This is the last time of dusk.

Standing in the suburbs of the village, you can see the towering walls of the city of Niustria. As mentioned earlier, the city can no longer see any traces of attack by the Chaos Legion. What outsiders can see are the towering and solid city walls, the flags on the walls, and the garrison soldiers patrolling everywhere.

The colorful clouds in the distance cast a golden light unwillingly, which happened to shine above the blood dragon flag flying high above the city wall, rendering the red dragon into a golden red color. The blood dragon flag spreads its teeth and claws in the wind, making a sound.

The palace chief Scadra, wrapped in his cloak, stood side by side with the team leader at the entrance of the village, feeling the cold wind of winter. Strictly speaking, the wind was not cold, because first, this year was a complete warm winter, and second, now it can barely be considered early spring.

"Well, I don't know why this flag makes people feel... very interesting." The leader said. "The flag of the Groney royal family is a white eagle, and this flag is a blood dragon. Both are prides flying in the sky, a proud white eagle, and a powerful blood dragon... Is this mixed with some... special meaning?"

His tone of speech was casual.

"You are really... too sensitive," replied Scadra. "I can be sure that it was definitely just a coincidence. Because at that time, the Count neither established his current merits nor showed any outstanding abilities, and did not deserve any special attention. All he received was a knight's title... You should understand that anyone who serves as a personal guard for the king will definitely get this title as long as he does not die too early."

"At that time, he was your subordinate?"

"It's true. At that time... I just hope that he can be a qualified personal guard and protect the Queen's safety."

"Tell me about that person." said the leader. "You should be very familiar with it."

"I can be a little confident in this." Scadra replied. "When I first met him, he came to me with a letter of introduction... a letter of introduction from Countess Marianne. You know, at that time I urgently needed to find some people, some people who are good at using swords but are loyal and reliable, to deal with Byron's increasingly explicit penetration. So I looked for people as much as possible from those... Byron's uncontrollable channels. When I first met him, I felt a military temperament from him. At that time, I really had no room for picking, so I quickly let him take office. I thought I was attracting a loyal and reliable hunting dog, but I didn't expect it to be a..." The old man looked up at the flag on the city wall. "A powerful dragon."

He paused for a few seconds. "Although I have never really seen a dragon, according to the books, dragons actually have intelligence that is no less than humans. Because of this, it is difficult for humans to interact with dragons, because you don't understand what dragons need at all. The same is true for Ashu Rufate. You don't understand what he needs at all. I can't see through it."

"You can't see through him?"

"I don't understand at all. He can't pursue wealth, honor in the usual sense, nor power. If I had to say what he pursued, what he could pursue might be just the glory in his heart. I still remember when he was just a sword guard... At that time, his performance was like all those without ambitions, just to be loyal to his duties and be a guard quietly. He himself inadvertently expressed his intentions during chatting that he only wanted to get the title of knight, and he did not have any action to find a way to advance."

"But he is very capable."

"I fully agree with your opinion. His ability... Well, even Garunas, the wilderness sage back then, was not as good as him. This is not only my opinion, but also what he once claimed. Of course, many people thought he was arrogant at that time, but there are probably not many people who still maintain this view now. Ah, when I think of this, he is really very similar to that sage. That sage... has devoted his life to this country, and he died silently, and seems to have no benefit at all."

"I remember... According to some records, the Wild Sage Garunas was actually the lover of King Markremiz."

"Ha, if Ashu Rufate were the same, then we wouldn't be here now. You, I, and many others, have long been executed, with your head hanging on the walls of the Eagle City, or on the streets. Because love is selfish, if it is true love, you will definitely not tolerate your lover's grievances, let alone be hurt by others."

"But, my mother-in-law said..."

"I would rather think that it is the unrequited love of Her Majesty," Scadra sighed. "You are fortunate that you are facing a girl who is still underage, not a woman with children. Because a woman, if it is for her children, is willing to do anything. You must never question a mother's determination to defend the safety and interests of her children. Anything else must be given up in the face of this gifted power we usually call 'motherhood'."

"Well, but if you put aside the motivation, then the ability of this Earl of Ashu Rufat..."

"We don't need to have any doubts in this regard. You may be surprised that after the Regent's malicious deception of the corners of so many years, such a large-scale rebellion and a large-scale civil war, coupled with such a large-scale foreign war, our country can still be so stable. The treasury's money box is still full, and all borrowings and debts are within a reasonable and controllable range..."

"A day before I came back, the 'scroll' chamber of commerce gave Jin Oli the treasury two million." The leader, or we can say, King Boer, said softly. "That was a debt fulfilled under a commercial contract." He smiled mockingly. "I am really happy to have such a gift on the first day of my return."

"I know that the boss of that chamber of commerce should be named Ajin. He is a friend of Ash Rufate, and he is very good-looking."

"He is an earl, how could he be friends with those merchants?"

"When he was not an earl...well, in fact, when he was a civilian, the two of them knew each other and got mixed up. The queen's 'temporary tutor', Ms. Rotia, also knew Asu Ruffat at that time."

"Well, sorry, I overlooked this. Does this prove that this person does not forget his roots?"

"Your Majesty, you seem to... don't like him? He has provided tens of millions of Jin'Ori. Although I don't know all the details of the operation, I can believe this. The money was definitely obtained by Count Ash Rufat. This is a very amazing ability. A person, even if he only has this ability, is enough to shock the nations. The king looks at him, let the princess marry, and let the powerful make friends... but this is just one of the abilities of this Count."

"Well, I know. But he is actually in... Fornoros City..."

"Are you referring to his massacre of the city?"

"Yes. That was a crazy act, too crazy." The king said softly. "Only madmen can do such things. Someone else told me what ancient methods... ancient methods... that was an old thing hundreds of years ago. In the era of the wilderness sage Garunas, this kind of thing was not outrageous. But the times are progressing, and our era has already undergone fundamental changes. And even the ancient methods are killing all adult men, while Ashu Rufate is a real massacre of the city. This is really..."

"Maybe the one who told you this did not mention a little secret." Scadra chuckled. "When he had just conquered the city and hadn't done anything yet... your sister had quietly gone there."

"You mean, all this is my sister's idea? I don't believe it!"

"At least it was the permission of the queen," Scadra continued. "You know, your sister has always been a... kind girl. The education she received, the nature she showed in the past decade, has never been so crazy or cruel. So it was by no means her idea, but Ash Rufate convinced her."

"Say...persuasion?!" When he heard this, the king's face turned red. He rubbed his hands anxiously as if a person had been greatly insulted but had no chance to fight back. "This... this is impossible... those are the people of this country..."

A few seconds later, he finally lowered his hand dejectedly. "Maybe he really came up with very reliable evidence."

"Anyway, as long as Ashu Rufate has such a slight determination to want power, he will not do such a stupid thing. Perhaps you don't know that when he returned to the city of Hawks, I met him. That time, I suggested that he...be king. Or at least be king as his goal."

"ah……"

"In fact, I've been pushing for this. No matter what he thinks in his mind, I think that marrying your sister and even ascending the throne is the best way out for this country."

Scadra said his approach very frankly. After saying this, he lowered his head and apologized with silent actions. The two of them were speechless for a long time.

It should be particularly noted that after such a long discussion, it was completely dark at this time. The two of them were actually standing in the night.

"It's not your fault." The king finally spoke. "It's the best way you can choose in that situation. I understand what you mean - Ashu Rufate is alone, without relatives, family, even if he becomes king, he can only be regarded as the monarch who inherits the Markremiz family. His and my sister's children are still descendants of the Markremiz family... I see your loyalty and have never questioned it."

"I am ashamed to be able to get your recognition."

"But, no matter what, I'll go and see the Earl of Ashu Rufat tomorrow...and my sister. The last time I saw her, she was just a runny little girl who was crying."
Chapter completed!