Doctor Amnesiac, but not completely amnesiac

"Of course, as long as the deposit is paid, we will definitely agree to cooperate."

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

However, the three squadron leaders really felt that their commander was robbing a bank - the deposit was two million gold pounds?

It’s a trap, it’s enough to feed the group for several years anyway.

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

Qiao Yelan also answered readily.

"Since you are so forthright, how about we first set a simple framework for cooperation?"

"Okay, you say."

Charles has started calling Qiao Yelan "you".

"First of all, the treatment of the knights. Salaries, allowances and bonuses are all paid to individuals as normal. At the same time, we also strictly abide by the provisions of the Casimir Commercial Union Labor Law and give the knights proper holidays and working hours..."

"That's fine. Let them work overtime and use them however you want. Just remember to pay the overtime pay and any extra bonuses directly to our Knights."

Qiao Yelan:?

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

Charles’ thinking was actually very simple - compared with the original “workload” of Steam Knight, going to Casimir 007 was already considered a vacation.

Do you get paid for your vacation?

Damn it, is there still any law?

"Uh, okay. We will pay you the commercial endorsement fee."

"no problem."

"Next, the steam knights we hire cannot carry steam armor to prevent their identities from being exposed. However, we will prepare other armors here, so I would like to ask if it will reduce their combat effectiveness too much."

Charles was delighted. The other party had already considered the confidentiality issue. So, wouldn't it be one less request for him to make and he could get more money?

"Well, the combat effectiveness will indeed decrease a lot, but please rest assured that every Steam Knight was already a warrior who had survived hundreds of battles before becoming a Steam Knight, and their combat effectiveness is sufficient."

My goodness, after I left, you never considered reducing demand and increasing quantity, right? Isn't this still the same old routine?

Qiao Yelan felt annoyed in his heart. Why are these people always so keen on a small group of super elites?

"Okay, we'll run a battery of tests when the time comes."

He skipped the subject.

"Next topic - I need to find an excuse to cover up the real purpose of my conversation with you this time. I just don't know if you can accept this excuse."

Charles was stunned for a moment, then he remembered that he was still in the city of Londinium, surrounded by the nobles' spies.

"What excuse?"

"The daughter of an old friend of mine really wants to become a steam knight - so I came to ask for help."

Qiao Yelan smiled very gently.

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PS: Thanks to [Shu Ke 30902273327] for the reward of a silver treasure chest.

Thanks for the support!

Chapter 122 I will give you a truth that cannot be denied

"Want to become a Steam Knight? At this juncture?"

Charles' voice sounded a little surprised.

It was hard for him to imagine that in such a period, there were still people who wanted to become a Steam Knight.

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

"Yes, probably because I want to be closer to my father."

Qiao Yelan sighed softly.

"Her father? Is her father also a Steam Knight?"

"Yes—her last name was Cumberland."

After these words were spoken, the atmosphere froze instantly.

All of Charles' previous flattery and friendliness completely disappeared, and he stared at Qiao Yelan.

"How dare you use his daughter as a shield?"

His question was icy cold, yet it carried a rage that burned like fire.

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

The Grand Duke of Cumberland, their former captain and the strongest Steam Knight - how dare someone use his daughter as a pawn in front of them?

"A shield...it seems that you are not aware of the current situation of the heir to Cumberland."

The man's slow words interrupted Charles' next words and made him frown.

When the Duke of Cumberland died in battle, the Knights were not in Londinium, but by the time Charles brought his men back, everything had been settled.

The king and the grand duke had both fallen, and the Order of the Steam Knights had become the target of public criticism. After a brief test, Charles learned that Alledae was fine and was staying well in Cumberland House. He heaved a sigh of relief and did not take any further action.

In his opinion, deliberately downplaying the relationship between Cumberland and the Steam Knights at this time would be more beneficial to Aledee's survival.

"I can understand that the Steam Knights were already struggling to take care of themselves at the time. In addition, Miss Alede was very young at the time and could not have followed you on the expedition, so you deliberately did not want her to have any relationship with the Steam Knights. But the fact is that an orphan girl with no one to rely on could only become a pawn that others could manipulate at will."

The friendly smile like a businessman that had been on Qiao Yelan's face disappeared.

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

"You know nothing about the current political situation in Victoria. After the decrees of Parliament came out of Londinium, they were barely enough to wipe their asses. Instead, the various Grand Dukes are trying their best to get their hands involved, trying to add bricks and tiles to their own ascension to the throne."

"Alede Cumberland, as the heir of Grand Duke Cumberland, her words and actions will naturally be regarded as the attitude of the Cumberland family. If a Grand Duke who once served the king humbly welcomed a Grand Duke to Londinium to govern, do you know how many people would be deceived?"

Cold sweat instantly soaked Charles' back.

There is no doubt that Qiao Yelan's words clearly pointed out the value of Aledae - this would make her a delicious piece of cake in the eyes of the grand dukes.

And Aledae herself had no ability to resist.

Qiao Yelan’s anger has not yet been vented.

"An orphan girl, who was only a few years old at the time, do you think that a child like that could distinguish between good and evil, beauty and ugliness? Could she resist the Grand Dukes? If you had taken any measures, Aledae would not have fallen to the point where she is today!"

"What if you used your brains a little bit? What if you retired due to disability and let a few Steam Knights move behind the scenes? You just run around with a full knight group, consuming all the armor parts and financial reserves, leaving your former commander's daughter in Londinium to be played with like a toy?"

He scolded Charles like a grandson and he didn't dare to look up. He turned his head and glanced at the three people behind him. The three squadron leaders all lowered their heads in silence, not daring to look at Qiao Yelan.

"You can all die for Victoria, but what about Aledae? What about your family? I can understand that as a soldier, you lack political sense and means, but at least, in addition to your loyalty to this country, you should always think about the fate of others, right?"

Still silent.

Qiao Yelan lay back and spoke without the politeness he had at the beginning.

"I trouble you - I trouble you, please please live on, the longer the better, because as long as you live, Aleda is safe, as long as you live, Aleda is not completely without support, and the same goes for your family and friends."

"You think I'm a fat sheep who can be ripped off at will, right? I'm a businessman, Captain Charles. Would a businessman come to discuss employment issues with you without doing any cost investigation?"

He tapped the numbers on the paper.

"Three million Victorian gold pounds. If I were hiring the entire Knights, I wouldn't even blink an eye. But I only want two teams from you for two years. This price is no different from giving money away to any mercenary."

"But I don't care, because I know clearly that you will not embezzle this money, but use it to maintain the entire Knights Order, which will make the next mission easier - and you will live longer."

He slapped the table.

"I repeat! You must survive! The Steam Knights must maintain a sufficient number to ensure that their military force can deter the nobles - because Aledae can't afford to lose her identity as the daughter of the former leader of the Steam Knights!"

Charles finally raised his head, but the anger he had before was gone, replaced by shame and guilt.

"I'm sorry—it's my fault."

Charles directly acknowledged his political immaturity.

His sources of intelligence were very limited, so he did not notice Aledhe's current situation. If Qiao Yelan had not visited today and said these words, he would probably still have thought that as long as she had nothing to do with the Steam Knights, Aledhe would be safe.

"Mr. Qiao Yelan, can you take Miss Aledai away?"

A squadron leader couldn't help but ask.

Qiao Yelan was so angry that he laughed.

"Please use your brain for a moment! I am now the Minister of Rites of Dayan. If I take Grand Duke Victoria away from Londinium, what kind of political whirlpool will be involved? I am afraid that it will directly drag me and Alede into it and drown!"

"Can we secretly..."

Another person takes over

"I can't do that. Who are the ones who usually do these secret actions? Do you think the nobles can't find out that I, a Casimir entrepreneur, am doing these secret actions in their territory in Londinium?"

"If we take action..."

"Then the nobles will die of laughter - it will be a perfect reason for us to mobilize the army and remove all of you thorns in our eyes and flesh, and by the way, make Miss Aledae a puppet."

The three squadron leaders all shut themselves off, fully aware of how politically ignorant they and others were.

"Mr. Qiao Yelan, what you mean is..."

Charles wiped the sweat off his forehead. He didn't even dare to say that he and the three captains had almost the same idea just now - equally stupid.

"Sending Aledae here is what I really want to do. The nobles will realize that Aledae Cumberland is not a doll that can be manipulated by anyone, but a Grand Duke who has the support of the entire Steam Knights. Behind her stands the highest fighting force in the entire Victoria."

Qiao Yelan calmly narrated his plan.

"Only in this way can Aledae escape the fate of becoming a pawn."

Charles nodded.

"The problem is that we cannot resist the mission given by the parliament. Once our large army goes to carry out the mission, if some nobles intend to take risks, Miss Alede will be in danger."

"Take Aledee with you."

The answer given by Qiao Yelan was simple and crude.

"this--"

"After leaving Londinium, I have room to operate. Babel Tower has connections in many places by buying and selling potions. We also have several bases in Victoria, and we will build more in the future. Whether it's providing you with logistics or taking care of the wounded and Aledae, we can do it."

"How are you going to do that? That's not something that can be accomplished in a small base with only one or two people."

Charles asked in disbelief.

"There are two Sakotas accompanying the delegation. One of them is former Cardinal Oren, who just stepped down as the Seventh Cardinal of the Papal Palace a month ago and is now visiting with me as the Messenger of All Nations. He will apply to the Victoria Parliament to establish a communication point for the Messenger of All Nations in Victoria."

Qiao Yelan said lightly.

"And Babel Tower was previously authorized by Lateran to participate in the establishment of the [Messenger of All Nations] system and the construction of bases as a specially invited enterprise of Lateran."

Of course, Charles had heard of the name of the Messenger of Nations, but he did not expect that Lateran would really want to promote the establishment of this system so strongly.

“But given the current political situation in Victoria, can he really convince Parliament?”

The corner of Qiao Yelan's eye twitched.

"Never mind that - I can guarantee to [convince] the parliament."

The man nodded. The other party was so confident that he was willing to believe this mysterious Mr. Qiao.

"In that case, we are certainly willing to welcome Miss Aledae."

"Very good. I will bring Alede with me tomorrow, and I will also sign a formal employment contract with you."

Qiao Yelan nodded.

"it is good."

Charles was a man of few words.

So Qiao Yelan left just like that, and after seeing Qiao Yelan off, the four of them returned to Charles' office.

"You just agreed?"