While Koster was leading the delegation of the Duchy of Carmen to Manning, the convoy of Prince Ferdinand of Desik also drove into the heart of Manning. The ambassador of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the chief elder of the Adventurers' Guild, and the representative of King Manning greeted Prince Ferdinand's motorcade and the group stayed at the royal palace in Manning City.

Knowing Prince Ferdinand's preferences, King Manning specially selected dozens of singers and dancers from the merchant alliance and sent them to the prince with the name of "pastime". Ferdinand accepted them all, and gave them to the rest of the mission, and the guards took a delicate girl and left happily.

Prince Ferdinand was alone in his room, sullenly drinking. In the eyes of the world, he is a waste crown prince, with no ability or ability, and occupies the most important position in the Desik royal family only by virtue of his background. The incident two years ago, the stab of that hateful assassin, made me think about it again.

Outsiders don't know what happened at that time, only that from then on, Prince Ferdinand, who was addicted to pleasure, suddenly became more concerned about state affairs, and the prince who used to make any decisions was fine and fine, actually began to have his own ideas. Unfortunately, their abilities are limited, and most of the Desik nobles still like to see themselves through the eyes of jokes.

The more he was looked down upon, the more Ferdinand wanted to prove himself, but the more strange his actions became. Ferdinand himself didn't think so, he had his ideas.

Archduke Edward, in Ferdinand's eyes, was a war maniac, thinking about stirring up trouble every day. The emperor himself, that is a fool, he is old and confused, and he is fooled by his younger son every day. In the past, General Jin wanted peace every day, and the Western generals wanted to invade the Shang Alliance every day, and the Eastern generals would catch fish (Note 1), and the northern generals seemed to have not returned to the White Emperor City for many years, and as for the central general, he was a gatekeeper.

The poor in the country are dying, and some of them want to fight with San Jose every day, and some want to do business with the business alliance, and they quarrel day and night in the government hall. came up with a few ideas by himself, and was scolded by others for being a fool. As the crown prince, he is really aggrieved.

Ferdinand had his own ideas. He believed that his domestic political power was relatively weak, at least not comparable to that of Archduke Edward. Therefore, when General Kim came to find his alliance, Prince Ferdinand agreed. Who knows, the incident of the princess of San Jose that happened at that time caused him to be angry with General Kim, so the cooperation between the two naturally did not follow.

In Desik, General Jin is a typical conservative, he advocates maintaining Desik's stability, establishing good relations with other countries and steadily developing national strength, and for a period of time, he also has some supporters.

Because of this, General Kim's actions naturally offended the hard-liner Grand Duke Edward. Originally, before and after General Jin's mission to Shangmeng, Prince Ferdinand's plan had gradually taken shape, and the next step was to repair relations with General Jin. Who knew what happened to Kuigang, and later, with the disgraceful ouster of General Kim, Prince Ferdinand lost a huge help.

In a situation where there was no choice, Ferdinand started the idea of the merchant alliance again. Originally, Kui Gang died in the Shang Alliance, and he and the Shang Alliance may not be able to reconcile. But there are no permanent enemies or permanent friends in this world, and the great wealth of the Shang Alliance is better than anything else. As a result, Ferdinand tried in vain to use his influence to ease Desik's relationship with the Merchant Alliance by forming a partnership with the Merchant Alliance, in exchange for the Merchant Alliance's external support for him.

Therefore, after inspecting the Western Frontier Line, Ferdinand decided to visit the Merchant Alliance in person. I hope that by taking advantage of the summit meeting of the chairman of the business alliance, I can reach a more far-reaching cooperation intention with them.

All this was Prince Ferdinand's plan, which had been brewing in his mind for a long time. At the same time, he also actively operates in the country through the power behind him, hoping to put General Kim back on the throne of general, so that in addition to external help, the domestic military can also have a helper. After all, no one would have thought that his two biggest helpers at present were actually his nominal "enemies".

Prince Ferdinand, who was sullenly drinking in the room, was so excited that he suddenly regretted that he had given all the dancers to his guards. But what if you don't give it to others, wait for the dancing girls to see their jokes!" "The damned assassin," said the scolding Prince Ferdinand, who slammed his glass to the ground.

Walking into Manning City again, Kerst felt very different. Unlike the last time I came, the last time I was still a stupid little country nobleman who had never seen the world, and with Feida, the two of them were squeezed around the market and couldn't buy anything. This time, it was on behalf of the Principality of Kaman, and on the front of the carriage, the golden jasmine heraldic flag fluttered in the wind.

Sitting in the sumptuous carriage of Minister Carman, Feida excitedly shook Kerst's arm and pointed at the vendors on the side of the road, "That one, that one, do you remember, that one who sells night pots!"

Kester couldn't help but wonder.

Lolita wanted to stay in Kaman to study magic, and with Princess Mu in her care, Feida was sent to follow Koster and serve as a guard to Manning. The first time he became a minister, Kester was a little nervous, and deliberately asked Carman's best tailor's shop, yes, the tailor who made clothes for Lord Old Kester, to make a gorgeous envoy suit, and then let people redraw their own ring snake heraldic flag.

Although on the mainland, the Koster family is a small lord who can't be smaller, but as a member of the nobility, the etiquette that should be talked about is indispensable, and the heraldic flag in the Koster manor is too shabby.

Little Muko was much more generous, he was in the castle of Duke Carman, for a long time, and actually turned out a silver sword, the name of the sword "Broken Heart" (Note 2), it is said that the sword of a famous swordsman during the First Continental War, after this swordsman settled in Carman, his descendants dedicated the sword to a certain Duke of Carman. Xiao Mu, a loser, doesn't care so much, after finding out, he generously gave it to Kester, and it was called to enhance Kster's aura.

So, dressed in a noble dress and a silver sword, the Minister of Carman, who rode in a luxurious carriage with the Duke's heraldic flag on the front, came to Manning City.

Kaman's ambassador to Manning was an old earl named Munch, who had been in Manning for more than six years, as Carman's ambassador and a member of the Chairman of the Nine-Nation Business Alliance (Note 3), Munch was a Manningtong, and after receiving Koster and his party, Munch offered to give Koster a pick-up in Manning City.

Kerst is not a fool, thinking that this Earl Munch must have something to tell him in private, after all, he is only a small lord, and Munch is an earl (Note 4). So, after a brief settlement, Kerst took Feida to Munch's room, where Munch had already prepared the drinks and was waiting there.

Although Koster is very young, Count Munch must have heard rumors in Kaman's country, this little nobleman is the regent's confidant, so he is polite to Koster, which flatters Koster.

"Minister Koster", Count Munch waited for Koster to sit down, and said impatiently, "This time the summit meeting of the Chairman of the Business Alliance will be attended by Prince Ferdinand, the Crown Prince of Desik, according to Manning City, Ferdinand has come to seek external support from the Business Alliance, so he will propose some concessions that are in line with the interests of the Business Alliance." This is a good opportunity for us to get closer to Prince Ferdinand in order to seek the corresponding benefits. ”

Munch's news surprised Kerth, who didn't expect Desik, who was angry more than a year ago, to change their minds in a short period of time. "Why?" said Koster, Munch.

Munch laughed and said, "In a small country like Kaman, the political situation is not complicated, it is nothing more than the duke's family choosing each other, and in a big country like Desik, their struggle will be more intense." If the rumors are not wrong, this is a matter between their crown prince and the second prince. ”

Kestro nodded: "Yes, I heard that their second prince is the leader of the military community of Desik, and the crown prince is still the weaker side." What's the name of the second prince?"

"Edward, Grand Duke Edward. They were the chairman of the Desik Military Coalition and the first military leader in non-wartime. Munch added, "Does the Regent have any proposals for tomorrow's meeting, and what attitude should we have to deal with." ”

Kest thought that Xiao Mu didn't seem to have a special explanation before leaving, and he just wanted to let himself deal with it casually, and not let the people of the business alliance find a reason to notice Kaman. In fact, this time Manning's trip, Kaman's biggest hope in China is to find a few more allies in the traditional three southwestern countries to change Kaman's current situation.

Thinking of this, Kerst asked Munch: "Is there a chance to get close to Prince Ferdinand in advance, I think I should be able to show him favor in advance." ”

Munch thought for a moment, "It's hard to say, Manning is in charge of the organization of this meeting, and I heard that the prince has entered the residence and there is no movement, so everything can only wait for the official start of the meeting." ”

Caster sighed, "Then there is no way to do it for the time being." Okay, so I'll be able to improvise. ”

Munch nodded approvingly.

The prosperity of Manning gradually came to an end with the fall of night, however, the endless flow of horse convoys poured into Manning City in all directions, which lasted all night, and the ministers of various countries came to the core city of the business alliance one after another, and for a time, Manning City was full of high-ranking nobles.

Note 1: General Desik Dongfang is the commander of the naval army, and the eastern army is a naval army, so people who don't like him like to call him "fisherman".

Note 2: Heartbreak, forgive me for borrowing the name of Martin's sword.

Note 3: The Chairman of the Business Alliance is composed of permanent ambassadors of various countries, and the members are called members.

Note 4: The main nobles of the mainland are the products of the victors who appointed themselves and pushed each other after the end of the First Continental War. The title system is approximately emperor, duke, marquis, earl, viscount, baron, knight lord, and the emperor's heir can also be crowned prince. The Kesters are knight lords.