The Black Swan Castle has been very lively in recent months.

Because the black swan reappeared on the Black Swan Lake of this ancient castle, this ancient castle that had been in decline for a long time was finally restored to the ranks of famous ancient castles in the southern continent. Because of this, the reputation of the already famous Void Principality once again swept the entire Southern Continent, especially in the aristocratic circle of the Ryan Kingdom. Many aristocrats even wanted to visit the castle, which was famous for its sights.

In this regard, Cecilia did not agree to let these unnecessary people enter and leave the castle.

However, Diana didn't know how to convince Cecilia, so the Black Swan Castle is now a limited-time holy place in the Void Duchy. Of course, the interior of the castle is forbidden, so the workload of the Void Shadow Guard has increased a lot - but this is also part of the strength of the Void Duchy, and in addition, the movement path to the top of the castle is also strictly restricted, and visitors entering the castle must abide by this rule, otherwise it will be triggered by triggering the Void Duchy's private property protection decree.

Decree on the Protection of Private Property, a new and important decree issued by the Void Principality.

It explicitly declared the privatization of property, that is, the nobility could not maliciously encroach on the property of the commoners. Contrary to the system of "property lord ownership" issued by the lords of other realms - if it weren't for the fact that the Void Duchy could not be defeated, the surrounding lords would want to declare war on the Void Duchy, because the promulgation of this decree caused a large-scale migration of the other lords' territories, so Neil had to issue a new edict.

At the same time, the identity of the Void Duchy's vassal status. It's also harder than ever to come by - in the Void Duchy, there's no such nameplate to prove the identity of the people. You will not be able to enjoy the protection of the Void Principality, but only by the Wanderer Protection Law issued by the Void Principality. Although this act effectively stopped the housewarming of a large number of foreign people. However, there are still many wanderers who are willing to stay in the Void Duchy in an attempt to obtain the official status of the Void Duchy's lords.

Of course, the Void Principality's abundance of job opportunities and generous benefits are also a potential attraction for these wanderers.

Hasas. Zoandon, a child of a noble family from the thousand-year-old Covenant Empire, came to visit the Black Swan Castle when he accidentally met Cecilia, who was also walking, and was shocked on the spot, so he launched a series of dating requests that he thought were romantic, but Cecilia was extremely irritable. Even. Since more than a week ago, this aristocratic son, who has a very good reputation, has officially proposed to Cecilia.

It's just that his self-proclaimed chic and romantic marriage proposal was rejected by Cecilia mercilessly and straightforwardly, without even saying a polite word.

If it is a narrow-minded and powerful nobleman, he will definitely choose revenge because of this. Even if it is an ordinary nobleman, if he is rejected by the other party like this, most of them will not have the face to continue.

And Hashas, on the other hand, is not clear-minded or not. But the Zoandon family behind him, according to William, is indeed powerful. Because this is one of the few veteran nobles who support the new emperor of the Millennium Covenant Empire, the history has been passed down for more than a thousand years, and the highest title of the family has been included in the ranks of princes. And there have been double-digit dukes in the entire family history, and this alone is enough to illustrate a qiē.

The patriarch of the Zoandon family is now Duke Hamson: Pusius. Zoandon. He is in his eighties this year. He served as the marshal of the Millennium Covenant Empire and commanded the Southern Frontier Front of the Empire. Most famously, he had resisted three Black Earth Death Tides, not to mention his achievements in the Wild Lands - even now. Putius's name and his black wolf banner with a green background and a black wolf head are still a nightmare for many old people in the wilderness.

After retiring from the post of marshal of the Southern Xinjiang Front, this duke with legendary deeds entered the Blade Council, which has the highest decision-making power in the military department of the Millennium Covenant Empire. He then held this position for a full thirty years, until two years ago, when the civil strife in the Millennium Covenant Empire could not be stopped, and even showed signs of intensifying, that the old duke put on his armor again.

According to the investigation information of the Void Realm, this time the civil strife of the Millennium Covenant Empire was finally suppressed and stopped, and the old duke occupied an extremely strong merit. However, it is precisely because of his perseverance and truncation tactics that the old duke is said to have suffered a very severe injury - he has never entered the Sacred Realm in his life, and after this injury treatment, it is said that he has regressed to the Bronze Realm.

It is also rumored that the next patriarch of the Zoandon family will be chosen from among his grandchildren. That is, the Hashas generation, regardless of the side branch or lineage, can participate in the election - unlike the patriarchal election method of other families, those who have extremely outstanding military talents cannot run for the position of patriarch.

The selection of the patriarchal heir of the Zoandon family is not a test of personal force, but political talent, military strategy, and even economic talent.

Hashas happens to be the one who has the right to compete among the younger generation of the Zoandon family, and the main talents he shows are concentrated in both political and economic aspects. It's just that he is in third place in the line of succession, and there is an older sister and an older brother above him, and these three of them are called the three of Zoandon - in other words, if there is no accident, the next patriarch of the Zoandon family will be born among these three.

For many nobles, Hashas was an ideal marriageable man, whether or not he succeeded in winning the position of patriarch of House Zoandon. And if he is lucky enough to become the next patriarch of the Zoandon family, then unless Sean can upgrade the Void Duchy to an empire, even if it becomes a first-class Void Duchy, Hashas. Zoandon doesn't necessarily have much less power than Sean.

Of course, the level of a super-first-class kingdom is a different matter.

This is the glory and power that comes with family heritage.

And this is also Diana's best to dissuade Cecilia from clash and contradiction with Hashas because of her whims. However, the future fourth giant of the Void Principality is obviously not a good person. Privately, she was also working on the arrangements at the same time, if Cecilia and Hashas really got into a fight. Then she must ensure that this genius will never be able to return to the Millennium Covenant.

The foot traffic of the Black Swan Castle has been increasing day by day recently.

Many of them are frequent visitors who have been here several times – even though the Black Swan Castle is only open for four hours a day, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. However, some food will be carefully prepared every time - the visit to the Black Swan Castle is certainly not free, but the nobles who can come all the way here will naturally not lack this little money, so it is naturally necessary to prepare exquisite food for these nobles.

So far, the Black Swan Castle has not held any dinners or banquets, and some nobles who have come here have proposed to Cecilia to build a yì, but Cecilia has smiled and politely declined.

If it weren't for the fly of Hashas, maybe there would have been a lot of people who would have come to express their love to Cecilia.

This was evident when Cecilia stepped out of her study to the conference room, where she had to pass a public staircase leading to the Black Swan Castle. So it took her about twenty more minutes, smiling and greeting many people, before she was finally able to get out of this hell that made her impatient.

"I think the castle has to be remodeled, we have to build a new staircase, the outside!" Cecilia grumbled under her breath.

"I think if Lord Sean had returned, I am afraid that there would not have been so many people visiting." Diana replied with a smile, "Maybe." If Lord Sean finds it too noisy and troublesome, he will close the current visit day. ”

"If it's Sean, it's really possible." Cecilia thought for a moment, then smiled. The look of impatience on his face quickly faded, "You must have a way to convince him, though." Just like you convinced me in the first place. ”

Seeing Cecilia's sincere and sweet smile, Diana smiled. Then he said, "I don't dare." …… Lord Sean doesn't care about these superficial images, the things he decides. I don't dare to make any rebuttals. Only Lord Cecilia would dare to say these things in front of Lord Sean. ”

"You're wrong." Cecilia said very seriously, "Sean is not the kind of person who is unreasonable. …… However, he did hate trouble. Although you have been in the Void Duchy for more than a year, you haven't been in contact with Sean a few times, so it's normal not to know him, and when you have the opportunity to work together in the future, you will know that he is probably the lord who is not like a lord in this world. ”

Diana just kept smiling and didn't answer.

She knew that Cecilia could not understand how terrible Sean was in her mind. Because when she met Sean for the first time, she had already been severely shocked by Sean, and I am afraid that she will never forget the feeling that made her feel frightened and suffocated in this life. As long as she is in front of Sean, she feels as if she is naked, and everything will be completely seen through, which is one of the main reasons why she never thought about betrayal after joining Sean.

Soon, Cecilia and Diana were laughing at the door of the conference room.

Maybe she was used to it casually in the Black Swan Castle, so Cecilia pushed open the door of the conference room without thinking about it and strode in.

"Oh, my dear Miss Cecilia, your smile today is like the light of the brightest pearl in the world." A pleasant male voice suddenly sounded with a little exclamation, "In front of you, even the Tifflan Pearl is eclipsed." ”

Hearing this voice, Cecilia's face instantly darkened, and her smile disappeared completely: "Who is your dear?" We don't know each other that well. ”

The one who could utter these words of praise so naturally was Cecilia's number one suitor, Hashasas. Zoan paused. He has brown hair, blue eyes, and very handsome facial features, he is a rare beautiful man, especially the clothes on his body are obviously cut by the hands of famous teachers, and his elite temperament is incomparable.

At this time, he looked at Cecilia with a sad look, and then said, "Oh, we've all met so many times, and even eaten together several times, isn't this familiar?" ”

"It doesn't count." Cecilia said mercilessly, "And I won't dine with you again in the future." You're dead to this heart. ”

Probably accustomed to the conversation between Cecilia and Hashasas, Diana only smiled helplessly. Didn't interject to say anything. As for the several guards brought by Hashas's side, they would not intervene in this way. for they served Hashasas. The knights of the Zoandon family, even Hashas didn't speak, and of course they wouldn't be bored.

"Oh, beautiful Cecilia, I ...... you"

"I came here when I heard that you had something important to negotiate with me, and if it's still this nonsense, then I don't have time to waste here." Cecilia mercilessly interrupted the nonsense of this person who obviously belonged to the "brain hole" in her opinion, and said indifferently, "Diana. When I turn around, I must be reminded that there is a sign of making zuò, and suitors and dogs are not allowed to enter! I'm going to put it outside the castle! ”

The wry smile on Diana's face was even more evident, and she might be able to discuss something with Cecilia's gag in the study. But now in this room, especially in front of the man who Cecilia listed as one of the three great men of Zoandon alongside the dog, she certainly wouldn't be so ignorant. Because Cecilia would be fine if she said so, but if she followed suit, she might become the target of revenge from the nobleman's son.

"Okay, okay." Hashas's expression was extremely sad and lost, and he said helplessly. "So, let's get down to business."

Cecilia then sat down on one side of the room, and Diana quickly closed the door to the room, and several Void Shadow guards stepped forward. Guarded in front of the door.

"Tell me about the project you want to work with the Void Duchy." Cecilia said lightly, although she had already read the rough information that Diana had sent. She knew what Hashas wanted to work with, but she knew that she couldn't talk about it first. Otherwise, you will fall into the downwind.

Hashas glanced at Diana out of the corner of his eye, but saw that she looked calm and normal. Hashas sighed slightly in his heart, and then quickly retracted his expression, and turned to a serious and strict appearance. He cleared his throat before he spoke, "I suppose Miss Cecilia should know the current situation of my family, the Zoandon family, right?" ”

Hashasas, who has restrained the mentality of a suitor, does have an unparalleled elite temperament and charm. When it comes to business, he looks serious and solemn, and his words are also clear, and even contain a lot of tentative confrontation words, so it can be said that Hashas at this moment is the real posture of the third heir to the Zoandon family, not the romantic man Cecilia has seen in recent times.

However, Hashas is testing Cecilia's intelligence, and Cecilia is not evaluating Hashas.

The information between the two sides is inherently unequal, and it can even be said that it is incomplete, so it is very normal for each other to evaluate, review, and test each other. It's just that Hassas is used to attacking strongly, so from the beginning, he is spying on the information of the Zoandon family that Cecilia now has, which feels a bit aggressive. Of course, Cecilia is not a newcomer, and her expression remains calm and indifferent throughout.

Just like the attitude towards Hashas's marriage proposal before.

"I've heard a little." Cecilia whispered.

The content of the discourse is not much, only four words, but the derivative content that can be guessed is extremely extensive. Of course, this is also a test of the interlocutor's thinking skills and shrewdness, because different people will naturally have different understandings of these four words. Some will think that it is a bluff, some will think that it is also an intelligence spy strategy, and some will think that it is a modest statement.

But Hashas knew that Cecilia's statement was not modesty or bluff, but an attitude.

Not blind, not conceited, but sincerely take a stand.

"If I hadn't thought about competition, I'm afraid I wouldn't believe in this kind of thing." Hashas smiled bitterly.

Cecilia, however, remained indifferent, and waited quietly for Hashas's next step.

This attitude and reaction caused Hashas to make a reluctant gesture of reaching out and caressing his forehead - but those who knew Hashas's temperament and behavior knew that this was a small gesture that only appeared when Hashas felt that things were tricky. He was observing his opponent by stroking his forehead, thinking about the rhythm and content of the next negotiation, and at the same time, he could also hide some of the expressions in his eyes.

"This time, I had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." Soon, Hashas decided on the next negotiation tactics, because he found that Cecilia had given him enough hints, if he didn't grasp it well, then this negotiation would probably end in failure, "As we all know, the thousand-year-old empire was caught in a political and civil strife before, and this war has been going on for a long time, and it was not until a few days ago that the war finally came to an end. …… It's just that the rebel party is still resisting, so the final purge operation did not go smoothly, of course, whether it went well or not, the final victory was only a matter of time. ”

"I have received news that the rebels have a group of secret supporters who are entering the empire from the wilderness, and the route of the march has been identified." Hashas saw Cecilia motioning for him to continue, and then continued, "But unfortunately, I am not good at military tactics, and I do not have enough troops under my command...... In other words, there are no troops under my command capable of attacking fortified positions. ”

"So you mean, you want to borrow someone from me?" Cecilia finally spoke.

"Yes." Hashas also did not deny it, "I have heard that there are three armies under the command of the Grand Duke of the Void that can be called trump cards. The Lion of Thunder is the best at attacking tough battles, the Iron Wings is the best at defensive battles, and the guards under your command, Your Highness Cecilia, who claim to be up to the task of any Qiē tactical requirement. …… I don't expect to have Commander William in charge of this opportunity, but it will be enough to bring in the Lion of Thunder or Your Highness's Guard. ”

"That's a big appetite." Cecilia let out a chuckle, and although there was no mockery or contempt, the meaning in her words was clear: What about your chips?

"I will give half of the supplies of that secret army to your Highness." Hashas said in a deep voice without thinking about it, obviously he had already thought about this reward, "Moreover, you can choose first, there is no limit to the amount." …… According to my intelligence, this batch of supplies is enough for the rebels in the southern part of the empire to hold out for more than half a year, so the material reserves are extremely rich. ”

"But if this attack plan is successful, you will gain a lot." Cecilia smiled, her voice was soft, but the content of her words made Hashas a little muffled, "At the very least, you are destined to become the head of the Zoandon family in the future." …… On the other hand, it was our Void Duchy who made enemies, and overall, our losses were far greater than the gains this time. So if it's just that, then I beg your pardon for refusing. (To be continued......)