Burnett's dining room was very large, and although there was only one maid, she was not pretty, but she was very strong. Most importantly, she pushes the food cart back and forth between the kitchen and the dining room, distributing dishes in order of seating, and placing delicate knives, forks and chopsticks. The reason why these two kinds of cutlery appeared at the table at the same time was entirely the result of the emperor's own will being forcibly implemented. The natives of the world of Rabangka are not accustomed to using chopsticks, and they have the same preferences in this regard as the Western world of Earth. The mandatory use of chopsticks was a matter after the end of the Kingdom Wars. A lot of people were against it, and a lot of people were interested in this new cutlery. Of course, there are many people who are noncommittal about this, believing that knives, forks and chopsticks are just auxiliary tools when eating. Even if the emperor himself ordered that the use of any utensils be forbidden, it was still possible to grab the food and put it in the mouth. It's just that in that way, it looks funny and primitive.

A group of the loudest and fiercest opponents were beheaded. The outpouring of protests immediately ceased to follow. It is much more important than what tools you use to eat, or whether your head can stay on your shoulder. Opposition can only be done in private, as in the case now, some members of the Burnett family use chopsticks and some use knives and forks.

When people are old, they can see many things more clearly than when they were younger.

In retrospect, the emperor's decision to promote the use of chopsticks was not so strong. If it weren't for the old-fashioned bastards who marched through the streets with banners in their mouths and their mouths unclean to greet the emperor himself and his relatives, they would have survived to this day as they were.

The agents of the Imperial Intelligence Agency are everywhere, and things like who uses chopsticks and who uses knives and forks can't hide from their eyes at all. However, no police broke into the house to take people away, and despite the increasing number of people using chopsticks, there were still people who insisted on using knives and forks. As long as they are honest, they do what they should do, and the emperor never cares about such small things. To be fair: the emperor is actually much better than the kings of the kingdom wars. Yes, he did kill people. But those who died at his hands did have a reason why they had to be killed. If it were Burnett himself, I'm afraid there would be more people with their heads cut off.

The maid who looks like a rough benzene delivers a series of colorful and fragrant meals to people. There are lamb shanks stewed with garlic, fish with a rich sauce, and chicken stewed with the finest cream. The green cabbage is finely shredded and topped with a delicious salad sauce. Pickled cucumbers and sauerkraut have always been staples on the Bernett family's table. Although they are ordinary, they must be checked by Burnett himself from the selection of ingredients to the pickling. He always felt that the sauerkraut bought on the street tasted wrong, and stubbornly demanded that the cook ferment it with honey and wine, as was done in the old aristocratic period. Only the pickled cucumber that comes out of this way can be chewed in the mouth to have a crisp feeling of "crunch", with a faint fragrance, slightly sweet, slightly salty, and a perfect match with the freshly baked black bread.

Burnett's seat was a special one, with the table hollowed out under the table and the legs split to prop it up so that the bed could be pushed in so that Burnett could eat while lying down. He couldn't get out of bed anymore, and food became the thing he looked forward to most in life. This is his last freedom, and no one can take it away.

The lamb shank stewed in garlic is very delicious. Burnet ate a plate slowly, still not feeling enough, and asked the maid standing next to him to add a large piece to herself. Just as he was brandishing his knife and fork and preparing to continue dealing with the fat and juicy piece of mutton in front of him, the doorbell rang.

The little grandson reacted quickly and ran over to open the door.

There are two visitors. At the head was a woman in civilian clothes. She wears a hood with a black veil covering her face on her head, and her posture and movements look very young. The moment she walked into the room, Burnett, who was in high spirits, felt distraught, and there was a hint of instinctive fear in the depths of her eyes.

The woman's hood was embroidered with a lily on the side. The number and shape of the petals are all familiar to Burnet. Only the descendants of the nobility who have disappeared for many years and have been cut off from themselves will use this special symbol.

Burnett's son sensed a change in his father's affections. He glanced at the two guests standing in the living room, stood up and walked over to the movable bed, and asked worriedly, "What's wrong?" ”

"Push me into the bedroom."

After a few seconds of silence, a reluctant smile appeared on Burnett's stiff face, he patted his son's hand, and said gently, "Don't get me wrong, they are our old friends, old friends from a long time ago. ”

……

The bedroom is an enclosed space, and the architectural layout and materials are well insulated according to Burnett's requirements. The maid set the movable bed in its fixed position, closed the door and withdrew, leaving only Burnett and two guests in the room.

The woman in black looked around a lot, and let out a cold snort from her nostrils: "I can't see it, you're quite happy." ”

Burnett's eyes flashed, and his hands were gently folded in front of him: "Why not?" Life is so short, if you don't cherish every day, wouldn't you be sorry to go to this world in vain? ”

"You seem to be happy with your current civilian status?"

The woman in black pulled a chair from the side and sat down, and said sarcastically, "Venerable Marquis Burnet, is this what you want?" ”

The word "Marquis" awakened certain memories in the depths of Burnet's mind. It was a memory that he had completely forgotten and would never remember again. It represents honor, but it also means death.

Burnett shuddered involuntarily, and his puffy flesh instantly became tense: "Don't say the word 'Marquis' to me again." That is a thing of the past. There are some things that don't belong to me, and I don't want to fight for them. Being alive is more important than anything else, and you may not be able to appreciate the truth right now, but as long as you really let go of your mind, you will feel that what I am telling is the truth. ”

"I don't think so."

The woman in black was still sneering: "That's what our fathers and grandparents worked hard to earn. They have done so much for the world, they are loyal to the king, and they receive recognition of status and power from the king. As a descendant, I have the right to inherit this qiē. However, a mere slave changed all of them. I will never identify with any hellish emperor. He's a pariah! It's a slave! It is our ever-great, worst enemy! ”

Burnett didn't speak, he quietly stared at the flamboyant woman in front of him. For some reason, Burnett only felt that the female visitor was dangerous, and the feeling was so strong that he clutched his heart at all times.

"Who are you?"

After a long pause, Burnett asked slowly, "Name your first and last name." ”

"My name is Delia. As for the surname, it is the great Viklar. ”

The woman in black unbuttoned her hood, revealing long, tassel-like blonde hair. Her skin was as white as milk in the light, and the bridge of her nose was pulsating and active. The body is graceful, especially the blue eyes, which release an intoxicating light all the time.

"Viklar...... Duke Viklar. The most powerful man in the Saphili Empire, and the most prominent family in the kingdom's wars. ”

Among the descendants of the aristocracy, Burnet is a living dictionary. It didn't take much effort for him to remember everything about the surname "Viklar". It was a duke who had been attacked and occupied by Tong Yanfeng's army, refused to surrender, and jumped from the highest tower of the castle. Vikral's death caused a great sensation in the kingdoms of the time. For more than 100 years, Burnet sent people to search for the descendants of the Vikral family, but there was no news. It wasn't until later that Burnett himself lost his fighting spirit and waited for old age to die in silence and time. didn't expect that the other party would take the initiative to find him.

Burnett didn't think the woman in black in front of him was a fake. The Wickral clan has been known for producing beautiful women and handsome men since ancient times. This kind of gene that is passed down in the blood, no outsider can pass it off. Her blonde hair and blue eyes are proof of that. Of course, it's not appropriate to be able to identify someone based on their appearance alone. But among the descendants of the nobility, no one would say anything about this kind of thing. The emperor's rule became more and more secure, and the descendants of the nobility became flies in dark corners. As long as anyone wants to be a part of it, they welcome it. As for identity...... There is actually no difference between a duke and a viscount, it is just a verbal noun zài.

Burnett's gaze looked at Delia like a sword, and the latter stared at her without showing any hint of weakness. The cold and dead silence of the confrontation lasted for several minutes, and in the end it was Burnet who was the first to lose. He slowly closed his eyes, waved his hand, and asked tiredly, "Say!" What do you want? ”

"You've got all the lists, and all the channels of external communication."

Delia replied lightly: "You are already old, and you deserve my respect." You have done a great deal for the restoration of the kingdom, and since you are willing to live out your old age in peace, I will grant you this right as a duke. ”

Burnett was unmoved, he lay on the bed, stared at Delia with gray eyes, and said word by word: "Many of the people on the list are old. As far as I know, they are all the same as me and don't want to be involved in this program anymore. Just last year, I talked to everyone. Even the youngest person on the list is over one hundred and fifty years old. We don't have the energy to complete the plan, and the title and nobility are dispensable. I can give you the list, but you have to promise not to bother my old brothers again. ”

It's not that Burnett is talking nonsense, he did, and almost everyone on the list has expressed a desire to quit. Life is much more important than the unattainable restoration.

Delia's eyes narrowed slightly. She stood up, walked to the bed, and looked down at Burnet. The gesture was clearly threatening, and the corners of Burnett's mouth twitched involuntarily a few times, and then his right hand grasped a hidden crossbar next to the bed. It was a preset mechanism, and when you pressed down hard, the bed would immediately shoot out a dozen sharp arrows, nailing the opponent to the wall on the spot.

The woman didn't move, but Burnett felt it was a temptation. She seemed to know that she had a back hand, but she didn't say anything. Perhaps, she was planning something.

"You know, I really hate dealing with you old guys."

Suddenly, a trace of disgust appeared on Delia's beautiful face: "You are rigid and conservative, and you don't have the slightest sense of progress. You have forgotten the glory of your ancestors, and you have no intention of restoring your former reputation. Marquis Burnett, when I first heard your name, I heard a lot about you. You are a brave man, and you are willing to give up a qiē to fight against the emperor. I can understand the successive failures, the lack of hope, and the repeated torment of faith by time. But you have to think about other people. Your sons, your grandchildren, and their descendants. Perhaps, someday in the future, they will still be able to carry the title of "Marquis" after their surnames. ”

"No, it can't be!" Burnett shook his head almost subconsciously.

"Nothing is impossible."

Delia's attitude was very resolute: "How do you know it's impossible if you don't try?" ”

"We've tried, and there's no hope of success."

"That's because you're stupid, very stupid. Now the leader is me, and there is a good chance of success. ”

"You don't understand the difficulty. We don't have the money, we don't have more support, and the people can't stand on our side. ”

"I can solve any difficulty. As long as it is done, there is hope. ”

A sneer appeared on Burnet's face, and he kept shaking his head: "You are too arrogant. You have no idea what a mighty dragon you are up against. Yes, the emperor is a dragon, and he takes this as a symbol of the country. In front of him, you are a tiny ant. ”

"Enough!"

Delia was furious at Burnett's cynicism. She snapped off Burnett's words, "Hand over the list, I don't have time to grind your tongue any more." This is a war between us and the emperor, either to participate or to leave. It's as simple as that. ”

Burnett let out a soft grunt from his nostrils: "What if I refuse?" ”

This is not because of selfishness, but for the sake of the elderly who are willing to enjoy peace. Just now, Burnett has discovered that Delia is an extremely crazy woman. This kind of person will do whatever it takes. The list fell into her hands, and those friends were simply forcibly dragged onto the chariot. They will not accept this fate, and the result will either be captured by the Imperial Intelligence Service or become a consumable in the hands of Delia.

"Refuse?"

Delia clearly didn't expect Burnett to say the word. She glanced at Burnett in surprise, then turned her head and looked at the closed door behind her.

"When I walked in, it was a little boy who opened the door for me."

Delia fell to the ground and suddenly showed a demonic smile: "I saw a lot of people in the restaurant outside. They should be your son and daughter-in-law, daughter or son-in-law. It's a blessing to have my family by my side, and I feel envious even when I watch this lively scene. You know, I didn't have a mother since I was a child, and I don't know if she is dead? Or did you abandon me for some reason? I'm beautiful, aren't I? This is the result of my father raping me when I was six years old. He forced me to go out and get money from a man, and then buy him wine and food, and satisfy his desires every day...... This is not the life of an aristocracy, and I should be better off than this. So, I slept with a pharmacist and got some strong anesthetics. While my father was asleep, I cut off his head, split his body into pieces, and used it to feed the dogs. ”

Burnett listened quietly, but his face grew paler.

Delia's threat is suggestive. She was able to kill her own father, so naturally it was impossible for her to have mercy on outsiders. Regardless of the truth of her story for the time being, the woman who can say this is extremely vicious.

She mentions family, which is Burnett's weakness. Burnett believed that Delia must have made arrangements before she walked into her home. If you refuse, you will have to bear the revenge and anger from this madwoman.

Thinking of this, Burnett swallowed hard, slowly raised his right hand, pointed to the floor nearby, and said in a cold and flat voice: "Right down here, take it yourself!" ”

The floor was movable, and a small wooden box could be seen when it was moved away. Inside the box was an old roll of yellow parchment, filled with hundreds of names and countless fingerprints that had turned pale black.

That's all Burnet could reach. This is only a part of the descendants of the nobility. To be on the safe side, the list is not in the hands of one person alone, here is only a fifth of the total participants in the program. That is, in addition to Burnett, there are four other people who hold different lists.

Delia took a pen out of her pocket and crossed out the "Marquis of Burnet" at the top of the list.

This action once again caused Burnett to panic. He struggled to lift himself up, and asked in shock and anger, "You, what the hell do you want to do?" ”

"You refused to participate in the program and refused to hand over the list. Although I now have this piece of paper, what you have done has shown that you no longer belong to us. ”

The blandness in Delia's eyes completely faded, revealing the arrogance and ruthlessness hidden behind: "In this case, there is no need for your name to continue to exist. The Marquis of Burnett's bloodline must be terminated with you. Aristocracy is noble, and we will never compromise with the untouchables. Death or struggle, there are only two paths. ”

Burnett finally understood what Delia meant. His face was pale, and he knew that he shouldn't have handed over the list at all, it was a talisman for himself and his family. But it's too late to say anything. "Just cross it out.

This action once again caused Burnett to panic. He struggled to lift himself up, and asked in shock and anger, "You, what the hell do you want to do?" ”

"You refused to participate in the program and refused to hand over the list. Although I now have this piece of paper, what you have done has shown that you no longer belong to us. ”

The blandness in Delia's eyes completely faded, revealing the arrogance and ruthlessness hidden behind: "In this case, there is no need for your name to continue to exist. The Marquis of Burnett's bloodline must be terminated with you. Aristocracy is noble, and we will never compromise with the untouchables. Death or struggle, there are only two paths. ”

Burnett finally understood what Delia meant. His face was pale, and he knew that he shouldn't have handed over the list at all, it was a talisman for himself and his family. But it's too late to say anything.