Section XVII Monarch

There was a moment of silence in the room, and neither of them spoke. As for Pierrot's subordinates, who were standing on the side, they had the expression of a puppeteer, as if they had not heard anything.

"I'm glad that you're still alive. What happened to you after the defeat of the Purple Stone?"

"What do you want to know what you're doing?"

"I'm just curious. Pierrot replied thoughtfully. "I remember you didn't make it out. ”

"That's right. Roger hesitated for a moment, then replied. "I was taken prisoner. A wry smile flashed in his eyes. Then, for a while, he stayed in the prisoner camp and watched as the others were ransomed one by one. It's a pity that no one came to redeem me, because I was a mercenary, and my family had no money to redeem me. He shook the cup in his hand. "If I had such a ransom in my family, I wouldn't have come out to do this kind of knife and blood licking business. ”

"And then?"

"I don't want to hide anything from old buddies from the past. Roger suddenly picked up the cup and drank it down. "I was the last of the kind, and at that time, even I felt like I was dead...... Vampires need dead people to replenish his undead legions. However, this didn't happen because the vampires found me. ”

"He meets you?"

"Yes, he approached me. I don't know who told him those things, but he seems to know everything. Including my origins, as well as my disputes with my superiors, and some other miscellaneous matters. He told me that he could let me go without any ransom, but that wasn't the best way out for me because I had no future with Ryan. I'm just a mercenary, and although I fought well, I wasn't good at dealing with those high-level people, and I didn't have a chance to get into the middle and upper levels...... When I can't fight anymore, I'll be sent back to my hometown with a dismissal order, and my family will live tomorrow's breakfast without knowing where to go. Roger let out a laugh. "But if I had worked for him instead, it would have been a completely different story. ”

"How will it be different?"

"He can give me a large annuity, provide me with a pension, and have a mansion. He promised me that if I could do my job, I would find him the most generous monarch in the world. ”

"So you promised him?"

"Why should I not agree to him?" asked Roger. "Isn't that what I'm trying to do on the battlefield? ”

"But he's a vampire, he's the enemy of humanity! He eats a young girl every day! Everything you do for him is like killing those girls indirectly!"

"When I was in the service of Ryan, I was also killing people. And it's not just the girl who killed. Roger shrugged and replied. "I don't see any difference between the two. Besides, if I didn't say yes at that time, it would be a dead end. ”

"The vampire asked you to swear allegiance to him and then sent you to the Silverfish Chamber of Commerce?"

"That's right. I'm finally back in business. Ever since my poor father went bankrupt, I never had the luxury of expecting to return to the industry one day. You see, I did not do a bad job, the Duke is satisfied, he has fulfilled all his promises, and now I ......" he pointed to the ground. "I can enter this kind of place without frowning, and take a few silver coins as a tip to the waiter. He suddenly giggled. "To tell you the truth, when I was in the army, I never expected that there would be a day like this. Creation makes people. ”

"You're now a senior member of the Silverfish Chamber of Commerce?"

"Specifically, the deputy minister of the Mill City branch. There are three people in charge of this branch, one and two deputies, and I am one of them. Roger replied. "Someone can't hire you to pry into the secrets of the Chamber of Commerce, right? I'm very busy, I've just come back from outside, and I have a bunch of reports and reports to write. If I had some free time, I would have gone back to spend time with my family, rather than going on a secret date with a former chief who could not be known to a third party. ”

"No, the man who sent me is the king. Pierrot replied calmly.

Roger's smile vanished, and after a few seconds he confirmed everything he had heard, and he realized who the "king" was referring to.

"What are you doing with me this time?"

"Your Majesty the King...... I hope you'll be back under his command once again. He admits that it was a mistake to ignore you in the past, and that this mistake will never be repeated. Pierrot held out a hand and looked eagerly at Roger.

Roger hesitated for a few seconds, but he didn't reach out to respond to the greeting. "You should know that Lord Duke Lu Dao will not allow betrayal. "He's much stronger than humans," he said in a low voice. When he said this, he seemed to remember a certain scene that impressed him, and he unconsciously shuddered.

"He has...... The power that penetrates people's hearts...... All lies could not be hidden from him. He bowed his head and muttered in a very soft voice. "It's not a rumor or a rumor, I saw it with my own eyes. ”

Suddenly, Roger looked up, and this time, a distinct sneer appeared on his face. "Your Majesty our king suddenly remembered me, not because of how I was in the past, but how I am now?" he unceremoniously picked up the flask and poured himself another glass. "My 'former' captain, I guess the king is still ignoring me, and it's you who really remember me, am I right?"

"Maybe that's right. Pierrot withdrew his hand and laughed as well. "Honestly, Roger, I want to know something. ”

"What kind of thing?"

"What the hell are vampires trying to do?"

"Your question...... Seems to have asked the wrong person. Roger pressed the cup to his lips. "I'm just a businessman working in the Silverfish Chamber of Commerce now. Why do I know this?"

"Half a year ago, the vampire suddenly intervened in Ryan's civil war. Pierrot said. He first accepted O'Connor's surrender. Hum. He snorted coldly. "That wretch, as a human being, bowed to the vampire. ”

"That's a good thing, isn't it? Ryan's big trouble is over...... There is no need to lose soldiers, and there is no need to pay a price, just let a trouble leave the country. ”

"No, I'm afraid that the small troubles that are solved in this way will be exchanged for even greater troubles. Pierrot replied. O'Connor vanished, but in exchange for a further increase in Sivania's power. ”

"The power of Sivania lies in the dark arts and the undead legions, not in the light cavalry of the Portians. Come on," Roger said. "Don't have a masochistic mentality, the duke is not interested in anything outside of Sivania, otherwise, the war would not have ended so easily. ”

"He did have the ability to expand beyond West Vania. Pierrot admitted. But what really stopped his ambitions was not his self-discipline, but the armies of the Seven Kingdoms. The situation is really in crisis, and the king will definitely ask for help from other countries, isn't it?"

"It's better not to argue about this topic, after all, the matter is inconclusive. In short, the Duke had no intention of encroaching outside of Sivania, at least for the foreseeable future. ”

"The Kishites have established their own independent kingdom, you should have heard of it, right?"

"That was old news from a few months ago. Although it is said that the country is founded, it still pays tribute to Ryan...... On the surface, it is to establish an independent state, but in reality it is not exactly the same as in the past? But then again, politics is always incomprehensible. But either way, it's a good thing for us businessmen. The war is over!"

"The vampire played the role of mediator in this matter. You've probably heard of it. ”

Such rumors have spread widely. ”

"The problem is that this is not a rumor......! It was caused by a vampire. This was not the king's plan, we had intended to put down the rebellion once and for all, and to use Gaelan's head as a warning to all potential betrayers. But the vampire intervened, and he threatened war to force the king to compromise. ”

"I ...... I have not heard of any preparations for war in Sylvania. Roger replied with a deep groan.

"The undead legion goes to war without any preparation. Pierrot replied. "In order for the human army to conduct war, it must complete the essential preparatory work of gathering, converging, hoarding of grain and grass, and so on. But the undead army does not need it. As soon as the dark mages summon a magic summon, the undead legions are ready to go to war at any time. Coupled with the fact that they can march day and night, the Undead Legion is far more flexible than the average person thinks. There is no second army in this world that can be mobilized as easily as the undead legions. ”

"What do you mean......"

"We need to know what the Vampire is for suddenly intervening in Ryan's civil war. Pierrot replied. "If we know the answer, then we know what he's going to do next. What is the interest in the vampire in this matter? He doesn't seem to have any interest in it, because their land doesn't border. The vampires couldn't control Gaylan! he didn't have any hostages, he couldn't threaten them, and he didn't agree on an annual payment...... So why did he meddle in this? I remember people used to say that you were a wise man, and now that you're working for a vampire, maybe you can give me this answer. It's not a request for you to betray a vampire, but just a kind reminder from an old friend to another old friend. ”

"If I had to say that......" Roger put down the glass and tapped the rim lightly with his fingers. "Maybe it has something to do with money. ”

"Money?"

"I can reveal a secret – of course, it doesn't matter now. As early as half a year ago, the Silver Fish Chamber of Commerce used Mill City as a base to actively expand trade channels...... At that time, most people thought that Gaylan was going to be finished, so no one bet on the Cashers...... But our chamber of commerce is different. Now the big picture is set, and we're one step ahead...... The entire southern commercial trade of the Kingdom of Ryan is now firmly in the hands of the Silverfish Chamber of Commerce. Because at a time when other chambers of commerce were cowering from the dangers of war, we had completed the layout. Now they can only follow us, and the richest piece of bread is already here. ”

"What do vampires want money for? His undead legion doesn't charge a salary. Pierrot frowned. "The sale of Sivania's specialties is enough to make ends meet......"

"In the near future, the Duke may have to mint coins. Roger replied. He drained the second glass of wine in one gulp, then smashed his mouth contentedly. This wine is a good old wine, worthy of the high consumption of this tavern. "The preliminary plan is to mint six currencies, small copper coins, large copper coins, small silver coins, large silver coins, small gold coins, and large gold coins, the specific names of which have not been decided, but may be called 'Ollie'. In parallel with the minting of coins, the corresponding banknotes are made, and the banknotes will be freely exchanged for coins. ”

With that, he got up and left, leaving the other party to ponder in the box.