I will be crowned king

"So...that's why I'm here."

In the Governor's Mansion of Sailing City, Lieutenant Colonel Carl Bain, chief of staff of the Storm Legion who was in a daze, twitched his throat, looked at the expressionless young knight with trepidation, and said in a trembling voice: "...Probably so."

The moment he finished speaking, he noticed the slight frown of the Governor of Yangfan City, and the corners of his eyes jumped instinctively.

To be honest, whenever possible, Karl is absolutely reluctant - no matter how close the personal relationship is, the Empire and Clovis are still in a state of war, and the reason why Louis Bernard is willing to join the Confederacy is simply that he cannot bear the suffering of Sailing City. The war is raging, hoping to prevent a meaningless war, but it does not mean that you agree with someone's "equality and freedom" nonsense.

Even on this matter, the differences between the two sides far exceed the superficial harmony...Louis Bernard is obviously more inclined to let Sailing City lead the confederation, get rid of the influence of Clovis or Anson Bach, and establish friendship with the empire. relationship, this has touched upon the fundamental interests of the latter.

As for the most critical and fatal factor... Karl didn't dare to think too much about it.

Glancing at the door that was very close behind him, the chief of staff decisively gave up on some unrealistic ideas - trying to unleash his potential in front of a talented person who could chop bullets with a knife and single-handedly put down the liberal rebellion. It ended early as soon as it opened.

Just as Karl was thinking wildly and a revolving door began to appear in his mind, the young knight suddenly spoke:

"that's it?"

"that's it!"

Karl quickly replied: "It is related to the influence and status of the Confederacy in the New World, as well as the survival of the five large colonies in the east. Sailing City's attitude is crucial, so please don't delay, and rush to White Whale Port no matter what. , attend the Supreme Council.”

"Of course, I can understand if you don't want to, but at least please send an envoy who can represent you so that..."

"No need to bother."

Louis raised his hand to interrupt Karl, and said softly: "I will leave now and go to Beluga Port in person."

Um? !

Karl, whose pupils shrank suddenly, was stunned for a moment, as if he had heard something particularly unbelievable: "Are you sure you want to...want to..."

"I will personally go to Beluga Harbor to participate in this year's Supreme Meeting." Louis, who looked at each other, said seriously, repeating what he just said: "Lieutenant Colonel Carl Bain, if this is the purpose of your coming, now Then you can set off to reply to Anson Bach."

"Of course, I personally hope that you can go with me - I heard that you arrived at Sailing City by sea and land under the escort of the Shooting Army. I hope to see with my own eyes this team trained according to the Clovis military system. How about an army composed of indigenous people? Is it okay?"

"Of course it's no problem!" Karl agreed without hesitation, but there was no trace of nervousness in his expression:

"But are you sure you want to go to Beluga Port yourself, and you really don't need someone else to do it for you?"

Looking at the tense eyes of the chief of staff, the young knight did not answer his question. He turned silently to the window and looked out at the Sailing City:

"Your Excellency Carl Bain, you have known Anson Bach much longer than I have, and you know him better. From your perspective, how do you view your boss?"

"A friend you can trust with your life, an opportunist who is good at compromise and adaptability, a trustworthy commander, a devout believer in the Circle of Order, or... an evil heretic?"

Even though his back was turned to him, Karl could still feel the confusion and wavering in Louis' heart from his slightly trembling voice.

This is not because of some kind of stimulation, but because the long-standing pressure was completely crushed by the last straw, and there was an irreconcilable difference between the inner perception of reality and the firmly believed ideas, and there was a huge split.

After calming down a little, he took a deep breath and tried to be as neutral and objective as possible:

“I think it’s all of those things you’re talking about, but it’s all just part of Anson Bach.”

"Is he a believer in the Circle of Order? He should be, but he is certainly not very pious; he is a genuine spell caster, but I think his 'piety' to the evil god is probably open to question."

"As an officer, I have never seen a more frightening, but always trustworthy boss than Anson Bach; and... yes, he is very good at compromise and adaptability, and the title of speculator is placed on him It just fits me perfectly.”

After a slight pause, Karl stood up slowly and looked at Louis' back with an extremely solemn expression: "As for whether he is a friend who can be entrusted with his life, I don't want to answer your question - in my position, I am not qualified to do so. It probably won’t be very convincing to you.”

"……Why?"

"Because if it weren't for Anson Bach, you wouldn't have seen or known me here at all." Karl said seriously:

"If it hadn't been for him, I might have been killed by your soldiers in the trenches outside Thunder Castle, or by your brother, Kroger Bernard, in the castle hall of Thunder Castle, or... I don't know what to do. The thing described... turned into a shapeless corpse."

"Furthermore, the reason why I am what I am now, a chief of staff of a standing corps, a lieutenant colonel in the army, is entirely because of that damn speculator and infidel!"

"As an actual profiteer, I didn't tell you from a pure standpoint whether that guy is a 'friend you can trust with your life.'" Karl laughed at himself:

"You can ask Leon Francois, who has a similar status to you and has better connections. He will definitely give a very convincing answer - of course, we all know what his answer is."

As the first archbishop of the "Ansen Bach sect" and the compiler of the sect's classics, Léon François had only Anson Bach in his heart.

Louis Bernard turned his head, an extremely complicated expression appeared on his face.

"To be honest, Lord Carl Bain, I am a little surprised." Louis said lightly:

"Originally, I was expecting you to say something nice about Anson Bach to help me make up my mind."

"Then I'm sorry to disappoint you, Mr. Governor." Karl shrugged:

"I'm a useless guy, not good at flattery; it's more painful for me to praise others than to strangle me directly. I only say some depressing words that are not helpful."

"No, it's very helpful!"

The young knight shook his head: "You are right. This kind of question should be asked not by others, but by yourself - you did not accommodate my willfulness, but helped me see the truth of the matter. Thank you."

real? Why didn’t I notice... Karl couldn’t help but twitching his lips:

"So you figured it out?"

"No, that's not the case." Louis turned around and put his hands behind his back, his eyes brighter than at the beginning:

"As a believer in the Circle of Order and a bloodline of the Seven Knights, I still can't accept that my best friend made an obvious mistake that would hurt him and everyone else - even if it happened for a reason, even if he was forced to do so, That only shows that he has a clear misjudgment of his devotion to the Ring of Order and the danger of his belief in the Old Gods."

"But this is a personal matter for me, and I am going to White Whale Harbor now to solve the problem of the Confederacy and to aid the five colonies that are suffering from famine and cold winter; compared with their lives and even the future of the entire Confederacy, my personal feelings and Thoughts don’t matter.”

"The rest...I will wait until the whole thing is over and then seriously consider how to solve it."

Louis said expressionlessly, clenching his fists with his hands behind his back; his movements were very small, but they were still keenly captured by Karl.

He was still not completely relieved, but certain principles made him willing to endure it for the time being, at least until the aid issue of the five colonies was resolved and the Supreme Council was over; the chief of staff finally breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, and an unscrupulous boss handed him over The task was perfectly solved.

As for what will happen after that, it has nothing to do with him... Karl reluctantly showed a smile:

"When do we leave?"

"Now!" The young knight's expression was very decisive:

"Although it's a bit rude not to entertain you, but time is tight, let's set off before it gets dark - coincidentally, there is a clipper parked at the port of Sailing City not long ago. We will sail along the coast. If the wind is favorable, we may be able to sail in a few days. Can we reach Beluga Port, okay?”

"sure."

Karl decisively agreed, and he did not want to stay in Sailing City any longer.

The young knight nodded slightly, picked up his coat and walked towards the door. The chief of staff followed closely, and the sound of two hurried military boots sounded in the empty corridor.

Just when he was about to leave the Governor's Mansion, he suddenly seemed to remember something. A certain young knight casually said a word that he didn't immediately notice was abnormal, but he thought something was wrong.

Louis Bernard, what did he just say?

Oh, he said this meeting was about the future of the Free Confederacy, and...

...Survival or death?

……………………

Hantu, Jinshi City.

Holding the letter just sent from Carindia Port, Léon Francois rushed into the palace quickly. His anxious look and his right hand holding the hilt of the sword at his waist made all the guards and servants who tried to stop him stop. They all consciously stepped back and made way for Prince Hantu.

When he came outside the meeting hall and opened the door directly, he happened to look into the eyes of the frowning Claude Francois I. On both sides of the long table stood the knight captains Henares and Ai. Grand Duke Victor Emmanuel, and his best friend Lenore Emmanuel.

Facing the pairs of eyes with different expressions, little Leon, who suddenly felt a little embarrassed, lowered his head slightly and accidentally scanned the map hanging behind his father - the map of the Turbulent Sea.

His pupils, who were about to say something just now, suddenly shrank, and he subconsciously said:

"You...all know this already?"

There was dead silence.

Several Hantu Kingdom ministers looked at each other. Some were worried, some were calm, and some were completely focused on their friends. They wanted to say something but were stopped by the people beside them who raised their hands.

"It seems to be true." Claude I's voice echoed in the hall:

"Since it is an official notification from the Archbishop of Carindia, it means that the Holy See has made a decision and the Holy War against the New World is about to begin... How much time do we have?"

"I don't know, but the letter says it's requested as soon as possible."

Léon Francois immediately stepped forward and handed the letter to his father; but Claude I did not take it, and Henares next to him had to do it for him. After a brief glance, he nodded and said in a deep voice:

"The church requires us to assemble no less than 10,000 troops within at least three months and wait around Eagle Point City. At that time, we will go north along the territory of Clovis, board a ship at North Port, and rush to the New World."

"Ten thousand people? Cross Clovis and then cross the sea again?" Renault showed an unbelievable expression:

"Do they understand that the supplies consumed by 10,000 fully armed soldiers traveling a long distance are astronomical and terrifying?!"

"I think they know."

Looking at the letter in his hand, Henares continued: "It is clearly mentioned above that the Hantu army only needs to carry a small amount of supplies. The supplies from Eagle Point City to Clovis will be deployed by the Iser Elf Kingdom, and from entering the country Clovis will be responsible for all logistics until boarding in Northport.”

"As for the expenses incurred, Hantu needs to bear a small part, and the vast majority of the rest will be provided by the church bank - in the name of the Jihad Army Command."

"Headquarters?" Archduke Aiden raised his eyebrows.

"It is impossible for the church to allow us to act without authorization... There will be a total of six church representatives, the chief and deputy heads of the Judgment Knights, plus six legion commanders and their deputies and staff, forming the headquarters to lead this holy war army."

Henares said as he handed the letter to Grand Duke Ayden: "Based on the scale of the troop dispatch, Hantu may not even be able to get a quota for a legion commander."

"Six legion commanders, that is, six legions... Even if calculated according to the lowest standard, it is at least an army of 120,000 people - not counting the size of the Judgment Knights." Archduke Ayden frowned slightly: "The church is What are you planning to do, sweep away the heretics or raze the New World to the ground?”

"Besides, what are they going to use to transport 120,000 soldiers to the New World?"

"That's not an issue for us to consider."

Claude I said calmly, with his back to everyone, he stared at the map of the turbulent sea: "Our problem is, how to ensure that Hantu will not lose 10,000 elite soldiers because of this meaningless war? "

"Everyone, today's Hantu is still in the stage of recuperation. The funding from the Church Bank is crucial to us, and it is impossible to openly violate their wishes."

"So you are really considering sending troops?" Henares couldn't help but said:

"We just received a formal request, why are we so proactive? Clovis and the Empire must have known about this before us, and we haven't heard of any action from them until now."

"Because of this, Hantu must take a more positive stance - we are not an empire and we are not Clovis. If the new Hantu wants to be respected by the world of order, it must be more positive than everyone else." Claude I He spoke slowly, his expression full of playfulness:

"What's more... they are all waiting."

them?

Looking at the meaningful expressions of his father and Grand Duke Aiden, Leon's face showed great confusion.