Imperial Crown.

Chapter 354: Under the Table Deal
Many thanks to QQ Reading Dad [Autumn, Sorrow] for the 2066-point reward!
Sorry everyone, the chapter was blocked last night!

……

It was no surprise that Fowler was wiped out.

After all, more than 10 troops had been killed in a row, and Fowler, with only 2000 men under his command, could never stop Raven.

But when this news spread with the actual progress of the war, especially after Raven's intentional or unintentional support, the impact it brought was enormous.

For a moment, the entire Principality of Eivor, from the common people to the nobility, was filled with calls for a fight to the death with Raven.

"People's hearts can be used! It seems that my Eivor family still has a solid foundation!"

Eivor VIII has spies all over the Blue Castle, and now he is reading the information collected from the people.

This is also a rare pastime for him during this period of time.

When he sees something that makes him happy, he will read it out loud with a smile:
"The Principality is like a sleeping lion. It just hasn't woken up yet. When more and more people like Fowler and Tudor appear, the devil Raven will be driven back to his hometown!"

Well said!

Eivor VIII slapped his thigh.

This is the spirit we need.

If the Principality of Eivor were a person, then today he would only have contracted a minor disease and shed some blood.

This actually stimulates the body to grow vigorously!

This is more in line with Eivor VIII's aesthetics - the protagonists in the story are always kind to others, and only when they are insulted will they launch a real counterattack.

"Gatugan even said he would contact the Kingdom of Fitun for help. It's true that people become more timid as they get older!"

"How could we not be able to take down Raven with our entire principality?"

"Eivor has a population of 1700 million. Even if everyone spits, they can still drown Raven!"

Jingle Bell.

Before anyone arrives, the sound comes first.

Then there was a faint fragrance.

Grand Duchess Tracy walked into the room barefoot on the soft carpet, and the bell on her silver ankle ring was ringing.

The soft body snuggled into Eivor VIII's arms like a water snake.

She was still wearing very light clothes, and her smooth skin looked tight because the room temperature was not very high.

Her figure is even more upright than that of a young girl, and even her upper body is stretched straight without any tendency to sag.

The soft body wrapped in a pink gauze skirt fell on Eivor VIII's thighs.

"Ning——

Eivor VIII took a breath of cold air and couldn't help lowering his head. His eyes passed through the plump lips and into the layers of clothes, and he saw the smooth skin.

My hands moved unconsciously.

Cui Qi couldn't help but tighten her hands behind her back, but her expression remained impeccable: "Yes, those are just artistic exaggerations and fictions."

"Many things, like this, cannot be judged on the surface."

Eivor VIII frowned slightly when he heard this. "What rumors have you heard? I told you long ago that if you have something to say, just say it directly. Don't beat around the bush. I'm not someone who doesn't listen to opinions."

Cui Qi felt a flash of sarcasm in her heart, but she still said frankly:
"It's Quentin. He's on the front lines and knows more than those who don't have to face Raven."

"The army has assembled in Bolan City too hastily, and there is no time to integrate. Although there are 12 troops, their actual combat effectiveness is not optimistic."

"Moreover, the defensive capabilities of Bolan City are far inferior to those of the Wall of Sighs. The Wall of Sighs was breached in one attack, let alone Bolan City?"

"So, Quentin would like to ask your Highness to withdraw from Bolan City and set up camp outside the Blue Castle to integrate ourselves before going to fight Raven."

Eivor VIII stopped and silently pulled his hand away, with clear dissatisfaction on his face.

This was already a silent rejection, but Cui Qi really didn't want her brother to take risks, so she gritted her teeth and continued softly:
"In fact, if you want to defeat Raven, you don't necessarily have to be on the battlefield."

"You know this person called Quilly, right? Although he is dead, his teacher is still alive. He is a fifth-level magic master. I have her contact information."

"She would be happy to kill Raven if she could be contacted."

This reason is sufficient enough. Assassinating Raven can avoid a lot of consumption - both soldiers and wealth.

But when Eivor VIII turned around, Twilight saw a face as cold as ice.

Then there was a slap raised high.

Snapped--

Eivor VIII stood up angrily, pointed at Twilight's face and yelled:

"Quilli, you still remember him!?"

"He even left his teacher's contact information!!"

"Ha, you have a really good relationship! But I remember you told me that you two have never contacted each other privately!?"

Even though Eivor VIII was not good in that aspect, he did have some strength in his hands. After this slap, a red and swollen slap mark appeared on Cui Qi's face.

Tears flowed down her eyes, Cui Qi bit her lip and explained loudly:
"Your Highness, I was indeed wrong about this!"

"But, we have been married for so many years, but I have not been able to give birth to an heir for you. This has always been a concern of mine!"

"That's why I went to find Quilly. It was precisely because I didn't want to have too much contact with him privately that I asked for his teacher's contact information."

"It's just that I haven't been able to talk to you yet..."

After hearing this explanation, Eivor VIII's emotions stabilized a little, and he put away his fingers with a grim expression.

Not having any offspring was his biggest worry.

Not only with Cui Qi, but all the women he had come into contact with were unable to give birth to a child for him.

Level 5 magician, maybe there really is a way?

But immediately, he threw this thought behind his mind and said coldly:

"My heir does not need those lunatics from the Mages Guild to meddle with me!"

"This demon Raven will also be slain by my army personally!"

……

Just as Eivor VIII was getting wildly jealous about the non-existent cuckold, His Majesty the King of the Keynes Empire, Keynes XVI, was also worried about new problems.

"Mr. Prime Minister, do we really have no other options?"

Hearing this question, the Imperial Prime Minister, the Duke of Hamilton, who was standing below, nodded slightly.

He is 71 years old, but he is well maintained and looks only in his early 50s, with his silver hair combed neatly.

What is noteworthy is that his left hand only has two fingers, the thumb and the little finger, and the remaining three fingers seem to have been cut off at the root and disappeared.

Adjusting his tie with his left hand, Hamilton said slowly, “Yes, Your Majesty, although Raven has invaded the Principality of Eivor, the Empire has no spare strength to support his offensive;

To bring out enough power to shake the entire territory of Eivor, it would cost at least 1200 million gold coins."

“And the situation on the front line is getting worse and worse.”

"Since the fall of Blackwater Province, the defenses of Silverpine Province have also completely collapsed. Now Insa has pushed the front line to the central part of Brad Province, but the offensive has stopped only now that winter has arrived."

"If Insa maintains its current offensive when spring arrives next year - please forgive my not optimistic prediction, but judging from previous battles, this offensive will definitely continue."

"In this way, their iron hooves will be unstoppable and advance into the richest hinterland of the empire."

"Under such circumstances, the Fitun city-states are determined not to give in. We only have one choice."

Although he spoke slowly, he made things very clear.

The war situation was unfavorable, and the city-states of Fitun rejected the Empire's request to pass through the Principality of Eivor.

Their suggestion was that the Keynes Empire should abandon Raven and hand him over as a "madman who attacked neighboring countries without authorization" to the Fitun city-states.

In this way, Fitun will be responsible for providing logistical supplies and provisions to the isolated city of Majik on the border. At the same time, he will actively mediate the dispute between the two sides and strive to bring Insara back to the negotiating table.

And this is exactly the point where Keynes XVI hesitated.

Handing over Raven and exchanging a baron for a turning point in the war is not a loss in the end.

But in that case, the gap that the empire had finally opened in the northwest would have to be given back.

Sigh, the high wall can be taken down once, but it won’t be so easy the second time.

This is tantamount to handing over the initiative that has already been obtained.

More importantly, for King Keynes XVI, this entire war should be regarded as his achievement in expanding the territory as a king.

Handing over Raven and having both parties sit at the negotiating table at the same time, no matter how it was whitewashed, meant that the war led by Keynes XVI had ended in absolute failure.

This is a result that Keynes XVI cannot afford!
Seeing the hesitation of King Keynes XVI, Prime Minister Duke Hamilton said:

"Your Majesty, please rest assured that if there is ever a day when we can sit down at the negotiation table, I will be the first to sign the peace treaty."

This means that no matter what infamy comes, he will have to bear it.

Keynes XVI shook his head: "That's not necessary. Since I started the war, I will bear the consequences!"

"But right now, we are not at the end of our rope yet."

Pulling out the map of the Principality of Eivor that he had been looking at frequently recently, Cairns XVI tapped on the map with his fingers:

"Then, next spring, we will levy an additional tax and at least mobilize the troops from the province of Molinier to support Raven."

"As long as Raven can deploy his troops under the Blue Castle, the Feyton city-states will definitely give in unless they don't want this ally!"

Hamilton frowned slightly, rubbing the remaining thumb and little finger on his left hand together:

"However, it will take until at least the middle of next year or even the end of the year to see the results."

"Regardless of whether the frontal battlefield can be supported, if we ignore the goodwill of the Feydon city-states this time, they will most likely send troops to support Eivor."

"In this way, not only will this opportunity be wasted, but this branch battlefield will also likely become another wound to the empire."

Keynes XVI shook his head and made a clear judgment:

"No, Eivor will never ask for help from Feydon."

He didn't say the rest.

Because this is his judgment from the perspective of a king.

If he were Eivor VIII, he would rather fight to the death with Raven than bring in reinforcements from Fitun.

If the Sigh Wall has not fallen, there is still meaning in sending reinforcements.

Now I sigh that the high wall is gone.

When reinforcements arrive, if they win, the Wall of Sighs will be directly controlled by the Kingdom of Fitun.

This was no different than losing to Raven, and even required a nice payout to Fitton.

And if it fails, the outcome will be even more tragic.

Although the Keynes Empire has the motivation to annex Eivor, due to international concerns, the most it can do is to allow Eivor a considerable degree of military access.

On the surface, Eivor will still maintain its independence and the Grand Duke will still be the same Grand Duke.

Although the power has decreased, it still exists.

But if they still lose even with the help of reinforcements, then Eivor VIII will most likely be taken away by Fitun's strong men.

At that time, he would have no choice but to be the "Duke of the Apartment" in the Kingdom of Fitun, set up a government in exile, and watch the Kingdom of Fitun fall into the hands of others.

Although Eivor VIII had no heirs, the bloodline of Eivor's family was not that difficult to find.

No matter who it is, once they "take over" the Duchy of Eivor, there will be no possibility for Eivor VIII to return to the throne of Grand Duke.

Therefore, no matter what the battle situation is, as long as Eivor VIII is not selfless to the level of a saint, he will definitely firmly refuse Fitun's assistance.

As the Prime Minister, the Duke of Hamilton was not optimistic about His Majesty's plan, but since he already knew His Majesty's attitude, he would not persuade him any further:
"Understood, Your Majesty. I will convene a cabinet meeting tomorrow to discuss the specific implementation of the additional taxation."

Keynes XVI nodded.

At this moment, a gray falcon flew across the night sky, rushed into the room through the hole in the door, and landed in front of Keynes XVI.

The falcon stood on the table, less than 20 centimeters tall, gray-black in color, with a circle of dense red spots on its beak.

Its name is "Ashe Crane", also known as "disaster-bringing bird" and "the silent death god". Although it is not big in size, it is a genuine third-level magical beast.

In addition to its extremely fast flying speed, which allows it to fly at least 1300 kilometers in a day and night, it also has the magical gift of invisibility, and its wings are one of the ingredients for invisibility potions.

Due to their delicate physique and difficulty in breeding under artificial conditions, even the Cairns royal family only raised seven to deliver emergency messages.

Untie the cloth bag at the feet of the ash crane and take out a piece of thin silk letter from it.

After scanning the above content, Keynes XVI's face suddenly tensed up, and veins bulged on his fingers!
Taking a deep breath, King Keynes XVI managed to calm down, waved his hand, and asked a court eunuch to come forward and hand the letter to Hamilton.

The Prime Minister and the Duke of the Empire, who were always known for their calmness and composure, were so shocked that they forgot to breathe after seeing it.

Because it was written that 5 cavalrymen of the Insa Empire actually carried out a large-scale infiltration in winter.

Not only did it bypass the defense line of Brad Province, it also crossed an entire province.

Now it has appeared on the edge of the province where the royal capital is located!

It’s no more than an 8-day journey from the royal capital!
"Your Majesty, this..." Hamilton calmed down:
"…How should we deal with this?!"

"Do you want to take the Raven Lock back immediately?"

Keynes XVI bit his lips and his face turned purple!
……

(End of this chapter)