Stone Tower is a large town in the Greywater District west of Feinberg, owned by Earl Halwyn and his family, and is now in its thirtieth generation. It is a land of fish and rice with a thriving trade, which can bring in a lot of income every year. The river Greywater splits into two streams here, enclosing the Count's castle in the middle, providing it with good protection.

To reach the castle, you have to cross a stone bridge. The bridge deck is not wide enough to deploy troops, and it is defended by towering arrow towers. When the 20,000 troops of the Levi Central Empire came here and discarded 3,000 corpses on the bridge and in front of the city gates, they had to adopt the method of besieging but not attacking and political negotiations. It's just that in addition to the intermittent river transportation, the Stone Tower Castle also has secret tunnels where supplies can be obtained. So after two years of siege and negotiation, the Central Empire only nominally gained the allegiance of Earl Harwyn, and could not even collect taxes, let alone others.

It's a great place to be, both militarily and economically, so the Halwyns put their most effort into protecting it. Relying on more than forty elite family knights and hundreds of mercenary warriors with real skills, there were no major losses here during the two bloody meteor nights. The castle still stands, and the town is still bustling.

It's just that these days, there are a lot of unfamiliar faces in the town. These men were well-dressed and well-armed, holding banners high and carrying retinues, all of whom were nearby lords. After hearing that the Revy Magic Empire had crossed the corridors of the church and captured a number of remote castles along the Sunset Mountains, they all attended this year's "Spring Hunt for the Nobles of the Greywater District" in person, wanting to discuss how to deal with it.

In previous years, spring hunting was to go to the mountains and forests to find the trouble of bears after hibernation, and then drink and have fun, so as to relieve the loneliness of not going out all winter. This year, although the spring hunt will also be held, many people lack interest, and there is no fierce gambling with each other as in previous years. They were more likely to gather in castles and manors to exchange news and discuss the empire that was rapidly rising in the East.

"That's a greedy emperor, he'll come over sooner or later - such a nice place as Stone Tower Castle. In the early years, when he was still in Minas Ihir, he already knew many merchants in Stone Tower Town, and knew that it was wealthy. It's no wonder that those merchants were careless, no one would have thought that a little advisor who had been an exemplary leader of the elven woman to work would now become the Emperor?"

"He used to be a member of the Hall family, and he never changed. When will the people of the Hall family be underestimated?"

"It's useless to say that, and it's important to think about how to make him fail. I recently heard the news that His Majesty the Emperor is going to fight back against the Scarlet Meteor and recruit us lords and knights. Who does he think he is? Even the church wouldn't do such a thing, would he?"

"The church is definitely not going to do it, that's breaking the rules. A middle-aged man with a wide face pulled a bone out of his teeth and threw it aside. "In my opinion, as long as the church intervenes, with the majesty of a goddess, any empire will fall. The Empire wants to climb on everyone's heads, on our people's heads? Hmph, dreaming!"

At this time, a voice sounded in everyone's ears: "There must be a dream, what if it comes true?"

"Who! who said that?" everyone began to look for the voice. They looked left and right, but in the end they found nothing, so they could only look at each other.

"Bastard, where did the ventriloquist clown come from?" they quickly found an explanation, so they could comfortably put what had just happened behind them. "By the way, what about the owner of this place, Count Harwyn, and which of you has seen Ruhl III?"

"The host is talking to an important guest from afar and will be meeting everyone soon. The servant's words answered the question, but they did not satisfy them. Who is not an important guest here, and why do those who "come from afar" get priority?

"Who do you say this guy is from afar?, or who does he serve?" a question sparked a heated discussion. Stone Tower is the closest town to the current border of the Revy Magic Empire, and is the first to be threatened, but not the only one. Further west and south behind it, there were many more important towns, where there were many powerful lords. If one or a few of them come, then there is hope for a small alliance to be formed here.

Deep down, no lord thinks that an alliance will be able to resist the iron hooves of the Revy Magic Empire. Everyone knows very well that the nobles and knights of the non-Hall family of the United Kingdom of Hoya also formed an alliance, but they were not defeated by Feige Hall alone? In that battle, the conditions of the coalition army could not be better, sufficient supplies, abundant physical strength, and sufficient preparation time, but they were directly crushed to death by one person on the frontal battlefield with incredible combat effectiveness.

"The Emperor's Victory" is the Magic Empire's name for the battle, while to others it is called the "Demon Emperor Tower Witch Harbor Massacre". They also knew that the Emperor of the Magic Empire did not massacre the city of Tawu Harbor, and that the coalition forces also died on the battlefield, and the massacre was untenable. However, this statement can frighten the civilians who lack knowledge and information, and make them cower under their rule, which can be an extra tax.

Charging more taxes is a very practical option in the current situation. Before, the aristocratic coalition could not defeat Feige head-on, so there is a high probability that the others will still repeat the same mistakes. In fact, everyone knows what war looks like in an ugly way, and it is difficult to happen again when you realize the promise of war, and then abide by the rules and keep your promises to make an agreement on the battlefield. Sneak attacks are now a sign of cleverness, surprise attacks are the use of force, and that magic emperor Feige Hale has never lacked wisdom and ability.

No one wants to face such an enemy alone on the battlefield, let alone be attacked by him, so everyone wants to meet Feige later, and it is better not to meet him. If you have to face it, it is acceptable to get a more decent ending, which is much better than being arrested and deprived of everything.

If you want to be decent, you must show the ability to acquire decency, which can only be obtained on the battlefield. Therefore, it is best to encourage Earl Halwyn to resist and make the appearance that he can still fight. If Harwin is not fooled, then there will be Marvern, Zhu Erwen...... If there is no resistance from all the time, then let the Feige Hall family clean up slowly!

For the lords present, it is not good to let those big lords unite first, so that these small lords themselves will become vassals and become existences to be sacrificed on the battlefield. When the strong are small, the small ones can also let the strong set an example, so that Harwyn will take the lead. But how strong and small and the strong are united, then the one who walks in front must be small.

"When will he come out?" the nobles were tired of waiting endlessly at the feast of the ever-increasing meal. They are all important people with responsibilities on their shoulders, not pigs.

"Your Excellency, Ruel Harwin III. The butler standing at the gate shouted loudly, causing a cacophony of swearing and the screeching of tables and chairs retreating. As everyone looked at the door, a servant hurried over, shoved a note into the butler's hand, and then tapped it vigorously. The butler glanced at it, his legs were weak, and there was a tremor in his high-pitched voice: "His Majesty the Emperor of the Levy Magic Empire, Feige Hall, here!"

All the sound came to an abrupt end, and the scene fell silent. Then several knights threw themselves at the table, snatched their knives and forks from above, and made a posture ready for battle. Ironically, they still have swords pinned to their waists.

Earl Harwyn's broad body stepped out of the shadows of the doorway, and beside him was Feige Hall, who was not of outstanding size, but Harwin's magnanimity was not worth mentioning at this time. The Emperor of the Magic Empire held a long staff, his face as grim and cold as a sword.

"Booker, put your knife and fork down, did you confuse me with my roast pig?" said Harwyn with a laugh, but no one should laugh. "Ladies and gentlemen, I would like you to introduce His Majesty the Emperor of the Revy Magic Empire. He's here for our little spring hunting party, and it's a place that shines brightly!"

"Harwin, when did you invite him, are you going to surrender the empire and give up the lands and titles left by your ancestors?!"

Earl Halwyn smiled bitterly, but he didn't dare to show it. He hadn't invited Feige Hale at all! He hadn't thought of it in his heart, but the original plan was to see the results of the Spring Hunt Party first, and then consider whether to write a letter to His Majesty the Emperor in secret.

The plan was good, but when he opened his eyes this morning, Fitch Hall was standing at the head of his bed, churning over in a chair beside him. He hurriedly pushed away the young girl who was still sleeping beside him, and reached out to touch the long sword beside the bed.

"I'm going to kill you, you're already stinking by this time. Feige closed the book and placed it gently on the bedside table. He picked up the cat teaser, walked over the Count's body, and tapped it lightly on the girl. With two "poofs", she was teleported away by Feige.

"I thought I'd see the Countess—or you guys. Feige looked outside, and the sun had already crossed the horizon, letting in through the window. "I heard that you have a spring hunt here, inviting lords large and small within a hundred kilometers around. I did the math on the map, and the closest distance from you to the border of the empire is less than a hundred kilometers, so I came here. ”

"Your Majesty, I can't believe you can come here, so I didn't send an invitation, and I ...... in the future Definitely in the future!"

"Not later. Feiqi's words made Harwin's heart cold, but fortunately, there was a twist in the second half of the sentence: "If you don't surrender today, I can make sure that there will never be a spring hunt that the Harwin family will participate in." ”

"Your Majesty, can you make me more decent?" Harwin wanted to call for help now, but who would come to save him? No, who could save him? If he yelled, things would not turn around, and the whole family would be buried with him.

"Okay, put on your clothes and arrange things outside. Feige looked at the sky: "I can even out half the day for you, and by noon I have other things to do, and I will definitely leave here." When I leave, I'll either know you're surrendering, or I'll make it clear that you're not surrendering, it's pretty simple, right?"

Harwin didn't find it easy at all. He nodded, hurriedly put on his pants, and thought of a countermeasure while he put the rest of his clothes on his body.

His gaze swept over every corner of the room, measuring every blunt object, every sharp weapon, every window, door, and passage through which he could slip through. After a less intense battle of ideas, the Earl of Harwyn finally sat down in front of Feich, put his hands obediently on his knees, and began to discuss the specific terms of the surrender.

"In the coming period, our family will gradually transfer the affairs of Stone Tower Town to the Revy Magic Empire, and when all is done, it will become a part of the Empire. Earl Halwyn loudly announced in front of the lords, "Our family greatly admires His Majesty the Emperor's spirit of launching a counterattack against the Scarlet Meteor on behalf of all the people in the Yongli Continent, and is willing to contribute to this. All three of my sons will be trained in the best possible way and then become the vanguard of His Majesty, and the vanguard of all mankind!"

"Harwin, you have broken your oath! you belong to the Duke of Kona, you are his vassal, and now you are going to change masters?" one of the lords accused.

"Don't embarrass Ruel Harwyn III," Feige put his hand on the Count's shoulder, "Even if I'm persecuting him, just let the Duke of Kona come to me." No matter what level of parent you are looking for, I will follow. If you want to organize a coalition, I don't mind. ”

"What a arrogant person, do you think you are invincible in the world? Don't forget that there is also the church and the goddess!"

"Am I going to unify all human beings, against the rules of the Church? I'm doing it now with the least costly solution. Feige said: "I understand your thoughts, I understand your frustration, because I have limited time and energy, and I will only seek out rulers like the Harwyns to negotiate individual merger agreements, and I don't have time to take care of the smaller ones." ”

"What are you doing with all this nonsense?!" an impulsive knight blushed and drew his sword and charged at Feige. "Let me solve all my worries for everyone!"

Feige gently raised the cat-teasing stick, and shot a black line of fire from the crystal at the top, spun and slammed into the swordsman's face. In an instant, the eye melted and continued to melt inward from the eye socket. The fluid of the burnt skin, muscles, and eyeballs, mixed with jelly, slid downward, igniting the beard, clothes, and armor along the way. In an instant, the swordsman turned into a pillar of fire, tongues of fire more than twice his height, and the enormous heat of radiation was accompanied by a terrifying smell of flesh. It all happened between the lightning and the flint, and the swordsman didn't even scream, all that was left was the sound of crackling and peeling as it burned. His body and weapons and armor melted together, and in a moment the kung fu turned into a viscous charred mass on the ground that could not be distinguished. The embers were still there, and the recklessness of attacking His Majesty the Emperor was burned in them.

"I'm sorry for affecting everyone's appetite. I shouldn't be the master here...... Oh no, I've just signed the agreement, and I can do it. Feige blinked, then pointed to the table next to him and said, "Is that a roast rabbit? You still have this for breakfast? I'm just hungry." ”

He stepped over the scorched black, unminding his way through the crowd to the table and tore off a rabbit leg. He was chewing, and everyone present felt that the next person to chew in those good teeth would be himself.

They hurried to Harwin to inquire about the terms of the surrender. Whether you accept it or not, whether you want to fight or not, it never hurts to know more.

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