The Duke Newman's Palace is the most magnificent building complex in the city of Bena. The entire building complex is a castle in the city. In addition to the high walls around the castle, there is even a moat connected to the inland river.
The power and status demonstrated by this castle are unique in the entire province of Bena.
Suldak didn't know how many times he had been to the back garden of Duke Newman's castle. There were more than a dozen plane portals built here. Whether it was the Maca plane or the Bailin plane, one could enter from here.
As for once a plane war breaks out and the Bena Province needs to send troops to support, the back garden of Duke Newman's Mansion will be filled with lords' troops.
The place where Duke Newman met Suldak this time was in Duke Newman's Mansion, but it was not in the bustling back garden, but in a reception room in Duke Newman's Mansion.
Surdak followed a butler through the vestibule, the hall on the first floor, the stairs, the cloister on the second floor, and even passed through a winding staircase outside the castle and an inner garden in the castle before arriving at the extremely decorated piece of furniture.
In the luxurious living room, the entire wall of the living room is covered with golden decorations. Maybe because the walls decorated with gold are a bit too dazzling, the surrounding walls are also covered with a precious gauze.
There are only six seats and a rectangular table in the living room. Behind Duke Newman, there is a row of wine cabinets against the wall. Opposite is a row of bookshelves. Between the wine cabinets and bookshelves, opposite to the entrance, is a huge floor-to-ceiling window. Outside the window is
There is a large terrace. Looking out from the terrace, you can have a panoramic view of the aristocratic district in the north of Bena City.
Bena City is too big. Looking south from this high terrace, it is still impossible to see the whole of Bena City clearly.
A group of attendants stood in the corridor outside the living room, carrying various foods and drinks in their hands.
While Surdak was waiting in the living room, the butler brought him a blood-colored drink. It is said that this is a unique drink in the Loki plane. It is a juice made from a kind of blood grape. This kind of blood grape is very rare.
It is a plant-type monster that grows deep in the swamp filled with poisonous fog. It is not an easy task to collect blood grapes.
Surdak took a sip and felt that the power and the power of holy light contained in it were about to collide and sparks appeared in his mouth. The feeling was really hard to describe.
Just as he was about to put the cup in his hand on the table, there were footsteps at the door, and then the door to the living room was pushed open.
Duke Newman walked in from the outside with a smile, but the entourage behind him closed the door very considerately. Only Duke Newman and Suldak were left in the living room, and a butler stood at the door.
Duke Newman walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, opened the curtains, and pushed open the door. The fresh air from outside blew in, and the dullness and depression lingering in Suldak's heart disappeared instantly.
"I think these days, you must have been scolding me in your heart, saying that I led the Bena Army out of the quagmire of the Warsaw plane, but left the West Route Army in Moyun Ridge. Not only that, but I also gave it to you
It sent a big trouble..."
The face of the middle-aged Duke Newman is full of the vicissitudes of the years. He has a pair of eyes that can see into people's hearts with a faint smile, but the words he speaks are like chisels, knocking on Suldak's heart.
.
Duke Newman was absolutely right, that's what he thought.
It’s just that he can’t admit it no matter what. When Suldak looked at Duke Newman, his eyes were full of denial:
"No, actually I'm very grateful to you. This time the reinforcements from Handanar City entered the Moyun Ridge Highlands and sent me at least 700,000 magic crystals. To be honest, I was preparing for the battle in Moyun Ridge.
I don’t have that much money, so the noble lords of Handanar City have helped me a lot this time.”
Suldak stood up straight, and Duke Newman's eyes widened. He knew that the nobles of Handanar City must have suffered a loss, but he did not expect that they would suffer such a big loss.
"You are really rude. No wonder those guys turned a deaf ear to my warning. It turns out these guys have lost so much."
When he said this, Duke Newman actually felt an inexplicable feeling of joy in his heart. Yes, the nobles of Handanar City had been crying to him for poverty for the past eight years, regardless of the Bena Legion.
How difficult the situation in Handanar County was. These lords did not send out the lords' army in their hands. At most, they only supported a group of supplies and troops.
It was not until the Bena Army left Handanar County and the situation in the entire Warsaw plane was completely reversed that they were willing to send out the army.
But now it happens that we are stealing the chicken but losing the rice...
Surdak also took the opportunity to say:
"If we had not reached out to the Moyunling Highlands, there would not have been so many losses."
Duke Newman sat down on a chair, and then asked Suldak: "What are your thoughts on coming back this time?"
"Everything will have to wait until the end of this battle before making any next plans, but... no matter what, after the victory in the Battle of Moyunling, the West Route Army will gradually withdraw from the Warsaw plane battlefield."
What can Surdak have in mind? The first priority now is to win the battle in the Moyunling Highlands. However, judging from the current situation, the evil ghost army has been suppressed in a very small area. The situation on the west road is
It is very advantageous for the army, so Suldak did not talk about how to fight the next battle on the Moyunling battlefield, but talked about how the West Route Army would move to the Warsaw plane after victory.
"I plan to hand over Moyun Ridge to the Aegrod tribe. I hope you can agree with my decision." Surdak said.
Duke Newman's wise eyes did not reflect any emotion. He spread his hands and said:
"What reason can I have for not supporting it? When you capture the Moyunling Highlands, that highland belongs to you, and the right to develop northward through the Moyunling Highlands is also under your control. This is also my right to
A reward for you and the West Route Army."
The answer this time was still as promised. Suldak finally breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that fortunately, the Duke was not that capricious villain.
"Thank you for your generosity, Lord Duke Newman." Suldak gave a military salute.
"As long as you don't scold me behind my back..."
Duke Newman made no secret of how much dissatisfaction the Bena Army's hasty withdrawal from the Warsaw plane would cause to other lord armies.
After talking about the government affairs in the Warsaw plane, the topic seemed relaxed, because this was the first time for Suldak to come to the Duke's Palace. Duke Newman was very interested in taking him to visit the large area of the living room, including overlooking the entire area.
There is a large terrace in the aristocratic area, a corridor filled with portraits of successive Dukes of Newman, and an inner garden filled with osmanthus trees.
Suldak discovered that members of the Newman family generally did not hang out in the back garden. They usually either hang out in the front garden or the inner garden, and the inner garden in the castle actually covers almost half of the area.
It is about an acre, which is equivalent to the fourth floor of the castle and is also on the top floor of the building.
While passing an archery practice field, Suldak also saw a group of young nobles from the Newman family competing in archery.
Every young man's archery skills are very good, at least much better than him. He can still shoot around the target at 50 meters. If it were him, he probably wouldn't hit the target.
"Dak, how's your archery skills?" Duke Newman asked curiously.
"Before I became a Construct Knight, I was actually an infantry soldier in a heavy armored infantry regiment, and I had barely touched a bow and arrow..."
Surdak answered truthfully.
Further forward is a practical training ground. There are many young people here fighting with wooden swords and wooden shields. They wear ordinary leather armors and sweat profusely on the training ground, constantly practicing some basic movements.
This made Suldak feel a lot. The Newman family has been able to maintain the family's glory for so many years. In fact, it has always grown some capable family members.
Duke Newman was busy with official duties and did not stay with Suldak for too long. After appeasing the commander of the Western Route Army a little, Duke Newman continued to meet with another noble lord.
Surdak, led by a butler, walked through the long stairs, steps, and corridors, and finally arrived at the castle's front garden.
Surdak's magic caravan was parked in the open space near the stables. While walking, Surdak kept guessing about one thing, that is, whether Duke Newman would have to walk this far when he left the Duke's Palace.
road.
The fountains and statues in the front garden are very exquisite. There are also many green plants in the garden. There are shrub walls everywhere, some are taller to block the view, and some are shorter to plan the corridor.
Just when Surdak was about to walk out of the front garden, he looked up inadvertently and saw a beautiful figure flashing across a small terrace on the high wall of the castle. At a sudden glance, that beautiful face gave Surdak
Leaves a deep impression.
She turned around on the terrace and disappeared. Suldak even stopped and took a look before leaving with the housekeeper.
It wasn't until the magic caravan drove out of the suspension bridge of Duke Newman's Palace that Aphrodite emerged from the Void Gate, sat elegantly opposite Suldak, and said to him with a smile:
"So you like that type of face. It's actually not difficult for a succubus to change her appearance. Do you think it's better to change it directly or subtly?"
"You are very beautiful now. In fact, everyone's beauty is unique, and I am not that superficial. What touched me about that figure just now... cannot be said to be her beauty, but that she just has that little bit of harmony.
The face in my memory exactly matches it, and the expression and appearance are somewhat similar."
Surdak explained to Aphrodite.
This succubus seemed to have turned into a jealous person after giving birth to Vivian.
"Who does it look like?" Aphrodite asked curiously.
"Sophie Marceau."
After Suldak said these words, his eyes fell on the trees flying backward outside the window, and he repeated the sentence "Sophie Marceau in her youth" in her heart.
Aphrodite's eyes wandered, and then she sat side by side with Surdak. Surdak has been accompanying Hathaway and Beatrice these days, and rarely has the opportunity to be alone with Aphrodite.
At this time, while he was riding in the carriage alone, the two of them stayed in the carriage for a while.
…
It has been more than two years since Earl Clay Cushing moved to Bena City.
Life here is plain and orderly.
Bena City is rich in materials. For a count who comes here to retire, it is more enjoyable than Luyt City, but the prerequisite is that he must be rich enough...
The opera house, arena, and auction house here are among the best in the province.
Suldak, Hathaway, and Beatrice visited Count Clay Cushing who was recuperating in the city. He looked much older, with significantly more age spots on his face and sagging skin, but
The mental state is not bad.
After having a sumptuous dinner at Count Clay Cushing's manor, and telling Count Clay Cushing many things about Hathaway's past, Suldak said goodbye and left.
In the next two days, Suldak visited the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Marquis Dunstan, and had lunch with the Great Swordsman Chester in the city of Wilkes in the Bailin plane.
Before his vacation was over, Marquis Luther led the Luther Army to a plane to participate in the plane war there. The great swordsman Quintus had already led the vanguard group to go there more than half a month in advance.
Surdak spent a relaxing and comfortable vacation in Bena City.
During this month, he, Hathaway, and Beatrice attended many dances, accepted invitations from many noble lords, and took Wente to visit the scenic spots around Bena City.
It's like having a honeymoon all over again.
The return journey is imminent, and my only regret is that I can't return to Ruyter's home, and I haven't been able to see the huge changes in Mukuso City.
…
The second time I saw the girl who looked like Sophie Marceau in Newman Castle was at a ball hosted by the Marquis of Dunstan.
The young girl and a group of young people from the Newman family came down from a row of magic carriages. Their arrival attracted many nobles at the ball to gather around them. These nobles were all very familiar with them.
The ball is a place where nobles come into contact and socialize with each other. The reason why Suldak can gradually integrate into this circle quickly is that almost all the nobles he meets are good friends with the Luther family.
Of course, there are also some nobles who want to curry favor with him and want to go to the Warsaw plane with him to make money, but these nobles are gradually decreasing...
Because the news that the reinforcements from Handanar City had withdrawn from the battlefield in embarrassment had spread to a small extent in the circle of noble lords in Bena City.
This not only lets everyone know the cruelty of the battlefield, but also lets everyone know Surdak's methods. He will not let people take a bite of his prey casually. Anyone who wants to eat the meat can do it, but
You must show your strength and role...
For a time, the lords who were clamoring to follow Suldak to Moyun Ridge on the Warsaw plane suddenly disappeared. No one mentioned this matter anymore. They praised Suldak, the commander of the Western Route Army.
It was also cleared instantly.
Some people even say that the Western Route Army was able to gain an advantage on the Moyunling Highlands entirely because it absorbed the blood of the reinforcements from Handanar City.
Of course, the news that the Western Route Army massacred all parties in the Moyunling Highlands of the Warsaw plane also spread a lot in the noble circles.
At the dance, the nobles were all smiling when they met Surdak, but no one mentioned the reinforcement of Moyunling Highlands.
However, those ladies all wanted to dance with Suldak or take a walk in the garden together. It would be even better if they could also make an appointment for afternoon tea...
In this regard, Suldak has always declined.
…
During this month of vacation, Suldak came to know the troubles of having too many women around him, mainly because they cost more money...
Even with the power of the Holy Light, I can't quickly recover my physical strength.
Beatrice also wanted a child, and the night before leaving Bena City, Suldak was still working on it.
The next morning, Hathaway and Beatrice took a magic caravan and sent Suldak to the teleportation hall in Bena City. With tears in their eyes, they watched Suldak walk into the teleportation door in the teleportation hall...