The spring rain before the arrival of midsummer nourishes the ancient city of Bright Stars, and this time of year is the most prosperous time of the year - the arrival of merchant ships full of treasures from all over the world, leisurely life, and the special status of the entire Dominica Kingdom, allow them to enjoy the luxury life of "citizens of the capital" calmly.

And for the nobles of Bright Star City, this is all they deserve - in order to help the Ottovik family overthrow the rule of the Honans, and then win the Dominica Civil War, they have almost emptied all their wealth, and many of the noble wizards of each family have died on the battlefield, and now it is time for them to reap the fruits of victory.

But now the city of bright stars is gloomy, in addition to the soldiers who are patrolling the streets of the drizzle, there are only some drunkards and broken beggars, curled up under the mossy corner of a certain place, looking up at the dark sky, hoping that the rain will be lighter.

Almost as soon as Cosimo and his party returned to Bright Star City, the ancient city-state had begun to prepare for war, but they did not expect the revenge of the Turineites to come so quickly - the sailors who had survived the raid on the sea returned to the port with the head of the commander of the Zivarin fleet, and the Turin expeditionary force immediately became the devil of all mouths, talking about this terrible army everywhere, predicting when they would attack.

Within a few days, the fleet flying the flaming goshawk banner had already appeared on the sea outside Bright Star City, and the frightened Otovic family immediately organized the sailors of the harbor and some merchant ships to launch a counterattack, but after hearing about the legends that had become unseemly with false rumors, there was not even a single sailor willing to go to sea.

At this time, the expeditionary fleet entrenched outside the port did not seem to have the intention of attacking immediately, but it also blocked all shipping routes and outlets to the sea, and the entire Bright Star City was completely surrounded. Even so, the Otovik family, who still felt that the situation was saved, sent people to negotiate with the Dominica city-states who had the intention of resisting, ended the current confrontation situation, and transferred the main force of the fleet back to Bright Star City.

And at this moment, another extremely desperate news came - the Horn Castle had been taken away by the Turines, the eastern route had been cut off, and the entire Bright Star City had completely become a lonely city!

An atmosphere of fear and frustration quickly spread throughout the city-state, from nobles to commoners, merchants, soldiers, councillors...... As if there was no help in Bright Star City, all the rich people were frantically hoarding food, so that many hungry civilians could only cry and guard the door of the granary, and the riots were increasing day by day, and the soldiers in the barracks were getting fewer and fewer, and even many small mercenary groups were considering breaking the treaty with Bright Star City and leaving this doomed city.

Even though many of these mercenaries were once citizens of Bright Star City, the very nature of their profession meant that they were only loyal to money - even if this group of people were hired by the expeditionary force to attack Bright Star City at a high price, there would be no surprise to the citizens of this town.

Faced with the advance of the Turin expeditionary force, the rebellious city-states in the kingdom were still unwilling to back down, and the deadlocked Otovík family finally had no choice but to send a member of the family who was "noble enough" and "had good relations with the people of Turin" to negotiate a solution to the war

As a result, the "experienced" Cosimo Ottovic was once again the "most suitable" candidate, wearing the ivory rod that symbolized the Archon of Dominica, and stood on the flagship deck of the expeditionary fleet. Pale and trembling, he waited for the summons of Sir Leonardo Cambrai, commander of the army.

"Salute you in the name of the old House of Ottovik, Venerable Leonardo Cambrai!" Cosimo stood on the deck tremblingly, raising his head to look up at Leonardo standing on the bridge with his sword in his hand, trying to keep himself calm and humble: "We are here to explain some misunderstandings to you. ”

"Misunderstanding? I don't think we have any misunderstanding. Sir Leonardo snorted coldly, and didn't even mean to go on: "You Otovik family regard the tolerance and benevolence of the Kingdom of Turin as nothing, and have the impunity to deceive His Majesty Horace I with those false lies, and to plunge two equally ancient kingdoms into war for your despicable purposes, and you say that this is a 'misunderstanding'?

"In the name of the Radiant Cross and all the gods in this world, the Otovik family really has a hundred thousand sincerity!" Cosimo lowered his head, and his face was covered with cold sweat with a little excitement: "The peace of the Kingdom of Turin is also extremely important to Bright Star City, how could we do such an unwise thing?"

"Don't use the name of the gods, you sorcerers who are disrespectful to the gods!" rebuked the commanding priest on the flagship, "This is simply the most shameless oath - do you expect the gods to vouch for your words in what you do in your daily life?"

"Yes, the Otovik family has always been an important member of Dominica's most important wizards, the Council of the Nine Rings, but we also have many people who believe in the Radiant Cross!" Cosimo seemed to be humiliated, and took out a pendant of the Radiant Cross from his collar: "I am a believer myself, and there are at least ten thousand civilians in Bright Star City who are also believers in the Radiant Cross!"

"The tragedy that befell Lord Nafario Brindisi is regrettable, but please believe that it is definitely not the work of the Otovik family - there must be some vicious behind it, and the rest of the people who have stirred up the relationship between the Shining Star City and the Kingdom of Turin, and then profited from the war between the two ancient kingdoms that have lived together peacefully for thirty years!"

In order to be able to make Leonardo believe in himself, Cosimo really did his best: "In order to strive for peace between the two kingdoms, Bright Star City will spare no effort - do not let some petty conspiracy succeed, let the two sides once again conclude hatred, shed blood in vain, and make the tragedy of thirty years ago happen again." ”

"You're so low now, as if you've been hurt, just because the expeditionary force has surrounded your city, that's all. Lusn Minest, who had been standing by without speaking, finally spoke—he certainly couldn't let this guy ruin the expedition: "Why didn't you think about this when you burned the kingdom's fleet to the ground in Seahorse Harbor thirty years ago?!"

"That's enough!" Leonardo interrupted Lusen's words with a silent face, let out a long sigh, and then stared coldly at Cosimo in front of him: "Your attitude is very sincere, Lord Cosimo - but if you want to be forgiven by the kingdom, you will have to pay the price." ”

"We know that. Cosimo, who was overjoyed, hurriedly came to the spirit: "As long as it's ......"

"First of all, all the terms you have agreed with the kingdom cannot be changed, and Dominica must fulfill the agreement - please note that it is Dominica, not just Bright Star City. Leonardo said in a deep voice: "Just one city-state is not qualified to negotiate with the Kingdom of Turin!"

"In addition, the Ottovic family must pay the price for the death of Lord Nafario Brindis, find out who is behind it, produce solid evidence, and make amends for the sacrifice of this lord, and seek the forgiveness of the Brothers Marcherus and the House of Brindis. ”

"Your demands are reasonable, and the Otovik family will take responsibility. Cosimo wiped a cold sweat: "We will definitely try to ...... as much as possible"

"And one last condition, Bright Star City must announce its surrender to the kingdom!" Leonardo interrupted him rudely, "as the price for your violation of the peace agreement. ”

"Do you want us to surrender? With all due respect, this condition is too ......."

"Then ask Mistress Cosimo to go back, and tell your leader that he will have to pay a heavy price if he wants to be forgiven twice by the people of Turin - either let him come out on his own initiative, or we will burn Bright Star City to the ground and completely destroy you hypocrites!"