The Original Vampire

The winter three years ago.

A night with heavy snow.

The Marquis of Garcia hurried back to Winter City.

All the way into the castle, the Lord Marquis didn't even change his clothes, so he went straight to the Duke's study.

"Boom."

"Come in."

The Marquis of Garcia opened the door, and there was only the Duke of St. Hilde in the study.

"It's been a hard journey. Sit down, have a glass of ale, and warm-up."

Marquis Garcia took the glass from his brother and drank it in one go.

The wind, frost, ice, and cold along the way were completely driven out of the body.

"What's wrong with finding me back in such a hurry?"

"How is the situation on the front line?"

"Still the same, Gambik has been scared by me, shrunk in the military fort, and dare not go out into the field."

"Ho ho, that old tortoise!"

Marquis Garcia poured himself another glass of ale and sipped it while waiting for his brother to follow.

He knew very well that the Duke was so anxious to summon himself back, definitely not for the few questions just now.

"Someone suggested to me a strategy that can help you get Gambik out of the tortoise shell."

"Oh? Tell me!" Marquis Garcia suddenly became interested.

"First, you must step back from the front line."

"I'm afraid this alone is not enough."

"Well, your Black Cavalry will also withdraw."

"Who is the defense of the front line given to?"

"Charles."

Hearing this, Marquis Garcia frowned. He hesitated for a while, and said in a careful tone: "Charles... I am afraid he still lacks some experience."

"Ho ho, if you don't let a little boy go to the front, how can you get Gambik out of the tortoise shell?"

"But war is not a trifling matter. If you do this, it is very likely that you will be self-defeating and bring a disastrous defeat to the Northern Territory!"

"Success always comes at a price!" The Duke of St. Hilde's eyes were extremely firm, "This time, I am ready to ruin an army!"

"What?" Marquis Garcia was horrified and almost thought that his brother was crazy.

But the solemn expression of the Duke of St. Hilde did not seem to be joking at all, so he continued to say:

"I ask you, if the Black Cavalry encounters Gambik's troll army in the wild without defense, how sure are you to win?"

"If Gambik is not prepared, if there is no castle nearby, then I am very sure!" The tone of Marquis Garcia revealed strong self-confidence.

"Okay! Then we will come to a complete battle!" The Duke of St. Hilde slapped the table heavily and said flatly, "I have had enough of those lingering trolls, and I will completely cut off their claws that want to reach the north!

So, you come down and change with Charles.

Just let him lose one game and let Gambik experience the taste of victory.

After the trolls looted wildly in the north, they will naturally return to the Troll King City with their belongings and glory.

At that time, you can lead the Black Cavalry to catch up and kill them by surprise! "

The Marquis of Garcia still frowned: "Even if you are willing to ruin an army, you are willing to send the northern city to the trolls for looting, but how can you guarantee that the trolls will be defenseless when they retreat?" 

"This requires us to act in a play."

"How to act?"

"I transferred you away from the front line and fell into the eyes of those with a heart. They would definitely think that I was starting to be jealous of you. Therefore, you can also show some dissatisfaction with me in due course...

In addition, there will be a large number of private armies of lords in the army that Charles buried. This will inevitably arouse the dissatisfaction of various families in the north. Then someone will instigate it, and it will easily cause you to try to gather the dissatisfied lords.

At this time, the trolls will definitely feel that we are overwhelmed and will not be guarded..."

"Have you forgotten a key question?" Marquis Garcia interrupted suddenly.

"What is the problem?"

"Won't I really be dissatisfied with you?" Marquis Garcia's eyes flickered. "If Charles is really defeated on the front line and ruin a northern army. By then, will my Black Cavalry be even more uncontrollable? "

The Duke of St. Hilde laughed suddenly: "Do you know that when Talos Uman proposed this strategy to me, I also considered whether you would have the possibility of doing a fake show."

"This is the strategy proposed by Earl Uman? Okay, what do you think? Will I make a fake show?"

The Duke of St. Hilde did not answer this question directly.

He continued from what he said earlier: "I was thinking at that time, if Talos didn't think that you might do a fake show, it would be okay.

If he thought about it, but then deliberately missed it...

Either he is extremely confident in the feelings of the two of us and feels that we cannot turn our heads, or he is hiding evil intentions and pretending to deal with the trolls, but in fact he wants to cause civil unrest in the North! "

Marquis Garcia was stunned for a moment, then looked down at the wine glass in his hand, as if he was also thinking about the real intentions of Earl Uman.

But the Duke of St. Hilde did not give his brother more time to think, and he directly expressed his thoughts:

"No matter what Talos Uman's true intentions are, but I know that you will not betray me."

"You are so confident?" Marquis Garcia looked cold, "When I have the power to control the situation in the north, how can you be sure that I will not be tempted?"

"Of course you will be tempted. But betrayal is just not enough for loyalty. So, I will add to your loyalty!"

"What?"

"After Charles is defeated, he will be deprived of the Marquis position."

"That's it?"

"Of course not only." The Duke of St. Hilde smiled and continued, "Vera will inherit the position of Marquis!"

The Marquis Garcia's eyes narrowed.

He finally moved.

But immediately, he felt deeply puzzled: "In order to eliminate the threat of trolls, are you willing to pay such a high price?"

"No. It's not just a threat of trolls." Duke Saint Hilde shook his head grimly.

"Who else?"

"Do you know where the biggest threat to our Northern Territory now comes from?"

"Isn't it from trolls?"

The Duke of St. Hilde shook his head again, and said in a deep voice:

"External threats will only make us stronger and more united, but will not crush us.

Only threats from within can truly corrode the ruling foundation of the Saint Hilde family! "

Marquis Garcia was stunned for a moment before he realized what his brother was talking about: "You mean, those lords in the north?"

"Right!" The Duke of St. Hilde gritted his teeth, "Do you know how many direct territories are still under the name of the St. Hilde family?"

Do you know how many years the family has been struggling to make ends meet?

Do you know why I always refuse to ban trade with trolls?

Didn’t I know that this kind of trade is actually about acquiring enemies?

But what can I do?

The family needs this profit!

It seems that the entire Northern Territory belongs to me, but now, I will hesitate for a long time even to canonize a little baron!

And you!

My good brother!

You keep the trolls out of the north, which is of course a good thing.

However, this also completely blocked the replacement of the old and new Northern Lords!

If the trolls can't get in, no one will be deprived of the title because of the loss of territory. Therefore, there are more and more nobles in the north, but less and less land under the name of the family!

You always complain that I don't want to reward your meritorious officials.

Or I will give you the title of a duke!

Take care of this northern border! "

Marquis Garcia looked at his angry brother and didn't know what to say for a while.

In the silence, an abnormal red flashed across the face of the Duke of St. Hilde, which was caught by Marquis Garcia: "Brother, your injury..."

"I can't die for now!" Duke St. Hilde gasped, "but it won't take long to live."

Marquis Garcia looked sad.

"Brother, help me this time!

All the costs and all the notoriety will be borne by me!

As long as you are willing to help me, the Saint Hilde family will be reborn from the ashes!

And this new northern border will also be handed over to your biological daughter! "

The Marquis of Garcia did not speak.

The Duke of St. Hilde still stared at his brother's eyes, as if he would never give up if he didn't agree.

There was a long silence in the room.

Only the crackling of the burning wood came from the fireplace.

I don’t know how long it took, Marquis Garcia finally sighed:

"Okay, I will help you."