Star Forge Titan

Combined with the eldest princess's experience of studying abroad in the City of Thousand Towers, the truth of the matter becomes very clear.

It seems that it's not just the Undead faction that has placed its bets in advance on Elrond's political situation.

"The Gem Scroll is such an enviable and luxurious piece of equipment." Alvin sighed softly.

"You know?" Although it was a question, there was no surprise in Afrediya's eyes. Obviously, she was not surprised that the boy recognized this magic item.

"Although this thing is expensive, it is indeed useful. How could I not recognize it?" Alvin shrugged. Since the eldest princess would not ask about his secret, he was too lazy to hide his differences from ordinary people.

The Gem Scroll is a magic storage tool that evolved from the traditional magic scroll. Its purpose is to reduce the magic recording carrier from the original scroll size to the size of a gem.

In this way, portability and concealment can be increased while ensuring power.

Of course, the price of doing so is a hundredfold increase in cost. Just the magic gems used as materials require ten times the number of ordinary gems to make, not to mention the need to engrave magic into them later. The success rate of this process is not 100%.

Therefore, spells engraved using such expensive means must be at least at the fifth ring level, otherwise it would be a complete waste.

Seven gems represent seven spells of at least five-ring level. When activated at the same time, it is equivalent to seven third-level or even higher-level mages joining forces to launch a round of magic attacks. It is definitely more than enough to deal with two first-level and one second-level vampires.

However, this also made Ivan feel that the eldest princess Afrediya before him was indeed quite different from the Blood Queen in the game plot. She was so easy to reveal her trump card to a temporary teammate she had just met.

It's really... too naive.

"Wait, if you use this thing against those three vampires, I'm afraid they will be torn into pieces in the first round of attack." Having said that, Alvin couldn't help but feel that he seemed to be able to guess the direction of development of this assassination in the original plot.

"In that case, the unknown necromancer probably won't even have time to awaken his own spell mark." He subconsciously said this guess.

"Maybe. Why, do you think you've done something unnecessary?" Afrediya said jokingly with a wink.

"Yeah, so this bowl of extra soup will be drunk by me, a fool who does unnecessary things." Ivan glanced at her and reached out to scoop up the remaining hot soup.

"Ahem, it's not really redundant, um, it's not really redundant." Afrediya coughed pretentiously, but her hand reaching for the spoon was faster than his.

Inadvertently, their hands touched each other, and then they couldn't help but shrink at the same time.

"That..." Alvin was stunned.

"Just call me Frey, and..." Afrediya hesitated, then turned her head and whispered softly:

"Thank you." Compared to the solemn promise before, this almost inaudible thank you was more sincere.

"Yeah." Alvin nodded without saying much, but the corners of his mouth rose slightly.

In the subtle silence, the two did not say anything more, but just drank the hot soup in their hands in silence.

After a while, Alvin talked about another thing.

"Speaking of which, why do you think those necromancers launched this assassination?"

As they talked about business, the blush on Afrediya's face gradually faded, and she frowned, revealing an expression of serious thought.

"It's hard to say. I have too little information right now, so it's difficult to make an accurate judgment."

"Then, why not work your way back from who would be the biggest beneficiary if you died?" Alvin, who knew some of the plot, suggested meaningfully.

"If I die, who will be the biggest beneficiary?" Afrediya pondered this question with a complicated look in her eyes.

Finally, she sighed softly and showed a somewhat melancholy expression.

"Perhaps, that will be my brother Otto."

Chapter 8 Analyzing the Situation

That pink-haired transvestite prince?

Ivan twitched his lips and showed a speechless expression.

It has to be said that although most of the Elrond nobles are traditional and conservative, there are occasionally a few extremely eccentric... things among them.

Ostolfo Andrei Gustav Gusmith, this is the name of the second prince of Elrond, referred to by Afrediya as 'Otto'.

Members of the Gusmith family often have fiery red hair, like the flaming rose on the family crest, but Ostolfo's hair is a slightly lighter and more beautiful pink, which earned him the nickname "Pale Rose".

The child is only thirteen years old, five years younger than his sister, and legally has the second right of inheritance.

However, the most memorable thing this person did in Alvin's memory happened in the subsequent plot of the Calamity Clan.

At that time, in order to persuade his friend whose mind was invaded by the evil god, Ostolfo, who had already grown up, walked into the tent of the Paladin Roland in a strange image of women's clothing, and helped the latter successfully get rid of the whispers from the darkness.

No one knew how he did it. People only saw the legendary experience of the two knights stepping onto the battlefield again and fighting side by side to kill a big demon together.

Although that still did not prevent Elrond's ultimate corruption.

But no matter what, Ostolfo is still just a thirteen-year-old mascot who is verbally supported by the aristocracy.

Compared to the throne, a new season's long dress brought by a Genoese merchant was more attractive to him, and he himself showed quite average enthusiasm for the chair.

"Then, Your Highness, do you think your brother will join forces with the Undead faction to assassinate you?" Alvin asked with a smile.

"..." Afrediya stroked her forehead and showed an expression that said, "I really lost my mind just now."

"That Otto in the skirt? Even if he drank a whole bottle of Elrond Vodka, he wouldn't have the courage to do that." The eldest princess muttered softly, but a slightly relaxed smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.

"So, don't be fooled by appearances. If you die, His Royal Highness will seem to benefit the most, but in reality, that's not the case."

"First, the traditional aristocracy will be extremely disgusted by this serious violation of the rules of the game. Secondly, the reformists, composed of civilian elites from the academy, will also be extremely hostile to him. So..."

Snap! Alvin clapped his hands, making a crisp sound.

"My brother, caught between the two, will definitely seek assistance from other forces." Afrediya nodded, her eyes suddenly becoming sharp.

"Besides, an underage prince is much easier to control than an adult princess." Alvin shook his head with an expression of annoyance.

In his previous life, he chose to lock himself at home and play games, which was certainly a form of escape, but the reason he chose to escape was because his "eyesight" was so good that he could always see through things hidden beneath the surface.

But seeing through it doesn't mean he can change it, so he had no choice but to close his eyes and ears and escape.

After traveling through time, this 'advantage' that I somewhat disliked seemed to have followed me.

But the biggest difference is that now he can actively seek to change things that he disagrees with - the power!

"In addition, Lord Elrond's overall control over the kingdom has declined due to his illness." Ivan, whose mood had changed, continued his analysis:

"So, if you were assassinated, the conflict between the civilian reformists and the aristocratic conservatives would escalate rapidly, and the seriously ill Demon King would be unable to mediate."

"On the other hand, the intensity of the internal struggle in Elrond will show an upward trend over a long period of time. When this process reaches its limit and the two factions consume each other to exhaustion..."

Ivan put the two empty bowls aside, and then put another smaller bowl containing the last bit of hot soup on the other side.

"They are also trying to seek assistance from a third party." Afrediya picked up the small bowl and stared at the soup swaying inside.

Her reflection in the water was gradually distorted with the slight trembling of her wrist.

"No matter what harsh demands the third party makes, both parties, who are almost bleeding to the last drop, will gladly accept them." Alvin whispered softly as he looked at the burning fire.

"Yes, no matter how high the price is, they will accept it without hesitation." Afrediya muttered to herself.

"And now, apart from the aristocrats and the reformists within Elrond, there is a third-party force that controls the most resources..." The eldest princess bit her lip. She naturally knew the answer to this question.

"Undead faction." Alvin whispered the answer.

That group of guys was the enemy camp he was most familiar with. After all, they had fought each other for nearly two major versions of the story.

Because the transformation into the undead can greatly extend the existence time of the faction's strong men, the undead faction that has continued from the beginning of the founding of Elrond to the present day has a rich heritage.

Legend has it that there are even Lich Lords who completed their transformation before the founding of the country and survived to the present day.

"Unless you return to the capital, Avonmore, immediately, the Undead faction's plan will inevitably continue to move forward." Alvin stated his conclusion.

"No, although my father's control over the situation outside the palace has declined, as long as he comes forward, at least the reformists on both sides should be able to remain basically calm before my death is completely confirmed. In this way, the conservative aristocrats will not act rashly." Afrediya frowned, but there was still a glimmer of hope in her heart.

At least, she still has confidence in her father.

"Then..." Alvin suddenly said.

"What if King Elrond suddenly dies?"

"Impossible! The Royal Mage Corps and the Blood Order regularly guard the palace. Even if the Undead Faction has one more fourth-level wizard, they won't have the chance to attack my father." Afrediya flatly denied Ivan's guess.

"They don't have the guts." The black-haired boy shook his head.

"...What if the condition worsens?"

For a moment, the cabin fell into silence.

As early as 1879 in the new calendar, the current Demon Lord Elrond was already bedridden.

In this situation, anything is possible.

Afrediya stood up silently and strode to the door of the hunter's cabin.

"Come back. If you leave this room for no more than thirty seconds, you will be frozen into an ice sculpture in the white tide." Alvin said calmly.

He saw Afrediya's shoulders tremble slightly, and then she let out a barely audible sob.

"The White Tide will not be at its peak for more than three days. They will not act rashly during this period." Alvin continued in a slowed-down tone.

"For the Undead faction, your survival and knowledge of the truth behind the assassination are the biggest destabilizing factor in their plans, and may even force them to move from the shadows to the open, exposing themselves to the public."

"Whether they try to win you over or continue with the assassination, they have to resolve you as a variable before they can ensure the success rate of the plan." At this point, Alvin couldn't help but feel that fate was playing tricks on him.

Although the original eldest princess was also assassinated, she did not know the truth of the incident, so after returning to the capital safely, she was unable to stop the conspiracy of the undead faction.

But at the same time, it is very likely that the Undead faction did not launch a second assassination attempt on her because of this.

After all, to those who didn't know, it was clearly the aristocracy that attempted to assassinate Afrediya. Her return would only exacerbate the internal conflict between the reformists and the aristocracy.

It could even help advance the plans of the Undead faction.

But now, Afrediya has learned the truth about the assassination, which means that there is no room for easing the tension between the two sides.

"So, Mr. Elian, who calls himself an ordinary barbarian, do you have any suggestions now?" Afrediya raised her red eyes and looked at Ivan.

"I don't understand politics, but as a hunter I do know one thing." Alvin raised his index finger.

"Please speak?" Afrediya asked in a deep voice.

"Don't follow the fox's footprints." Alvin said meaningfully.

"Their plan seems to be an irreversible conspiracy, but it is based on the premise that everyone else acts according to the predetermined steps. Haha, the person who made the plan in the Undead Faction must be an arrogant person who takes things for granted." The black-haired boy smiled disdainfully.

"Since His Highness has become the biggest variable at the moment, we should maximize this."

"Returning to the capital alive is your first step towards victory." Ivan said with great certainty.

"...Huh." Afrediya let out a long breath, and her former composure returned to her.

"Could it be that Mimir is whispering in your ear again?" She looked at the increasingly mysterious boy in front of her with curiosity.

"Who knows?" Ivan shrugged and said softly.

The two looked at each other in silence, and the eldest princess's emotions were in turmoil. She had never seen anyone of her age like this before.

Occasionally, he would reveal a kind of indifference, as if he was looking at everything objectively from a higher perspective, as if all the mysteries in his eyes were nothing more than old plays that had been repeated countless times over the past thousand years, boring and tedious.

It was just like the great god Odin who sacrificed himself to himself, drank the fountain of wisdom, and hung upside down on the world tree for seven days and seven nights, and then knew everything.

I need his help...

For no reason, an idea came to the girl's mind like an intuition.

So, Afrediya stood up and walked over to Ivan.

"Sign a contract with me!"

Chapter 9: Demon King Contract

The capital of Elrond, Avonmore, is now shrouded in a rain curtain that blocks out the sun.

Just like its name, Avonmore - City of Tears, this city is cloudy or rainy for two-thirds of the year.

But in fact, the origin of this name is because it was the first city built by the Elrond people after they arrived in the northern wilderness after going through untold hardships. The City of Tears not only means that this new home was built with tears, but also means that people hope that this city can put an end to all tears.

Of course, people now call it the City of Tears, mostly because the rainy season in Avonmore is too long.

The sound of crisp footsteps echoed back and forth in the Corridor of Mirrors where portraits of successive Elrond demon kings were hung.

The second prince, Ostolfo Andrei Gustav Gusmith, walked quickly towards the Demon King's exclusive bedroom - Schönbrunn Palace.

The gorgeous decorative mirrors scattered throughout the corridor sparkled, reflecting the incredibly handsome face of the beautiful boy with cute short pink hair.

But at this moment, his face had lost its usual frivolous and charming expression. Instead, it was filled with a seriousness that was inconsistent with his temperament, as well as a hint of rage that was almost unsuppressible.

After knocking on the huge double doors at the end of the corridor, which were more than three meters high, Otto did not wait for the attendant inside to announce his arrival. Given his status, he did not need to wait. He pushed open the door and rushed into Schönbrunn Palace almost like breaking in, and went straight to the bedroom where the current Demon King was.