After the two senior figures left, the discussion that followed didn't contain anything important. Everyone was mostly concerned about Dark Mantle's future movements, so when that topic was dismissed, the meeting quickly ended.
Everyone dispersed after the meeting. Following Candide's lead, Han Shuo followed Candide to his private room. He helped confirm Han Shuo's identity as the emissary of the Second Dark Sun before finally asking, "Your recent development in Brettel City is going quite well. Since I have already discussed this with His Majesty, your arrival at this time is perfect. I believe His Majesty will grant you the rank of Marquis."
"If that's true, it would be fantastic. Right now there are a thousand things to be done in Brettel City. I must report to His Majesty and see if I can set up a large-scale transportation formation matrix within Brettel City. That way, Brettel City can develop even faster." Han Shuo realised that communicating with other cities was inevitably linked to becoming a great city. As of now, it was very inconvenient for Brettel City to communicate with the outside world. However, if he could have his own large-scale transportation Matrixs, the development of Brettel City could be accelerated.
After hearing this from Han Shuo, Candide's head began to hurt slightly. He thought for a moment and said, "I can't guarantee that His Majesty will agree. Even though Brettel City has defeated some bandit groups now, in the end, they are just some bandits. Unless Brettel City can demonstrate a power that can stand up to the seven grand dukedoms, I believe His Majesty will not feel comfortable setting up a large-scale transportation formation matrix in Brettel City."
"If the Seven Grand Duchies were to invade a Brettel City that happened to have a transportation matrix, the Seven Grand Duchies could easily use a few magic crystals to send forces into the cities of the Lancelot Empire. This would be a disaster. Therefore, His Majesty will definitely handle this with caution.
Han Shuo also understood Candide's meaning. After listening, Han Shuo nodded his head and said, "It seems that His Majesty will not be truly at ease until Brettel City can defeat the seven grand dukedoms."
"Ai, His Majesty's health is deteriorating, and I don't think he can last much longer. Why have you come from Brettel City this time, is it because of Lawrence?" Candide sighed before asking Han Shuo specifically.
Han Shuo made no attempt to hide the truth. He nodded his head and replied, "Yes, Lawrence and I have a pretty good relationship. My policy is to return favour with favour. Sir Candide, you don't have to try to convince me otherwise."
"I'm not trying to convince you. It's just that I think you should consider it carefully. Your influence in the Lancelot Empire is no longer small. As long as you can make Brettel City a little more stable, your future prospects will be limitless and immeasurable. But if you fight for Lawrence's power, I worry not only for you, but also for your current foundation. You should think again.
Candide also didn't know if he should convince Han Shuo or not. Originally, when he brought Han Shuo into the Dark Mantle, he never expected that Han Shuo would have such achievements as he had today. Furthermore, based on the current situation, as long as Han Shuo continued to develop smoothly, it was quite possible that he could become one of the overlords of the Lancelot Empire.
On the one hand, he'd been the one to bring Han Shuo in, and on the other hand, Han Shuo was his wife Emma's disciple. No matter which way he looked at it, Candide would never want Han Shuo to make the wrong choice and go down the wrong path. So Candide always tried to advise Han Shuo. But because he had worked for Dark Mantle for so long and had received so much information through his many channels, he knew that Han Shuo was the type to stick to his decisions and not the type to be swayed. Therefore, Candide was really at a loss as to what the right thing to do was.
"Sigh. Alright, I won't interfere in your affairs anymore. Until Madam Grace clearly chooses the direction our Dark Mantle will take, no one will know what path the Dark Mantle will take in the future." Candide sighed and said to Han Shuo.
Hearing Candide's words, Han Shuo could not help but feel stunned. After a moment of hesitation, he asked, "Sir, is Madam Grace really able to see clearly into the future?"
Han Shuo had long since understood that the most mysterious profession in this world was that of a seer. He was also aware of all the various miraculous descriptions of divination. However, he was not the type of person to believe in such abstruse prophecies. So even now he was half doubtful.
Candide's face turned solemn as he firmly told Han Shuo, "Although the Lancelot Empire has faced many important events over the years, Grace has always chosen the right path. Furthermore, the ability of the Dark Mantle to become such a powerful weapon of darkness within the Lancelot Empire is also directly related to Madame Grace's leadership."
"His Majesty also cares most about Madame Grace. Her prophecies can even change His Majesty's decisions. Even now, His Majesty can't decide which prince will be the next king. One of the reasons is that Madame Grace has yet to tell His Majesty which prince is the true wise king.
""Mm. Lawrence's master, Karel Ascot, is also waiting for Madame Grace to show him the way. Whether or not the Dark Mantle can avert disaster this time also depends on Madame Grace's instructions. So none of us have made any decisions yet."
Han Shuo was truly startled as he listened to Candide. Who would have thought that the old woman who looked like she was going to die at any moment actually had a crucial role to play? She had the power to influence the decisions of the Sacred Swordmaster Karel and the king! Han Shuo's heart was filled with astonishment.
Afterwards, Han Shuo suddenly remembered the crystal ball that had shattered in the old seer's hand. When she'd gazed deeply at him earlier, Han Shuo had originally thought that she might just be casting a random glance at him. But as he listened to Candide today, Han Shuo couldn't help but imagine some wild thoughts. Could her glance have some special hidden meaning?
"Based on what you're saying, as long as Madame Grace recognizes a prince, that prince will definitely gain great advantages?" Han Shuo asked Candide after thinking for a moment.
Candide nodded his head in the affirmative before giving an example to emphasise the importance of the old seer, Grace. "Even if it's Lawrence, as long as Madame Grace says he can bring prosperity, power and wealth to the Lancelot Empire, then even he will have great hopes to succeed as the new king."
"Hopefully the old seer will really support Lawrence, hehe. Who knows, I have the feeling that Lawrence has the air of a monarch." Han Shuo chided himself before asking, "That Stratholme, what actually happened to him?"
As these words fell, Candide's darkened complexion became even more sinister and hazy. He hesitated for a moment before saying to Han Shuo, "The last time the Empire invaded the Seven Grand Duchies, they were accompanied by the Sacred Sword Master Karel Ascot and the Earth Sacred Magus Dempsey Gayer."
"Originally, everyone believed that the fragmented Seven Grand Duchies would definitely be defeated. The rumours reflected the real situation. Because of the sudden alliance between the seven grand duchies, the Imperial Army began to face obstacles everywhere. However, because the Empire secretly believed that the Seven Grand Duchies didn't have a sacred magus, they wanted to violate a continental pact and use forbidden magic to reverse the situation. In the end, before the sacred magus of Earth, Dempsey Gayer, could even make a move, the old monster Stratholme sought him out".
"The old monster Stratholme openly challenged the sacred swordmaster Karel Ascot, the pride of our nation. This fight was witnessed by no one but the sacred earth magus Dempsey Gayer. However, although no one knows the details, both the Sacred Swordmaster Karel Ascot and the Earth Sacred Magus Dempsey Gayer made no further moves during the war".
""Throughout the many years of the Verdun dynasty, Stratholme was the teacher of the state and had long since become as strong as a Sacred Swordmaster. Together with the fact that he had not yet died after all these years, the moment he moved, the Sacred Swordmaster Karel Ascot and the Sacred Magus Dempsey Gayer of the Lancelot realm became apprehensive in their hearts. This explains his strength.
"Ah, back then, a soldier saw the old monster and said that Stratholme did not look as old as people imagined. On the contrary, he had an elegant, youthful appearance. That is why we have always called Stratholme, the former teacher at the Imperial Court of Verdun, an old monster". Candide continued to explain.
Han Shuo knit his brows in silence and thought for a moment before opening his mouth to say, "I see. Alright, I will leave this place first. If you need me for anything, you can just find me in Ossen City. I will stay here for a while."
"Mm, you need to be careful. Ossen City is not very peaceful right now." Candide nodded and said. Seeing Han Shuo leave, Candide hesitated for a moment before suddenly opening his mouth and saying, "Wait a minute!"
Pausing for a moment, Han Shuo turned his head towards Candide and said, "Is there anything else?"
"You should also pay more attention to your relationship with Emily. Aymes is not an easy person to get along with. Besides, the Hahn family is one of the most influential families in the Empire. For both your sakes, you should be a little careful. Candide sighed before continuing, "Ai, everything about you is good, but you are a bit too much of a player. You also need to be more careful with Fanny. I was told by your own Dean a while ago that her father is Commander Firenze of the Howling Legion. He's a notorious butcher who's even more difficult to deal with than Aymes. And also Phoebe, she is the most adored student of the Sacred Swordmaster Karel Ascot. Just the sort of woman you're after! I really don't know how I can help you.
After hearing Candide's words, Han Shuo's face changed. Although he already knew Emily and Phoebe's identities, and was only clueless about Fanny's identity, he'd never thought that Fanny's background was even greater than theirs. Her father was actually the commander of the Howling Legion!
As the Second Dark Sun, he naturally knew about such a famous person in the Lancelot Empire. Firenze's Howling Legion was undoubtedly the most powerful legion in the Empire's army. As the commander of a regiment that behaved ruthlessly, darkly, and ferociously, he was a notorious, wild Madman in the Lancelot Empire.
After all these years, Firenze's Howling Legion has continued to defend and resist the barbaric orcs of the southern border, causing tens of thousands of orcs to die at the hands of his men. . Throughout the orc empire, the name Firenze was synonymous with demons and nightmares. It could even be said that everyone feared and cursed him.
Firenze was the same in the empire, known and distinguished for his ferocity. He completely lacked the proper etiquette and grace befitting a noble. Once, while attending a private banquet of His Majesty, Firenze had even dared to roughhouse with any noble he didn't like.
But His Majesty the King, Uhtred Lancelot, found these people very important. It was because of Firenze's existence that the barbarian orcs were forever isolated in the south. Firenze was so highly regarded that, although he had offended many nobles and even cursed the Grand Duke Ashburn as hypocritical and despicable, he still lived as well as ever after all these years.
Because he had once beaten up Grand Duke Ashburn during a banquet, the king couldn't bear him any longer and threw him into the dungeons. But as soon as this news spread throughout Lancelot's empire, the barbarian orcs began to rejoice and celebrate. Afterwards, their armies began to invade various cities along the southern border.
His Majesty the King had sent several generals to the front in defence. But in the end, no one was able to hold the situation. As one city after another fell, even the king had no choice but to ask Firenze to come out and face the enemy. In fact, Firenze's had refused. In the end, it was only after two cities on the southern border of the empire had been breached that the Grand Duke Ashburn personally went to prison and bowed his head before Firenze. It was then that he emerged from prison and drove the orc army out of the southern territories.
Within the southern borderlands, this Firenze was like a living god. In the entire Lancelot Empire, next to His Majesty the King, Ashburn was the most worried and afraid of frirenze.
Thanks to the Dark Mantle's intelligence, Han Shuo had already looked through this information a long time ago. Now, when he heard that Fanny's old man was indeed confirmed to be Firenze, he was stunned. He couldn't help but ask Candide again with a dry mouth, "You're sure he's Fanny's father?"
"He is, that information came from your Dean, Emma. Even I only found out recently. Ai, you should pray for your own happiness. I already warned you not to be too unfaithful, now we'll see how you end up." Candide smiled ruefully as he said helplessly to Han Shuo.
"Eh, it seems like this really is a somewhat difficult problem to deal with. Ai, Teacher Fanny is such a gentle, soft and virtuous woman, how could she have such a messed up old man? This world is truly miraculous!" Han Shuo complained with a headache.
"Firenze is very attached to Fanny because her mother died very young. I think you should take the next step with Fanny. If you can make Fanny docile and obedient, who knows, you may be able to escape this misfortune". Candide had this idea.
Han Shuo sighed miserably. But after a sudden inspiration, he suddenly asked Candide: "If I settle things with Emily, Phoebe and Fanny, then there would be the Hahn family and Amyes behind Emily. Then there would be the Sacred Swordmaster, Karel Ascot, and that madman, Firenze. If I included the entire Dark Mantle, what do you think, could I help Lawrence? Would he have any hope of succeeding as king?
Candide's body shook as soon as these words were spoken. Afterwards, he stared at Han Shuo's ever brightening gaze. After some time, he finally opened his mouth to say, "If you really do this, then Lawrence would have great hope of winning. But if even Madame Grace helps him, then this is practically a done deal. Oh, right, do you think Lawrence knows about your relationship with the three women?"
Han Shuo started. After thinking carefully for a moment, he nodded his head and said, "I think Lawrence should know about the relationship between the three women and me. However, he has never talked about it much before."
Candide was suddenly startled. After a sudden sigh, he said, "It seems that of the few princes, Lawrence is the most difficult to deal with. I can tell you clearly that Lawrence also knew Fanny's identity. It's no wonder Lawrence went out of his way to help you, he wanted to trap you. If Lawrence had reckoned with such a day a long time ago, this Lawrence is really too frightening youth".
Listening to Candide's words, Han Shuo also felt a little uneasy. He carefully remembered the events of the meeting with Lawrence. Han Shuo couldn't help but feel astonished when he discovered that Candide's statement was most likely true.
In any case, Lawrence had always helped Han Shuo, and it was also because of his existence that Han Shuo was able to rise to his position so quickly. After a moment of silence, Han Shuo let out a laugh, "It seems that Lawrence is indeed the most capable. I think my choice might be right, because only a person who has planned so far can stand out among the various factions."
"Maybe your choice is the right one. Forget it, I should just wait until Madame Grace decides." Candide sighed and said to Han Shuo with a slight headache.
For Candide, the best decisions could only be made by people who could clearly see the future like Madame Grace. Other decisions were not guaranteed. If Han Shuo could get hold of all three powers, perhaps there would be some vague hope of helping Lawrence seize power. But it was still just a hope and nothing more.
Oh, that's right, His Majesty's health is failing and he probably can't last much longer. The last time I visited His Majesty, His Majesty was constantly thinking about the wonders of your body and trying to understand your mystical martial arts skills, hoping to use them in the army. What do you think?" Candide thought for a moment before asking Han Shuo.
"I will think about it carefully. I will give you my answer after some time." Han Shuo predicted.