Crystal clear drops of water slide down from the bright red lychees, and there is a hint of sweetness in the air.
Although it is already winter, the planting techniques that the half-elfs are proud of still allow lychee, an off-season fruit, to appear in the palace.
Colin was sitting high on the half-elf throne at this time, letting Queen Elsa put a peeled lychee into his mouth with a look of enjoyment.
The beauty is in her arms, the soft words are warm and fragrant, and there are sweet lychees.
Ke Lin has to admit that Ruanrou Township is really a tomb of heroes.
It's no wonder that so many heroic figures who once called the wind and rain have lost their ideals and aspirations by the luxurious and corrupt life.
"Your Majesty, Viscount Alston has been brought here." The attendant reported from the palace.
Queen Aisha just got up from Colin's arms, gracefully arranged her half-open clothes, and then ordered in a flat and natural tone: "Bring it in."
Colin also stood up from the throne and stepped off the high platform.
Two guards also escorted Viscount Alston in from outside the hall.
"Okay, you guys back off."
The guards led the order to leave the palace, leaving Viscount Alston hunched over, carefully saluting Queen Aisha and Colin.
The once high-spirited Viscount of the Eastern Realm is now extremely embarrassed.
Colin came to Viscount Alston and greeted with a smile: "Your Excellency, Viscount, are you satisfied with the hospitality these few days?"
"Satisfied, satisfied! Your Majesty's hospitality to my humble servant is impeccable!"
Ke Lin smelled the sour smell left by the other party who hadn't showered for many days, so he quickly stepped back a few steps to distance himself.
"As long as you are satisfied. I came to you today to ask a few questions. If you answer well, His Majesty will consider letting you go back to the Eastern Territory."
A look of joy appeared on Viscount Alston's face, he nodded repeatedly and said, "Excuse me! I will tell you the truth!"
"Who told you the whereabouts of the Black Cavalry?"
"This... I don't know about this either. Really, Master Angelet, I really didn't try to shirk on purpose. The military order to set up an ambush in the Shadow Canyon was directly issued by the Duke of St. Pros. Don't mention me, I'm afraid even the Marquis Vincent would Don’t know what’s going on with this.”
Viscount Alston looked embarrassed, and seemed to be worried that he would not be able to answer the first question, making the other party think that he deliberately did not cooperate. After thinking about it, he quickly added:
"However, the one who accompanied us to the Shadow Canyon back then was Mage Cusius, who is the deputy speaker of the Yevil Council and a powerful sixth-order mage.
Therefore, I suspect that the Battle of Shadow Canyon was probably instigated by Yevil Council behind the scenes. "
Colin frowned immediately, unexpectedly involving a mage force, which seemed to complicate the current situation.
However, Ke Lin always felt that the Yevil Council might be involved in this incident, but they must not be behind the scenes.
The nobles of the empire have always been full of repulsion and vigilance against these mages, and it is impossible to let them lead by the nose.
But looking at Viscount Alston's appearance, he probably couldn't get any more useful information.
So, Ke Lin changed the subject: "During the siege of Silvermoon City, did you intercept the carrier pigeons from the northern border?"
This time Viscount Alston nodded decisively: "Yes. Moreover, he still came from Ice Rock City."
Colin cheered up, and quickly asked, "Where's the letter?"
"The letter... I don't know where it went..." Viscount Alston was in trouble again, but then he said quickly, "I remember the general content of the letter, and I can repeat it to you."
"explain."
"Okay. There are three things mentioned in the letter.
The first was about the Duke of St. Hilde. The letter stated that more than half a month ago, the Prince of the North of the Troll Empire, His Royal Highness Otto Volkin, a paladin, suddenly appeared in Winter City and invited the Duke of St. Hilde to a duel.
The Duke of St. Hilde challenged immediately, and the two fought until the sky was dark, the sun and the moon were dark, and finally the battle was a tie... "
"Tie?" Colin exclaimed, "You mean, the Duke of St. Hilde is actually a paladin?"
"I'm afraid so, otherwise he wouldn't be able to force the paladin Otto back."
Ke Lin didn't expect the first news in the letter to be so explosive.
Only then did he understand why the Marquis Garcia held back after being betrayed by his brother.
Originally, he thought that the Marquis of Garcia was unwilling to let the Saint Hilde family fall into infighting, but now it seems that he probably knows his brother's cards!
This also explains why the Duke of St. Hilde dared to marry Vera to the half-elven kingdom in an attempt to gain a foothold in the Eastern Territory despite internal instability.
Suppressing the shock in his heart, Colin motioned for Viscount Alston to continue.
"The second thing is to say that the grain harvest in the northern border has been in short supply this year, and slave rebellions have occurred frequently in various places, and they have intensified. The Golden Lion Army has sent troops to suppress it under the order of the Duke of St. Hilde.
The last thing is that there is also a lack of food in your viscounty territory, which also caused several rebellions, but fortunately they were all suppressed in time, and the current situation is fairly stable. "
After hearing the three messages in the letter from Ice Rock City, Ke Lin fell into deep thought for a while.
Now he feels more and more that there is a pair of mysterious big hands manipulating all this behind the scenes.
The previous doubts could not help but resurface again.
Who poisoned Lord Adams at Lion's Roar
Who ordered Sith Savoy to assassinate Vera
Who encouraged the East to send troops to the Shadow Canyon to ambush the Black Cavalry
Who arranged for the paladin Prince Otto to challenge the Duke of St. Hilde
And it happened to be at a time when the rebellion broke out in the northern border.
Thinking about it carefully, I am afraid that even the slave rebellion that is breaking out in the northern border was instigated and induced by others.
If the Duke of St. Hilde hadn't deliberately concealed his strength, he might have died in a duel with the paladin Otto at this time, and the northern border would certainly have fallen into chaos without a leader.
Considering that the Black Cavalry was ambushed in the Shadow Canyon, one of the most stable military pillars in the North collapsed.
It can be judged from this that the real purpose of this mysterious person behind the scenes is to plunge the northern border into civil strife!
Thinking of this, Colin couldn't help but see Earl Uman's gloomy face.
When the troll invaded back then, Colin suspected that the trick this guy offered to the Duke of St. Hilde might have evil intentions.
Could it be that this time, Earl Uman planned all this behind the scenes
Colin's silence made Viscount Alston feel uneasy, and he asked cautiously after a long time, "Master Viscount, do you have any other questions?"
Colin came back to his senses, shook his head and said, "That's all. Well, I will release you back to the Eastern Region as promised, as long as you can bring a letter to the Duke of St. Pros for me."
"Please tell me."
"Tell the Duke of St. Pros that if you want to redeem his son, you can exchange it with the Marquis of Garcia."
"Okay, I will definitely bring the message to you."
Waving his hand, Colin signaled Viscount Alston to step back.
Seeing Colin who was in deep thought, Queen Aisha seemed to realize something, so she walked to Colin's side and asked softly, "Are you leaving?"
Ke Lin nodded: "Yes, I must return to Ice Rock City as soon as possible. I am afraid that there will be a great chaos in the northern border."
Queen Aisha didn't persuade her much, she just threw herself into Colin's arms and said softly: "If you need any help, please tell me."
Ke Lin felt the soft body in his arms and the fragrance around the tip of his nose, and said with a smile:
"I do need your help."
(end of this chapter)