When Jackdaw returned to Kasyia, he was greeted by Springhall, the chief of the Tiamat clan.

"It's hard work. Springhall, who was standing tall, said in a meticulous manner, "The Great Chief is now taking care of military affairs, and I would like you to see her soon." I'm sorry you're tired after all this journey, but the Great Chief wants to know the news from Teturin. ”

Jackdaw nodded, still with the standard diplomat-like smile on his face, for Springhall did not look at a traitor in the same way that the other chiefs had always seen a traitor, but rather somewhat admired the man who was very knowledgeable about the times and always had good manners.

"On my way back, I heard that Iscario has been recalled to Titurin, and the southerners have changed their commanders, and now Marshal Zaclyde is commanding the army, is this news accurate?"

Springhall looked at Jackdaw with an expressionless face, obviously the Jackdaw clan is the clan responsible for collecting intelligence in the tribe, this chief actually asked Springhall for news, this sounds funny, I'm afraid it's not so funny.

"Since you haven't informed me of this news, I can't answer you. ”

Jackdaw chuckled, his eyes no longer on Springhall.

"I think I can go in?"

Springhall turned slightly to the side and nodded when he saw several chiefs approaching him around the corner of the hallway.

Jackdaw straightened his collar, then strode towards the chiefs with his head held high.

When they saw the jackdaw, they nodded slightly, but when they saw Springhall behind the jackdaw, these fierce generals on the battlefield couldn't help frowning.

They looked away, because they didn't want to see Springhall, and the chiefs didn't even look at the jackdaw, and without even saying hello to him, they passed by.

The jackdaw still smiled, but there was something different about it.

Springhall, on the other hand, is as expressionless as ever, like a mechanically precise butler, and there will never be superfluous expressions.

Walking to Apolonia's study, Jackdaw straightened his collar once more.

Then he pushed the door open.

Apolonia saw him immediately, and although the Great Chief did not smile, the slight change in her eyes showed the joy in her heart.

"You're finally back, Jackdaw, how is it going on over there in Teturin?"

Jackdaw bowed, and then said slowly: "At present, it seems that Duke Lengshan will not accept our conditions immediately, but it is not completely impossible to accept. He was still tempting, and though he didn't say yes in the end, he was already asking about our terms. ”

"And what price is he acceptable?" Apolonia asked directly.

I'm afraid even he is not sure about this now. Jackdaw shook his head, "In my opinion, although the Duke of Cold Mountain seems to control the Emperor and the First Prince at present, in fact he does not have complete control over Iron Turin, and the situation in Iron Turin is still unpredictable, so he can't be sure what kind of conditions he should put forward." ”

Apolonia raised her eyebrows, seemingly interested in Jackdaw's words.

"Why do you think the current situation in Titurin is unpredictable?"

"First of all, a variable will soon reach the imperial capital. Jackdaw held up a finger, "Iscario, as the victorious prince, he was not rewarded, but was ordered to return to the capital to report to work, in the face of such an encounter, it is difficult to say what he will think." What's more, the prince's own talents, especially his ability to judge the situation, were likely to stir the tide of Titurin even more violently. ”

Apolonia nodded, motioning for Jackdaw to continue.

"In addition, the Duke of Lengshan only has 10,000 people in his hands, and some of them belong to the Tamska and Northway families, which is too much to fully control the imperial capital, if it weren't for the special situation in Iron Turin now, he wouldn't have gotten this opportunity at all. Therefore, when Iscario returns to the imperial capital, it will have a very strong impact on the situation that was originally completely controlled by the Duke of Cold Mountain, according to my information, this time it is the three thousand people of the Fog Castle who escorted Iscario back to the imperial capital, and it is not necessary to escort a prince back to the capital from the road controlled by his side, I am afraid that the intention of these three thousand people is not just to escort it. ”

"So do you think that the three thousand men of Fog Fort can fight against the forces of Duke Lengshan?"

"Naturally, no. Jackdaw replied without thinking about it, "I have seen that army in Teturin, although it is still a lot worse than our soldiers, but those mountain people do retain a part of the blood of their ancestors, and their combat effectiveness is by no means comparable to that of ordinary southern soldiers. ”

"In this way, Duke Lengshan still has a better chance of winning?"

"Not necessarily, according to the information I have gathered, Duke Lengshan has deeply offended the church, even if he now suppresses the church with the advantage of controlling the emperor and forces the chief cardinal to flatter him, but once there is an opportunity, the church will definitely stand on the opposite side of Duke Lengshan. ”

"Is it against the yang and the yin...... Apolonia held her chin and looked pensive, "It seems that the church may also become a bargain condition, and if we offer to help each other solve the problems of the church, how likely is it that the Duke of Cold Mountain to cooperate with us?"

"Well...... Jackdaw thought for a while, repeatedly calculating the pros and cons in his mind, "I'm afraid it's not very likely, Duke Lengshan himself should know very well that sooner or later he will withdraw from Tieturin and Wangji, so what he seeks is only temporary benefits." It is true that the church is now a thorn in his side, but after he quits Teturin, Francis and others will no longer have anything to do with him, and he should not pay much attention to this condition. ”

"yes, that's what you think?" Apolonia nodded, then turned and walked to her desk.

Jackdaw hesitated for a moment, quietly glanced at Princehall who was standing behind him with his peripheral vision, and after making sure that the other party's eyes were not fixed on him, he took a light breath and stepped forward and said, "Please forgive me for being rude, I don't understand why you value that Duke of Cold Mountain so much." It is true that he now has Iron Turin, and as long as he surrenders the city, we can directly win this war, but the conditions you have offered him seem to ...... It's too generous, why, why do you propose to marry him?"

Apolonia looked at the map on the table, her back to the jackdaw, and the excited words she had just said did not disturb her mood.

"What are you worried about, Jackdaw? Our plan is going well, and soon, an empire belonging to our nation will be established, so what is there to worry about? Marriage is only one of the means, and this one has not yet succeeded. ”

She took the chess pieces from the table and slapped them on the position of Azure Harbor.

"Pass my order for Bloodridge to gather his troops and move in the direction of Mirror Lake. ”

Jackdaw looked at the Great Chief in a daze, he hadn't yet reacted from this leaping thought.

Springhall immediately recorded Apolonia's orders, and he didn't need to think, as long as he did exactly what he was told.

"However, didn't the Haishan clan we sent to attack the Azure Harbor already fail? we don't have so many ships to cross the water now!"

"It doesn't matter. Apolonia turned to the side, a sly smile on her lips, "You just need to tell the Duke of Cold Mountain the news." Thank you, let's go to Titurin again. ”

————————————————

The Basilica of Hadith, which is usually lit up even at night, has suddenly become quiet.

The armed forces in the church have been requisitioned by Arnold, even the Knights of the Cathar, and the guards of the church have become the guards of the imperial capital under Arnold's control.

In fact, from the day of the royal prelude, when Arnold asked the church to help, Francis knew that Arnold was going to do something to him, as long as he eliminated the last church in the imperial capital that might hinder him, Arnold would completely control the city, power, wealth, and status, and take what he wanted.

But Francis did not show the slightest concern, and he continued to live peacefully in the Basilica of Hadith, living his days peacefully.

Arnold looked at the spire of the Basilica of Hadith and stared at the statue of the angel on the spire for a long time.

"Let's do it. ”

In the darkness, the sound of rustling was like a colony of marching ants, and it began to move in order, and in just a few minutes, the ghosts and spirits of those nights had already invaded this sacred territory.

Francis, who was meditating in the prayer room in the church, opened his eyes as if he had a feeling, and at the same time a faint smile hung on the corner of his mouth.

"Here they are. ”

"I know. Francis, calmly, said to the voice that suddenly sounded in the prayer room, "Over to you." ”

The voice did not respond, but Francis knew that the other party would give him a satisfactory answer.

In the darkness, where the light could not be seen, the invisible sound of fighting was recalled. The voices were soft, but they were still very clear in Arnold's ears in the silence of the night.

Arnold frowned slightly, things didn't seem to go as smoothly as he expected, even if he took the opportunity to withdraw the armed forces of the church, but there were still men and horses guarding the church that he had not known.

His face grew gloomy, and Arnold knew that he was only sending soldiers in the army, and that in this dark battle, he could not be the match of those professional assassins.

"Take it back. ”

Judging from the sound that it was his side that suffered more casualties, Arnold dismissed any further unnecessary casualties, and ordered his men to withdraw and erase the traces of tonight's assassination.

Inside the church, Francis heard the report from that voice to him, and the smile on his lips grew stronger.

"Very well done," he said to the icon, "the self-righteous Feglaf has humiliated me so much before, and this shame must have been paid back tenfold!"

"It's better not to do that. The voice that sounded in the darkness was calm, "Recently, there have been a sudden increase in the number of people entering the imperial capital, and many of them have come in through abnormal channels. That Duke of Lengshan is not without reinforcements, and the current situation, if you make too much trouble with him, we can't really protect you. Even if he could protect himself from Fegraf's men, he would not be able to accomplish this task from the hands of the White Diren. ”

The sarcasm on Francis' face intensified.

"You just have to do your own thing, and I'll worry about the rest of the rest. ”

There was silence in the prayer room for a while.

"So, do you want to clean up the outside?"

"No need. Francis said blandly, "Anyway, Fegraf will clean it up for you." ”