Avram wanted to say something more, but suddenly found Brando staring at him coldly, and quickly shrank his neck, swallowing the second half of the sentence into the belly full of fat. The convoy of the envoy continued to move forward, passing by the imperial soldiers and refugees. When everyone's eyes passed the shivering men, women and children, most of them were silent. Enid and the daughter of the Duke from Vieiro noticed it. The atmosphere in the team was a little weird. The little loli of Goran-Elson's family held her nurse's hand tightly, a little cringe, and Ike, who followed Brando, was eager to try. He looked like he wanted to help the refugees. He kept looking in Brando's direction, but he didn't get permission. The non-commissioned officer from Yanilasu followed him with one hand on the hilt of the sword hanging from his waist, his eyes falling only on the imperial soldiers.
Qiyala watched with cold eyes. This little girl with a very uncoordinated giant scholar's hat stood beside Yi Nide, watching all this with a cold look beyond her age, but her expression occasionally revealed. Shows the ironic look towards the Avrams. As for Charles, Hippamilla, and Metisa seeing this scene, they had their own ideas, but they all stood behind Brando, waiting calmly for orders; while Yuta looked at these refugees, only slightly wrinkled She frowned, she has seen too many scenes like this in this country.
Brando didn't even look at these refugees. His eyes didn't stop on the soldiers of the Empire for a moment. He pursed his lips and led the convoy through the chaos with a cold face. The imperial knight passing by him seemed to ignore him as if he were air. Although the people in the envoy have been together for nearly two weeks, they are still unfamiliar with the temper of the captain. They only know that he is a close minister next to the princess, and he also has the strength not inferior to that of the former Grand Duke Anlek, Ephraim. Whether it’s the daughter of the Duke of Vieiro, most of them are reminded before they travel to try not to offend the powerful Earl in the future, so Brando did not speak, and they did not dare to act without authorization. The convoy remained silent, only approaching the towering gate of the Black Sword Barrier step by step.
The envoy quickly passed the caravans, and the detained refugees had already been left far behind. For a while in the group, only Eco was still looking at the back with a frown, his face unreliable. He concealed his anxious look, as if he didn’t understand why the knightly Lord Earl, whom he had always admired, would not let him take action, but Brando’s image in his heart had long been so high that he could not reach it. The latter did not speak, although he My heart is like a cat scratching, but I can only stay in the team peacefully. He turned his head and found that the little Lolita from the Golan-Elson family was also looking back. She tilted her head to look at him, her light brown eyes were full of incomprehension—as if she didn’t understand why those people were being caught When caught, she was only seven or eight years old, and the world of nobility was still too far away from her.
The scout cavalry in front of the envoy had already notified the Cruz people, so at this time the Cruz people also knew the origin of this noble convoy. The convoy slowly arrived under the Black Sword Fortress, and Brando raised his hand to stop everyone. Not long after the convoy stopped, three Cruz knights rode on the Earthwalking dragon and came to them. The leading knight wore a silver-gray ceremonial breastplate. The breastplate was covered with bright medals. Brando looked. The color of the long mane on his ribbon and helmet makes it clear that this man is a knight commander—and behind him, the daughter of Grand Duke Vieiro has changed a little. For their official envoys like this, at least the deputy of the highest officer from this place should personally verify their identities and welcome them into the city. The Cruz people now send a small knight commander to replace them, which is already naked arrogance.
This is not the first time this happened. As early as three years ago, Cruz's envoys were treated like this when they went to the empire as usual to meet the emperor and celebrate the new year. Or even earlier, long before the Frost Year, the kingdom's envoys seemed to have been accustomed to such contempt. It’s just that when the Duke’s daughter in the past read these things from literature and history, she only felt that Eruin’s national power was meagre, and it seemed natural that such a giant empire was superior to him, but now it’s her turn to personally experience the frivolity of the Cruz people. At that time, there was still a resentment in my heart.
But she did not speak sensibly.
Others in the team more or less noticed that there was something wrong with the atmosphere, but apart from Qiara and Shire, everyone else had limited knowledge of diplomatic procedures, so they could only wait silently for Brando to make a decision. Brando had expected this earlier, he patted the still ignorant Everlam on the shoulder and asked the meatball to submit the paperwork. Only then did the latter react, and hurriedly took out the paperwork and the signet, and respectfully came to the several Cruz knights and presented them with both hands.
He appeared to be completely humble, even the military officer behind Eko couldn't see his dissatisfaction, but the Cruz Knight did not appreciate it. He took the paper impatiently, took a look, and then threw it back to Ai. Flam's hands. These light movements made even the most ignorant Avram react—this document in his hand could be regarded as Eruin’s credential, if the opponent was an empire’s border. Marquis, then even if he throws the credential back on his face, he dare not say a word, but the other party is just a small knight commander, technically speaking, he is not a real nobleman—he couldn't help being a little dumbfounded. Looking at the other party closely, I don't understand where the other party's confidence comes from.
But the Cruz knight regarded him as nothing. He glanced at the meat ball in disgust, waved his hand and said, "Come with me."
Ephram stood there without daring to move. He turned his head and looked at Brando subconsciously. This was no longer the courtesy that the empire should have in welcoming the other vassals under the Temple of Flame, or there was no courtesy at all. No matter how stupid he is, he understands that if he is good at making opinions, today's accusation of diplomatic misconduct will fall on him. But this meat ball found out crying, Brando stood there motionless as if he hadn't seen him.
In desperation, he had no choice but to say to the Cruz knight tremblingly: "My lord knight, this... doesn't seem to conform to the rules?"
He hoped that it was a momentary negligence of the Cruz people and forgot the diplomatic etiquette, but to his disappointment, the knight gave him a somewhat indifferent look: "This is the time of war, and we cannot open the door of the knight (note). Greet you, if you are unsatisfied, you can choose to take a detour, or go back the same way."
(Note: The Gate of the Knights, the name given by the Duke of Sempery to the front gate of the fortress, in memory of the Cruz soldiers who died in the fortress.)
Back in the same way
Efram was sweating profusely. At this moment, he really saw the pretentiousness of the Cruz people. He used to think this was taken for granted. This world is respected by strength, and the Cruz people’s fists are big and hard enough to show this. Attitude is also tolerable. But when he enjoys this arrogance himself, he realizes how hateful this arrogance is. If he can, he can't wait to punch the guy in the face in front of him, then turn his head and throw a punch there. On the face of Count Tonigel.
Of course, this is just to think about it, even if he borrowed ten courage from him, he didn't have that courage.
But when he was in a dilemma, Brando finally spoke: "Avram, tell him that we can't go back."
Ephraim, Rulun Shengyin, hurriedly turned his head to look at the Cruz people. The knight seemed to have expected this, and could not help but smiled contemptuously: "Then please come with me, envoys." He deliberately said The envoy read extremely heavily, and his strong accent Cruze was full of irony. This sentence made Efram frightened. He was afraid that the arrogant head of the group would be unable to bear to sneer at each other, and besides him, other people in the mission also frowned, especially Ai. As a soldier, the capable man of Earl Yanilasu behind Ke was already firmly holding his right hand on the hilt of the sword.
Although Ephram was a famous dude noble when he was in Karasu, he did not abandon the ability to observe words and colors that this circle must have. Naturally, he could detect the tense atmosphere, and he wiped his sweat. , Constantly cast a look at Brando, wanting the Lord Earl to express his opinion whether it is dead or alive.
But unfortunately, Brando still stood there motionless as if he hadn't heard the words of the Cruz Knight.
This time, the Cruz Knight finally noticed something was wrong. He put aside the fat man in front of him, raised his head and glanced at Brando somewhat weirdly, realizing that this was the principal of these Eruins, although he was not. Knowing who the other party is, but this doesn't prevent him from speaking, he replied somewhat arrogantly: "What's the matter, guys, do you plan to stay here all the time?"
Brando took a look at this guy. He had been used to the arrogant faces of these Cruz people in his previous life-central nobles like Veronica, Lenaret and Brende were slightly better, but especially at these borders. The Cruz soldiers, because they have more opportunities to contact the Eruin people on weekdays, it seems that the trembling refugees and the Eruin nobles who have seen the empire have long been spoiled with their temper-so this group of people almost They are the most arrogant group of people in the empire. In their eyes, the Eruin are only slightly more advanced than the beasts. This ethos became especially obvious after the first Black Rose War. In the later period of Eruin’s rejuvenation, it even affected The players of Cruz, dealing with the Cruz empire of that era, is simply something to make Eruin players mad.
In comparison, this attitude is good now, at least without cynicism on the surface.
But Brando didn’t feel the slightest gratitude because of his “better” attitude, because he was here to look for things. For him, this purpose is actually optional. He stared at the Cruz knight and couldn't help but said in his heart that he did not live or die, but he still suppressed his emotions and replied indifferently: "We are here to go to the empire, so naturally we won't stay here. I won’t go back the same way—Mr. Cavalier, do you understand."
"Very well, what do you mean?" The Cruz Knight seemed to have heard the funniest thing in the world. He looked at Brando and his group as if looking at a group of idiots, wondering if this group of hillbillies came from some He came out of a remote place and had never seen the world before, otherwise how could he stay like this
"What we mean is that you must follow the etiquette and open the front door to welcome the envoys to enter the fortress. This is related to the dignity of the kingdom, and it is also to prove to the world that you Cruz people are at least not ignorant of etiquette." Brando replied concisely. road.
The Duke’s daughter opened her mouth at the back. Let’s not talk about the Cruz knight. Even she felt that her head, the lord, suddenly became so rigid. The Cruz people made it clear that they wanted to belittle them and give them these'countrysides'. People's got off the horse; how can these diplomatic etiquette be reminded by Lord Earl? Obviously, the Cruz people already knew it well, but they did it deliberately. But if Brando does not reveal the last trace of the fig leaf, then both sides can still have a trace of face, but after Brando reveals it, if the Cruz people still insist on doing this, then their embassy can lose even the last bit of face. Nothing left.
But of course she didn't believe that the Earl Tonigel was really so innocent. She faintly felt that Brando seemed to have deliberately forced the other side to this death road.
Knight Na Cruz also changed his face at the same time.
"What are you talking about," he couldn't help but yelled a little angrily, "I said, it's impossible to open the door of the knight in wartime. Didn't you understand, sir?"
"This is within the borders of the Kingdom of Eruin and the Empire of Cruz. I have never heard of any war." Brando seemed to take the reprimand of the knight as a whisper, and only replied lightly.
"Really?" The knight couldn't help but sneer: "Then you can persuade Lord Marquis, this order is given by him, if you can convince him that he believes that this place will not be threatened by war, I will naturally personally Open the door of the knights to welcome you into the city."
Brando glanced at him and replied: "Well, I will persuade your lord Marquis, but according to etiquette, you are not qualified to meet us. Originally, this honor was reserved for your lord’s deputy. But if I come forward to persuade him, then he might have to come out to meet us in person as a plea."
The Cruz Knight couldn't help staring at him with wide eyes, as if looking at a lunatic.
"Daydreaming." He said, he finally dropped this sentence and said, "Well, if you don't plan to go in with me, then you can just wait here. Of course, you are always welcome to convince us. The Lord Marquis."
After all, he left Brando and his party and returned to the fortress with his own men, as if he really didn't intend to pay attention to these inexplicable Eruin hillbillies.
After the Cruz people left, Avram, the Duke’s daughter, and the others' eyes fell on their head subconsciously. In his heart, Avram only thought that the Lord Earl wanted to show off his courage. Okay. Advancing as a retreat, but the young lord obviously did not expect that the Cruz people would never eat it. And the Duke's daughter was silent, obviously in her heart the same idea. But the problem is that the Cruz people have already left. They, the envoy, can’t stay here forever, but whether it’s turning around or begging the Marquis, it’s a disgraceful thing. It’s obviously theirs. The head of the team provoked it, so if someone is to come out to deal with the aftermath, then naturally the head of the head should be the first to take care of the aftermath.
But Brando didn't seem to take it as the same thing. He looked up at the towering city wall, then turned around and said lightly to Charles behind him: "The Cruz people's obsession, sixty years ago Sixty years later, and today, this has never changed. Charles, go to my carriage and fetch my sword."
Avram hasn’t understood what this sentence means, but the Duke’s daughter who is more astute than him has already reacted. She stared at them, the head of the envoy, as if only remembering the other side of the other party. A heavy identity-Juggernaut.
"No," she hurriedly objected: "Master Earl, you must not be so impulsive!"
Brando looked at her and asked, "Why am I impulsive, Miss Ouni?"
"He actually asked me why he was impulsive!" The Duke's daughter almost couldn't help pulling her hair. She originally thought Brando was just a little young and vigorous, but now it seems that the other party is completely mad. She couldn't help but said loudly: "If you are going to intimidate and hijack the Lord Marquis, you may start a war."
Brando couldn't help being a little stunned: "Who said I'm going to coerce and hijack a real nobleman, Miss Ouni, you can't slander my reputation."
"Are you not going to do this?" The Duke's daughter was startled.
"certainly."
"you swear?"
"Princess, although I don't like to make jokes, but now your joke is a bit too much." Brando replied solemnly.
The Duke's daughter became suspicious now, she couldn't help staring at Brando suspiciously.
But Brando really didn't intend to kidnap the bullshit Marquis in the past. First of all, he didn't know where the opponent was staying. He couldn't kill seven in and out in this fortress. But at this time Charles had already brought his saber. This sword was not the dark earth sword he was used to, but a crystal-like long sword that was carved from ice crystals. .
Brando took the sword, squeezed it in his hand, then raised his head and stared at the fortress with a history of nearly four hundred years.
"You have to figure out one thing, Miss Ouni," Brando replied, "I never do such troublesome things."
After speaking, he raised his sword and waved at the gate of the fortress.
A bright silver line seemed to rise from the ground, and in an instant, diagonally into the sky—
…