March 4, Constantinople, capital of Bavaria.
In the Royal City at night, heavy rain poured down.
Rain fell from the clouds and hit the spire that pierced the sky. The rainwater flows along the city wall, drawing water marks on the arches that block the sky and the sun. The majestic castle with sharp edges stands in the center of the city. The raindrops reflect the incandescent lights, and the towering towers are looming in the rain.
It looks like a huge building extending from the earth to the sky, demonstrating the solemn and majestic royal power.
The king's summons had just ended when Grand Duke Ortiz walked out of the palace in silence, leaning on his cane.
The door closed behind him, and lightning struck, illuminating his slightly gloomy eyebrows.
Outside the palace, a man with a big belly walked up to him quickly, holding a black umbrella.
The raindrops hit the umbrella and made a crackling sound.
After getting closer, he noticed Edmund's serious expression.
The person holding the umbrella is Lawrence Hendrickson, the current Prime Minister of Bavaria.
The forty-eight-year-old man picked up Edmund from the palace guards and walked for a while before he asked cautiously:
"Grand Duke, did your Majesty believe what the Procuratorate said?"
Edmund shook his head and put on his hat.
"Let's talk about it after we get in the car."
The dark carriage drove into the rain, along the bank of the palace moat, and headed towards the State Building.
"His Majesty has decided to sanction Letania... The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will propose a resolution at the SAARC regular meeting tomorrow. You should contact the heads of the countries in the evening and get at least three votes in favor."
Lawrence breathed a sigh of relief when he heard His Majesty agreed to the sanctions:
"Restricting trade imports? It shouldn't be a big problem if it passes unanimously. After all, Letania has crossed the line recently."
"It's not a limit, it's a stop."
"What? Stop trade imports from Leitania?"
"That's right." The Duke leaned back in his chair and said expressionlessly: "In addition to suspending trade, we will also immediately recover all deferred debts of Leitania in the SAARC Central Bank, and confiscate the Witch King's debts in the Southern Continent even if the money is not paid. Industries and entities. Expel Leitanian diplomats, stop visa processing, and have the Ministry of Magic arrest all unlicensed wizards in the Southern Continent."
Lawrence's mouth opened slightly, and his round chin was squeezed together, with a look of horror on his face.
"Isn't this... tantamount to a full-scale declaration of war..."
"So we have to find a way to promote the adoption of the resolution. Simai is on our side. Asheville has suffered serious losses due to wizards in the Western Continent, so he should also agree... That guy from Britain will definitely object, ignore it. He, all you have to do is win over Sultan and Sepley who abstained from voting."
Lawrence looked embarrassed. If this combination of punches continued, Letania would lose at least five million pounds. This would destroy the relationship established over the years. It was not easy to persuade the Sultan and Sepley to agree.
"Grand Duke, even if we forcibly push forward the resolution, I'm afraid we won't be able to hold on for a year. After all, if Letania moves closer to the emperor, the Eastern Kingdom will quarrel..."
"Tell all countries that the money paid back can be lent out again, but the watchdogs are too fat... and they won't bite people anymore."
The sharp look in Edmund's eyes flashed away.
"Ever since the "Witch Hunting Plan" was banned, we have been giving in, and we have been giving in. In just a few years, wizards have dared to openly participate in the war in the Western Continent. Let the Ministry of Magic contact the principal and say that I want to talk to him... .The sanctions resolution must be passed.”
Thinking that Edmund almost died at the hands of the wizard, Lawrence stopped talking.
"In any case, it is a good thing that His Majesty is willing to pass sanctions."
He took out a bottle of red wine from the locker under the carriage seat, took two wine glasses, poured half a glass for the Duke and then filled it for himself. He said with a relaxed expression: "This shows that Your Majesty still believes in you, Prosecutor's Office The dog is not easy to use!"
"Ah."
Edmund clinked glasses with him gently, and Lawrence lowered the rim of the glass. After clinking the glasses, the Duke only took a small sip, but he drank the entire glass in one gulp, his posture extremely flattering.
In the Bavarian political arena, everyone knows that the current Prime Minister Lawrence is a confidant supported by Archduke Ortiz.
When it comes to dogs, he is the one with the loudest bark and the most loyalty.
In early February, news came back to Bavaria of the annihilation of the royal cult sent to the Western Continent.
After learning that Edmund was safe and sound, after a brief and strange period of calm, the prosecutor's office suddenly attacked Edmund and demanded that Edmund, who led the worship group, be held accountable.
After all, the loss of twenty extraordinary beings would be heartbreaking for any country.
This means that huge training resources have been wasted, not to mention that no results have been achieved.
Not only did it attack Edmond, the Office of Public Integrity also launched a corruption investigation into Lawrence and several officials from the Ortiz faction. The initial reason was an audit of aid to the rebels. But the situation intensified later. At the end of February, a large amount of evidence of the prime minister's corruption was published in newspapers and put on the stage, and public opinion was in an uproar.
Lawrence was criticized, but as prime minister, the state affairs of Bavaria were firmly in his hands. The king didn't say anything, and the prosecutor's office could only make some small moves, but there was nothing they could do to him.
Anyone with a discerning eye can see that it's not that the prosecutor's office is crazy, but that the powerful people behind the prosecutors have been unhappy with Edmund for a long time and want to suddenly attack him when he is unprepared.
But Lawrence knew better than anyone that as long as the relationship between the Duke and the King remained the same, no matter how the nobles jumped around, they could not move him.
"Grand Duke, should we get rid of those annoying guys from the Procuratorate and replace them with our own people? Otherwise, it will be really annoying to argue and argue every day..."
"——Lawrence."
Edmund put down his wine glass and looked at him, "You are good at everything, but you are not smart enough."
Lawrence was stunned for a moment, then immediately smiled and said with a flattering smile: "What you are saying, Grand Duke, is that without you, how could I, an idiot like me, sit in the office of the National Government Building..."
"It's normal that you want to make money. For more than 1,100 years since the founding of Bavaria, no prime minister has been greedy... But can you hide your greed?"
"I don't want to talk to you about anything else. You even dare to touch municipal funds. This is Constantinople, not my province of Val. Being blocked by unpaid sanitation workers in front of the royal city to protest, you can do this kind of thing. Do you have to come out?"
Lawrence sneered:
"I made up for it that night, and gave me two more months' bonus... Those untouchables were arrested by the police officers I sent in less than half an hour at the gate of the palace... Your Majesty shouldn't know, right?"
"Don't know? Ha..." Edmund snorted coldly, "What do you think?"
Sweat broke out on Lawrence's forehead. His Majesty the King usually doesn't care about things, but he is just lazy, not incapable of taking care of things.
"....Is His Majesty planning to remove me?"
"You're greedy enough to lose your head."
"Grand Duke, save me, save me!" Lawrence suddenly panicked, "I have done meritorious services for Ortiz, I have shed blood for Ortiz, I want to see the judge, I want to see the judge!"
"Stop howling, idiot." Edmund held his head and sighed quietly.
"Don't think that with me behind you, you can do whatever you want... The money you have been greedy for these two years should be enough for you. Make up what needs to be paid, fill in what needs to be paid, and arrange for a scapegoat to surrender to the court if it cannot be filled. Do it cleanly, understand?”
Lawrence nodded wildly.
"Times have changed, so don't take public opinion seriously. The capital is not a rural place, and the citizens here are not that easy to deal with."
"Find a time to hold a press conference, apologize, and show a soft attitude. Say what you want, and then ask the newspaper to cooperate with you in writing some articles to bring public opinion back. Don't protest this and that every day. Your Majesty is in a bad mood, so I can only change someone to be the prime minister..."
"It will open tomorrow, it will open tomorrow..." Lawrence said with a smile: "Then, then the prosecutor's office..."
"I'll take you to the National Government Building to show up later. They will probably withdraw the case tonight. However, please let a few administrative officers take over their positions and get rid of all the irrelevant oil and water. I will look for you again in a few days. Feili and the others have a dinner together, give each other some face, and this matter will be over."
Edmund said calmly:
"I need stability, okay?"
Lawrence couldn't help but understand that although he felt reluctant to let go, he still took it seriously.
The Duke didn't use him because Lawrence was irreplaceable, but because he was easy to use.
If it is easy to use and worry-free, keep using it. If not, replace it. Lawrence is not the only one who is easy-to-use.
Seeing the slightly tired look in the Duke's eyes, Lawrence immediately used Dog Leg's most important emotional value and began to review: "It's all because of me, a useless fool, that I ruined your good mood, Grand Duke. I deserve to die -"
After saying that, he started to slap his mouth fiercely, making a snapping sound.
Edmund pinched his brows and said, "Your bad mood has nothing to do with you. Your trouble is nothing."
Lawrence came to his senses.
He is just greedy, but not really stupid. At least he has always been smart in guessing the Duke's thoughts.
The only thing that can make Edmund irritated recently, apart from his failed return from the Western Continent, is his daughter's marriage.
"Could it be that... Your Majesty still wants the eldest lady to marry the prince?"
The golden lights loomed in the hazy night of rain and mist, and the ancient stone pavement was wet, reflecting the yellow halo of the street lights.
Edmund stared at the street scene of the royal capital outside the glass. The round spire roof of the State Administration Building appeared at the end of the rain curtain. The simple and gorgeous buildings extended to both sides. In his eyes, the prosperity of this thousand-year-old royal city merged into one. The sea of bright lights illuminates the night sky with heavy rain.
The city is beautiful. He grew up in Constantinople and never tires of this dimly lit night scene.
The friend he grew up with now overlooks it all from the highest point in the city.
A friend once said that we want to make this city the most shining pearl in the southern continent.
The sparkling eyes when he made that dream were completely different from the eyes that made him feel strange.
Edmund was silent for a long time, and then suddenly ordered:
"...Go and investigate where the dark crown that the Queen gave to His Majesty last year came from."
.........
Maple City at the same time.
In a smelly garbage dump in the north of the city.
A few new guys have recently arrived in the junkyard, and they have a lot of strength. He was very diligent in his work. When he saw new garbage coming, he took the initiative to help unload the truck and throw it away. He took over all the dirty work, which saved a lot of trouble for the citizens and sanitation workers who came to throw away garbage.
The carriage carrying the duchy's slop buckets and garbage stopped at the door. As usual, the new workers enthusiastically took over the task of moving the garbage and swill buckets. The servants were happy and leisurely, leaning against the car and admiring the night sky.
A cigarette was handed over.
The servant subconsciously took it and looked back, seeing an old man with a hunchback.
"Jie Jie Jie... Sir, are you the lord's coachman?"
The old man was hunched over, and in the dark night, the servant couldn't see his face clearly. He must be an old man scavenging nearby.
"Yes, sir, thanks for the cigarette."
Although his laughter was chilling and his body smelled bad, the servant still forced a smile on his face and chatted with him.
The rules of the Ortiz family are very strict. Servants or servants cannot get carried away by relying on their status. They must maintain kindness and respect for the people in the duke's territory. Otherwise, they will be fired at the least, and sentenced to jail at the most serious.
But if he lit the cigarette, he would see a horrifyingly disfigured face. No matter how strict the rules of the host's house are, they will be scared and run away.
"What's the matter?"
"It's no big deal, no big deal. It's just that I heard someone say a few days ago that the lord went to the Western Continent and almost couldn't come back... Is it true? Don't scare the old man..."
The servant's eyebrows raised slightly, thinking that you, an old scavenger, are quite well-informed.
But he did not answer the question, but said in an evasive manner: "Don't listen to outsiders' rumors. Your Excellency, the Duke, just set off for Constantinople a few days ago. It's time to have dinner with His Majesty the King in the palace."
"Jie Jie Jie... That's good, that's good... By the way, the recent lord's house seems to have a lot of garbage. Are there any guests here?"
The servant suddenly became alert.
"This is not something that a servant like me can know. What, why are you asking?"
"Nothing, nothing. As I get older, I always like to ask casual questions, Jiejie..."
The old man turned around slowly, leaned on a cane, and limped away.
He looked suspiciously in the direction where the old man disappeared in the darkness, which was inside the garbage dump.
"wack....."
After the servants drove the carriage away, the duchy's garbage was quickly collected, and several new employees of the garbage dump began to unpack and inspect the bags one by one.
If Peter saw that delicate appearance, he would be able to praise the old man who was exploring the store.
The hunchbacked old man gently leaned on his "crutch", and a light source appeared above everyone's heads to help them search better.
Of course, as generals of the Sudan's Fourth Expeditionary Force, these people are all professionals with extraordinary skills. They can see in the dark even if there is no light.
"Master Waci, are you so sure that Team 86 is under Ortiz's command?"
Junwot walked out from the side. In just over a month, the man had lost a lot of weight, and his beard was no longer groomed. His slovenly appearance made it impossible to associate him with the commander of the Sudan's Fourth Expeditionary Force.
He looked a little tired: "We have followed you through the trash for a week, and the most valuable thing found is an anal plug with a fox tail..."
Walter almost missed his mother.
Knowing that his life would be in danger when he returned home, he believed what Wasi said, "Recovering the skull and Letania will protect you", so he left his hometown with his cronies and came here to dig up garbage, and experienced it with his own actions. What does it mean to hang out with Lao Deng and starve for nine meals in three days?
"Don't worry, Walter, they are inside. I can feel it..."
Wa Ci closed his eyes, and the false command spell on his body echoed the necromantic alchemy's cursed weapon.
He followed this feeling and chased him all the way, finally locating the exact location of Galen's skull.
Not to mention not being able to get the lantern back, and even losing the Necromantic Alchemy, Wa Ci didn't dare to think about what the Witch King would do to him.
You know, for wizards, death is far from the end.
"Why don't you control that servant just like you control the junkyard boss?" Walter asked puzzledly: "Wouldn't it be enough to let him enter the castle to find out what's going on?"
"The demagogues of witchcraft cannot enter the duchy."
Wa Qi shook his head: "This is the Southern Continent, the territory of magicians. You have to keep a low profile... What's more, it is the home of Grand Duke Ortiz. I can sense that there are only magic in the territory that are stronger than mine. There are no less than three masters...not to mention other extraordinary beings. If we are discovered, we will all die."
"...Then just waste your time here?"
"You can always find clues, Jie Jie. I have divined that something good is going to happen..."
Walter thought this old man was nagging.
Not long after, someone dug out a piece of letter paper from the trash bag.
They have dug out hundreds of pieces of this kind of waste paper these days, but they are all nutritious things, purchase orders or messy manuscript paper.
Really valuable documents cannot be thrown into the trash can and will be destroyed on the spot in the castle, so Walter has no expectations.
"Let me see..." The generally educated general took the letter and started reading it.
The first two words attracted everyone's attention——
"Peter..."
"Tomorrow at seven o'clock in the evening, at the gate of No. 7 Third Street, St. Pauli District, Maple City, I will treat you to dinner. You are not allowed to be late, or I will kill you... eh..."
The general frowned and muttered: "I read the roster before setting off. The new member of Team 86...is called Peter?"
Wa Qi smiled sadly.
"Jie Jie... Jie Jie Jie Jie Jie Jie! Look, being a garbage man is a beautiful thing!"
