Thunder flashed through the sky, the torrential rain still roared in the bitter cold wind, and only a few streets full of rubble and bones, still full of ruins, in the Lord's Palace, a grand banquet had just begun.

Although the entire city is still full of ruins and corpses, and most of the city is still hungry and desolate, the nobles of Bright Star City still arrange a flower cluster in the ruined lord's palace - not only to flatter the "conquerors of Turin", but also to take the opportunity to win over and ally other nobles and get a piece of the city-state on the verge of collapse.

Bloodstained walls and broken floor tiles covered the thick and soft carpets, sterling silver candlesticks and sconces illuminated the hall brighter than day, unnamed dishes piled up on the table, and a warm, heavy fireplace lit a fire that made the guests forget about the icy rain outside.

But for Trist Ottowick, the palace was just as cold – he knew his plan had failed when he saw Landzel, dressed in a Dominic tasseled robe and with a saber hanging from the door, smiling through the gate.

Trist, who had lost the Otovik Treasury, not only failed to become the leader of Bright Star City, but even the salaries of his soldiers could no longer be paid - Cosimo, who had given him military power, would never be able to give him financial power again, no matter how much he trusted his brother.

Although he has the entire army of Bright Star City in his hands now, he has no strength to sustain it, and the stingy and greedy nobles will never fund him for the glory of the so-called "Bright Star City", not to mention that many others have begun to flatter this damn bastard!

Trist, who was secretly gritting his teeth, squeezed the wine glass in his hand with his right hand. Even the knuckles are a little white from excessive exertion. As if he had choked Landzel's throat.

But no matter how shameful it is. He is also the weak party now. The reluctant Trist's sharp eyes kept trembling, and just as he was constantly struggling with whether to avoid the bastard, the smiling Landzel had already taken the initiative to come up.

"Trist...... My dear little cousin, you're here!" Landzel, who had a "surprised" face, strode up, quickened his pace very enthusiastically, and locked Trist, who was still hesitating, with a slightly happy gaze: "It's so glad - I thought you wouldn't come because you hated me as an illegitimate child!"

"How could it be ......" Trist was startled at first, then smiled a little awkwardly. Gritting his teeth, he forcibly endured the disgusting feeling in his heart and stretched out his right hand: "You don't even know how 'happy' I am to see you, dear Landzel... Cousin. ”

"In fact, I had already sent someone to look for you before that. But it's a pity they told me you're not there - it's so worrying, and now that Bright Star City is in chaos, I'm afraid you'll have some accidents, and now it seems that these worries are unnecessary. ”

"Now that you've brought it up, I've really had some unpleasant encounters. Landzel nodded, smiled and said, "When I came here just now, I met a few arrogant Dominic swordsmen - they seem to have taken me as a target to rob at will, but fortunately I was not injured. ”

"I see. Trist, whose expression was "surprised", secretly gritted his teeth and asked, "Can I know what happened to those 'swordsmen'?"

"They're all dead. Landzel replied briskly, as if he were talking about something insignificant. Then he looked meaningfully at Trist in front of him: "I don't think you have anything to do with those fanatics, dear cousin Trist?"

“...... Absolutely nothing. Trist only felt blood dripping from his chest. His left hand was always gripping the hilt of the knife at his waist - if it was possible, he really wanted to tear this cruel bastard to pieces and burn it to ashes, but whether he could do it or not. Nothing will end well.

The Purple Sails Mercenaries will avenge their leader, and the nobles of Bright Star City will attack them and divide up the entire city-state, and the people of Turin will certainly not be on his side - they will certainly want to see the Otoviks destroy themselves.

"No matter how much pain and hurt this tragedy has caused to our family, it is over. Landzel sighed softly and said, "It's time to reunite and restore the dignity of the old House of Otovik - let's join forces and show those who thought House of Otovik were going to be finished." ”

“...... What do you mean?" Trist was a little stunned.

"The people of Turin, the allies of Dominica, the wizards of the Council of the Nine Rings, the royal family of Maxim, the nobles of Bright Star City...... None of them can be trusted, the complete destruction of the Outovik family is what they want to see, and everyone wants to tear a piece of flesh from our ancient family!" Landzel muttered, "Only by keeping the entire Outovik family united can we barely survive." ”

"I thought you would love to be the patriarch of House Otovik. Trist's lips, who were already completely stunned, trembled a little: "Don't you have that plan now?"

"Any Otovík wants that position - even I, an illegitimate child. Landzer couldn't help but laugh to himself: "But now our most important mission is to keep our great family from being destroyed by the enemy, and as for who will sit on that chair, we can put this issue aside for the time being." ”

"I can even give you this position if you wish—after all, the glory of the family needs a wizard to inherit it, and I am not one. Landzel took the flask from the waiter's hand and poured it for Trist himself, "And I continue to lead the Purple Sail Mercenary Regiment to defend our family." ”

"What do you want?" Trist, who was holding back the excitement in his heart, licked his chapped lips, and stared at Landzel's ever-smiling face with a sharp gaze: "The condition is ......"

"Military power. Landzer took a sip of his drink: "Change the original contract with the Outovik family to a contract with Bright Star City, and return all the fortress and city defense to the management of the Purple Sail Mercenary Group, and then give me the title of 'Guardian of Bright Star City' - otherwise I will not be able to explain to my brothers what we have gained by sacrificing so much." ”

"Of course, if you don't trust me, you can keep some troops as your escort - you can decide how many people you want, and naturally you will be responsible for their expenses, and I will never interfere. The very honest Landzel took a deep breath: "I just want to end this as soon as possible, and then watch the city slowly recover from the damage." ”

"Is this all true?" Trist looked at the other party in disbelief, trying to see the other party's conspiracy from Landzel's expression, but there was no hint of falsehood on that sincere face, it was extremely sincere.

That's right, no matter how powerful the other party is, it can't change the fact that I am the purest bloodline heir of the Otovik family, and the other party is just a lowly illegitimate child, and even if he inherits the family, no one will be willing to submit to him. The more he thought about it, the more excited he became, the more excited Trist swallowed, as if he had seen the golden throne beckoning to him!

"Well, there's one last item. Trist's voice was still a little shaky, and he still couldn't believe that everything was true: "The amount of compensation demanded by the people of Turin must be borne by the entire Bright Star City - and of course you will have to bear a share as well." And the title of the Council of the Nine Rings of the Dominica Crown still belongs to me!"

"......" gently put down the glass, and Landzel glanced at Trist, who was extremely nervously waiting for his answer, and spread his hands a little funny.

“...... OK. (To be continued......)

PS: Thank you for the reward of the tide god of great love and the monthly pass of joinwinter book friends~