(Volume Two [Silver Moon Coup])
The setting sun sprinkled the last ray of brilliance, and then, the boundless night enveloped the land.
Piles of bonfires were lit in the camp, and the guards were busy boiling water for cooking and feeding the horses.
Colin handed over a written letter and a cage containing pigeons to Knight Rego.
At the same time, he ordered: "Rego, return to Ice Rock City immediately, tell Aemon and Quincy about my envoy to the Half-Elf Kingdom, and let them take full charge of the government affairs in the territory.
I will write back every five days to explain the recent situation. If I do not receive my letter on time for more than three days, I will release the pigeon.
In addition, let Knight Raymond and Knight Shire continue to be in charge of training. When I return from the Half-Elf Kingdom, I hope to see a preliminary army.
As for you, after you go back, lead another thousand soldiers to Silvermoon City, the capital of the half-elf kingdom, and meet me there. "
"Yes!" Knight Rego took the cage, turned and left without asking where the carrier pigeon would fly back after being released.
In fact, this is a carrier pigeon given to Colin by the Marquis Garcia before he left. It is self-evident where it will fly back.
Although the Marquis of Garcia didn't say it clearly, Colin already understood what the other party meant...
This time as the envoy to send off relatives, Ke Lin actually didn't need to lead his own troops.
After all, this is not going to war, and the St. Hilde family itself has sent an escort team of thousands of people, which must be more than enough to deal with thieves or wild beasts along the way.
However, Ke Lin felt that he had to control a military force that was entirely his own, in case of emergency.
"Master Viscount, your dinner is ready."
"Send it in."
An attendant walked into the tent with an iron tray, put the food in front of Colin, and then hurried out.
Although Ke Lin no longer needs to eat these ordinary foods, in order not to attract unnecessary attention, he will still stuff the food into his stomach on time.
After eating the food and drinking some "water", Colin walked out of the tent.
The composition of personnel in this camp is a bit complicated, including the guards of the St. Hilde family and the Silver Moon Guard of the half-elf kingdom. In addition, there are many trolls.
Prince Okamoto’s journey back to the Sky Ice Field overlaps with Colin’s journey to the Half-Elf Kingdom, so the two sides will travel together for a while.
The troll prince has been in a good mood recently. Although he didn't marry Vera, he was dismissed by the Duke at will with a woman from the side line of his family, but anyway, this woman's surname is also St. Hilde.
Moreover, the intention of Prince Okamoto's mission this time has been successfully achieved.
The troll empire managed to get a valuable respite.
As for giving the three important military sites on the border of the troll empire to the northern border, this is actually not a big deal.
Because it is impossible for the northern border to place a large number of troops in these three important military areas, otherwise, the thousands of miles of logistics supply lines will drag down the northern border.
And that promise to never invade the North...
Well, it is estimated that the Duke of St. Hilde didn't even believe this kind of promise.
In Okamoto's view, as long as the troll empire can survive this period, there is hope for its resurgence.
"Viscount Angelet, let's have a drink together!" Seeing Colin strolling around the camp, Prince Okamoto greeted him loudly.
Ke Lin looked at the happy-looking Prince Okamoto, and didn't want to go there, but after hesitating for a moment, he still accepted the invitation.
There is no way, since he left Winter City, his side has been deserted.
The St. Hilde family guards were not familiar with him, and Vera had been hiding in the carriage without seeing anyone. The atmosphere in the whole team was very depressed, and there was no celebration that marriage should have at all.
On the other hand, the half-elves were very festive. Prince Tupe almost became a fool, drinking and having fun with his followers every day.
But it was obviously impossible for Colin to join them.
At this moment, Prince Okamoto kindly invited him, and Colin leaned over, just in time to drink away his sorrows and relieve his recent boredom.
"Come on! Your Excellency, Viscount Angelet! Don't keep your head down, there are so many beauties in the world! Why are you so obsessed with this flower, Miss Vera!"
Colin rolled his eyes, ignored Okamoto, just took the flagon he handed over, and poured it directly into his mouth.
"Ahem..." Colin didn't notice the spiciness of the entrance, and choked.
"What kind of wine is this?"
Prince Okamoto smiled: "This is the medicinal wine brewed by the witch doctors of the troll family. It is most suitable for drinking at night. Hehe, it can add to the fun!"
Looking at the wretched smile on Okamoto's face, Colin suddenly realized what the other party meant by adding to the fun.
"You don't have any other wine?" Colin threw the jug back angrily.
"Haha, don't be angry, Viscount. I have a few dancers here. If you want to vent tonight, I can help you arrange..."
Colin turned and ran away in fright.
Troll dancer
forget it.
He would rather go to Miss Wu.
"Oh? Viscount Angelet, don't go!" Prince Okamoto chased after seeing this, "I apologize to you, I really didn't mean to offend you..."
Colin waved his hand: "It's okay, don't worry about me, go back and drink your bar, I'll go around by myself."
"Then I will walk with you."
Ke Lin glanced back at Okamoto and said doubtfully, "Your mission has been accomplished, so there's no need to continue courting me."
"In fact, I really want to make friends with you." Prince Okamoto said solemnly.
Of course, Colin didn't believe that.
But he didn't catch up with Okamoto.
The two strolled to a creek on the edge of the camp.
Looking at the slowly flowing stream, Prince Okamoto suddenly asked: "Your Excellency, Viscount, do you know why the Duke married Vera to Kid Tupe?"
Colin was puzzled for a while—
Could this boy Okamoto have also noticed the open and secret struggle between the Duke of St. Hilde and the Marquis of Garcia about the heir
"Why do you think so?" Colin asked tentatively.
"Political marriage, what else can there be, of course it is for profit." Okamoto said without hesitation.
"Really?" Colin frowned. "I can understand why the duke didn't choose me. After all, I'm just a little viscount and I don't have any value in marriage. And you..."
"Do you think I'm more worthy of marriage than that boy Tupe?" Prince Okamoto suddenly laughed, as if he felt that Colin's praise was very beneficial to him.
"Is not it?"
Colin also realized something strange at this moment.
In his opinion, if the Duke wanted to destroy Vera's inheritance rights, marrying her to Okamoto and Tupe would be equally valid.
Because the northern border would not accept a woman who married a foreign race to become a duke, let alone let her heir—a half-troll or half-elf be the heir to the duke.
But why did the duke choose Prince Tupe in the end
In Ke Lin's view, Prince Tupe's status is inferior to that of Prince Okamoto.
Because the troll empire is far from being comparable to the half-elf kingdom.
Don't look at the dying appearance of the troll empire just suffered a disastrous defeat. But as long as they are given three to five years to recuperate, it is not too difficult to pull out another 300,000 troops.
As for the half-elf kingdom, a small country with a total population of less than two million, no matter how aggressive it is, it is estimated that it has reached its limit with an army of 100,000.
In fact, according to Ke Lin's knowledge, the current number of regular troops in this small country affiliated to the Glorious Empire is only about 50,000.
So, if the duke wants to attract foreign aid through marriage, why would he prefer the half-elf kingdom instead of the troll empire
Seeing that Colin was in doubt, Prince Okamoto smiled and said: "Actually, the Duke married Vera to Prince Tupe, but the real plan is not the half-elven kingdom."
"Then what is he plotting?"
Prince Okamoto stretched out his hand and pointed to the east, and said in a deep voice:
"It's the eastern border of the empire!"
(end of this chapter)