My XX deal with Sister Nero

Taking the current situation into consideration, our great Prince Odni decided to go to the Iceni Kingdom first and ask Boudica to borrow their griffins.

After the Age of Gods, almost all the Fantasy Species either died or went into hiding. Throughout the world, as long as human activities were within the range, there were very few traces of Fantasy Species. The griffins of the Iceni Kingdom were discovered accidentally a few years ago.

However, if there were griffins, the time Tony would need to return to Rome would be greatly shortened. The only problem was that Mary and the others would not be able to serve as His Highness's guards for quite some time.

"What about the griffin? Riding a griffin should be similar to riding a horse, right? Not to mention my superb horsemanship, when I ride a horse now, I can basically guarantee that I won't fall off the horse." Tony muttered to himself while sitting in the carriage, "Wait a minute, if I parachute into Rome on a griffin this time, it will definitely be seen and publicized, so... to some extent, my riding ability has improved? Maybe my riding ability can reach A+?"

Chapter 336: I’m so scared of heights!

The feeling of riding a griffin is completely different from the feeling of riding a horse.

Horses are land animals after all, so they are always a little bumpy when galloping. But griffins are different. They fly in the air, so they are very stable. Plus, they are not airplanes and do not need to fly that high, so they are not affected by air currents and experience bumps. Generally speaking, riding a griffin is much more enjoyable than riding a horse.

But as it stands, our little prince...cannot enjoy the pleasure of riding a griffin for the time being.

That's right, because he forgot a very sad fact.

Our Prince is afraid of heights!

"Your Highness! Don't be nervous, just relax." A male rider sat behind His Highness with a helpless look on his face. While holding the reins, he gently comforted Tony who was grabbing the feathers on the griffin's neck.

"I won't!" Tony closed his eyes in horror, grabbing the feathers on the griffin's neck tightly and shouted.

"Your Highness... we are... really not that high." Looking at the distance of only seven or eight meters below, the rider subconsciously wanted to scratch his head. Logically speaking, Your Highness had been on the battlefield and defended the city, so the height of the city wall should be higher than the current height of the griffin, right? How did Your Highness not feel afraid when standing on the city wall, but was afraid when riding a griffin?

"Isn't this high enough?!" Tony grabbed the feather and glanced down carefully, then quickly retracted his head, closed his eyes and said loudly.

Yes, the height of the city wall is indeed higher than seven or eight meters, but the problem is that you are standing on the city wall corridor with your feet firmly on the ground, and there are also breastwork slits in front of you to protect you. Your subconscious mind has told you that you will not fall down.

But the griffin is different!

The Iceni Kingdom was not the Roman Empire. After more than a year, the Roman Empire's cavalry had already fully popularized stirrups, but the Iceni Kingdom...stirrups? What are stirrups? Can you eat them?

Where can you get stirrups for a country that doesn't even have many cavalry?

Griffin? A saddle and bridle are good enough, but why would you give me stirrups?

So Tony just sat astride the griffin with his feet dangling in the air...with a look of despair on his face.

You won’t feel stable if you don’t have something under your feet!

"Your Highness, why don't you... why don't you come down." Seeing that Tony was about to strangle her only griffin to death, Boudica's heart was in a knot.

Although griffins are rare, if they die, they die. But what if our Prince accidentally falls from one? That would be a serious matter, okay?

Forget about breaking arms and legs, even if it's just a minor scratch, Nero would probably lead his troops to flatten the Iceni Kingdom.

"I won't!" Tony first subconsciously looked down at Boudica standing on the ground, then quickly retracted his head and said loudly: "I want to return to Rome before my sister's birthday!"

"But..." Boudica opened her mouth and said, "You are such a coward! I'm afraid you will fall from the sky halfway!"

"No buts!" Tony took a deep breath and slowly opened his eyes, looking straight ahead as far as possible and said, "Hey, you try to control the griffin to fly close to the ground later, can you do it?"

"This..." He looked at Boudica standing on the ground with some embarrassment. Seeing Boudica nod, the rider replied, "No problem, Your Highness."

"Okay." Tony nodded.

He had roughly estimated before that the griffin could fly at a relatively fast speed, reaching about 100 kilometers per hour, which was almost the same speed as a car speeding on the highway. Even if the griffin was flying close to the ground and its speed was slowed down, it was still a car driving at high speed on a speed-limited road, right? At this speed, it should be able to reach Rome within a week, right?

At Tony's urging, about a week later, two days before Nero's birthday, Tony finally arrived at a forest outside Rome.

"Thank you for your hard work." With the help of the rider, Tony turned over and got off the griffin, tidied up his clothes that were messed up by the wind, waved to the rider, and walked out of the grove.

"Okay, the first step now should be to contact that guy named Utica." Tony took a deep breath, looked down at the very ordinary toga on his body, lowered his head, and walked towards the direction of Rome.

The Roman Empire...or the mercenaries in this world can be roughly divided into three types. One type is the real mercenaries. Some of these mercenaries are nomadic tribes, such as the Sarmatians, and some are mixed armies composed of Germanic or other defeated military groups. Because of their large numbers and certain military qualities, this type of mercenaries' work is mostly related to war.

The second category is mercenary teams. For example, some small vendors need to import and export goods or raw materials from other places, but they do not have their own guards like those big families or shops. In order to prevent encountering robbers and vagrants on the road, these small vendors will spend some money to hire a mercenary team to protect their goods.

As for the last type, they are freelance mercenaries. This type of guys is a bit similar to the freelancers in novels. They love adventure, are keen on exploring the ruins of the Age of Gods, or take on small tasks to kill time and earn some money for drinking.

Utica and Zero belong to the last category.

This world is not like what is described in some fantasy novels, where there is a mercenary union that specifically issues missions, because no matter which country it is, it is impossible to allow an armed group that is not under its control within its territory. However, these mercenaries, especially free mercenaries, must have a place to accept missions... or in other words, they must find out where these jobs are needed.

Tavern.

The taverns in Rome were not only a paradise for the poor to enjoy themselves, but also a place for mercenaries to get information.

Generally speaking, there are only a few taverns where free mercenaries operate. After all, it would be easier to find a job if you get to know them well, right?

And Utica was a former friend of Zero and is currently the person responsible for spreading news in the city for Tony.

After entering the city of Rome with his head lowered, Tony dodged into an alley. After making sure that there was no one around, he took out a white mask that covered the upper half of his face and had a rose carved on it. He put it on himself, then let out a long breath and walked towards a tavern called Lavecca.

The Lavica Tavern is located east of Rome. It is a rather shabby tavern. Like other taverns, it is a cheap tavern suitable for the poor. But today, this tavern welcomed a strange guest, a young man wearing a white toga and a strange mask covering the upper half of his face.

Chapter 337 Utica

"According to Zero's description, this freelance mercenary named Utica likes to drink in this store. His appearance..." Tony looked around and muttered to himself: "It is said that he has a scar at the corner of his right eye, and he also has a strange Mohawk hairstyle... Found it, it's over there!"

After discovering his target, Tony took a deep breath and walked towards Utica.

There was only one reason why Tony came to Utica this time. He had lost contact with Rome for more than a week and now urgently needed to learn about the current situation in Rome through Utica.

"So... you are His Royal Highness." Utica looked down at the badge on the table. His face turned red due to the low-quality beer. He glanced around alertly. Seeing that many people were staring at him, he lowered his voice and said, "Your Highness, your outfit is too eye-catching. Let's leave here first and talk at my house."

"I see."

Tony nodded.

After paying for the drinks, Utica stood up and whispered a few words to a mercenary nearby, then took Tony to his home not far from the tavern.

To be honest, Utica's home is located in a typical Roman residential building, with an independent bedroom, a living room, a bathroom, and a small room that serves as a kitchen. If he had not been in this world for more than a year, looking at the house structure in front of him, Tony almost thought he was in a modern home.

What is the difference between this and the residential buildings two thousand years later? This residential building is not much different from the residential buildings in the towns of China in the 1970s and 1980s!

"Please sit down." Pulling a chair over from the table next to him, Utica reached out and wiped it vigorously twice, then signaled Tony that he could sit down.

"Yeah." Tony lifted the hem of his toga lightly, sat on the chair and said to Utica: "I guess you should know who hired you to spread rumors and spy on intelligence, right?"

Utica nodded.

When he was still in Rome, Tony followed Zero's advice and sent someone to contact Utica and hired him. However, since Tony could not personally handle such matters, the person who maintained a single-line contact with Utica was a soldier in Tony's personal guard.

Utica was not stupid. He roughly guessed the identity of the guard soldier based on his attire, and also roughly knew who hired him.

"I wonder if His Highness wants to see me...is there something?" Although he had already learned from the guard soldier who had a direct line of contact with him that His Highness would come to see him during this period of time, but why His Highness came to see him and what his purpose was...Utica really didn't know.

"I'm looking for you for one reason. Due to the long journey, I haven't received any news about Rome for about a week... Relax, it's not your fault or anyone else's. I'm just on the road and can't receive any news. So... I'm looking for you for one reason, which is to know the current situation in Rome."

"I see..." Utica breathed a sigh of relief, and after organizing his words a little, he said, "At present, the public opinion in Rome is still a mess. Including the news released by Your Highness, there are too many true and false news in the whole city of Rome, and the citizens are a little numb because of too many news. However, there was a new news a few days ago that Your Highness should be very interested in."

"Huh? What news?" Tony was stunned. Is there any new news that I'm interested in?

"Yes, Your Highness. It is said that His Majesty has agreed to the marriage gift from the Iceni Kingdom and will hold an engagement ceremony for Your Highness in three months. Moreover... His Majesty has hinted that... he intends to find another partner for Your Highness."

"Find me another partner?" Tony was stunned for a moment and scratched his head in confusion.

What the hell is this? Didn't my sister say she wanted to marry me? Why is she still looking for a partner for me?

Forget it, I’ll go ask my sister later.

"Okay, since there's no other information, let's just stop here." Tony stood up, stretched, and said to Utica.

The reason why he chose to come here in person to Utica to get intelligence was that, on the one hand, Tony had indeed lost contact with the outside world for a week and was eager to understand the current situation in Rome in order to make the next plan. On the other hand, he wanted to see this person with his own eyes to see whether the candidate nominated by Zero himself was reliable.

Chat with him, find out his background, and make a simple estimate to see whether this person can really be used by you, or if you can only assign him some simple tasks that do not involve any secrets in the future.

But as of now, Utica still knows what is important and has some brains. For example, when he appeared in the tavern before, he guessed his identity at once, and also realized from the fact that he was wearing a mask that he did not want to expose his identity, so he took him home.

He is worthy of being the free mercenary recommended by Jie Luo. If this guy can maintain a certain degree of loyalty to me, then I... don't mind making use of him.

After taking off his mask in an alley, Tony walked quickly towards the palace.

It's time to have a showdown with my elder sister!

"Logically speaking, my brother should have gone into the city today, but... why hasn't he come back yet?" Nero paced back and forth in the study with an anxious look on his face, and from time to time he looked at Evebia who was standing at the door not far away with a silent look on her face and asked.

"Your Majesty, I only know that Your Highness did enter the city around noon today, but...but after entering the city, Your Highness seemed to intentionally avoid the crowd, causing us... to lose our target in the end." Evebia lowered her head and answered carefully.

"A bunch of grown men, can't even keep an eye on a child!" Nero slapped the table angrily. A group of intelligence troops formed by retired guards can't even keep an eye on a child? What's the use of this? !

"Your Majesty, please calm down!" Seeing that Nero was angry, Evebia panicked. She quickly knelt on one knee, lowered her head and trembled.

"Hiss... Never mind." After taking a deep breath and forcing himself to calm down, Nero knocked on the table with a headache: "Although my brother is young, he is very smart. Since he has entered the city but did not return to the palace directly, he must have his own plans... Never mind, let him go. Since he has entered the city, he will come back today no matter what."

PS: I will update it tonight, because I have to go to a faraway place later... Well, I need to take a plane, so I can't write. But I don't plan to sleep tonight. The transfer time is about five hours. Excluding finding a hotel, there is no time to sleep. I might as well write. If possible, try to write one chapter.

Chapter 338: Showdown with Sister

"Eh? Your Highness?" In front of Nero's study, Evebia looked at Tony who suddenly appeared here, a little surprised.

According to the report from the guards outside the palace gate, His Highness...didn't he just return to the palace? Logically speaking, shouldn't His Highness rest for a while before coming back?

"Yes, General Evebia." Tony nodded to Evebia: "Is my elder sister in the study?"

"Ah, Your Highness, His Majesty is now in the study... practicing singing..." Subconsciously turning her head to look at the tightly closed study door, a barely perceptible look of fear flashed across Evebia's face.

???

Sing?

Tony, who was about to step in after hearing the first half of the conversation, stopped abruptly and scratched his head: "Emmmm, I think... I should come back later, right?"

"This... ahem, Your Highness is absolutely right." After looking at Tony awkwardly, Evebia nodded.

Just when Tony was about to turn around and leave with a frown on his face, the door of the study suddenly opened, and Nero poked his head out to look at Tony with a happy face: "Ah~ Brother is back~ Just in time, sister composed a new song yesterday, and now I can sing it to brother~"

???

woc?

Tony looked at Nero in bewilderment. Am I here to die or what? Why do you want to sing to me as soon as I get back?!

My Lord! My Lord! Have you no Hercules in your song?

"Ahem, sis." Tony rolled his eyes, and after about half a second he thought of a way to get out of this situation: "Sister, I'm here to discuss serious matters with you, that singing thing... We can talk about it later."

"Huh?" Looking at Tony's serious expression, Nero nodded.

I... rarely see my brother with such a serious expression~

Nero stepped aside to let Tony enter the study and closed the door. After his brother sat down, he took down two silver wine glasses from the bookshelf beside him, filled them with grape juice, and handed one of them to Tony: "Hmm, what do you want to discuss with your sister~"

After taking a deep breath and calming down his agitated mood, Tony pursed his lips and organized his words: "Sister, I'm on my way here... I heard that sister wants to find another partner for me?"

"Ah..." Hearing this question, Nero subconsciously took a half step back, his eyes couldn't help but glance around: "Well...sister also hopes that brother's future...right...Yes, sister hopes that brother...will have a better life in the future~"

...What a mess!

Tony, who was a little nervous and didn't know how to confront his sister, was almost laughing out loud at this sentence: "Sister... you should know that I... am not stupid. To be even blunt, there should be no one smarter than me among people of the same age, right?"

"Hmm~ Let alone people of the same age, even if compared with adults, my brother is much smarter than most adults~" Nero nodded as if it was a matter of course.

"So... Sister, you arranged a marriage for me with Princess Ryan, but... Sister, why didn't you ask me who I like?" Tony sighed, looked at Nero with an inexplicable look, and asked.

"...Eh?!" Hearing this, Nero was subconsciously stunned, and then a strong sense of crisis suddenly arose in his heart!

My younger brother... actually has someone he likes?!

Wait a minute, why would my brother say this at this time? Is he dissatisfied?

That's right, my younger brother showed subconscious resistance to arranged marriage from the very beginning. At first, I thought that he himself didn't like arranged marriages. Now that I think about it carefully... the fundamental purpose of my younger brother's opposition to arranged marriages was not because he was disgusted by them. In the final analysis, it should be because he had a little girl he liked, so he was disgusted by arranged marriages.

But...who does my brother like?

Martha?

It is possible that every time Nero saw his brother with Martha, he could sense that Tony seemed to have a special feeling for Martha. Compared with other girls, his brother... seemed to pay too much attention to Martha.

What about Jie Luo?

Also a possibility.

Nero remembered that after the battle of Apamea, there seemed to be an indescribable change in her brother. With her girl's intuition, Nero could sense that this change should be related to Zero.

Including why Zero suddenly pledged allegiance to her brother. This... was definitely not because he was handsome, as Tony said.

Although my brother is indeed very handsome.

Who else is there besides these two? Tita? Aura? Or that Nitocris?