Mystery: The arrival of the new Black Emperor

In the St. George District of Backlund, Melissa, who was wearing a gauze hat and exuding a girlish air, jumped out of the taxi, then turned around and smiled in the direction of the carriage: "Thank you Tai Lun, this study tour on Long Tail Island has made me happy." I gained a lot.”

Tai Lun also got off the carriage. He scratched his head somewhat shyly: "For me, the harvest is also great."

He did not expect that his brother Hobert and his sister Donna would quietly build a coveted country on the Rhoad Islands.

The two young men said a few words, and after saying goodbye again, Tai Lun boarded the carriage and left.

Melissa entered the rented townhouse. As soon as she entered, she saw Benson sitting on the sofa in a daze with a letter.

She took off her gauze hat: "Who sent it?"

"Oh, look, our Melissa is back from her trip." Benson smiled immediately.

"It's a study tour." Melissa corrected.

Benson still held the letter in one hand, and poured Melissa a cup of tea with the other: "Yes, it's a study tour."

Then he asked: "How is Changwei Island? Is it really as good as the rumors say? How did you manage your food and accommodation for the past two days?"

"It's better than the rumors, it's... it's full of life!" Melissa described.

She took a sip of tea and replied: "The food and accommodation for me and my classmates are all taken care of by the Governor's Mansion of Changwei Island. They promise that as long as college students come to Changwei Island to study, they will provide free food and accommodation.

"And because of Tai Lun's relationship, we were invited by Mr. and Mrs. Hobert to have dinner at the Governor's Mansion, and Miss Donna also came."

They were a little too enthusiastic about their hospitality, and Melissa seriously suspected that Duke Hobert and the others already knew that she was in love with Tyron.

"When you said that, I wanted to take a look." Benson casually touched his hair slightly higher than his hairline.

Melissa smiled and said: "I heard that as long as you hold the student ID card issued by the South Balam Principality, you can freely enter and leave Longwei Island. After I get the new student ID card, I will take you there."

At present, the relocation of several universities in Luen is basically coming to an end. At the beginning of January, there were professors resigning and students dropping out to protest. However, I heard that the resigned professors and the students who dropped out were escorted away by the police. Southern Continent.

Teachers and students who had been to the South Balam Principality once stopped protesting, because the environment in the South Balam Principality was not as bad as the rumors, nor was it as dangerous and desolate as the rumors.

"Perhaps I will be able to enter and leave Longtail Island freely soon." Benson raised the letter in his hand and said: "This is the invitation just sent to me by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Principality of South Balam. I hope I can serve as the deputy director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. minister."

Melissa was stunned and first thought about whether this was Talon's idea, but then she thought that if it was Talon's idea, he would definitely reveal some information to her in advance.

Melissa thought about Tyron's reaction in the past few days, and it seemed that he didn't know about it.

Thinking of this, Melissa glanced at Benson: "Are you going to give it a try?"

"Yes Melissa, this is an opportunity." Benson smiled helplessly: "After I became a government employee, I discovered that the promotion channels for ordinary people are very limited.

“Positions such as ministers and deputy ministers are entirely reserved for political parties and nobles, and even ‘hereditary ministers’ are very common.

"Sometimes the command of those curly-haired baboons is laughable."

Benson said very solemnly: "I plan to take a few days off to take a look."

Moreover, after school starts in a few days, Melissa will go to the Southern Continent to go to school. If he also goes to the Southern Continent to work, the brother and sister can still have someone to take care of them.

Melissa was very supportive of this: “There’s nothing to lose by going and taking a look.”

At the same time, she planned to ask Tai Lun tomorrow to see if he knew anything inside.

The next day, Benson put on his formal clothes, took a taxi with his cane, and arrived at the South Balam Principality's office in Backlund.

After explaining his purpose, Benson, led by the staff, went to the "Earl's Light" and took the teleportation array to the southern continent.

Benson was shocked by this mode of transportation. When the staff reminded him that he had to sign a confidentiality agreement, he suddenly thought that after asking Melissa if she took an airship to and from Longtail Island yesterday, her sister just smiled and said: no.

At that time, Benson was still wondering, how could it be possible to travel to and from Longtail Island in a few days if not by airship?

Now he finally knew how Melissa got to Longtail Island.

There was also a group of immigrants who went to the Southern Continent with Benson. They were generally dressed in rags, and some of them looked like homeless people.

After Benson was surprised by the teleportation array at the beginning, he quickly returned to his talkative nature and started chatting with the immigrants.

He learned that there are currently a large number of factories in Backlund that have no orders, and factory owners have had to lay off many workers. This has caused many people to lose their source of income and cannot even afford bread.

As for why the factory lacks orders, Benson knows very well that because the industrial zone on the south coast of the Sea of ​​​​Jianhai fell, Loen's industrial system is no longer complete.

In addition to military supplies, many factories are facing shortages of spare parts.

It’s not that there are no orders, it’s that those orders simply cannot be completed as scheduled.

At the same time, Benson realized that the current price of food in Backlund was very cheap. If these immigrants could not even afford bread, they would indeed have no way out in Backlund.

The reason why grain prices are so low is entirely because the "Duke Grain Store" released a large amount of grain.

Benson was worried a few years ago that as the war continued, Backlund would be unable to sell food even though he had money.

However, the challenge launched by several major grain merchants to the "Duke Grain Store" made Benson completely give up his worries.

This commercial war has been talked about by everyone during the New Year period. Not long after the "Duke Grain Store" opened, grain merchants began to purchase large amounts of grain from the "Grain Store" at a price lower than the market price.

Many citizens and workshops and factories that need a large amount of food also participated in this rush buying because they were afraid that the low-priced food would be sold out.

At that time, many people judged that the "Duke Grain Store" would soon fall into a dilemma of having no grain to sell.

Unexpectedly, the "Grain Store" soon opened a night-time grain sales service. The employees were divided into three shifts and sold grain day and night.

The next development of the situation became more and more magical. All the granaries in Backlund were filled, and many citizens had enough food piled up in their homes to last for a year.

However, the price of food at the "Duke Grain Store" has not increased, and it has been selling food 24 hours a day.

Except for a few large grain merchants, other people or factories have gradually withdrawn from the rush to buy.

The grain merchants didn't know where the money came from. In short, their purchases continued until a few days before the new year, and they were able to receive a large amount of spot grain from the "Duke Grain Store".

The food war didn't end until a big grain merchant declared bankruptcy.

The reason for the bankruptcy was that Backlund's food prices had dropped to pre-war levels due to this business war, and they continued to fall.

However, in the early stages of the Commercial War, they were purchased at prices that were two to three times the pre-war level, which consumed a large amount of funds from grain merchants and the nobles who supported them.

It is said that in the end, the grain merchants had no place to store the grain they received, so they rented some cheap factories and piled them everywhere in the house.

Later, I couldn't even afford to rent a factory, so I built an awning and piled them in the yard.

However, because citizens and factories that needed food also had enough grain in stock, the grain merchants' grain was unsalable and they could not sell it at discounts and prices, and they eventually went bankrupt.

It was not until the New Year that news came from the colonies that the accumulated grain in the Rhoad Islands and East Balam had been taken away by a mysterious buyer.

Without exception, the mysterious buyer asked the colonial grain merchants to keep the transaction secret and to pay huge compensation if they broke the contract.

Therefore, when Backlund's grain merchants sent telegrams and sent people to inquire about the news, they did not receive accurate information, which caused Backlund's grain merchants to make a serious misjudgment.

Only then did everyone realize that the "Duke Grain Store" had purchased a large amount of grain in the colony at extremely low prices, and used the ships of the South Balam Principality to continuously transport it to Backlund.

(Because everyone didn’t know the convenience of the teleportation array, they thought it should be transported by the ships of the South Balam Principality, so the major grain merchants were not aware of it.)

In his heart, Benson admired the behavior of "Duke Grain Store" very much. While he made a lot of money, it also greatly suppressed Backlund's grain prices.

In fact, everyone knows that after the war started, Backlund was not without food. It was because the grain merchants had been artificially creating scarcity, so the price of food kept rising.

If there were no "Duke Grain Store", Backlund's grain merchants would definitely take advantage of the loss of the front line on the south coast of the Jianhai Sea and the panic among the people to raise grain prices again.

Benson, who knew that the boss behind the "Duke's Grain Store" was Hobert, now finally understood that the transportation method of the "Duke's Grain Store" was a teleportation array, which was much faster than a ship or even an airship.

While chatting with the immigrants, Benson also learned about the immigration policy of the South Balam Principality. After arriving in the South Balam Principality, tents, food, and seeds will be distributed.

It sounded pretty good, so good that Benson wondered if it was a scam?

But for people who are desperate, it is worth taking such a risk. If it is just a scam, then for them, it is just the difference between dying on the streets of Backlund or dying in the Southern Continent.

If true, it represents a new life.

Many immigrants who had owned land before said bluntly that if they could really get land, they would not sell it this time.

At this time, the immigration officer not far away said coldly: "No one has the right to buy or sell land in the South Balam Principality, they can only rent or lease it."

Benson was stunned for a moment and then smiled and said, "That's a good idea."

He found that the way to prevent land annexation was actually very simple, but no one was willing to do it.

In other words, many times the gentlemen in Backlund know how to solve the problem, but no one does it because it will hurt the interests of some people.

With the teleportation array activated, when Benson came back to his senses, he was already in the Southern Continent.

When he saw the large-scale construction in full swing in Angelou, he knew that these immigrants had made the right bet. Even if there was no land and no food, so many workers were needed here, and there were enough opportunities for them to survive.

Under the guidance of the staff, Benson met Miss Audrey, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the South Balam Principality, in a small office.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs building has not been completed yet." The beautiful Audrey explained with a smile: "We will work in this courtyard for the time being."

Benson nodded, the office conditions were a bit difficult.

"It just so happens that we are dealing with a foreign negotiation incident today. Let's go to the scene together." Audrey wanted to see the capabilities of the second assistant recommended to her by Hobert.

Benson raised the cane he had just put down: "Okay."

Audrey invited Benson to ride in a carriage, followed by several staff and guards, each riding in a carriage.

On the carriage, Benson praised Angelou's great construction and thought the city was very dynamic.

Audrey's first impression of Benson was not bad. First of all, his communication skills were very good. Unlike Mr. Dophis, sometimes she couldn't hear his voice all day long.

If she hadn't known that he was a "ferryman" and knew the situation in the Southern Continent very well, Audrey would have seriously considered Hobert's intention of arranging this assistant for her.

Secondly, Benson had a certain sense of confidentiality and did not take the initiative to ask what the specific content of this operation was. He was just talking about the situation in Angelou City.

After leaving the large construction site in Angelou City, Audrey explained the events that she would be negotiating with others today.

The aboriginal gathering area is now being expanded, but some aboriginal people from the south came and made serious representations, saying that the South Balam Principality had taken away his relatives, and the leader said that it had taken away his subjects.

Benson nodded: "I heard from my friends that developing colonies can easily lead to conflicts with the indigenous people."

After he decided to come to South Balam to give it a try yesterday, he immediately visited friends who knew something about the Principality of South Balam, went to the library to check some information, and did his best to do some homework.

"You may not know much about the situation here." Audrey smiled: "Last year..."

She briefly talked about the original intention and process of building the Aboriginal Gathering Area. Because she had also participated in this project, she was very clear about the Aboriginal Gathering Area and knew the key points of the matter, so she explained the matter clearly in a few words.

Only then did Benson realize that the aboriginal gathering place was really providing living space for the aboriginal people. It was not, as his friend said, imprisoning the aboriginal people together and letting them fend for themselves on the barren land.

At this time, Benson considered the appeal of the aboriginal leader and immediately realized: "That leader did not protest to us because we robbed his subjects."

Audrey nodded with satisfaction: "Yes, according to our analysis, this leader's request is actually to ask us to help him develop his territory free of charge."

Benson finally understood the conflict between the two parties: "They want us to help them develop, but they don't want to accept our management!"

Audrey simply asked: "Do you have any solution to this?"

Benson was lost in thought, and after more than half a minute, he suddenly smiled and said: "Perhaps we can sign an agreement with them. After helping them develop the territory, they will use some of the output we need to pay off the debt and repay our renovation costs. "

“We have discussed this plan with colleagues from the Ministry of Commerce,” Audrey said. “They expressed concerns about whether the indigenous people can repay their debts in accordance with the agreement.”

In fact, the Ministry of Commerce’s original words were: This development cost will most likely be wasted.

Benson realized that Audrey was testing him, so he stopped testing and said the best solution he had thought of: "We can invite the leader and his family to hold public office in Angelou." .”

He smiled and said: "Just tell the indigenous people that this is our rule. Since they want us to help them develop, they must let their leader stay in Angelou.

“The reason why we want to keep this chief is that we don’t understand the living habits of the indigenous people, and we hope that he can serve as our consultant and deal with corresponding issues at any time.

"If a leader stays in Angelou, conflicts between the two sides can basically be avoided, which will be beneficial to everyone. And tell them that we only believe in this leader and do not believe in the authority of others.

"The leader must not be willing to come to Angelou City out of concern, so that his subjects can clearly see the fact that the leader actually wants to fight for his own interests.

“The external conflicts of the indigenous people will turn into internal conflicts. I think they won’t have time to bother us again for a while.

"If the chief's family really wants to come to Angelou, that is not a matter for our Ministry of Foreign Affairs."

Instead, they need to send people to quickly occupy that territory and quickly organize a new government to rule the indigenous people.

"This is a good idea. We will use this plan soon." Audrey gave Benson a high score in her heart. The plan she and her team discussed was similar to Benson's idea.

Benson was relieved inside, knowing that he passed the interview.

After that, the two people really started chatting. From the carriage, you could see tents on both sides of the road. The current building materials were only enough to build the city of Angelou, and the construction of houses in the villages and towns might not start until two or three months later.

Before this, immigrants had to live in tents.

Some live in straw shacks, because these tents come from factories in Longwei Island and South Balam. The current demand is too high and not enough tents can be provided at the moment.

But before winter comes, at least everyone will be able to live in tents.

After arriving at the aboriginal gathering place, Benson listened to Audrey's introduction to the fish ponds and pastures here, and once again marveled at the ingenious way the South Balam Principality government solved the problem.

When he learned that this policy was proposed by Hobert, Benson's first thought was of his curly-haired baboon-like bosses.

At this time, he suddenly realized a problem: Loen's officials did not understand the lives of ordinary people at all. Can they be expected to put forward some bills that take into account the interests of ordinary people?

The subsequent negotiations went as smoothly as expected, successfully turning the unreasonable demands put forward by the indigenous leaders into internal conflicts among the indigenous peoples.

The leader had no trust in the Loen people to begin with, so of course he would not go to Angelou.

At this time, the strategic focus of the South Balam Principality was not in this direction, so Audrey did not use her ability to promote the merger of that territory.

The indigenous people who had protested before began to question the purpose of their leader. However, the leader who had selfish motives could not explain such things clearly no matter how he explained it.

In the end, he has only one way to go, and that is to use strong methods to protect his authority, but this is bound to make him gradually lose the trust of his subjects.

At noon, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs personnel had a meal at the gathering place of the indigenous people. The local mayor killed two fish and a sheep to entertain everyone.

Because the matter was resolved satisfactorily, the atmosphere during the meal was very lively. For at least two or three years, the southern aborigines would have no time to harass this gathering place.

Benson felt very novel about the way of eating fish stew and mutton stew. Although it looked ungentlemanly to eat like this, it tasted pretty good.

After asking around, I found out that this was actually invented by Duke Hobert!

The method is very simple, all you need is a knife and a pot. The key is the use of spices, which can effectively remove the fishy smell of meat.

At the same time, this is obviously different from the rough diet of the aborigines. Benson thought of an adjective while eating: practical.

In his opinion, everything in the South Balam Principality is mainly "practical". That advanced teleportation array is actually used to transport immigrants!

If it were in Loen, it would probably be exclusive to nobles.

And this aboriginal gathering place has turned the aboriginal people who threaten the security of the principality into fishermen, herdsmen and loggers stationed in the southern border for the principality!

The ingenuity of this design made Benson sigh in his heart more than once.

What surprised Benson even more was that Miss Audrey also ate with everyone.

But before everyone started eating, Audrey's maid Anne fished out some meat and soup and put it into Audrey's separate tableware.

But this is already remarkable. If this incident had happened in Backlund, it would probably have been published in major newspapers and magazines, and they would have speculated whether Earl Hall was going bankrupt.

After lunch, when everyone was about to leave, a fisherman gave Audrey the two fish they had just caught. After several attempts, Audrey had no choice but to accept them.

Back in the office, Audrey asked Anne to hand the fish to the kitchen. At this moment, Hobert came in: "I heard you brought back two fish today?"

Audrey smiled and said, "You are quite informed."

Hobert said to Anne: "Let Bob make one of the fish into fish soup. The fish soup he made last time was very delicious."

"Okay, Grand Duke." Anne smiled and said, "I will also pass on your compliments to Bob."

After the three people took their seats in the not very spacious office, Hobert asked Benson what his impression was of the South Balam Principality.

Benson talked about the policy in Aboriginal gathering areas. He lamented: "If all colonies had such flexible strategies, we would not have conflicts with Aboriginal people."

Hobert smiled and said: "But the nature of colonization is destined to lead to conflicts in this process."

He then talked about the current dilemma facing the South Balam Principality. Except for East Balam and Loen's colony in the northeast, the entire principality is almost surrounded by enemy countries. This requires a clever diplomatic strategy.

Hobert said bluntly: "Mr. Benson, I am very impressed by your way of thinking that can see the essence through the appearance. This is a very important ability in diplomatic work."

After talking for more than half an hour, it was getting late, and the three of them had dinner in the office, which was not very spacious.

Dinner was the two fish Audrey received for lunch, which reminded Benson of the rumors about Grand Duke Hobert. It was said that the Grand Duke lived a very simple life when he first became an earl.

Now it seems that his life is still very simple.

The only difference is that instead of eating bread, Hobert asked the kitchen to steam a bowl of rice.

Audrey, on the other hand, had a delicious steak and a few pieces of her favorite vegetable pancakes.

If you ignore the selection of the steak, these meals are basically the living standard of Backlund's middle class.

When Benson talked about that rumor, Hobert smiled and said: "Only when everyone knows that I am rich can my living habits be talked about.

"When I first became a noble, they mostly laughed at and ridiculed my living habits."

Benson chewed the fish meat in his mouth: "This passage is quite philosophical."

After dinner, today's work is over.

Most of the government staff's homes were not in Angelou, and they all took the teleportation array to leave. However, only Benson and Audrey, as well as the minister's maid Annie and golden-haired Susie, returned to Backlund.

After coming out of the "Earl's Light" and seeing the street lights in the mist on both sides of Backlund's road, Benson felt that today's experience was very wonderful.

When he said goodbye to Audrey, Audrey smiled and said: "It seems that you haven't made a decision yet on whether to work in the South Balam Principality.

"But tomorrow's work will involve a lot of confidential intelligence or information, so tomorrow morning, you have to give me a clear answer as to whether you want to work in the South Balam Principality."

Benson didn't expect his thoughts to be seen through. He nodded quickly and said, "Okay, I will think about it seriously tonight."

Back in the townhouse, Melissa was already waiting for Benson in the living room: "How do you feel?"

Today she had confirmed with Tai Lun, who was also very surprised by the invitation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Principality of South Balam.

He admitted that he had expressed to Hobert that he hoped to recommend Benson to work in the South Balam Principality, but his sister Donna started as an ordinary staff member, and he did not expect that the principality would give him the position of deputy minister.

Melissa finally understood that at that time, Donna had no work experience at all, and of course she had to start from the grassroots level. However, Benson had rich negotiation experience, so he was directly invited to serve as deputy minister.

Melissa felt relieved as long as she was sure that this was not the result of Tyron's instigation.

As for Tyron's introduction, Melissa thought it was nothing. After living in Backlund, she knew the role of introduction. It was a way of interpersonal communication where everyone gets what they need.

"Goddess, I still doubt whether I am dreaming." Benson took off his coat, hung it on the hanger and smiled: "Everything there... is unreal."

He took the tea from his sister, but he didn't drink it immediately. Instead, he held the tea cup and fell into deep thought.

After a while, Benson suddenly said: "Melissa, I plan to work in South Balam. Although the conditions there are very difficult, I feel that I can realize my personal value there."

He said very solemnly: "For me, this opportunity may only be once."

Melissa smiled and said, "I support your decision."

When he was in Tingen City, Benson had missed too many opportunities for this family.

Now that Benson has another pursuit, of course she will support it.

So the next day, Benson came to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the South Balam Principality again and expressed to Audrey his willingness to work in the South Balam Principality.

Audrey smiled and said, "Okay, then let's talk about the next important task."

Then she asked the staff to call another deputy minister. The deputy minister was pale and cold, and looked like a dead person to Benson.

After Dophis was promoted to "Ferryman", he recovered all his previous memories, so he is fully qualified for the job of deputy minister.

At the beginning of this ministerial meeting, Benson was very surprised that the important task Audrey mentioned was actually the negotiation with the Fusac Empire!

Benson once thought he heard it wrong: "Are you sure it's the Fusac Empire? We, we are enemies now."

The battle between Loen and the Feysac Empire is already very fierce. At this time, the Principality of South Balam, which is a vassal state of Loen, wants to negotiate with the Feysac Empire?

Benson's first thought was, could this be Archduke Hobert preparing a retreat for the principality? After all, the current battle situation is very unfavorable for Loen.

The reaction of the new deputy minister reminded Audrey of Hobert's attitude when talking about this matter, so she repeated Hobert's words exactly: "The Kingdom of Loen and the Feysac Empire are enemies. , but the king did not give a clear order, and the South Balam Principality will also become an enemy of the Fusac Empire."

Benson opened his mouth, not knowing what to say for a moment.

Thinking about it, you know that there must be no clear order. The South Balam Principality is so far away from the Fusac Empire. The king will at most let the principality attack the colonies of the Fusac Empire.

Then Audrey began to explain the conflict between the South Balam Principality and the Fusac Empire in Pulitzer Harbor. Only then did Benson know that the South Balam Principality was also involved in the war in the Northern Continent.

In fact, it was Hobert who took the "Trunsoest Empire" to help Roen guard Preez Port. Hobert... to be precise, it was the "founder" who repelled the attack of the angels of the Feysac Empire.

Afterwards, although the Feysac Empire's fleet launched another attack, no angels were dispatched, so Hobert did not take action either.

The "Empire" helped fend off the Fusac Empire's fleet twice and saved Pulitzer Harbour.

Now that the one-month appointment time has come, another member of the Loen royal family has been promoted to "Balancer", so Hobert and the "Empire" evacuated.

At this time, the royal family of the Fusac Empire asked for a recommendation from the Church of the Eternal Sun. They also first contacted Upton, the general manager of "Earl's Light" in the Republic of Intis, and elaborated on their desire to negotiate with the Principality of South Balam.

According to the analysis of Hobert and Audrey, the Roen royal family has an additional angel, which puts additional pressure on the Feysac Empire.

They need to call back the Extraordinaries who are confronting the Southern Balam Principality and put them all into the battlefield in the Northern Continent.

Until now, the colonies of the Fusac Empire needed an angel to confront the South Balam Principality here from time to time.

As for the Extraordinaries participating in the confrontation, there were about 120, which was about one-third of the Extraordinary power of the Fusac Empire.

For the Feysac Empire, if this angel no longer has to come to the Southern Continent, and if most of the Extraordinaries can be transferred back to the Northern Continent to participate in the war, it will definitely put greater pressure on the Loen Kingdom.

Hobert believes that since there is currently not enough strength to completely defeat the Fusac Empire and avenge the previous Rocklear City, it is better to simply shake hands and make peace first and defeat the Highland Kingdom first.

After all, after the war in the northern continent ends, the Feysac Empire will no longer be able to initiate negotiations.

Now is the best strategic opportunity to attack the Highland Kingdom.

Audrey was worried that if the Feysac Empire's extraordinary power in the southern continent was transferred back to the northern continent, it would trigger a large-scale collapse of the Loen Kingdom.

Hobert analyzed: "Not in the near future."

In the current war in the northern continent, the Church of the Goddess of Night and some members of the Loen royal family are resisting the Church of the God of War and members of the Feysac Empire royal family in the northern part of Loen.

The extraordinary power of the Church of Storms and Loen Colony resisted the attack from the sea by the Republic of Intis on the Rhoad Islands.

Some members of the Loen royal family are in the west of Loen, resisting the Beyonders of the Republic of Intis.

The Republic of Intis first overthrew the Sauron family and then assassinated Russell. It seemed to be independent and free and democratic, but the bitter fruit of this independent approach was that their parliament was unable to command the extraordinary power of the republic.

In other words, in the extraordinary war, several extraordinary forces lack a common leader.

Therefore, the Intis army still has not broken through Loen's western defense line.

Until the Church of the God of Steam and Machinery, which has many believers in both the Kingdom of Loen and the Republic of Intis, makes its position clear, the extraordinary power of the Kingdom of Loen will continue to be worn away, but a large-scale rout will basically not occur.

So Hobert decided that the current diplomatic strategy is to temporarily negotiate with the Fusac Empire.

Of course, this was a consideration of extraordinary power. Audrey could not explain it clearly to Benson. She could only briefly describe to him the real situation of the current war and the general strategy of the South Balam Principality in the future.

After listening to these analyses, Benson sighed: "Grand Duke Hobert is an outstanding politician and has long-term plans for the future. The Principality of South Balam will definitely have a good future."

At the same time, he is also very clear that starting from today, he will also have a new future.

…

In early February, Hobert arrived at a desolate valley on the central plateau of the northern continent as promised.

Led by a middle-aged woman wearing an Intis-style robe, Hobert came to a stone cave. As soon as he entered the cave, he felt many malicious eyes looking at him.

Hobert knew that this was the headquarters of the organization where his mother April belonged, the Spiritual Research Society.

The members of this organization are very low-key. They seem to be concentrating on some research and rarely initiate any actions in the extraordinary world. Not many people know about their existence.

Hobert exuded a little bit of the majesty of an angel, and the sound of kneeling "thump thump" immediately sounded in the dark stone chamber around him.

After walking forward for a while, the stone room suddenly opened up. Using the space of the cave, a mysterious hall was arranged here.

Apple was sitting in the hall, on the right chair among the two chairs. The dim firelight flickered in and out, making April look like an evil organization.

"Sometimes I still sigh." April stood up, came to Hobert, and looked at Hobert with loving eyes: "You are already a young man!"

Hobert smiled and said: "Time is like falling flowers and running water, gone forever."

April smiled and said, "This metaphor is quite fresh."

She took a deep breath: "In a moment, not only is my own promotion very dangerous, but you also have to be careful about Spike Antigonus. His condition has been getting worse and worse recently."

Hobert nodded: "Okay!"

Apple took another serious look at Hobert, then resolutely walked to the altar on one side of the hall, praying quietly, then took out the potion that she had prepared long ago, and held Hobert tightly with her other hand. The "Order Crystal" given to her before, she drank the blood-red potion in one gulp.

At this moment, Hobert felt that the hall was getting darker, as if some power was coming.

"ah!"

Applely let out a cry, and a pair of wings, some tentacles, and some bright red plant branches and leaves grew out of her back.

Hobert immediately "gifted" these changes to the rock in the cave. The rock shook and turned into a stone man and jumped down from the rock wall.

Although the mutation disappeared, April's face was still full of pain.

Hobert carefully "twisted" the concept of April and the Stone Man, giving Apple's pain and some negative effects to the Stone Man.

The stone man swelled for a while, then grew more limbs, and finally fell apart in pain, which shows how painful April's promotion was.

Then Hobert successively "amplified" April's reason and "tampered" with the surging, uncontrollable power of the potion.

He felt as if there was a force directing the potion to attack April.

Hobert also finally understood the reason why Apple called him here. This promotion appeared to be abnormal. There was a force that wanted to use this promotion to transform Apple.

But Apple has been resisting, and instead used that power to transform herself in the direction she desired.

Such a big move, and she was still in the process of promotion. If she was alone, there would be no way for Apple to fight against the magic potion.

At the most critical moment of promotion, suddenly, Hobert felt something spiritual, and a middle-aged man in his 50s appeared not far away from him.

It was Spike Antigonus who was suspected to have been contaminated by the "Fallen Mother Goddess" hundreds of years ago.

Hobert immediately stretched out his hand and took out the "0-76" Death Sword from the "State of Disorder". While continuing to help April resist the transformation of the potion, he guarded against Spike.

Spike glanced at the rusty and blood-stained "Death Sword" in Hobert's hand, and then said calmly: "What is there to resist? The transformation of her by the great Mother Goddess is a favor to her."

At this time, April suddenly took a deep breath, as if all the pain disappeared.

Her whole temperament suddenly became very sacred, her smile became very loving, and she asked Hobert: "My child, who am I to you?"

Hobert was about to blurt out "Mother", but saw Spike worshiping April.

Hobert vaguely guessed something and abruptly changed his answer to: "Not long ago, I killed the 'Mother of the Siren' and destroyed the huge stone statue among the elven ruins."

"Ai Puli"'s eyes suddenly turned cold: "It turns out it's you...ah!"

Her body mutated again, and red maple leaves sprouted all over her body.

Hobert hurriedly "gifted" these changes to others. Aprile looked ferocious and trembled all over before slowly sitting on a chair in the hall, breathing heavily.

Spike said angrily: "You actually rejected the great Mother Goddess!"

April ignored him. He looked at Hobert and said, "I...I suddenly remembered a lot of things. It turns out that my name is not April, my name is Lilith."

Hobert was stunned: "Fuck me!"