Just as he was thinking that the kind of arson tool would be easier to make, the guard walked in, "Your Majesty, the messenger of the Northland wants to see you. Pen "Fun" Pavilion www.biquge.info"

It's only been a day...... Roland was a little surprised, didn't they plan to wait for the Duke to hear back, but were ready to directly reject their request?

"Take them to the drawing room," he commanded after a moment of silence, "and inform Carter to seal off the diplomatic building and temporarily prohibit the members of the envoy corps from going out." ”

"Yes. ”

Since the other party could not agree with the policy that they would implement, they had to force them to stay.

......

When Roland walked into the living room on the first floor, he found that the person on the other side of the long table had changed seats, and the woman who was supposed to be Cole's assistant was sitting in the guest of honor, while Cole was holding a notebook and sitting in the second seat.

"Your Majesty, greetings, I am Edith Kant, the eldest daughter of the Duke of Eternal Night and the elder sister of Cole. The woman stood up and gave a standard aristocratic salute, "This is not the first time we have met, and I beg your pardon for the last time Cole forgot to introduce my identity." ”

"Calvin's daughter?" Roland was stunned for a moment, and then couldn't help but become interested, "So you're the leader of the envoy group?"

"Exactly," she said, stroking her breast, "my father has entrusted me with full responsibility for this mission, and has given me the duke's letter. ”

In this era, women participate in politics, but it is very rare, let alone a young woman with outstanding appearance. It can be seen from Edith's expression that it is obviously not the first time she has dealt with a superior person, and she is impeccable in terms of words and deeds and demeanor. As for concealing her identity, Roland has realized that this is a small trick by the other party to attract the attention of negotiators, and she did not deliberately conceal it, but only borrowed the disguise of women to let people go into the wrong place, which is not a deception, and most nobles will only regard it as a pleasure. It has to be said that this hand really works.

"That is, you can make decisions on behalf of your father?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, to be exact, he will listen to me. ”

Really confident in his answer, Roland looked at Cole who was scratching his ears and cheeks, and couldn't help laughing.

"Okay...... Miss Edith, what is the purpose of your request?"

Roland had expected that she would tactfully say that she could not accept such conditions, or take other more "interesting" methods to get the new law back, but she did not expect that she took out a notebook from the satchel behind her back, spread it out and placed it on the table—it was the pamphlet he had written.

"I have some questions for you," Edith said bluntly, "You said that the reason why the nobles of the feudal feud will be eliminated sooner or later is because of the continuous expansion of the central power, but without the assistance of the nobles, how can you ensure that you can effectively manage the vast kingdom?"

This is...... Want to talk to yourself about current affairs?

Looking at her sincere eyes, Roland realized that the other party was serious.

It had been a long time since he had heard such an interesting question.

"It's the people, and the progress of technology. After a long groan, he replied.

"Do you mean the freedmen, and what is technological progress?"

"Yes, a management team trained by the town hall, paid by the town hall for salaries and administrative expenses, and provided by the town hall for manpower and supporting facilities, does not require the managers themselves to have strong assets or abundant manpower, so it does not matter whether they are nobles or not. Roland began to explain what a centralized government should look like, and how ordinary people could be promoted, and then talked about the practical significance of technology for territorial control, which was half an hour.

"How do you plan to avoid the malfeasance of the administrative officials who are far away from the royal capital?"

"After the unification of the Grey Castle, how should the trade of various places be distributed?"

"Can productivity really be used as a measure of policy?"

“......”

The more she asked, the more Edith's eyes sparkled, and it wasn't until it was close to noon that she let out a sigh of relief, "I see, you really didn't write that opening sentence casually." ”

Roland also took a sip of tea with satisfaction, as a person with the wrong professional, his political reserve knowledge can probably only go so far.

"Thank you for your answer, I didn't expect you to tell me this in such detail. ”

"The most basic requirement of a city hall in a new era is to publicize the policy, and everyone must clearly understand the content of the new policy, so that the implementation will not be strange. ”

Edith nodded, and changed the subject, "Can you provide the equipment and personnel for the production of the steam engine to the north?"

"Personnel are not good at the moment, as Neverwinter is also lacking, but you can send people to learn from it, provided that the nobles of the Northlands give up their feudal rights and follow the management of the town hall. ”

"Paddle steamer construction techniques can also be taught?"

"Naturally, as long as you pay the Golden Dragon, these are not problems. But without the help of the witches, it will be difficult for you to move the entire production line north in a short period of time. ”

"I am amazed by your calmness, Your Majesty," she pondered for a moment, "but I don't understand one thing, according to your plan, as long as you wait another ten years, you can easily annex the entire Grey Keep, and then there is no resistance to pushing forward the New Deal, and you don't need to care about our thoughts, why are you so anxious?"

Roland fell silent for a long time before he spoke, "You really want to know the answer?"

Edith probably didn't expect him to answer so seriously, and she became solemn, "Yes." ”

"Come with me, then," he said, "I'll show you something." ”

......

Stepping into the shaded backyard, Roland led Edith into a wooden shed in the middle of the olive grove.

The severed Devil lay flat on a long table, surrounded by bottles and jars, and Agatha was making the final preparations to draw blood.

"God above, what is this—" Edith let out a low cry of disbelief, but Roland noticed that there was only shock on her face, not fear.

"I should lock this shed and let the leaves drain the yard," Agatha frowned, "Don't tell me you're going to involve a mortal in the making of the sigil, if I'm fusing the Divine Stone, I'm sure I've already failed." ”

"Of course not...... Immediately," Roland coughed twice, turning to Edith and introduced, "The alien creatures in front of you are the legendary devils, they haunt the north of the desperate mountains, and they are also the greatest enemies that humanity is about to face - the war between the two races has nothing to do with territory and wealth, but to determine who will survive, and the loser will be completely destroyed." ”

"Devil, decide to continue the war?" she murmured.

"Yes, it's a long story, and a secret that has been hidden by the Church, and it goes back thousands of years, when people called it the "War of the Divine Will." ”