Chapter 520 Princess Ethel who turned the tide
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62 Empress Borough, Backlund.
Hobert completed the bestowal ritual and received 6,100 pounds in cash and 8 Beyonder ingredients from Little Sun, which would be paid upon his return to City of Silver.
He put 100 pounds into his wallet, which had been empty for several days, and then sacrificed 6,000 pounds to the "Nation of Disorder." The 5,000 pounds he had taken out earlier would last for a while.
Having earned so much today, Hobert was in a great mood. He asked the kitchen to add a few dishes and planned to have a drink in the evening to relax, as he had been tense for the past few days.
But in the evening, Dophis suddenly came to report: "Earl, Tim, the ambassador of the Feynapotter Kingdom, requests an audience."
"What is he here for?" Hobert frowned: "Decline it."
He was no longer the small lawyer he used to be; he could refuse to see ambassadors whenever he wanted.
Moreover, he had just been made an Earl for tricking the Feynapotter royal family. Why would he meet the ambassador of the Feynapotter Kingdom at this time? Even if Hobert had a thick skin, he would feel embarrassed!
Dophis went out to decline and returned with an envelope: "This is from the ambassador to you."
Hobert opened the letter and read it. It said: Tonight at eight o"clock, in the abandoned warehouse in Whiteland Town, eastern suburbs of Backlund. Don't leave without seeing me.
The signature was: Ethel.
Hobert's eyes narrowed. He looked carefully, and it was indeed Ethel!
At this moment, the letters on the stationery faded rapidly, and finally, only a blank piece of paper remained.
Dophis, who was next to him, asked, "Do you need me to make any preparations?"
Hobert waved his hand gently: "Let me think about it."
He really couldn't figure out the intention of this Princess Ethel to meet with him. Did she still hope that he would go back and help her fight for the position of crown princess?
Hobert shook his head with a smile, that would be too whimsical: Did she want me to pay for the reconstruction of the Alhambra Palace? Hehe, dream on! Uh, it's not impossible for me to rebuild the Alhambra Palace. Whoever enters the palace in the future has to buy a ticket! It's possible to give Ferdinand II and Ethel a monthly pass.
After thinking for a while, Hobert thought: Could Ethel be planning to ask me for help to remove the corruption from the members of the Castiya family?
Last Monday, Hobert noticed in the "Nation of Disorder" that many members of the Castiya family were corrupted by the "Nation of Disorder". If left unchecked, they will definitely lose control or die one after another in the next few weeks to a year or two.
The more Hobert thought about it, the more he felt it was possible: It's hard to say about others, after all, they just finished fighting, and then they come to ask their opponents for help! But Ethel can indeed do such a thing.
Guessing her intention, Hobert began to consider whether to inform the Loen royal family about this matter?
In the end, Hobert shook his head, not because he was soft-hearted or nostalgic, but because he was already an Earl now, and even if he caught another princess from an enemy country, it was impossible to obtain a reward that interested him too much.
Moreover, Hobert also hoped that the Augustus family and the Castiya family would maintain a confrontation, or rather, maintain a balanced state.
Hobert will take action when Philip I wants to accommodate the uniqueness, and Hobert will definitely disrupt the situation when George III wants to be promoted to "Black Emperor" in the future!
Then, the corruption of the "Nation of Disorder" may cause the Castiya family to lose many middle and high-level combat capabilities in the coming period, which may break the balance between the two families.
If Ethel came for this matter, Hobert was willing to help and could take the opportunity to negotiate terms.
So Hobert decided to meet Ethel in the evening, but he couldn't do it without any precautions. Hobert returned to his study and brought "1-104" and "1-106", several "Order Crystals", and his knife to the real world.
Because of the lessons learned from Philip I, Hobert had not brought "Order Crystals" and "Order Wood" with him during this period to avoid being noticed by George III.
Of course, there was no way to drink alcohol for dinner. Hobert ate a simple dinner, told Dophis where he was going, and then used "Travel" to come to Whiteland Town in the eastern suburbs of Backlund.
Hobert estimated that the fact that Tim came to him this afternoon had already reached the royal family's ears, and there would definitely be people from Military Intelligence 9 outside the Earl's Mansion.
But the surveillance of him would not be too strict, after all, everyone knew that he had just tricked the Castiya family, and no one worried that he would have any conspiracy with the Feynapotter ambassador.
The abandoned warehouse was easy to find, because there were only two warehouses in the whole town, one was still in use and the other was abandoned.
Hobert observed around the abandoned warehouse for a long time, and seeing that there was no ambush, he used "Blink" to enter the warehouse.
Ethel had already arrived. Today, she was wearing a knight's uniform with Feynapotter characteristics, sitting on a chair in the center of the warehouse, waiting with her legs crossed.
There was only Princess Ethel in the warehouse. After the two looked at each other, Hobert pulled out a chair and sat across from Ethel across a broken table.
Ethel broke the silence: "Don't you have anything to say about what happened at the Alhambra Palace?"
Hobert smiled: "What's there to say? It's just each for their own master. Aren't you not as angry as you were last week?"
"The matter has already happened, and anger cannot solve the problem." Ethel said with her arms folded: "Moreover, we were enemies at the time, but now we are not."
If Ethel really got angry as soon as she came up, hoping to take the initiative, then Hobert wouldn't indulge her. He would leave immediately and make an appointment another day.
If the other party didn't express their sincerity with real money, then don't make an appointment again.
Hobert smiled: "I am the Earl of the Loen Kingdom, and you are the Princess of the Feynapotter Kingdom. Although the two countries are not in a state of war, the relationship is not very friendly."
"But aren't you still a follower of the "Creator"?" Princess Ethel cut to the key point: "I think you shouldn't want the Castiya family to be too weak either."
In fact, Hobert's solo arrival tonight was very telling.
Hobert was already sure that Ethel was here to find the possibility of eliminating the corruption of her family members.
It's just that he just smiled and didn't say anything more.
Ethel was silent for a second or two. She took a deep breath and asked: "Aren't you curious about what I asked you to come out for?"
The fact that she can talk here unpretentiously is enough to show her level of negotiation, but some things still need to be brought up by her.
Hobert also had his own purpose, so he followed this topic and said: "I am indeed a little curious."
"Last Monday, was the giant bird that determined the direction of the battle an incarnation of the "Creator"?" Ethel asked.
"No, it just carried some of the "Creator's" power." Hobert replied ambiguously.
"The power that He casually revealed corrupted many people." Ethel finally said the key point: "I heard that Backlund is already preparing to go to war with the Feynapotter Kingdom!
"If the corruption of the Castiya family members is ignored, once the two sides go to war, the Castiya family will quickly collapse due to the lack of sufficient Beyonders.
The worst result is that the Augustus family obtains most of the Beyonder characteristics of the Castiya family. Without our checks and balances, the Augustus family will go to war with the Balk family in the Southern Continent sooner or later.
"It's better to eliminate this war from the root and let the Castiya family continue to contain the Augustus family."
She said this as if she was thinking about Hobert, without saying a word of "begging".
Hobert smiled: "For us, these are not very important things."
Ethel continued: "We can protect all your assets in the South Colson region."
Hobert thought: That's right! There is no reason to help for nothing.
But his conditions are more than these: "Give me the right to govern South Colson, and don't send anyone to this area anymore."
Ethel directly refused: "We cannot allow a country within a country to appear in the Feynapotter Kingdom!"
"I am not going to establish a country in the South Colson region." Hobert smiled: "It nominally still belongs to the Feynapotter Kingdom, but it is like a fiefdom that has been divided."
Ethel said: "That's not possible either..."
Hobert simply got up directly: "You can go back and consider it and we"ll talk again."
"You must guarantee that it will not threaten the rule of the Feynapotter Kingdom! The soldiers and Beyonder power in the South Colson region will never leave that mountainous area!" Ethel also stood up.
"Do you have any misunderstandings?" Hobert looked at Ethel: "I am going to use that territory to make money, not to subvert the rule of the kingdom!
"I will also increase investment there and continue to dredge the river to make that waterway and that mountainous area more prosperous, but you don't want any taxes, they all belong to me."
Hobert said with a smile: "If I wanted to subvert the rule of the Castiya family, I would never choose a mountainous area as a base."
Ethel considered it and then said: "If criminals escape to South Colson, police or intelligence agency personnel can freely enter and exit there to pursue them."
She was afraid that it would become a den of spies for the Loen Kingdom.
"I also hate those criminals," Hobert considered it and then said: "Our security personnel will send the criminals you need to you.
"In addition, you must be clear that I will not allow the forces of the Loen Kingdom to enter my territory. As you said, I am a follower of the "Creator."
Ethel nodded almost imperceptibly. Hobert's last sentence made her feel a lot more relieved, that is to say, Hobert will govern there as a follower of the "Creator", not as the Earl of the Loen Kingdom.
"I can't make the decision on this matter, I need to report it to Feynapotter immediately." Ethel said meaningfully: "The complete South Colson area used to be the territory of an Earl, which is quite in line with your current title."
Hobert spread his hands: "You gave up your rule over that area."
Ethel did not continue to discuss this topic: "Wait here for a while, I"ll go out for a while, and I"ll give you an answer immediately."
Hobert sat back in the chair and watched Princess Ethel leave the warehouse. Don't mention it, her back looks quite heroic.
In fact, for a princess, being able to risk going to an enemy country to negotiate with the enemy's Earl, especially the enemy's Earl who obtained his title by tricking the Castiya family, is enough to show her courage.
Ethel came to a small room outside the abandoned warehouse. She knelt on one knee on the ground and reported to Philip I, who was far away in the Feynapotter Kingdom.
She first recited the honorific title, and then reported the general process of the conversation just now.
After repeating it four or five times, Ethel finally received Philip I's reply: "Promise him."
This voice suddenly appeared in her mind. Along with the voice, there was also a blurred figure. It could be seen that it was indeed Philip I.
Recalling the time when the "Creator" took the initiative to "contact" her, all the vision could be occupied, and she could see a very solid figure.
This made Ethel even more certain that the "Creator" is really a god!
Immediately afterwards, the figure in Ethel's mind disappeared. After waiting for a while, she saw that Philip I had no other instructions, and then returned to the warehouse.
"The king can agree to your conditions, but we must establish an observation mechanism." This is what Ethel thought of on the way back:
"We will not send any administrative personnel to the South Colson area, but we must send an observation group every year to observe whether there are any signs in South Colson that are detrimental to the royal family or the entire country."
Hobert shook his head with a smile: "Your so-called signs are too broad. If I want to buy a batch of guns to suppress bandits, is it considered detrimental to the royal family?"
"Of course not, we are just conducting a certain observation, so that everyone can rest assured."
Hobert shook his head: "We might as well establish a mutual liaison organization. You can ask questions directly if you have any questions. We do not welcome any supervisory agencies, and we will not be manipulated by your so-called evidence of some people with ulterior motives against the royal family."
Ethel nodded: "Okay, but members of the liaison organization can go to the South Colson area."
Seeing that Hobert was about to refuse again, she said with a slight wry smile: "That is the territory of the kingdom, and we always have to send people to take a look!
"I promise, just take a look! Not surveillance, not secret agents, just take a look."
Seeing Ethel insist, Hobert had to say: "Okay, but in exchange, I can auction the Beyonder characteristics of the "Arbiter" pathway at the auction center."
Ethel had to compromise: "But send me a detailed list of the auction items. The royal family must know when the auction will be held."
It would be good to spend more money to buy the Beyonder characteristics of the auction.
Hobert stretched out his hand and shook hands with Ethel: "Deal!"
Then Hobert said meaningfully: "Congratulations!"
The conclusion of this agreement will definitely greatly increase Ethel's popularity among the Castiya family! There will be more supporters in the battle for the throne.
What he didn't know was that even Philip I was doing the final observation on Ethel to see if he should support her as the crown prince.
Ethel certainly understood what Hobert was talking about: "Thank you."
Hobert retracted his hand: "I"ll tell you the honorific title of the "Creator". After you return to Feynapotter City, gather all the corrupted family members together, and then recite the honorific title of the "Creator". He will uniformly remove the corruption for the members of the Castiya family."
Ethel smiled and said, "You trust me so much, aren't you afraid that I will break my promise and not give you the governance of the territory?"
"Then there will be giant birds like that visiting Feynapotter City again," Hobert replied indifferently.
Hobert was not worried about this, because he knew that the Feynapotter Kingdom would never take such a risk, Ethel's words were just a test.
Ethel just smiled and didn't continue the topic: "If I want to find you, how should I contact you?"
"Pray to the "Creator" in case of emergency, and send a letter to the Lord's Mansion of Jeffery Territory if it is not urgent." Hobert does not intend to tell her the contact information of the messenger at this time.
...
After Ethel got the title of "Creator", she immediately left Whiteland Town with the sealed item.
After all, this is an enemy country, and the longer you stay, the more dangerous it is.
Back in the suburbs of Feynapotter City, in that luxurious royal manor, Ethel immediately reported the detailed negotiation process to Philip I.
At this time, Philip I was more hunched than last week, and the "whoosh whoosh" sound in his lungs and trachea was even louder!
Many Beyonder members of the Castiya family were in a more serious condition than Philip I, and there were already signs of getting out of control.
If this continues, the situation will only get worse. Philip I agreed to Ethel's plan and sent her to negotiate with the dependents of the "Creator".
That night, all the contaminated family members were brought to this manor.
Ethel told everyone about the role played by the "Creator" in the previous battle. The "Creator" did not show up that day, and most Beyonders below the angel level did not feel the existence of the "Creator".
Ethel also told everyone that she ventured to Backlund and contacted the dependents of the "Creator" to find hope for removing the corruption.
These family members had already contacted the familiar Mother Earth churches in the past week, hoping to get a way to eliminate the corruption from the Mother Earth Church.
As a result, after some inquiries, they learned that the archbishops of the church had asked the "Creator" to eliminate the corruption on their bodies.
So when everyone heard the title of "Creator", they knew that they were finally saved.
Amid everyone's compliments, Ethel asked people to set up an altar, then bowed slightly to the altar, and said in a pious tone: "Creator in the Shadow of Order..."
At this time, Philip I also appeared in the corner of the hall, after all, he was also very seriously corrupted.
It's just that Philip I still has some reservations about the "Creator". Asking the "Creator" for help is a last resort. It is better for the Castiya family to start believing in external gods than for a large number of demigods and Sequence 5 level members to die in a short period of time.
Moreover, they are all corrupted, and the Beyonder characteristics in their bodies may also be corrupted. If the Beyonder characteristics are crushed, it will not be possible to remove the corruption, which is even more troublesome.
At this time, Philip I heard Ethel in front of the altar praying for the power of the "Creator" to remove the corruption from the family members in front of the altar.
He stared intently at the altar, wanting to see if the "Creator" was "Uncertain Mist"?
Whoosh~
A violent wind blew out from the altar, causing the corners of everyone's clothes to rustle.
Immediately afterwards, a figure appeared in the mid-air above the altar, as if sitting in a jungle of sharp swords.
He exuded a sacred light, as if he could end all chaos, and as if he could bring complete chaos.
He exuded an aura of majesty, causing people to lower their heads unconsciously, and want to surrender unconsciously.
The Castiya family who were still standing immediately knelt on one knee. They lowered their heads, and almost the same thought appeared in their hearts: this is really the pressure from the gods!
Before, they doubted the identity of the "Creator" god. Many people guessed whether he was a wild god on an island in the Southern Continent or the Berserk Sea. Now, no one dares to think in this direction.
Immediately afterwards, everyone felt that the coldness wrapped around their bodies and spirits quickly disappeared. The corruption that had been troubling them these days was instantly drawn away without a trace.
Philip I felt that the thick phlegm in his lungs and trachea had also disappeared. He stared at the figure of the "Creator"!
That's not "Uncertain Mist"!
According to the description of the Night Emperor, the main body of "Uncertain Mist" is a ring of billowing white mist...
In addition, the feeling that the "Creator" gives people is completely different from that of "Uncertain Mist".
When the figure of the "Creator" disappeared, Philip I came back to his senses. The reward for removing the corruption this time was really just the governance of the South Colson area!
There was no mark by an outer god, and no spiritual brand was imprinted.
Philip I suddenly smiled. He had repeatedly weighed the pros and cons in the past few days before finally making such a decision, but his repeated weighing was just a joke.
Ethel bowed piously in front of the altar, and the ceremony ended.
The experience just now made her a little fascinated: so, this is the feeling of being blessed by a god.
...
In the "Nation of Disorder", Hobert did not consider detonating the corruption in the bodies of the Castiya family members, causing a large number of deaths of their middle-sequence Beyonders, and taking the opportunity to defeat this Beyonder family.
But if he really did this, it would only benefit the extraordinary families of other countries in the Northern Continent. With Hobert's current strength, he would not get much benefit.
And the negotiation result with Ethel will also be invalidated.
So Hobert just thought about it and took action to remove the corruption from those Castiya family members, including Philip I. For now, this is the best choice.
This suddenly reminded Hobert of a sentence: It is completely different to have a sword and not use it and to have no sword to use.
After regaining his strength, Hobert returned to the real world. It was already late today. He rested for a while, and as soon as it dawned, he went to Jeffery Territory by "Travel".
Fors was rarely up early once. Conrad, Philip and other backbone members of the Lord's Mansion were already waiting here. The notice they received was: today they will follow the Lord to inspect the new territory.
They already had some guesses about what would happen in the future. Although they were a little unwilling, as long as Hobert gave an order, they were still willing to leave the land where they were born and raised and go to live on another land.
After Hobert appeared from the illusory spirit world, he first smiled at everyone: "The situation has changed! Allen, go prepare a boat, we are going back to the Lord's Mansion on the East Coast together!"
Everyone was stunned. Isn't the Lord's Mansion on the East Coast occupied by the royal family?
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