"I underestimate you too much. The Duke's voice was lifeless, and he just spat out the words one by one. "You haven't been asking about political affairs, and I've never been wary of you. I think you're just like the military ministers, but you're just a man with a lot of integrity and a lack of brains. I didn't expect you to be able to see some clues, and you actually negotiated an alliance with the original enemy before the battle, and put on a good show for us to see. ”

"Those who play with power must have brains. But people who don't play with power are not all stupid. Captain Roland said lightly.

The Duke nodded slowly. If it's too strong, it will obscure reason. If you pay too much attention to something, you will not be able to feel and grasp the whole picture of things and the subtle changes in them. If you are attracted by a single leaf, you will not be able to see the entire forest.

He actually knows these truths. But I've been chasing the wind and waves in the power conspiracy for a long time, and I'm too addicted to it. The eye will only discern things by means of scheming.

Captain Roland pointed to Asa. "Although I don't know much about him, and the last time the regiment was killed by a necromancer, I can at least see that the wound on the Bishop's body is not like that of a man who can't even use a sword. Although you have covered up the wound a little, at least in my eyes, you want to cover it up. Even if I'm not sure it's you, I'm sure it's not him. ”

The Duke smiled wryly. He himself felt as if even the expression on his face was crumbling. "I actually forgot the vision of the Empire's number one swordsman. ”

"That's because your trap is so perfect. So you don't have to worry about other details at all. Captain Roland praised lightly, but there was no kindness in his eyes. "The foreshadowing of the previous necromancer's killing of the members of the Holy Knights, the bishop's autographed arrest warrant, and the witnesses of hundreds of priests. Even if I see that something is wrong, I can only obediently follow the path you have arranged for me. ”

"Actually, if it weren't for the bishop's strange attitude towards the necromancer incident before, even if I was suspicious, I would never dare to negotiate a compromise with a necromancer, and I wouldn't have been able to know the true story of that wanted post. Since the person who is wanted will not be a murderer, there are not many people in the entire royal capital who are qualified to be murderers. Based on the clues and your behavior at the scene, I am almost certain that you are the murderer. Captain Roland's voice and eyes sharpened together. "Why did you kill Bishop Ronis?"

"Why?" said the duke. "Because he is in my way, I am in front of him. He also has to strike first, so either I die or he dies. ”

"What the hell is going on?"

"I'm too lazy to say it. Now that you're in control, you'll find out when you investigate. The Duke sighed. "But even if you and this necromancer join forces, with what you know and means, you will definitely not be able to get to this point. He slowly turned his head and looked at Rodhart. There was no anger of betrayal in his eyes, only a death-like discouragement. "There are a lot of them arranged by him, but I don't know how you can win him over. ”

"We didn't win him over, but he himself chose to trust in his friends and justice. Captain Roland also looked at Rodhart, and there was already approval in his eyes. "Just when I had consulted with old Mr. Sandru, and I didn't know how to proceed, he came to me. He told me that he believed his friend was by no means a Necronomicon spy, and that there must be something else going on in the matter. ”

Asa looked at Rodhart with some surprise.

Although the topic fell on him, Rodhart still stood so straight, still so calm, and showed a still kind and gentle smile to Asa.

"You know, the person who dared to stand up and speak for his friends in that situation at that time must be a person who has vision, responsibility, and confidence in his own judgment. So I believed him and told him everything we doubted. As for him lurking with you, it was his own suggestion. We can use your plan to push the boat along, and that's all thanks to him. ”

"His merits...," the Duke pondered, and a little sparkle suddenly appeared in his eyes, which had been turned dead gray by defeat and despair. It was as if a pool of silent rotten water had suddenly been stimulated a little again, and some life had come up from underneath. He looked at Rodhart. "I remember you were part of the campaign to encircle and suppress the necromancers. ”

"Yes. Rod Hard nodded, and replied with the same courtesy and humility.

"So said Captain Roland. You went to find him right after the battle, showing your trust in your friend's justice. The duke's voice regained a little vitality, and his mouth was slightly angled, as if he was smiling bitterly.

Rodhart nodded, sighing a little regretfully. "I was shocked to learn of the assassination of Bishop Ronis when I received the order. Also, the scene at that time was too big, and I was hesitant for a while, so I didn't have time to stop the battle between the regimental commander and Mr. Sandru. Thankfully, they were able to sort out the situation themselves. ”

The Duke thought for a moment and nodded slowly. His expression was still decadent, lost, and sad. But it's no longer that lifeless. It seems that after these thoughts on power and scheming that have long been part of his soul, he has found some fun again. "As I said, I know you are a man of vision, determination and city. But now I know that my opinion of you is still low. He squeezed out another wry smile. "I thought I had a cat that hadn't become a tiger yet, but I didn't expect it to be a tiger who was pretending to be a cat and wanted to swallow me. But I'm still a little relieved to know that, because I'm not so confused, it's just that a new generation is better than the old. ”

"I'm sorry. I'm not dealing with you, Lord Duke. The expression on Rodhart's face was serious and sincere, as if a child was expressing his heart to an adult. "I just do what I think I should do. ”

"Good manners. Good eye. The Duke smiled and nodded. His smile was bitter, but it seemed to mean a little understanding. Like the loser in a wonderful and difficult game, although defeated, but not angry and hysterical, in addition to the frustration and loss of failure, there is also admiration for the opponent and even a little sympathy.

But it is obvious that others will not be able to grasp the deep meaning in his eyes. Captain Roland sighed, and seemed to feel some regret that the Duke, an old and treacherous enemy, had given up so quickly and completely in defeat. "Actually, I didn't expect you to throw in the towel as soon as you saw us appear. I thought you'd struggle a little bit, or at least defend yourself. ”

"Since you dare to appear in front of me at the same time, it means that there is no intention of giving me any room to struggle. In such an occasion, there are no more means and schemes that can work. Can't I even see this?" the Duke glanced at Captain Roland and Sandru's faces. "If you two want to kill me as much as a chicken, why should I die as ugly as a chicken? ”

Captain Roland looked at the duke and was silent for a while, then sighed: "In fact, with your ingenuity, no matter what aspect you use well, it is enough to go down in history." Even if you don't have to be in such a hurry, take your time for more than ten years, and the entire empire may really fall into your hands. Why do you have to go further and further down the road of power, so that you will bury yourself? ”

The Duke was slightly stunned. Looking back now, it seems that this was indeed the case. Wouldn't it be better if I didn't go further and further like this?

But after thinking about it, the Duke shook his head with a wry smile. Impossible, because I have already started to go. Once you start a lot of things, you can't stop there. After victory, there will be new goals, and then keep forging ahead, wanting to keep going higher and stronger....Finally, ..... Duke suddenly remembered a story he had told his daughter a long time ago, a fairy tale that once he put it on, he only had shoes that kept dancing until he died. He is the one who likes to dance, and power and ambition are the magical shoes that make people crazy to death once they are put on.

The words of the head of Roland interrupted the duke's train of thought: "Your mistake is that you are too ambitious, ** too strong." ”

"I said it. I'm not wrong, I'm defeated. The Duke stood up abruptly, and his voice was fully regained. "I'm not wrong. I am not the first, nor will I be the last, on the path of power and ambition. I just failed and collapsed on the side of the road. Naturally, there were others behind me who followed my footprints and walked higher on my corpse. The Duke's eyes did not look at anyone, but at the ceiling. His face was as serious as if a lonely believer was reciting his own Bible. "The reason I failed was that I was too complacent, too obsessed with the power of power. If it's too strong, it will obscure reason. If you pay too much attention to something, you will not be able to feel and grasp the whole picture of things and the subtle changes in them. If you are attracted by a single leaf, you will not be able to see the entire forest. Only by not sticking to the things in front of us and looking broader, can we go further. Only by pursuing and not indulging in power can we attain true power. My followers will surely learn from my lessons and go further than me. ”

Asa remained silent, quietly listening to the conversation between the Duke and the head of Roland. Rodhart also listened quietly and carefully. Sandru's spirit didn't seem to be here, pondering for a while and looking left and right.

The Duke lowered his head, his eyes swept over everyone's faces, and said slowly and calmly: "I repeat, I am not wrong, I just failed. He sat down again, picked up the rapier on the table, turned the blade and aimed it in his chest.

Asa subconsciously stepped forward, but he saw that neither Captain Roland nor Sandru moved, and he also stood still.

The rapier passed through the duke's body, peeking out from behind and piercing the back of the chair, blood soaking out of his chest. The sword pierced through his heart.

With a dull expression of pain, the Duke sighed. He met Asa's strange gaze, and said in a slightly throbbing voice: "Actually, sometimes I also think that although a person like you who doesn't pay attention to anything and pursues nothing is a little stupid, but it is really relaxed......" As the blush on his chest and back of the chair continued to expand, the Duke's voice became quieter, and his head slowly drooped. Finally, he died.

It was quiet in the study, and everyone except Sandru looked at the body of the duke, who was still sitting there, with different eyes. After a while, Asa suddenly asked, "Why did you let him kill himself?"

"He's going to die anyway. It's the same with suicide. Captain Roland replied.

"That's not what I meant. I mean, he died like that, and we don't have any proof, so would anyone believe that he killed the Bishop?"

Naturally, others won't believe it. There's no need to believe it. ”

Asa Yileng: "That...... I ....."

"I'm sorry. Although he was saying sorry, Captain Roland looked at Asa calmly, as if he didn't have the slightest sense of apology. "You're still wanted. You must be charged with killing the Bishop. ”

"Why?" Asa couldn't figure out at all, the culprit had already been beheaded, but the black cauldron could not be removed.

"Duke Mrak's reputation is very good, both in the court and in the opposition. His power is also very large. You know that. ”

"I know. Asa nodded. The duke's reputation is not only good, but in combination with his current power, it has almost become a common goal of the aspirants of the government and the opposition.

"If we suddenly announce that he is in fact the real murderer of Bishop Ronis, there will be an uproar in the government and the opposition. What will happen if an image of an image of honesty and ability in everyone's minds is suddenly shattered?"

"I don't know. Asa shook his head.

"Externally. This is the big scandal of the empire. The reputation of the empire would be hit between the nations, and the relationship between the church and the empire would certainly suffer. Internally, the trust of the people and petty officials in the court will plummet. Under the turmoil of the people's hearts, it is difficult to say what will happen to those officials and merchants who were originally attached to the duke, in short, it will definitely be detrimental to the empire. Therefore, the news that the Duke is actually the murderer cannot be spread. It's enough that only the people here know. ”

"That's why I have to carry the cauldron on him. Asa frowned.

"I'm sorry. Captain Roland sighed, and seemed to look at Asa with some seriousness. "Actually, I don't want you to be caught. After all, such a large bounty amount is also a big burden on the Empire's treasury. ”

"You're used to being wanted anyway, so it's not a big deal to be wanted again. Sandru glanced at him and said weakly. "And this wanted warrant is good for you, too. If I'm not mistaken, the bastards of the Necronomicon Guild seem to be after you, too. This wanted warrant can help you stay on high alert at all times. ”

Asa let out a long sigh weakly and replied, "Okay. It's useless for me to refuse anyway. But since the Duke is not the murderer of Bishop Ronis, how can you explain his death? ”

"Of course you killed me. Captain Roland said lightly. "Anyway, you've already been charged with such a serious crime, you shouldn't care about this more. Don't worry, this is only a temporary stopgap measure, and when the time comes, we will help you clear your name. ”

"I can't imagine that after the culprit dies, all his charges will be inherited by me. Asa smiled bitterly helplessly, and suddenly remembered. "But if I'm still the murderer, what about ..... Xiaoyi? she....she's also ..... with me."

"Yes. According to what you said, she also has something to inherit. It's just a little different from you. Captain Roland nodded and said to Rodhart. "Go and bring her. ”