The doctor suffers from amnesia, but not complete amnesia.

"Of course, once the deposit is received, we will definitely agree to cooperate."

The Knight Commander spoke as fast as if he were robbing a bank.

However, the three company commanders genuinely felt that their commander was robbing a bank—the deposit alone was two million gold pounds?

So be it, it's enough for the group to live on for several years.

"No problem, someone will bring the money over tonight."

Qiao Yelan answered readily.

"Since you, Commander, are so straightforward, how about we first establish a simple framework for cooperation?"

"Okay, you say."

Charles has started addressing Qiao Yelan with the formal "you" (formal).

"Firstly, regarding the knights' compensation, wages, allowances, and bonuses are paid to them normally. We also strictly adhere to the provisions of the 'Kasimir Commercial Union Labor Law,' providing knights with legitimate holidays and working hours..."

"It's alright, let them work overtime. You can use them however you want—just remember to settle the overtime pay and any extra bonuses directly with our Knights."

Qiao Yelan: ?

No, am I the capitalist or are you the capitalist?

Charles's thinking was actually quite simple—compared to the original "workload" of the Steam Knights, going to Casimir 007 was already a vacation.

Do you get paid for your vacation?

Damn it, is there no law anymore?!

"Uh, okay, we'll settle the commercial endorsement fee with you."

"no problem."

"Next, the steam knights we hire cannot carry steam armor, in order to prevent their identities from being exposed—however, we will prepare other armor here, so I would like to ask if this will reduce our combat strength too much."

Charles was secretly delighted. Since the other side had already considered the issue of confidentiality, wouldn't he be able to make one less request and get more money?

"Well, their combat strength will indeed decrease significantly, but rest assured, every Steam Knight was already a battle-hardened warrior before becoming a Steam Knight, and their combat strength is sufficient."

Good grief, after I left you didn't even consider reducing demand and increasing quantity, did you? Isn't this the same old routine?

Qiao Yelan felt a wave of annoyance. Why were these people always so enthusiastic about a small group of super elites?

"Okay, we will conduct a series of tests when the time comes."

He skipped over the topic.

"Next topic—I need to find an excuse to cover up my real purpose for seeking to talk to you, but I don't know if you can accept this excuse."

Charles was taken aback, then remembered that they were still in the city of Londinium, surrounded by the eyes and ears of nobles.

"What excuse?"

“The daughter of an old friend of mine really wants to become a steam knight—so I’m asking around for her.”

Qiao Yelan smiled very gently.

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PS: Thank you to [Book Guest 30902273327] for the silver treasure chest.

Thanks for the support!

Chapter 122 I Will Give You an Undeniable Truth

"Want to become a steam knight? At this critical juncture?"

Charles sounded somewhat surprised.

He found it hard to believe that anyone would want to become a steam knight in such a time.

After all, the king had been dead for six years.

"Yes, probably because she wants to get closer to her father."

Qiao Yelan sighed softly.

"Her father? Was her father also a steam knight?"

"Yes—her surname is Cumberland."

The atmosphere froze instantly after those words were spoken.

All of Charles's previous ingratiation and friendliness vanished, and he stared intently at Qiao Yelan.

"You actually dare to use his daughter as a shield?"

His question was icy cold, yet it carried a burning anger.

Not only him, but the three squad leaders standing behind Qiao Yelan also had extremely gloomy expressions.

Duke Cumberland, their former commander and the strongest steam knight—how dare someone use his daughter as a pawn right in front of them?

“A shield… It seems you are unaware of the current predicament of this Cumberland heir.”

The man's slow, deliberate words cut off Charles's next words, causing him to frown.

When the Duke of Cumberland died in battle, the Knights were not in Londinium. By the time Charles returned with his men, everything had already been settled.

With the King and Grand Duke both dead, the Steam Knights became the target of everyone's anger. After a brief probing, Charles learned that Allardy was safe and sound at Cumberland Mansion, and he breathed a sigh of relief and did not take any further action.

In his view, deliberately downplaying Cumberland's relationship with the Steam Knights at this time would actually be more beneficial for Allard's survival.

“I can understand that the Steam Knights were already struggling to survive at the time, and Miss Aldey was too young to go on the expedition with you, so you intentionally kept her out of any contact with the Steam Knights—but the truth is, an orphan with no one to rely on could only become a pawn to be manipulated and played with at will by others.”

The businessman-like, approachable smile that Qiao Yelan had always worn disappeared.

Instead, there was the same coldness and the same annoyance as Charles.

"You know nothing about the current political situation in Victoria—the decrees of Parliament, once they leave Lentinium, are barely enough to clean up a mess. Instead, the various grand dukes are sparing no effort to reach into the fray, trying to pave the way for their own ascension to the throne."

"As the heir to the Duke of Cumberland, Alleide Cumberland's words and actions will naturally be regarded as the attitude of the Cumberland family—if a duke who once served the king humbly welcomes a duke to take over Lentinium, do you know how many people's eyes will be deceived?"

Charles's back was instantly soaked with cold sweat.

Without a doubt, Qiao Yelan's words clearly pointed out Alde's value—making her a tempting target in the eyes of the Grand Dukes.

And Allardy herself had no power to resist.

Qiao Yelan's anger had not yet subsided.

“An orphan girl, who was only a few years old at the time, do you think such a child could distinguish between good and evil, beauty and ugliness? Could she resist the influence of the dukes? If you had taken any measures, Aldebaran wouldn’t be in this situation today!”

"Couldn't you have used your brain even a little? Couldn't you have used the option of retiring the wounded and let a few steam knights go behind the scenes? Are you just going to stubbornly lead a full-strength knight order around, exhausting the armor parts and financial reserves, leaving your former commander's daughter in Londinium, being manipulated like a toy?"

He berated Charles so badly that he didn't dare to raise his head, then turned around and glanced at the three men behind him. The three company commanders all lowered their heads in silence, not daring to meet Qiao Yelan's gaze.

“You can all die for Victoria, but what about Allardy? What about your families? I understand that as a soldier, you lack political acumen and skills, but at least, at least besides loyalty to this country, you should think about the fate of others, right?”

Still silent.

Qiao Yelan leaned back, her words no longer carrying the politeness she had at the beginning.

"I trouble you—I beg you—please do your best to live, live as long as possible, because as long as you live, Aleide is safe, and as long as you live, Aleide is not completely helpless. Similarly, your family and friends are in the same situation."

"You think I'm a fat sheep that can be ripped off at will, is that it? I'm a businessman, Commander Charles. Do you think a businessman would come and talk to you about hiring without doing any cost research?"

He pointed to the numbers on the paper.

“Three million Victoria gold pounds, if I were hiring the entire Knights, I wouldn’t even blink an eye—but I only need your two squads for two years. This price is practically free money for any mercenary.”

"But I don't care, because I know for sure that you won't embezzle this money, but will use it to maintain the entire Knights Order, making the upcoming missions easier—and thus allowing you to live longer."

He slammed his hand on the table.

“I’ll repeat myself! You must survive! The Steam Knights must maintain a sufficient number to ensure their military might can deter the nobles—because Aldée simply cannot afford to lose her identity as the daughter of the former Grand Master of the Steam Knights!”

Charles finally raised his head, but his previous anger had vanished, replaced by shame and guilt.

"I'm sorry—it's my fault."

Charles directly admitted his political immaturity.

His intelligence sources were very limited, so he hadn't noticed Alde's current situation. If Qiao Yelan hadn't visited today and said those things, he probably would have continued to think that Alde was safe as long as she didn't get involved with the Steam Knights.

"Your Excellency Qiao Yelan, could you please leave with Miss Alede?"

A company commander couldn't help but ask.

Qiao Yelan was so angry that she laughed.

"Please use your brain for a second! I am now the Vice Minister of Rites of the Great Yan Dynasty. If I were to take a Duke of Victoria from Lentinium, what kind of political vortex would that cause—it could probably drag both me and Alede into it and drown!"

"Could we do it secretly...?"

Another person takes the job

"Impossible—whose business is this kind of 'undercover operation' usually? Do you think the nobles wouldn't be able to find out about an entrepreneur from Kazimir, doing 'undercover operations' in Londinium, on their territory?"

"What if we were to take action ourselves..."