Tulania pointed to himself and said in a surprised tone: "I also questioned His Royal Highness the Duke about the violent death of Uncle Aiya in the royal city! ”

They were talking about lords who had a bad relationship with the Garcia family, and they didn't seem to have a good relationship with the duke.

Enrique stopped biting his fingers and continued like a child trying to attract attention: "My family has also started to lose power since Garcia ascended the throne of duke, and my father complained a lot when he was still around. ”

"And what about you?Vane?" everyone looked at the Count, who had been silent.

Vane shrugged, "Some personal vendettas. ”

And those who died, the lords who fled, as far as they knew, were more or less at odds with the duke.

Stannis suddenly felt a chill run down his spine, and a terrible fact began to form in his mind.

"Perhaps, the Duke knew what was going on here!" and he deliberately pretended to know nothing and sent us here to investigate. ”

The air in the entire hall instantly condensed, and they all knew what it meant.

Only the young Enrique asked inexplicably, "Then why did he do this?"

This time it was his retainer Seworth, "because he wanted to use this expedition as an excuse to use the hands of those monsters to kill all the lords who were at odds with him." ”

Such a cruel truth came out of Syworth's mouth, but a few simple words presented a bloody reality.

Enrique, who was still too young, couldn't accept it for a while, he sobbed with tears, "How can this be, how could His Royal Highness the Duke abandon me, he obviously appointed me as the commander of this operation, and I want to restore the glory of the family......"

No one answered him, because much could be explained if the operation was intended to cut off Garcia's unpleasant lords. For example, why this investigation was so exciting, and it was still called through the name chosen by the duke, and the nearest Worf family did not need to send troops, because this family was now in a hot relationship with the duke.

And the best result of this group of lords, who were regarded as a thorn in the side of the duke, was total annihilation, so that the royal city could justifiably divide the territory of those perished families among those close to him, even if he did not die, the remaining strength was insignificant, and his rule could be further consolidated.

"But how did he know what kind of monster was here?" said Robert, still confused.

This question is very simple, and it can be explained by Stannis's current IQ, "Maybe when he received the news of the collapse of the Claude family, he immediately sent someone to check on it, and it is estimated that he also found those corpses and strange churches and mutated monsters in the castle, but he deliberately hid this fact and still sent us to die." ”

Robert gasped, in the impression of most people in the Duchy of Tanis, His Royal Highness the Duke has always appeared as a generous and loving person, and this time sending more than twenty lords to hell together is not something that a benevolent elder can do.

"What now?" Vane asked, not looking as agitated as the others.

"Let's survive first!" said Robert.

Stannis also nodded, if they were all wiped out by those monsters, then this sordid fact would be completely covered up, and they would only be forgotten by everyone as the ones who died in the crusade against heresy. He clenched his fists, he had been betrayed one after another, and he must live!

All left the council chamber to prepare for the upcoming battle.

Stannis was the last to go out, but as soon as he turned a corner, he heard someone shouting to him again.

He turned and found that it was Seaworth, and he was now alone in his pursuit, as if he had some private matter to discuss.

"What's the matter? Lord Seaworth. ”

The elderly vassals gasped and looked around to make sure there was no one around.

"Your Excellency Justine, you should know what I'm looking for you about. ”

Stannis knew what he was talking about, of course, but he didn't say anything after enough verbal suffering, and let the other party say it.

"The situation is clear now, although we have no knowledge, but in the Duke's mind, we are already his enemies, targets to be eliminated. ”

Stannis listened quietly, not saying a word.

"So the only thing we can do now is form an alliance, not for the sake of power, but for self-preservation. ”

Finally got down to business, but he's still waiting.

"As you saw just now, Marquis Enrique is still just a child, he should not bear such a burden, and as his vassal, I am obliged to do everything in my power to ensure his safety. ”

Stannis couldn't help but be in awe of the old knight in front of him, you know, it is normal for knights in the Western Continent to change the court, although these self-righteous guys always talk about 'loyalty and my life', but the price is right, they will not hesitate to abandon their feudal lords, and even be able to slash the original owner with their own hands.

"Your Excellency Justine, I know that you are so silent for fear of being caught by others, but haven't you already begun to form alliances with others?"

"How do you know!" Stannis finally blurted out.

Seaworth said proudly: "Although the strength of the Mitage family is not as good as before, the intelligence network that crowns Tanis is still in use, and it is very familiar with the small actions made between the lords in private. ”

If you are so powerful, you still don't know anything about how the Claude family was destroyed! Spit and complain, Stannis is not stupid enough to say this.

"Now that you know all about it, you should know that I formed an alliance mainly to prevent banditry. Even now, Stannis is still playing haha.

"Don't beat around the bush, Stannis, your ambitions are much more than that. And the Mitage family joining your little alliance will only strengthen you, and it is the best option for you. ”

I didn't expect the other party to ask to join, since this is the case, of course Stannis welcomes it, after all, the other party is a serious marquis.

"It's okay to join, but I still have to discuss it with my allies, you know it's really a secret alliance, let the Duke know, I'm afraid Lord Garcia will be very upset. ”

Seaworth solemnly drew his sword and swore an oath, "Of course, I will keep this secret to the death. ”

The word death is too unlucky, especially in this situation, "Don't say that, if we all die tomorrow, there will be no secrets to keep." ”10