"Don't be afraid, today is not a formal meeting."
Spreading his arms, the black shadow of the city lord gestured around the hall: "The people sitting here are not members of the Twelve Thrones, they are just my close friends. You just need to take a deep breath and answer me truthfully. That’s all.”
"Sounds very good." Duan Qing, looking at the empty thrones, pressed his forehead and replied: "But... the number of your close friends seems a bit small."
"It is an honor for us to be able to receive the love from the Lord of the City."
A dull, beast-like female voice sounded from the other end of the row of thrones on the right, between the simple and ferocious iron armor: "As for you...the guy named Mo Shang Qingshan, you are contemptuous of the city lord. Is it majestic?”
"I seem to have heard this voice that night... Let me guess, you are the barbarian Fenya, right? A guy who can reach the fourth place in the throne power ranking..."
"I've been paying attention to you for a long time, kid. Since you can defeat Jia Luo, it means you still have two abilities. If you don't mind, we can compete on the spot..."
"Okay, okay, put down your swords."
Among the figures standing at the top, the young and calm voice of the city lord sounded again: "You warlike guys, do you want to tear down my beautiful hall? If you have any personal disputes, please leave and resolve them later. , now... what we need to solve are some public issues."
"Things always have to be done one by one, don't they?"
"snort……"
A slight sound of metal friction sounded at the end of the throne, accompanied by Fenya's cold snort, and then there was no more movement. However, the murderous intention that Duan Qing had felt since he was first questioned, followed this woman. The man's entanglement disappeared. He gave a helpless smile, wiped away a little of the cold sweat on his face, then returned to his usual smile, and looked at the blurry black figure at the end of the carpet again: "I'm sorry for being stupid, but... ...Did the City Lord make a mistake? Where did the so-called investigation come from?"
"...You are dishonest, adventurer."
The dark figure on the tall chair shook his head and turned his gaze back to Duan Qing. With this small change, the slightest murderous intention came to Duan Qing again: "I am the City of Freedom. City Lord, every move you make is invisible to me, so...of course I know what you have been running around during this period of time."
"Including your approach to several throne holders, and...investigating intelligence." The city lord's voice became gloomy: "As an adventurer...intervening in the internal affairs of the Free City in this way, Isn’t it a little out of place?”
"I'm not just an adventurer, I'm also a special envoy from the Principality of Elnifea."
Duan Qing cleared his throat: "Since arriving in your city, my envoy and I have never received the proper hospitality we deserve. Not only that... when we were inexplicably involved in the dispute, you and your My dear friends didn't make any representations, leaving us to fend for ourselves in the so-called Throne War... This doesn't seem to be an acceptable thing, right?"
"It's not a throne war, it's just a civil strife caused by the impulse of a few young men below. Reiner must have explained this to you before." The black shadow of the city lord was silent for a moment, and then answered again. He said: "As for the offense...please forgive me for being rude, but are you little adventurers really special envoys from the principality?"
"I have a letter of appointment written by Pamir himself! I also have the noble status of Baron of the Principality! In the records of Tania Adventurers Association, there is also a letter of authorization entrusted by the Principality to our adventure group!" Qiang resisted the chill that seeped into his bones. Duan Qing replied loudly: "If it weren't for those unscrupulous businessmen in your city, I should have countless treasures donated to you! But now... let alone those gifts, even our people are here Fighting life and death in the city, is this the way of hospitality in the Free City?"
"..."
"Don't underestimate us just because we are adventurers. The abilities of adventurers in Liberty City... I believe you have some personal experience."
Looking at the silent city lord and the two throne owners next to him, Duan Qing's tone became lower: "We have the iron will to challenge everything, and the courage and determination not to be afraid of death. We can fight in everything." Sitting at the negotiation table under the conditions, and never bowing before any form of threat! Treating us differently as adventurers has long been a thing of the past, because we have proved it with the Battle of Tania Exceed our strength..."
"Perhaps Tania really needs you to save it, because the principality is indeed a weak country." The Lord's voice sounded slowly and deeply: "They are actually so weak... that they sent adventurers to do the lobbying work. .”
"We are not here to lobby, we are here to... inspect."
Putting away his firm face, Duan Qing slightly raised the corners of his mouth: "My thoughts are slightly different from Master Pamir's, because in the eyes of adventurers, all investment and rewards... are needs. compared to each other.”
"Oh? So what do you think?"
“The situation in Liberty City is not good right now.”
After looking around at the empty thrones around him, Duan Qing's voice rose again: "The folk customs are vicious, the public security is chaotic, the living environment is unfriendly, and there are powerful enemies outside, and countless people die every night trying to grab territory. Every year, chambers of commerce and organizations die because of this. You people in power not only turn a blind eye, but also fight for the throne, and even ruin the fate of countless families... From the perspective of an adventurer, This is a treasure land where opportunities and killings coexist, but if you look at it from the perspective of a ruler, no one wants to see their allies like you."
"You can't even solve your own internal problems, so why should we count on you?"
"...What a special envoy with a full personality, he actually dares not to take us seriously."
"My personal views can't change anything, because Pamir and other people in the principality still send me to you like this. They still have trust in you, and they still hope that... you can become a helping force in the chaos. strength."
"Power? What do you want us to do? Help you fight against the restorationists?"
"The threat of the Restorers has become a threat to the entire continent. Even the empire has to seek cooperation under such conditions. Enemies of this level will be in front of you sooner or later, not to mention... they are by your side now. "
"Ha, don't underestimate our city. We are a free country that has stood on the shores of the Endless Sea for hundreds of years. It was we who watched the changes in the small countries within countless principalities, and finally became part of the principalities. Now... Do you want to use the same method to deal with us again?"
"Acknowledge the reality, Your Excellency, haven't you and your throne holders changed countless times in the past few hundred years? They have even been reduced to the point where they can't even defeat me. How can they possibly defeat those insidious and cruel people?" Where are the Restorers?”
"...Watch your words, Special Envoy, you are provoking the entire Free City."
"Of course I hope not to do this, Lord City Lord, but..."
In the rising atmosphere, Duan Qing put his hand on the hilt of the sword at his waist: "I have suffered so much on your family's territory inexplicably. Labor and management have already suffered enough."
In the gradually spreading chill, Reiner and Fenya, who had not spoken until now, still maintained their silence, and then sat up straight again as the murderous intention above their heads suddenly disappeared. The old hall like a castle seemed to become a little brighter as the atmosphere relaxed, and the young city lord who had been standing still nodded as if nothing had happened: "Not bad courage, Mo Shang Mr. Qingshan, it seems... the adventurer spirit you claim is not just empty talk."
"Your Majesty, the City Lord, can understand, and I am honored to do so."
The tense string in his heart relaxed again, and Duan Qing let out a long breath: "Please forgive me for my offense. After all, I came here with sincerity..."
"I already understand the attitude of the principality."
Reaching out his hand to interrupt Duan Qing's words, the young city lord turned his back and whispered: "But... this does not become the reason for you to secretly investigate me."
"..."
"Tell me what you think again." The black figure on the high platform smiled slightly: "Why do you want to investigate me?"
"...I have my own understanding of the history of Liberty City."
Looking at the last seat among the two rows of thrones, representing the shadow mage Gardevoir, Duan Qing replied calmly: "I now know a lot about the secrets of the Free City, and there is naturally a pregnancy in between. It’s the adventurer’s curiosity that’s causing trouble, but I think… these secrets may still be of some use in resolving the current tense situation in Freedom City.”
"I like to hear words like this, even though you have been impassioned before." The black shadow of the city lord tilted his head: "Boundless talks often do not help solve problems. What we need are practical solutions, not ?"
"Well...I agree with you, Your Excellency, City Lord."
"Very good, then..."
Amidst the slight sound of friction, the Lord City Lord sat down in his seat again: "I don't need to personally explain the relevant situation to the special envoy. Since you have to do this at the risk of offending me, I guess your Do you already have some idea in mind?"
"Well..." Duan Qing said hesitantly: "There is a question I want to ask first..."
"You previously deposed Tristan and Rondore from the throne...what was your reason?"
"because of you."
This time, the city lord answered Duan Qing's question very quickly: "Because they messed up, that's it."
"Because...me?" Duan Qing pointed to his nose: "Is it because of what happened when we came to the City of Freedom? But I remember that the two adults behaved quite well on the way, Mr. Rondoer He even stood up to defend our convoy..."
"That's not important, what's important is... they didn't complete the task I gave them." The city lord waved his hand impatiently: "The specific reasons will be very troublesome to explain, and I guess you don't want to hear it now... "
"Okay." Sensing the other party's obvious prevarication, Duan Qing paused helplessly: "So... do you know Mr. Oxon?"
"Oxen? The owner of the auction house?" The city owner thought for a moment: "Of course I know him, what's the matter?"
"Well, I'm not talking about ordinary acquaintance, I mean..."
"Report--"
Amidst the report that was loud enough to reverberate three times in the hall, the door behind Duan Qing was pushed open again. He turned around and saw what he saw when he was wandering around the City Lord's Mansion in the past few days. One of the familiar guards said: "Report to the Lord of the City, Lord Tielin asks for an audience!"
"Him? At this time?" The black shadow on the high platform frowned: "What is he doing here?"
"I don't know, sir." The guard glanced at Duan Qing and then replied loudly.
"Well... forget it, let him wait outside for a while."
After looking back and forth between Duan Qing and the corridor outside the door for a while, the city lord finally made such a decision. However, before the guard nodded and turned around, a strong man's laughter came from the bottom of the steps. Voice: "Hahahaha... What's wrong, sir? Have you found some new love? Are you embarrassed to let me see it?"
Tielin, who was wearing a black uniform, a gray velvet hat, and an iron hook on his hand, just pushed the guard away and appeared next to Duan Qing. He seemed to be a little surprised by the fact that the adventurer he had met once was standing here. He gave Duan Qing a deep look, and then responded to the city lord's displeased gaze with an even louder laugh: "The throne has Zhe Tielin, I have something important to come to see the city lord... Your place seems to be very lively, hahahaha!"
"The Lord of the City is meeting with the special envoy of the principality. It is not a time to break in casually." Barbarian Fenya's unique low female voice sounded next: "You must have done it on purpose."
"Hey, don't hold a grudge against me because of what happened last time, little girl."
Striding up to Fenya, Tielin waved his hand nonchalantly: "And such a deliberate and blunt accusation is really not in line with your image in my mind... It was probably taught by that guy Old Joel. Is it yours?"
"What did you say? Do you want to fight?"
"No, no, no, I'm not here to fight."
With a careless salute in the direction of the city lord, Tielin casually blocked Fenya's words, then stepped over the strong woman's seat and sat on the only empty seat in front of her: " I heard that you all came over this afternoon, so..."
He said casually in his own loud voice.
"I came here to monitor you."
