32 The story of two others

Story 1: Parrett's theft

On the morning of February 19, 1806, a sloop sailed into the port of Wall in the Spreett Empire. Once the ship had come to a halt, Parrett Chevalier disembarked with a few villager-like men.

"Go, take them to the Archon," Domi shouted from the deck to Parrett, "and don't forget the 'things' to take!" ”

"Don't worry, old man!" Parrett responded, not in the slightest polite to Domi.

Wall Harbor is a natural harbor on the east coast of the Splett Empire, which integrates three ports of military, commercial and fishery, and is also an important city and strategic base of the Empire. During the Djinn Crisis, even though the Djinn wreaked havoc on the entire east coast of the Empire, Wall Harbor did not fall, and survived the most difficult times with the support of the Dragon's navy. By this time, Walport had recovered from the catastrophe and was becoming more and more prosperous, just like Windwalk.

Parrett led a few villagers through the bustling street market and headed straight for the Archon's residence, where he soon met the Archon in his office after explaining the purpose of his arrival to the guards.

……

"What, they are...... Those missing villagers? The Archon said incredulously.

"Why don't you just ask them yourself and make sure for yourself?" Parrett didn't bother to explain, leaving it up to the consul to communicate with the villagers himself. Sure enough, the archon left his desk and ran to the villagers, question after question, while Parrett took the opportunity to search for something in his office, and soon he found the "thing".

There were only the Consul, Parrett, and a few villagers in the office, which gave Parrett plenty of a chance to get his hands on the "thing"—or rather, steal it. The archon was still asking, and the villagers answered one by one, and in the process of going back and forth, Parrett had obtained what Domi had called "something".

"Thank you, great help!" The Archon came back and said to Parrett, "How did you find them?" ”

"The ship I hired was docked on Watch Island when I ran into them, and though I'm not a Splitter, I can't stand idly by." Parrett replied naturally and fluently, so that the Archon could not find doubts or faults. After thanking him again, the Archon granted Parrett a reward of one hundred gold coins, "Spreet thank you for your help, I will report this to the lord and the emperor." After that, he arranged the villagers' accommodation and other matters.

……

Shuttling through the busy bazaar, Parrett did not go to the bookkeeper to collect the reward, but returned directly to the dhow at the docks.

"Hey, old man!" Parrett boarded the boat and shouted, "I've got the 'thing!'" ”

When Domi heard this, the captain was also beckoned.

"Well done." Domi praises Parrett, but doesn't show a color of surprise.

"That's it?" The captain looked at the "thing" in Parrett's hand and said, "Open it and take a look!" ”

Parrett spread out the "things" in his hand, and everyone finally saw the content on it - "Wall Harbor Defense Map".

"Very well," said Domi approvingly, "this defense map also shows the time and route of the patrol boats." ”

"These are supposed to be the locations of the Maritime Defenses," the captain interjected, pointing to the markings on the defense map, "and now we know the defense arrangements here!" ”

"Captain, set sail." Domi said leisurely, "Don't forget to pay taxes to the sea first." ”

"Superstition!" The captain complained, but still pulled out a gold coin and bounced it into the sea. "Set sail, boys!"

The dhow sailed out of the harbor, and by the time Parrett visited the Archon, the captain had replenished the fresh water and food.

"Where are we going next, old man?" Parrett asked Domi.

"Let's go straight to the United Kingdom and talk to their admirals."

"Our price is very attractive!" The captain said happily.

The dhow turned to the right after going out to sea, carrying a map of the defence of Port Wall, heading for the United Kingdom.

Story 2: The Secret Decree of Emperor Spellet

"It has been confirmed that the missing villagers are on Watch Island, and there are no casualties." The foreign official said to the emperor, "When will you organize a fleet to bring them back?" ”

The blind emperor pondered for a moment, turned his face to the direction of the foreign official, and said: "For now, give an order to Sevia, let him take full responsibility for the matter of bringing back the villagers, and the plan to attack the United Kingdom will be put on hold for now, and the safety of the people's lives will come first." ”

The foreign official nodded, even though he knew that the emperor was invisible, and then glanced at the Imperial Commander-in-Chief.

"I'll go and draft the order." The commander of the imperial army understood the meaning of his eyes and did what the emperor ordered.

'Savvia must be anxious, his attacking plan is thwarted, and I would love to see the look on his angry face. After the commander of the Imperial Army went out, the foreign affairs official said so.

In that inconspicuous little room in the castle of the city of Anleicester, the emperor and important officials in the fields of interior, foreign affairs, and military affairs were holding secret meetings.

"What about Sha Ling's movements? Since they didn't kill anyone, what now? The Emperor asked.

The internal affairs official replied: "Sure enough, the sandstorm is still advancing towards Fengxing Town, and we have already ordered the defenders in the vicinity not to approach the sandstorm easily. There was a previous experience of the guards of Windrun Town fighting the Shaling......"

"They must have no casualties, right?" The emperor hurriedly asked.

"No one died." The interior official did not hesitate to answer, apparently this information was confirmed.

"What about the two wanted criminals?" The Emperor asked as if he had suddenly remembered something.

"When the Windrun Town Guards fought with Sha Ling, they were in the guards, and according to what you meant before, we didn't make a plan to capture them, but waited and saw what happened."

"Good." The emperor raised his hand and said.

……

"The order is finished," said the commander of the Imperial Army, pushing the door in, "do you want to read it to Your Majesty?" ”

"No," said the Emperor, "just convey this order secretly to Sevia." ”

"Secret order?" The interior official asked suspiciously.

"Yes." The emperor put his hand on the door of his head and said, "Add a sentence: When he finishes the task of picking up the villagers, he will come to the capital for a ......."

"Your Majesty? You're still going to ......," the interior official looked surprised, and his voice shook as a result.

"Well, since he's so intent on getting this position, let's see what he really wants to do." The Emperor sat up slightly straighter, as if to prepare for some important ceremony, "So the battle in the south stopped for a moment and focused on dealing with the impending crisis, and I believe that Sevia is also starting to get anxious, and the more anxious he is, the closer we are to the answer." ”

"Yes, Your Majesty." The internal affairs official understood what the emperor meant, "I heard that he has aged a lot recently, and he must be in a hurry." ”

"The order has been modified, and the secret envoy will be sent out in a moment." The Imperial Commander has sealed the letter.

"As soon as possible." The emperor did not talk nonsense.

……

"It's clear that Shaling isn't the new threat as prophesied." After the commander in chief of the imperial army left the room again, the internal affairs officer said to the emperor.

"It seems that so," said the Emperor, holding his chin in his hand, as if he were pondering some complicated issue, "while there is still time, make full preparations, and order all the underground factories to work overtime, and our country will be at full speed." ”

"But ......," the interior official seemed to be worried about something, "can we really handle it?" ”

There was a terrible silence...... Subsequently, the emperor said slowly:

"If you're lucky, keep one ten-thousandth of the fire; If you're unlucky...... Prepare yourself for perdition. ”