Viscount Finn from Nalle, accompanied by several knights in dark blue robes, climbed onto a high ground near the Acropolis of Bruno, his face was blue and iron raised the single-scope in his hand, and he observed it from a distance. The smoky northern acropolis of Ampersel.
At the end of the narrow line of sight in the telescope, a corner of the Buenoan Acropolis has completely collapsed, some of the broken rocks have completely melted into crystals, and billowing smoke rises from the city to mid-air. According to his many years of experience, the opponent should have used fire elemental spells to break down the city wall and then attacked the city. More than one hundred Hong Kong guards in the city fled into the countryside almost without resistance.
Viscount Finn didn't say a word. This is the city defense that the Hong Kong Guard officer boasted to him that Ampersel in Haikou could not be broken? The city wall was in disrepair and its protection ability was less than half that of some northern city fortresses, and some of the crevices were obviously covered with moss. If it weren't for the broken anchored flags that were thrown down the city, he would have thought it was an old castle that had been abandoned for many years. . Not to mention the fragile combat power of its soldiers.
Soon, the news returned by the front scout cavalry made him confirm his opinion. The princess’s army should have passed through this area from 8 to 9 in the evening, and the feedback from the dragon knight also supports this evidence, but the scout cavalry still found some wounded Hong Kong Guards—according to these soldiers who witnessed the scene. It is said that a small team under the princess sneaked into the vicinity of the castle, and two women—to be precise, a powerful witch used fireball to defeat the city wall, and then the light cavalry swarmed in. After they “resisted desperately”, they were lost and lost.
But Viscount Finn got more reliable news as described: In fact, it was a small team of the opponent who shot, but it was not a powerful witch, but two female elves, one tall and one short, depending on the age or the child. At first, the opponent seemed to want to use fireball to test the city defense. Unexpectedly, Bunoan’s city wall was in disrepair for a long time. Water accumulated in the storm. Suddenly encountered high temperature, it exploded, and more than a dozen Hong Kong guards died at that time. Army, this is also the only battle loss of the Hong Kong Guards in this battle.
Then the light cavalry from the Royal Knights Academy swarmed in from the gap, and the Hong Kong Guard immediately surrendered, and only a few fled into the wilderness.
"The kingdom is all such rubbish." Viscount Finn replied angrily.
However, his voice was not embarrassing to raise it too high, because the performance of the Black Blade Legion was not much better. In fact, this was the reason for his furious anger. In the afternoon, Baron Wallen, who promised to contain the princess army, took a whole highland infantry to deliver a meal to the enemy. Not only did he lose his life, but the most important thing is to take care of him. A brigade, in the end, less than 300 people returned, which made him not know how to explain to Earl Vitogin.
And those mountain people who used to show off their power and ganged up were beaten one by one as if they had seen a ghost. More importantly, Baron Wallen’s misjudgment indirectly affected his judgment. The gang of mountain people’s horror made him miss a good opportunity-of course, the Viscount Lord did not have the nerve to say that he was also terrified at that time, thinking that the princess was going to look back. Come and eat his column-it is not impossible to come. As a result, he was panicked and transferred back to the Dragon Knight, and the consequences were obvious.
At this moment, looking down from the high ground, you can see at a glance. The princess's army slyly turned around and attacked the Acropolis of Bunoan, sweeping away the food stored in it. What made him even more embarrassed was that the other party also set a torch to light the large and small aristocratic manors nearby.
Those noble lords are now angry and difficult to find trouble with his immediate boss, Earl Svitokin. Because of the local aristocracy in Elu, even a big figure like Vitokin didn't dare to offend easily, but the trouble he caused this adult, presumably this adult would not be so magnanimous.
Fortunately, he didn't get nothing. He put down the copper telescope, holding a page of sheepskin report in his other hand. This report was the first testimony of the title of the Guardian of the Acropolis sent by the Dragon Knight. The other party confirmed that there was indeed a Rubis mercenary under the princess.
This is consistent with the information transmitted from the rear.
Viscount Finn put away the information and carefully observed a messy Bunoan area before wiping his sleeves and walking down the high ground. Accompanied by several knights, he mounted his horse and galloped towards a pine forest not far away.
Earl Vitogin was waiting for him.
Vitokin was standing in a clearing at the moment, and in front of him there were Yuxi, Grand Duke Westfah, Old Knight Commander Reid, and Marquis Baltar several senior members of the Northern Legion. If they were caught here, It is estimated that the collapse of the northern coalition forces near Ampersel is just around the corner.
It is a pity that ten Templar knights wearing golden-red flame-textured robes and armed with flame great swords around the woodland will not let this possibility become a reality.
Vitokin looked at the paper report, and flicked his pale knuckles, his face was neither happy nor sad. In fact, it is not that he wants to deliberately maintain this kind of city, but the loss of a brigade of highland infantry is really not a big deal in his opinion. Anyway, it is not his direct line. Although his earl's fief is the gray mountain collar, the highlanders have always been unruly. Rebellious and always remain independent.
It's okay to let those savages suffer a bit, because the death of Baron Valen, his loyal servant, made him feel a little bit painful.
He handed the sheepskin to the others, then raised his head and looked at the middle-aged man standing in the middle of the group—a position that is obviously more respected—and wearing a red robe with silver Gothic plate armor exposed underneath. This person has a unique appearance, a sharp and long face, but two curly beards make this face unique and majestic. The sky-blue eyes under a pair of thick golden eyebrows are vivid, like a pair of sharp swords. .
"Master Williams, it seems that the White Lions' judgment is not wrong. The princess does have an unexpected trump card in her hand. In fact, it is far beyond our expectations." Earl Vittokin showed no respect. The slightest pretense, even the look on his face when facing the chief priest of Murros was nothing more than awe, but facing this middle-aged man it was like a mouse and a cat.
This person is the leader of the trip to the Templars, the Templar Reserve instructor of the Temple of Flame, the deputy commander of the Templars, the Duke of the Cruz Empire (1), the Grand Knight Williams.
If Brando would recognize this person at a glance, the status of this person in the Cruz Empire was as if it were different from that of the goddess of war Veronica, which can be said to be far above the chief priest of Ampersel. However, his own strength also surpasses Veronica, and it is said that in the later period of the peak law, he was one step away from the extreme realm.
However, this person is a complete chauvinist of great power and a noble Cruz of pure blood. It is estimated that Eruin has never been put in his eyes. Although he also knows that the kingdom of Eruin is different from those little duchy for Cruz, it has special meaning, but he is here this time only to clear some insects, and by the way, to welcome the Flame Blade Odyssey as a matter of course. S.
Williams nodded arrogantly, but did not answer.
"But we have almost made it clear that the army in the hands of the princess is neither her own private soldiers nor the power of the royal party. The royal party has indeed parted ways with her, and the power in her hands is likely to come from someone called Brando's young man."
"Brando?" Williams raised his eyebrows: "I haven't heard that there is such a nobleman in your kingdom. Could it be someone from Fenghou Temple?"
"It's a bit related," Earl Vitogin smiled coldly: "This person is about twenty years old, and he first appeared in Buche..."
Hearing the words Buche, the deputy commander of the Knights Templar raised his head and frowned.
"... Then a group of lawless people gathered in Tonigel to stir up the wind and the rain. In fact, we previously wrongly judged that this person was just a hidden son of the princess, but later we found out that it was very wrong."
Count Vitogin glanced at Marquis Youxi, and Youxi quickly replied: "I saw Ampersel once and saw this person in the temple. He has the strength of the golden rank."
"Wait, you said that this person is only twenty years old, the strength of the golden rank?"
"Exactly, when I first saw him, he happened to be saluted by the priest Wood to become a Templar knight. My subordinates handed over him once, and the master priest can prove it for me." The Marquis continued to answer.
"Well, I believe you. But since this person is willing to convert to the temple, he is also a man of work." Williams replied lightly.
"It would be fine if that were the case, but he did not expect that it was just a conspiracy to break into the temple. Later, there was evidence that this person supported the princess behind to initiate a rebellion, and organized infidels to attack and kill participants in Ampersel. Nobleman."
"That is to say, this person is actually a spy for All Things Together or the Shepherd?"
"I'm afraid it's more than that, sir." Marquis You Xi respectfully saluted: "The second time I saw him, he was with Count Yanbao. But I suspected that he was the Count Yanbao at the time."
"Oh, that sword guard family?"
"Exactly, but the facts have proved that I guessed the wrong direction. Later, according to the investigation of our informant on the side of the princess, it was found that the origin of this person was very suspicious, not only in collusion with the cultists, but also secretly allied with the Nagas. The latest news we get shows that that Rubys mercenary is also his subordinate..."
"And earlier, I am afraid that this is the same person who used the Heavenly Arms in the city." Marquis You Xi smiled coldly and replied word by word.
Everyone knows that Rubis mercenaries come from Whiteport and the city-state Rubis, and both Whiteport and Rubis belong to the Ten Cities Alliance, which is the sphere of influence of Faenzan, the Temple Kingdom. Brando has both Lubis mercenaries and heavenly armed forces, and the implications are a bit thought-provoking.
Williams's face sank: "Huh, the temple's hands are stretched too long," he glanced at the Count Vitogin again, and said with some lesson: "But I just want to come. In order to contain the hands and feet of the temple, it is just an enclave for them. Don't forget who is closer to the empire."
None of the people in the kingdom answered, only Reid's face sank. In terms of seniority, he was no less inferior to this so-called deputy commander of the Knights Templar. The two had fought side by side during the November War, and their positions were similar, but Williams had better luck and was born in a great empire like Cruz. If the old knight had such strong financial support behind him, his achievements would not necessarily be possible. Limited to the elements.
What's more, the White Lions that he represents are natural enemies of the Cruz people. The old man simply snorted, too lazy to look at this guy.
Unexpectedly, Marquis Youxi would cause him to make trouble first, and hurriedly changed the subject: "In fact, it's more than that, my lord, here is more important news that has been missed."
"Enough is enough," Williams gave this person a disgusted look: "I know what you want to say, but colluding with the temple, this crime is enough for him to destroy himself, I know you want to ask the temple Take it, but if you want me to take it, I have one condition, that is, your princess must be escorted back to the empire—"
He didn't mention the cultists, and the deputy commander of the Knights Templar was not a fool. He had already seen that there was something tricky in it. However, the relationship between the nobles is more or less gloomy, as long as they don't completely stand on the opposite side of order, then they are all tolerable.
Anyway, he also knew that these guys were just using each other.
Marquis Youxi was slightly startled, but he didn't expect the other party to return this opinion. To be honest, Princess Griffin is a member of the royal family after all, and at best they dare to poison her to assassinate her. But to be escorted back to the empire, Eluin's nobleman's face has no place to put it.
However, the deputy commander of the Templars was obviously not here to make sense, but replied indifferently: "Since the temple intervenes, the temple must have a sinner with enough weight to make an explanation."
"But that person is enough." Grand Duke Sifah replied suddenly, who had not spoken.
"En?" Williams hummed dissatisfiedly.
"The previous speeches of those Highland Knights have already revealed the identity of the other party. If I'm not mistaken, the person next to the young man should be the Shire of the Paloche family. So, that guy has been hiding in the dark and calling for the wind and rain. The identity of the young man in the kingdom is also clear at a glance. Whoever has this influence in the kingdom also has his descendants."
"Cardiloso? Darus."
As soon as the name was spoken, Williams immediately changed his face. He turned his head and stared coldly at Grand Duke Sifah-as if the other party was not a duke of a country, but his subordinate.
At that moment, Grand Duke Sifah had the illusion that Brando was staring coldly at that time, and his whole person was like falling into an ice cave.
"You'd better not be kidding. Even if you don't know the seriousness of this matter, you should understand the bottom line of the temple."
"No, sir, what we said is true..." Marquis You Xi also felt the sudden cold murderous intent and couldn't help but stammered.
"No, this is just your guess." The old knight Reid suddenly frowned and interrupted them: "As Duke Dolenk said, you should be aware of the seriousness of this matter. Before you have 100% confirmation, Don't speak arrogantly!"
"Old Captain Rauld, you know the best! The guy from Bergning said before that the one holding the Lionheart Sword is the descendant of the Earth Knight, and that girl is Freya? Everton, the descendant of the Earth Knight. Who took the person away, everyone knows best, but since she has appeared, why can't he appear?"
"All clues point to the truth!" Marquis Youxi shouted hoarsely: "Mr. Reald, I know your feelings. You should understand what choice is good for the kingdom!"
The old knight was slightly startled, and then he could only sigh and shook his head.
Williams' face changed, he stared at these people, and finally nodded: "Very well, it's better to be true. I can't take charge of this matter, but I will notify the temple immediately."
After all, he closed his eyes slightly. After a while, he opened it again, and the sky-blue eyes were full of murderous intent. "Darus is dead, but he did leave a descendant, but isn't that? But I would rather kill a hundred by mistake than let one pass."
The deputy commander of the Knights Templar glanced at a few people coldly: "You better be responsible for your words and deeds. You should be responsible for all the souls who died here today. As long as those who have followed him, then There is no doubt that he will die."
"The temple will never repeat the mistakes of the past, so as to repeat the mistakes of today. I will do it myself, but you better be tight-lipped."
Marquis Youxi's hands and feet were cold for a while, and they couldn't say a word. Only the Knight Raulder seemed to have aged several tens of years all of a sudden, and turned into an old man who was hanging down. He shook his head and sighed deeply.
Williams turned his head and asked the Templars under him: "I need manpower. Tell the priest Wood if he has found any traces of Mephistopheles."
"My lord," the Templar replied immediately, "There should be news, but I won't be able to return for a while. These are the original words of the priest Wood."
"Old slick." Williams couldn't help raising his eyebrows.
But he raised his head, his eyes were already filled with firm coldness: "Where is the princess?"
"They went in the direction of Mar Heights, my lord."
"Want to enter the Anlek Mountains?"
"It's not that easy—"
…
…
Background notes:
(1) Dolenk, the Grand Prince located in the north of the Cruz Empire. At the same time, Duke Dolenk was also one of the powerful princes who had the right to succeed to the throne in the Cruz Empire.