"This matter must not be made public, and the news must be blocked as soon as possible. ”

Nothing happened as Berion had imagined, and Gaio didn't let Holard get blood spilled - he just knocked Holard unconscious with a single punch, causing the two Knights of the Sacred Tree to take him to the dungeon, and looked at the Lord of the Seals, who was still hovering in front of the throne and had not sat down for a long time, with a serious face: "If the Mineste family gets the news, we will face a riot in the whole South." ”

"Very good advice, my Grand Master. Berion, who was still looking at the throne, didn't even want to look back, and shrugged his shoulders with his back to Gaio: "I'm sure you must have a very good plan, let's talk about it." ”

Looking at the other party's casual appearance, Gaiyo's eyes were cold, but his expression was still stiff: "I have ordered all roads in the entire Marchelus Hills to be blocked, and all the gates in the entire Turin City have been set up at checkpoints. Martial law has also begun in the city, which should be able to do some good, but as long as the Minests find out that Holard has not returned from the palace, they will definitely ......"

"They'll be aware of it, but it doesn't matter - just tell them that we're planning a triumphal ceremony for our dear Anson nephew, and that we're pacifying the law and order...... Anyway, find some excuses to appease them as much as possible. Berrion looked indifferent: "There is only a week left, and they have no chance." ”

"But the lords of the south ......"

"The lords of the south will never rebel, they hate the Minestes as much as we do, and they endlessly exploit their wealth like a sheep shear!" Barrion walked down the stairs and casually threw a letter into Gaillot's hand: "I sent a letter to the Millard family a month ago. Here's their reply. It looks like they're happy to join us in destroying the Minester family as well. ”

"The Millals......" Gaiyo looked at it with some surprise: "It can't be—maybe it's a trap." Otherwise, they're crazy, or they're completely stupid!"

"In fact, they're just crazy and stupid—they're all stupid, and when I clean up the Minest family, will they still be able to watch these parasites take over the rich south of the kingdom?" Berion couldn't help but laugh mockingly, "But it's just right, since they sold themselves so cooperatively and helped us count the money, why not?"

"So you're already on the move, aren't you, Your Highness Berrion Marchelus?" asked Gaylot, "everything is in plan?"

"Yes, everything was planned - they thought I was crazy. It's stupid, it's all a bunch of megalomaniacs!" The Lord Keeper of the Seals' expression was always filled with disdain: "The moment I ascended the throne, they were all on their knees, respectfully begging for my forgiveness. ”

"So please don't worry any further, this war is almost over, and we should all show some of the calmness that a victor should have. Patting Gaio on the shoulder, Barrion walked towards the door of the throne hall: "Go and enjoy the joy of revenge, as a final hors d'oeuvres." ”

............ Cold walls, rotten wood beams, a narrow bed. A torch that is about to be extinguished - and the iron fence on the opposite side - this is the richest man in the whole kingdom of Turin. Holard Minest's final place of residence was like a cruel joke.

The old man didn't see any sadness on his face, his hands were flat, he sat on the bed very calmly, leaning against the wall, motionless and silent, quietly waiting for someone to appear.

Soon, the creaking gate of the fence was opened, and a figure appeared in the flickering firelight, and the old man smiled slightly, as if relieved: "Gaio Valens, are you here to kill me?"

"You already knew, didn't you?" Gaiyo remained expressionless, "Then why do you want to be caught? You can't be unaware of what Berion can do, why he didn't even have the slightest preparation—I thought you would have run for your life." ”

"Escape? maybe...... Twenty years ago, even ten years ago, I would have run for my life without hesitation. After all, only by living can we have a chance of revenge and turning defeat into victory - but now I am not in the mood for that. The old man shook his head slightly: "If you can't put it down at my age, then there is no chance to put it down." ”

"No matter what, Berrion won't let me go, and so will you, Gaylot Valens. Isn't it? Instead of focusing on how to survive, why don't you think about what happens if you die?"

"So...... Is this a trap?"

"At least you got my life, it's the real deal. The old man smiled calmly and leaned back: "When will I do it?" I'm ashamed to say, but I'm still very afraid of pain. ”

"Soon, but don't you have any last words until then?" asked Gaillot, "Your death will alarm the whole kingdom - will you have no grudge at all when you are killed by me, a traitor who betrayed the Knights?"

"Why do we need to have? We're all just doing what we want to do the most, we're all doing what we have to do -- it's not right or wrong, it's just different positions. The old man shook his head: "If you want to ask me if I will regret forcing the Valence family to die in the first place, then forget it." ”

"But you didn't guess that you would be killed by the kid who didn't seem to be threatening. Gailot's face finally got a little more happy: "Right, Marquis Holard Minest?"

"Yes, I can't have guessed - but I still don't regret it, because I can't have guessed. The old man's face was still the indifferent smile: "The young man with a fallen family tried his best to join the Knights of the Holy Tree, from an ordinary sergeant to the squire of a certain knight, and then became a real knight of the Holy Tree, and made great achievements in the Blood Cliff, step by step to the position of Grand Master...... You are already a legend, and what are the regrets of being killed by such a legendary knight?"

"No one likes to hear stories like that. Gaiyo's expression calmed down again, his cheeks still stiff: "But at least today, you're dead." ”

"Yes, but my death can bring a lot of things, and there is nothing more satisfying than this for a man who is dying. Holard said calmly, "At least, death is worth it." ”

"For example?"

"At the very least...... Berrion Marchelus, he was doomed - he thought that he could conquer the entire kingdom of Turin with terror, with the so-called threat of death, with might, but the moment he thought so, he was doomed to have no chance. ”

"His Majesty Horace spent decades maintaining the balance of the entire kingdom, turning traditions and customs into rules, and rules into laws, from the king to the commoners, this is a magnificent church, one brick can be replaced with another, and then it can be passed down for thousands of years. ”

"Are these rules and kingdom laws really perfect and just? No, it's not perfect and it's problematic, but we're still perfecting it little by little, making it as good as possible, making this kingdom as just as possible, making everything have rules, at least until the rules collapse completely, it's all good. ”

"And what Berion wants to do is to destroy all of this completely, and let everything start again - if the fist is justice, the kingdom is really hopeless. Ninety-nine out of a hundred people are bandits, what kind of civilization can we talk about? What Berion wants to destroy is not only the Kingdom of Turin, but also the disaster that the entire civilization will be burned to the ground!"

"So, at least this time I can say so honorably that I am fighting for the survival of the kingdom. The old man slowly closed his eyes: "My death is not worthless. ”

Gaio Valence, who had remained silent, slowly drew the sword from his sheath, held the hilt of the sword with both hands, and pressed the blade against Horad's neck, his eyes trembling slightly.

"Then I can only wish you your wish. (To be continued.) )