The viper died.

And in front of his two "allies", his throat was slit in a coma.

The reason is very fair - the leader of the Viper Mercenary Group is suspected of coercing the members of his mercenary group to rebel against two other mercenary groups, trying to betray the empire and his own principality when foreign enemies invade.

Fortunately, "Duke Byrne and the Archon of Ebonden joined forces to stop it in time", and the two leaders of the implicated mercenary group also set things right in time and joined the side of justice, becoming an indispensable force in the defensive battle of Ebolden......

This is how the incident is recorded in the parliamentary archives of the Ebotden Free Assembly.

For Loren and Corona, it was this disaster caused by "unpaid wages" and "malicious wage demand" that finally minimized the impact and danger.

The Viper Mercenary Regiment, which had lost its leader, was forcibly disbanded, and about half of the professional mercenaries were absorbed into the Ebolden City Defense Army, and became a force under the direct control of the Archon, while the remaining City Defense Army was also directly or indirectly controlled by Corona through the Wizard Tower and the family.

After this rebellion, the elders of the Wizard Tower finally understood how important it was to have an army in their hands, and the flight of a large number of nobles gave them a very good opportunity.

The remaining half of the dismissed were secretly recruited by the two mercenary groups of Silver Blood and Black Blade to expand their strength.

Loren chose to turn a blind eye to this matter, and still paid the two mercenary groups full commissions according to the originally negotiated price, and in addition, he did not forget to promise to give the two regiment commanders 500,000 silver coins "compensation" each.

In fact, this is Loren's purpose in the first place - to defend the empty Eberden at the moment, of course, it is impossible to leave more than 3,000 professional soldiers at such a time, and even if the other two mercenary groups do not make any action in the end, he will definitely find a way to get Count Eckert to detain this group of people.

At such a time, it would be nice to have someone willing to bear the extra cost of thousands of fighters for him.

As for the "compensation" of those half a million silver coins ... The commander of the Black Blade was elated and accepted as a matter of course, but the commander of the Silver Blood simply pushed it down, and made it clear that he himself had received the commission and would fight alongside the defenders of Eboden until the last moment.

Apparently... The experience at the negotiation table left a very bad impression on Loren in his heart, and he would rather not have 500,000 silver coins than keep a certain distance from Loren.

A little unsociable, but he will stick to his promises, a very principled guy.

Loren likes guys like that.

At the same time, in order to boost morale (to buy people's hearts) - with the help of Corona, Loren found a large number of locally produced sweet wines and good quality ales from the estates and warehouses of the fugitive nobles, and distributed them to the mercenaries and city guards in the name of "Commander Ebotden", which was regarded as the last celebration and carnival before the war.

They didn't know what kind of enemy they were about to face, thinking that it was just the battle against water thieves or bandits in the past, and the few elites who had fought against the werewolves in East Sackland were also very confident in the battle that was coming.

So they drank cheap, sweet wines, and shouted all night thanking their commanders, knights from the land of fine wine.

Ignorant of their fate, it's just worth this glass of wine.

"You didn't kill him?"

Pushing away the red blood wine on the table, Corona smiled and turned her gaze to the black-haired wizard across the table: "The moment you pulled out the knife, I really thought you were going to kill him and force those two to comply." ”

Outside the door there was a cacophony of shouting and footsteps, and the Byrne knights, carrying crates of fine wine, mingled with the Ebolden city guards, and the rude mercenaries mingled with the disciplined legionnaires.

"Of course he can't die—not only can't, but he has to live safely until the Azorean elves actually appear. Loren raised his glass, and the red syrup swayed in the glass:

"The Silver Blood must have been discovered, and he thought I was going to force him to kill the Viper to prove the 'sincerity' of cooperation, but in reality it was the opposite, and the living Viper was more useful to me than the dead. ”

"The one who betrayed the Viper and carved up his mercenary group is not me, but his two good companions, as long as he is alive for a day, as long as there are still people in the Viper mercenary group... These two never want to sleep peacefully, and they are always in fear of being approached by their former friends. ”

"As for the Viper, he is already a 'dead man' on the charge of 'treason', and if he wants revenge, the only one he can rely on is me... So don't kill him, just to keep the last one, to ensure that there is no mistake in the hole card. ”

Caution may not be enough to make up for all the mistakes, but at least they won't be made again.

Corona muttered for a long time, silently looking at the black-haired wizard with a flat expression, that leisurely expression was no longer like the child who asked him for advice in the carriage on the streets of Ebolden.

In the Red Blood Castle, the strategy is to retreat, and at the meeting of the Imperial Capital Edgeworth Knights, the tacit "tacit understanding" with Conod broke down the division of the leaders of the three mercenary groups, and broke them one by one......

"Remarkable. Corona's eyes were like a torch, and his solemn voice made Loren slightly stunned: "Although I have high expectations for you, your growth rate is really beyond my expectations." ”

"No, no, no, you're exaggerating. The black-haired wizard chuckled and shook his head, taking a sip of the red blood wine: "Everything I know is also learned from you. ”

Well, there's Dalton Kander, Rutte Infinit, the Bellini family, Brandon and Conrad de Salion, Farnesis, Charlotte Turin, ......

Plus two evil gods of Asrael, and the elusive Black Cross.

Thanks to these friends and opponents (who killed a thousand knives) for forcing themselves to the edge of life and death on the cliff again and again, and using their wonderful performances and layouts again and again to allow themselves to have an "immersive" experience;

Well, if you have the opportunity, you must thank them one by one, and thank them for not forgetting to give themselves such "caring" guidance and training in various ways for so many years.

Certain!

The corners of Loren's mouth twitched a little unnaturally.

Corona, who noticed the change in the black-haired wizard's expression, smiled slightly, and didn't say anything, but changed the topic: "Now that the Ebolden rebellion has been resolved, do you have confidence in the next city defense battle?"

As the old man spoke, Loren's expression became solemn again.

"To be honest, no. Sighing, Loren, who stood up, looked at the closed door and said softly, "This should be the first time... I was fighting a war that was almost impossible to win, with no certainty. ”

Loren hates surprises, surprises, and any unpredictable sudden events.

That's right, he collected all the information about the Azorean elves, dug up all the information that could be dug up, and even used a few night watchmen under the command of Conod as chess pieces to find out the details of the assassination night in the Sky Dome Palace... But to no avail.

I don't know when the enemy will come, when they will attack, in what way, and how fierce the momentum of the attack will be;

The weak defensive line of Eberden seems to be enough for the city defense... Can you really hold the enemy back for a month.

Everything is still unknown.

Putting down the glass, the black-haired wizard's eyes narrowed slightly.

For a moment, he suddenly began to understand Conod's feelings.

Stationed in the fortress of Broken Mountain all the year round, waiting for the invasion of the northern monsters all the time, the slightest clue and possibility cannot be given up, otherwise it will be a loss and the city will be ruined.

And even if you find clues and make adequate preparations, you still don't know if you can hold it - in the history of the empire, the Broken Mountain Fortress is not without precedent.

Because of this, he will be willing to compromise after more than ten years of guarding the Broken Boundary Mountain, so that he can understand his feelings at the moment, and even if he is unwilling, he will come himself... Fight a battle to defend the city that you must lose.

Because as long as the enemy is dragged ... Not to mention a month, even if it is an extra week or a day to drag the enemy, the empire can be stronger.

"Knights of Oath ......" The brooding black-haired wizard suddenly looked at Corona as if he remembered: "Since he will come to deliver the letter, then he should still be in Eberden City right now... Where is he now?"

Corona looked at Loren and shook her head.

"I sent someone to look for him, but there was no trace of his whereabouts - the cathedral in Eboden knew nothing about his current situation, and there was not even any clue left. Corona sighed and frowned slightly:

"If nothing else, he's probably gone. ”

Left?

Now at a time like this?

Loren's expression was rather stunned.

"Could it be that he's still in the city, just hidden?" The black-haired wizard still refused to give up, after all, the Knight of Oath was also a very important combat force: "It was like this during the Centaur War before, and I didn't show up until I arrived at Silverhelm Mountain......"

"Probably not, and IMHO... Knight of Oaths, he also has his own mission. Corona said softly, "Since he didn't come forward, it proves that there is something more important in his judgment than holding Ebolden, isn't it?"

More important than holding Ebolden?

The black-haired wizard's expression was thoughtful.

For the Knights of Oath, there is only one thing in this world that is important enough.

Black Cross, Seliol.

That is to say......

Looking at the dark-haired wizard who was lost in thought, Corona's expression was subtle.

Judging by his expression, it seems that he has already come into contact with part of the truth... It's not surprising, how could someone who has visited the Dragon King City and fought against the evil gods know nothing about this world?

What's more, Asrael... That evil god... Why are you so interested in him?

How much does he know, and to what extent... This is a problem.

Your Majesty Eckhart, should I tell him?

I, Loren Turin... What is our role in your plans and visions?

Did you promise me a future for wizards and forsake Ebolden, are you really fulfilling your promises, or are you just making me and the wizards victims of your plans?

Either way, I promise that wizards will never fall to Ebolden, and that we are stronger than you and your rotten royal family.

Because... You are the past, we are the future.

We will use our own hands to fight for our future.

Corona pursed the corners of her mouth and subconsciously held the table with her right hand.

"Master Corona?"

The black-haired wizard raised his eyebrows, vaguely sensing that something was not quite right: "What?"

"No, nothing... It's just an old man habitually starting to recall. Corona smiled indifferently and said as if chatting normally:

"Loren Turin, wait until this war is over... Wait until the end of the war, there are things I want to tell you, but not now. ”

Loren was stunned.

"Now, Duke Loren of Turin, Lord of the Thirteen Lords of Byrne. Corona raised her head and snapped her fingers at the door:

"It's time for the warriors guarding Ebolden to meet their commanders. ”

The moment the words fell, the doors of the Freedom Council "automatically" opened to both sides.

In the dark evening sky, the scenery outside the door is very naturally presented in Loren's sight.

The marble staircase, the spacious Eboton Square, the towers of the houses, the fortresses and walls in the distance, the bright red sun hanging over the fortress... Until the end, the peaceful and silent harbor and the turquoise coastline are full of water and sky.

This is Ebolden, the city of wealth and wisdom, a city that is about to be soaked in blood and needs to defend it with all its might for a whole month.

The spacious Ebolden Square has been turned into a campground with bonfires and torches, and the Freedom Council has even gone to great lengths to illuminate the square as bright as daylight with thousands of fluorite lamps.

As the gate opened, the soldiers in the square naturally noticed the figure walking out of the gate.

Looking at the pair of eyes staring at him, the stunned Loren hooked the corners of his mouth, faced the entire square, and slowly raised the wine glass in his hand.

"Long live the Duke of Byrne————!!!!"

There was no end to the crowd in the square, and the figures around the bonfire also stood up excitedly, raising the wine glasses in their hands together, and the malt and blood-red liquid shook with the wine glasses, splashing on everyone's heads, and the atmosphere was also eager.

They munched on delicious food, drank bosom liquor, and praised the generous Duke of Byrne, and hooked up with anyone beside them.

As night fell, Ebolden, which grew colder and darker, enjoyed the last pleasures before the war came.

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