Victor stood on the wall until Viscount Negus became invisible.


    There are six virtues in Knight''s education: bravery, wisdom, humility, glory, compassion and loyalty. Of course, the object of Knight virtue can only be the nobility: the knight himself, the knight''s monarch, the knight''s vassal, and also the opponent of the same knight. Negus was the squire Knight of King dodo. His loyalty to the LORD was beyond doubt. Otherwise, his majesty Friedrich would not give him this large territory. However, shortly after Negus became Lord, he reached an agreement with Victor to exchange stones for crude sugar, which obviously went against the will of the Lord. Although the crude sugar trade was better for the kingdom of Dodo, it undoubtedly opened a gap in the dam of the loyalty of neigus.


    In fact, all lords are the same. The king is the Lord of the Lord. The LORD swore loyalty to the king as a vassal, but how many lords are really loyal? Victor had sworn allegiance to Queen Catherine and turned away from the Queen''s party. The York family had vowed allegiance to the royal family, but the two sides were almost at war. The Auguste family was the vassal of the nyovist family. Didn''t they also betray their Lord?


    Therefore, loyalty is inversely proportional to distance and fades with the passage of time. It can be carried forward as a virtue, but it can not be maintained by virtue.


    As the saying goes, you will not grant orders outside. As the Lord of the western border of Dodo Kingdom, he is far away from the Kingdom center. When facing the jackals and a powerful neighbor, he must make the most reasonable choice, even against the will of his majesty Friedrich.


    This is even true for the great Knights of the wind family who came from the court aristocracy. What can the mayor of Butz and old ham of Raven town do?


    Raven town is close to the Rayleigh mountains and borders the Dodo kingdom. It has unique geographical conditions. In Victor''s planning, it is an outpost for monitoring ant people, a processing point of mountain resources, a foreign trade port and a black market for smuggling caravans. The prosperity of Raven town is just around the corner, and the covet of various forces can also be expected. However, it is too far away from Randall''s collar, and Victor has too many things. Even if there is a message from the alchemical crow, he can''t always pay attention to the affairs of the North. Butz and old Ham will face complex problems and bear the pressure from all aspects. They learn that compromise is inevitable, followed by the infiltration, intimidation, bribery and temptation of all forces. Anyway, Victor won''t have too much expectations for the loyalty and ability of these two guys. After all, they are civilians.


    Civilians are equal to soft persimmons. They flatten when pinched.


    If there is a soft persimmon next to Randall''s collar, even if it''s Auguste, Victor has to reach out and pinch it.


    Distant relatives are not as good as close neighbors. Who makes you pinch?


    The monsoon roared, Victor''s cloak sounded, and Renault stood beside him, motionless, like wood.


    This guy is loyal and invincible, but who would have thought he was less than 5 years old. When he was 15 years old, he would belch again, and then become 1 year old again.


    Victor glanced at Renault and asked, "big man, what are you looking at?"


    Renault followed Nelson''s example, touched his head and replied, "Sir, I''m looking at miss bertina. You told me to stare at her when you''re free."


    People are busy expanding fences and building huts to accommodate more people and cattle and sheep. Adults are working in a tense and orderly way, while children are playing with bertina.


    In an open space behind the fence, bell, with his small hands on his back and his stomach thrust out, was directing a large group of children to practice the standing posture of his attendants. The children, ten years old and with a runny nose, stood there irregularly, one by one, with their chests raised and respectful, and accepted bertina''s review. Adults also smiled knowingly as they passed by. If it were usual, they would have carried these bear children to help.


    Bertina had just arrived one day and had a fight with the children in Raven town. Not only the children of the leading people obeyed her, but also the children of the free people revolved around her. Although the dirty little maid''s clothes played a role, it was more about bertina''s own charm. Victor was sure of that.


    Light footsteps came from behind. Victor didn''t have to look back to know it was Lilia. Lilia came closer, looked down Victor''s eyes, then puffed a smile, shook her head and said, "bell looks like a queen."


    "Queen? Well, child queen." Victor also smiled and said, "look at her mud... Didn''t she keep saying she wanted to be a good noble maid? It''s not what a noble maid should be."


    Lilia said, "all the children of civilians dream of becoming noble servants. Bell is very lucky, but she is still young and playful. When she is old, she won''t play with these children."


    For the common people, being a noble servant is equivalent to stepping into the noble world and immediately becoming the superior among the superior. In general, nobles only choose servants from the children of vassals, and ordinary civilians are almost impossible to become noble servants. The little attendants of the Randall family were lucky. They met a master like Victor. However, Victor can give, other nobles can also give, as long as it is necessary.


    "It seems that I can''t expect to maintain my rule over Raven town with status." Victor murmured.


    Lilia asked with a puzzled face, "honey, what are you talking about?"


    "Nothing." Victor shook his head and asked, "are boots and old ham here?"


    "They are waiting for your call." Lilia nodded and said, "by the way, the prisoner has made it clear."


    "Duke Eriksson once recruited 14 trainee knights and more than 700 soldiers among mercenaries and refugees. After the Duke''s death, the army disintegrated. Except for a few naturally awakened trainee Knights accepted by the new family, most people worked for Viscount neigus as prisoners, but they were not recognized by Viscount neigus. Viscount neigus claimed that jackals After the werewolf is exterminated, he will only accept the best three trainee knights and 100 soldiers, and the rest will be pardoned. "


    Lilia lifted her hair, which was disturbed by the wind, and said cautiously, "Sir, the prisoner wants to see you."


    Victor glanced at her and asked faintly, "what do you suggest?"


    "He wants to be loyal to you." Lilia lowered her head and muttered, "I think it''s better to execute. He not only killed two elite soldiers, but also admitted to knowing the secrets of elite soldiers."


    "On the battlefield, each is his own master and each has his destiny. But killing a prisoner is a disgrace! Unless he is guilty." Victor asked slowly, "is he guilty?"


    "He knows our secrets, and he has betrayed his comrades in arms. He is not trustworthy!" Lilia argued.


    "I think he made the most correct judgment. As for the secret... Are there few people who know the elite soldiers? I''ve already disclosed the secret forms of the ox and the monkey to the York family. What are you afraid of divulging?" Victor smiled and said: "Lilia, you are no longer a mercenary who licks blood with a knife. You must have a bigger pattern to face more complex challenges. It is easy to kill one person, but it is difficult to tolerate one person, and it is more difficult to tolerate a group of people, and we are doing the hardest thing, including thousands of people. If someone joins, there will be spies to spy on our secrets, buy and betray, which is inevitable No, it doesn''t matter. "


    "There are storms, wolves and beasts, sweet fruits and sweet springs outside the house. If we shrink in the house, we can only become a skinny dwarf. We should go out of the house, be tempered by the storms, lie down on the wolves and beasts, taste the fruits, drink the sweet springs, and then grow into giants."


    Victor was in high spirits and Lilia was intoxicated. She stared at her lover and murmured, "honey, you speak very well. Although I don''t understand... I think what you say is particularly reasonable."


    Victor: uh... Let''s go and see the prisoner


    ————————


    In the reception hall of Raven castle, Todd finally met the owner here. He sat on the throne with black hair and black eyes. He looked like a handsome boy of 16 or 7 years old, surrounded by beautiful personal maids and majestic armor guards. Todd knew that an adult''s age could not be judged by his appearance. He tried to calm his nervous and anxious mood and saluted respectfully: "good day, sir."


    "I am Viscount Randall, the Lord of Gambis, the master of Raven town." Victor asked lightly, "your name is Todd? Is it the son of the family in the kingdom of Dodo?"


    Todd was silent for a moment and said dryly, "dear Lord Randall, I''m not a dodo and I don''t have a family name. I... my father is a little aristocrat in the Eastern League. He doesn''t even have a territory. I''m his illegitimate son."


    "Well, Todd, I don''t have time to beat around the bush with you." Victor nodded noncommittally and asked, "you said you wanted to work for me. Why should I believe you?"


    "Your Excellency, you are willing to see me. It''s an opportunity for me." Tao de calmed down and said, "although I came from a humble background, I also know the way of chivalry. I am willing to swear allegiance to you, keep your secrets, serve your dogs and horses, and never betray."


    "The knight''s oath is sacred." Victor nodded and suddenly said, "but you''re not a knight!"


    "Viscount Negus has just left. He hasn''t mentioned you from beginning to end, and he has identified you as bandits." Victor looked at Todd''s pale face and said coldly, "you swore allegiance to Duke Eriksson, but you betrayed him!"


    Todd''s face turned red and said excitedly: "I didn''t betray the Duke. It was the Duke''s cousin who led the Paladin to raid the secret castle. I couldn''t resist the church and had to escape. The Duke''s situation became chaotic. I took people wandering in the wild for several months and couldn''t contact the Duke. I didn''t know that the Duke was hanged by his majesty until Lord Negus''s Knight caught us."


    "Then you surrendered. You didn''t avenge the duke or protect his children. Instead, you worked for Viscount Negus and invaded Raven town. After failure, you have to work for me now?" Asked Victor sarcastically.


    Todd realized that he had no luck. He was shaky, like a punctured balloon. He said miserably: "the Duke''s children were killed by his cousin. I should avenge them, but I didn''t. because I''m not willing..." Todd looked up and said angrily: "My father is like a stallion. He gave birth to more than a dozen children, not including me. I''m just their servant, but I work harder than any of them. I try to become a noble, but I''m not willing to die in vain... Now I finally know that no matter how hard I try, I can''t become a noble. My humble blood is my original sin. If I have noble blood, He is a trainee Knight of natural awakening. Will Lord neigus refuse my loyalty? Will you humiliate me like this? "


    "Do you think so?"


    "Isn''t it?" Todd smiled: "Cabell is a naturally awakened trainee knight. The Duke has a green eye for him. Lord Negus accepts his loyalty. No one accuses him of breaking the knight''s oath. The Duke''s crime of privately forging gold coins has been exposed. Only we have become bandits and bandits... On the battlefield, the Negus never shoot those noble children wearing blood badges, but he has no responsibility for us bastards What pity. We fight each other on the battlefield for several training potions, and so do ordinary soldiers. After a war, knights and nobles are given preferential treatment, and we are always the ones who die. Knights and nobles have territory, wealth and status. They have everything, and we have nothing. This is all because we are not noble enough! "


    Victor thought for a moment and asked leisurely, "can the Lord eat a cow at a meal?"


    "How is this possible?" Todd said dumbfounded.


    "Can the Lord plant 1000 mu of land?"


    "Can the Lord wear a hundred sets of armor?"


    "Can the Lord sleep in a hundred rooms?"


    Todd closed his lips. He seemed to understand what the adult meant. Victor continued, "you see, cattle and sheep have entered your stomach. You have divided the land, put on armor and own a house." Victor took the long sword of refined gold from Renault''s hand and said, "this is your long sword of refined gold. It is of average quality and worth 300 gold sol. I think it was given to you by Duke Eriksson and bought it with privately forged gold coins."


    "Todd, tell me, is it his will or yours that Duke Eriksson mints gold coins privately?"


    The sword ran through the air and inserted into the crack of the floor tile. The handle of the sword trembled slightly and was within reach. Todd was sweating and speechless.


    "If you are loyal, you should dissuade Eriksson from forging gold coins privately! Do you have any?"


    "I..."


    "You privately cast gold coins in the name of the Lord, open up territory in the name of the Lord, and launch a civil war in the name of the Lord. Who will fight if you don''t fight? Who will sacrifice if you don''t sacrifice? Does this have anything to do with the nobility of blood?" Victor''s eyes were deep, his words were like a sword and showed no mercy. "Duke Eriksson died of greed and the loyalty lies you woven!"


    Todd knelt down in front of the long sword, facing the sharp blade.


    Victor was disappointed and said, "Todd, you are full of noble ideas, but you don''t know what loyalty is. If you only value your own interests, there will be no loyalty."


    "To tell you the truth, the secret you think is not a secret. It''s just a clever martial arts training secret. The York family knows it and the church knows it. I want to exchange this secret for the secret of the church, but the church doesn''t see it."


    "It''s impossible. They clearly have the strength to surpass the trainee Knights!" Todd struggled.


    "Hum! Your vision limits your imagination. I don''t care if you reveal my so-called secrets, but I won''t allow you to spread rumors. I can''t give you what you want. I can only give you two choices: Die with dignity, or run for your life with your sword as a bandit and pray that my soldiers won''t catch up with you. Make a choice." Victor sneered.


    Todd pulled out the sword that was no longer trembling with his trembling hand. The blade turned and scratched a deep wound on his face, followed by another sword, until he was bleeding like a fierce ghost.


    "My Lord, I don''t want to be a bandit. Please give me a chance to work for you as a civilian." Todd clubbed the ground with his sword, half knelt in a pool of blood, and his hand holding the sword was as steady as a rock.


    Victor was silent for a moment and said, "this is your only chance."


    "Thank you, my Lord." Todd bowed his head.


    "Take him down and deal with the wound." Victor waved and the two guards left the room with Todd weak from bleeding.


    Lilia stared at the blood stains on the ground for a while and said with emotion, "this guy is really cruel. Do you believe him?"


    "I want to prove one thing."


    "Prove what?" Lilia asked curiously.


    Victor smiled confidently, "as long as I keep right, my men will remain loyal, because they won''t betray themselves."