In this way, twelve-year-old Martha, overnight, lost everything—lost her hometown, lost her parents, and seemed to have lost hope for the future. The parents spent too much time in the fire to rescue Martha herself, who was unable to move due to fear and confusion caused by the fire, so that her parents, who had been suffering from lung disease due to the lack of heating in winter, had to stop the pace of life.

Martha doesn't know how she got out of this desperate predicament. When she regained her memory, she seemed to be lying in the snow and was rescued by the residents of the neighborhood who saw the fire burning. The bodies of his parents had been hastily buried with the other villagers, and the arsonists knew that they had caused a catastrophe and had long since dispersed. In this case, where can Martha, who has no relatives to turn to, go?

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"I don't want to stay in a new orphanage in the capital of the autonomous region...... I don't think I can get along with them. Besides, I was a little resistant to the thought that the future would be in the hands of others. Martha said lightly, explaining her thoughts at the time, "I want to stand firm in the world with my own strength...... So, I took the money and went to the slums of the autonomous region. ”

"Slums?"

"The autonomous state government nominally does not allow the existence of hunter clusters, but they also know that without these people, the inhabitants of the villages around the cities will starve to death because they have no money. As a result, there was actually a tacit understanding between the two sides, with the Hunters holding on to some of their territory in the city, while the rest of the area was used as a way for the Autonomous Prefecture Government to showcase the fruits of their efforts to govern the "Hunters of the North". ”

"I see...... You found out where they were, didn't you? ”

"Hmm. Originally, they didn't want to accept me...... Because I look too young, and I'm still a girl,...... Martha said, "but when I told them the story of what happened in the village, they seemed to have no choice but to agree." However, the hunting regiment still retains a considerable size, and the overall composition is quite young, so they get along relatively well. They didn't teach me the skills of fighting, they just taught me some simple ways to treat simple wounds, simple ways to distinguish some medicines, and some logistical chores. ”

"So, in the end, how did you get to Volcan?" Heliga was curious.

"Judging from the results, I guess he poached me." Speaking of this, Martha's cold face also had a little more smile, "Although I didn't say it explicitly, I can see that the hunting regiment doesn't seem to be mixing well...... Funding and finances and things like that, are tight. Although I didn't ask them for any salary, I just wanted to help them with their work and have enough to eat...... But it seems that they can't even write about a dispensable person like me. Therefore, when Uncle Volcane said that he wanted me to join his regiment, my original regiment had almost no objection and agreed. ”

"That ......," understood Hyliga.

"You will understand the rest of the story...... After Uncle Volcan did that kind of thing, Erlengame fell apart. I've been associated with the Qiyao Church, and I've been acting in friendship with the church since then, so you should understand my position, right? ”

"Hmm. Hometown No. 1 ...... That's about the way it goes, right? Heliga nodded.

"Hmm. So, since you brought me here, you must already know what I mean...... Frankly, I'm not quite sure about that. Although you and I have known each other once, but ...... I had to figure it out with this skepticism. If you really ......"

"Don't scruple." Seeing that Martha was about to stop talking, Heliga sighed lightly and said, "Tell me what you think." I will also tell you the truth, the address of this place, the address of your hometown, was also specially contacted by Chief Ain and told me. She's also worried about the misunderstanding between you and me, but I don't think there should be any real conflict between us. ”

"That'...... I'll just get straight to it. What exactly is your purpose, Heiliga? You are a nobleman of the Empire, and you have a good relationship with the prince of the Empire...... Anyone with a discerning eye should be able to see that if you follow this path, coupled with the influence accumulated in the civil war...... You will have a lot of power in the empire's base. But in this premise, you show a strong interest in Northumbria...... And the Empire's attitude towards my homeland has always been the worst on the entire continent. Erebonia is also the only country where the official government has expressed support for the existence of the Northern Chasseurs, am I right? ”

"Hmm." Heliga nodded.

"On this premise, when Northambria was destroyed at the Salt Pile thirty years ago, all the countries of the continent, except the Empire, extended a helping hand to us. The Empire has only always refused to recognize the legitimacy of the Autonomous Prefecture Government, and the various military annexations promoted by the Imperial Government before the "Iron Prime Minister" came to power, as well as the various diplomatic communications promoted since then, have always stripped Northumbria of its remaining trading allies and isolated the Autonomous Prefecture...... From the country of the Western Islands, to the city of Julai...... The Empire is always targeting Northumbria, right? ”

"......" Heliga just nodded and didn't speak.

"Now that you know this, I think Chief Ain also told you that I know a lot about the events of the Salt Stake. I know that the Empire has been maintaining chaos in Northumbria, and one of the purposes is to better keep the Autonomous State in chaos, so as to detect the "Salt Stake". This was true even after knowing that the Church had recovered the ancient relics of the wreckage of its core...... In my judgment, it must have been done by some people and forces in the empire. And with all your behavior, it's hard not to wonder why you are so concerned about things that have nothing to do with you? ”

After a pause, Martha continued: "I think there are no more than two kinds. First, you and the Imperial government are on opposite sides, so you want to use this action as a capital for resistance; Either you and the Imperial Government are on the same page, ostensibly friendly with the Prince, but in fact you are doing things for the Government - the relationship with His Royal Highness Olibart is nothing more than a façade. ”

"Why do you think that?" Heliga couldn't help but laugh - he didn't expect to be so suspicious, "Although I am also wondering why the Imperial Government wants to keep the Autonomous State Government so strict in order to survive the destruction of the Grand Duchy of Northumbria, and I have heard about the disaster area of the Salt Pile...... But in any case, it seems that I should not be suspected. ”

So, why? Why is Northumbria, a land that has nothing to do with you, so important to you? Martha paused for a moment, but asked, "I just think it's weird...... Isn't this sense of disobedience too heavy? ”

“…… That one. Martha, I don't know if you know the story...... But this is a story that is very famous in the empire, famous to the point of being a household name. Heiliga pondered for a moment, "Do you know who the greatest emperor in the history of the empire is?" ”

"The Lionheart Emperor Delaikels the Great...... Two hundred and fifty years ago, the final victor of the Empire's Civil War. Martha thought for a moment and said.

"Hmm...... Do you know who was around him when he raised his army and announced that he was going to fight for the throne? ”

"This ...... I don't know. Martha shook her head, "Does this have anything to do with the topic between us?" ”

"When Emperor Drakells the Great invaded the imperial capital, he had already received the support of almost all the local nobles of the time. But when he first started his career, he had only seventeen Nolde warriors under his command. It was only because of the deep friendship he had formed with the inhabitants of these plateaus in their previous relationship that they would dare to declare war on the princes who each claimed to rule the empire at that time, and were supported by the great nobles. ”

"That's really...... Very...... Risky behavior. Martha was silent for a long time before she said unnaturally. She was going to say that it was a foolish thing to do - but in light of the fact that Dreikers himself had indeed finally unified the Empire, she switched to a more pertinent wording.

"Actually, I think it's stupid to do that...... Even if the seventeen people of Nolde were all masters who could become a hundred, even if at that time, the modern weapons in war were not so powerful that the force of mortals was completely worthless in the face of the surging steel torrent on the battlefield...... But in any case, these people are the forces that helped him stand on his feet. As for the future, it was a later thing to meet the "Holy Maiden of Guns" and helpers from all over the world. "Until then, there had never been such a thing as 'the people of the Empire and the inhabitants of the Nolde Plateau are forever friends.'" Whether it was before Osborne became prime minister, when the aristocratic parliament was in power, and in the era after his rule, the empire had many outright aggressive behaviors towards the surrounding countries, but only for the Nolde plateau, the empire never had any unfriendly behavior. ”

"Do you mean...... You mean, if Northumburia copied Nolde's actions after that......" Martha seemed to vaguely understand what Heliga meant, "is it possible that you will too...... No, it's His Highness Oliebat, he wants to ......"

"No...... Neither His Highness nor I have any further thoughts on this. His Highness told me early on that his ideal was only that he wanted the empire to be the country he wanted, not that he had to be emperor. He is the prince of the concubine, not the only choice of the emperor, and he does not have the personality charm that can make the imperial nobles ignore the tradition and choose him to become the emperor. Heiliga shook his head, "If he wants the throne, it will inevitably cause a real round of bloodshed." In reality, however, this civil war in the Empire was nothing more than an experiment, an experiment provoked by the "association" using Kane. ”

"...... association?" Martha became more and more confused, "What does this have to do with the association...... ”

"The plan of the association, the actual move of the 'Phantom Flame Project', is actually the two treasures of the empire." "The political turmoil on the surface doesn't matter, what really matters is the undercurrent underneath. However, if you want to develop the strength of the dark part, you also need a strong surface force as a cover. I don't want to take the territory from the current great nobles of the Empire...... I would prefer that these matters be in the hands of their own people, those of them who are close to and trusted by me. And I need a territory that I can really master. ”

"So...... Northumburia is...... What are you doing to achieve your goals? Martha seemed to understand part of it, but he still had doubts about the choice itself, "But why here?" Isn't Crossbell a better choice? You have connections and a lot of knowledge there. Crossbell's previous actions provided the Empire with an excellent casus belli......"

"Because it's actually the territory of the Cullois family." "I've already said I don't want to rob anyone else. Moreover, despite its economic development, Crossbell does not have the potential to develop into a truly powerful country...... Even if it later gained its independent status from the hands of the empire and the republic, it was still a pawn without its own political position, swaying from side to side, left and right. But Northumbruplia is different...... It was a territory that had never been touched by any conspirator because of poverty and famine. But it was once a rich country, and even though a fifth of its land was destroyed by the Salt Stake, it still retained a large number of veins of the Seven Yao Ore needed for its industrial base. "I have already entrusted your hunting regiment to do a very clear investigation of Northumbria...... Now I'm pretty sure I can use it for what I want. Besides...... The Pile of Salt is also closely related to these two treasures of the Empire. ”

"It's ......"

"This is an association, and intelligence provided by certain people in the Empire's dark department. The provider of the intelligence is credible. "But I haven't figured out why." I understand your main concern, and I know that my rhetoric will not convince you to sit idly by and watch me turn your hometown into a pawn for my purpose. So, what I'm going to use to convince you for help is actually this. ”

Heliga pulled out a thin stack of papers—handed them to Martha.

The latter, with a puzzled expression, took what Heliga had handed her in the snowstorm - and after only half reading the page, her face changed suddenly.

"This ...... This is......? ”

"That's right. That's what I use to convince you...... Do you think I don't know what you really want? "You want your hometown to become a peaceful and prosperous country like it was before the Salt Stake." I need your help for my own purposes, and the reward is to leave you with everything you need to make this country, its original state, when I am finished! ”

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