"The Ebolden Rebellion, the monsters of the Broken Boundary Mountain, the Imperial Imperial Trial, the Centaur War, the Cloud Peak Coup... Coupled with the Azores and the Ancients Forest Elves, the empire has really become more and more peaceful over the years. ”

"Really?"

"Yes, many people who have returned from Golovin say that there has been as much chaos in these years as there have been in the past ten generations combined. ”

"So exaggerated?"

"It's not so much about how many things there are, it's about almost everything that has to do with Loren. ”

"Oh, don't you say I didn't find out, His Highness Brandon de Salion......"

With a hypocritical and formulaic smile, in the side hall of the cathedral, the two people who closed the door chatted without saying a word.

After three years of not seeing each other, Brandon is noticeably more cunning and tougher than he used to be.

If Brandon bumped into this kind of thing in the past, his first reaction was definitely to think that there must be a trap in it, and he had to hide far away, so as not to become the "target" of Crown Prince Connad and the Heavenly Dome Palace.

But now... No matter how much he tried to hide it, the black-haired wizard could see the excitement in his eyes—it wasn't the joy of being lucky enough to survive the assassination, but the appearance of a shark smelling of blood as it swept away its prey.

Of course, the only constant is that he is still keen to take risks if he goes... Otherwise, His Royal Highness the Prince, who has an army in his hands, appears in the court of a duke, and the result will be absolutely disastrous!

Because he sensed that the assassination of the Azorean kingdom was a perfect opportunity for him.

Once Eckhart II, his noble father, His Majesty the Emperor, was killed, no... Even if it's just a serious injury, if he uses it properly, Brandon can turn the tide and kick King Connad out of this game.

All he needed was a little bit of strength, a little bit of chaos, a little bit of time.

But......

"You don't agree?" Brandon looked at the black-haired wizard who was always going around in circles with him, and Brandon held his cheeks a little sullenly, and the tips of the fiery red hair on his forehead drooped down.

"It should be said that... It's not the best time. Loren didn't shake his head, but acquiesced: "You can see this great opportunity, and so can Conod de Salion." ”

"With his wisdom, vision, and means, he would have no defense against such a thing?"

Brandon pouted and turned his head to indicate that he didn't want to answer the question.

"Secondly, even if he wasn't prepared... Only 10,000 troops could be mobilized at any time - remember, he was still the legitimate crown prince, and his supporters were still in the majority in the imperial capital of Golovin. Loren reluctantly persuaded:

"Once the Heavenly Dome Palace really changes, the first thing that those imperial nobles think of is still Conod, not you, the 'disgraced prince' - which side of the army do you think those guys with the keys to the city gate will open the door to the army at that time?"

His Royal Highness rolled his eyes again.

"Right now in the Imperial Capital are supporting you with the Royal Wizarding Academy, the Grassroots Guild and several large chambers of commerce... Not to mention the Wizarding Academy, the remaining two parties are willing to pledge their allegiance because you can make a fortune with you, but if you think they will sacrifice themselves for you and risk their lives, it is really whimsical. ”

The disgraced prince slumped in his chair, tilted his head and stuck out his tongue, and made a fake death.

"As for the Grand Duke of Wirtz in Ellemont... I've dealt with him, and if you think he's going to save face for Luthen's sake, it's all the more hypothetical - in my experience, it's more likely that he'll identify us as rebels outright. ”

"This opportunity seems to be tempting, but in fact it is full of pitfalls and difficulties... If you don't make a fuss, you'll be labeled as 'complicit with elves', don't you think that will be too much to lose?"

Brandon, who was already "dead", remained motionless, his hands folded on his chest, his face in the shape of dead ashes.

The dark-haired wizard sighed and moistened his throat with the clear water that had been placed at the table—since Webb became Bishop of Byrne, there was no wine to be seen in this cathedral.

The side hall of the cathedral, with its doors closed, was quiet for five minutes.

In the end, it was Brandon himself who couldn't help it: "...... You don't agree?"

"yes. Loren, who was indifferent, replied quite decisively this time: "I don't agree." ”

So what are you doing with all that bunch of things you didn't have——?!!!

Brandon, whose temples were bruised, was full of black lines, and he couldn't wait to pounce directly and strangle the black-haired wizard with a calm face!

But he also knows that this is not three years ago... Loren is no longer his sole wizard advisor, but the famous Duke of Byrne.

The interests of the two people are closely linked, but the reality is that they need him more.

What's more, what he said is very reasonable, this plan is very irrational, too bold and too risky, once there is a slight variable, it will be a complete loss.

But... If it is so simple to bow your head and admit your mistake, the disgraced prince will not be the disgraced prince.

"What a shame, Duke of Byrne, a man who single-handedly turned things around in the Centaur War and the Granny Forest negotiations, can be so timid and cautious. ”

With a certain teasing and sour tone, Brandon deliberately looked at the black-haired wizard with a very provocative gaze: "Really, where did the little wizard who shined in Eberden go, could it be that he is gone?"

Dared?

Loren, who pulled the corners of his mouth and put down the water glass, smiled slightly: "No way, we are all just ordinary people, not the protagonists of a certain book - wandering on the edge of the abyss and not wanting to be swallowed by the abyss, we must be as cautious as possible." ”

"Especially... Now we don't even know who the enemy is. ”

The black-haired wizard's expression grew solemn.

Brandon frowned slightly, his bright eyes flashing with doubt: "You mean ......?"

"I don't want to be alarmist, but... The fact is that the threat posed by the Kingdom of the Azores is definitely beyond our imagination. Loren looked at Brandon very seriously, his eyes sharp:

"Brandon... If you still think that this assassination is just a simple assassination, you are very wrong!"

"yes, it's definitely just part of their invasion plan, I know. ”

With a still somewhat unhappy tone, Brandon shrugged his shoulders: "Such a large-scale assassination must be aimed at causing turmoil in the empire and giving them an opportunity to take advantage of it, and I guess in about half a year or a few months, there will probably be ...... outside the port of Ebotden."

"No, you still don't know!"

The black-haired wizard sighed and interrupted His Royal Highness, who wanted to continue.

Brandon's idea is actually similar to Loren's at the beginning, the purpose of the enemy's surprise attack is nothing more than to weaken, so that in the event of a large-scale invasion, the empire cannot quickly gather enough forces to fight them, so as to gain a strategic advantage.

That's right, and it's roughly in line with the information that came out of the elven warriors and the Middell guys.

The only problem is the size of the incursion.

There were only two directions to invade - from Ebo to the shore and along the Gem River to the imperial capital of Golovin, or to take the Ancient Wood Forest and raid the Deep Forest.

Across a sea of mist, no matter how much you think about it, the enemy's forces will not be very large, even if calculated according to the double to three times the size of the imperial ocean-going fleet, at best about 30,000 people, this little force is a little difficult to besiege Ebolden, let alone march into the imperial capital.

So despite being assassinated and nearly killed, Brandon still didn't care about the Azorean invasion, and instead saw them as a golden opportunity.

Defeating a powerful force that is not inferior in strength and prestige to the Empire in the Empire at Ebolden or even under the Imperial Capital is a better way to win prestige and gain the Empire's recognition than defeating the monster invasion in the Broken Mountain Fortress.

But the premise of all this is that the strength of the Azorean elves is really only 20,000 or 30,000.

"What do you mean?" Brandon blinked as he looked even more confused, "You mean... What else could they do to get more troops across the Misty Sea and land on the Empire's coastline?"

"It's not that it can be done, it's that it has to be done. ”

Loren shook his head, his eyes meaningful: "For the Azorean elves, the outcome of this war is related to the life and death of the entire race!"

"So whatever the outcome, whatever the means... The Azorean elves will surely create a miracle that will make us jaw-dropping, so that an army of size will appear on the borders of the Empire!"

Heavy voices echoed in the side hall.

Brandon, who finally understood the gravity of the problem a little, finally put away the disapproval on his face and became much more silent.

But there are still a lot of things he doesn't understand.

"Although I don't know much about the Azores, ... This should be a kingdom on par with the Empire, right?" he frowned and scratched his head desperately: "How can it be inexplicable that you will face the problem of life and death?"

His Royal Highness, who was confused, looked at the black-haired wizard, hoping for an answer.

But Loren didn't say a word, just raised the index finger of his right hand and pointed to the top of his head.

Brandon was stunned.

Broken Mountain Fortress, Northern Ice Field... Nied Hogg.

"You mean, the Azorean elves have also suffered the invasion of evil gods and monsters, just like the dragon kingdom back then, and the entire kingdom and even the continent have been destroyed?"

"Natural disasters, monsters, evil gods, civil wars...... It's all possible. The black-haired wizard bowed slightly, his expression very calm: "But no matter which one it is, the presence that can make the Azorean elves feel threatened will probably not be very kind to us." ”

"What's more, the Azorean elves are not the only enemies that the empire has to face... In the north, the last time he was killed was the evil god apostle Faoda only fell into a deep sleep and did not disappear. ”

"The threat lurking in the ice fields will also detain the Boundary Mountain at any time to deter the entire empire. ”

Brandon lowered his head and fell into deep thought without saying a word, his expression extremely tangled.

Even if everything the brunette wizard said was true, it would still be a dilemma for him.

Do you seize the opportunity in front of you, or do you continue to remain silent?

"In fact, Brandon... This Azorean invasion is indeed an opportunity for you. Loren said abruptly: "Moreover, it is likely to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." ”

Once in a blue moon?

"When an unprecedented enemy appears on the borders of the coast, when the empire is at stake, and the land is covered by the banner of the Iron Crown held by the three-headed dragon, thousands of people are terrified. ”

"What kind of ruler would they call for in this situation?" the dark-haired wizard curled the corners of his mouth meaningfully:

"A wise, wise, noble, and legitimate monarch who is followed by all, a wise monarch who can bring benefits to all and keep the empire in a sea of joy?"

"Or... Able to sweep away all invading enemies with unparalleled power, with a roar that shocks the earth, and destroy the world, and let the 'black walls' of the empire ravage the enemies into slag, pile up their corpses into mountains, and hang their heads all over the gates of the ......"

“...... What about the savior?"

Brandon's face changed, and he was suddenly stunned.

"All the while, Brandon... You're right, and you're going to use your greatest talent as the reason you're being targeted. Loren smiled and continued:

"But when this terrible power is needed by all... That's when your opportunity comes. ”

"With this power, you can not only get what you want, but also turn into a savior in the limelight in this war......"

Bang——!

With a loud bang, Loren's words came to an abrupt halt - the door to the side hall was slammed open.

It was Lusen who broke in.

"Lord Loren! His Highness Brandon?!"

As soon as the gray-eyed boy who hurriedly rushed into the room raised his head, he was startled by the second familiar figure in front of him, and his face changed suddenly for half a second, and then he immediately slammed the door behind him again.

If the news of His Highness Brandon's appearance at Byrne Cathedral leaks, it will be all over!

By the time he turned around again, the sullen Royal Highness had already rearranged his disguised outfit, his hair covered most of his face, and he stared directly at Lusen with only one eye:

"Tell me, what's wrong?"

Twitching his throat, the gray-eyed boy first stole a glance at the black-haired wizard next to him, and after receiving acquiescence, he took out a letter from his sleeve with a long sigh of relief.

"It's... The information sent from the imperial capital has just arrived. ”

"Intelligence from the Imperial Capital... Isn't it said that there are too many rumors to be sure?" Loren then frowned slightly: "Where did you get it, and how much credibility?"

"100 percent credibility, because it was given to me by Peter Fasa himself... He is now in the court of the Red Blood Castle, and you can ask him in person later... Better wait, because he's badly injured. ”

Badly injured, by whom?

"So......" Brandon raised an eyebrow in shock, "This is inside intelligence from the Night's Watch headquarters?"

"Yes, it would be more accurate to say absolute first-hand information" The gray-eyed boy nodded, hesitated for a moment, and then slowly spoke:

"Although... There may not be any 'Night's Watch HQ' left. ”