Karlens said: "Although Lombard's strategy is detrimental to the morale of my Thorn Leader, it is also the best option at the moment. After all, we still have the Demon Cloud Empire above us, and the two places are competing, and it is difficult to guarantee that the Demon Cloud Empire will support us. So our main task at the moment is to accumulate grain. ”

Gatsby also said: "I haven't lived in Ark City before, so I'm not familiar with Ark City. However, when I lived in the western border city, I knew that the border city was strong in defense and the number of hidden powerhouses was far beyond my thorn realm, so I also supported Lombard's view. ”

Justin asked with interest, "What city in the west did you live in, and what kind of defense and strong men did you have?"

Gatsby bitterly recalls: "I once helped a hunting party in the forest, and then they strongly invited me to join their hunting team. I was fascinated by the outside world, so I joined the hunting team. We got along well for the first five years, and then we went together to hunt the sand lizardmen on the edge of the western Death Desert in exchange for a reward. ”

In the process of telling, Gatsby left sad tears, but choked up and said: "When I lived in the western city of Xiongwu City, it coincided with a wave of sand lizardmen attacking the city, and all the hunting teams in the city were recruited. Despite the blessing of magic, the walls of Xiongwu City were finally breached by the sand lizardmen, who were skilled in earth magic, and finally engaged in street fighting. Of the more than a dozen hunters, only three remained, including my lover, who was also killed in the war. ”

Probably remembering the tragic battle situation at that time, Gatsby could still feel the coldness on his body, as if the pointed head, sharp teeth, and yellow-green eyes of the sand lizard man appeared in front of him again.

Gatsby's hands clasped tightly to his chest, as if that would make him warmer. He said, "At that time, among the sand lizardmen who were besieging the city, there was a seventh-order sand lizard king beast and five sixth-order sand lizard beast marquises. The Terrans also dispatched a Grand Magus and six Magus to withstand the attack of the sand lizards, and waited for an opportunity to counterattack, and finally left the lives of three sand lizard beasts and a large number of sand lizards, and the other sand lizards retreated after being defeated. ”

Speaking of this, Gatsby's mood seemed to relax a little, and he continued: "After the Xiongwu City was breached, most of the city was destroyed, and the casualties were really huge! Later, the remaining three members of our team were disheartened and did not plan to do any more hunting squads. As a result, they got me drunk and sold me to the underground black market. ”

Everyone sighed after hearing this. Yes, in the battle between the human races, ordinary people can survive, and at most they are sold as slaves, but what about the battles between the various races? There is no forgiveness on the battlefield, only death. Ordinary people didn't even have room to struggle and howl, so they died quietly.

Seeing that everyone was a little depressed, Justin hurriedly said, "People will strengthen themselves, and the enemy will not dare to insult them." We, the high-ranking leaders of the Thorn Realm, must be prepared for danger in times of peace, and always remember that the weak have no choice, and the weak territory has no choice. Only when we become strong so that all the tribes dare not be humiliated can we buy peace. ”

Seeing that everyone's emotions had not yet been transferred to the meeting, Justin couldn't help but say in an accentuated tone: "The first step in the expansion of our Thorn Territory is to strive to become a principality, only in this way can we break through the existing development bottleneck and give you a good future." ”

Fiefdoms can appoint officials, but they cannot confer titles on subordinates. Only a duchy can grant titles below a marquis, while a kingdom can grant titles below duke. It's just that the titles of kingdoms and principalities are naturally one order lower than those of empires.

When everyone heard Justin talk about his future, they all came to their senses.

Lombard continued: "If the Empire is unwilling to give an account to the lord, then we must be careful to guard against the intrigues of the Empire, and if the Empire can give an account to the Thorn Lord, we must take the opportunity to expand our voice and strive for the promotion of the principality." ”

After hesitating for a moment, Long Bell still said: "I think that although the fiefdom is developing rapidly, the accumulation is far from enough. The empire has not had a precedent for elevating a fief to a principality for nearly a hundred years, and I'm afraid our idea will be in vain!"

"Captain Lombard's suggestion is very operational, and there is some basis for the judgment that the fief will be promoted to a principality," said Karens. It's just that we have to realize from the temptation of Ark City this time that the development of the Thorn Territory has attracted the attention of the forces of Ark City and even the Imperial Capital, and they are just testing now, and it is very likely that they will come to force a piece of the pie next time. ”

Justin rubbed his head with a headache.

Yes, the idea that we want to bury our heads in development will inevitably fall into the quagmire of crisis due to the interference, interruption, and even the possibility of war due to the interference of various interests of different interest groups.

How to deal with it, confined to the Thorn Realm, or even to the Empire, cannot be well solved. Also watch if the inter-empire strife continues to expand. If the flames of war can be ignited everywhere, the pressure on the Thorn Collar will inevitably decrease. However, this involuntary situation made Justin feel inexplicably annoyed!

Whether it is facing the ogre or facing Ark City, he is tied up, and he is not qualified to flip the table and show his hole cards with either side.

Yes, not only is the thorn collar too weak, but it is also too weak itself. Now we can only hope that the Free Marketplace will be built as soon as possible, preferably before we and the Empire turn against each other.

Justin looked up and saw the confused look of everyone's thoughts, and smiled lightly: "You don't have to worry too much about this. After all, the attitude of the empire has not yet shown that we have not yet been reduced to the point where we have moved underground and built fiefdoms like goblins because they are worried about the sky!"

The atmosphere in the meeting room was relaxed again. Yes, many crises are latent but can be avoided or even turned around as long as they do not erupt.

Justin concluded: "After the meeting, everyone seriously thought about whether there was anything that needed to be improved in their respective departments, and strive to dig deep into the potential, mobilize the enthusiasm of the department, and build our fiefdom better and faster." ”

When Karen saw Justin nodding at him, he announced, "This is the end of the first Council of the Thorns. There will be a dinner party after the meeting, so don't rush home. ”

Zhuyuv shouted: "There is not a single fool here!"

Everyone couldn't help but wonder, yes, there is delicious food, and it is free, who wants to go home and eat!

Justin looked at Zhuyuf, who seemed to have blown up the nest, and criticized by name: "Captain Zhuyuf will be like a kitten at the meeting, and like a tiger after the meeting, who is here for a meeting, it is obvious that he is here to forage for food!"

When Zhuyuv heard Justin's words, he immediately touched the back of his head in embarrassment and said, "Isn't this that you won't let me speak?"

Justin glared at Zhuyuf and said, "When did I stop letting you speak?"

Zhuyuv hurriedly argued: "What you said in person just now, if I say one more word, I will deduct my seafood distribution quota, I will not be mistaken." ”

Justin looked at it and sighed: "I said that you will be deducted from the seafood quota, but I didn't say that you won't be allowed to speak!"

Zhuyuv did not react for a long time.

Justin said, "I'm really worried about your IQ. You don't even dare to raise your opinion in order to eat more, so how can I trust that you will not betray the Thorn Collar for food in the future?"

Zhuyuv's face was immediately red, and he was speechless for a long time.

Seeing that Zhuyuf's face was red and his cheeks were dripping with sweat, Justin immediately burst out laughing and said, "Okay, I'll play with you." I really didn't realize that you were so interesting before. ”

Zhuyuv breathed a sigh of relief, and complained in his heart: "Damn, play with me, see if I don't eat you poor for a while!"

The expressions of the others suddenly relaxed, after all, Justin had never criticized a person so much, and today he was really serious. However, such a serious joke is just for the sake of making a joke, and this joke is too bad!

Everyone saw that Zhuyuv was so frightened just now that he couldn't speak, and cold sweat flowed out.

Justin naturally understands that the joke is a bit too much. After all, the identities are different, and it doesn't hurt to make a small joke occasionally, but it is a bit unreasonable to make Zhuyuv unable to step down in front of so many people.

Justin said to Zhuyuf: "My joke just now was too much, which made you lose face and damaged the dignity of Captain Zhu. Later, I will toast Zhuyuv alone and apologize. ”