As one of the few high-ranking officials in the Kingdom of Turin, the Earl of Cranston is in the prime of life.

Although he was obese, he still looked very decent in a specially tailored outfit, especially the bright red bow tie around his neck, which was not funny, but made him look more youthful.

It's just that no matter how appropriate the outward dress is, it can't hide the tiredness in his eyes.

"How long has it been since we've had a good conversation?" He asked.

Sitting on the chair in front of the window, quietly looking at Charles sitting on the bed opposite, the fat earl's expression was quite complicated.

"As far as I know, never." Charles replied calmly.

"yes, never. I've been busy with official business all these years. The Fat Earl sighed, "It's a pity that my abilities are limited, and even if I have official duties, I have not been able to do a good job. ”

This is his self-indulgence.

Durin's economic situation has not been very good in recent years, on the one hand, he has to maintain the huge expenses of the royal family, on the other hand, he has to support the activities of Durin's army in the colony, military expenses, and all kinds of messy expenses, scattered and scattered.

The kingdom's economy is sluggish, and the king's coffers are said to have been emptied for a long time, and at the moment there are too many foreign debts to count.

There have been rumors among the people that if it weren't for the new Chancellor of the Exchequer, who has only been in office for three years, the royal family of Turin would have been declared "bankrupt" long ago.

Of course, there is no such thing as bankruptcy in Turin, and it is even more unheard of for the king to go bankrupt.

Charles vaguely guessed what this person had come to him for, so he didn't answer, but just looked at the other party quietly, wondering what tone and manner this person would use to have a showdown with him.

Yes, showdown.

After Charles knocked out the underground party in the town, but spared the other party, he had already thought about the current situation.

Although no one can prove that Charles did it, it is impossible for a few to go to Seaken Town at that time, and it is even estimated that there are only two people, Charles and Old Man Oak.

There is no way that Old Man Oak would do anything about a sneak attack, let alone spare a mischievous necromancer's accomplice.

In this case, who else but Charles?

And for doing that kind of dirty thing, how can the fat earl explain it?

Or simply not to explain?

These were all things that Charles was more curious about, so he had plenty of patience to listen.

However, after a moment of remembrance, the fat earl did not mention the matter, but said another thing that Charles cared about: "Do you know why I have put you in danger several times? ”

Stunned, but Charles was actually interested in this, so he shook his head dryly.

The fat earl handed him an old photograph and took it to look at it, and the two people who seemed to know each other came into view.

This is the last time Charles ran into his study to flip through the books.

"Is it because of her?"

Looking at the woman beside the Count above, Charles was thoughtful.

"Did I tell you about your mother's disappearance?" Seeing that he reacted, the fat earl asked.

Charles shook his head.

The original wife of the Earl of Cranston disappeared shortly after the birth of Charles and Allen. However, the news released to the outside world was that she died violently. Because of this, Chauvin's mother's side even had a very stiff relationship with Earl Cranston. Not even more than a decade of contact.

As for the disappearance, only Charles's deceased grandfather and grandmother, as well as Charles and Allen, knew.

But what the specific situation is, as a junior, he doesn't know.

"She didn't actually disappear without leaving anything." The Fat Earl said slowly: "Before she disappeared, she repeatedly told me to take care of you two brothers. So I suspect she didn't go missing, but left on her own initiative. ”

As he spoke, he looked at Charles and said in a low voice, "I have not interrupted my investigation into this matter over the years, and in the last two years, I even suspect that I have found her. It's just that there are few clues, always interrupted, and she doesn't seem to want me to find it. ”

"So you suspect she's keeping an eye on me?" Charles was faintly enlightened.

"Yes." The Fat Earl nodded, "If no one restricts her freedom, if she is still alive now, then she will definitely protect you secretly, and even more so in case of danger." That's why I'm sending you to Pita City, for other reasons, but mainly to lure her out. Of course, even if she doesn't show up, I've taken precautions to protect you, and you won't be surprised. ”

But it's also hard to hide the fact that you're cheating on your son.

Charles muttered secretly, and then thought that if this person was really well protected, he would not be the current self.

The fat earl didn't think of what was going on in his heart, he shook his head and sighed, "Maybe I'm not as calm as her, maybe ...... Maybe her appearance was my delusion, but after many temptations, I didn't get anything. ”

"I want to apologize to you. Despite all the precautions taken, you are put in danger in the end, which is not what a good father should do. I think you might as well have a lot of grievances against me. I don't expect you to forgive me, I just want to say that if something happens to me, I hope you will protect your brother. And then—"

His voice paused, and then he said in a complicated tone: "Find your mother for me, and ask her why for me." ”

With that, he patted Charles on the shoulder, and got up a little lonely to leave.

Earl Cranston was a cunning man, but at this moment he was clearly showing his true feelings, and Charles quietly watched the other party's back open the door and left, and couldn't help frowning.

"It's not a good habit to put up flags."

Vaguely feeling that something might happen during this time, Charles didn't chase after him and asked. After all, the fat earl didn't say it, which means that he didn't want to know.

Or did he know that Charles could learn something from other "people"?

Including what happened in the town, including what is about to happen?

Thinking of the not-so-honest ghost in his wings, Charles thought that no one would guess that the ghost had been kidnapped by his rookie.

"For the sake of your maintenance of me during this time, if you have the chance, I can help you."

Muttering, reflecting on the brief but meaningful conversation, Charles touched his chin.

Everything in the Overworld still made him feel like he was in a mess, but he didn't feel much trouble about it, because he had always adhered to the saying - when the strength is reached, no trouble will be a trouble.

After thinking for a long time, and seeing that it was getting brighter outside, he put aside everything he had heard for the time being, and began to work on what had just been done.

Summoning the Book of Roots, his palm covered the page where the monster was born, and the images flashed again.

What he found very rare was that this picture was in the same time period as the vampire, and at the same time, it was also a region.

Things can basically be connected, but after the little boy suddenly turned into a dog, the follow-up picture is a little interesting.

The knights, who were majestic and full of noble aura in front of ordinary people, surrounded the little dog that looked like a corgi with a vigilant expression, and their weapons were also pulled out by them.

The poor little thing that was surrounded screamed in fright, and ran to the blonde knight with his tail between his legs, only to be kicked away. But after a while, the blonde knight who kicked the dog away ignored the mess on the other party's body and eagerly hugged the "corgi". Then he beckoned the knights to quickly mount their horses and hurried in the direction of the Great Wall.

"Is this a request for help?"

With his palms off the page, Charles thoughtfully did.

Watching the process of the birth of a monster is like watching a short movie, which is fun.

However, Charles is more curious about what will happen if he summons such a monster with an independent will.

Is it like a resentful spirit, hard-working and basically without a mind of its own, or is it able to communicate and talk to real creatures in general?

This is not written in the Book of Roots, and the words of the wraiths are actually not communicable in the first place, and cannot be used as a reference.

So he pressed his palm on it again, and as soon as his mind moved, a faint black light bloomed on the pages of the Book of Roots.

It's just that it was a little unexpected, and what slowly appeared in front of him from nothing was not the dog, but a chubby little boy.

His eyes looked around blankly, and when he finally landed on Charles, a trace of fear flashed on his face, and he couldn't help but retreat a few times

"You...... Who are you? Why am I here? ”