Rose Empire

"So what is your true identity?" Charlotte asked.

"I was originally a citizen of Umbratu..." Jonathan Hackman began to confess.

Jonathan Hackman was once a citizen of Ambratu, and he traveled outside the city-state all year round, mainly doing stone business, a building materials merchant, and occasionally helping people build houses. He had some connections with Fidelity, and many of the high-grade marbles used in the construction of Fidelity were purchased from his mines, and Jonathan Hackman became rich because of this.

However, Jonathan Hackman's success in career did not bring him a success in love.

Jonathan Hackman, who returned home in glory, caught his young and beautiful wife committing adultery with Martin Kramer, the youngest elder in the Council of Elders.

Angry Jonathan Hackman beat Martin Kramer and took him to court. According to the law of Ambrato, the most serious crime of adultery can be sentenced to hanging.

However, in the court, Martin Kramer, with his parrot, nicknamed "Little Kramer" by the citizens, spoke eloquently, claiming that he was just comforting a woman who was sad because her husband was not good at sex, and that the two of them just forgot to put on clothes, but if Jonathan Hackman could not prove to the jury that he had penetrated his wife, then he would not be considered adultery. These words and Martin Kramer's funny performance made the citizens attending the jury laugh.

Then, the citizens on the jury voted for Martin Kramer to be "not guilty" one after another. Their reason was simply that "we still want to see Mr. Kramer's funny performances, but if he dies, we won't have that chance anymore."

A lawsuit with almost ironclad evidence was overturned with such a ridiculous reason.

Martin Kramer is innocent.

That would mean that Jonathan Hackman's lawsuit is pure defamation.

Jonathan Hackman was stripped of his citizenship for defamation and assault on elders.

After losing the protection of his citizenship, Jonathan's rich family property became fat meat in the mouths of others. He soon lost not only his family but also all his savings, and he himself was sold into slavery.

Cecilia frowned. Her teacher Simon Capriati had no good feelings towards the democratic politics on the Sokya Peninsula, where everyone always voted for ostralis. He once made an analogy: "If a cargo ship wants to cross the dangerous Liuyun Strait, would you rather hand it over to an experienced captain to steer it, or let a group of ordinary people vote to decide its course?"

Now, after hearing what happened to Jonathan Hackman, Cecilia felt even worse about the kind of democratic politics that relied entirely on the will of the people.

Charlotte nodded slightly after listening to him. Jonathan Hackman's words were basically true, except that he slightly exaggerated his ability to make money and build. She knew the true identity of Jonathan Hackman because his story was widely spread in Ambratu, and Robin Mancini recorded this story in the notebook he gave to Charlotte.

Of course, the protagonist of the story is the elder Martin Kramer, who impressed the jury with his talent and won the beautiful woman. Jonathan Hackman is just a small supporting role that no one pays attention to.

"Your experience is sympathetic. The citizens of Ambratu are indeed ridiculously ignorant," said Charlotte.

"No!" Jonathan Hackman raised his head, his eyes full of hatred, "They are not only stupid and ridiculous, but also cold-blooded and greedy. For their own selfish desires, they can do anything and abandon all moral integrity! They are just a group of hungry, shameless pigs!"

Hearing this, Charlotte smiled and said, "Mr. Hackman, if I tell you that I want to occupy Ambratu and turn all the citizens there into slaves, will you be willing to work for me?"

Hearing this, Jonathan Hackman looked at Charlotte in shock.

"I'm not kidding," Charlotte said with a smile, "If it's just to govern a mere Viscount of Lanwan, why would I, the daughter of the Duke of Luyuan, come here in person?"

Jonathan Hackman gritted his teeth and kowtowed repeatedly until blood flowed from his forehead. He raised his finger to the sky and said, "I swear to the Lord Yig that if you can avenge me, I will be loyal to you for the rest of my life."

"Great, deal." Charlotte smiled.

At the same time, Lanwan Isthmus.

Several priests stood in front of the checkpoint, looking at the heads hanging on the wooden wall in shock.

"Is it that devil?" said a priest.

"Yes, it's him! I've been chasing him for so long, and his face is always visible when I sleep. There's no way I could have made a mistake." said another priest.

"What a miserable death it looks like..." another priest said.

"A four-winged necromancer died just like that. It seems that the new Viscount Lanwan is not a simple person," the leading monk Borodin sighed, "Perhaps we should pay a visit to this Viscount. At least we need to take this head back to the Inquisition."

"Shall we go begging now?" asked the young mendicant who was following Borodin.

Borodin shook his head and said, "No, let's go back today. He is a great nobleman, and it would be impolite for us to come to his house like this."

PS: You can join the book club to read the harmonious part.

Volume 43: Chapter 38 Chapter White Knight Hermann Green

Legba Dando died, but the knights of Viscount Lanwan were not idle. After all, there was still a main force of zombies in the hinterland of Viscount Lanwan.

Although the weaker zombies gradually turned into silent rotten meat after the death of Legba Dando, there were still nearly 2,000 zombies wandering around. These brainless zombies could not cause any harm to the fully armed tin cans, but they could scare ordinary people so much that they dared not go out all day.

Therefore, the knights had to split into teams of five or ten people and conduct a dragnet search in the territory.

Taking advantage of the opportunity of the knights gathering and taking joint action, Charlotte took the opportunity to do one thing - officially announced the establishment of the Viscount Lanwan's territory guard.

Whether it was the knights from the south or the north, whether it was the local knights from Lanwan or the knights brought by Charlotte, they all joined the Territory Guard—except for Robin Mancini and Harvey Sherwin who were still having fun in Ambratu. The newly formed Territory Guard had a total of 140 knights, plus about 300 attendant knights. This was Charlotte's first armed force.

Both the Southern Knights and the Northern Knights were bound to covet the captaincy of the guard, but they all knew that it was not their turn to take the position, because Charlotte still had two three-winged knight cards, Ryan Nasazzi and Jarrod Garcia, in her hand.

However, contrary to the expectations of all the southern and northern knights, the title of leader did not go to Ryan Nasazzi or Jarrod Garcia, but fell on the head of the silent Knight Hermann Green.

It was reasonable for the local knights of Lanwan to be so surprised. Unlike Ryan Nasazzi and Jarrod Garcia who showed their prowess at the blood feast, Hermann Green, the latecomer, had never shown his three-wing strength. Moreover, he was usually very low-key. If Charlotte had not appointed Hermann Green to command the front team charge before the expedition against the Necromancer, it would have been difficult for the local knights of Lanwan to even notice this person.

However, after spending a few days with Hermann Green, both the southern knights and the northern knights were impressed by the newly appointed captain of the guard and praised him highly.

Unlike Ryan Naszaz, who felt superior to his bloodline and seniority, and Jarrod Garcia, the lord's "blood hound", Herman Green was gentle, modest and polite. He took the initiative to be the vanguard in battle, the rear guard in retreat, the first to work when setting up camp, and the last to sit down at meals. He could remember the names and achievements of even the most ordinary servants, and he would dismount before talking to even the poorest civilians.

Anyone who has spent some time with Hermann Green can feel from him the good qualities that a knight should have as described in the play.

"Captain Green, you've worked hard."

After a skirmish, a team of ten knights rested by the grove.

Costa Scamario handed his water bag to Hermann Green, who was licking his dry lips. The latter's water bag was scratched by a branch in the previous battle.

"Thank you for your generous gift, Knight Scamario." Hermann Green took the water bag and thanked him.

"No, you're too kind, it's only half a bag of water." Costa Scamario waved his hands quickly.

Herman Green took a sip of water and laughed, "For me who is in a hurry to drink water, this is the sweetest spring water."

The young Costa Scamario scratched his head embarrassedly. He still found it hard to believe that the kind and tolerant man in front of him who treated everyone with courtesy was actually a powerful three-winged knight.

In the battle just now, Herman Green showed three wings of light, which almost shocked Costa. Before this, the only two three-winged knights Costa had seen were Ryan Nasaz and Jarrod Garcia, and the impression these two left on Costa was not good, so in Costa's opinion, the three-winged knight was more or less difficult to get along with.

However, Costa feels that a talent like Herman Green is what a true knight should be like.

Everyone was chatting and laughing casually when a column of white smoke suddenly rose from the hillside in the distance.

"What is that?" Hermann Green frowned. The smoke was too thick to be called farm smoke, and too white to be called a fire.

"That should be the workers in the camp cooking." Eric Scamario explained to Herman Green, "The Viscount said that he wanted to recruit several thousand workers to build a market."

With thousands of people cooking, it's not surprising that there's so much smoke. Herman Green thought as he looked up and saw that it was indeed almost noon. He glanced at the dry food beside the attendant's saddle and said, "I think everyone must be tired of eating dry food. Let's go over there and see if we can get something to fill our stomachs."

Everyone laughed and expressed their agreement.

Everyone got on their horses again and after walking for a while, they saw a large camp.

In fact, the construction of Charlotte's market has not yet begun. The conscripted people are now building their own homes for the next winter. The homes of the people are not exquisite, but are just renovated adobe thatched houses, with the main building materials being wood, hay, mud and mullet skin.

That's right, Charlotte unexpectedly discovered that trevally skin is a good thing. From the slaves of Ambratu, Charlotte learned that trevally skin can be peeled off piece by piece after tanning. If it is not peeled off, it can be made into leather armor, which is hard and tough. If two layers are peeled off, it can be used as a tent, which is windproof and warm. If four layers are peeled off, it can be sewn into clothes. Although it is not strong, it is also windproof and waterproof, and its price is less than one-tenth of cowhide.

Charlotte asked the people to put four layers of mullet skin under the thatch when they built the huts, which basically solved the problem of air leakage and water leakage. This thing may not last long, but it is probably enough to fool people for a winter.

When Hermann Green and others arrived, the people who had been busy all morning had just finished work and gathered around several steaming pots.

As soon as Hermann Green dismounted, the camp steward took the initiative to greet him and asked flatteringly, "What can I do for you, knights?"

"Don't be shy," Herman Green waved his hand and said with a smile, "We just want to have a free lunch."

"Lunch?" The steward responded and said with a smile, "No problem, my lords, I will ask the cook to prepare your lunch right away."

"No need to bother, what do you have for lunch in the camp?" Hermann Green asked with a smile.

"Wheat, wheat porridge." The steward answered hesitantly.

"It's just oatmeal porridge. We often eat oatmeal porridge when we march and fight." said Hermann Green.

"This, is not a good idea..." The manager wanted to dissuade him.

"What's wrong with that?" Herman Green turned around and asked the other knights behind him, "Do you eat oatmeal?"

"No problem." Everyone responded. After all, they were not the nobles who couldn't even eat oatmeal.

But the manager still hesitated and was hesitant to speak.

Hermann Green was suspicious.

At this time, the group happened to pass by a large pot that had just started cooking. A young helper took a large bag and openly added something that was obviously not wheat into the pot in front of a group of people.

"Wait!" Herman Green, who had sharp eyes, grabbed the bag and shouted, "What are you adding?"

The young helper was startled and stammered, "Wheat, wheat bran..."

Hermann Green opened the bag and saw that it was full of wheat bran for horse feed. He picked up a large spoon and stirred it in the pot. It turned out that almost half of the porridge was wheat bran.

"Why is there so much bran mixed in the oatmeal porridge? Is this the kind of food you feed the Viscount's subjects?" Hermann Green asked with a dark face, grabbing the steward's collar.

"No, it wasn't me who added it..." A powerful aura came over him, and the manager was so scared that he couldn't speak clearly.

"What do you mean it wasn't added by you?" Hermann Green asked again.

"No, no, I added it, but it was the Viscount who asked me to add it." said the steward.

"Did the Viscount ask you to add it?" Herman Green asked hesitantly, "You didn't lie."

"I swear to Yig that I am absolutely not lying." The steward raised his right hand and swore.

Herman Green let go of the steward and said, "I will personally go to the Viscount to verify this matter. If you are not lying, I will come to apologize to you. If you are lying, I will personally punish you for your crime."

"No need to apologize, no need to apologize..." The manager, who finally regained his freedom, shook his head repeatedly.

The ten-man team was ultimately unable to have a hot lunch and could only continue to fill their stomachs with dry food. In the afternoon, the zombies wandering in the territory were basically cleared out.

Hermann Green went home to wash off the dirt on his body and changed into clean clothes before heading to the Viscount's castle. By the way, he also took the black cylinder that Charlotte gave him.

This black cylinder is actually a quiver, and inside the quiver are ten feather arrows. They are not ordinary feather arrows, but a kind of "specialty" of the Orlan Empire, the hunting eagle arrows.

The hunting griffin arrow is actually not worthy of its name. It is only about one meter long and cannot kill a giant like a griffin. However, it is indeed the most commonly used arrow by the Orlan Empire to deal with enemy griffin knights.

The arrowhead of the hunting vulture arrow is a miracle. When the arrow hits the shield released by the enemy superhuman, or the props used by the superhuman, or the superhuman himself, this miracle will attach to it and burn like a flame, quickly consuming the superhuman power in the enemy superhuman's body, forcing the enemy to release the shield, give up the props, or even directly exhaust the enemy's superhuman power.

The Orlan Empire has very strict control over hunting eagle arrows. Every craftsman who can produce hunting eagle arrows needs to register with the royal family, the two kingdoms, or the two principalities. Every hunting eagle arrow produced will be marked with the craftsman's name and number. Charlotte took great pains and asked her brother to help her get such a barrel.

Charlotte gave the Vulture Arrows to Hermann Green in order to add an insurance to their crusade against the Necromancer. Once the Necromancer's strength exceeded Lilith's expectations, a few sneak attacks with the Vulture Arrows might be able to kill the enemy.

Arriving at the castle, Hermann Green successfully met Charlotte in the deserted garden behind the castle.

At this moment, Charlotte was preparing the true holy anointing oil that could detect extraordinary qualifications according to the formula that Fado had sold her. Beatrice and Anna, mother and daughter, were beside Charlotte, helping her. Since the trip to Ambrato, Charlotte had brought the two of them with her almost every day.

As soon as he saw Charlotte, Herman Green knelt on one knee to salute.

"No need to be so polite, knight," Charlotte called out to Herman Green, "I'm busy right now, let's talk."

Herman Green readily followed suit and presented the Vulture Arrow in his hand: "The extermination of the zombies has been completed. The knights of the guard have searched all directions of the Viscount's territory and can be sure that there are no zombies left."

"Very good," Charlotte praised.

Renee stepped forward and took the black cylinder containing the falcon arrow. She glanced at Hermann Green once more, and a flash of vigilance in her eyes passed without attracting anyone's attention.

"Anything else?" Charlotte asked again.

"And..." Hermann Green thought for a moment, then told about what happened to him at noon and the steward's explanation.

Charlotte nodded and said frankly, "Yes, I asked them to add bran."

"Why... is this happening?" Hermann Green could not hide his surprise.

"I also want all my subjects to eat proper grains," Charlotte said helplessly, "but, my knight, you may have forgotten that we don't have that much food, and the castle's granary is empty. Although I have sent people to the Green Plains Principality to buy a large amount of food, it will take some time to transport the food from there. During this time, what else can I do except add bran to the porridge? I can't let my subjects starve to death, can I?"

Charlotte's explanation was well-reasoned. Herman Green accepted Charlotte's explanation and bowed his head and said, "You are right. I apologize."

"You don't have to apologize to me," Charlotte said with a nonchalant smile, "You are also concerned about the people out of kindness."

"Perhaps you could borrow some food from the local knights?" Hermann Green made another suggestion, "and return it to them in a few days."

Charlotte shook her head and said, "The local knights don't have much food. We just arrived, so we shouldn't disturb them too much, otherwise they will be dissatisfied."

Charlotte didn't tell the truth. Did the local knights lack food? No, they didn't. Charlotte was probably the only noble in Lanwan who lacked food. If Charlotte asked for money, the knights would probably lend her some food.

But Charlotte was reluctant to say this, because she had just established her authority in the Viscount of Lanwan, and she didn't want to give the local knights the impression that "the Viscount needs our help to govern the territory." What she was about to do, whether it was to centralize administrative power or seek to annex Ambratu, required her to maintain a strong position that could not be questioned internally.

Herman Green opened his mouth, but finally sighed and said, "Well, I'll just have to let the people suffer a little."

Charlotte smiled slightly, suddenly changed the subject and said, "Knight Herman, I have something I want to entrust to you."

Hermann Green immediately stood up and said without hesitation: "Please go ahead."

Charlotte pointed at Anna beside her and said, "This is Anna Dulan. You must know that she is the daughter of Knight Marion Dulan. She has good extraordinary qualifications. Knight Dulan died to protect me. I have always wanted Miss Anna to inherit her father's title. I have also prepared the initiation ceremony for her. However, we still lack a good teacher to teach her to become a qualified knight. Are you willing to take on this responsibility?"

Anna Duran does have the qualifications to awaken and become a warlock, but she is only average. The adjective "not bad" can only be said to be Charlotte's self-praise.

"Knight Marion Touraine's loyalty is admirable, and it is my honor to teach his descendants," Hermann Green said immediately.

"Anna, go get familiar with your teacher." Charlotte said to Anna Duran beside her.