"Are you serious?"

Brandon's expression flickered as if he were a trick at the tent of the coalition camp, looking at the inked letterhead in his hand, and finally staring at the black-haired wizard with a pair of extremely complicated red eyes.

"Which part do you mean?" Loren, who was lying on the bed, raised an eyebrow and shrugged tiredly.

The cost of the battle with Chakar was severe, not only in terms of physical strength and energy, but also in terms of the recurrence of old injuries that had not yet recovered from the Silverhelm Mountain.

The little wizard almost pinned him to the bed with a tie, and warned the black-haired wizard that if he continued like this, he would have only one year left at most;

If it weren't for the care of Master Ashamai, who was also seriously injured, Aine would have stayed up all night spying on some "rather unconscious" bastard, lest he kill himself.

"All!"

Brandon's eyes widened, as if only an octave of his voice could indicate his current mood: "You don't seem to see clearly... What will happen if this letter goes out as you hope?!"

"Needless to say, my father and my dear imperial brother are the Holy Cross Church, the Nine-Pointed Star Wizard Tower, and the various forces that have been desperately hiding all this for many years so that the empire can always maintain prosperity and stability, you are tantamount to ruining their years of hard work!"

"They... I'm going to want to peel you off and cramp you, and break your flesh and bones. With a light snort, Brandon shook his head: "Can't you be tactful, do you have to use such extreme means?"

"Tactfully... This doesn't sound like what a 'disgraced prince' would say," Loren smiled faintly: "What's more, can our Royal Highness Crown Prince Conrad still pretend to forget the account that I once destroyed the imperial governorship?"

"Both he and His Majesty the Emperor already want to kill me... It's just a matter of time. ”

"That's right, but there's still a difference between being targeted by them and actively looking for death!"

His Royal Highness a certain "disgraced prince" rolled his eyes desperately, with an expression of disbelief: "Are you really my former wizard advisor... Because Loren Turin in my impression will never do this kind of active death without any results!"

"You know better than I do that this letter will be of no use even if it is sent to the whole empire as you wish - at least half of the people will not believe it, and those who believe it will think it is a conspiracy, and the rest of the people will not matter at all!"

"That's right, there's no way you can wake up someone who is pretending to be asleep. Loren shrugged and agreed with him: "I admit it, but... Even so, it is necessary. ”

Brandon stared at him angrily: "Give me a reason!"

The black-haired wizard didn't answer him right away.

Leaning lightly on the bed, he narrowed his eyes and exhaled again, as if thinking about how to answer Brandon.

Truth be told, Loren was scared.

This feeling was not obvious when he was in Broken Boundary Mountain, but Silver Helmet Mountain really made him creepy... From beginning to end, he has been led around by the nose, and he has never been able to regain the initiative.

Serol, he didn't seem to have "guessed" that he would go to Silverhelm Mountain, but he knew he would be there from the beginning.

The difference between the two is that the former is based on objective circumstances and variables, and the judgment is based on a person's understanding, while the latter is an unreasonable divine prophecy, like an actor who got the script in advance, or knew the spoiler reading.

“...... Lusen, your death caused Conod to miss the opportunity to head north, and Faoda found the entrance to Nidhogg, and the 'Dead Ones' were rediscovered, and the unsuspecting Broken Boundary Mountain. Destroyed like a decay under the wave of rotting corpses......"

This is what the Grey-Eyed Boy had mentioned to Loren about what Farnesis had warned him when he was on his way to Dragon King, and Farnesis had not yet been completely corrupted and devoured by Seriel.

This passage is crucial.

It's like an experiencer's description, able to capture every important turning point, as if "because Lusen was saved, the world is going to enter another branch".

What is this, the butterfly effect?

In the face of such an unreasonable enemy, the only solution that Loren can think of is to take the initiative to intervene in certain things, and it is a large-scale intervention, making all kinds of seemingly "illogical" and "unreasonable" actions.

Saving the remnants of the Boi army was the first attempt, and this letter would be the second.

However, this kind of thing is impossible for Brandon to accept.

“...... In the final analysis, it is a matter of position. Slowing down his breathing, Loren said flatly: "You also said just now, our Emperor Majesty and Crown Prince Connad will never do this. ”

"Anyone with a brain wouldn't do that!" Brandon rolled his eyes again, "This is not a knight!"

"So ......"

Loren raised his head and looked at him sincerely: "Why not?"

Well?

Brandon felt as if he had said something amazing.

... But no one with a brain would do that... So......

"I have had contact with His Majesty Eckhart II and Crown Prince Conrad once, and my understanding of them is still very shallow, but there is a little ......," said Loren slowly.

"They are people who are good at taking advantage of the situation, they can see the direction of things at a glance, and even if there is an emergency, they will often use various means to 'correct' it, and finally it becomes the situation they want. ”

"The Imperial Judgment is the best example of this... Even without me, the Wizarding Academy would still not be able to be defeated by the Church, and the two would still maintain a certain balance, but from beginning to end, you will not see any traces of His Majesty the Emperor's own involvement. ”

"But he definitely intervened!" Brandon snorted coldly, with a slight dissatisfaction and fear in his tone:

"Maintaining a semblance of objectivity and neutrality, without taking sides, is the image that the Emperor is most keen to display—for a fair judge is more revered and loved than a dictator who is close to everything. ”

"As for the beloved Imperial Brother... Hmph, he's the shadow of his father, but a little younger!"

The black-haired wizard agreed.

The feeling of facing Conod is the same as facing Eckhart II, who is a little more relaxed.

But this is not because His Majesty the Emperor is more "just" ... On the contrary, it is because Conod is still relatively young and easily emotional, and will occasionally show some emotions and likes and dislikes.

"Even when they discovered these problems, the first thing they thought of was not to let everyone know the seriousness of the problem, but to cover it up as best they could, in order to maintain the illusion that the empire was still stable and prosperous. ”

The black-haired wizard's eyes burned: "Because it is more beneficial for them to change the situation and take advantage of the situation than to tacitly understand it." ”

Between the words, Loren's mind immediately came up with all the past;

The shell of the evil god and the Elixir of Holy Blood turned out to be an accident, and the exterminated Bellini family took full responsibility, and even the Imperial legionnaires were killed, and finally died;

The monster invasion of Broken Boundary Mountain is clearly so dangerous that the empire needs to be ready for full mobilization, but the result only gives the nobles of the imperial capital more to talk about;

The Blood Order of the Red Blood Castle ended with the Empire's compromise to abandon the Viceroyalty, and in order to quell the incident, it was even possible to bring out the Archduke of Elems to mediate.

Each time, they seem to feel that they can solve all problems by political means, by exchange of interests and compromises, as if everything is all right as long as stability is maintained, even on the surface.

The starting point is correct, but the problem is that this enemy cannot be defeated by political skill and profit, he knows the nature of the empire better than the nobles of the Heavenly Dome and the principalities, and he can easily find the shortcomings and flaws of everyone.

And most importantly... He will not accept any compromises, let alone any means to achieve his ends.

Such an enemy cannot be defeated by political skill;

Such an enemy needs to gamble his life.

“...... I see what you mean, that is, since Brother Connad relies on his wrists to operate everything behind the scenes, then I need to be completely different from him in order to win a glimmer of hope?"

His Royal Highness the Prince, who was holding his chin with both hands, tilted his head and sighed helplessly: "In that case, why do you do this, wouldn't it be more appropriate for me to write this letter......

"No, I can't. ”

The black-haired wizard shook his head: "I participated in this war, so I have the absolute right to speak, even if they want to refute me, all the survivors who have experienced the battle of the centaurs together are my witnesses!

"And His Highness Brandon... If you write this letter, things will change completely, whether it's the Celestial Dome or the Empire... They won't focus on the matter anymore, they'll focus on your battle with Conod. ”

"That would be the opposite of what we were hoping to achieve!"

"Hmm......" Brandon, who had a sad face, bit his thumbnail, and it seemed that this would indeed be the result.

No matter how despised and untaken he is, he is still a direct member of the royal family of de Salion, the second in line to the throne, which also means that his every action will be regarded by others as a challenge to the current crown prince Conod.

Even if that's not what he intended.

What's more, Brandon has never given up such a plan, when he gave up continuing to pretend to be crazy and stupid, and continued to be called by his brother and father to be called back and forth, when he was determined to control his own destiny......

He doesn't have much room to choose.

Either you get everything or you lose everything... There is no second option, and there is no turning back.

"I see!"

Rubbing his head vigorously, Brandon made a mess of his fiery red hair, as if venting his frustration:

"I can vaguely guess that you seem to be planning something else, but... At least one thing is true: enemies like the Phanascists must be dealt with as soon as possible, and the empire must recognize the gravity of the problem. ”

"What's more, this time I can't follow the will of my father and brother, otherwise I will be as wasted as my efforts at Ebolden!"

"Well, there's one question left. ”

As he spoke, he turned his gaze to the black-haired wizard, "About the outcome of this centaur battle, and the final verdict. ”

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince commanded the Imperial Legion in person, and it is impossible that there will be no results at all. Loren knew what he meant.

Of course, what is more important is the undisguised threat of a certain dragon, so that he has to "give in" to His Royal Highness.

What is a more terrifying and ferocious enemy than a full-grown dragon?

Well, of course......

"Salika Jonah can succeed Archduke Boi, and you and the Duchy of Byrne will still be the victors in this war, and I can make concessions on this. Brandon said unhurriedly, with a natural expression:

"But before the Duchy of Boi can truly recover, it must be protected and supervised by the Empire, and considering that they cannot afford to pay for the 50,000 men of the Imperial Legion, this cost will be borne by Byrne!"

Loren rolled his eyes helplessly.

"The latter is negotiable, but if the former one is known to Salika, believe it or not, she can draw a knife and rush in and cut you right now?"

Brandon smiled.

Laughing like a bear child.

"Well... That's what my dear wizard advisor needs to solve. Holding his shoulders, His Royal Highness the Prince said:

"Anyway, the Duchy of Boe has always breathed through the same nostril as Byrne, and in a sense, Salika Jonah is yours... Alas, why does that make me feel so angry!"

"Even if I think about it too much, I'll ask first-Loren, you, shouldn't you have already done it?!"

Looking at Brandon's stunned, jealous and frantic expression, Loren only had black lines on his head.

"The question of military spending ... The cost of an army of 50,000 is too much, and it can only solve a quarter of it for you!" he could only change the subject first.

"I've already made concessions, Loren, you can't go too far. Holding his chin with his index finger, Brandon, who was pensive, made a decision with great difficulty: "So be it... For the sake of our friendship, nine out of ten!"

"......" Loren Turin:

“...... Fifth. ”

"Hey, why is there less and less, four-fifths of the lines can't work?!"

"One in six. ”

"Three-quarters... No! slapped the table, and Brandon raised two fingers with a solemn expression: "Just be a little bit, half will not work... If all the military expenses are counting on the Heavenly Dome Palace, why should I let these legionnaires listen to me?!"

Chen pondered for a moment, and Loren nodded slowly.

"Okay, let's do it... Salika's side, I'll figure it out. ”

"Alas, so decisive, don't you need to ask her opinion?!"

Brandon had a stunned expression: "I was just joking, I just wanted to discuss it with you first, could it be that you really have ......?!"

“...... Are you finished?"