Inside a cell inside the city walls.

The huge cage made of thigh-thick wooden stakes, which was originally used to hold orcs, now holds two humans who don't look strong, and it feels like it's overkill.

This kind of over-standard treatment obviously made these two little thieves who were not very quick with their hands and feet feel particularly oppressed.

"My lord, Lord Vane, we just stopped to pay attention to the changes in the city when we were passing by, curious about the changes in the city...... We admit to stealing, and if we break the laws of the realm, you can ask Baron Mighty to exchange us for ransom......"

Colin, who was accompanied by Roderick and another strange knight, was quickly identified by the two men.

"Didn't Baron Willie say that there was no revenue in the territory, and even his mistress had fled? And money to ransom you? Colin asked with a smile.

"This ...... There's still a lot of money......"

Colin looked at the two men in leather armor, although they were also knights, but it was clear that their identities should be more inclined to be thieves or rangers.

Although the knight has lost its former glory, it is still a profession with a threshold.

For example, Roderick, although he has not participated in any knight examinations and cannot be ranked, is an official knight of Oliver Gray as a duke.

"Are they really Baron Willy's men?" Colin asked Roderick back.

There should be nothing wrong with that. It is difficult to falsify this by going to the barony's territory and making a little inquiry according to the names they have given. ”

The knight captain clearly understood the lord's concerns.

In this era of no documents and no online photos, impersonation could not be easier.

And it's not hard to understand.

Despite its remote location, Twilight City is the capital of Shaya after all, and after more than a year, it has undergone such a big change that it is impossible to hide it from the wind and rain.

Just because the fortress has increased the amount of various materials purchased this year, it will make many people curious.

As a baron of power who did not pay all the contributions and appeared to be weak-hearted, it was not surprising that he would send two people to observe the reaction of Twilight City and the new lord.

"Whether it's impersonation or not, it doesn't really matter." Colin suddenly showed a smile: "How long have you two been in the city?" ”

"It's just...... Just arrived at ......" the two of them only promised.

"Hmm." Colin nodded: "Then, please explain truthfully in a moment, why Baron Mighty asked you to burn the food of the fortress and assassinate the new lord." ”

As soon as these words came out, not only the two people in the cage, but even Roderick didn't react for a while.

"Adult ......"

The two men were apparently still checking whether they had misheard.

Burning fortified grain?

Assassinate the lord?

Is this talking about the two of us?

"My lord! We didn't ......" they quickly screamed.

However, before the two could speak, Colin took a step forward.

A huge sense of oppression scared them back.

Then I heard the young and kind lord persuade him earnestly: "No, you have. ”

……

On the way back, Roderick hesitated for a long time, and finally asked, "My lord, are you going to ...... Baron Willie?"

The knight captain was honest, but not stupid at all, and looking at the situation just now, he roughly guessed the lord's intentions, originally this kind of decision-making question should not be asked by him, but if it was true, he and his men might be about to usher in the first war with humans.

"I haven't thought about it yet, I'll talk about it when I'm sure of something." Colin smiled, "Isn't that what you've been looking forward to?" ”

"My blade will be pointed at all the targets you point at." Roderick's right hand rested on his chest, and his armor clicked.

The recruits had been trained for three months, and they had now been allowed to climb the walls in preparation for battle, and according to Roderick, in another three months, they would be able to be of some use.

Because of the participation of the elves, the pressure on the city defense weakened again, and it was greatly weakened.

The favorite thing for these elegant ladies to do is to slaughter orcs, then return to the woods to nip and spend the whole day.

The combat power generated by more than 20 elves is not inferior to that of 200 fortress defenders, and with the blessing of magic arrows, Roderick is very sure that only these 20 elves can easily hold the fortress. However, the lord said that this group of "guests" could not be counted on completely, and besides, they did not come to the city walls every day.

Saying goodbye to Roderick, Colin slowly walked to the second floor of the castle.

Not to mention the king's new decree, taking back all of Xiaya's fiefs is also a path that must be taken in front of Colin.

This is not only a matter of the dignity of the lord, but also the only way for the territory to develop.

The Twilight Fortress has technology and talent, but what is lacking is resources and population.

Resources can be made up for in a short period of time by using their own strong financial resources, but population is an unavoidable problem.

300 magical apprentices, 2,500 administrators and craftsmen, plus about 50,000 civilians.

If you just want to be in a corner of the country, these people and these lands are enough.

Give him a certain amount of time, and he can also make a solid soup.

But the problem is that even if Colin wants to be safe, I'm afraid others won't let him get his wish. Tulum's domestic contradictions, the friction between the western continent, not to mention Oshik, who is eyeing the Horseshoe Sea, may have all his efforts in vain.

Even a small character like Baron Willie dares to send people to fish in troubled waters at will, and it seems that the weight of the Twilight Fortress is still too low.

……

Come to a room with a single door on the second floor of the castle.

There is a wooden sign at the door that reads "Apothecary Room".

Gently push the door open, and the inside is bustling.

"Teacher Sango, will you teach us centrifugal mixing techniques next time?"

"Look at how thin you've become, and you can't even break your arm if you are centrifugal and mixed." Sango's tiny body sits behind a desk in the corner, lying on her back, her feet resting on the edge of the table.

Coral is enjoying life now.

Accustomed to traveling south and north with her teacher to enjoy the scenery of different regions, she originally thought that the comfortable life in the fortress would be boring sooner or later, but who knew that life would become more and more interesting.

A group of boys and girls a few years older than her chased after her, shouting "Teacher Sango" one by one.

Coral felt that this was the highlight of her 12 years of life.

"Hey, it's not like this, how many times have I told you, you need to use carbon flannel, and the amount of reagent is not right, it's really stupid!"

"Yes, Miss Sango...... Oh no, Mr. Sango. ”

Coral withdrew his eyes from the student, nodded in satisfaction, and then saw Colin Vane standing in the doorway.

She paused for a moment, immediately showed an embarrassed smile, and quickly lowered her feet from the desk.

(End of chapter)