In the middle of the cliff corridor where the Harrence Heights and Crewe meet, where the Highland streams meet, a magnificent city rises.

Crewe City, the center of the Reagan family's power to rule the eastern territories of the continent.

After the autumn harvest, the city of Crewe is particularly prosperous. In the morning, between the thick clouds and fog, life in the city seems a little gloomy.

Today is December 3rd, a month before the New Year.

In the tavern closest to the city gate, passing mercenaries and farmers who had been idle outside the city drank ale and shouted, "Baron Pedy has knocked down the entire Herion Territory and smashed Bane-Lockton's head." ”

"When's the news?"

"It's so fast there, and when Baron Pedi went out on the expedition, we were still at the city gate, and it was only a little more than a month when we calculated the time, and a month was not enough time for the troops to march. ”

"It's true, the news from the castle, Duke Nick nodded. ”

"Did you see Duke Nick nod?"

"Papa" There was a gallop of fast horses galloping through the street, and when everyone followed the voice, they heard someone shouting in the crowd: "Baron Pedi has returned triumphantly, and the army has arrived at the gate of the city!"

The sound immediately captivated everyone on both sides of the street.

Outside the city gates,

The rolling army stretched for miles on the official road, and its majestic momentum made the originally gray sky seem to suddenly become brighter. At the front of the army, under the flying of military banners, a young nobleman in knight's armor slowly walked towards the city gate.

The streets at the gates of the city were crowded with people for an extreme period of time, and were pushed to both sides of the street by the officers of the police station who rushed to maintain law and order.

Soon, a huge army approached the city gates,

At this moment, the cheers resounded in the sky.

Pedi looked at the crowd surging in the city, and when the cheers reached his ears, he turned to look at Sirah Marne beside him, "I give you permission to pass with me, and you deserve this honor." ”

This sentence made the eyes of all the generals around instantly fall on Sira Marne!

Siala Marne was surprised, and after a moment's thought, she said, "It's my pleasure, my lord. She did not refuse the gift and the honor.

As the two spoke, Sira Marne was already on his horse and side-by-side with Pedy. At the same time, the two of them were the first to appear in the eyes of the citizens of Krucheng, and a wave of heat blew on their cheeks, and the cheers in their ears suddenly became louder.

...

Outside the gates of Kawalburg,

Guards of honor in armor and red cloaks stood silently on both sides of the street at the entrance to Twilight Square.

Dressed in a red lord's dress, Eileen was at the front of the guard of honor in accordance with the etiquette, her blue eyes staring at the horizon of the street in front of her, with obvious anticipation and excitement.

The last scout briefing was a minute ago,

At this moment, she could clearly hear the movement of the army as it moved, and there were already cheers from the crowd in front of her.

"It's coming. A little girl in the aristocratic crowd beside the road couldn't help but cry out.

On the horizon of the street, between the rise and fall of the giant bear battle flag on a black background and a red picture, two figures sitting upright on war horses appeared in Erin Feier's eyes.

"Oh, the youngest daughter of the Marne!"

"She actually walked with Baron Pedi..."

"I heard that she is the commander-in-chief of this war. ”

The concerns of the aristocracy are clearly different from those of the burghers...

Erin Phil looked at the heroic Silah-Marne beside Pedy in front of her, and looked at her happy expression waving to the people around her, and the woman's natural jealousy made her pretty little eyebrows wrinkle slightly.

But soon, before others could notice it, her furrowed eyebrows quickly loosened again, and the smile on her face became stronger than just now, only with a slight sense of performance.

"Erin Field!"

The familiar voice reached Erin Fil's ears with cheers.

It's Pedi, who's waving to her right now... Then Pedi and his generals dismounted and walked on foot towards Eileen. At this time, Sira Marne, who was walking with Pedi next to her, and many generals behind her consciously slowed down.

Seeing this, the trace of unhappiness in Erinphier's heart immediately disappeared without a trace.

After a while, the two stood facing each other.

Peddy kissed Erin Fell on the lips in front of all the nobles of the Crewe Territory and said, "I'll be back sooner than expected. ”

Erin Phier had a charming smile on her faintly shy cheeks, "But it's good news for me. She glanced at the army that followed behind her and whispered, "Your father is waiting for you in the inner hall office." ”

...

Half an hour later,

Outside the office in the inner hall of Fort Kaval, Pedi pressed his hands on the handle of the door...

"Squeak"

The door opened, and the familiar figure in the familiar office made Pei Di feel more intimate, and a smile subconsciously appeared on his face.

But his smile quickly disappeared again, for the figure was so bad at the moment. Next to the desk is an old man who looks like he's about to die!

The gray head flower and the old face made Pei Di forget to say hello for a while.

"The inner and outer halls are well constructed. Nick Reagan stood up and walked to his desk, "That's what I wanted to do when I was in the imperial capital, but you know, there's an emperor above the prime minister." He spoke in a playful tone, without the seriousness and pressure of the past.

"My holy power tells me that there is a strange force in your body that is eroding your internal organs. Pedi ignored his father's joke, and the moment he raised his hand, milky white holy power enveloped Nick Reagan.

The pure holy power made Nick's body immediately permeate a trace of palpitating black and white unknown power, this power will dissipate and become invisible after touching Pedi's holy power when it comes into contact with the flames.

But at the same time, Peidi's holy power also disappeared without a trace!

"What kind of power is this?" Pedy's face changed, a strange energy he had never seen in the eight years he had been training as a paladin in the church.

"The power of the curse. A little blood appeared on Duke Nick's originally pale face, "This is a cursed magic cast by at least ten magic professors at the cost of their lives, and your holy power is indeed pure, but it can only dispel less than one percent of its power." ”

Pedi was stunned for a moment and immediately said in a deep voice, "We can continue." "The power of the curse' he knows is a very special power, an inexplicable and strange power that can entangle people.

"You should know it's useless!" Duke Nick waved his hand, "unless I pray for the Puppet Barrett for three days and three nights... But do you think I'm going to do it?" he smiled with a self-deprecating smile, "I can't be pious even if I try my best." ”

Pedi was silent when he heard this, and the way to lift the curse's power echoed in his mind.

"Don't care about my questions. Nick Reagan patted his son on the shoulder, pointed to the couch next to him and said, "Go over and sit down." ”

As soon as the words landed, the old man walked over first, but Peidi still stood still.

"I said, don't care about my problems. Nick immediately spoke in a heavy tone this time, pointing to the couch across from him and saying in a semi-commanding tone, "Sit down!"

Pedi instinctively obeyed his father's words.

The father and son looked at each other and fell silent, the father pondering how the two should start a conversation, while the son did not react because of his father's injuries.

"You grew up in the imperial capital, under the protection of my wings. Nick Reagan began his conversation with a serious and formal expression on his wrinkled pale face: "I didn't even force you to take a knight course... The love that Omar didn't get, you got it all... I should probably be thankful that instead of becoming cowardly in my doting, you are getting better and better. ”

"You are very much like my father, your grandfather, you all have a self-discipline that ordinary people do not have! This is a good character, but it will make you rigid, and you will subconsciously ask everyone to learn from you... Moreover, you will have a natural aversion to certain decisions that are otherwise right but not in accordance with the rules, and this will lead you to make countless wrong decisions. ”

Pedi frowned, a little unconvinced.

"Honor and loyalty are the shackles that the ruler imposes on the nobility, and you are destined to be a ruler, not some minor country nobleman. Nick Reagan scratched his beard lightly, and there was a see-through wisdom in his eyes.

"I know you're not convinced. The old man smiled casually, "Bell Cade's rebellion, Herienburg's rebellion, you could have dealt with them more quickly, but you didn't, because your self-discipline subconsciously allowed you to avoid some unseemly means." ”

"I don't think I'm at fault. Pedi spoke his mind, "Nobody likes conspiracy. ”

Nick Reagan nodded, "That's right, no one likes conspiracy... But as the ruler of Crewe, you don't have to think about other people's feelings at all, you think about your rule and the interests of your territory first. ”

Pedi immediately said: "Our right to rule is based on the support of the nobles, and the interests of the territory are their interests, and they will support our rule only if we guarantee their interests." ”

"But the problem is that the era of aristocratic rule has come to an end!" said Duke Nick, "and the wealth of some of the ordinary citizen families in Crewe City has long surpassed that of the lords of certain realms... There are many such families, so what we have to consider now is their interests!"

Pedi leaned towards the sun-covered area at this time, "But I think that the nobles are also our people, and they are no different from those ordinary citizens. ”

"I agree with that. Duke Nick smiled again, "But the nobility has a natural legal advantage. ”

"Isn't the war against Fort Herien, and the dissolution of the court of Fort Biron, just to break the natural legal advantage of the nobility?" said Pedi, spreading his hands, "and the 'new law of nobility' that has just been introduced by the Inner Office, so that ordinary citizens can also enjoy the rights of the nobility after paying enough taxes. ”

"That's why I said you have good control over the politics of your territory. Duke Nick shrugged, "But you're too merciful to your enemies, and I think you need someone who can help you make up your mind." ”

"But..."

"Don't deny it," Nick Reagan stopped the second son from saying any more and got up and walked to the door, opened the door, gave a few words to the guards outside the door, and then waited there quietly.

The sound of thick, unfamiliar footsteps in the hallway outside made Pedi frown. Seconds later, a person appeared at the door that Pedi surprised and knew.

It's the Orc Expeditionary Force's former Overseer's Morinda Morinda!

His tall, old body occupied almost the entire doorframe.

"Dear Duke Nick, the beast god bless you. Morinda's deep voice echoed through the room.

"Come in, my friend. "Nick Reagan seemed enthusiastic.

"Hello, Baron Pedi. ”()

.。 m.