Normally, alchemists make things through addition. They wish they could add all the functions they can think of, but they don't have enough money to spend. But Zhou Qingfeng wants to make things through subtraction. All he wants is a usable mobile platform.
Can be used, easy to use, affordable.
This is the most important thing.
As long as the advantage of mobility is maintained, everything else can be omitted. As for whether this thing looks like a horse, it doesn't matter at all.
With such a broad mind, Sophia and Arcee were freed from design and manufacturing, and could build a brand new thing from the fundamental structure.
Zhou Qingfeng's only restriction on this thing is that it shouldn't be too expensive. This is a consumable product for individual soldiers. It should be cheap and large in quantity.
This kind of request was unprecedented, and the maids were immediately excited and came up with endless ideas. Each of them could come up with several plans.
Leaving the trouble to the soft girl, Uncle Zhou still had to consider how to deal with the enemy from the south. He interrupted Qiaocheng to avoid worries and concentrate on dealing with the threat of Banshee Castle.
The unacceptable conditions offered to Broken Bridge City were completely intentional to embarrass the other party. However, the Holden family responded within three days and fully accepted Zhou Qingfeng's request.
What a surprise.
Want compensation for defeat? Yes.
Want trade and transportation permits? No problem.
Want to apply for a certificate? You will be satisfied immediately.
As long as we return the eighty or so captured Holden family knights, we can say anything.
This kind of joy made Zhou Qingfeng dumbfounded. He was still waiting for the other party to bargain. Unexpectedly, the Holden family was more eager than himself. Especially the third requirement of "voting certificate" was actually met.
"I asked by name that Old Bank should be handed over to us, and they even agreed to this? Who made the decision? It was really decisive."
As a personal maid and secretary, Eve Lorraine reported the latest situation to Zhou Qingfeng, "It is said that it was Wizard Bank's own decision. He has arrived in Cold Wind City, disarmed all his weapons, and is looking to see you."
"Old Bank made his own decision?" Zhou Qingfeng frowned, "He has arrived in Cold Wind City?"
Outside the city lord's palace, the old wizard Bank, the former chief prophecy of Cold Wind City, slowly stepped out of the carriage. He handed over his staff and wore only an ordinary gray robe without any accessories.
The Chief of the Undead, Mondino, heard that Old Bank was coming and came here from the Wizard's Tower. According to the arcane vision, the 'chief' had indeed been disarmed.
"Sir Bank, your actions really surprise me." Mondino is different from the past. He has become the chief of a city from a wandering wizard, and his status has suddenly risen several levels.
In comparison, Old Bank's white hair was quite messy and he looked haggard. He glanced at Mondino but did not speak and went straight into the city lord's palace.
The bureaucracy of Coldwind City has undergone drastic reforms. There are only orc guards on duty in the city lord's palace, and the family servants who originally came and went are almost invisible.
This place was originally the property of the Long Legs family. Old Bank was familiar with every plant and tree here, but after changing hands twice, everything has changed.
After passing the Winter Hall that was burned by fire, Old Bank stopped for a moment. The temple still remains roughly the same, but many of the sculptures on the outer wall have scorch marks.
The oak door of the majestic building is open. Peeking out from the door, you can see that the statue of Oluel has been destroyed, and the mess in the hall has not been cleaned up. This is a sacred place, but the Frost Goddess can no longer affect the city.
Alas... Old Bank sighed silently and walked with heavy steps.
So it is with gods, and so with mortals.
Behind the temple is the main residence of the city lord. After all, Old Bank was the former chief. Although he didn't understand what he meant by coming so proactively, Zhou Qingfeng stood at the door to greet him personally, which was also a courtesy.
The 'last time' the two met, Zhou Qingfeng was still a rookie who had just arrived in Cold Wind City. The old wizard cast a spell to help find clues to the 'Imaskar Fragment'.
In just eight or nine months, when we met again, Zhou Qingfeng was already the city lord of Hanfeng City, the lord who commanded a population of more than 200,000. In terms of strength, he was ranked among the best in the entire Northland.
The Long Legs family has been in Cold Wind City for decades and has never had such prestige.
Before Zhou Qingfeng could say a few words of welcome, Old Bank stood still and said with a heavy voice: "Sir Hugo, actually I can escape."
That's right, Zhou Qingfeng asked the Holden family to hand over their name, and specifically wanted the old wizard Bank. But he knew that it would not be easy to catch the chief.
The prophecy system, detecting danger and sensing hostility, these are basic skills, and they are also the most annoying thing about prophecy wizards. They are very slippery and difficult to catch.
Old Bank can be the leader of the wizard group in Cold Wind City, and he also has two skills. He must have a variety of constant arcana in his body, which can both detect and conceal. He will run away immediately if there is danger.
"So why did you come to me on your own initiative? We are currently hostile parties."
"Because even if the Butch family of Banshee Castle succeeds in driving Sir Hugo away from Coldwind City, this city will no longer belong to the Long-Legs family."
Old Bank had a look of pain on his face. This was a fact he had to admit. Zhou Qingfeng said "oh" for a while, but he felt that the other party was still a little self-aware.
"The family is not strong enough and has reached the point where it has to choose a stronger person to rely on. Phils Long Legs chose to rely on the Butcher family, but I am not optimistic about this matter.
I went to Broken Bridge City hoping to win an ally for my family. I didn't expect that Mr. Hugo would act faster and more ruthlessly than anyone else. You moved too fast, really too fast.
The Holden family was defeated by you in one battle, and Kyle Holden became a useless man lying on his bed. Now the person in charge is Hardin Holden, an inexperienced boy."
Old Bank told Zhou Qingfeng what he was proud of, and the flattery was really comfortable. The latter did not dare to say how strong he was, but in terms of mobilization speed, other northern nobles were like snails under the feet of rabbits in front of him
.
But flattery is useless.
Zhou Qingfeng shook his head, "Your Excellency Bank, I will not accept any nobles, nor will I grant privileges to anyone. If you want to take refuge with me..."
Old Bank was not surprised and just asked: "Do you need a prophecy wizard? All the prophecy departments in Cold Wind City are my disciples, and I can bring them all back."
Zhou Qingfeng was even more surprised, "You seem to be sure that I will take you in. Is this a prophecy?"
But Old Bank shook his head, "This does not require prophecy, this is history repeating itself. Any power that rises comes to power by stepping on the corpses of the old nobles.
Every family, every kingdom, and even every civilization is like this.
Mr. Hugo, you don't like aristocrats. But in the eyes of others, you are a noble. You don't grant privileges, but you have mastered them yourself.
The brave man who slays the dragon will eventually turn into an evil dragon. It has not changed for thousands of years. It is just a few days or a few years.
The original surname of the Long-Legs family is ‘Leven’, and I am actually the uncle of Phils Long-Legs. I can change my name back to Bank Leven and pledge my allegiance to you.
I admit that the family has declined, and this is an unchangeable fact. But as long as I am still here, the family will not perish, and will one day rise again."
Hearing this, Zhou Qingfeng let out a long sound of 'Oh...', "The family power has declined, so you are hedging your bets? Phils is attached to the Butchi family, and you come to me.
"
"Yes." Old Bank looked very calm and without any shame.
"Did you discuss it with Phils when you came to my place?"
"No. But he will understand me."
"Do you think I can defeat the Butchi family?"
"On the contrary, I used to think that the Butch family's chance of winning was over 90%. But after looking at the miserable situation of the Holden family, I felt that the Butcher family's chance of winning dropped to 70%.
But that’s not important. What’s important is how my family can survive.”
"So you still think I will be defeated?"
"The Butchi family is too powerful, and the power they can mobilize far exceeds that of Cold Wind City. But the most they can do is drive Mr. Hugo back to the Black Forest. If you want to escape, there is nothing they can do."
Ha..., you come to me to make a living, but you actually think that I will lose.
Zhou Qingfeng was angry. He asked again: "Since you are here, then I have to release more than 80 prisoners of the Holden family?"
Old Bank entered the role very quickly. He immediately objected, "No. With the captives here, we can squeeze more oil out of the Holden family.
When nothing can be squeezed out, all those prisoners must be killed and absolutely not allowed to be released. At that time, the Holden family will either decline or surrender, and Broken Bridge City will be at your fingertips."
Zhou Qingfeng trembled for a while after hearing this, and secretly shouted in his heart: "Damn it, you old nobles are so cruel, you have such a dark heart, you are going to break the bones and suck out the marrow!"