- Cardiac arrest.

Not an exaggeration.

In that moment...... Cecilia felt her heart literally stop beating with fear.

She opened her mouth, and many words came to her mind, but instead they stuck with each other. I can't get a word out of it.

Obviously she is no longer Thoronic, it is clear that her life has started again, it is clear that she is already a strong person in the Golden Rank, she is no longer a loser who can't even pass the exam of the Hand of Winter, it is clear that she is already a household name and an idol in people's hearts......

There's a lot I want to say.

But in the end, she just fell silent and slowly lowered her head.

Really......

Even if he changes his body and completely changes his style of acting, will he still be recognized at a glance in Annan's eyes?

What exactly is the habit that exposes itself?

"At your disposal...... Your Highness. ”

She replied bitterly.

- It's ridiculous.

She thought she would be able to shake off the fears of the past......

"It's late."

"Elle's" fluttering, soft words fell.

Celicia's blue pupils, reminiscent of Ragdolls, were instantly filled with pain and fear.

But soon, "Elle" smiled mischievously again: "You should call me 'Your Majesty'." ”

Between this tightness and loosening, falling and rising, Celicia couldn't help but relax a lot.

She even felt that the initial fear had lessened a lot.

All this is in Annan's calculations.

He could guess what kind of character he would be in the first week—what kind of fear would be in the hearts of those who came into contact with him.

This is because of what Annan knows about himself, and the new plan is born...... How to use and detonate this fear to make them submit to the "now" Annan.

- The so-called, fox fake tiger might.

It's just that Annan is fake, and it is the prestige of "another self".

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Celicia's tone was much lighter, no longer so bitter: "At your disposal." ”

"How to get out of the nightmare, I already have ideas."

"Elle" said calmly, "I can't meet the conditions this week, but I'll rescue everyone in the next week."

"In order to leave the power of 'remembering' to Elle, I need all of you to die once at the allotted time.

"And until then...... I have some questions that I would like to talk to you about. ”

“…… Is it about the teacher's question? ”

Celicia's quickly realized what Annan was trying to ask.

She quickly replied, "As you saw at the time...... The teacher did betray you. ”

…… What did I foresee at the time?

When Annan heard this, he was stunned for a moment.

That's a lot of information.

If Annan had known for a long time that Vladimir would betray......

Then, with Annan's own character and ability, Vladimir would not have succeeded in backstabbing if he had to.

According to Ivan at the time, what Vladimir did...... It is to use Bella to steal Dmitry's bodily fluids, which can be used to create a spell that can control and domesticate the frost beast without the need for "Winter Blood".

He took control of a third of the Frostbeasts and formed an Icebreaker Army, which in turn led to the Frostbite Plague. The shaking of the Frostbeast's grip put the loyalty of the local nobles to the test, and many realized that they didn't seem to need to be loyal to Winter.

What they are loyal to...... It should be said that it is the controller of the frost beast.

The strongest army in the cold winter is the Frostbeast Army, the strongest war machine is also the Frostbeast, the punishment and torture are also completed by the Frostbeast, the deterrent power of the law also comes from the Frostbeast, and even the export in exchange for foreign trade depends on the Frostbeast products.

The one who controls the frost beast controls everything.

It is impossible for a mortal soldier to defeat a frostbeast of similar size—because the presence of a frostbeast around it cannot help but begin to tremble, fear, and grieve. As long as the blow does not die, the matter of approaching the frost beast itself will paralyze its combat power.

The Frostbeast's ability to absorb positive emotions in a wide range is equivalent to poison gas that cannot be defended against with a gas mask. And although most of the frostbeasts are wolves, there are also bears, foxes, and falcon types...... As long as it is a non-primate larger than a certain size, it is possible to be transformed into a frost beast if it freezes to death in a blizzard as a young beast.

It only takes one deep breath for the Frostbeast to suck away the "bliss" within the cone-shaped range; And the frost beasts swarm together, and they only need to pass past the people to make them seem to be frozen, ossified into statues covered in frost, giving up thinking, and hopeless.

Frostbeasts themselves do not eat people.

But those who have been "eaten" by the frost beast will no longer hide from the blizzard. The sense of despair and powerlessness in their hearts will paralyze their desire to act and survive......

People who are attacked by frost beasts in the wild usually end up freezing to death.

And the frost beast army that has formed a scale, one person can eat one bite, and only four or five bites can gnaw away a person's heart, causing it to die of despair.

The swarm of frostbeasts is enough to destroy all resistance. This is also the reason why Noah has never been able to hit the other side of the Black Sea even when there is only one standing army left in the dead winter and four "fingers" missing.

- for the frostbeast cannot enter the water, nor can it enter the gray mist.

As a result, the Frostbeast Force can only be used for defensive counterattacks and law and order.

…… If there is a flaw, this is the biggest flaw.

On the other hand, if you get control of the frostbeast.

That means...... Any nobleman's private soldier will be neutralized.

As long as they are close to the frost beasts, it only takes a dozen frost beasts to instantly paralyze the resistance of the hundred-person group. Ordinary metal arrows have no effect on Frostbeasts...... It must be a rocket stained with oil to deal effective damage.

The "frostbite chaos" of that year did not have much reaction itself...... However, the "Icebreaker Army" that followed directly led to a rebellion covering the entire country of Winter and a purge within the Winter Hand.

If Annan had known about it and wanted to stop it, it would have been possible.

But he didn't.

Does this mean......

The rebellion launched by Vladimir, the "Winterbreaker", was it expected by Annan?

Or even directly in Annan's plans?

That's why he's controlling one-third of the Frostbeasts—if that's more, the Duchy of Winter won't be able to maintain its deterrence and control cities through the Frostbeast troops.

Fifteen hundred military frost beasts were taken away.

This value is already very close to the "bottom line" that the Duchy of Winter can allow.

Well, think about it the other way around......

If the rebellion of the "Winterbreakers" is what Annan needs.

Which of the things that have since been "necessary"?

“…… I see. ”

Annan muttered.

His eyes grew brighter.

After that, two "unprecedented" things happened.

The first thing was the removal of the top of the Winter Hand - the authority over foreign affairs, that is, the power held by the "right hand", was retaken into the hands of the Grand Duke.

Before this, even Ivan didn't realize that the real power of the Duchy of Winter was already in the hands of the "Ten Fingers" of the Winter Hand.

The second thing is that the Far North Brotherhood has completely lost its loyalty to the Winter family, and has jumped back openly. That is, their "suffocation" plan...... This is the first family since the founding of the Duchy of Winter to dare to make a deal with the Corrupt. Their courage also apparently came out of the "Artificial Frost Beast" plan.

But if the "betrayal" of the Winterbreaker is just an act to make the Grand Duke take back his authority;

If this plan is only to single out those among the local nobility who trade with the degenerates......

…… So why hasn't he come back yet?

Is this his fake drama really done, and he really jumped back?

Or is it ......

"Well, Vladimir is now ...... And where? ”

After thinking for a long time, "Elle" asked Celicia.

But there was no pause, and she replied with a wry smile:

"I don't know...... It's been a long time since I've seen a teacher. ”

There was silence for a long time before Celicia replied in a low voice: "Since I formed the icebreaker army, I have never met the teacher again.

"It was only when I became 'Captain Stone' that I finally learned that the teacher really wasn't dead.

"But no matter what, I couldn't get to where the teacher was. The treasure ship 'Silver' has the ability to pursue its goals, but it has never been able to locate the teacher's position. At one point, I even wondered if the teacher was still alive...... But I can always tell from others that the teacher is indeed living a good life.

"I can only tell that the teacher has been avoiding me...... I don't know what it's for. If it were for the sake of the teacher, I would rather that this identity was discovered by Thoronik...... Even if I was wanted, even if everyone knew that I was once a wanted criminal, Solonik, I just didn't want my teacher to turn a blind eye to me. ”

“…… I see. ”

Annan was thoughtful.

He has grasped six tenths of the total facts.

It only takes one personal sight of Vladimir, then everything will be clear.

"Good."

"Elle" nodded, and stood up leisurely from her chair.

"I'm still going to find someone, not just to clear the nightmare, it's just my personal matter. Come help me, Thoronik...... No, Celicia. If all goes well, I may be able to exonerate you. ”

“…… Who is it? ”

"It's the 'Lily Rasputin' on your ship."

The corners of "Elle" lips rose slightly: "Of course, if you want to say her real name......"

"Euphemia Melvin...... Right. ”

Celicia replied in a low voice.

"Not bad."

"Elle" replied briefly and calmly, "Lead the way." ”