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I will stay in Gur for almost a month this time, so I need to go visit him and report the situation to my father. "
"I see."
"By the way, Mr. City Lord, I have already ordered the Griffin Legion on behalf of my father. They will be responsible for your safety on the way to the capital.
Of course, I am not underestimating the city lord's strength, but, you know, this is the courtesy a hero deserves."
Zhang Mu opened his mouth to speak, but he waved his hand to interrupt: “Don’t refuse. As a hero, you are different from ordinary people.
Well...more than half a year ago, my sister met a magician who was extremely gifted, but unfortunately had little talent.
Wang Mei has high hopes for him.
Unfortunately, unlike the city lord, he did not become a hero of the kingdom, and he was not even close to becoming a powerful magician.
He died in a minor conflict not long ago, like a weed that was trampled, and no one would pay attention to him. "
"That is indeed disappointing, and I think Her Royal Highness the Princess is disappointed too."
“Yes, but you can understand that investing resources in other people’s futures is inherently risky and may not always pay off.”
"Just like what His Highness Andre said, I agree with it."
"Hahaha..." He laughed a few times, "We have the same hobbies and topics. I look forward to seeing you again in the capital."
After saying that, he put his finger to his lips and whistled. The griffin swooped down from the clouds above his head and landed beside him. Andre jumped on its back, flew into the sky, and soon disappeared into the horizon.
"Marshal." After the man disappeared, Domit asked, "Did his last words belittle the princess of Lake Kingdom?"
"Tsk, even you can hear it. He is indeed quite incompetent."
Domit was a little unhappy: "Marshal, I have shed blood for the First Army."
"how?"
"You shouldn't have taunted me."
"Just scold?"
"Of course, direct scolding is a lash, a warning!"
Giving him a long look, Zhang Mu couldn't help but feel worried about the future of the First Army - would all soldiers in the future become masochists?
The image of the entire camp filled with a tense atmosphere appeared in his mind, and he shuddered unconsciously: "Don't bring this to the First Army."
"Why? I think it is very good..."
"No reason!"
"Oh."
The two stopped chatting and quickly rushed to the woods where the First Army was stationed.
When the time was almost up, he asked Domit to contact Mih and come to see him alone.
When the messenger arrived, Zhang Mu said, "You are a fast runner. Go around and check if the messenger has left."
After returning about half an hour later, he affirmed, "Let's go."
That's good.
Although it is basically impossible for the great knight Andre to escape Mih's search, Zhang Mu can rest assured.
But he still played it safe - he gave Mih an illusion of the city lord, and Domit stayed where he was. He activated the shadow spell and went to the woods alone, taking most of the First Army soldiers into the "world", leaving only a hundred people as guards.
After all, it is the city lord who is traveling, so there has to be some fanfare, otherwise it will arouse suspicion from others.
Then he returned along the same route, reunited with the two men, and rushed back to Gur City together.
After entering the city lord's mansion, he immediately found Sauron who had turned into a giant panda.
After asking him, she found out that everything was arranged properly, so she went to the backyard to pick up Leah - Palina was not there, and the servant told her that she had gone home to visit her parents while the city lord was out.
Zhang Mu didn't bother explaining why he wanted to bring Leia with him, and happily rode out of the city in the carriage prepared by Soran.
After waiting for a while at the city gate, when the Griffin Legion arrived, the coachman whipped the horses' buttocks with his whip and the convoy slowly moved forward.
The journey was long, spanning almost half of the Kingdom of Lake, so Soran carefully selected a comfortable carriage.
The train is spacious, and even with benches installed on both sides, two people can pass each other in the aisle without having to move sideways.
The interior furnishings were also extremely luxurious. A double bed was placed at the innermost part of the carriage, covered with a soft and warm goose feather quilt.
With the magic crystal chandelier hanging on the roof that emits heat, Leia doesn't even need to wear a thick fur coat.
Although magicians are not afraid of the ordinary winter cold, Zhang Mu still hugged the cat girl comfortably in the quilt, leaving only his head outside.
"Sauron, have you made any progress in finding out the situation in the kingdom?"
He sat on a bench cushioned with animal skins on the left, holding a document in one hand and reading: "We lack a decent intelligence department, and it is difficult to collect detailed intelligence.
But the general situation has been sorted out.”
"Let's start from the beginning."
"Excluding small towns, villages and weak cities, there are a total of 463 large cities in the Kingdom of Lake.
Half of it is directly controlled by the royal family, and the rest is in the hands of the two grand dukes."
With his empty hand, he turned a page of documents: "According to the information provided by my friend, the cities on the royal side are a little restless, but at least they maintain basic obedience.
As long as the order does not seriously harm one's own interests, one is willing to carry it out.
And the two Grand Dukes... basically ignored the existence of the royal family."
"This... is quite a fuss." Zhang Mu rubbed the sleeping Leah's head, "Why do the two grand dukes of Lake Kingdom oppose the royal family?
Coveting the throne of the king?"
"Hmm..." Soran turned a page, "It seems... yes."
"like?"
"My friend's ability is limited. He can only find out that the two archdukes are dissatisfied with the king's stupidity and intend to establish themselves."
“That’s pure bullshit.”
Sitting up carefully, he leaned against the wall of the car and said, "Even if you are plotting to get the kingdom's treasury, I can understand that, but what is a ridiculous reason for being dissatisfied with the king's stupidity?
They are autonomous in their own territories and their only duty to the king is to protect the country.
But isn't defending the homeland just protecting their own territory? "
"Then, what do you think is the reason, Lord City Lord?"
Zhang Mu rolled his eyes, and the saliva in his mouth almost sprayed on his face: "I know it, but why did I ask you to check it?"
"The conditions are insufficient, Lord City Lord." Soran lowered his sleeves that were covering his face, "And... is there any connection between the Grand Duke's actions and what you are going to do?"
After spending half a year together, Zhang Mu had enough trust in him and did not hide it: "Yes."
"Can you tell me?"
"It's complicated to explain. You just need to know that I must ensure the stability of the kingdom, and the Great Prince and the church, at least Lake's church, are my enemies."
Declaring oneself an enemy of the Church in the continent of Sol is equivalent to announcing to the world "I want to commit suicide."
However, Soran was not panicked or nervous, he just smiled and said: "To be able to be the enemy of the church and still live well... I suddenly became interested in the past of the Lord City Lord."
"You'll understand later."
He nodded with an inexplicable meaning, and his eyes fell back to ask the price: "If that's the case...
Based on the limited information I have, I can infer that the two archdukes are coveting something from the royal family."
"treasure?"
"Yes, and it is extremely valuable."
"What are his two professional levels?"
"One is a Holy Mage, and the other is a Holy Knight."
Such strength is considered elite even in the empire.
The things that can attract them are obviously not ordinary.
When Zhang Mu was in Cass Town, he did not ask about Avril and Potter, so he had no way of guessing what the treasure was.
After thinking for a while, he turned his head and looked at the bench opposite Soran, where Mihe and Domit were sitting side by side.
"you?"
They shook their heads at the same time, and Domit said, “Mr. Mihe hid in the Silent Forest decades ago and is unfamiliar with everything in the outside world.
As for me... I traveled a lot, but most of the time I was with low-level adventure groups. As for the upper echelons of the kingdom... we could only occasionally hear some rumors whose authenticity we couldn't confirm."
Since he couldn't rely on the people around him, Zhang Mu frowned and wondered whether he should go to the residence of the two grand dukes.
With the help of shadow magic, perhaps we can find out something valuable.
At this time, Mi He suddenly said: "Wangdu, he is in Wangdu."
"Who?" Zhang Mu asked subconsciously, and then he realized that it was the old friend that Mih had mentioned, who founded the resistance army with him.
"He's in the capital?"
"always there."
"It's just..." Zhang Mu's excitement subsided, "It's useless.
Even if ordinary citizens settle in the capital, it is impossible for them to collect useful information."
"He serves in the palace."
"It's the same. Or rather, the channels for obtaining information in the palace are more scarce and closed."
"He is with the king."
"?" The three people in the carriage all looked at Mih.
Soran closed the file and asked in surprise, "If I remember correctly, Mr. Mih is one of the founders of the resistance army?"
"Ah."
"Then your friend..."
"He and I founded the Resistance."