This is our responsibility and obligation!"

Theodoric cried out.

"So, is it also our duty to empty our pockets for the war of nothingness?"

Todd Bollinger sneered.

By now that the meeting had progressed, Rhodes knew that it would be fruitless to go any further. It was still so laborious to organize a coalition army, let alone get the various electors to pay for the army. As a large northern province, the Nord Territory was the first to face the Norsca barbarians, so it was naturally willing to pay for it. But several of the electors of the South were simply not willing to give their strength for free. The so-called empire, what is really united, but we talk about it a few times. Most of the time, not to mention unity, civil wars are a regular occurrence.

Rhodes only felt a little tired and didn't want to listen to the nonsense of these people anymore, so he got up and left the main hall. The emperor originally wanted to keep him, but due to his identity and the atmosphere of the scene, it was inconvenient to keep him in person.

Until he walked out of the door, Rhodes could still hear the cacophony of arguments in the main hall.

As Maximian said before, apart from electing the emperor, the electors of the empire never really sat down to discuss something and reach a consensus. And even for such a major event as the election of the emperor, most of the time it is chosen secretly. The so-called emperor is nothing more than a compromise after the interests of all parties have competed.

Everyone is thinking about their own interests, talking flowery rhetoric, but they have their own calculations in their hearts. The barbarian invasion even became a bargaining chip for the great lords of the empire to fight for power...... For example, the Nord Elector, who was most worried about the truth of the information, called for the unity of the empire and organized legions to be deployed along the coastline. However, the Electors of the South put on an attitude of not caring about themselves, and even ridiculed Theodoric for his cowardice and cowardice, and was frightened by a group of barbarians......

I finally agreed to send some troops, and then talked about the issue of military spending...... There is no doubt that Marius and Constantine did not want to bear the cost, and the Norscan invasion did not have much to do with them. Nord comprehends and blocks them...... That's what everyone thinks......

As a guest of honor, Rhodes could only watch this clown-like scene with a cold eye, but he was powerless to reverse anything. After all, this is an internal affair of the Empire......

The air outside the palace was fresh, but it was turbid. The pristine marble floors of the square stand in stark contrast to the dung-laden condition of the slums. Aldolph, there are countless crises hidden under the surface of prosperity. Rhodes knew that corruption and erosion within the empire were more lethal than big events like the Barbarian invasion and the rise of Chaos. It's like a plague, lurking, lurking, slowly infecting, and then breaking out in a concentrated manner.

"Your Excellency, your Excellency, please stay. ”

As Rhodes was strolling through the streets of Aldolph in a daze, a hurried shouting came from behind him.

The guard put his hand on the hilt of his sword alertly, staring at the strange man. However, the stranger was very sensible and stood at a safe distance about ten meters away from Rhodes. He wears a black velvet gown and a brooch of pure gold and gems on his chest. The embroidered gold satin cloak is fastened on the buckles on both shoulders, and naturally hangs down, looking quite like the nobility of the empire. Of course, he was indeed a nobleman......

"Dear Lord Rhodes, yes, I don't think I've recognized anyone wrong. You are the Great Lord of the North of Kislev. I've heard of you leading the desperate Lady Kithley against the Norsca tribes, against the Greenskins, and over the bloody Vampire Queen......"

"Tell me what you want to say?"

The imperial nobles were directly interrupted by Rhodes in the middle of their words. No nobleman would talk nonsense for no reason, and it could be seen that this personable, well-dressed middle-aged man had something to say. But it is by no means such a polite praise as the opening.

"Oh...... Oh...... I'm sorry...... Grand Lord. Can you borrow a step to speak?"

The man made an elegant gesture. The guards tried to drive him away, but Rhodes walked straight over. The man in front of him was not hostile, and besides, he was not carrying a single weapon. His keen observation gave Rod insight into him, and he only felt that this person was not simple, not physically, but motivating.

The nobles of the empire have always looked down on the Lady of Kisley, believing that they are nothing more than barbarians of the north, and that the true civilized country is in the empire, and the Kislev is at best a semi-civilized people in their eyes. However, this well-dressed and well-mannered imperial nobleman was so full of respect and awe for Lord Kislev, which could not help but make Rhodes a little interested in understanding him.

"Honorable Lord of the North of Kislev, my name is Horstal Catfal Brandiotto. It's a pleasure to meet you here. In fact, I've been waiting for you all along. ”

The nobleman's words made Rhodes interested in him even more. An Imperial Noble, Waiting for a Kislev Lord?Since ancient times, only the nobles of the Kislev have run to the Empire, and there has never been an Imperial nobleman running to Kislev. What is the purpose of this nobleman's admiration for himself?, Rhodes looked at him with a strange gaze. And the nobles did not shy away from the gaze of the northern lord.

"Wait for me?"

Rod asked jokingly.

"Yes......" Brandioto said as he swallowed, his face unchanged, "I won't beat around the bush, High Lord, I know the purpose of your visit to Aldolph, and I know the outcome of the meeting. ”

"Meeting? How do you know?"

"You don't know, there's nothing money can't do here. ”

Before Brandiotto finished speaking, Rhodes already understood. Bribery and spying are normal things in the Empire. It's just that even such a high-level meeting will be probed, and you can imagine how rotten and dim the country is...... Or perhaps, this meeting was nothing in the eyes of the Empire's top brass...... Thinking of this, Rod couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

"Don't be surprised, High Lord. I've lived here since I was a kid, and I'm not used to it. Like I said earlier, I not only know that you are here for the meeting, but I also know that the meeting is inconclusive. ”

"The meeting is still ongoing. Rod emphasized.

"But it was fruitless. Brandiotto said, "Because, here, there is no result in discussing things that are not of interest." ”

The nobleman's words made Rhodes feel a chill in his heart. Indeed, one sentence sums up the current state of affairs in the empire.

"That's why I came to you. ”

Brandiotto said, spreading his hands.