I will be crowned king

"A group of Clovis and Hantu people were invited to appear at the emperor's banquet, and they were the most distinguished guests-if someone told me this a few years ago, if he was not crazy, then I was crazy. ”

Accompanied by a familiar tone, Bernard Maulvis came from behind a nearby pillar with two glasses of wine and stood in front of Anson: "I must admit that you are really good at creating miracles."

"You're too polite." Anson glanced behind the other person. Just as Bernard was approaching, four or five more eyes were cast on him almost immediately: "I'm just an ordinary person, with slightly better luck than others. Just Clovis soldiers."

"A little better luck...ha!"

The smile on Bernard's mouth was a little weird: "Let me remind you, modesty is a good thing, but excessive modesty will turn into a sarcastic mockery to others; you are already a winner, there is no need to treat our group of defeated generals Be polite.”

While speaking, he handed out one of the glasses of wine in his hand; before he could speak, Anson took the glass and drank it in one gulp.

"This is really..." Looking at the nonchalant guy in front of him, Bernard, whose expression kept changing, murmured to himself: "You...are you really not worried about me poisoning the wine glass?"

"Of course he's not afraid!"

A vicissitudes of voice sounded from the side: "Or maybe you really did that and played into the hands of this 'lucky soldier' ​​- Clovis was poisoned at the emperor's banquet. God knows how much the empire will have to pay for this." A heavy price to pay.”

The two of them looked back at the visitor almost at the same time. He was a middle-aged man with a slightly gloomy face. The sparse temples and forehead were already gray. He was wearing a delicate and close-fitting dark green robe covered with complex and delicate patterns, like a certain person. This majestic bird spreads its wings and demonstrates to the surroundings.

It was at the same time that he appeared that all the probing glances from around him that were still casting towards him disappeared, for fear of being avoided.

Bernard's expression was obviously not good after being interrupted. He suppressed his anger and introduced Anson: "Ahem! This is..."

"Descendant of the Wind Rider, Levent of Cantal." The middle-aged man seemed not to give him a good look at all, and squeezed in between the two of them: "Nice to meet you, the ruler of Clovis, your name I’ve heard about it a long time ago.”

"...early?"

"Ed Levent, I wonder if you still have some impression of this name?"

Archduke Levent smiled half-heartedly: "If you have forgotten, please allow me to remind you that the Empire's Green Dragon battleship seems to be still parked in the port of Beluga Harbor."

Battleship Green Dragon... Anson raised his eyebrows. Of course, he would not be unimpressed by the unlucky man who was first captured by William Cecil and then killed by the Tomb Keeper of the Three Old Gods in the New World.

The reason why he pretended to "forget" was mainly because he and the Levent family had "deep grievances" - the Hantu Unification War destroyed the economic intervention of the southern empire in the Hantu region, and the entire New World Jihad Levent Legion army Overturned.

You must know that Bernard Morvis was a standard southerner and a loyal ally of the Levent family before, but now he has to defect to the Bernard and Roland families in the north...

Now that he saw that he, the "chief culprit" who had caused heavy losses to the family, could maintain such a graceful manner, to be fair, Anson couldn't help but praise him for his good temper.

"Of course I won't forget it." Clovis said with a serious look on his face:

"Although they are opponents, if I were to point out the most offensive force during the New World Holy War, the Levent Army deserves it. The appearance of the Wind Knights fighting bravely in the snowstorm is really impressive."

"You flatter me."

It seems that Anson's boastful words spoke to the other party's heart, and more likely because Archduke Levent originally came to show his goodwill:

"Although the price paid was heavy, fortunately, it also allowed Levent to fully understand the reality; neither the vast soil nor the new world was what Levent should pursue. A peaceful and united world of order is more in line with the aspirations of us southerners. Benefit."

"It is also in the interests of the Clovis people." Anson nodded seriously and said, "We Clovis people have always been staunch pacifists and never provoke war easily."

It seemed that he was greatly shocked deep in his heart, and the corners of Bernard Maulvis' mouth twitched vaguely.

"I didn't expect that we actually have so much in common." Archduke Levent's expression further relaxed: "If you don't mind, please move a little and allow me to introduce you to a few more like-minded friends."

"Uh...there's no need for that!"

Bernard, who had been silent for a long time, finally couldn't help but jump out to intercept the other party and tried to stop him: "Anson Bach is the distinguished guest of His Majesty. According to the imperial tradition, he should..."

"clang--!"

The expressionless Archduke Levent suddenly grabbed the table knife on the table next to him, and the metal blade made a pleasant sound when it touched Bernard's glass.

Of course, Bernard would not enjoy it at all. There was only a slight difference between the tip of the knife and his right index finger, and his fingers were obviously no more difficult to cut than a steak: "You...?!"

"I advise you to keep silent, old friend."

His gentle tone revealed the urge to kill. Archduke Levent glanced at the frightened looks around him and fiddled with the knife as if no one else was watching: "Guess, if I kill you now, Roland and Bernard will How will your family react?"

"There's no need to answer, because they won't do anything. Before Bernard's little ambition is satisfied, he still needs to please me, a damn southerner... A smart person like you must understand such a simple truth."

Looking at Archduke Levent who was still picking his teeth with the tip of a knife as if nothing had happened, Bernard's cheeks twitched slightly.

Throwing the knife aside to the waiter, the Grand Duke, who had "arrogance" carved on his forehead, made a gesture of invitation toward Anson.

After hesitating for a moment, Anson smiled apologetically at Bernard and followed Archduke Levent with the wine glass handed to him.

The crowd that would still cast glances from time to time seemed to have completely blocked the existence of the two. Even if they passed in front of them, they would not frown and continue chatting and laughing with their friends around them.

Of course... it is not difficult to see without any deliberate observation. The smiles on their faces are so stiff and deliberate. They are not aware of the sweat on their temples running across their cheeks. The content of their chats also turn to the evening sunlight or the stars at noon. .

"Do you think I'm arrogant?"

Before he could stop, Archduke Levent, who had his back to Anson, turned around and asked: "From your perspective, maybe I look like the kind of fool who says harsh words and will sooner or later not survive tonight?"

Facing the other party's scrutinizing eyes, the Clovis Governor, who was silent for a moment, gave his own evaluation:

"...I think you know your situation and what you want."

This answer obviously satisfied the other party, and the corners of his mouth raised in a very subtle way for a moment.

"It seems that I did not pick the wrong ally. Your Excellency, you are indeed a worthy candidate." Grand Duke Lewente's expression became obviously more solemn when he addressed him:

"Whether we were enemies or friends before, neither you nor I are the protagonists in the Dragon City Palace tonight; the northerners are eager to pull the Herred family off the throne, but they dare not let me, a southerner, become the emperor. "

"And they are still wary of Clovis and want to use the Osterian royal family to suppress us."

Anson followed his words: "Change a new emperor, the Clovis people withdraw their troops, and return the world of order to the state it was in before the ninety-ninth year of the Saints Calendar. This is probably their final idea."

"Exactly!" Grand Duke Lewente nodded in agreement: "But anyone who is a little sober should understand that nothing can go back to the past."

"Clovis has a new face, the land has been unified, the Ysel elves are decadent and difficult to rise, a new country has been born in the new world, and even the three countries of the North Sea are about to be united under one flag... The world of order is being completely cleansed Cards, those guys who stick to their old ways are destined to not end well."

"Your words should be very popular in Clovis City now." Anson smiled: "Shuffle, change, new world, new era...all kinds of slogans, the excitement can be described as a grand occasion Unprecedented.”

"And such a grand occasion is all thanks to the Excellency in front of me."

Archduke Levent's expression became more and more playful: "I said I came here to make friends, and friends should be sincere, so I will tell you that the Levent family has only one purpose this time, and that is that Bernard must not log in. Ascend to the throne!"

"Oh?" Anson couldn't help but raise his eyebrows: "I really didn't expect that you actually..."

"of course not!"

Grand Duke Levent immediately retorted: "Let me watch that incompetent insect continue to occupy the position of emperor? Don't even think about it!"

"That……"

"I think my thoughts have been expressed clearly enough, my dear friend."

Archduke Levent's attitude suddenly cooled down: "Now, it's your turn to show your sincerity."

Facing the other party's look that seemed to suddenly kill someone, Anson did not answer immediately, and instead began to appreciate the wine glass in his hand.

He knew what the other party meant - first of all, the emperor could not continue to stay on the throne. This was the consensus of all the princes; but if Archduke Bernard ascended the throne, it would be worse than now.

If Archduke Bernard, who controls an important commercial port, ascends the throne, the future center of the empire can only be in the north and the sea. As the representative of the south, the Levent family will definitely suffer further suppression, and their interests will not be taken care of. Less and less important.

Therefore, the best, or least bad, option for Archduke Levent was to maintain the status quo, but he hesitated during the Battle of the Halberd. Levent's army watched the emperor's army retreat without firing a shot... …

If he still wanted to reconcile with the emperor at this time, not to mention whether the latter would accept it, he would first of all have betrayed the princes with whom he had previously formed an alliance; the consequences of being a traitor twice in a row would be to be beaten by everyone. .

So it seems that Archduke Levent is arrogant and respected by everyone, but in fact he is tolerated by everyone else because he has the value of being used and united; anyway, when Archduke Bernard ascends the throne, he will no longer be an important figure— —Only one of the six Grand Dukes.

At this time, Clovis, who seemed to be an "outsider", obviously became his last life-saving straw.

In fact, it is not difficult to tell from the attitudes of the people around him that this Archduke Levent is probably not a "nice gentleman". He can be so sincere because his ship is really about to sink. No matter how uncomfortable he feels, he has to endure it. Angry, calmly win over yourself.

But... isn't this just a coincidence?

It seems that this is exactly the same as my own needs!

"Me? I'm... Sorry, it should be said that Clovis doesn't want much." Anson picked up the wine glass and smiled:

"To us, the empire is a respected brother. As a member of the big family, Clovis does not want to get involved in his brother's housework; who is the emperor...it doesn't matter to Clovis at all, as long as he takes responsibility. ."

"That's it." Lewent nodded with an expression that said, "I believe you have a ghost." "Then how can I be 'responsible'?"

"Of course I want to find someone who can satisfy everyone and become the emperor of the empire."

Anson explained: "As you said, if Archduke Bernard becomes emperor, it will only satisfy the northerners; but the empire is not only the north. In that case, wouldn't it mean that he can only be regarded as the emperor of half of the empire?"

"you mean……"

"Not just the northerners, the south, even Clovis, Hantu, New World, and the Three Kingdoms of the North Sea..." Anson dragged out his long tail: "The empire is the empire of the ordered world. Of course, the emperor of the empire should let Everyone in the Order World is satisfied, what do you think?"

Archduke Levent's pupils shrank slightly.

Obviously, no one can be satisfied by everyone. No matter he comes from a noble family or a poor family, as long as he holds real power and exercises the emperor's supreme authority, he will definitely be resented by some people.

But on the other hand, isn't that...

"Your Excellency Anson Bach, you are really..." Archduke Levent sighed heavily: "...what a miracle."

"You're welcome. I'm just an ordinary person who is willing to help others. I'm good at providing advice and planning assistance to others." Anson could not help but raise the corners of his mouth:

"Every time, my friends would exaggerate and say that my plan was perfect."

"Boom——!"

At this moment, the sound of bells came from outside the banquet hall.

The laughter in the hall suddenly stopped. People put down their wine glasses and turned to look out the door.

"Ah, our respected Emperor is here."

Archduke Levent raised his eyebrows, and his tone became lighter according to his mood:

"Your Excellency Anson Bach, I wish you a smooth visit. After all, for you and our Majesty, this time is probably..."

"...This is also the last interview."