The residence of the general of the Thessalonian Military Region, built next to the Grand Palace, covers an extremely large area.

At the main entrance of the mansion, two rows of guards dressed in scaly armor, armed with rods and axes, were the personal armies of the Thessalonian general, who obeyed his orders alone.

As the most powerful military general in the Empire.

Nikephoros has a personal guard of hundreds of people, and there are thousands of standing troops in the territory, which seems to be on the same level as the Duke of Raymond in Tripoli, but in fact, Nikephoros is much better than the Duke of Raymond in terms of wealth, prestige, and all aspects.

For example, the in-laws and allies that his family has accumulated from generation to generation, the accumulated in-laws and allies in the empire, and the secret treasures he has in his possession are all intangible wealth, which do not need to be displayed by the strength of the army.

The banquet has not yet taken place.

The nobles who were invited to come were already in groups of three or five, according to their own small circles, gathered together and whispered conversations.

The topic of conversation is nothing more than the recent hot Branas rebels and the plague that came to an abrupt end.

"Adrianople has been breached by the Thracian Janissaries, and Branas's head has been cut off, and it is said that His Majesty intends to hold a small triumph for the Praetorian Guards."

Someone said with a complicated expression: "The potion army created by Her Royal Highness the eldest princess is really powerful, with the Praetorian Guard, Your Majesty's position is simply as stable as Mount Tai." ”

"It's not the Praetorian Guard, it's Princess Anna."

Someone said meaningfully.

Among these people, there are many who have exchanged letters with Branas and even privately financed the rebels.

But because they are too numerous, even if they collude with traitors, they are not worried that Her Majesty will settle accounts because of this.

When Lothar and Anna arrived, they didn't attract much attention, both of them were dressed very modestly today, and if it weren't for their outstanding temperament and invitations, the guards wouldn't necessarily let them in.

The general of the Thessalonian military district, a bearded and handsome-looking middle-aged man, recognized them as soon as the two entered the arena and hurried forward to meet them.

"Good day, noble princess in purple, Her Royal Highness Anna."

Anna nodded to him slightly, her attitude obviously a little cold: "Good day, General Nikephoros." ”

Nikephoros didn't think it was wrong, and looked at Lothar beside Anna: "This is General Lothar, it's really a young hero, but unfortunately on the day of the competition, I was unwell and couldn't see your heroism with my own eyes." ”

Lothar said bluntly: "What is the general looking for me? ”

Nikephoros laughed and said, "General Lothar is really straightforward, no wonder he can become good friends with Her Highness Anna." As you may have heard, I, the Vasiliakos family, are mainly engaged in maritime trade. ”

Lothar said politely: "Of course, your family has a long heritage, and I have heard of it. ”

"Some time ago, a fleet sent by the family lost contact in the misty waters of the Black Sea on the way back from Crimea, and according to some pirates who escaped by chance, they encountered sea monsters."

"Sea monsters?"

Lothar asked, "What kind of sea monster is it?" ”

Nikephoros couldn't help but show an embarrassed look on his face: "It may also be the maelstrom, although there have always been rumors of sea monsters on that part of the voyage, but no one has seen the true face of the sea monster, or rather, no one has been able to escape alive so far." ”

"What does Your Excellency General want me to do?"

"Ahem."

Nikephoros glanced around, lowered his voice and said, "The ship on the way back contains a treasure of our Vasiliakos family, and I hope you can help me bring this treasure back." ”

"What treasure?"

Lothar was very interested in this, and said bluntly: "Please describe its appearance in detail Your Excellency General, after all, it is not easy to find this thing from a shipwreck on the bottom of the sea." ”

"It's a purple crystal, I can't describe what it looks like, in short, you can see it."

Lothar said thoughtfully: "I am willing to take over this commission, but what can I get?" ”

Nikephoros smiled: "I know that General Lothar is not short of money, but you also know that there is a great treasure hidden in the trade in the Mediterranean, I am willing to help you organize a merchant fleet, and agree that you will use my family flag to avoid the risk of piracy, after all, General Lothar sits on the two important trading ports of Ella and Limassol, it would be a pity not to use them." ”

Lothar shook his head and said: "Forget it, Your Excellency the General doesn't know, I've been short of money recently, and the reward for this commission is best exchanged for gold coins." ”

With the defection of Turiados, his merchant fleet in the Limassol Military Region was not formed from scratch, and this condition was of limited significance to Lothar.

Nikephoros was slightly stunned, obviously not expecting Lothar to refuse so simply.

"In that case, if General Lothar can bring back my treasure, I am willing to pay twenty thousand gold coins of Souledus for it."

"No problem!"

Twenty thousand gold coins of Souledus are equivalent to more than a year's tax payment in Hebron.

Lothar asked a little strangely, "It's just this kind of thing, why don't you go to Lady Anna to solve it?" ”

Nikephoros couldn't help but show a look of embarrassment on his face: "General Lothar, you don't know the habits of Lady Anna, she is only in charge of extraordinary events in Constantinople, beyond this scope, she has always been reluctant to interfere. ”

"And"

Speaking of this, Nikephoros paused slightly, and said with a slight compliment: "How can I ask the noble princess in purple to do something for me. ”

After leaving the banquet.

Anna sneered: "He is afraid that I will embezzle his treasures, Nikephoros is a secular lord after all, don't you know that the treasures in his eyes are actually worthless in my eyes." ”

Lothar smiled, "It seems that this general has the confidence to handle me. ”

After all, he is not alone, and if he tears his face with General Nikephoros, with the power of the Vasiliyakos family in the Eastern Mediterranean, it will be difficult for him to develop Mediterranean trade.

"It's not all because of this, after all, you have a good reputation, and the cost of default is higher for you."

Ordinary people actually have a kind of resistance and resistance towards wizards, for example, in folklore, the image of wizards is rarely positive, and they often appear as the masterminds behind some conspiracies and disasters.

Many lords are also shy away from spellcasters who come to their realm.

"Indeed, I have always had a good reputation. So, there's something I'd like to ask you to do me a favor. ”

"What?"

"Lend me some money."

"Didn't Your Majesty just reward you with 50,000 gold coins of Souledus?"

Lothar said calmly: "It's over." ”

Anna's face was full of shock: "Did you raise a gold-swallowing beast?" ”

That's 50,000 gold coins, half a ton of gold!

Lothar thought of his own servants, and thought deeply of this: "It is indeed a gold-swallowing beast, and it is not one, it is a group. ”

Every servant has to spend money to level up, isn't it a gold swallowing beast?

Anna was silent for a long time, then nodded, "I can lend it to you, when do you plan to pay it back?" ”

"Within a month."

In this battle record, Lothar planned to call Hogg as well, and when the time came, he was ordered to come to Constantinople to meet him, and by the way, bring the treasure he had collected during this time - to help him pay off his debts.

In addition, he had to follow him to complete the commission of General Nikephorus, and when the time came, another 20,000 gold coins would arrive in the account, and it would not be a problem to pay off the debt.

"How much do you want?"

"Preferably fifty thousand."

Lothar raised her eyes to look at Anna's expression, saw that her face was not very good-looking, and added, "One or two thousand is fine." ”

If there were fifty thousand, he would prioritize Cellynina to the full level.

If it is less than 50,000, it is more appropriate to upgrade a few levels for each servant.

"Your tone is really not small, come with me."