The moon is in the middle of the sky.

Winter is approaching, and even at midnight, which should have been clear, the north wind is still blowing in the sky above the Broken Mountain Fortress, and the never-ending blizzard is constantly roaring outside the window.

The Commander's room wasn't very spacious, but at least it was warm and cozy—a thick carpet of animal skins, a bubbling soup pot on a roaring fireplace.

The only long table in the room was already filled with a variety of "East Sackland's traditions" – coarse pot stews, salt-and-pepper toast, roasted venison and soju that would get drunk on the smell.

For Brandon, who is accustomed to the fine food of the imperial capital of Golovin and is keen to find good food, just seeing it makes him uncomfortable.

Of course, even more uncomfortable for him was Conrad de Salion, sitting across from him, staring at him while slicing meat with a dagger.

The severe winter blizzard howled outside the window, which made the atmosphere of this rare "brotherly gathering" even more solemn.

Holding a glass of hot water, the corners of Brandon's mouth barely squeezed out a smile - he really couldn't drink the damn soju:

"I haven't seen you for a few years, and it seems that Brother Connad has undergone a lot of vicissitudes than the last time we met, so you should pay more attention to your body. ”

Conod ignored Brandon's deliberate stubble, and the sharp dagger sent the cut venison into his mouth, and said slowly:

"You're more sensible and more relaxed than before. ”

"I remember Brandon de Salion not hesitating to have Miracis kill everyone but me the moment his wizard advisor was apprehended, and then smash half of the Broken Mountain Fortress to pieces. ”

"yes, that's my style. Brandon hooked the corners of his mouth and smiled brightly:

"Oh... By the way, even now I'd love to do that - you wouldn't wonder how many times I'd like to see your lackeys burned alive!"

"Also, don't deny how many times I wish that Mirasis didn't accept my invitation, but simply nibbled on me as a snack. I know, you've thought so. ”

"Of course, we are all descendants of de Salion. The blood of the Dragon Royals runs through our bodies, and anger and tyranny are in our innate nature. ”

Connad calmly replied, "But the more so, the more we should remember who we are." Use our rationality to harness our anger rather than be controlled or consumed by it. ”

"I'm impressed with your performance today, Brandon. ”

"That's because I know you don't dare kill him—unless you're crazy enough to kill a descendant of a House of Turin in front of thousands of soldiers in the Broken Mountain Fortress. His Royal Highness the Prince tugged at the corners of his mouth, and a piece of toasted bread just now almost choked him to death:

"Of course, please be considerate of me. Although we all understand that you are only trying to calm the conflict, it is not easy for me to persuade my friends of the wizarding advisor to try to endure and not rob the prison for the time being!"

"He killed nearly twenty people in the duel trial, and these soldiers also had robes, relatives and brothers. If they really want revenge, there's nothing I can do to stop them. Conod glanced at him coldly:

"Do you think it's safer for your 'wizard advisor' to let him out now?"

Brandon shrugged.

"What's more, this 'wizard advisor' isn't just provoking the Broken Mountain Fortress. Conod spoke slowly: "Even for the trouble he caused me, I can't just spare this descendant of the Turin family so lightly. ”

"Uh... What do you mean?" Brandon stiffened.

For a moment, a subtle hint of killing intent flashed in the corner of Connod's eyes.

"Brandon de Salion, do you think I'm blind or deaf?" the prince of Sakran tried to suppress the anger in his words: "I can tolerate my brother's misdeeds, but that doesn't mean I'll turn a blind eye!"

"Together with this Loren Turin, you completely destroyed the local church and the forces of the free aristocracy in Ebolden, and let the Nine-Pointed Star Wizard Tower completely take power, almost destroying half of the city!"

"In Crucible, you obviously know that the Dean of the Crucible Academy is my man - I have to admit that your wizard advisor is really powerful, otherwise it would not have been possible to find enough evidence to destroy him overnight, and almost destroy the logistics of the Broken Mountain Fortress!"

"Do you have to deny all these things?"

"No, of course not. Brandon smiled even brighter:

"After all, in the face of my brother's repeated pitfalls, how can I, as a younger brother, not resist with a little means?"

"First of all, Eboden - Uncle Ruth Infinit asked for the Holy Blood Elixir, but anyone with a brain knows that he is your person, but no one told me from beginning to end that this damn potion can turn people into monsters and summon evil gods!"

"Then on the way to the fortress of Broken Mountain, when my soldiers were slaughtered by the werewolves of the ice plain, Ernst and the cavalry under your command actually watched - if it weren't for Mirasis, I didn't know how many of the soldiers of the guard survived;"

"And that troublesome veteran, don't tell me he's not your person, no one is behind his back, how dare he be so rude, and even threaten me with the military regulations of the empire? really, I almost believed it!"

"So, all this is your choice, you forced me - dear royal brother, it is your repeated temptations that make me have to choose to resist to the maximum extent. ”

The atmosphere gradually became tense.

"I see. ”

Conod put down the meat-cutting dagger in his hand, drank all the soju in his cup in one gulp, and looked at Brandon in front of him silently with a low breath:

"So... What if I told you that I would stop there, never test you again, or even persuade my father to lift his surveillance on you?"

Brandon's smile froze.

"I'm sorry but、But I... I don't think I heard clearly?"

"Then I'll say it again. A smile appeared on Conod's resolute face, and he looked at his brother:

"From now on, we are no longer enemies, but brothers fighting side by side - I will do my best to speak as well as possible for your father and the Emperor, and tell him how heroic you are in the Fortress of Broken Mountain, and I will give you, my own brother, Brandon de Salion, everything a prince deserves!"

"Not just the property you deserve, but even the title, the realm, and the real power! I remember that there is a precedent for a prince to serve in the Imperial Council, and this will be your breakthrough. ”

Brandon's expression couldn't have been more awkward.

Taking a deep breath with all his might, Brandon let out a long breath of stuffy air in his chest, slapped his cheeks with both hands desperately to make himself completely sober, and then his eyes widened, and he asked a question with the most sane and sober mind:

"Why?"

"Because of me, because the Broken Mountain Fortress and the Empire need you so badly, Brandon. Conod sighed, his crimson eyes heavy:

"The enemy in the north can invade the fortress of Broken Mountain at any time, but unfortunately, we are not fully prepared - although the enemy is still the enemy of the past, the empire is not the empire of the past!"

"You also know very well that the chaos a hundred years ago caused heavy casualties to the entire empire, and it has not fully recovered, and the dukes of the various principalities will not gather their troops for the sake of a summoning order of the empire and voluntarily march to the north as in the past, unless the army of monsters completely destroys the fortress of Broken Mountain!"

"The threat from the north is imminent, but as long as we can't produce evidence, no one will believe it - they are full of intrigue and calculation, and they will only think that the empire has encroached on their army and territory!"

"I really need you now, more than ever, Brandon-de Salion needs you, the Empire needs you even more!"

Listening to his brother's plea, the red-haired and red-eyed prince lowered his gaze slightly, as if he was deep in thought.

"Oh... Now I finally get it. ”

"Do you really understand?" Conod's tone was more earnest, his expression resolute.

"Yes, it couldn't be clearer. Raising his head, Brandon's face once again bloomed with an extremely happy smile: "You don't need Brandon De Salion......"

"It's Brandon, the 'ghost for the dead', right?"

"Brandon ......"

"Come on, come on, my beloved Imperial Brother Conrad, I'll be numb for you if you say what you just said again, please, stop playing the trick of 'brother and brother Gong' again, okay?"

Picking up the soju on the table, Brandon spilled it directly into the fireplace, his eyes playful:

"Of course you can send me to death, but only if you can afford it, then ......

You have to be prepared that I will fight back!"10