan Ashamai, the Grand Duke has specially commanded that for the sake of the battle you have fought to hold the city of a thousand tents, you will be exempted from the sin of great disrespect. ”

"Please also tell the old stubborn that I have not been disrespectful to him. Master Ashamai smiled slightly, stroked his chest and saluted: "But if the Grand Duke needs to, Zai Xia is still willing to serve Boi." ”

Glancing at Harlem Van Ashamai, Count Eckert stepped forward: "This is unconventional, and there is no precedent. ”

"Just a normal meeting, and thanks. Seth Braha's eyes were flat: "The formal banquet will be held tomorrow evening, and there is no precedent or precedent." ”

"What do you say, Duke? He turned his gaze to the black-haired wizard.

"Yes, don't worry. ”

Smiling and looking back, he looked at Ain, Lusen, McAfee, and Eckert behind him, who were safe and sound...... Loren shrugged indifferently and hooked the corners of his mouth: "I just went to visit a respected old-timer, and by the way, I said hello to each other or something, and I will probably come back." ”

As the words fell, a blank Seth Braha bowed again and made a "greeting" gesture with the Boi hussars.

....................................

Towering domes, spacious halls... It looked the same as the palace halls of the Crimson Castle, but it was rougher and simpler, with sabers and spears hanging on the walls on all sides, and a heraldic banner with a scimitar and horse in front of the gate.

An old man sat under the banner, with gray, messy hair and a somewhat unkempt beard, and looked about the same age as the Corona master of Eberden.

It's just that the burly figure with a full suit of armor really doesn't look like an old man of seventy or eighty years old.

The fireplace in the hall lit up, illuminating the old man's cheeks and the table standing in front of the two men.

A saber sits in the center of the long table, and at each end are two iron cups filled with liquor.

What do you mean?

He saw the eyes of the old man opposite, staring at him from the moment he entered the door.

It's like looking at a knife and a mirror...... I looked at myself as if I were looking at a dead thing.

Loren was expressionless, as if he hadn't noticed.

This gaze... He'd seen it too many times.

"Angt didn't lie to me. ”

Laszló Varna said slowly, saying very inconsequential words:

"The new duke to whom he is loyal is a murderer... He can also kill. ”

"That doesn't sound like a positive review. ”

Speaking calmly, the black-haired wizard walked to the table without changing his face and sat down opposite the old man: "I never think that killing people is something to be proud of... Especially the previous one. ”

"Then you couldn't be more wrong. The old man said coldly, his sharp eyes like a wolf waiting for an opportunity to lurk: "Among people like you and me, you can't sit in this position without killing anyone, and you can't do it for long if you can't kill people!"

"You are a side branch of the Turin family, and you are a wandering wizard, and you are in collusion with the Heavenly Dome Palace - in the future, you will definitely kill many people in order to sit firmly in your seat. ”

"Really?" Loren raised an eyebrow and glared back, "I guess... This is the 'advanced experience' of being Duke of Boe for so many years?"

In the dimly lit hall, the two people who were talking about endless "gossip" stared at each other without blinking their eyes.

"Toast!"

Duke Laszló Varna picked up his glass and slammed it on the table with a "bang!"

"To our best friend Poi. Loren picked up his wine glass and said calmly: "At the most critical juncture of Byrne, with a letter of help, Byrne has a chance to rise again!"

"Drink!"

The Grand Duke of Varna poured it into his mouth, his throat twitching, and Loren looked up and drank the sticky mare's milk wine.

"Knock ——!"

Two glasses slammed into the table at the same time.

"I underestimate you, Duke Loren. ”

Putting down the wine glass, the old man wiped his mouth vigorously: "I thought that you 15,000 benefactors would definitely suffer heavy casualties under the Thousand Tent City... I'll have to fight hard to get my castle back. ”

"Not true. Loren suddenly said coldly.

"What's wrong?"

"It's not... Think, but you hope it will be so. ”

Loren raised his eyes, his dark pupils flashing with a strange luster: "You want to see me under the Thousand Tents, the whole army is annihilated, your appearance is not an accident, but a premeditated one... You've been aware of us for a long time. ”

"Life and death are uncertain... It's just an illusion you've deliberately created - Byrne, the Empire, the Boe, the Thousand Hordes...... Even your grandson has been deceived by you!"