I will be crowned king

It is indeed pleasant to chat with a smart person who is honest - at least superficially honest - not only because the other person knows how to give in and compromise, but also is good at grasping the key points of the problem.

This is really important.

On the surface it was Ian Clemens who was holding his ground, but Anson now knew two vital pieces of information: The key to Phil Cressi's ability to make the Faithless Knights work for him was to target members of the Order. Full knowledge of personal information and the curse of black magic; and the black mage responsible for casting spells is currently in White Whale Port!

Otherwise, how could Ian Clemens protect him?

As for the specific location, Ian will definitely not tell him, and he probably doesn't know either - after all, the other party also has the task of monitoring him, and it is likely that he is not acting alone.

However, considering that they have to monitor in a city with complex terrain and dense crowds, the other party will definitely not be too far away from the daily activities of the three of them. In addition, they also need to be hidden to avoid being discovered by them, so the available areas are very limited.

As long as this black mage is killed, even if there is no on-the-spot uprising, at least the Faithless Knights can be freed from the absolute control of Fel Crecy.

In exchange, Anson helps them kill the Black Mage and release him from control, and Ian Clemens can stop more members of the Faithless Knights from being enemies of himself or even the Free Confederacy...a very good deal.

After all, if these local snakes who have been operating in the New World for hundreds of years are really not afraid of death, the trouble they cause will be much more dangerous than killing a few intelligence officers.

After thinking for a while, Anson already had a rough plan in his mind, so he took the initiative and said:

"Where are you going when the party is over?"

Ian's eyes flickered slightly, and he clearly understood what he really wanted to ask - the Faithless Knights' next target of operations in Beluga Harbor, and their subsequent activity area.

After all, if you want to kill or even capture the black mage alive, they are the obvious bait.

"Oh, I can't tell you this." Ian said solemnly:

"But I can assure you that no matter what, we will not break our previous commitments and secretly leave Beluga Harbor - if we must leave, we will let you know."

He will not leave, so the black mage is definitely not in the port area and several communities near the city gate. The rest is the central square and adjacent commercial streets and areas where rich people live... Anson nodded:

"In that case, I see no need to continue talking today."

"I feel the same way." Ian stood up slowly, gave him a meaningful look, and prepared to step forward to shake hands with Anson and say goodbye:

"It is a shame that we have not been able to resolve the conflict between us."

He was so happy that he couldn't open his mouth from ear to ear... Ansen complained in his heart and put his hands behind his back in a pretentious manner.

Ian Clemens, who was chilled, didn't take it seriously and silently turned around and walked toward the door.

"I'll give you one last piece of advice, Your Majesty the Commander-in-Chief." He held the doorknob and said in a deep voice with his back turned:

"The connection between the Cressy family and this land is not as simple as what you see; if you really want to be an enemy of this ancient family, it is best not to just rely on the blessings of the three old gods."

"The ones who are more likely to be blessed may be your enemies."

After saying that, the leader of the Faithless Knights left the study without looking back.

Is he reminding me to be careful of the Old Gods in the "Land of Rest", or suggesting that if we want to confront the Cressy family head-on, it would be best to have the Church of Order behind us... Expressless Anson glanced at the closed door At the door, his eyes fell on the "Life of Saint Isaac" that the other party had just read.

I don’t know if it was a coincidence or something, but the book lying flat on the carpet happened to be opened when it was put down, and it was the paragraph at the end of the story:

"...Full of tears, Carlos I knelt down in front of Saint Isaac's couch, clasping his already cold and stiff palms tightly. The last words of his dead friend kept echoing in his ears..."

"...Don't cry for my death, don't cry for anyone else's death, and don't have any regrets, because regrets and death are not directly related things..."

"...Those simple-minded little fools always think that as long as Isaac Rand dies, things will have an end... No, no, no, death is not the end..."

"...Death, it is the beginning..."

……………………

After confirming that the Faithless Knights had left Wetzler's residence, Anson did not rush back to the banquet living room. Instead, he stayed in the study for more than half an hour, reading two short stories and smoking a pipe.

On the one hand, this is to stagger Ian and the others and avoid being aware of the relationship with the Faithless Knights; after all, the White Whale Port is no longer deserted than before. With its prosperity, it has also introduced more external forces, as well as local emerging forces.

The vast majority of the five-hundred-person parliament headed by Speaker Mason are local "old wealthy families" who have been completely subdued by Anson and Thalia.

The new president of the Chamber of Commerce represents the "local capital" that has just settled after the Luen family and the Beigang Cecil family worked together to attract investment and is ready to reap the dividends of colonial development.

For example, the owner of the Beluga Port Shipyard who has good relations with various committees and has many sources of power is a representative of the colonial rising faction; he is a second- and third-generation immigrant in terms of identity, but he is not on the same side as the old colonists who only know mining, logging and farming. people.

Among the three parties, the only ones Anson can absolutely control are Speaker Mason and most of the original five hundred members; internally they have completely surrendered, and externally they need the Stormtroopers and the Rune Family to continue to protect their rights and not be squeezed by emerging forces. and encroachment.

As for the League of Trustees, small groups of Old Gods, groups of adventurers and mercenaries, ambitious pioneers, local fugitives wandering around...the various small groups and organizations are too numerous to mention. .

Letting these people stick to their duties and unite sincerely - or appear to be sincerely united - under the command of the Rune family and the Storm Division headquarters is also one of the purposes of today's dinner.

Putting the "Life of Saint Isaac" back in the bookcase, Anson, smoking a pipe, silently left the study and walked along the deserted corridor toward the stairs leading to the first floor.

As soon as he returned to the living room, he immediately saw Mason Wetzler standing under the crystal chandelier, sternly questioning two innocent-looking servants.

The normally majestic Speaker was going crazy at this moment.

According to his wife, Lord Anson Bach and his sister Lisa should have arrived at least an hour ago; but now the dinner has officially started for fifteen minutes, and they have been searched through the entire mansion but they cannot be found. The figure - not even the slightest trace!

Well, I have to say that there is a little clue: news came from the kitchen that the blueberry pie and lemon cake prepared for the guests were missing one-tenth, and a servant swore that he saw a "fast running ghost." , most likely it is the gluttonous Sheriff.

The problem is that the guests present are not going to appreciate Sergeant Lisa’s marksmanship and big eater performance. They are here to guard the Commander-in-Chief of the Garrison!

What Mason was worried about was not that anything would happen to Anson Bach—it was impossible for something to happen to the commander-in-chief who could counter-kill the assassins—what really frightened him was that this dinner was simply a cover, and the other party planned to abandon him and choose another place in Beluga Harbor. spokesperson!

This is not an unrealistic delusion, but has a solid basis: since Beluga Port has gradually prospered, he, the speaker, has become more and more unable to manage the colony than in the past. More and more uncontrolled groups are growing rapidly. rise.

One of the reasons why the Luen family and the headquarters support the Wetzler family is that "Chancellor Mason" can at least control the apparent strength of all parties in Beluga Port.

Now don't explain it on the surface, even the members who were relatively honest before are starting to get ready to take action due to the increase in wealth. At this time, it doesn't seem to be surprising to abandon themselves as puppets, choose someone who can better control the situation, or even end up personally. actions...

Just when Mason was confused, a familiar figure suddenly caught his eye:

"Commander-in-Chief?!"

The cry of panic and a little surprise made the crystal chandelier in the living room shake.

The living room that was bustling just now suddenly became quiet. The guests were either surprised, inexplicable, curious, or stunned... They looked back at the dumbfounded Speaker Mason, and then followed his line of sight to the person standing on the stairs, looking down at the entire scene. Young man in the living room.

The suddenly "exposed" Anson first gave a slightly apologetic look to the panicked Speaker Mason. The latter immediately understood, walked quickly to the stairs, faced the door, and raised the wine glass in his hand:

"Everyone, please suspend your current chat. Colonel Anson Bach, commander-in-chief of the Beluga Port garrison, is here at the banquet and has something to tell you!"

The excited words and the echoes from the walls around the living room spread to the garden outside the door.

Soon, the guests who were originally scattered in the front courtyard gathered one after another, and the inside and outside of the gate were quickly overcrowded, and some people were even squeezed out. The smarter ones avoided the stairs early and occupied the corners of the room.

After looking around at the crowd below, Anson smiled and said:

"Everyone, thank you for being here tonight, and thank you to the respected Wetzler family for preparing such a unique gathering; in the name of the Circle of Order, I would like to express my sincere blessings and gratitude to everyone."

"Because such a dinner, a gathering that brings together all groups and classes in Beluga Harbor, will have an unimaginable significance; I can say without exaggeration that after tonight, the fate of some of us will be Let’s change this!”

Slowly walking down the stairs, Anson, still smiling, gently held the shoulders of Mason, who was still a little uneasy:

"Some of you may know, or you may still be in the dark - just a few months ago, Governor Sophia Franz, who was far away in the city of Clovis, personally issued an order to establish an investment bank in Beluga Port. , and called on many local wealthy businessmen to participate in this activity."

"Other people may even know that the people involved in this investment are not only the nobles of Clovis, wealthy businessmen, the Parliament of the Dominion and the Rune family...including myself, I also have a place in it."

"Because this bank is not just a tool used by a dozen or a dozen wealthy people to manage their assets. Its success will determine whether Beluga Port and even the entire New World really have hope of rising!"

"And the very few of us who are quietly promoting this matter already know that the Northern Chamber of Commerce... is also very interested in this project."

"Once the Northern Chamber of Commerce is willing to invest in this bank, you must have an idea of ​​what a huge backlash it will have in the old world."

Before he finished speaking, many of the guests around him had expressions of surprise on their faces, while others could not help but raise the corners of their mouths, feeling proud that they were well-informed.

Whether they were industrial owners who were in urgent need of more funds to expand production, or wealthy merchants who took advantage of the ocean trade between the mainland and the colonies to make profit, they all knew how much impact this bank would have on them once it was completed.

As for the fate of the Northern Chamber of Commerce, money actually comes second. The key is to inspire the investment confidence of countless people - their presence means that the development and prosperity of the entire Beluga Port are endorsed.

"And now, I can finally use this opportunity to deliver an excellent news to everyone!" Anson took the wine glass from the servant on the side and raised it to the crowd:

"After several rounds of secret negotiations and the victory in the Battle of Sailing City, the Roland family behind the Northern Chamber of Commerce has reached an agreement with us. They will bypass the Chamber of Commerce itself and directly invest in our bank together with the northern nobles of the entire empire!"

When the words fell, it was not just a part of it this time. Even Speaker Mason, who was holding his shoulders, staggered and almost fell down the stairs.

Although he escaped death in the end, the shock on his face did not diminish at all.

The Northern Chamber of Commerce and the Roland Family seem to be just differences in front of and behind the scenes, but the gap is simply bigger than the proxy war and the overlord's personal fate!

After all, no matter how powerful a chamber of commerce is, its confidence is limited. Even if the Roland family is behind it, many things cannot be done openly; but if the other party ends up personally, then the meaning of the whole thing will be different.

Anson on the side seemed to think that the shock to everyone was not big enough and exciting enough, so he was ready to continue to the next level:

"As long as things go well, the direct successor of the Roland family, Reinhard Roland, will be willing to serve as the president of the bank; the human, financial and material resources of the entire northern empire will be continuously transferred to Beluga Port - —This beacon city of the new world!”

"Cheer and celebrate. Under the blessing of the Ring of Order, our city will become the most dazzling corner of the new world, and the light will spread to every place willing to follow her - praise the Ring of Order!"

“Praise to the Circle of Order——!!!!”

The guests who responded enthusiastically shouted loudly and drank the wine in one gulp.