"You just turned me away the other day, but ...... Again, I would like to say a good thing, Your Excellency Tristan. ”

Bright rooms, vintage and warm furnishings and décor, and a fire that brings warmth to people...... This was the first impression that this place in front of him brought to Duan Qing - at this time, he was located in the eastern part of Liberty City, the interior of a certain luxurious mansion near the dock, but if he compared it with the courtyard he had just passed, he was more willing to believe that this was what an ancient official's mansion and backyard should look like.

If you don't take into account the two lonely guards of the courtyard, and the pitiful servants.

"It's a pleasure to see you again, Lord Moshang Qingshan."

Different from the initial impression left on Duan Qing, Bart at this time? Tristan did not wear the aristocratic formal dress he wore when he went to the principality, but wore an ordinary cloth uniform like ordinary civilians, perhaps because of this relationship, his attitude and momentum have also changed a lot, and his face, which originally seemed to be not good at communication, also put on an approachable smile at this time: "It is really my Barthe's luck to meet again under such circumstances." ”

"Uh...... Is it my delusion? ”

Seeing a woman who was also wearing ordinary clothes and had just served refreshments leaving, Duan Qing asked in a hesitant voice, "How are you doing...... It doesn't seem like it's going to be a good idea, right? ”

"Don't doubt your eyes, the Tristan family hasn't been doing very well lately."

Showing a bitter smile to Duan Qing, Bart stretched out his hand and gestured around: "My family and I were kicked off the throne by the city lord, I think you have also heard about it, since the Tristan family lost the aura of the throne, many people who followed me gradually lost their confidence, and then they all left here. ”

"That's right, the guards who rushed up when they just came back are gone now." Looking at Duan Qing's puzzled eyes, Tristan chuckled and shook his head: "There are many people who serve the Tristan family...... The number of people you see now is much worse than the previous number. ”

"No wonder your mansion is so deserted now," Duan Qing replied slowly...... "The servant with the little hat from before couldn't be hired by you temporarily, right?" ”

"Hui Lin hasn't chosen to leave yet, and he seems to want to continue following me." Tristan smiled and pointed to a figure who was trying to add wood to the fire: "It's winter, but the heating equipment at home is unusable due to the shortage of magic stones, so I gave him this drudgery now, which can be regarded as providing him with a decent job and salary from a poor place......

"Sounds so miserable...... Duan Qing replied with a sigh, "Has your family fallen to this point?" ”

"This is the fate of the weak."

Holding the old teacup in front of him in both hands, Tristan said in a low voice: "In the Free City, it is difficult for a force without absolute strength to gain a foothold for a long time, and I am just an ordinary nobleman, fighting and fighting things like that are not my good skills, so the Tristan family is nominally the ninth family among the twelve thrones, but in fact, we can't even compare to the twelfth shadow mage Shanaiduo, if it weren't for the long-term contribution to the Free City and the good relationship with other families...... We may have been kicked out of the throne long ago. ”

Speaking of this, Bart smiled bitterly twice: "Presumably, the city lord has already noticed our decline and made this decision a long time ago. ”

"Don't think too much, if you pay, you will be rewarded." Duan Qing subconsciously comforted, "Maybe I'll drive you out of the throne...... It's just that the city lord had to do it. ”

"It's not a good errand to go to Tania, when your country was at war with the Frey Empire during the previous time...... It is clear to all people's hearts. Tristan looked at Duan Qing and shook his head: "The reason why you left this matter to me to do...... I'm afraid that the city lord and others at that time also had the idea of leaving us in Tania to fend for ourselves, and when the matter is over, there will be a step to go down, and if something goes wrong, our family, which has no power to resist, is also the best person to take responsibility......"

"That is, the legendary back pot...... Right? Duan Qing sighed and said, "What about the Longall family? ”

"Denton is a young man through and through, not only with great spirit, but also always true to the promises and alliances we have made." Tristan replied in a low voice: "In the matter of the previous mission to the principality, he couldn't see the result of our family's death, so he had to go with me, and then he was ousted from power together...... Most of them offended the city lord because of this, and they were implicated. ”

"I offended a lot on the road before, I apologize to you for him." The middle-aged man bowed his head deeply, and his hands were tightly on his knees: "I hope Your Excellency can forgive him for his offense, he is just ......"

"No, no, I've forgotten about those things."

Turning his head to look at the night sky outside, Duan Qing waved his hand and replied, "But...... If we can help you to this point, why don't you see the people of Longall now? ”

"Because...... The idea is different. ”

Taking another shallow sip of the tea in the cup, Tristan shook his head slightly disappointed: "It's like this bitter tea from your principality, although the family that has fallen here is worth savoring...... But it was no longer worth maintaining its bitter fate, so when I was deposed by the lord of the castle, my heart was relieved. ”

"At that time, I just wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to break free from Tristan's long-standing fate." He put down the teacup in his hand, and then looked at Duan Qing's face: "Stop this pointless struggle, and leave this place." ”

"Leaving this place?" Duan Qing shook his head: "With all due respect...... The price to pay if you want to get rid of the current grievances in the Free City is incalculable, not to mention how many enemies you have as the owner of the throne, take the example I know, a friend of a warrior family I know in the principality......"

"Hank, huh? I know his story. ”

Tristan interrupted Duan Qing with a sigh: "He and his warrior family are also one of the last neutral organizations that have been able to hold on until now, but it's a pity that in order to survive, they have offended too many old guys...... Perhaps we are now a continuation of this ending, and in order to pay off those old debts, someone must be responsible for the sins of the past. ”

"The Tristan family hopes to be able to voluntarily give up the throne in exchange for a glimmer of life to leave." His face gradually turned gray: "And the young and vigorous Denton doesn't want to do this, so ...... They chose to rebel. ”

That is...... War of the Thrones? Duan Qing groaned and said, "They plan to rebel against the fate of the city lord? ”

"The challenge of the Tarsinger family may only be a veil behind this trend, but it is a pity that Longall should not have been a dam against the raging tides, he is just a burial object dragged into the water by me." Tristan replied in a low voice: "But whether it is the choice after that, or the chaotic battle that took place a few days ago, the Longault family has not chosen to give up, and they have even dissociated themselves from me and want to ...... from the upcoming tsunami Fight your way alone. ”

"Good choice." Duan Qing commented in a low voice: "Compared to escaping in a struggle...... It is obviously more advantageous to be in the middle of the struggle, and although it looks like a moth to a fire, as long as they are out of the control of both sides, they may be able to win the final victory. ”

"I've been carefully considering Denton's proposal for the past few days, but the Tristans don't even have a single ordinary combatant, let alone a warrior as good as him." The middle-aged man said with a wry smile: "Compared to the Longdale family, we really have no competitive capital, and the only wealth we have left in this city may be the good relations with other forces, as well as some gold and silver treasures that have no practical significance." ”

"If you have enough money, you should be able to see the sky in the Free City, right?" Duan Qing said jokingly: "Isn't the Oxen Trading House on Black Market Street an example......

"We don't have that much money, and these are extraordinary times." Tristan shook his head again: "Even if someone is willing to accept our employment, this kind of monetary relationship is in front of the throne holder...... It's just too fragile. ”

"So...... What did you want to do when you came to me this time? Duan Qing clapped his hands: "And it's still in the middle of the night......

"I still hope that the others know as little as possible about the meeting tonight." The middle-aged man straightened his face: "As for the purpose...... I hope that you, Your Excellency, will accept our invitation. ”

“…… What invitation? ”

"An invitation to the War for the Throne, of course."

The crackling fire reflected the side of Bart's face, and carved his gradually solemn expression onto the wall to the side: "Everything started because of the Tristan family, and naturally it should end by the Tristan family, and I can't let Denton continue to bear this responsibility alone, even if the situation is really as you said...... I don't want them to die in the crush of several forces with such small hopes. ”

"In the War of the Thrones in four days, I will be the first to ask to join the war." He looked at Duan Qing's face: "I don't know your Excellency...... Can you help me? ”

“……”

"I know you're an adventurer in the principality."

Responding with a reassuring look at the woman who had handed the refreshments and resembled the other party's family, Tristan finally showed what little negotiating skill he had: "On behalf of the Tristan family, I will hire you to be our representative, and then ...... You will put on the crest of our family and fight for the Tristans. I do not insist on a final victory, nor do I expect you to give your lives for the sake of our declining family, but as long as the grievances between me and the other throne holders can be settled, we can discuss what you and your companions need in return......"

That's what it is...... What is the so-called choice of fate?

Recalling what a certain woman in black gauze had said before, Duan Qing couldn't help but sigh, because even he didn't expect that the final result of this series of general trends and the forces chosen by all parties would actually push him to the forefront: "...... Why me? ”

"Because you met with the lord of the city today."

Perhaps it was the object of his hard work to finally have a hint of reaction, the middle-aged man smiled and clapped his hands: "After hearing today's news, I suddenly realized that the opportunity had come, because as an envoy of the principality, I am also a powerful adventurer...... There is no one better suited to deal with this complicated situation than you, and I will provide you with all the help you need, and I will tell you any other information you need, and I will speak to Terry Ram afterwards and ask him to take you to our family's treasury, which you can choose from......"

"Wait a minute, I haven't said yes yet."

Looking at the other party's expression that gradually calmed down, Duan Qing wiped the sweat from his forehead, then ignored the secret gazes of the other servants who had stopped working around him, frowned and thought, "You...... Hmm, I mean...... Can the feud between you and the other throne holders really be resolved through this victory? If I didn't understand it wrong...... The one who won that victory should be the new throne holder, right? ”

"It's just a battle to prove that we still have the strength to get out of here." Tristan replied in a deep voice, "There is no duel of any kind that is grander and more formal than the War of the Thrones, not even the other Throne Holders can ignore the final outcome of this war, if we can negotiate a peaceful withdrawal with them as the victors of the War of the Thrones, not to mention those who want to hinder our family, even the Lord of the Castle...... I believe that there will be no reason to oppose it. ”

"That'...... What if it fails in the end? ”

"If you fail...... At least it's a closure. Tristan replied in a low voice, "Whether it is Longor or other enemies, the feud between us can be regarded as ending in this way, and no matter what they do to my Tristan family, I have nothing to say after that...... Ah, please don't worry about your own lives, I will do my best to ensure the safety of you and your companions, there are so many witnesses, including the city lord, even if someone wants to do it, most of them will not have a suitable opportunity......"

"Okay, okay, don't talk about it."

After quickly weighing it in his heart, Duan Qing silently made a decision, but he still took the lead in standing up, and then bowed to the middle-aged man opposite: "Although I really want to agree to your invitation, this matter is still too important, if you can......"

"I hope to go back first and talk to my team-mates...... How is it? ”