Iscario took most of the troops originally assembled in the imperial capital to the Mirror Lake Territory, accompanied by Scripps VII and Prince Francisco, and the two dukes Heslett and Wollaston also returned to the territory to gather men and horses to prepare for battle.

It may not be felt by the average citizen, but for Arnold, it is very pronounced.

Originally belonging to Iscario's consul's residence, it is now occupied by Prince Alcott, who barely maintains the daily operation of the imperial capital with the help of a group of government assistants left behind by the royal brother.

Of course, in Arnold's view, this is more like Iscario left a group of nannies and governesses to teach Alcott how to sign and stamp.

As the defense guard of the imperial capital, Arnold would also go to the consul's residence every day to standby, and he had nothing to do, basically every day he watched Prince Alcott sweat in front of the sea of documents and repeated signatures - stamping these two things.

"Your Highness, this is the seventh batch of military supplies to be transported to Jinghu Ling, please take a look. Chief Counsellor Farage didn't give Alcott a minute to breathe, and immediately after he had signed one document, he handed another one.

"Ah, good. It's winter approaching the New Year, but Alcott is sweating hot, "Hmm. That's a lot of stuff. Well, I approved it. ”

The first prince consciously picked up the quill pen and signed his name quite skillfully, and then picked up the seal and covered it steadily after the assistant officer of Farage poured the sealing wax.

After a few days of repeated movements, Alcott has mastered the technique quite skillfully and quite efficiently.

Of course, when you think about it, it still feels sad.

"Farage, are these supplies being transported from the imperial capital to Jinghu to receive them?" Sitting in the bustling office office, the leisurely Arnold looked very dazzling, or maybe he felt that it was too boring to sit like this, so he asked Farage casually.

"No, this shipment is from Sansmant, but it will pass through the imperial capital. Farage didn't pause in the movement of his hands, didn't even lift his head, and replied to Arnold as he handed Alcott the papers.

"Sansmount, the weapons and equipment you bought from the dwarves?"

"Yes, the government has been investing in Sansmant and has stockpiled quite a lot of supplies over the years just to cope with the situation. ”

"Oh-" Arnold looked at Farage, who was still working seriously, and thought to himself, "Since this batch of supplies will pass through the imperial capital, can we supply some supplies to the garrison here?"

"I'm sorry, Lord Arnold, but that's not going to work. Farage finally raised his head, "You also know that our army does not have an advantage on the front line now, His Highness Iscario needs all the forces that can be used, and all supplies must be supplied to the front line as first as possible, this is the explanation that His Highness gave me before he set off." ”

"That's a shame. Arnold rubbed his chin and replied casually in an indifferent tone.

"Alas, Arnold Deqing, seeing you so leisurely, it really makes me envious. "Well, now I know how hard the Iscario brother usually is, and if I could, I would love to change positions with you." ”

Although it was a complaint, this was not what he should say as the first prince, but he immediately realized his gaffe and hurriedly remedied: "Of course, with my ability, I can't control the Blood Cross Knights at all, haha, hahaha......"

No one paid attention to Alcott's awkward smile behind him, and Farage reminded Alcourt seriously: "Your Highness, the movement of your hand has stopped." ”

Arnold stared at Alcott, who hurriedly moved his hand.

"Not really, if you ask for anything, Blood Cross will be there for you. ”

Alcot was stunned, he subconsciously thought that Arnold was just a polite remark, and did not realize the true meaning of the other party's words.

He smiled casually, not taking it seriously.

"If that's the case, then ask Blood Cross to help me get the stuff out of the way. ”

Arnold looked at Alcot and did not answer.

Alcott, who noticed that Arnold's attitude was a little strange, completely stopped what he was doing and looked at Arnold with anxiety. He didn't want the feeling of being stared at silently, and it overwhelmed him.

"Don't you know the meaning of the Blood Cross?"

"Well, what does that mean? Do you mean the origin of the Knights of the Blood Cross?"

"The Knights of the Blood Cross were the most successful troops of the Twelve Knights of the time of the Emperor Hernut, and fortunately, my ancestor was one of them, and his subordinates were the original Knights of the Blood Cross. ”

Alcott listened and nodded slightly, for it was a rare time for him to get out of Farage's clerical hell.

"However, after hundreds of years of changes, there are only five of the original Twelve Knights Families left, and except for us Fegraf, the rest are basically gone, and those powerful armies that once dominated the empire under the command of Henut the Great are now only the Blood Cross Knights still retain their original heritage. ”

Of course, Alcott knew these histories, although his talents were mediocre, but after all, he was the first prince, and the education of these imperial histories was still essential, so he would not even know this.

"The Knights of the Blood Cross, who have preserved their original heritage, are of course as loyal to the Empire and the royal family as they were more than three hundred years ago, so if you have any orders, we will still do the same for you as our ancestors. ”

"Haha, that's reassuring. Alcott laughed, it might have been a good story for him, but he wasn't a child to take it seriously, "Then the defense of the imperial capital will be entrusted to such a loyal Blood Cross Knights." ”

"As you wish, I will not put this imperial capital in any danger. Arnold got up, bowed very respectfully to Alcott, and then turned to leave.

Outside the consul's residence, Arnold's carriage was waiting for him.

"It's so laid-back. ”

After boarding the carriage, Lily, who was sitting on the other end of the carriage, was unceremoniously sarcastic.

"I said I wanted to take advantage of this opportunity, but Iscalio has been gone for a few days, and you just sit in the Archon's Mansion every day, what a man who doesn't live up to his words. ”

Arnold glanced at Lily, then looked out the carriage window, ignoring her.

"Now it seems that even your subordinates who have more muscles than brains know how to seize opportunities a little better than you, and he has taken all the city defense garrisons of the imperial capital in his hands these days. ”

"That's what I told Titus to do. Arnold finally spoke, "You're with me, what should I have done these days." ”

"Yes, you're watching the First Prince, and if this is a plot he hatched to secure his throne, now is the best chance. Lily shrugged, pretending not to hear Arnold's grumbling, "So, have you observed anything now?"

"Either he's a fool or I'm the idiot. Arnold brisked his cheeks and stared boredly out of the car window at the New Year's decorated street, "No matter how much you try, that Highness Alcott looks like a mediocre fellow." There's no observation, there's no decisiveness, it's not like it's pretending. ”

"Then what else are you worried about?" Lily narrowed her eyes and her expression became dangerous, "Don't think that Lord Astarius didn't give you a deadline, you can put this mission down indefinitely, trying to do something very dangerous with the patience of a demon lord." ”

Arnold turned his face, and he understood that Lily's dissatisfaction did not come from her own inaction in the past few days, but from her dissatisfaction with her slacking off on Astalus's orders.

"Trying to kill the Chief Cardinal in the Imperial Capital is no small matter. ”

"Now that the defense of the entire imperial capital is being taken over by yours, it may be difficult for others, but for you, it's just a simple matter. As long as Francis is not allowed to escape, you want to cover up the truth of the matter and not a trivial matter. Lily didn't accept Arnold's excuses, as if she had to force Arnold to act, and she slowly leaned over.

"It seems that the defense of the imperial capital is in my hands, but don't forget, this is what Iscario gave me on purpose. Arnold's expression became serious, and Lily's attitude also made him a little dissatisfied, although he knew it in his heart, he still felt that Lily should be more of his partner than a subordinate sent by the Demon Lord.

"Then it's up to you. Lily shrugged, "Look at how loyal you are to Lord Astar. ”

Arnold suddenly understood something, with Lily's character, she would not normally say this, and now her tone was obviously deliberately reminding him.

Astalus pressured Lily, who was indeed unhappy with Arnold's lack of progress, but this dissatisfaction had not been revealed directly to Arnold, only to Lily. If Arnold continues to drag his feet like this, it is likely that Astalus will skip the warning and punish Arnold directly.

And what Lily is doing now is quietly giving Arnold this warning.

"Well, I'll get it done as soon as I can. Arnold's tone relaxed, though there was no plan for how to murder Francis.

"I'll try to find it over there at the Black Sheep Club, I know you don't like unplanned accidents, so I'll try to keep these guys under control. ”

"Hmm. Arnold nodded, his expression still unhappy.