I will be crowned king

Still accompanied by the royal guards, Anson was finally able to leave the Osteria Palace after getting a satisfactory answer from the Queen Mother.

As for Ludwig's almost aboveboard exclusion of dissidents in the Privy Council, and he did not hesitate to use assassination and framing to achieve his ambition of monopolizing power and completely eclipsing the royal family and the cabinet, Anson gave a simple and clear solution: win over local governments. power.

A mutiny and the death of Carlos II caused the aristocrats of Clovis City to completely lose their power to influence everything. Ludwig, who saw through their paper tiger nature, trampled them to death like ants at will; now that the traditional wealthy families have If you cannot defend the royal family, then let the new rich and local factions become the vassals of the royal family.

In fact, similar signs had already appeared in the era of Carlos II. Otherwise, without support, the reformists led by Viscount Bogner would not have been so easy to rise, and they could even compete with the conservatives in the Privy Council. The situation: the Iron Cross Plan, colonial expansion, promotion of the committee system, joint stock system, private banks... and even the reorganization of the Whitehall Street Police by the Guards were all supports and concessions to the new rich.

However, while supporting, Carlos II clearly noticed the difference between the new forces and the old wealthy families. They did not agree with the tradition that "the Kingdom of Clovis belongs to the Osteria family" that has continued from the Dark Ages to this day. Concept, therefore, the reformists are only used as a means to fill the national treasury and a tool to beat the wealthy. In terms of actual power, they still rely more on conservatives.

But Queen Mother Anne obviously didn't realize this. After all, even the most radical imperial nobles were more conservative than the oldest wealthy families in Clovis--of course excluding the Rune family. In her eyes, Clovis There is no distinction between good and bad nobles. They are all treacherous ministers and traitors who have no morality, no limits, no respect for honor, and are always thinking about how to rebel at any time and anywhere.

Of course, it was useless even if she didn't want to. Ludwig's attempt to seize power was already close at hand. Even though she knew that wooing local factions and upstarts would definitely be a poison to quench thirst, and wooing a bunch of sycophants to deal with a traitor, the situation was in front of her, and she didn't want to do it anymore. There is no better way.

As the queen mother, she supported the young lord as regent, and she was also from the imperial royal family. Even if she had contributed to ending the mutiny, she was destined to not be loved by many people; in a weak position, she could only drive away tigers and devour wolves to maintain her position. The royal family of Osteria at least looked majestic on the surface.

In fact, Anne has one last option: to seek refuge with her beloved royal brother and use the power of the empire to interfere with Clovis to maintain her position.

If she had been before becoming the Queen Regent, she would have definitely chosen this path without hesitation, but now her heart has quietly changed - unless it is absolutely necessary, she never wants to see the fleur-de-lis flag of the Empire appear in Oss. On the walls of the Thelia Palace.

But Anson didn't care about this at all. The only thing he cared about was getting the royal family's acquiescence, so that his next plan to organize the "National Assembly" would go more smoothly.

"As long as the local factions led by the Cecil family enter Clovis City, the changes in the situation will no longer be controllable by Ludwig... Well, of course it is also beyond our control."

In the slowly moving carriage, Anson shared the situation just now with Karl who was waiting specially, while talking about his future plans: "Anne Herred may really think that as long as she is willing to decentralize power, she can bribe the local faction, but then It is impossible... Once a precedent is let go, it cannot end, and chaos will continue to simmer until equilibrium is re-established.”

"The Privy Council has executive power, the War Office has military power, so what power will the National Assembly... have over them?"

Anson, who was mumbling to himself, had a meaningful expression.

"I'm sorry, are you really asking me, or are you showing off your 'perfect plan'?" Karl rolled his eyes and completely ignored some guys who were becoming more and more narcissistic:

"Okay, okay, I know that you, a loyal minister, are thinking hard about how to be more loyal to the king... Anyway, the whole army has been tied to the carriage. Even if you don't want to be a loyal minister, you have no chance to get off. ”

"But I still don't understand. You said that the death of Carlos II was related to Luther Franz. His factors were involved in your plan going so smoothly - so why would he be willing to stand by you? Here, instead of helping Ludwig? That is his biological son!"

"Yes." Anson said slowly: "From the perspective of the Franz family, he should do that. To be more precise, he should not even prevent the Army from framing me - if it is really for Franz The interests of the Ci family are actually enough as long as they can keep the Storm Legion."

Yes, that's enough.

Even if it is based on the biggest goal of the Truth Society, "the balance must be broken and the order created by the Church of Order", I am definitely not the one who must survive... I have to find the pusher to break the deadlock and push someone to the front. , Ludwig has no problem at all.

Anson's mind flashed back to that night, when Luther Franz looked at him meaningfully in a tentative tone: "Interview, interesting statement."

"Then...you might as well think so for now."

I was chosen by Luther Franz and the Society of Truth behind him as... spokesperson?

Did it start from that "interview", or was it as early as the chaos in Clovis City...

boom--

With a slight but harsh sound, the slowly moving carriage slowed down and stopped little by little.

"Oh, are we here already?"

The stunned chief of staff muttered to himself, subconsciously reaching for the door of the carriage and preparing to get up and leave, but Anson pressed his shoulder violently.

Seeing Anson's cold expression, Karl, whose expression changed slightly, immediately reacted: "Is there... someone outside?"

"Two...no, there should be three." Anson nodded and lowered his voice: "Do you know the soldier driving the car?"

"Voya Rikar, a non-commissioned officer of the Grenadier Regiment, has been in the Storm Legion since Eagle Point City - it was still the Storm Division at that time."

Without thinking, Karl's eyes were extremely firm: "I don't know about others, but he can't be a traitor."

"I know." Anson took a deep breath: "So... you may have to prepare an obituary for his family, as well as compensation for death in battle."

After the words fell, the chief of staff looked a little heavy, but he silently held the gun at his waist - although he also knew that it was probably useless.

"Calm down, don't be too nervous." Anson comforted him: "I have calculated the distance. It should not be too far from Osteria Palace. No matter who the assassin is, he will definitely not dare to make a big show of it..."

"boom--!!!!"

……………………

A huge roar came from the street not far away, causing Alexey, who was killing time in the tavern and scratching his head on how to write a letter to his sister Lilith and Grand Duchess Brahm, to lose his train of thought.

In order to win the support of the Northern Chamber of Commerce for the Storm Legion, he privately agreed to the Roland family's help - even if he did not return to the Grand Duchy of Brahm immediately, he would at least write a letter and send it back, but he couldn't think of it at all. What to rewrite... Seeing that Alexei was thinking about delaying, the Northern Chamber of Commerce, which had not been able to fulfill its promise, had already begun to send people to urge...

A tidal wave of sound swept in and disappeared in an instant; but the loud and scary movement and the shaking ceiling still made the guests change their expressions, and the originally quiet tavern was filled with hustle and bustle.

Listening to the constant screaming and shouting in his ears, the already bored commander of the 2nd Infantry Regiment tore up the untouched manuscript paper, picked up his wine glass, and prepared to finish his drink and leave.

at this time……

Click——

A cold touch came from the back of his neck, and a familiar memory told Alexei that it should be the muzzle of a large-caliber revolver.

"Lieutenant Colonel Alexei Dukasky... I shouldn't have mistaken the person, right?" A cold voice sounded slowly. Although the screams and panicked shouts in the tavern were obviously more intense, it still sounded so clear: "It is my honor to meet you here."

The expressionless Alexei held the finished wine glass to his mouth, motionless, and his irritable mood had completely calmed down.

"Don't try to escape. There are our people inside and outside this tavern." The other party silently opened the gun, keeping the muzzle close to the back of Alexei's neck: "I still hope that you will be a descendant of the noble Fire Knight bloodline." I’ll leave you with a decent enough legacy.”

"Thank you very much."

Alexey, who was holding a glass of wine, said coldly: "But can you please explain a little bit, what is my value that I need to do it in such a big way and in public?"

"What's it worth? That's very kind of you."

The man seemed to be very interested and chatted with Alexei without refusing: "The future Archduke Brahm, one of the most trusted commanders of the Storm Legion by Anson Bach, your value is simply immeasurable. .”

"Really?" The commander of the Second Infantry Regiment turned his eyes slightly:

"It seems that you investigated very carefully. You even know about such a trivial matter... Fortunately, I still feel that I have the power of blood, so I can hide it."

"No, I just have a lot of friends." The other party suddenly chuckled: "So, Lieutenant Colonel Alexei Dukasky, you..."

"Are you ready to die?"

"If I say 'no', you probably won't agree, right?"

Alexey shrugged indifferently: "It doesn't matter, you can do whatever you want; but before you do it, please tell me one thing..."

…………………………

"Who the hell are you?!"

Norton Crosell's angry shouts echoed in the alley, but were soon disrupted by the messy gunshots - in just ten seconds, the debris under the walls on both sides fell apart like snowflakes Scattered in the air.

Gritting his teeth, the commander of the 3rd Infantry Regiment stood alone in the middle of the long alley. He opened his "dustless land" to block the gunfire from around him. The broken lead bullets were piled up under his feet. Regular arc.

But the opponent does not seem to be eager to execute him immediately, or they are very aware of the special characteristics of the "Dustless Land" - first of all, Norton cannot move at the moment of use; secondly, as long as the Dustless Land is opened, he will Briefly suffocated.

In other words, as long as he is forced to keep opening the "dustless land" without stopping, Norton will be "suffocated to death" by the power of his own blood!

"This is the inner city of Clovis City. The Storm Legion can dispatch a regiment of troops here at any time. Does your master intend to make an enemy of the entire Army Department?!"

"Don't think that killing me will shake the Storm Legion. We have eight thousand people, and the Ministry of War has a standing army of three hundred thousand. If you plan to die without a burial place, you might as well give it a try!"

"A few assassins just want to strangle me... It seems that you are completely unaware of the insurmountable gap between talented people and ordinary people!"

In the alleyway filled with messy gunfire and smoke, Norton kept yelling and questioning the assassin; but his answer was always more ferocious firepower and silence hiding in the dark.

As the gunfire and shooting frequency became more and more intensive, Norton had gradually figured out the approximate size of the enemy - more than 20 people, with acceptable strength, only equipped with light weapons, and suspected to have reserve reinforcements.

Due to the proliferation of weapons caused by the mutiny, these are nothing in today's Clovis City, but the other party would actually ambush me when I secretly left the military camp to find someone to contact the Truth Society... This was enough to arouse the 3rd Infantry Regiment Commander's anger. alert.

As a member of the Truth Society, Norton prides himself on being quite good at anti-tracking and concealing his whereabouts; if the other party can even grasp his own whereabouts, then the rest of the officers, as well as their relatives and friends, including Commander-in-Chief Anson's relatives and friends , members of the "Red Heart" organization...even the Commander-in-Chief himself, I'm afraid they won't be able to escape.

Of course, he was not worried about the safety of the Commander-in-Chief. As one of the few Storm Legion officers who knew that Anson Bach was a spellcaster - in his own opinion - Norton always maintained an almost blind trust in Anson Bach's level of force. ; In other words, even if there is really a danger, Miss Lisa will definitely be the first to take action, and it is not her turn yet.

But those related to the commander-in-chief, as well as the middle and lower-level officers of the legion, may not be...

All in all, the information that someone is targeting the Storm Legion must be reported to the Commander-in-Chief as soon as possible!

Having made up his mind, Norton no longer persisted in dealing with the assassins. He seized the gap between the opponent's attacks and turned towards the exit.

For some reason, just as he was getting out of the battle, the enemies in front and behind him simultaneously gave up their attack, not even pretending to stop him.

But soon he knew why - at the end of the alley, a familiar dark figure came into Norton's eyes, which made his nerves, which had been relaxed just now, suddenly tense.

That's... a twenty-four-pounder? !

The next second, the dark muzzle exploded with gunfire that penetrated the long alley.