Turning their gaze to the other side, the knights of the edict who had come to investigate had taken up residence in the village after hiding their identities.

A group of people pretended to be a caravan on the road and lived in a dilapidated house in the village, because they did not have enough dry food, and their men were ready to buy some from the villagers.

Seeing this, Sevita hurriedly stopped his subordinates: "Don't go, the people of Black Rock can't even fill their stomachs, how can they sell us any surplus?" ”

Everyone sighed, the righteous heart of knights made them pity the suffering of the people, but this identity also limited them.

As they sighed, a small head suddenly poked out from the crumbling wooden door of the ruined house.

Everyone in the room became alert, and their hands reached for the weapons hidden under the package.

But when the little head came into their sight, they realized that it was just an ordinary peasant girl.

The girl, dressed in gray-blue and with a headscarf around her head, smiled and asked if they needed help.

Seeing that the girl had no malicious intent, Sevita and the others relieved themselves and said, "It's okay, we're just passing by, and we'll be leaving soon." ”

But at this time, the stomach of one of Sevita's subordinates growled uncontrollably.

Forehead...... The knight of the edict glanced at his companion with some embarrassment.

When the girl saw this, she immediately ran home and brought them a plate of bread.

"Please eat!"

The food with the thick smell of wheat was handed to him, but Sevita couldn't do it.

He couldn't figure out when the starving hometown in his memory had become like this.

"Please take this." Sevita grabbed a piece of bread and pulled out a bag of coins and handed it to the girl.

The girl hurriedly waved her hand and said no, the food at home could not be eaten, and they could enjoy it as they pleased.

Hearing this, Sevita and his Imperial Knights were even more incomprehensible.

Later, Sevita asked the girl if this year's grain harvest was okay. Have you ever been squeezed by the lord? Did the family have any debts to Haradin?

Faced with this series of questions, the girl told Sevita that it was because of the help of the lord that she had grown so big and finally had enough to eat.

"The lord is very kind to us, he only collects a little food, and helps us repair the canals and reservoirs......" The girl gushed about the benefits that the lord had brought to them.

But upon hearing that Haradin was dead and that Akira had paid off the debts of the city, Sevita sensed that something was wrong.

This will never be such a coincidence!

Even though the heir, Trisda, claims that Haradin died suddenly, Sevita's instinct is that Haradin's death has nothing to do with Zhaoming.

After the girl left, the knights of the edict met in a circle around Sevita.

Born in Black Rock, Sevita first recounted to his companions about his childhood experiences, the terrifying shadow of his hometown that he did not want to mention.

After listening to his story, the knights of the Imperial Decree were saddened by his experience and wondered who the current lord Zhao Ming was.

One of the knights was the first to express his opinion: "Captain, judging from the current situation, this Black Rock Lord can be regarded as a master.

As soon as the words fell, the other knight immediately said, "Captain, after all, Lord Black Rock is the same knight as us, and it is normal to have the strength to transform this place into such a state. ”

After hearing their words, Sevita was silent, and only after a while did she slowly speak: "Perhaps, things can't be generalized, tomorrow we will enter the city, and we will meet this knight brother!" ”

Hearing Sevita's order, all the knights got up and packed their bags.

While they were busy, Sevita slowly walked out into the clearing.

He looked at the mountain in the distance, and he knew that on the mountainside there was a lavish manor built there, which once belonged to Haradin and now to Trisda......

The past came back to my mind, and the long scar on my face suddenly began to ache.

At nightfall, Zhaoming returned to his house.

He had just returned from Trisda's bank, and he was holding a huge sum of 1,000 silver coins in his hand.

A few days ago, he learned from Martiel that there would be an emissary from the Pope, and Zhaoming was worried for a long time.

Due to the need for secrecy, Zhaoming only told Trisda about this matter.

Because the interests of the two are highly bound, once Zhaoming loses the position of lord, Trisda will not have a good time.

And Trisda's clever head is also something that Zhaoming needs to rely on now.

Sure enough, after some thought, Trisda came to a conclusion that made Zhaoming completely reassured.

That's the Pope's real criterion!

According to Trisda's analysis, it doesn't matter to the Pope whether Zhaoming is a lord or not, what matters is whether Zhaoming can provide him with a territory that can be exchanged for combat power.

So Zhaoming only needs to show off his muscles in front of the people who come to inspect and make them believe that he has enough strength.

Coincidentally, no, they are preparing to start expanding their army recently.

"What a collision with everything!" Akira walked into the mansion with a muttering to himself, and Cooper, who was guarding the door, opened the door for him.

Seeing the return of the master, the maid Elusa stood at the entrance and bowed and said, "Welcome home!" ”

Zhaoming gently stroked Elusa's head, which had become a daily action for the master and servant.

Then Zhaoming took out today's small gift and handed it to Elusa, and the maid opened the package and saw that it was a pack of snacks, and it also exuded a sweet aroma.

"Let's eat while I can, I'll go take a shower first." Zhaoming said to Elusa as he walked in the direction of the bathroom, ready to relax his tired body.

Unexpectedly, Elusa, who was holding a snack, suddenly said to him: "Master, there is a guest visiting today, and I have been waiting for you for a day, don't you see him first?" ”

Guest? Zhaoming turned around suspiciously and asked Elusa, "What guest, haven't you left so late?" ”

Elusa bowed slightly, telling Zhaoming that a mysterious guest had come today, and that he should not have been allowed to enter the house, but he had the master's coat of arms in his hand, so Elusa and Cooper let him in.

Hearing this, Zhaoming's heart suddenly became nervous, and he reached out and touched his chest.

The coat of arms is gone!

"Elusa, where is that guest?" Zhaoming asked with a serious expression.

Frightened by her master's performance, Elusa realized that she might have done something wrong, and nervously replied, "On the second floor." ”

Realizing that something was wrong, Zhaoming immediately called Cooper, who was standing guard at the door, and after instructing the two of them not to move in the living room, he got up and went up to the second floor alone.

The light was on in the study on the second floor, and Zhaoming felt a little hairy in his heart.

As he reached the end of the stairs, he looked back downstairs at Elusa and Cooper.

Not only did they fear for their master's safety, but they also felt guilty for the hasty actions they had taken today.

However, Zhao Ming couldn't control so much for the time being, he slowly walked in the direction of the study, and the thunder and lightning magic in his hand had secretly accumulated strength.

Squeak –

The wooden door of the study was opened, and Zhaoming steadied himself and walked inside.

Nervous sweat slid down his cheeks, and Akira saw a man wrapped in a black cloak sitting in a chair with his back to him.

"Who are you? What to do? As he spoke, Zhaoming raised the thunder and lightning energy stored in his right hand, and the light emitted by the crackling electricity covered the candlesticks in the room.

The man in black didn't answer immediately, just turned around and stood up to face Zhaoming.

After taking off his cloak, the man in black said slowly, "Accept it, Lord Lord, if I really have malicious intentions, can you still see your maid?" ”

Hearing this, the thunder and lightning energy in Zhaoming's hand dissipated, and he looked at the young and handsome face under the black man's cloak, about seventeen or eighteen years old.

"Where's my coat of arms?" Zhaoming asked vigilantly, "Why do you want to see me by such means?" ”

The black-clothed young man took out Zhaoming's coat of arms and threw it to him, and then Zhaoming told him his purpose.

"I have come to seek your refuge."

Listening to the answer of the young man in black, Zhaoming was confused.

In order to ensure Elusa's safety, Zhaoming decided to shorten the distance between the two to ensure that nothing could happen to the other in the first place.

"You might as well be clear." Zhao Ming said as he slowly approached the direction of the black-clothed boy.

Seeing him like this, the young man in black did not have the slightest fear, and also approached him.

When the distance between the two people is less than five steps, they stand at the same time.

To Zhaoming's surprise, the other party behaved very politely, and as soon as he came up, he bowed to himself and apologized for the sudden visit.

Then he introduced himself, explaining why he sought asylum.

"My name is Ezekiel, I'm from House Coron, I'm in some trouble, I hope you can shelter me."

Ezekiel's words were not to be fully believed, and he asked Ezekiel what kind of trouble had him seek the help of a lord.

Ezekiel raised his left hand, condensing a cloud of purple-black energy in Zhaoming's surprised gaze.

"What is this?" Zhaoming took a step back vigilantly, and once again condensed the thunder and lightning energy in his hand.

Ezekiel calmly let go of his fingers, and the purple-black energy suddenly dissipated.

"I'm a magician like you, but my powers were seen as a curse by my family and banished."

Ezekiel told his story with some sadness, and Zhao Ming probably understood his intentions.

Although most knights are willing to have 1~2 magicians in their staff, it is difficult to accept a person who has been regarded as an outlier since childhood.

And the Chenhui Knights are just short of manpower now, and the head of the group, who is also a magician, should be more accepting of himself, so Ezekiel finally chose this impolite way to meet Zhaoming.

Ezekiel thinks so, but will Zhaoming accept his words?

"Ezekiel, I have a question, why do you believe that I can accept you, and why do you think I will believe everything you say?"

Zhaoming exuded a terrifying murderous aura, and Ezekiel felt an unprecedented sense of oppression.

Of course, this kind of problem was expected by Ezekiel.

"This is for you, and you should believe me."

Ezekiel threw out a purple crystal, and Zhaoming was surprised to take it.

Although his magical power comes from the system, he also knows the meaning of this crystal.

Life Energy Crystal, which is unique to magicians and represents their own life.

If the Life Energy Crystal is destroyed, the mage will not only lose all his magical power, but also suffer a huge loss of vitality, and even explode to death on the spot.

"I'm giving you my life, it's enough to show my sincerity, right?" Ezekiel assumed a posture of recklessness.

Zhaoming looked at the purple crystal in his hand, if he crushed it now, Ezekiel would really die.