I will be crowned king

Red Hand Bay, port.

Although an armistice has been declared in name, the New World Army stationed here still dare not show any slightest care.

Watchtowers, walls, trenches, artillery forts... The town, which is armed to the teeth, is filled with 5,000 soldiers with live ammunition, 60 artillery pieces of various sizes, and temporary shield vehicles converted from trucks scattered at various entrances and exits in the streets and alleys, all empty. The shops on the streets were closed, and no pedestrians could be seen. It was like a ghost town.

Even in such a solemn environment, there was not a trace of tension in the air of Hongshou Bay; hiding in his own home, he could not help but look out excitedly at the parliament in the center of the town, as if he had a premonition of something and was vaguely looking forward to it. .

Everyone knows that today is the day for negotiations between the Jihadi Army and the Free Confederacy.

Although it was just a negotiation in words, perhaps because everyone subconsciously did not believe that the Free Confederacy could defeat the jihadist army assembled throughout the Old Continent, they had unreasonably regarded it as a harbinger of peace.

This perfectly fits the speculations of Storm Legion and Louis Bernard. Even if the Holy See is really sincere, the Free Confederacy will be at a disadvantage because of this - the other party can negotiate with you without any preconditions, but you have not done so in advance. If you already have what you want, you have to pay the price for it.

As for what to give, how to give it, whether to give it, and if so, how much to give... all of this depends on the final result of the negotiation.

Sailing City, Black Reef Port, Gray Pigeon Castle, Slave Port, Straw Town...all the colonies that have gone through the war are eagerly looking forward to the two people who dominate the Thirteen Colonies to give them a satisfactory answer.

Yes, although nominally the highest authority in the entire Thirteen Colonies is still the Supreme Council, everyone knows that it is just a cover. The real center of power is in Sailing City, Beluga Port, and the New World Army Headquarters, those two On someone who truly holds an army.

Their every move is the key to determining the fate and future of the Free Confederacy.

………………………………

"I'm sorry, I just agreed to the negotiation without discussing it with you."

"Don't worry about this kind of thing. You are the marshal of the New World Army. It should be up to you to decide whether to accept it or not."

"Your officers, and Thalia... think so too?"

"Do you want to hear the truth or let me lie?"

"……Need not."

In the not-so-spacious smoking room, the young knight with a slightly depressed expression poured himself half a glass of ale, avoiding Anson's slightly amused gaze.

He actually doesn't like drinking, or any drink or food that affects his mind, as it would reduce his control over the power of his bloodline.

But after personally controlling an army of tens of thousands, mobilizing logistical supplies measured in tons, and controlling the lives and deaths of millions of people, no matter how much he hated this feeling, he had to admit that a little relaxation was indeed important.

Even if they are already powerful talents, as long as they have not got rid of the restrictions of flesh and blood, their instincts will still have an impact on them, just like now... Even if Ansen smokes in front of him, he will not feel it. A little bit disgusted, even a little bit intoxicated.

As an autonomous assembly of a wealthy colony, the various facilities and furnishings of the Red Hand Bay Assembly are no less than those of Beluga Harbor, so it also has certain inevitable problems - its protection is not very good.

Poor colonies often use small stone bunkers as parliaments, because it is the only safe place in the entire town. The wealthy naturally feel comfortable, with brick walls, wooden beams, floors and a complete water supply and heating system, which is grand and elegant. It is comfortable and can deal with ordinary bandits and bandits, but it is not so good in front of the artillery of the Jihad Army.

Having learned the lesson of having people in the parliament and cannons coming from the sky, the Free Confederacy no longer dared to hold meetings in such an obvious building and let the artillerymen of the Jihad Army shoot fixed targets. There were only two people in the huge parliament, so naturally they had no choice but to Huddle up in the small smoking room without looking too empty.

Breathing out a puff of smoke, Anson took the initiative to pour wine for the young knight: "I understand what you are worried about, and I can tell you clearly that this negotiation will not have any practical results and significance; the goal of the Holy See is to bring all of us together They will kill all the people and burn all thirteen colonies to ashes. They will not give up. This is what Bernard told me."

He played a word game here. Bernard's wish was for the liberals, the Old Gods, Anson and the Rune family behind him, not everyone in the literal sense.

But how can such corrective remarks that are not conducive to unity have the shocking effect of killing millions of colonies?

"Then you brought him to Red Hand Bay?"

The young man actually frowned slightly: "Isn't there a risk of being snatched away by the other party - don't forget, Uncle Bernard is the person who knows this land best among the Jihadi Army!"

"Of course there is, and it's not low, but the role a person can play is directly related to his own wishes." Anson shrugged: "If he doesn't want to help the Holy War or the Holy See, what does it matter if he is taken back? use?"

"You mean he..."

The young knight's eyes lit up, but before he could finish speaking, there was a slight knock on the door outside the smoking room.

After a moment, the expressionless Fabian pushed the door in, stood at the entrance and gave a military salute to the two of them, and then looked at Anson:

"Sir, our guests are here."

……………………

Accompanied by the loud sound of the bugle, the sea outside Red Hand Bay was filled with majestic figures of giant ships - Clovis's bloody unicorn, the golden iris of the Hereid royal family, and the pure white ring of order. , as well as the flags of the Royal Navy of Clovis, the Imperial Fleet, the flags of various warships, wealthy families with a long history, and armies with glorious historical heritage... Countless flags swayed in the sea breeze, making it dazzling.

On the Red Hand Bay Pier, everything from the city wall to the beach was crowded with people. Those who dared not leave the city also opened their windows, leaned out desperately, and tried their best to look towards the sea, their faces full of excitement. and exciting colors.

At this moment, they seemed to have forgotten that they were facing enemies and robbers who came to slaughter, ravage, and rob themselves. They seemed to be ordinary people who had stayed in remote countryside for many years, looking at the noble and wealthy people who had come from afar with envy and yearning. relative.

Even many soldiers couldn't help but put down their rifles and stared at scenes they had never seen before and dared not imagine. They stood there blankly. Their consciousness had already left their bodies and was brought to the scene by the shocking scene. another world.

In contrast, the expressions of the Confederate congressmen who rushed from the rear for this negotiation were very complicated; although they all knew that the gap between the Free Confederacy and the Jihad Army was huge, but only those who truly saw it before their eyes Only then will we realize how big the gap is.

Such a huge fleet, so many enemies...are we...really fighting the entire Old World?

This... how on earth are we going to win?

Under the breathless pressure, all the words and vocabulary were extremely pale, even shallow... Surrender was the first word that popped into their minds.

As the marshal and commander-in-chief of the New World Legion, Louis and Anson stood at the front of the welcoming crowd, surrounded by the officers of the Storm Legion and the knights of Sail City, looking coldly at the three-masted sailboat that was slowly approaching the dock.

Behind the crowd of spectators, where no one could see it, David Jacques and his young apprentice had begun to wave their brushes, vividly depicting the various attitudes of the people in front of them facing the Jihadist Army. , a new work called "Kingdom Arrival" is about to be released.

In the center of the picture, there is a young Holy See knight stepping down from the ship; wearing a simple and capable knight's attire, with a sterling silver Ring of Order badge hanging on his chest, his soft facial lines make him look very handsome. He is gentle, more like a priest than a knight of judgment.

But such an ordinary young man made everyone present feel like they were facing a formidable enemy, as if he were the judge reading out God's will... After hesitating for a moment, David Jacques drew two more Holy Spirits, one on top of his head. One is pure and kind, the other is evil and ferocious.

"What's wrong?"

Realizing that the Grenadier Commander next to him had a slightly strange expression, Anson glanced at him knowingly: "Do you know each other?"

"We had a chance encounter...during the siege of King Yser Pavilion." Fabian nodded slightly, and cold sweat quickly ran from his temples: "At that time, he represented the Judgment Knights and came to convey the final decision of the Holy See to us. .”

"……Yeah?"

Anson wrote lightly, recalling the fire from the sky that almost cost him his life: "What's your judgment?"

"This is an extremely difficult guy." Fabian deliberately lowered his voice and lip movements:

"He will pretend to be a considerate and good old guy, get the information he wants from the interlocutor, and then tell the truth about his true intentions, using the cruel facts to drive the other person to the bottom."

"If I had to force a comparison, it would be very consistent with the work style of many Guardsmen in the past...it's disgusting."

Seeing the flash of disgust on Fabian's face, Anson smiled heartlessly.

In addition to these, the Faithless Knights also provided another part of the information about this "Sir Philus" - the other party is not only the personal adjutant of the Grand Master of the Judgment Knights, but also a legion commander of the Holy War Army. A deeply hidden blood mage.

This is not something that should be surprising... Since the Inquisitor's team can have spellcasters, the Judgment Knights, which symbolizes the highest combat power of the Holy See, can of course also do so. It is even normal for the Judgment Knights to have blasphemous mages.

But there is no iron ring on the opponent's neck that confines the power of the three old gods.

Anson narrowed his eyes slightly and looked at the other person's smooth and clean neck. He quietly turned on the "superpower" and didn't notice any trace of magic.

Could it be that……

"Long time no see, His Excellency Brigadier General Anson Bach."

With a smile that made people feel like spring breeze, Philus stopped ten steps away from both sides, bowed to everyone, and took off his hat: "You still look as healthy as before."

"Really?" Anson responded calmly: "Why don't I remember that we have met before?"

"Don't remember? Brigadier General, you are really a noble man who forgets things." Philus still smiled:

"Of course we have met, but we have not exchanged greetings in person - on the day of the fall of the Royal Court of Yser, I was already at your headquarters in order to submit the Holy See's reply to the Clovis Kingdom's proposal. How could I not have done so? Have you met?"

Before he finished speaking, Louis next to him glanced at Anson in astonishment. He remembered clearly that Anson and he had entered the Yser Palace at that time. How could he stay at the headquarters outside the city?

Although he couldn't understand it, he could vaguely feel that the other party was threatening or blackmailing him in this way... The young knight's expression was slightly unkind, and he gently lowered his hand that was about to reciprocate.

"And you, it's my honor to meet you, Sir Louis Bernard." Philus still maintained a gentle smile: "Your brother Kroger Bernard is the knight I admire most in my life. ,none of them."

"Ah... Including everyone present, I am very happy to meet you on such a beautiful and picturesque day. On behalf of the Holy War Army Headquarters and everyone in the Judgment Knights, I would like to express my sincere greetings to you all. Sincerest regards!”

As he spoke, the smiling Sir Philus kept greeting everyone present, but very few people were willing to respond to him; whether it was the Imperial Knights of Sailing City or the officers of the Storm Legion, they obviously preferred the man in front of him immediately. He died suddenly on the spot and continued to fight to the death with the Jihadi Army.

"It's better to stop talking nonsense." Louis said coldly: "Since you are here, you must be the plenipotentiary representative of the Holy War Army?"

"Me? Of course not!" Philus waved his hand mockingly: "I'm just a herald on the front line, and I can't afford the qualifications to negotiate with real big shots like you; my only mission is to inform you. The negotiation delegation is about to arrive."

"Soon?"

The young knight raised his eyebrows: "You mean, they haven't come yet?"

"No, they are already here." Philus shook his head: "It's just that the preliminary preparations were too complicated, so it took a little more time. Mainly because...ah, they are here!"

Before he finished speaking, Philus, whose eyes lit up, raised his right hand and pointed at the blue sky above his head.

Soon, there were exclamations from the crowd and the beach.

Countless pairs of eyes slowly looked above their heads. A black spot, a faint black spot tore through the clouds and mist in the dome, coming towards Red Hand Bay with an unparalleled sense of oppression.

Staring at the whistling shadow, Louis Bernard subconsciously murmured:

"A heart of compassion?!"