Dali and the Duke followed the old nobleman downstairs, when a manservant ran up in a panic, shouting as he ran, "Oh no! Master! He looked down at the stairs and almost hit his master.

The old nobleman Jason Stronghold held the panicked servant up, "Be careful! He reproached, "What is so alarming?" ”

"Master, it's not good! A large crowd rushed into the courtyard! The servant panted and said, "Before the damaged drawbridge and fence gate could be repaired, they broke straight in!" ”

Baron Jason's face sank, "How many are there?" ”

"Too much! I can't count them! They were dressed in uniform black uniforms, all with guns and bayonets! ”

"It doesn't look like a gang...... Is it a regular army? Can you see where they're coming from? ”

"Master, I can't read, how can I recognize this......

Not only infantry, but also cavalrymen on tall horses, dressed in strange armor and holding extraordinarily long knives in their hands! They have a bird painted on their banner! That bird has a big head, and it looks very fierce! Like ...... Oh yes! It's a bird of prey, called an owl! ”

The Duke walked up to them, shook his head helplessly, and said with a wry smile: "It's a kind of owl...... The scientific name is 'Night Owl', and it is the emblem of my Midknight family, Baron Jason, you don't need to panic, there must be a certain general who is not worried about me and has come with a guard escort. ”

There was another sound of heavy footsteps, and an officer ran up, followed by a group of soldiers with rifles, and he saw the tall Baron Jason, drawing his sword, and then saw the Duke standing beside the giant, looking at him calmly.

The officer bowed and saluted, "Your Majesty! I tracked it overnight with a battalion of troops, and I'm glad you're okay! Forgive me for failing to obey the order to stay put, you have not returned, and we are all dying! ”

"I'm sorry, but I didn't do a good job and didn't tell you the itinerary, which worries you." The Duke helped him up and said, "Marshal Lanfield, I have something important to discuss with this Baron Jason, you take the soldiers to retreat first, let them rest, by the way, don't disturb people's lives, we are guests, we should observe etiquette." ”

Field Marshal Lanfield put his sword into the sheath, "As you wish, I am relieved to see that you are safe, we are camped in the courtyard downstairs, and we will obey orders at any time!" With that, he went downstairs with the soldiers behind him.

"The one just now is one of my marshals, and my guards are strictly disciplined and will not endanger your property, so please continue to lead the way."

"Well managed, much stronger than the noble alliance." Baron Jason nodded in approval, and then continued to guide, "Two distinguished guests, please come here." ”

The old nobleman led the Duke and Dalí through the labyrinthine corridor to a small hall.

There are rows of benches in the hall, and at the end of the room are statues of the three main gods. The walls on the left and right sides are inlaid with brass sound pipes, connected to a double-layered keyboard and pedals, and are a set of old pipe organs.

The old nobleman used his thick arms to bring a pair of high-backed chairs, as if he were carrying a pair of bracelets, "Two distinguished guests, please take a seat." ”

"This is the castle's worship room, where the servants do evening prayers on weekdays, and I don't usually come here." Baron Jason said, closing the door.

"You said you don't usually come here, it seems that you are not a member of the Templar Church." The Duke said

"God has abandoned us human beings, and prayer and worship are meaningless, but only satisfy people's spiritual sustenance, and you should know better than I know this." The Duke nodded at him.

Speaking of this, the old nobleman gave Dali a cautious look, "This young general, you must have seen the old man of the library tower, the god of wisdom who left us last, I feel his breath in you, you must have inherited part of his flesh and blood, what an unprecedented gift!" ”

Dali was surprised: "How do you know this?" ”

"Because I'm one of you, huh...... Sort of, barely. The old nobleman replied.

"Descendant of the Divine Blood?" Dalí said suspiciously, "But I can't feel the breath on you." ”

"After a long time, countless intermarriages with mortals, my family's divine blood has almost degenerated, but my talent is good, and I still retain considerable insight, I can feel that the last god has left us, and I can clearly distinguish the strength of the divine bloodline."

"Oh? This is interesting, tell me about it? The Duke seemed interested in it.

"Hmm...... If you use the numerical value to make a direct comparison, my strength is only 1, and the aura on this general's body is much stronger than mine, at least 30, and Your Majesty the Duke, you ......" Speaking of this, the old nobleman seemed to hesitate.

Duke Salantos Midknight retracted his long legs, bent forward, and looked the old nobleman Jason in the eye, "What about my strength value?" Let's talk about it. ”

"I'm not sure......" The old nobleman hesitated for a moment, and his gaze swept over the duke's eyes, "but at least a hundred times stronger than me, perhaps...... This value can be described by three question marks. ”

"Three question marks???

Hahahaha! The Duke laughed, "Quite funny." ”

"Huh?" The old nobleman suddenly noticed one of the duke's ornaments, he lowered his head and pondered for a moment, as if he remembered something terrible, hesitated for two seconds, and said, "I have seen this ring you wear, it was originally the witch of the woods, Miss Irene's. ”

Duke Salentos's smile froze, her eyes widened, and she stood up abruptly, "Have you seen my mother?" ”

"Yes, many years ago."

The Duke sat down again, and his tone became urgent: "Quick! Tell me! Don't miss a single detail! ”

"I was young at the time, and one year there was a rat plague on the island, and many people, including me, contracted the plague. The doctor couldn't do anything, but I didn't want to die in vain, so I took a boat to the mainland and headed to the Papal States to find the witch of the woods who was said to be a cure.

I went through hardships, my health deteriorated every day, and I almost died on the way, but just when I was about to give up, a miracle happened, a dreamy pure white moose showed me the way, and I dragged my weak body after it, and finally found the hut.

Miss Irene, the witch of the woods, is definitely the most beautiful person I have ever met, and she is even stronger than the legend says, she is really a master of the world, and I don't know what clever means I used, it only took me half a day to heal me.

When I fully regained consciousness and saw Miss Irene's golden eyes, I quickly realized that she was not some witch, but a powerful mage of pure blood and undegraded demigods, and although she looked like a teenage girl, her actual age might be quite amazing.

I've read in my family's collection of ancient books that she's one of the most powerful magic factions in ancient times, the last descendant of the Star Mystic Sect, and the holder of the ancient artifact 'Three-Color Collar'.

It was the note you were wearing, Your Majesty, and I also felt a powerful divine aura from you, connecting these clues, so I had the audacity to guess your identity. ”

After listening to the story of the old nobleman, the Duke of Salantos sat down in his chair with an indifferent expression, two lines of hot tears flowing down his cheeks, soaking the collar around his neck, and General Dalí on the side handed her a silk handkerchief.

"It seems that I guessed correctly, you are the daughter of my benefactor," the old nobleman nodded, "and then I became the head of the Stronghend family, and took on the responsibility, because the family vows cannot leave this castle." In fact, I have always had a wish to go to the mainland again in my lifetime to thank my benefactor. ”

"There's no need to go," said the duke, taking the handkerchief and wiping away tears, "she's dead." ”