On a late August afternoon, the city of Arcadherine swept away the heat and began to rain.

Raindrops fall from the sky and crash against the ground with a rattling sound, bringing a rare coolness to the Akadrin in the summer heat.

The rain wets the leaves, washes away the dust, and the scene in front of you becomes clear. The slightly cold and humid air is also very fresh.

Bolt's former rebel liaison officer, Batusta, appeared in a conservatory on the roof of a luxurious building in the city of Akadraline.

The conservatory is made entirely of steel and glass, covering the entire roof.

Looking at the huge crystal glass, Batusta couldn't help but smile wryly and shook his head: although these rìzi were accustomed to the luxury of the Lingshan nobles, a conservatory made entirely of glass was still beyond his imagination.

But I have to admit that this conservatory made of glass is indeed jīng beautiful and translucent.

Standing under the eaves of the conservatory, watching the water line fall in the sky, the rain hitting the glass above Batusta's head, and then turning into a messy stream of water.

Standing in the conservatory, condescending, overlooking the Akadelin in the rain, it is even more interesting.

Not far away, the tall and majestic palace resembles a silent beast in the city of Akadrin, surrounded by a crisscrossing of streets with neatly arranged houses.

Pedestrians rushed through the streets, and the occasional sound of horse-drawn carriages was heard.

In the distance is the tall city wall, beyond the city wall, you can see the green fields, forests, and villages scattered in the countryside outside the city......

The whole city is as enchanting as a huge and magnificent oil painting.

"Whew~~" A cool breeze blew in through the wide open doors and windows of the glass greenhouse, blowing a few wisps of cool rain onto his body, not the slightest chill, but it made him feel more comfortable, and he couldn't help but take a deep breath.

At this moment, I heard the sound of paper rattling.

Batusta then came to his senses that he had come to visit General Merlot.

He turned, and sure enough, he saw General Merlot packing up a stack of newspapers in a rocking chair beside a pile of blooming flowers not far away.

He walked over and said, "I'm sorry, I've never seen the rain in Arcaderine, and I'm distracted for a while. Let the general wait for a long time. ”

Melo didn't care, smiling: "I like to look at the city in the rain, and only in moments like this do I feel like it's real." ”

Batusta smiled and nodded, and suddenly remembered his comrades in the far west, and remembered his hard war years over the years.

In this kind of weather, they must have been busy hiding in all directions, marching hard in the muddy and slippery mountain roads, instead of standing under the glass roof and enjoying the rain while drinking Earl Grey black tea and enjoying the rain scene, as they are now, expressing the feelings of this decadent and fallen petty bourgeoisie.

Batusta smiled bitterly, and said secretly in his heart: On a rainy day like this, I should wade through muddy water, bare-chested, sweating profusely to push a broken car with not even round wheels. And on the broken cart were bags of rice that were about to become moldy, but were extremely precious to the rebels......

Mellot beckoned to him and said, "You may be seated." ”

Batusta came to him, pressed his hands on the armrests, and slowly sat down on the wicker chair, and let out a long sigh.

Melo looked at him and asked in surprise, "Do you have any injuries, are they serious?"

Immediately realized that he was asking too much, as an insurgent army, he had to fight against the Lich Necromancy, against the regular army of Flash, and even against the local garrison. Which one is not experienced in a hundred battles and crawled out of the pile of dead people, how can he not be injured?

Batusta smiled bitterly and said, "It's not hurt. Merely. On a rainy day, these scars itch like an ant bite. ”

"I can recommend two doctors for you," Melo looked at him with admiration, and then said with concern: "Their level is very good, especially in the treatment of sword wounds, and they are recognized as masters in the army." ”

Batusta said gratefully, "Then you will bother." ”

Merlot took out a cigar from the dark wooden box on the glass coffee table, cut off the tail heartily, and then handed it over, and said with a smile: "Now, a fairy grass rolled on the delicate thighs of the girls will make you forget these pains." ”

Batusta happily took the cigar and slowly roasted it on the flame of the wine jīng lamp - although he had not been in contact with these nobles for a long time, under their corrosion, Batusta had already begun to corrupt and degenerate.

Beneath the flames of the blue sè was a clear liquid in a small glass bottle, which reminded Batusta of the bad home-brewed liquor he had drunk.

When they played hide-and-seek in the ravine with the armies of the old zhèngfǔ and the dark mages, the most extravagant of pleasures was a sip of unpalatable stinging earthy brew.

Pure liquor jīng was an unimaginable luxury for him, but in Akadrin it was only used to light a fire, and even ordinary citizens would not taste it.

Not to mention the royal salute in a crystal bottle.

The mellow and charming taste made Batusta want to swallow the cup with it.

Batusta suddenly laughed at himself, and secretly said in his heart: How can he be as sentimental as a girl, this is not in line with his tall and mighty image.

He glanced at the stack of newspapers on the table and casually asked, "What does the newspaper say?"

Merlot shrugged his shoulders and said, "There is no news, Brad has blocked a topic about Lei Shen in these newspapers. I heard that his press adviser had just been dismissed. ”

Batusta said: "I can see that he was caught off guard by you. ”

With a smug smile on her face, Merlot lit a cigar, took a slow puff, and said, "Have you figured out what you're going to do in the future?"

Batusta shook his head and said, "The old man seems determined to come to Akadrin and engage in a parliamentary struggle with those people. ”

Merlot exhaled a puff of smoke and said, "This is the best choice at the moment, even the undead have been beaten away by humans, and there is no way out of armed struggle, and humans will not allow it."

To put it bluntly, it depends on who can become president and control the parliament.

The old man can exert his power more if he stays in the council, what about you?"

Melo poured the purple sè liquid into the goblet, pushed it in front of Batusta, and said, "Do you want to join the army?" ”

Batusta thought for a while, looked up at the window, and said faintly: "I used to think, what did I rebel for?

The old man is here to build his ideal country, and I am not so noble. ”

He smiled, and continued: "I just couldn't stand it anymore when I was hungry, so I went to rebel, do you know who I envied the most when I was a child? Because he can have a large piece of brown bread for every meal.

I never thought I would be able to live in a house that doesn't leak, sleep in a soft bed, smoke cigars, drink red wine, sleep with beautiful women......"

Merlot tilted her head and asked, "So?"

"So, no, thank you. Batusta shook his head and said, "I want to stay in Acaderin, and I think Lorraine is also willing to give me a seat in the council." ”

Batusta never considered himself a noble man, he loved the present life, enjoying cigars and wine. If he was asked to drill a ravine and fight with people, Batusta asked himself if he could do it.

Even if he pinned his head to the waistband of his trousers and fought for the rest of his life, he would not be able to have a luxurious and comfortable life like Merlot, so why bother to work hard.

Melo shook her head slightly, feeling sorry for Batusta's discouragement, a rare brave man.

Batusta drank the red wine in his glass, took a cigar in his mouth, hummed a vulgar country tune, and turned to walk out of the conservatory.

He didn't like Merlot as a person, and his intuition felt that Merlot's scheming was too deep for him to deal with, and it was too tiring to do things with this kind of person.

And Merlot will do whatever it takes to win his own victory, and he can sell tens of thousands of compatriots to the enemy without hesitation, although the official propaganda is that he is righteous and kills his relatives. However, if you put yourself in that position, you would never be able to do such a ruthless thing.

Although he has a good relationship with Merlot now, Batusta has been telling himself in his heart that it is better to stay away from this kind of person as soon as possible, and maybe he will sell him at some point.

Melo picked up the newspaper again, and read it absent-mindedly, when the servant led a middle-aged man in shabby clothes up and whispered, "Sir, Harold, Mr. Kramp has arrived." ”

Immediately, Kramp stepped forward and bowed respectfully to Merlot.

He was about forty or fifty years of age, with a pedantic and rigid appearance, his hair unkempt, his clothes half-wet from the rain, and a few mud spots sticking to his trouser legs, and he was obviously in a hurry.

Merlot pointed to the seat across from him and said politely, "Please take a seat." ”

Then he motioned for the servant to bring a glass of wine.

Kramp caught his hands in fear, and sat down on the wicker chair like a schoolboy.

Melo pondered in her mind for a moment and said, "Mr. Kramp." ”

Kramp hurriedly replied, "Yes, sir." ”

Melo held a cigar in her hand and said, "I know you have a lot of appeal among the young people of Downtown. ”

Kramp was a little apprehensive, and said cautiously: "That's what others said, in fact, I just taught them to read for free and helped them prescribe some medicine." ”

Melo waved her hand and said, "I want you to do something for me." ”

Kramp's heart suddenly struck.

He is just a small person, and if a powerful general like General Merlot wants to do something for him himself, then this matter is not trivial.

He peeked at Merlot, only to see that he was leisurely exhaling a puff of cigarette, his whole face hidden behind the smoke of Lan Sè, and he couldn't see the expression on his face at all. But vaguely, I saw a cold light flash in Merlot's eyes.

Kramp couldn't help but be startled, hurriedly lowered his head, and said, "My lord, please speak, as long as I can do it." ”

As a small person, he can refuse, but he can never afford the consequences of refusal.

Merlot coughed lightly, and then said, "I want you to organize young people to march in the streets." ”

Kramp shuddered with fright, spilled the wine in his hand, shook his head in horror, and said, "My lord, that's going to cut off your head." ”

Merlot raised her head and laughed, and said, "It was the old zhèngfǔ era, and the people of the republic had the right to march and demonstrate, and no one could take it away. ”

Kramp shook his head desperately.

Melo pursed her lips and said secretly in her heart: Why are all the cowards I met today.

Then he said: "And you listen to me, the purpose of your march is to encourage zhèngfǔ to send troops to unify Lei Shan, I am not asking you to oppose zhèngfǔ or the president." ”

Kramp asked cautiously, "Just thunderbolts?"

Melo said angrily: "It's as simple as that, you can rest assured, right?"

Kramp breathed a sigh of relief at the moment: just like walking down the street and shouting Long live President Brad and Long live Lord Lowe, no matter who is wrong with this slogan. Whoever dares to stop it, it is Lei Shan's jiān fine, a traitor. A traitor lurking within Psiloid.

General Merlot continued: "Of course, the more people you mobilize, the greater the reward I will give you. ”

Kramp pondered for a moment and said, "Could there be any unknowable risks, I know that zhèngfǔ has never liked parades or anything." ”

Melo said impatiently: "You just have to do it, we will help you, this parade, the bigger you do, the safer you are, if you can mobilize the whole city, it is not impossible for you to want to be a member of the House of Representatives in the future." ”

Kramp's eyes were hot, and he muttered, "Is it so good?"

Merlo nodded and said, "The city is going to build four new schools in Xiacheng District, the chief of the cultural and educational department is a good friend of mine, you know, he doesn't come forward, if you do a good job, the principal of one of the schools is you, and even, the superintendent of Xiacheng District." ”

×××××

After eating breakfast, Senator Erickson sat in the drawing-room and waited for a while, but still did not see his carriage appear, and he looked up at the watch on his wrist, the hands were already at half-past eight—his coachman was late.

Just the other day, the parliament showed its authority to the people that they were not eating dry food. Therefore, a resolution was issued to require the centralized management of buses, but I did not expect that this kind of problem would arise after just two days of implementation.

The little secretary was holding a few bags in his arms and guarding the hall, and he was so anxious that he only stomped his feet. You know, there are still several bills that need to be attended by Congressman Erikson today.

But despite his impatience, he could not curse because the sponsor of this resolution was Congressman Erikson.

Just as the senator was waiting impatiently and was about to ask the servant to call a rental carriage, the special car quickly drove into the courtyard gate and stopped at the foot of the steps.

The coachman jumped down, wiped the sweat from his forehead, hurriedly opened the car door, and asked the senator to get into the car.

Senator Erikson scolded dissatisfiedly: "Why are you so late?" ”

The coachman was also sweating anxiously, and said: "My lord, I really don't blame me, today someone is crazy and marches on the street, I don't know how many people, blocking several streets, I squeezed over." ”

Erikson hesitated as he stepped on the pedal, then turned his head and asked, "What kind of parade?"

The coachman said: "I listen to their slogans, they are asking for thunder and lightning, reunification of the mainland or something."

Eriksen was shocked and blurted out, "Not good." ”

Then he jumped into the carriage and shouted nervously: "Go to the house~!"

The coachman sensed that something was wrong in the senator's tone, closed the door, jumped into the driver's seat, flicked the reins, and scolded, and the two horses in the car snorted and trotted briskly.

By the time the carriage turned onto the main road, Senator Erickson found that it was too late, and the street had been overrun by a dense crowd, and the entire street was covered with black heads.

Some people in the crowd held aloft the banner of the republic zhèngfǔ, and some people held banners with the words "Bring zìyóu and ** to the people of Lei Shan, or march into Lei Shen and unify the continent while shouting slogans.

Looking at the direction they were heading, it was obvious the imperial palace ahead.

The streets are lined with human soldiers maintaining order, giggling and pointing at each other, as long as they make sure that there will be no smashing and looting in troubled waters.

There are even several war bastions suspended above the streets, condescendingly monitoring the game team.

Erikson patted the carriage anxiously, poked his head out and yelled at the driver, "Change the way, hurry." ”

The coachman hurriedly turned around and turned onto an alley, but after changing several directions, the street was filled with the crowds of people, and at last he had to make a big circle and enter through the back door of the palace, and it was half past nine.

As Erickson got out of the car, he heard shouts from the south, and it seemed that the procession had reached the main square outside the palace, and the soldiers of the Caribbean Division were running into the palace at a rapid pace to prevent accidents.

As many councillors were coming out of the parliamentary building and heading towards the palace gate to the south, Erickson grabbed an acquaintance and asked, "What's going on? Why are all the people running out?"

The man said: "The president is going to address the crowd gathered in the square. ”

"I'm x~!" Erikson couldn't help but curse fiercely, and followed the crowd all the way out.

The senators climbed the walls of the palace, and at this moment the door was lined with soldiers with rifles on their shoulders.

Erikson couldn't help but shudder when he saw that the machine gun was hidden behind the women's wall, with a magazine full of bullets, even though he knew that it was just a precaution, and he couldn't help but feel his scalp tingle because of it.

Outside the palace gate, a group of half-orc grenadiers in armor lined up in a formation of five layers in front and back, besieging the city in a semicircle, facing the crowd in the square, protecting the palace gate behind their backs, carrying thick sticks in their hands.

Just the fierce look and murderous eyes frightened the people on the other side not to approach.

Erikson secretly said in his heart: Lord Lorraine is really willing to spend money, and even his own personal guards have been filmed.

The orc grenadiers of this regiment followed Lord Lorraine from Ne to Akadelin, and were regarded as Lord Lorraine's personal guards, except for Lorraine and Leo, no one could command them.

A group of staff members were busy installing loudspeakers on the palace walls, and a few minutes later, a shrill chirp was heard and the equipment was ready.

Then came the deep voice of President Brad, who said, "My dear brothers and sisters, I am your friend Brad. (To be continued.) )