Count Orgas was a tall man in his forties with curly date-colored hair and a beard. Compared with the slightly thin Viscount Yosa, he could be described as having a burly build.
Even though the weather was hot, the Earl was still wearing a blue plate armor covered with runes. This old armor was covered with scars and signs of wear and tear, and it was unknown how many fierce battles it had experienced. Xiao Chen could tell from the complexity of the magic array on it that this was definitely a very high-level armor.
After the two met, they hugged each other and patted each other's shoulders vigorously. Apparently, as Viscount Yosa said, they were already familiar with each other and had a good relationship.
Count Orgas asked the Viscount to take a seat and said straight to the point: "I know you are here on behalf of the Chinese. Although I can't get much information in this Black Wood Pass, your coming here means that Suero has fallen, right?"
Viscount Josa said: "Suero fell into the hands of the Chinese several days ago, but it is hard to say that this is a bad thing. Do you know what this guy Baldini was going to do if the Chinese didn't come?"
"I don't like guessing games, just tell me what you think," said the Count.
"He has contacted the Imperials. More than sixty Black Guards, led by Blood Warrior Master Garriott, have infiltrated Suero." Viscount Yosa said.
"What?" Count Orgas's face changed. "The last time the border was opened was two months ago. How could he have colluded with the Empire so early?"
"Yes, these people have been lurking in his lord's palace. They were not exposed until the Chinese went to war with him. We didn't know that he was going to sell the entire territory north of Suero to the Empire."
"Even if he has any tricks, the Imperials have to get through me first," said the Earl.
Viscount Yosa said, "According to the captured Black Guards, they originally planned to send the Black Guards' experts to sneak into the Black Wood Pass in the name of replenishing troops next month, and then cooperate with the Imperial Army outside to break through the pass. To be fair, if the Chinese hadn't appeared and stopped all this and captured all the Black Guards in one fell swoop, they would still have been able to sneak into the pass and cause damage, right?"
The count was silent for a while and said, "The Chinese are not much better than them. When the kingdom was in the most difficult and unstable time, these people suddenly turned against us and cut a piece of meat from the kingdom. They are just another vulture eating the corpse. Giving these greedy guys status and territory was the biggest mistake made by the previous king."
Viscount Yosa said, "But now Suero is in their hands. I watched carefully what they did there. They are definitely not a group of mages who just want to take advantage. What they are doing is to build a powerful country. Isn't this what people like you have been pursuing?"
"What a joke!" Count Orgas said angrily, "What I pursue is a powerful Iberian Kingdom, not any other country."
Viscount Josa asked seriously, "Has your family been guarding the border just for the sake of the kingdom? I remember when I first met you at a family gathering 20 years ago, you argued with a group of boastful nobles, saying that defending the country is not just about defending the royal family and nobles, but also about protecting civilians from harm by the enemy.
At that time, everyone around you laughed at your naivety, but I knew you were serious. That kind of look, that kind of attitude, can only be revealed by people who are really willing to do something.
I know that even though you were laughed at by them that time, you have been doing this all these years.
I have been in Suero and seldom come here, but I have heard that the army you control is the least disturbing to the people. Even though you manage the most profitable checkpoint in the entire kingdom, you rarely extend your hand to those poor people who make a living on the border, but instead concentrate taxation on those wealthy merchants. "
The Viscount's call made the Earl's expression ease a lot. "Even if these are true, what does it have to do with the Chinese?"
"The Chinese are the group of people in this world who value civilians the most, except for you. Likewise, they are also the most powerful group of people in this world. I believe that if you hand over Heimu Pass to them, the land behind you will be better managed, and the imperialists will have no chance to attack."
"Are you so confident in them?" the count asked with some doubt.
"Yes, I am so confident that even though they have stripped me of my title, I will still stand on their side." Seeing the other party's solemn expression, Viscount Yosa said, "This is not directed at me, but in their country, there is no such thing as nobility."
Viscount Yosa took out Xiao Chen's letter and handed it to the earl. "This is a letter that their high-level wizard Xiao Chen asked me to bring to you. He said that after you read it, you will make a decision in your heart."
The Count took the envelope in his hand, examined it, and opened it. There was nothing else in the envelope except a thin piece of paper. He pulled it out and saw a complicated magic circle drawn on it. As soon as the magic circle appeared before his eyes, it began to rotate naturally.
Olgas felt something invaded his head and connected with his thoughts. Just as he was trying to resist with his luck and fighting spirit, a voice suddenly came from his ear: "Count Olgas, I am Xiao Chen, a magician from China. I think you may still be a little hesitant. So I want to show you some pictures. Please don't worry, this will not hurt your mind or body."
Olgas suddenly felt that the world around him was slowly moving away from him.
Then shocking images appeared around him. It was not just a simple picture, but it was as if he himself was in such an environment.
He saw Suero covered in flames. The seemingly indestructible city defense barrier had been broken. Countless black dots fell into the city from the gaps, and each one would explode a ball of sparks in the city. In a short time, the city was engulfed in flames.
He saw green-clad soldiers who were less murderous but more disciplined and capable than his men. When they fought, they used long poles that would spray out metal particles. The metal storms created by thousands of poles could destroy groups of enemies from a long distance.
Then the surrounding environment changed, and he came to a city he had never seen before. He saw tall buildings, clean classrooms, huge workshops, strange iron cars, and energetic and confident civilians. These people and things all happened in Chinese cities.
He understood that these were the powers that the other party showed him. They contained both destruction and creation, and the latter was far more terrifying than the former.