In the study of the Duke's Palace, the Prime Minister, Duke Mrak, was happily and busily handling affairs.

Although so many important things have happened in the past two days, His Majesty the Emperor still remembers to give him this position that has been prepared for the Duke a long time ago. But to be honest, the Duke doesn't really care about this.

The title of Prime Minister is not so much a matter of coming at hand as it is of not having to come by itself, and it is no more strenuous than eating a small piece of bread. The eldest daughter is already the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the younger daughter is about to become the imperial concubine, and the military ministers are all turned around by his subtle skills, and the Ernie family is almost finished. Who would not let him be in this position, so the Duke was not pleased with this, but with something else.

The door to the study opened, and a shrewd and capable Chancellor of the Exchequer, dressed in an official uniform, walked in with a stack of papers in his hand.

Xiao Yi put the document in front of the duke and said, "This is the loss report of the battle that killed the spirit mage the day before yesterday. The pension of the fallen warriors and magicians is the cost of selecting so many high-ranking warriors from all over the world to supplement the cost of the Holy Knights in a short period of time..... After calculating the various expenses, a total of 2,359 gold coins were required. ”

The Duke glanced at the document, which was clearly classified into various expenditure estimates, and he nodded and sighed with satisfaction. Thinking of the big battle two days ago, he really hadn't been so surprised and delighted for many years.

More than fifty members of the Holy Knights, four squad leaders were killed in the battle to exterminate the necromancer the day before yesterday. This was his surprise, and it was a big surprise.

This is the largest and most staggering loss since the establishment of the Holy Knights. It's just a task of dealing with a necromancer with the help of nearly a thousand priests and magicians.

The Duke had known for a long time that this strange old man who had actually interacted with the Bishop was definitely a master, and after the incident that happened to the Prime Minister last time, he was already sure that this old man was indeed a necromancer. Probably because of some other hidden secrets, he lived in seclusion here under the personal protection of the Bishop.

It's a secret that the Bishop actually had an affair with a necromancer. However, because he was unwilling to expose himself, the Duke never poked out the news. In the end, it turned out to be a wise choice.

What is the relationship between this strange old man and that priest boy, and what is the relationship between him and the bishop, these dukes don't want to delve into it. It's just that the Bishop is dead, and this person who knows that the real murderer will never be the priest kid must be a huge hidden danger, not to mention that he is still a friend of the Bishop, and he is still a terrifying necromancer.

Although his strength should be unfathomable, the Duke had already tasted a little bit of fur a long time ago. A magician who can force himself, a swordsman, to the point of not daring to do anything in terms of murderous aura and momentum, is definitely comparable to Bishop Ronis, and the ending of the Prime Minister's son is also a good illustration.

But under the Duke's means, even if he is ten times more powerful, it is useless. It's just an unidentified necromancer, and it's only natural to use the Paladins and the Academy of Magic to get rid of him.

It's just that the Duke never expected that the battle would be so hard and so huge. Just killed him alone, and it was so thrilling that it was dark. The battle was short, but the flames, the explosions, the poison gas, the holy light....the storm of frenzied magical elements and sword energy, and the powerful self-detonation of the dozen or so corpses and the necromancer himself at the end was even more incredible. Even with the cultivation of the duke, he was completely shocked when he saw it.

Fortunately, the big house was in the most remote place on the edge of the royal capital, and only a few inconsequential streets were damaged, injuring more than 100 people.

However, the Duke was ecstatic after being shocked, especially when he saw the two squad leaders of the Paladin Order and a dozen or so swordsmen who were directly torn apart by the huge explosion because they were too close to the necromancer, and he almost applauded the necromancer.

"What about the budget for the redevelopment of that block?" asked the Duke.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer immediately pulled out another document an inch thick, on which all the expenses were also written in great detail. "It's about two thousand three hundred gold coins. There are so many projects that the budget can only be accurate to this extent. ”

The Duke nodded. Clear the streets, clean up the corpses, let the priests clean up the effects of the horrible toxin magic, and mend damaged buildings...... The fact that such a complex task was able to budget the funds to such an extent that no other official in the empire had such a strong ability. She really deserves the position of Chancellor of the Exchequer.

"With both of these spending, the treasury is inevitably stretched thin. It is only possible to reduce spending in other areas .... Let's put a halt on the recruitment and supply of the Holy Knights....."

The Chancellor's crisp and clear voice faintly continued to speak in the tone of reading official documents: "In any case, the integrity and combat effectiveness of the Holy Knights should be guaranteed, which is the foundation of the stability of the Empire, and it is also the system of the Empire that has not changed for hundreds of years. And if the reconstruction costs are not allocated immediately, the military ministers will also give me advice. ”

"The system is dead, the situation is alive. Now that we have harmonious relations with neighboring countries and cannot afford war, we naturally have to take a break in this regard. As for how long it will last...... "Naturally, it will be time for him to think it is appropriate, and the corners of the duke's mouth unconsciously pull a smile. "You don't have to worry about the military ministers, I'll naturally go and make it clear to them. This matter is very important, and I will personally assist Captain Roland to handle it..... hehe. ”

If there was one thing in the empire that he had to be concerned about, it was the Paladins. Under normal circumstances, the staffing of this group is extremely strict and harsh, and almost all of them are handled by the head of Roland, so the duke can only sigh even if he has the heart and means. But now the loss of personnel caused by that respectable and lovely necromancer is undoubtedly a great opportunity. It's really easy to delay the funding and find an opportunity to stuff your own people in.

"Yes. The Chancellor of the Exchequer replied faintly, flipping through the papers.

There was a sound of footsteps coming from far and near. The sonorous and powerful, the soles of the knight's special metal boots and the unwavering movements of the master struck on the floor, and the young and energetic of the person could be felt just by the sound. And the exact same interval between each step speaks to his extraordinary self-control, strictness, precision and meticulousness.

The study door opened, and a young knight entered. Like the sound of his footsteps, he was dressed in an impeccable knight's outfit, and every movement, even every expression, showed a perfect chivalric demeanor. He wasn't Crowvis, but he looked like Clauvis, who seemed to be a good assistant to the Duke by nature. Although his appearance is equally handsome and straight, he does not have the outward rigidity and murderous aura of Crowvis, but appears soft and easy to approach. He was the new assistant to the Duke, Rodhart.

Two days ago, the news of Bishop Ronis's assassination by the treacherous priest of the Necromantic Guild had just spread throughout the royal capital, and Rodhart had just returned home from the Duke to exterminate the necromancer.

"Lord Duke, I'm here to be your assistant. Rodhart said in a way that surprised even the Duke.

The Duke smiled and said in a somewhat unassuming tone, "Where." Lord Rodhart is now a newcomer deliberately cultivated by the military, and I don't have such a big face for you to be my deputy. ”

"Lord Duke, I have come to take refuge in you. Once again, Rodhart expressed his intentions in a very sincere, very humble, but by no means groveling. "I now have a good future in the military, and I am a squad leader in the Holy Knights. I'm smart, and I know how to prioritize. With my help, you can manipulate the military more conveniently. I would definitely do better than Clauvis. ”

"What you mean is that you are more useful. The duke's smile was a little sarcastic, but more appreciative.

"Yes. I can be more helpful to you. Rodhard nodded.

"You're a smart guy. The Duke looked at him meaningfully and nodded. "Really smart, a person who does big things. ”

Bishop Ronis is dead, the big backer he originally hoped for enough for the Duke to take care of is gone, and his friend is about to become the biggest wanted criminal on the mainland, although the situation seems to be good in the court, but the Duke who has already covered the sky with one hand will never let go of this person who once consciously wanted to stand on his own, has potential, brains and ambitions, and knows a lot of things.

It is undoubtedly extremely unwise to confront the Duke. Regardless of the power, means, and status gaps, there can be no reason. And fighting is always the last resort of the most mindless. So Rodhart immediately chose a path that seemed almost insane to others - to return to the Duke.

To be able to see such a situation requires an incomparably high level of vision and mind. And to make this choice, we must have the open-mindedness to do big things without being informal.

A man like the Duke doesn't care about what you've done, he only cares about one thing, and that's whether you're useful or not. What you have done before, whether it is good or bad for him, is just a reference to the mental ability of your person. As long as he analyzes your ability and use value, is sure to control you, and decides that you are useful to him, then it will be fine.

"I don't know how long it's been since I've spoken to someone so straightforwardly. The Duke sighed a little emotionally. Smiling and looking at the young man in front of him who came to surrender to Cheng automatically, he was indeed a little moved. "I'm sure you must be very capable. At least when I was your age, I definitely didn't have the vision and bearing of you, let alone a city like you. ”

Rod Hart was silent, bowing his head and waiting for the duke's decision.

With that smile still on his face, the Duke looked at Rodhart and continued, "But I also know that you are ambitious. Do you think I'm going to keep such a capable, smart, ambitious, and scheming dangerous man by my side, waiting for him to stab me in the back when he stabs me?"

Rodhart did not speak, still standing there with great humility.

"But since you're here, do you mean that you're judging that I'm going to accept your refuge?" and guess now, whether your judgment is right or wrong?" the duke's eyes narrowed, and he flexed his fingers, slowly tapping them on the table. "And ...... If it's wrong, what will it be?"

If the judgment is wrong and the Duke does not accept this suggestion, then it is very likely that the result will not even be able to get out of the door of the Duke's Palace. He had shown such an understanding of the Duke's character, style, and current situation, so naturally the Duke would not let him go, and would not even give him a chance to escape. He had been so close to the Necromantic Guild's spies that he could kill him on the spot for just one reason.

Rod Hartle stood silently, still not speaking. All that remained in the room was the dull and dull beating of the Duke, falling one at a time to the rhythm of each heartbeat.

After a while, he finally spoke. His voice was smooth and clear, without the slightest fluctuation of emotions mixed in it: "I won't guess, because this is my own judgment." And it's not just me who made the right choice," his eyes looked at the Duke without giving way. "It's also whether you've made the right choice or not. ”

Torr. The tapping of the duke's finger was ended by an accent. "Then I will tell you, you are right. His smile was not just satisfied, but also something else, actually a fighting spirit. "I'll leave you with me. ”

"Thank you, Lord Duke. Rodhart bowed to the duke. From this moment on, he went from being an outcast of the duke, an adversary, to his assistant, a subordinate, a partner, an ally.

"No thanks. You also know that I did not keep you for you, but for myself. Not just because you're useful to me, but also because you're a threat to me. The Duke stood up and glanced out the window, his eyes full of ambition and ambition. "There is no one in this country who is my opponent anymore. Without opponents, there is no threat. And living in a world without a sense of crisis, no matter how fierce and cunning the beast is, it will slowly degenerate. So I kept you, not only to let you do things for me, but also so that I could not forget to be vigilant at any time. ”

Walking into the study, Rodhart gave a very standard salute, and then presented a report: "Lord Duke, this is the current personnel arrangement in the Holy Knights, the vacant positions, and what kind of people are needed are written on it." ”

The Duke took the report but put it aside, looked at Rodhart with a smile and asked, "What is your position in the regiment now?"

Rodhart stood aside with his hands down and replied, "Replace the original captain of the fourth squad, and lead thirty swordsmen and one fire magician." ”

The Duke smiled and nodded, "That's right." How's Captain Roland's injury?"

"Thanks to the timely return of the two archpriests of the Academy of Magic from the Holy See, the head of the regiment is no longer in any major trouble. ”

"Oh, that's good. Although he was saying yes, the duke's eyebrows, which were as slender as his eyes, were regretfully removed. If there's one small flaw in this surprise, it's this.

Fifty regimental members, four squad leaders. This vacancy was indeed a great gift to the Duke. But the Duke would rather that none of these members of the regiment would die, or even five hundred more out of thin air, as long as one of them could die honorably - Captain Roland.

If this is the case, perhaps the Duke will be a hundred times happier than he is now, and perhaps he will quietly erect a bronze statue in the basement for the venerable necromancer.

However, since the old man was not capable of obtaining such an honor, the Duke was not too anxious. It's a big deal to take your time in the future, as long as there is a gap now that you can let your people enter the Holy Knights, then there will be opportunities in the future. The success of Bishop Ronis has greatly boosted his courage and fighting spirit.

With the death of Bishop Ronis, the Paladins were damaged. The entire pattern of power and the distribution of the situation in the royal capital have all changed. It's a big shuffle, some cards disappear, some cards change places and positions, and have another effect. And the one who controls the direction of these cards the most is the Duke, the best player in terms of political power. Take the card of Rodhart, for example.

The duke asked, "Has the wanted warrant for the murderer been issued?" If this potential hidden danger is completely eliminated, it can almost be said that the entire royal capital has already been caught.

His Majesty the Emperor was heartbroken, and in addition to the five thousand gold coins offered by Bishop Ronis, a bounty was offered. Whoever can capture this person will be a first-class viscount of the Imperial Marquis. Rodhart's voice was unsteady, steady and concise. "Wanted notices have been distributed to every part of the empire as soon as possible, and emissaries have been sent to various countries to negotiate the distribution of wanted notices. ”

"What about the church?"

"That wanted notice from the Academy of Magic has been handed over to the Church. It was heard that His Majesty the Pope was also extremely angry, and sent a wanted notice directly to all the dioceses and subordinate institutions. ”

The Duke nodded with satisfaction, and said with a little sigh: "Such an evil and crazy criminal really needs to be dealt with like this. His Majesty actually put such a heavy reward. Five thousand gold coins, although the Holy See has to share a little, but it is indeed a large burden on the treasury. I wonder who would get such an amazing reward?" he looked at Rodhart, smiled and asked, "Do you want it?"

Rodhart thought for a moment, shook his head slightly, and replied, "I can't catch him." ”

"A lot of things don't matter about strength, it's mainly about method. I'm sure you know that. Because you're a smart person, someone who does big things. The Duke smiled and looked at his new lieutenant. "Did that spy file in the Academy of Magic find out anything?, for example, where is his hometown, and who is in the family......

"Nope. It was found that they were all fakes. ”

"Hehe, it's really a spy. The Duke nodded and asked Rodhart. "You and that spy used to be friends, so do you know the details of him?"

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

The Duke nodded, then turned to look at the Chancellor. "So you must know, right?"

"No, I don't know. Xiao Yi's eyes met with the Duke coldly, and he looked down at the document again.

The Duke laughed. "So you don't know. Then I'll tell you. It just so happened that a long time ago I knew some clues from somewhere, and now I suddenly remembered it...... This spy should have been in the Calondo Basin, and probably had a blacksmith father. The folk customs there are simple, and there is such an extraordinary person, it must be easy to find out. ”

"I see. I went to Calondo right away. Rodhart nodded, and turned to leave. The sonorous and rhythmic footsteps were the same as when they came, but they faded away with his figure.

The Duke suddenly remembered the first time he had hunted down this man. But after coming full circle, the situation is completely different now. I don't have to worry about anything anymore, I can use whatever I can think of. Under his own profound and subtle means, the end of that kid is almost visible.

The Duke sighed a little at this person who had taken him so long to deal with. So much happened in the middle, the variables of the agreement with Oufu, the actions of Bishop Ronis...... But in the end, he had the last laugh with a winning attitude. Thinking that he was about to completely solve this opponent who had spent so much effort, gone through so many twists and turns, and won so many victories, the Duke was really a little reluctant. He sighed a little sadly, satisfied.

"Don't do it again, okay?" Xiao Yi said suddenly.

"Don't want anything?" the Duke was a little surprised.

"You let him go. Don't do that again. Xiao Yi looked up and looked at the duke's eyes with pleading. "He won't tell you what you've done. He wasn't interested in anything else. Why do you have to do this? You haven't killed enough people?"

The duke frowned at his daughter and shook his head: "I thought you were a little more sensible." Why are you still so obsessed with your children's private affairs? That's a cultist who murdered the Bishop. ”

"I know there's no way he's going to assassinate the Bishop. ”

"I know you can't believe it, but at least a hundred pastors saw it with their own eyes......"

"Wasn't that all arranged by you, Father?" Xiao Yi's voice was already trembling. "Aren't you enough that even the Bishop has been killed by you? ”

"What did you just say?" the Duke looked up, his voice not loud, but the look and tone of voice were by no means capable of a father. "Who do you listen to nonsense. ”

"Didn't listen to anyone. Who still dares to say that you, but do you think I can't see it? Who else dares to do such a thing but you?" Xiao Yi did not look afraid when she met the duke's eyes that seemed to be able to directly send out the ice pick, and the trembling of her voice was not fear, but the excitement of despair to the extreme. Such an expression was even more intense against the backdrop of her majestic and upright official uniform. "Have you ever thought about what will happen if you continue to do this? Do you want to kill all the people who stand in your way and become emperor yourself? After becoming an emperor? Go to war with the countries around you? Stop......?"

"Shut up!" the Duke stood up abruptly and glared at Xiao Yi, the light in his slender eyes seemed to be so hard to poke his daughter on the spot.

Xiao Yi still looked at his father. Two pairs of eyes that looked the same confronted each other with very different lights.

After a long time, the duke finally sat down slowly, looked up at the ceiling and sighed: "You go out first, let yourself think." ”

Xiao Yi silently withdrew from the study. Back in her room, she sat at her desk with her hair fluted. She really didn't know what to do with the situation, or for her, she couldn't handle it at all. The only thing she can do now is to hope that she can influence her father, hoping that little bit of father-daughter affection can make him worry a little and turn back a little.

But it didn't take long for Xiao Yi to know that he was wrong when there was a dense sound of footsteps outside the corridor. Father didn't look back, he took a big step forward.

"My lord, I suspect that you have a connection with the Necromantic Guild spy who murdered the Bishop. Please come with us. The leader of the Guards walked in and saluted first, and then said to Xiao Yi very politely.

Xiao Yi didn't speak, only sighed in despair.

In another room, the Duke sighed as well. The card was reshuffled to make him feel like he was ten years older.