Renaissance Palace, Ballard Room.

The setting sun shines through the stone window, casting a long shadow on the discussion table, like a golden and black sword blade.

"Is there such a good thing?"

The Minister of Commerce and Trade of the Kingdom of Stars, Viscount Connie, put down the "Emerald City Replacement Petition" that had just been sent to the conference room with a suspicious look on his face.

"The owner of the iris."

Connie looked at his peers in the Royal Council:

"Duke Kevin Deere actually took the initiative to request tax-paying substitutes, reduce the number of levies in the Emerald City, and even supported the royal family to expand the standing army to fill the national defense tasks left by the levies?"

The ministers in the Imperial Council looked at each other.

Only the scarred man from the Kingdom's Secret Department, who had gone back and brought back this "Petition", stood aside calmly and said nothing.

"Putting aside his position, doesn't he know the risks of doing this?"

Viscount Connie squinted his eyes with a subtle expression:

"If the Emerald City really implements what the letter says, challenges traditions, and shakes interests... Ha, when every conscript in each level of fiefdom refuses to work and serve for the lord on this reason, Kevin Di

You will become a subordinate vassal, no, you will be the target of public criticism of the entire kingdom's aristocratic system."

"Not the entire system," military advisor Thordo Red said in high spirits, excited for the arrival of this letter:

"There are only those noble lords who are conservative, old-fashioned and backward, who insist on recruiting militia and are unwilling to accept taxes in lieu of service."

Viscount Conney put down the letter and said slyly:

"That's almost everyone except the royalists?"

As soon as this was said, there was a burst of laughter from the imperial meeting.

"This letter comes at the right time. It speaks out for us and relieves the pressure," Soduo said with a smile on his face.

"Whether it is the reduction of Bright Star's private army or the expansion of the standing army, we have received strong political support and support from foreign ministers, as well as the service tax paid by Emerald City. Qiu Ke, the budget issue you mentioned..."

But the Financial Controller rolled his eyes and remained noncommittal.

On the other side, Gilbert took the letter printed with iris paint from Connie's hand and read it carefully, refusing to let go of every word.

Even if this is the third time.

Finally, someone realized that the Foreign Secretary's face was extremely ugly, which was incompatible with the relaxed atmosphere of the meeting.

"this letter……"

Gilbert murmured: "What exactly is..."

"Old friend," Thordo noticed Gilbert's state and looked worried:

"Any questions?"

The silence of a few people at the meeting affected the atmosphere just now, and the Ballard Room gradually became quiet.

Gilbert didn't answer, he just took a deep breath, slowly raised his head, and looked straight at the end of the long table.

As if searching for some answer.

However, on the other side, the king's figure was hidden in the darkness and did not move for a long time.

Until another chubby hand stretched out from the side.

"What a coincidence. When we are thinking about how to reduce the conscripts without causing public outrage, and worrying about how to find the budget to expand the standing army..."

The host of the Royal Council, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom, Duke of Donghai Bob Cullen, with a rare expression of composure, accepted the "Petition".

"When we were still walking on thin ice, fearing that this incident would destabilize the country and trigger civil war, this letter came? Giving people and money and talking about it?"

Prime Minister Cullen's words made everyone in the Royal Council fall into deep thought.

Cullen's eyes left the beautiful and calm handwriting on the paper and glanced suspiciously at the scar-faced spy from the secret department on the other side.

But the man with the scarred face remained calm and respectful, turning a deaf ear and saying nothing.

The Duke moved his fat belly, shook the letter in his hand, and hummed softly:

"Where's Jenn himself?"

The scar-faced man seemed to have just come to his senses and replied respectfully: "It is reported that the Duke of Nan'an has left the royal capital and returned to the Emerald City to handle urgent matters."

"Urgent?"

Cullen looked at Zhan's handwriting again, looking at the end of the long table from time to time, and burst into uneasy laughter:

"Indeed, it's too urgent, too urgent..."

It was obviously good news, but the abnormal attitude of the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister made the elites of the Royal Council feel suspicious and looked at the master of the room.

However, King Kessel sat in his original position, motionless.

Only the setting sun behind him cast countless golden beams of light through the window, enveloping him. From a distance, he looked like a sword protecting the throne.

Or prison bars.

"Prime Minister, your lord?" Viscount Conney asked tentatively.

However, Cullen just raised his finger slightly with an interesting expression.

"Thodoro, I thought at first..."

Prime Minister Cullen's words are like the evening bell of the monastery, with a deep tone and profound meaning:

"Today you reported the war situation in the north in great detail and talked about Exeter's lessons. You just wanted to show your kindness to Prince Thales and praise his little lover from Longxiao City..."

The military advisor, Thordo Red, was suddenly stunned.

"And you exaggerate the accident at the Blade Tooth Camp, blindly belittle the conscripts, and advocate the expansion of the standing army. This is just a pretense. At most, you can ask for a sky-high price and then pay back the money..."

The Financial Controller, Juke Mann, raised his lips.

"But now, look at this letter..."

Prime Minister Cullen glanced at the fleur-de-lis coat of arms on the letter, then turned in the direction of the king, tutting and shaking his head:

"Your Majesty, you are well prepared for today's meeting."

Kaiser V's brows moved slightly.

The Prime Minister put the "Petition" together and smiled slowly:

"Just like before, the standing army of the royal family went to the Western Wasteland to clean up the desert and greet His Highness the Prince. Did they also go prepared?"

This statement meant something, and all the ministers in front of the imperial court frowned.

Among the crowd, Gilbert trembled slightly.

He stared at the king from afar, his eyes bitter.

However, the next sentence of the Prime Minister was incomprehensible:

"Is it the 'Sand King'? Or the 'Whisper'? Or both?"

Sand King?

Whisper?

At that moment, the ministers in the Imperial Council looked at each other in confusion.

Outside the long table, the scarred man's sleeves moved invisibly.

But the ministers soon noticed that at the end of the long table, the king's eyes were fixed on Duke Cullen, ignoring him.

"Don't be surprised, Your Majesty, Midir even asked for my opinion."

Prime Minister Cullen didn't seem to care whether anyone answered. He just sighed and talked to himself.

"At that time, although I had gained weight, at least I was still a fat man in the prime of life."

The old Duke's words were filled with emotion and loneliness.

"Now, if I lower my head again, I can no longer see the tips of my toes."

Duke Cullen raised his head:

"and you?"

In confusion, everyone subconsciously looked towards the end of the long table, towards the majestic figure who was motionless and silent like a stone statue.

"Bob."

After a few seconds of silence, the Iron-Fisted King spoke expressionlessly.

"You're not just fat."

At that moment, the light of the setting sun merged into countless golden sword blades, spanning between the two people.

The Prime Minister seemed not to notice anything and remained calm.

"old."

The Iron Fist King's voice changed from the thick and powerful voice before, and actually had a sharpness as sharp as a guillotine:
To be continued...