In the Name of the Queen

Stepping into the Municipal Square, Sif, walking side by side with Roland, finally couldn't help but said: "Are you really blessed by the goddess of light?"

"Truth or falsehood is not important, what is important is that others believe it."

Roland smiled and explained: "This sentence will become a sharp knife hanging over the heads of the Rurik people. As long as I don't die in the next few conflicts, they will automatically be three points weaker when facing me."

Sif hesitated to speak.

Roland was right, the value of what he just said will continue to increase as Roland survives in the brutal battle.

But it would also double Roland's risk.

Sif said nothing, but stretched out her right hand and held it with Roland.

The palms of my hands were wet with nervous sweat.

Seeing Roland confront Sakhalin just now, her heart was still in her throat.

She was worried about Roland screaming every second, but her worries disappeared with the golden light.

Roland won.

Not only did he win the power duel, but he also threw out those fatal words.

This is a group weakening technique for the Vladimir Empire, which is better than any magic.

No need to talk nonsense, she chose to go forward side by side with Roland.

Holding Sif's delicate and slender hand, Roland was in a particularly wonderful mood.

Shaking hands with a bear is not a pleasant memory.

Sakhalin's strength surprised him.

However, shaking hands is not a serious attack gesture after all. Sakhalin was unable to shake the divine blessing, but he knocked down almost one-tenth of the shield.

Roland could feel that Sakhalin was not giving his all.

The big bear seemed to be worried about some non-existent enemy.

Distracted and fighting in the air, and at the same time limited by attack methods, it can knock out one-tenth of the shield, which shows the strength of Sakhalin's hard power.

In a fair one-on-one fight, Sakhalin is fully capable of tearing the shield apart.

The moment the shield was broken was the moment Roland went to the underworld to report.

Seeing that Roland was silent, Sif knew that he was still reviewing the conflict just now, and said with a smile:

"Roland, Sakhalin was a superpower who was famous in the mainland twenty years ago. You have only been a superpower for a long time, and your potential is far higher than him. As long as you are given time, he will never be your opponent."

time?

Roland and Sif were silent at the same time.

What they lack most is time.

In silence they walked across the square to the town hall.

The guard politely made a no-passage gesture and said softly: "Sir, our government is about to stop functioning. If anything happens, please find the new government in the afternoon."

There was a hint of sadness in his tone, and the guard was still faithfully performing his duties.

Although he doesn't know where he will go to work tomorrow, he is now a guard at the city hall of the city-state of Vaal.

Roland looked at the guard's calm face and said with a smile: "I am Roland, the Governor of Northern Rodinia in the Sussex Empire. I have an appointment with Mr. Tony. There is still half an hour, so I can make it."

The guard lowered his arm in a please gesture.

He did not continue the cross-examination.

The city of Vaal is about to be destroyed, so a symbolic obstruction is worthy of the salary.

The Sussex man can't be stopped by an executive, so he can't.

The guard sighed and looked silently at the city flag flying in the square.

In the last half hour, oh, twenty-nine minutes, this glorious flag is about to fall.

He is no longer from the city-state of Vaal, but a citizen of God knows what country.

Just subjects, not citizens.

Citizenship is not easy to obtain, and it is even more difficult for outsiders.

The destruction of the country is a big deal, but what does this have to do with his monthly salary of two marks and fifty pfennigs?

On the top floor of the city hall, the executive office.

The door was wide open, and Tony, the uniformed executive, stood in front of the window, looking out the window silently.

The sound of footsteps came from the corridor, Tony did not look back, he just said lightly:

"The city-state of Vaal is about to cease operations. If you have any questions, please come back to the new government in the afternoon."

"That's not possible. I have to deal with you."

A familiar voice came from behind.

Tony's shoulders and back trembled slightly unnoticeably.

He has a good memory and instantly recognizes the voices of uninvited guests.

Governor Roland from the Sussex Empire.

He sighed and said in a particularly cold voice, "Mr. Governor, according to your country's announcement, the official responsible for receiving it is not you."

"That's true. I'm not responsible for the handover. I'm here to find you."

Tony slowly turned around and looked at Roland and Sif, not knowing what to say.

After a few seconds of silence, he looked at the clock on the wall, smiled and said, "Okay, we still have twenty-nine minutes."

"Governor Roland, this is"

"Sylve Sussex York." Sif said calmly.

I haven't used the name Sylph for a long time, but there is an inexplicable feeling of strangeness when I say it.

Sussex and York are both common surnames, but two surnames taken together are unusual and represent royalty.

With Mr. Tony's extensive knowledge, he knew Sif's identity when he heard the name.

Of course he knows Sif's identity, but she often runs around as Lord Tyrone. If she doesn't take the initiative to admit it, then she is just the earl.

Tony sighed in his heart, what should come will eventually come.

Sakhalin came here just now. Although his words were polite, the implication was very tough.

Join the Vladimir Empire or become its enemy.

If you don’t join, you will still be an enemy even if you go overseas.

He did not answer directly, but told Sakhalin that he would reply after discussing with his family.

He had been standing at the window just now.

The view here is excellent, and he can clearly see the whole process of Roland and Sakhalin's confrontation.

There will be a war between Sussex and Vladimir Empire, which is the consensus of the whole continent.

Although the world is big, it cannot accommodate two overlords.

Sussex controls the ocean, and Vladimir is invincible on land.

Tony doesn't want to take sides, but he knows he has no choice.

Like the Val city-state, it doesn't matter what you want to do, but whether you have the ability is the key.

The big whirlpool is coming, and small fish and shrimps can't survive alone.

Sakhalin's conditions and threats are clearly placed there, but it is unknown what conditions Roland and Sylph can give.

He personally poured tea for the guests and asked them to take a seat.

Before Roland spoke, he said calmly: "Ms. Sylph, Mr. Roland, you should have seen Sakhalin just now. He just came to see me."

He cleverly did not call Roland and Sylph by their positions, but used neutral names.

This is not impolite.

Since the city-state of Val has not perished yet, he is still a Val-city native.

When facing foreigners, of course he can address them as Mr./Miss/Ms.

This will also allow him to maintain the dignity of equal status.

This is his last stubbornness.

Roland and Sif looked at each other and handed the conversation to Sif.

Although many people said that he could be Sif's boss, these were all rumors. He never controlled Sif's ideas.

As long as Sif wanted to do it, he would fully support her.

Sif looked at Tony calmly and said calmly: "Mr. Tony, join us. I will give you a stage to display your talents."

Tony is knowledgeable and has seen all kinds of scenes. No matter how clever the words are, they are useless to him. He simply gets straight to the point.

Tony didn't seem to expect Sif to be so direct, and was a little surprised.

After a moment of silence, he asked softly: "If I join your country and don't go into politics, but live a leisurely retirement life, is that okay?"

"Of course."

Sif looked into Tony's eyes and opened her insight.

Tony's head was burning with blazing flames, the flames of hatred and unwillingness.

70% of these flames were directed at the Ruriks, and 30% were directed at her.

Tony was not an ordinary person. He certainly knew that the division of Val City was also due to Sussex.

He was angry, so he didn't want to work for the Sussex government.

Tony didn't expect Sif to accept this condition, and didn't know how to respond for a while.

Just when he was silent, Sif asked directly: "Mr. Tony, do you think that the division of your country has something to do with us?"

Tony was silent for a few seconds, trembling and holding up the teacup to hide his mood, but he couldn't hide it at all.

He simply put down the teacup and gritted his teeth and answered: "Isn't it?"

Roland and Sif seemed to be reasonable people, at least they would not kill him because of his verbal offense.

Although the Sussex people were also robbers, they were at least willing to pretend to be gentlemen.

The resentment that had been pent up in his chest since the international conference finally had a way to vent. Tony stood up and trembled as he accused:

"The only difference between your country and the Vladimir Empire is that you are more greedy. Your ambition to annex the city of Val is no less than theirs."

Sif sat quietly, saying nothing.

She did not intend to refute, Tony was telling the truth.

Since he had already started, Tony simply spoke out.

He named the names one by one, accusing all the barbaric acts carefully packaged by the major powers, among which the most were the Vladimir Empire and the Sussex Empire.

Sif listened carefully, and Roland did not interrupt.

Mr. Tony was indeed well-informed, and many of the things he said were the first time Sif had heard of them.

Although he spoke briefly, Mr. Tony still spoke for more than ten minutes.

There were still ten minutes before the end of the get off work day. Tony sighed a little tiredly: "Ms. Sylph, Mr. Roland, I have no problem with you, I'm just tired. This world makes me feel tired. I just want to buy a manor in the countryside and enjoy my old age."

"I can't do it." Sylph said calmly.

Tony was so angry that he laughed. Sakhalin at least pretended, but Sylph didn't even pretend.

He said unhappily: "Since it can't be done, there's nothing to talk about."

"I'm not saying that you can't buy a manor in the countryside, but you can't enjoy your old age."

Sylph calmly analyzed for Tony, "Mr. Tony, I can accept you being a civilian, but can the Ruriks accept it?"

"I have no reason to send special forces to protect a civilian. Sooner or later, you will reasonably die in an accident arranged by the Ruriks."

"If it's on their side, I don't need to say it."

"I can go to other countries."

Facing Sylph's clear eyes, Tony's voice became smaller and smaller, and gradually disappeared.

This kind of words can fool passers-by, but it can't fool Sylph at all.

Where else can he go?

The Kingdom of Tyrol, the Kingdom of Pruden and the Vladimir Empire have a good relationship, and they will most likely tie him up and send him over.

The Golden Kite Republic is not afraid of the Ruriks, but it will not specifically protect him.

He has talent, but if he doesn't deliver, it's the same as nothing.

His administrative talent makes him the focus of competition among countries, and also makes him unable to stay out of it.

Neutrality is not that simple.

Tony sighed helplessly and asked softly: "Ms. Sylph, can I ask about my worth?"

"Of course, as long as you bring your country's administrative system to serve me, I will grant your followers citizenship. Of course, citizenship is not free, they must pay taxes and make contributions to the empire."

"Citizenship?" Tony was a little surprised.

"Yes, there is no word game, it is an imperial citizen who enjoys all the power."

Tony couldn't believe his ears. This was a price that Sakhalin didn't dare to offer.

Sakhalin promised him high positions, generous salaries, beautiful women, wealth, and even the temptation of being conferred a title, but he was vague about the future of the people of the Val city-state.

In addition to being surprised, Tony still couldn't believe it.

He tentatively said: "According to the treaty, our people are not restricted by the occupied areas and can freely obtain the nationality of any country. Can 500,000 Val people join your country?"

"Very welcome."

Sif smiled and said: "Do you still remember the more than 30,000 wandering refugees?"

Tony's expression was a little stiff.

The fuse for the division of the Val city-state was these tens of thousands of refugees.

Sadness flashed away.

Of course, the fuse cannot be blamed for the explosion of the gunpowder barrel. Even if there was no refugee incident, it would be a matter of time before the city-state of Val was divided.

He understood what Sif meant.

She could accept more than 30,000 refugees under the diplomatic pressure of the Golden Kite Kingdom, so she could naturally accept all the people of Val City under the pressure of the Vladimir Empire.

Tony pondered for a moment and said slowly: "I will inform everyone of your conditions and let them choose for themselves. As for me..."

He asked softly: "If I work for you, how do you plan to place me?"

"I hire people based on their talents and their character. I fully recognize Mr. Tony's character, and it depends on your ability to reach what level."

Sif said calmly: "You can start as the Deputy Director of the Interior Affairs of the Governor's District."

The Director of the Interior Affairs is herself, and the Deputy Director is the actual person in charge of the Interior Affairs Department.

The word "Executive" was brought by Roland, which is a bit strange, but very special.

Tony was stunned for a moment, and didn't quite understand what "Executive" meant.

Roland gave him a brief introduction, and Tony immediately understood.

In name, he is Sif's deputy, but in reality, he is the director of the interior department of the governor's jurisdiction.

He was somewhat caught off guard when he did not expect Sif and Roland to attach so much importance to him.

He almost nodded on the spot, but he still had to be reserved.

He said slowly: "I have to discuss it with my family. I will give you an answer tonight at the latest."

Roland smiled and stretched out his hand to Tony and shook it with him. "Mr. Tony, I believe you will make the right choice."

Tony did not respond, but finally asked: "Mr. Roland, I am a little curious. You and Miss Sif seem to have a very high opinion of my ability. Can I know the reason?"

"It's not my opinion of you, but the opinion of ordinary people in Val City."

Roland said slowly: "In five years, you have greatly increased the income of citizens. This is exactly the ability we need."