They entered the city gate. According to Iverla, this gate is called the Gate of Victory. But now the people gathering next to this gate are ragged beggars and refugees. Leo found it difficult to connect the current scene with the word "victory". The place is dilapidated, like a refugee slum, with a suffocating stench everywhere. But when he looked up at the sky and saw the spiers piercing the sky like an array of spears, he finally realized that this was the capital of a kingdom.
Although there are still many pedestrians along the way, the vendors on both sides of the street have sad faces, and the goods displayed on the stalls are boring and only a handful. Several groups of patrolling soldiers passed by them in formation, holding halberds and wearing mail. A high platform was set up in a small square, and the pastor of the Andal Church gave a loud speech on the high platform, preaching war and inspiring people's hearts.
There are no spells.
But these beggars and refugees - people with sallow faces and thin muscles, shivering in the cold wind, people who seem to be about to fall at any time - they waved their fists and shouted slogans of "win" and "kill them", their faces It showed a sickly red tide. Even the frozen air seemed to boil with their madness.
Fortunately, this has nothing to do with us, the alchemist thought happily.
"Miss Bachelor, please come with us." The captain said hesitantly, "I think His Majesty the King will summon you."
"No problem." Iweila glanced at Leo and then agreed. "I am glad to."
King Linton received them.
The fire is burning brightly in the room
The king sat by the fire, his legs resting on a low stool. A lot of white hair stubbornly emerged from the neatly combed black hair. But he seemed to be in good spirits and not tired. A ferocious wolfdog lay at his feet, staring at them eagerly. Next to him, there were two other people sitting. One of them was a thin old man with a purple robe and a long cane inlaid with jewels. This man was a mage; the other one looked ordinary and had a bridge of nose. Wearing a pair of gold-rimmed glasses.
"Bachelor Mitchell." Iweila first expressed her respect.
The other party returned the favor, but remained silent and focused his attention on the king.
"A guest from Ainbulo?" After listening to the captain's introduction, King Linton was silent for a while before speaking. "Why are you here?" Without waiting for an answer, the king waved his hand and said, "Forget it, I'm not a judge. I'm not interested in your past. I just want to confirm that he is true Of?"
"Without a doubt, Your Majesty." Leo lowered his head. "We saw it with our own eyes."
"Are you an alchemist?" The king raised his eyes and squinted at him. "You are rarely seen in Salas. But Maester Mitchell told me that you are experts in monsters, because many monsters are made of you. Made with hands. Is that so?"
He wants to say that they created the Terror Knight? What a joke. "These are now prohibited."
"Explicit order?" The king suddenly smiled, "You and I both understand the meaning of this, don't we?"
"I do not understand."
"Don't act stupid," Linton said. "This is not Ainbro."
Of course he knows, he knows clearly. But he still shook his head. "I don't know what you mean," he said.
"Oh, you will understand." The king sighed and took a sip of wine to soothe his throat. "Since my chief maester told me that you are the first-class monster experts. I think that is not groundless. Alchemist, can you tell me why he appeared? And it was without warning, and everyone could not expect it. "
Leo was thinking about how to answer. Should he tell the truth, or conceal it?
"He is an undead, a ghost." Iweila relieved him of his embarrassment. She took over the conversation and said, "This matter can only be solved by relying on the Church of Andal. We alone may not be able to do it well."
"They will do it." The king emphasized, "What I want to know is why he will appear in my territory and harm my people?"
"The dead hate the living, no other reason is needed." Leo used these words to excuse himself. Admittedly, this is a perfect excuse, enough to foolsome people. Unfortunately, he found that King Linton was not among them.
He has a pair of sharp eyes. "Are you related to him?"
"No, we don't know him." Leo felt uncomfortable all over. The other party's gaze was like a sharp sword that was about to penetrate him. He glanced at the blazing fire, hoping that the blazing temperature would dissipate it.?Coldness and stiffness of the feet. But he was sitting too far away from the fireplace, and there were guards made of steel standing in the middle.
"Then what's the reason that makes you hesitate and dare not speak?" The prince stared at him closely.
Because the truth is alarmist. Leo looked at the prince in silence. "It's veryunbelievable" he finally said. "Maybe he will be regarded as a lunatic, a heretic, put on a noose, or burned at the stake."
"Would the king really cut off the alchemist's head without knowing why?" Linton said.
Leo looked at the other person not very politely, trying to find the joke in his serious expression. But politicians are the best actors. This is much more difficult than finding traces of pepper spray on a tragic actor's face. He reluctantly chose to give up and sighed dejectedly. "We come from across the Narrow Sea, Your Majesty," he said, "where not only the King, but also the people on the street are thinking about throwing us into the fire pit all the time. Will you do this, Your Majesty the King?" "
"The king doesn't know." Linton thought for a moment and replied, "But you should keep this possibility in mind."
The alchemist has seen many high-ranking people. The one before me was undoubtedly the wisest among them. His threat comes from his temperament, not all from his power and high position. His grace¡ªat least not even that of Prince Oberyn.
Leo was silent for a while. "You don't want to hear the truth."
"You don't want to know the consequences of hiding something from a king. Especially when you told him clearly and rejected his request. The king's self-esteem is more fragile than you think, and you should understand this." Li Of course Ou knew that he did not have any qualifications or courage to try to challenge a king. "I don't want to hear the word 'no' again."
"I don't know how to speak."
The truth is shocking. If it were the "Mad King" of Siris County, he would rather refuse than keep silent. But this person in front of himhe knew clearly that they could not compete with each other - an elusive dark lord. They can only place their hope in this king and the Andal Church. Otherwise, they who are targeted will live in fear all day long, waiting for the other party to come in the dark. Who knows when he will have enough of their group of baits and turn them into his trophies.
"Don't know how to start?" The king tilted his head and looked at him, "Then I'll help you start. Listen, alchemist, we all understand that solar eclipses occur due to the movement of heaven and earth. But not this time. So the answer It¡¯s especially important, just tell me the answer to this.¡±
This is really a simple question. One link after another, one after another. Once he opens his mouth, he will inevitably use more words to explain his judgment. Then everything will pour out. He knew he had no choice. So Leo sighed and spoke slowly. "I want to guarantee your majesty. A guarantee. I know how terrible this thing is. It is so terrible that people will immediately put out this dangerous idea, and will make people stop rumors until only a few people know the secret"
"You have successfully aroused our curiosity, alchemist." The king thought for a while and then made a decision. "There is a distinguished bachelor among your companions. Even if you kill someone and silence him, I am powerless. Mr. Captain, the guards, and everyone else, please retreat first, including the alchemist and your uninformed companions."
Everyone retreated one by one.
Soon only Leo and his girls were left in the room - he also drove out the assassins and paladin. In his opinion, only the former could handle the important task of keeping the latter in check - and the king. The chief mage and court bachelor.
"You can speak now, alchemist."
"I want your personal promise." Leo still insisted, "Once a word is made, it is a promise that is hard to keep."
"Although a wise king will still regret his decision, he will never change his mind easily and deny his orders. That will only make the king's orders untrustworthy and defeat his own authority." The king said firmly, " Alchemist, do you think I am a wise lord, or a stupid and cruel one?"
"The former." He replied dryly.
Even the heartfelt compliments couldn't make King Linton look any better. "Even if it's the latter, you have to treat him as the former. Not all people in power will tolerate your infringement. Their hearts are like a thin layer of ice, which will break into pieces at the slightest touch. Alchemist, You should learn to trust others."
Leo was silent, not knowing what to say.
"Since you have to make a promise to have a sense of security, I will not be stingy. Everyone here can testify for you." The king said, "I hereby guarantee that no matter what the alchemist says, I will not hold him responsible. , hold him accountable."
"You can say it now, Alchemist." Maester Mitchell said.
Leo took a deep breath. "Your Majesty, that terrifying knight who brought death is the white knight of Andal Church. And he is chasing us because that paladin he is the knight's bait." So are we.
"I believe you." The king stared at him with a solemn expression, "but you'd better pray that you are telling the truth."
He stood up directly. "Master Mage, please ask my attendant to arrange rooms for our guests. I don't want to see these guys with swords and swords going door to door looking for accommodation. The city is already overcrowded. Then, Bachelor Mitchell, Entertain your companions well. I am going to see our archbishop. The Alchemist," he turned to look at him, "be prepared, you will probably be very busy these days." The king seemed to have something else in mind, But that doesn't matter now. He just felt like he had thrown away a big burden and could take a breather.