184 Negotiate surrender.

A line of sharp-eyed soldiers line the walls of Edwin Castle.

Unlike the first attack on Castle Edwin, the military flags were flying in the wind without a single swing, and the walls stood firm with no small damage whether all repairs had been made.

When I came inside with a cart full of food, the knights who came to escort me led the soldiers.

“Grand Duke Carr. Welcome."

I nodded my head at the thieving knights.

“Yes. A lot of hard work. ”

“Then I'll search the food cart from now on. Are you sure?”

“Of course I do. Do it.”

The knights hand command the soldiers to search the wagons. It was a scavenger job with our ambushed soldiers on the cart.

The knights gave a complicated look and looked at me as soon as they signaled that everything was fine.

A knight stepped forward and asked.

“Grand Duke.”

“Yes, why? ”

“Why are you feeding our enemies? ”

“You shouldn't starve. Starving will lose your stamina. And we can't see each other as enemies. ”

“Yes?”

When the knights questioned me, I said,

“You guys, what's the point of fighting us? ”

“To defend the Yosrahim Empire. ”

“So we're not enemies. ”

“Yes?”

“I'll see you later. Can I come in, then? ”

“Oh, yeah. ”

The knights opened the gates and began to lead me into the castle.

The knights not only looked closely at whether I was scouting their camp all the way to the command, but also moved towards narrow alleyways that were blocked in every direction, whether they wanted to avoid major military facilities.

However, I could see how thoroughly Edwin Castle was guarded from the fragments.

All the doors to the alleyway and the rooftop were covered with thick dirt to prevent the fire.

It was also clear enough to make a narrow alleyway look wide, for the quick movement of soldiers and supplies.

And on either side of the entrance was a pile of miscellaneous goods, which appeared to be an obstacle that would impede the migration of a heavily fortified enemy soldier, and the main street building passing by the enemy found traces of fortification.

It was also Earl Mihart, the monarch of Mercury.

I've been at Edwin Castle for days now. Perhaps the battle will cost you quite a bit.

“This way.”

The knights arriving at Castle Edwin's palace took me to a reception hall.

There were three chairs at the round table, with Earl Higgs and Earl Mihart seated in two seats.

Earl Higgs said a word as soon as I came in.

“Grand Duke Karl. You really came all the way here by yourself. ”

“I need to talk to you. ”

“If you have something to say, why would the commander of the army need the Grand Duke to come? ”

“The servants said they were going to the Pole themselves, but it was very important. ”

“But I'm sure the Grand Duke has something to say. Surrender.”

“No, I want the other side. ”

“Hmph. I guess that means come in handy." ”

I looked at Earl Mihart.

He shrugged all of his head and beard, as well as his eyebrows. He closed his eyes and sat quietly, reminiscing.

Rumor has it that the Earl is a bit of a bump in the head and beard.

I sat in an empty seat.

“Yes, that's right. ”

“Do you think that's funny? ”

I smiled at Earl Higgs.

“Isn't that what you were expecting? ”

Earl Higgs has been coughing up a hangover.

“Of course we were expecting it, but we never want to go under the Grand Duke. ”

“Why?”

“Count Mihart here, Nana, is of pure Yosrahim blood. We do not want the destruction of the Yosrahim Empire, and we will stop it with all our lives. ”

“What a coincidence. So am I. ”

Earl Higgs narrows his eyes.

“Is the Grand Duke's will different from the Grand Duke's? ”

“Of course it's different. I just brought Sir Riefent, the defeater of Gangdong, down, and soon to eat Gangnam, and the loser of the north-eastern Empire, the House of Karl. Even if the Grand Duke ate in the middle of the Ganges province, wouldn't this be worth a try? No, to be honest, if I bow down to the Grand Duke here, I'm an idiot. ”

How could Earl Higgs argue with such an honest and accurate answer?

Like I said, it was foolish for me to go down here to Duc Rufett and never be in the world again.

I've eaten half of the Empire. How can I bow my head here? We must fight to take the place of the emperor.

“But isn't the Grand Duke the inverse? It would be the same adversary that we accept your offer. ”

“But otherwise, it's an imperial family feud. An armed power struggle. I'm the number nine Imperial heir to the Reich. I don't know about Duke Rufett, but I'm fighting him. ”

Earl Higgs folded his arms and touched his forehead.

Yes, I am Imperial. So if I fight with my uncle the emperor, it's just a family fight.

Although it is now referred to as inverse, the story runs 180 degrees after winning.

The history of the Yosrahim Empire will continue, and today's history will only be recorded in the amount of armed conflict that the Emperor has replaced.

None of this had ever happened in the reckless history of the Yosrahim Empire, and there were a few who were too much rebellious.

“But you're working with Duke Rupert, aren't you? ”

“Oh, I held hands for independence. It's nice to be independent, isn't it? But I think he wants to be more than just independent. This will change the story. Even though I was in a position of interest, I didn't want the reverse revolution. The Yosrahim Empire will fall. ”

“So you were deceived by the Grand Duke? ”

I waved my hand.

The emperor must be blameless. There should be none, and those who discuss it should be true and absent.

If I am deceived here, I become powerless and my authority as emperor falls.

“I was anti-Semitic at first. And I was convinced by the hidden power of the Grand Duke. I have the power to surpass the empire, but it makes no sense not to pursue it. ”

“So?”

“I'm working on it. To protect the Yosrahim Empire. And these two Earls are standing in my way. ”

“We? ”

I was staring at the two earls in turns.

“Before long, Grand Duchess Lupett will take the North of Castle Edwin. Then it won't be long until the institution. And when Duke Rufet takes Hwang, he will devour the entire Gangbuk and central politics of the empire. Then the glorious history of the Yosrahim Empire will be ruined and only the Nam Yosrahim Empire I have built will remain humble. But when I get to the system first,

The story changes. The history of the empire continues. We must win the battle against the Grand Duke, of course, but if we win this battle once, the history of the empire will be intact. And these two Earls are blocking my way. I have to quickly recover the destroyed harbor and cross the river. What should I do? ”

“That's... ”

“I don't have time right now. The history of the Yosrahim Empire changes depending on who occupies the system. Devastated? Or the chance of jumping depends on the two Earls' decision here. If you stop me here, the Yosrahim Empire will perish, and if you help me, the Empire will have another chance.

Hey. ”

Earl Higgs no longer spoke, but remained silent. The Earl thought that if he stopped me here, the empire would be destroyed.

Currently, the troops of the Lupette Air Force were absorbing surrendered local forces and I had 150,000 troops.

Then the Imperial Army should have 550,000, but it wasn't.

If the Declaration of Neutrality continues after House Karl's recent declaration of neutrality, the current emperor's army has shrunk to about 300,000.

Moreover, the Royal Air Force had powerful weapons of Mado. At this rate, the Imperial Army's hand was clear.

“But doesn't Grand Duchess Rufet have a mighty weapon of horses? ”

“Do you think I'm the only one who doesn't exist? ”

“Magic Glove Car? That weapon will never defeat the Unarmed Forces. ”

I raise one lip tail.

“I think so, too. So I have something prepared. ”

“What do you mean? ”

“A secret. You're not friends yet. But I'll let you know as soon as they come under me. ”

I was currently growing a nostril knight from the Imperial Conservatory with equipment from the Kara Kingdom.

Though my lack of combat experience would prevent me from engaging with Grand Duke Rufett's troops, I have an extraordinary plan.

Fulfilling human capabilities with the performance of weapons.

Earl Higgs glanced at Earl Mihart to see if there were any changes in his heart.

“Earl, what do you think? ”

Earl Mihart breaks a long silence and opens his mouth.

“Are you telling me to abandon the Emperor? ”

“But at this rate, won't the empire perish? ”

“There is no empire forever. We just have to fulfill our duty as Imperial officials and disappear. ”

I glanced at Earl Mihart. I don't know why I'm doing this if I haven't been treated as much by my uncle.

The erl has spent his entire life defending himself.

“But if you come to me, there will be no innocent death here. ”

When I spoke of life, Earl Mihart snorted.

“But you will die in the battle against Duc Rufett. ”

“But if the empire breaks in half, more will die. ”

“Isn't it because of the Grand Duke's greed? If the Grand Duke only joins the ranks of the Grand Duke, then the empire will be divided into half and there will be no fighting. ”

“But I had Gangnam after all, and that's what history has told me to do with Duc Rufett. Just as the Earl wants to fulfill his time, so do I. ”

Earl Mihart looked at me for a moment.

“You're good at taking horses. But I have no intention of surrendering. ”

“Even if the Empire falls? Even if more people die? ”

“Everyone dies. That's why discussing death is pointless. The destruction of the empire is meaningless to me. I'm only loyal to people who aren't institutions. ”

I mean, the empire didn't care, but I was loyal to my uncle. I knew it was rigid, but I didn't know he was this stuffy.

“Why?”

“Empires have no will, but men do. There's no reason to be loyal to an unwilling being. ”

I lift one lip slightly.

“Hmm. Interesting. ”

“What? ”

“My loyalty to the Empire and my loyalty to the Emperor bring legend to this end. But the funny thing is, I agree with the Earl. I don't think institutions can outperform humans, either. We are the ones who create institutions. ”

“I hope you understand that. ”

In the harsh words of Earl Mihart, I replied.

“But the system is the fruit of everyone's will. In other words, Earl, instead of following one Emperor, you are against the will of all men. ”

“He also means nothing to me. I'm not distracted enough to be loyal to everyone. ”

“What if the will of all men is included in the will of the emperor? ”

Earl Mihart turns his head toward me.

“What do you mean? ”

“Simple. If Duc Rufet destroys the empire, the emperor suffers a terrible death, but if I take it, the emperor lives. He's my mother's brother. What would your uncle want? Is it an insulting, miserable death, or a humbling, comforting life? I'm well aware of the blood of the Josrahim imperial family, but my uncle certainly chose the latter.

That means the erl is rebelling against the heart of the emperor and guarding his death. Is that what loyalty looks like? ”

Earl Mihart shakes his eyes.

“But what guarantee do you have that the Grand Duke will spare the Emperor's life? Don't even ask for a niece. I don't believe in such nonsense. ”

“Not really. There's no guarantee that I'll let him live. Obviously, you're an idiot if you believe me. But it spares me.”

“Then give me something I can understand. ”

“Promise. Covenant. ”

“Is that what you're saying? ”

I shrugged.

“Well, how else do I show you? You wouldn't believe me if I screwed up my paperwork, would you? ”

“Of course. ”

“Then let's do this. ”

“How? ”

“If I win this civil war, I'll leave you in charge of the defenses of the Merteria River Basin. I'll give you 200,000 troops, so if I kill the Emperor, bring them down." ”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

Earl Mihart sighs for a long time.

“I see. I'll think about it then. ”

“Good. I'll be going, then. I want you to make a good decision. Goodbye.”

I scratched my nose as I was leaving. My uncle doesn't want to kill me, but I'm worried about this. Earl Mihart's complete loyalty was better off without an uncle.

‘Uncle, do you insist on such loyalty so as not to behave as usual. Tsk.’

< Negotiate surrender. > End