Falcon Castle is built on a mountain near the small town of Hechingen, about 64 kilometers away from Stuttgart.
All the castles in this world were not originally designed to withstand wars - a rocket launcher wipes out the ground, not to mention castles, even large concrete blocks can be blown up for you.
In fact, these castles were basically built from the First to the Third Age to prevent attacks from extraordinary creatures in the surrounding wild areas.
For example, the ancient Solomon Republic in the Third Age, while expanding northward from Italy and the Peninsula, built a large number of fortresses for both military and civilian purposes, which were like nails in the territories of barbarians and extraordinary creatures.
Once there is a beast tide that cannot be dealt with by the conventional army, the ancient Solomon officials will organize the evacuation of the people and gather them in the nearest castle. These castles cover an extremely large area and have large internal food reserves, so they can maintain self-sufficiency for a long time.
Time, let the people inside hold on until the arrival of Solomon's field army.
The Falcon Family's castle was built in the early Third Age. The builder was an ancient Solomon tax collector... Let's not talk about more background for now. In short, the Falcon Family certainly does not intend to stick to this existing castle.
In the useless castle, the battle in northern Franconia is waiting to be decided.
Although the Griffin family suddenly rebelled against the empire, it did disrupt their long-term plan. But now that the matter is over, there is nothing to regret.
While the old griffon is still the monarch of the Principality of Swabia, how to use his son-in-law's official status to attack and conquer the surrounding territories as soon as possible is what the contemporary Count Frederick of Falcon is considering.
Obviously, he is not the only lord with similar ideas. For example, Count Eberhard of Württemberg in Ulm, whose family crest is three fish bones, has already led troops to station here.
Stuttgart is not far away, and its intention is obvious.
If we really want to have an aristocratic classical war, there is nothing we can do about it. In terms of military strength, everyone is evenly matched, and there is no guarantee that anyone will win, so we can still fight.
However, even if the opponent is defeated, the loss of ammunition and materials is inevitable, and subsequent expansion plans to the surrounding areas will definitely be hindered. Therefore, both sides have even drawn up the battle line, but have not taken action because of similar concerns.
At this moment, a young woman claiming to be from the Licinius family visited the Falcon family, saying she wanted to negotiate a large arms deal.
No, it’s not a claim. Several elders in the family who have connections in Solomon City have confirmed that the other party is indeed the daughter of the head of the arms giant Licinius Consortium, Nora Valenius. No.
Disguise traces of face or identity with supernatural power.
So the Falcon family immediately held a banquet to welcome this distinguished woman from Solomon City...and her secretary and bodyguard.
Although Frederick didn't understand why a young woman of this status would hire an equally young man as her personal secretary.
However, according to elders who have been to Solomon City, the customs in Solomon City are relatively open. Even unmarried women can openly bring men with them, whether in a confirmed or unconfirmed relationship, euphemistically called "free love" without worrying about falling in love.
Destroy your future reputation.
In the traditional and conservative empire, if his daughter dared to do such a shameless thing, Frederick would kick her to the monastery.
In short, despite all the criticism, Frederick still made a very solemn gesture to welcome the distinguished guests, and there was nothing suspicious about his words or behavior.
If Nora hadn't read all his thoughts and activities, Nora would really think that this nobleman made a pretty good impression.
"Actually, as long as the price is not too outrageous, we can accept it." After three rounds of drinking, Count Frederick began to test quietly, "You also know that there is turmoil in the Principality of Swabia now, and we have no regard for arms and equipment.
The demand is also very strong, the key lies in how much quantity your company can provide.”
"As long as the volume of goods reaches a sufficient amount, we can make further concessions on price, high rebates, purchase in installments, and mortgage part of the assets. It's all easy to negotiate."
After all, now is the stage of land grabbing. The more you invest in the early stage, the more you can earn back twice as much in the later stage. Frederick also knew that this was not the time to be stingy, and even uttered the rhetoric that price did not matter.
"I wonder how much goods your lordship plans to ask for?" Nora asked softly.
"Hahaha, of course the more the merrier." Count Frederick laughed heartily, and the surrounding guests also laughed in harmony with the atmosphere.
"Actually, I don't doubt that Lord Earl can eat this batch of goods." Nora muttered a few words with Asker in the secret psychic communication channel, and then said with a smile, "The main reason is to consider the impact of the Holy See's export ban...
…”
"That's right." Earl Frederick said "I understand 100%", "Of course we can understand your company's concerns, but our Sauron family seems not to be on the Holy See's export control ban list, right?"
He cast a questioning look at the elder next to him, and the old man in formal clothes immediately nodded in agreement:
"Miss Nora, although our Sauron family has some assets near Stuttgart, within the entire Principality of Swabia, we are just a slightly larger local aristocratic force, and I am afraid that it cannot be discerned by the Holy See."
"That's not necessarily true." Asker said next to him, "According to the information from our marketing department, the count seems to be the son-in-law of the Duke of Franconia?"
Count Frederick's expression remained unchanged, he raised his glass and said with a smile:
"Within our empire, marriage among nobles advocates matching of the same family, and marriages with each other are also quite common and frequent. Not only with the Hohenstaufen family, but also with our family members and other nobles in Franconia and Swabia,
There is also a close relationship by marriage."
He explained a few words in an understatement, but skillfully avoided all the doubts in Asik's words.
"This Earl of Sauron doesn't seem to want to talk about the civil war." Nora silently read her mind while chatting privately with Asker. "However, he is not optimistic about the future of the Griffin family, so he hopes that we can jump in as soon as possible."
Let’s get over this topic.”
"Keep testing," Ask said.
"Actually." Nora took the words and said with a smile, "We also have another concern, that is, after the goods are sold to you, they may be transferred to some people through the close in-law network that the Earl just mentioned.
In the hands of forces that are relatively sensitive to the Holy See."
At this time, Frederick was stopped by her question, you just said that we are all relatives, so how do I know that you will not resell the guns to your father-in-law in the north? In case your father-in-law is defeated, these guns will be lost again.
What should I do if it falls into the hands of the emperor?
After pondering for a moment while holding the wine glass, Frederick slowly said:
"To tell you the truth, I will be honest here. The subsequent development of the situation in Franconia has actually determined the outcome of this civil war in the empire, and it is not something that our Sauron family can interfere with."
"Once the Hohenstaufen family is defeated and the Emperor's coalition forces move south to join the Weisbach family, the Wolf family will have no chance of winning in this civil war."
"On the other hand, if the Duke of Franconia can hold back the Emperor's coalition forces and allow the Wolf family to continue to destroy the Principality of Bavaria, then the civil war will slide into a long-term, lasting meat grinder situation."
"And this is exactly what the Holy See wants to see. Let me predict that if the civil war continues for a while, when spring comes, the Holy See's troops in Italy will go north to intervene, right?"
"Therefore, the current war in Franconia is an arena where giant beasts compete and fight with each other. Although our family is quite powerful locally, if we measure it at the level of the entire empire, it is just a matter of any force moving a finger.
A tiny existence that can be crushed to death. Therefore, no matter how unwise we are, we will not rashly put our power into it."
"I can guarantee that the arms your company sells to us will only be used to expand our power in the Principality of Swabia and will never appear on battlefields outside the Principality."
"We have neither the motive nor the ability to do unnecessary things. After all, in-laws are in-laws, and family is family."
"He is telling the truth." Nora confirmed the credibility of this statement through mind reading.
This was troublesome, and both of them were speechless.
In other words, today's Falcon family still positions itself as a small lord in the Principality of Swabia. While the old griffon is fighting with the emperor in the north, they want to steal some meat from the surrounding area to eat.
You are still worried about taking sides, but it turns out that they never thought of taking sides from the beginning to the end... The big-tailed wolf is huddled in the hole, thinking that he is a little white rabbit!