You are very strong, but my painting style is better than yours!

The sergeant's tone was heavy, clearly recalling something, his voice tinged with helplessness and sorrow.

He was born into an ordinary family, but his outstanding abilities and the king's favor led him to a high position. However, because he always refused to integrate into the circle of nobles, he offended many people, which resulted in him being ostracized in the capital almost all the time, even with the king's protection.

This time, he left the capital and came to the border to investigate the attack. Due to various reasons (mainly the obstruction of nobles), he was unable to bring out the top-notch equipment that was a national treasure, which reduced his combat strength. Moreover, he did not have many people with him.

If we encounter an enemy at this time... as long as the other party is willing to go all out and pay a certain price, they really can kill him, the "strongest in the kingdom"!

With his death, the kingdom's military strength will be greatly weakened, and the political situation will certainly be chaotic for a while. After all, he was a staunch supporter of the monarchy and the king's right-hand man.

For an empire or a theocracy, killing him would be perfectly logical, even though the three kingdoms are not currently at war. However, weakening the strength of their neighbor is something every ambitious person would want to do.

The reasoning behind this is simple, and Gerdov can accept it... What saddens him is that the Kingdom must have had an internal traitor, otherwise the enemy would not have known about his period of weakness and movements!

To eliminate dissidents, they were willing to sacrifice the interests of the country... Although Gerdov had never expected anything from those nobles, he was now utterly disappointed.

“I understand how you feel, but now is not the time for sentimentality. You should make a choice, Commander.”

Iori then turned her attention to Gerdoff.

The sergeant was taken aback: "A choice?"

"Yes, those enemy troops disguised as bandits were probably there to disrupt the kingdom's border areas, and to survey the terrain and the distribution of garrison troops, in preparation for a future large-scale attack."

To lure them in, you have to offer them an irresistible deal… Interestingly, there actually is a bait they're sure to take.

There have been many similar incidents in history, Iori continued smoothly: "I can't say for sure whether this is a conspiracy against you, but I think that such an elite force would not turn a blind eye if it received news that the general of the neighboring country was nearby."

"Indeed... so I'll be the bait!"

"I'm ready!" Gerd said firmly.

"Well, but are you prepared to face death?"

"I won't intervene; this will be a lone battle for you."

"this!"

Gerdoff looked surprised: "Didn't you say..."

"I did say I would protect the villagers, but I'm not on the kingdom's side. I have no reason to help you deal with the assassins, do I?"

"So, you're only willing to shelter villagers, and not armed knights? That's understandable."

Although disappointed, Gerdov maintained his composure and did not back down: "Since that's the case, I have no choice but to bite the bullet and go for it."

"There's no need to make it so tragic."

Iori shook her head: "I won't take the initiative, but it's different if you make a deal with me."

"trade?"

Gazef paused for a moment, "What could I possibly have that would make you so interested, a great magician like yourself?"

"Kingdom Warrior Captain 'Gazef'".

"……Um?"

"Still don't understand?"

Iori extended her hand to the warrior captain: "Swear allegiance to me, and as a staff perk, I'll help you eliminate all the thugs and political enemies!"

Chapter 344 Don't come near me!

"Then... goodbye."

After nodding to Iori again, Gegev turned and left, taking his men with him, appearing quite decisive. However, he did not allow Iori to summon the dozen or so soldiers left on the grassland, clearly indicating that he was not optimistic about his mission.

He refused.

Iori's suggestion was to create a big commotion, and then have him lead some soldiers away in a disheveled state. This way, once the mastermind found out, he would think that Gazef and his men had annihilated the thugs who attacked the village, but he himself had been seriously injured.

What happened next was simple: the mastermind appeared, Iori made a crucial appearance at the right moment and sealed the deal, allowing the Warrior Captain to easily weather this conspiracy against him.

However, Gerdov refused, unwilling to accept Iori's offer to ensure his safety, even though Iori did not ask him to sign any contract, only a verbal promise.

But Gerdoff remained unmoved, politely bidding farewell to Iori before embarking on a perilous journey.

Iori stood at the village entrance, watching the knights leave, remaining silent for a long time.

Sebastian initially thought his master was down because of rejection, but he was slightly taken aback when he saw Iori's expression:

He's laughing.

That was not a sneer or mockery; it was an expression only someone in a good mood would have.

"My Lord..."

“Aren’t you curious why I invited him? Warriors of this caliber are commonplace in the Great Tomb of Nazarick, and some are even less capable than elite monsters.”

Sebastian was not a talkative person; he was taciturn but simple and straightforward. He took this as a test from Iori, and after a moment of contemplation, he answered methodically, "It's about intelligence. We lack understanding of this world and have no connections to act as intelligence sources. If we can control those who hold important positions at the highest levels of the country, it will be like opening up a new front immediately."

"...Well, that makes sense. That's exactly what I think."

Iori paused, then shook her head slightly: "But the real reason is still to make up for the regret."

Pity?

Sebastian was curious, but he didn't ask.

Iori continued, seemingly oblivious to his own words: "Actually, if he had agreed just now, I would have been quite disappointed."

After speaking, some people and events flashed through the man's mind, and his gaze became distant.

Whether it's the bonuses from her innate skills or the corresponding qualities she possesses—in short, Iori is a person with high charisma and leadership qualities.

Since his debut, he has rarely failed to "win over" someone.

They either recruited him as a subordinate or won him over as a companion. Even a pervert like Szayelaporro held him in high esteem!

Mayuri Kurotsuchi is an oddball who is almost impossible to control, yet she can still identify with Iori in some ways.

Captains of Seireitei, Vasto Lorde from Hueco Mundo, a host of close female friends, adventure companions from other worlds... Iori is like a mobile game player; no matter what the new card's setting is, he can still build up the bonds!

But even someone like him has his off days, like with Gerdoff, like—

Imperial General Bude!

Upon meeting Gerdoff, he inexplicably recalled the great general who had once been on par with Esdeath.

Both were royalists, both were generals, and both faced the scheming of their despicable colleagues yet yielded to their fate... Iori had repeatedly advised Bud that Esdeath and Najenda, who had received similar treatment, had become Iori's subordinates, but Bud refused without hesitation.

Now he's made the same offer to Gazeta, and this is the result...

"It's interesting how a man's 'loyalty' can sometimes be so fragile, and sometimes so solid."

Iori waved his hand, and figures appeared on the empty ground—the released villagers and a small number of soldiers.

Sebastian stepped forward and asked, "Lord Aizen, are we going back to Nazarick next?"

"Yes, everything's fine now, but... I want to try something different this time."

……

After bidding farewell to Iori, the Kingdom's Warrior Captain Gazef led his men toward the border city. If the enemy's true target was him, then all the knights accompanying him would be in mortal danger. Despite this, his men did not abandon Gazef.

An hour later, the people who had stayed in the village caught up with him on horseback. They knew the future was uncertain, but they still wanted to travel with Gerdev, which moved him deeply.

The question now is who can get there first, them or the "robbers"!

The mastermind suddenly lost contact with a unit, and they must have known about Gazef's arrival at the border long ago. Connecting these two things leads to the conclusion that "Gazef has already engaged with our people."

An elite knightly order was wiped out before it could even send out a message... It's truly shocking.

While marveling at the fact that the title of "Strongest in the Kingdom" was truly well-deserved, Black Hand also fell into deep thought:

They believed they had been exposed and now had two choices: either terminate the operation or intensify their efforts and concentrate their resources to eliminate the Kingdom's Warrior Chief!

Otherwise, things will get complicated when Gazeta returns—the forces behind the scenes don't really want to start a war, nor do they want to take action against densely populated cities.

They didn't even harbor any animosity towards Gazeta himself; they simply followed orders from higher-ups and were acting out of political considerations when planning this operation.

The kingdom appears powerful and prosperous on the surface, but it is actually corrupt and has begun its decline. It had only recently abolished slavery, and the nobility and common people were almost completely separated. Although there are wise individuals among the upper classes, they cannot change the overall situation.

If Gazef can be eliminated, one of the pillars supporting the kingdom will immediately fall, and the remaining pillars will inevitably be unable to stabilize the situation.

Meanwhile, the neighboring empire and the theocracy are both thriving, especially the empire with its wise ruler and virtuous ministers... If a good opportunity arises, they certainly won't sit idly by!

Right now, Gerdov is like the most dangerous piece in a tower of blocks; removing it will cause the entire tower to collapse!

The warrior captain himself may not have thought that through, but he vaguely sensed that the conspiracy against him was just the fuse for an even bigger conspiracy.

In order to prevent things from getting worse, he must survive!

If they could cooperate with that powerful mage, who possessed the ability to teleport, he could easily save everyone. That way, no matter how many schemes the enemy had... Gazef shook his head violently.

How can you hesitate at a time like this? A man's loyalty is always unwavering!

It only implicated his subordinates...

"Commander, once we cross this mountain, there's a small town ten kilometers away where the garrison knights are stationed!"

As they were nearing their destination, the adjutant excitedly told Gerdev.

The square-faced sergeant breathed a slight sigh of relief upon hearing this, but also frowned.

The journey was surprisingly smooth; the anticipated ambush did not occur, and he was about to enter the city... Could he really be that lucky?

"No! Bring me the map!"

Gerdov frowned and looked at it intently. After a moment, he raised his head seriously and said, "Attention everyone, change course now, head southeast, bypass the low hill and enter the city via another road!"

"Soldier Captain, why is this happening?"

"I'm a little uneasy that things are going too smoothly, but it's never wrong to be cautious."

Gerdoff was highly respected, and at his command, the entire group turned around and took a detour to the other side of the hill.

But just as they were about to leave the area, only a few miles from the city, and even able to see the city walls in the distance, an unexpected event occurred—

Thunder and lightning!

Without warning, lightning bolts shot out from the ground, piercing through the soil and all obstacles like sharp blades!

Gerdov sensed the danger even before the trap was activated, and not only did he manage to avoid it, but he also managed to pull his deputy off the horse.

The next moment, the tall warhorse was pierced through the chest and abdomen, let out a mournful cry, and collapsed to the ground.

When Gerdov dodged the continuous bolts of lightning and looked up, he saw a scene that filled him with inexplicable grief:

Nearly half of his soldiers died in the attack, and their deaths were extremely gruesome; some were cut in half at the waist, while others were electrocuted into charred remains...

"who is it!"

Bang!

With a swift draw of his sword, the warrior captain delivered a simple, unadorned slash, deflecting the arrows aimed at him and his adjutant.

"A cowardly coward like you can't take my life, Gerd G.J.!"

The man was enveloped in an invisible aura. He roared angrily, and the sound waves spread around, making people tremble. This fierce anger... if an ordinary thief just heard it, he would be scared out of his wits.

Unfortunately for them, the person who has set their sights on the Kingdom's Warrior Captain is no ordinary individual:

"Impressive. No wonder you're called the 'strongest' man. Among pure-blooded humans, you're definitely one of the most outstanding. What's rare is that you possess such power yet adhere to the rules. If you were just a little more unrestrained, those nobles in the country wouldn't dare to provoke you, would they?"

As if a thin film had been torn away, a group of strangely dressed people emerged from the low bushes that were impossible to hide in. The leader was a man with no particular features, but very strong facial features and a scar on his face. He was probably in his thirties or forties.

Surrounding this middle-aged man were a group of people dressed as clergy, standing ready and waiting. Anyone knowledgeable could easily guess his origins just by looking at their priestly attire.

——Slien Theocracy.

It was a country with a strong religious atmosphere, believing in the "Six Great Gods".

When Gerdrich saw the markings on these people's clothes and recalled certain rumors, his heart sank to the bottom.

It's the [Six-Colored Holy Scripture]!

Within the Slane Theocracy, there exists a special intelligence unit known as the Six-Colored Holy Scripture. Its mission, ostensibly, is simply to gather information on the upper echelons of various nations, but in reality, they possess the common characteristics of all intelligence agencies:

They're in charge of doing the dirty work!

What Gazef didn't know was that the one lying in ambush on them was none other than the [Sunlight Scripture], which was also classified as a martial arts faction within the Six Color Scriptures.

This is a rather special unit; they are essentially a collection of the dark side of the Slane Theocracy and indeed all human forces.

The Slane Theocracy advocates "human supremacy" and advocates the extermination of all intelligent races other than humans. They even want to keep magical beasts as livestock. Their methods to achieve this goal are very radical, and they even organize the massacre of demi-human tribes!