200,000 gold coins, this is definitely not a small amount no matter where you put it. Besides, although Headington is now a big stall, the financial income is only just enough to maintain, and 200,000 is definitely a huge amount of money.

Charlotte frowned and said, "Why do you want so much? Isn't that made from the worthless Fire Demon Crystal Mine?"

Alina shook her finger with a sigh: "You guys are really thinking about alchemy too simply. My mother once told me that the essence of alchemy is how to burn money faster. Do you know that my mother started the Alchemist's Guild, and using my father's money is already an astronomical amount?"

As she spoke, she added: "Oh, by the way, the 200,000 is just an upfront investment." If you want to get into the use phase, you have to invest more. ”

As soon as these words came out, everyone was dizzy, listening to Alina's meaning, the 200,000 is just a test of water, and the deeper is still to come.

Rickett, Headington's head of the house, was well aware of his family's financial woes. When he heard this, he said angrily: "This is really unreasonable, and there is no money like you." ”

"That's good. Alina shrugged nonchalantly: "Since that's the case, forget it, I came to you first because I didn't want to work for my father." If you don't want to invest, I'll have to go to my dad to invest, and I think he'll be happy to take the money. ”

This girl is a big ghost, and she has inherited Reed's business talent. She is well aware of the value of her invention, and she has a completely fearless attitude, making it clear that I have a backup choice, and she is not afraid that you will not give in.

Sure enough, Freddie, Charlotte, and the others all looked at Raymond. Raymond also groaned, 200,000 is not a small number, especially now that the army is fighting against the necromancer. Military spending is like running water, and if such a large amount of money is used to fund Alina's research, it will undoubtedly cause a great burden on Headington's finances.

But gunpowder can't help but make people's hearts move, especially its huge military value. Now Headington seems to be safe and dangerous, even if he defeats the necromancer. This was followed by the Battle of the Restoration of Headington and the War with the Kingdom of Dirk.

Especially the Kingdom of Dirk, the strength is huge, far beyond Haydington's ability, and Renard is resourceful, no matter how you look at Beddington's chance of winning. If the war is lost, then all previous efforts will be in vain, and the thought of it makes Raymond's scalp tingle.

With this thing, it may be possible to reverse the huge difference in strength. In this way, no matter how much investment is worth it...

Just as Raymond was weighing it in his heart. Sophia whispered to him, "If you're short of money, I have some royal jewels there, and it should be enough to sell them." ”

Her words made Raymond make up his mind, and even Sophia had the consciousness of giving up everything, what else did she have to hesitate about?

So he said to Alina, "No problem, I can give it to you." ”

"Lord Raymond, what are you..."Seeing that Raymond actually agreed to a request that was almost tantamount to blackmail, Rickett couldn't help but be anxious.

Raymond waved his hand and motioned for him to say no more. He followed, "Moreover, I will immediately let Farak City re-mine the Fire Demon Crystal Ore. You can use it as you like. Follow-up research funding, no matter how much, I will also provide it. ”

Anyway, he decided to bet on it, and Raymond simply let go of all the conditions and gave Alina the greatest freedom. His resolute attitude made even Alina startled.

But soon she became excited: "Great, I will definitely surprise my mother this time." ”

Like every rebellious child. Alina's greatest wish is not to rely on her parents, but to do something on her own.

Now that she has managed to get Raymond's funding, coupled with the genius invention of gunpowder, it is enough to prove herself.

"Don't be busy rejoicing just yet. Freddie said coldly, "When will the improvement of this thing be completed?"

Alina said confidently, "Don't worry. It can be as short as three months, or as long as half a year, and there will definitely be a satisfactory result for you. ”

According to the current information, Renard is fighting with Wang Dirk's forces in Dirk, and although he has gained the upper hand temporarily, it will take a long time to fully control the situation, and it should be too late.

Raymond and Freddie looked at each other, then smiled, "Then I'll wait for your good news." ”

"You trust me so much, I will not let you down. Alina patted her slightly bulging chest and reassured.

It was the first time she had conducted such an important study, and the stakes were high, which gave the little alchemist a sense of pride in carrying a heavy burden, and Aliana's fighting spirit burned strongly.

Then, she turned and walked away, and at the same time said loudly, "Keska, Rossi, Claire, Shez, where are you? Come with me to the workshop, we need to get to work at full strength!"

"Raymond, you don't have to bear all the costs. At this time, Sophia said to Raymond: "I will also use it in my battle to restore the country in the future, so let me pay for it." ”

"I thank you first. Raymond said, "But I mainly want to use it against Renard, and in the final analysis, it is for the safety of Headington." ”

Charlotte also said: "We appreciate the kindness of Her Royal Highness the Princess, but we can afford this money." Now that you are in exile, the money is your only possession, and if you want to thank us, you may as well wait until you return to China. ”

Freddie said lightly: "Even if you don't say it then, we will ask you for it." ”

I didn't expect Freddie, who has always been cold-faced, to say witty things coldly. Everyone was stunned and couldn't help laughing, and Sophia was also amused.

"Well, when I successfully restore the kingdom, I will officially grant you the title of the Kingdom of Gaspard. She laughed.

Becoming a true nobleman is exactly what Freddie dreams of. Although Sophia had also given them a knighthood before, it was only a nominal reward as an exiled princess, and when Sophia ascended the throne, the meaning was very different.

Thinking of this, his eyes immediately showed eagerness, and Rickett and Charlotte on the side were also greatly moved.

Raymond didn't care, he was about to speak, when suddenly a voice came from behind.

"Raymond, you're here!"

The group turned their heads and saw Caterina standing not far away, accompanied by several pirates. In front of her. There was also a man dressed as a businessman with trepidation.

Raymond then remembered that Caterina had also come to Headington. Because he was busy talking to Alina about investment, he actually forgot about it for a while.

"Alright, you can go. At Raymond's sight, Caterina said to the merchant who had brought her here.

The merchant hastened to thank him as if he had been granted amnesty. Then he ran away without a trace.

Caterina then came to Raymond and the others.

She first glanced at Sophia beside Raymond seemingly inadvertently, and the latter unconsciously showed a look of vigilance, and the two women's eyes met slightly, and they turned away very tacitly.

Then, Caterina said to Raymond with a little bitterness: "I really didn't expect me to come back here so soon." ”

"I already know about your attack by the necromancer's fleet. Raymond said softly: "Anyway, it's good that you don't have anything to do." ”

How do you know such a simple sentence. Caterina's eyes turned red, and her expression became extremely weak at that moment. The fact that she has always been strong will reveal such a state of affairs shows how much pressure she has been under these days.

Just stared at Raymond silently, and after a while, Caterina suddenly lowered her head deeply: "Raymond, I have no way back, I can only come to beg you." Help me kill those necromancers, I can promise you anything. ”

A stubborn woman would say something like that. The meaning of this is self-evident, which shows how determined Caterina is.

Time. Everyone was stunned, but they all turned their eyes to Raymond.

Raymond was also stunned at the moment, and when he saw Caterina raise her head, with a slightly shyness and extremely determined look, he knew that she was serious.

In order to get Raymond's help, Caterina really intends to sacrifice everything.

Raymond was well aware of her temper. If he doesn't handle it well at this moment, God knows what Katerina will do.

In desperation, he said in a calmest tone as much as possible: "Of course, even if you don't come, I won't let those guys go." ”

"Now with your help. Our odds are even better. ”

"So, you promised me?" asked Caterina with an eyebrow.

"Yes, let's fight together. Raymond smiled and held out his hand to her.

It seems that Raymond agreed to his request so simply, and did not ask for anything. Caterina stared straight at him, like a wary little wildcat.

After a moment, her tense expression relaxed, and she finally stretched out her hand, with a hint of joy in her tone: "Great, I will know you..."

However, before the two hands touched, Sophia on the side coughed suddenly, and then took Katarina's hand: "Katarina, I really didn't expect us to meet again so soon." It just so happens that we're talking about dealing with the necromancer fleet, so let's talk about it at the town hall. ”

The intention of her move was self-evident, not only was Raymond embarrassed, but Freddie and the others on the side turned their heads with different expressions, obviously unwilling to get involved in the entanglement of the three.

Before Caterina came to her senses, Raymond hurriedly played a round: "Haluha, this is indeed not the place to talk, so let's go to the city hall and talk in detail." ”

Then he winked at Charlotte, who understood, and she smiled between the two girls, diluting the invisible smell of gunpowder.

The group then walked towards Headington's town hall.

"Katerina, this knife?"

The group soon arrived at City Hall, and before entering, Raymond noticed the cutlass at Katerina's waist.

Caterina picked up the scimitar: "This is what Kurey gave me before he died. ”

"Congratulations, you've finally accomplished your goal. Raymond said.

However, there was no trace of joy on Katarina's face, and she gritted her teeth and said, "My wish is to kill him with my own hands, but it's a pity..."

The scene of that day resurfaced in front of her, and Katerina had a complicated expression. All along, she has always made killing Kure her biggest goal, but when the moment of Kure's death really comes, she realizes that everything is different from what she thought.

Therefore. She really couldn't feel any joy of revenge, but instead added a huge hatred for the necromancer.

Seeing the strangeness in Katarina's expression, Raymond avoided the topic at the right time: "So, what happened to the losses of your pirates?"

Caterina's attention was distracted, and she sighed, "It's almost all ruined, and less than a fifth of us escaped. When I returned to Antiva, I gathered some pirates who didn't participate in this battle, but it wasn't enough to fight against the necromancer's fleet, let alone that thing..."

Speaking of this, Caterina showed a deep look of fear in her eyes: "Raymond, that sea dragon... It's horrible. If we don't solve it, we'll never be able to defeat the necromancer. ”

"I know, when it destroyed Manas Island, I knew that nothing could beat it in the sea," Raymond said. But the good thing. Now I finally have some eyebrows. ”

At this time, everyone walked into the conference room while talking. After sitting down, Caterina couldn't wait to say, "So, do you have a way to deal with it?"

Raymond nodded: "That's right. In fact, I came back this time for this. ”

Caterina said eagerly, "What's the solution?"

Raymond didn't answer her, but asked, "Do you know the origin of this sea dragon?"

Katerina shook her head blankly, "Those weird things made up by necromancers. How do I know the truth? ”

"That's a long story. Raymond smiled bitterly.

Subsequently, he inadvertently touched the sea dragon. After being rescued, he was asked to find the stolen dragon egg, and later found out that the dragon egg was stolen by a necromancer, and they forcibly hatched the dragon egg and controlled the sea dragon to do evil.

After that, he said, "Anyway, I have already obtained a way to subdue that sea dragon from another dragon. Now that all the preparations have been made, it will be time soon. ”

Caterina didn't know that there were so many twists and turns in this, and she was stunned for a while. She couldn't help but ask, "So, that thing is really a dragon?"

Raymond nodded, "That's right, his mother lives in the place where we were ambushed by Kure. However, due to the need to take care of another dragon egg. We can't make a move, so we're going to do it. ”

Sea dragons are considered to be the most sacred creatures of the sea, but they have always existed only in legends. Especially for a pirate like Caterina who begs for a living at sea, it is even more significant. In fact, many superstitious pirates worshipped the sea dragon as a god.

At this moment, not only did she know that the Dao Sea Dragon really existed, but the great enemy she had to deal with this time was a dragon, which made her feel a sense of unreal wonder.

Knowing her mood at the moment, Raymond smiled: "However, you don't have to think too highly of them. In fact, if you really come into contact with them, you will find that those dragons are not only sacred at all, but also very greedy, and very calculating, and it is not easy to deal with them. ”

As he spoke, he told a few interesting stories about Ellebena and Netheris, which made Caterina dumbfounded and laughed. She'd been keeping a straight face since she arrived, and now she was finally a little more relaxed.

If Ellebena and Netheris knew that they had become the gossip talk of these tiny humans, I am afraid that even the dragon scales would stand up in anger.

Freddy said, "In order to deal with the necromancers, we have formed an alliance with the Sidonis Sect. They sent troops to attack the Lavit Federation, holding back the necromancer's army on the ground, and now was the best time to destroy the opposing fleet. ”

After seeing the horrors of the sea dragon, Caterina was desperate and came to seek Raymond's help. Unexpectedly, things have taken such a turn, which can't help but make her overjoyed.

She said, "What does that require me to do?"

Raymond said, "We plan to lure out the necromancer's fleet, and then wait to subdue the sea dragons. Once the Sea Dragons are lost, their fleet has nothing to fear. ”

"Now that you're on board, it's even more certain. ”

Raymond didn't say this to comfort Katarina, because no one was more familiar with the waters of Veronica than the pirates, and despite their heavy losses, they were still a force to be reckoned with.

As long as the sea dragon is dealt with, with the help of the pirates, it will be much easier to destroy the remaining fleet of necromancers.

"The most important question now is how to lure the necromancer's fleet out, and where to go. At this point, Sophia joined the discussion.

She was talking about the key issue, and now everything is ready, and all that is left is the east wind. However. Denek is not a stupid person, and if he accidentally arouses his alarm, he will be in trouble if he tries to do it again.

"How about luring them to Manas Island?" Freddy suggested, "It just so happens that Denek seems to hate Lord Lowell, so let Lord Thor be the bait." ”

As Freddy deserved, he easily sold Thor out.

Raymond shook his head and said, "No, Manas Island has been completely destroyed. There's no reason to get the other person there. Besides, it was an isolated island, and there was nothing around, which was not conducive to ambushing. ”

"What then?" said Rickett, "you can't lead them to Headington." ”

Naturally, his words were rejected, and Charlotte said: "Of course not, if Headington is attacked, even if we eliminate the necromancer, we will lose more than we gain." ”

Just when everyone was in a big embarrassment, Caterina suddenly said, "Leave this matter to me." ”

"Hmm?" Raymond was slightly stunned: "Do you have any proposals?"

"It's not a good idea, though. Caterina said slowly, "But... I think I can lure their fleet to Antiva. ”

"Antiva?"

Raymond and Freddie, who have been there before. They all showed a thoughtful look. Seeing this, Sophia asked, "How is it, is it okay there?"

Freddy said: "Antiva Island itself has complex terrain, and there are very complex reef groups outside the island, which can effectively contain the enemy and facilitate our troops to hide. ”

"If the ambush site is arranged, it is indeed a good choice. ”

Raymond was surprised and said, "Isn't that your pirate stronghold?" Katerina, you do this..."

Caterina said firmly, "I said it. As long as I can take out those necromancers, I'm willing to pay any price. ”

"Moreover, our fleet was destroyed. Now that the island is in chaos, there is nothing left to keep. It would be a bargain to trade that island for a fleet of sea dragons and necromancers. ”

Seeing that she had made up her mind, Raymond said, "Okay then, but how are you going to seduce them?"

Caterina said, "Denek destroyed our fleet and killed Cooley. He ignored us, indicating that he didn't think pirates were a threat anymore. ”

"So, I only need to attack the merchant fleet of the Ravuit Federation a few times to provoke them. In order to completely destroy us, the necromancer will definitely attack Antiva. That's our chance. ”

This solution does work, although the LaWitt Federation is controlled by necromancers, trade has not stopped, and in fact necromancers must maintain trade in order to stabilize the country.

As long as the merchant fleet of the Lavut Federation is attacked by pirates, it will surely anger the vaunted Deneck. Coupled with the fact that the war on land is not going well, he will definitely choose to attack Antiva Island in order to completely eliminate the threat from the sea.

In this way, as long as an ambush is set up on the island of Antiva, Cress and Gru will join forces to solve the sea dragon. Then the pirates set out with Lowell's fleet, and the necromancer's fleet would have no way to escape due to the special terrain restrictions off the island.

"Then it's settled. Raymond was the last to make a decision, and he said to Caterina: "It's up to you to seduce the necromancer, but you must hurry, now that the army of the undead on land is all dragged by the Sidonis Sect, we must destroy their fleet as soon as possible." ”

Caterina smiled coldly: "Don't worry, I will definitely let those guys go to Antiva obediently." ”

"I'm going to let them know that it would be a very serious mistake to provoke pirates. ”

The arrival of Caterina has solved the most important part of this strategy, which greatly relieved Raymond, who had been worried.

After discussing some more details, the meeting ended. After a night's rest in Hydington, Caterina left again to plan an attack on the Ravitt Federation merchant fleet.

And Raymond, on his side, has also begun to actively prepare, once the necromancer is fooled, the battle against them will start immediately!

At present, the entire continent of Veronica is completely in chaos, whether it is the relatively calm kingdom of Gaspard or the Krot empire, or the kingdom of Dirk, which is in civil war, the situation is in turmoil.

And the vast area from Headington to the LaWitt Federation is the center of chaos, and all parties are entangled in a fierce battle to the death.

And just when all sides were full of strength to kill each other, the pirates, who were greatly injured, quietly began their own actions. (To be continued......)