Blood tax

Chapter 293 Odessa

Also coming were Lieutenant Bernard de Rouault, Standing Commander of Squadron 603, Test Warrant Officer Suster Genif and Test Sergeant Major Fenrir Gunter.

Griffith had read the archives about them in advance, and knew that Lieutenant Bernard was originally a cavalry officer. The 603rd Experimental Squadron was formed due to lack of manpower.Although the test task was directly assigned by the Reserve Army Command, the superior was very worried about the command and training of an engineer-born officer, so he transferred Bernard, who had signed up for it, here.After all, even if Bernard didn't understand artillery and new weapons, the cavalry unit was Bayerland's own son's unit, and having him in charge of the daily management at least wouldn't make people worry about losing control of the troops.

According to Griffith's eyeliner, during the Battle of Verona, he followed the report of his Senamon Test Warrant Officer. After arriving in the army, Lieutenant Bernard was very active in the development and testing of new technologies. .Combining his combat experience, he believes that the future and significance of artillery lies in maneuvering, raids and emergency reinforcements, and it must be able to keep up with the fast march of cavalry and infantry.For this reason, he worked hard to improve the structure of artillery vehicles, and applied to the Reserve Army Command to reduce the multiple diameter of the artillery barrel to reduce weight. He wanted to kick out all the heavy artillery and only use 8-pound or 6-pound artillery to fight.This view put him at odds with the other test officers in the squadron.

Warrant Officer Suster was an oddball.There may have been a knight lord in his family a hundred years ago, but there are not many sons in his family.This person doesn't want to get married, is addicted to alcohol, loves to brag, never thinks about saving money, and lives day by day.What everyone hates most about him is his defeatist mouth. Even with such a powerful force as the Teutonic Group, he always mutters such frustrated words as "it's over, it's over" and "our army is about to lose".He even likes to say that "we can't beat the orc masters", and that the orcs "sail on dry land, and the new dynasty is elegant".

The strangest thing about this man was his great love for heavy artillery.A group of testers represented by him are full of words "calibre is justice", "the greater the caliber, the more pious the belief".For this reason, the "heavy artillery faction" headed by Suster and the lieutenant's "riding artillery faction" dislike each other.

Senamon respectfully reminded his benefactor, Griffith, in his small report that these two people might bring displeasure to the beautiful Miss La Moore, and they must not be discussed together in front of the Countess. military affairs.

Sergeant Major Fenrir is a man in his 30s, with a cold expression and few words.He worked as an engineer, came from the northern border, and his wife and daughter died in the attack of the orcs.He worked as a worker in the newly built artillery factory for a short period of time. After conscription, he joined the test squadron, hoping to bring his cannon to the front line.Different from the lieutenants and warrant officers, there is a kind of determination and firmness in his eyes, like a haystack that ignites sparks, which can ignite a raging fire at any time.

Griffith met them one by one, and then asked, "Where is Lansada?"

The girl in disguise is smart, brave, and completely obedient to Griffith's orders.Although she is not a professional soldier, with the help of such a priest, Griffith can obtain first-hand information about the Anjou girl.

"Captain, Lansada hasn't returned from Anjou yet." Pasio Wamuu immediately replied loudly.He has been waiting for the opportunity to speak with the hero in his heart, and this meeting can be regarded as grabbing it.However, he didn't know what to say after finishing this sentence.

Desai added: "Captain, there has been fighting for several days in a row. The Holy Maiden led more than 3000 militiamen to repel the orc invasion. According to the latest news, the Holy Maiden will take the militiamen to Teutoburg to serve as the prince after preparing to stabilize the situation." Help out."

The northern border of the Odessa region has been harassed by orcs for some time, and it is reasonable for the people there to unite around various churches to form militias.Griffith nodded, not asking about it for the time being.He is the commander of the third-level assault squadron and a quasi-knight, and he will attend the reception dance in Odessa with Sonia tonight.

……

Odessa is a beautiful city of white stone and blue tile, the most magnificent jewel and the most prosperous market in the North.The white city walls surround the cliffs by the blue sea, and the clear Baiy River passes through the city and flows into the sea at the port.The river is dotted with 72 white arch bridges, like pearls on a necklace.

Here is the largest port and shipyard in the North, located at the southernmost tip of the city, by the Sea of ​​Tranquility, protected by cliffs, walls and fortresses.The nearby high walls are covered with trebuchets and arrow towers, even demigods would be afraid of such a line of defense.

After arriving at the port, distinguished guests can change into comfortable yachts and go along the river to the city square in the city center.

There stands the wonder of the north, the magnificent summer palace, which is also the chamber of the Odessa Senate.The square in front of the summer palace is the same as the square in Bayeran, surrounded by surrounding buildings and parks, paved with white stones and cobblestones, the scale is astonishingly large, and it is more than enough for two legions.

When night falls, the distant and solemn bells of the Summer Palace can be heard in my ears.Sonia held the side of the boat, looking curiously at the beautiful city on the river bank.Tonight, she was invited to the welcome ball together with the prince and the nobles of Bajeland as honored guests and brave reinforcements.

The autumn night is comfortable and intoxicating, and the citizens on both sides of the Baiy River wear silk and thin cloth in bright and rich colors.

Sonia, who had done her homework beforehand, pulled Griffith's sleeve and pointed him to the trade area south of the city.There is the largest market in the north, and there is an endless stream of people coming and going every day.Half of the city's banks, hotels, chambers of commerce and trading centers are located here.Products from all over the world can be bought here.If there is no Bayeran, here is the center of the world.

Across the river to the east of the market is the old city, which used to be an ancient coastal fortress and surrounding small villages.The ancient rhyme still exists there, but it has become a dark street.It is said that there is a guild of assassins lurking in the shadows, and Bayeran's intelligence department and spies from various parties come and go there every day.

The hills to the west of the city are the domain of noble spellcasters.Wizards are both nobles and masters here.A thriving trade brought them shiny dust crystals and rare materials.When you go up the river, you can see the glint of ice and fire elements colliding on the top of the mountain, and the dazzling arcane brilliance is like the Milky Way falling to the ground.

This is also a city of believers in the Holy Light, and the cathedral is just north of the square in the center of the city and the Summer Palace.Those who lived in the breadlands and plains of northern Odessa were devout believers.It is said that in the era when the church cultivated saints, beautiful girls brought blessings to everyone on every important festival. Thousands of believers gathered in the square and called for the saints with cheers.

……

The yacht arrives at the pier near the Summer Palace on the banks of the Baiy River.Many beautiful boats have been docked here, and the nobles who came to the ball changed their clothes on board, and then walked across the square to the Summer Palace.

Griffith changed his breastplate and put on a long red-striped black-soled gown.He turned around in front of the fitting mirror, took off his coat anyway, and put the fine chain armor that he didn't often wear under the coat.

He looked at the brightly lit summer palace on the shore, and there were men and women in gorgeous clothes, singing and dancing, and there was no sign of tension or danger of an imminent war.A part of the Stormtrooper Squadron was brought in by Lieutenant Lean and gathered on the shore for vigilance.

As soon as he thought that Prince Byelan, nobles, and generals who were leading the reinforcements were all invited to the evening dance, Griffith's heart beat faster, and he asked his companions who were about to disembark:
"Nona, how do you arrange it?"

Miss Xiutoral was wearing plate armor and a silver helmet, and she was standing aside fully armed, she tilted her head: "I will take your cavalry to line up near the square, together with the guards of other families, if there is anything strange...

"Well, if there is anything unusual, everyone should not expect to be able to return to the ship safely. The square here is too large, and the palace is at least 600 meters away from the shore. Crossing it is like a target.

"If something goes wrong, I will occupy a nearby building, close to the sewers and streets, and the closer the roof of the nearby building, the better, and wait for you to come and meet."

Griffith nodded.Most of the troops of the prince, nobles and generals are outside the city.Although the Duke of Odessa is loyal to King Bayeran and the Senate, and the local nobles are also very enthusiastic, the Shutorals still have to prepare a plan for emergencies.

"Isn't Nona going to the prom? You look great in a dress!"

Sonia had already dressed up with Anna's help, and she approached playfully. The charming fragrance tickled Griffith's heart.

She put on a light blue evening gown dress, her blond hair was coiled up high, and the intricate and gorgeous skirt was inlaid with star-like crystals, making a heart-swaying rustling sound.

"We're prepared for emergencies," Griffith explained to Noona.The latter saluted and then turned and left, calling the cavalry to gather in the square.

"It's not a bad thing to be careful," Sonia took Griffith's arm and carefully walked out of the yacht, "But how many legions are there in Odessa? Even if you get rid of the prince, us and the two legions here, they can't do anything." Against 20 other regiments across the country."

……

When Griffith accompanied Sonia from the steps on the second floor into the ballroom, all eyes were attracted by her title, radiant beauty and gorgeous long dress.

The quasi-knight again had the feeling of being shot by the sight of a spear.

"I still don't think I'm a good fit here," Griffith whispered to Sonia during the first dance.

"Why?" the girl asked softly, "My knight is very popular."

"There are too many people who will come to me for a duel." Griffith looked around, feeling that he was being roasted on the fire. "I might empty out the nobles in Odessa."

With a sweet smile, Sonia pinched his shoulders with her slender hands, raised her head slightly proudly, and the corners of her mouth curled up slightly, suppressing a smile.She was in the middle of the dance floor, so she naturally paid close attention to her posture.

After the song ended, Sonia suddenly approached Griffith when she returned to her seat, her delicate and small face was leaning on his broad shoulders:
"The people by the floor-to-ceiling windows, from left to right, are the secret peepers Regin, Solan, and Killian. Among them, Wizard Solan and Miss Solan, who belongs to LS, are distant relatives. The gloomy man is the hunter. Zerberma, surrounded by ladies is Diraz the Light and Shadow, and next to him is the Word Bearer Bishop Clariant."

O supernatural beings of Odessa!Griffith immediately concentrated and tried to remember their looks one by one.

Bishop Clariant was as strong as a bear, but his face was kind and gentle.He is Bishop Raven who is related to Krista, and being able to enter the high-level power in Odessa means that he has not been treated coldly for cultivating the saint without authorization, and he may even be presiding over the affairs related to the saint of Anjou.

Griffith quietly listened to Sonia's introduction of local celebrities.He was not a high-ranking man, he was not yet a full-fledged nobleman, he was not very good at ball politeness and wisecracks, and he didn't know a few famous people.

The girl's memory is astonishingly good. She has only met many local transcendents and great nobles once, but she can still accurately point out his characteristics and status.

"Where are the Duke of Odessa and the local demigod?" Griffith asked softly, "I don't seem to have seen similar figures."

"The Grand Duke and the local spellcaster leaders are both old and rarely appear in the public eye." Sonia pulled him and turned his head, and found an extraordinary figure in the crowd, "Sequence 5 Extraordinary spellcaster "Lord of the Mysteries" Seydlitz von Kurzbach was the de facto leader of the Odessa Mystic side."

The nobility in Odessa all carry "Von" before their surnames, which is similar to Bayeran's habit.Ophelia was born in a local aristocrat, and she somehow became a Xiutoral.

Griffith noticed that some of Odessa's nobles and Extraordinary gathered together drinking wine and chatting in low voices. Every time the officers and nobles from the Bayeran side passed by them, they would cast a few unkind glances.Another group of people seemed very cordial and enthusiastic, queuing up to get to know Sonia, and praising her beauty and holiness, making the saint of Anjou eclipsed.

It was this saintly woman again. If the Odessa people were not particularly devout, they wanted to use this saintly woman to achieve amazing plots.Griffith further increased the importance of the saint in his heart, and was a little worried about Lansada's safety, fearing that she would not survive to join him.

At this moment, the dance hall suddenly became lively, and Seydlitz led a large group of people to the entrance with a whoosh, cheering like schoolchildren.

"Hail to our future king!"

"The army commanded by the prince will definitely be invincible!"

Amidst the shouts one after another, Commodus came.He led a group of knights and officers, wearing armor, into the summer palace with extraordinary style.

General Maximus, the commander in chief of the army, followed behind the prince.This old general is a powerful paladin pathway Sequence 5 God's Punishment Knight, with rich combat experience and unparalleled qualifications, watching the young prince like a kind elder.

They are teachers and students, but also friends.

"Kill all the orcs, and sweep the caves in Liting!"

"Hit to Kelimu and capture the Great Chief alive!"

The local dignitaries earnestly begged the prince to wipe out the orcs in the north, and praised his heroic appearance as a manifestation of victory in the world, as if the war had already been won.

The nasty compliment reached the point of embarrassment in an instant.Prince Commodus also warmly praised Odessa and Holy Light.His fiancée, the beautiful Princess Diana de Mirantis, who was also present at the ball, listened to their conversation with a smile, and finally couldn't bear it anymore, and found an excuse to come towards Sonia.

　Krista's SR card has finally caught up!excited to cry

　　
　
(End of this chapter)