Melodious and long music came from the magic props on the wall behind Count Durade. It looked like an accordion-like instrument, and it seemed that a pair of invisible hands were playing.

A beautiful tablecloth is placed on the long dining table, with a circular family crest located in the center of the dining table. White and smooth shell porcelain tableware and alloy-textured knives and forks are placed in all positions.

"I don't have silver or copper tableware here." After noticing Art's eyes lingering on the knife and fork, Count Durade said with a smile, "They have gone to a pathological level in pursuit of blue blood. After being unable to improve their strength,

, used a large number of blue blood gems for the final struggle. After discovering that blue blood gems could not improve their strength, they even began to eat silver and copper products and tried to use silver and copper tableware."

His tone was slightly sarcastic: "Make your blood look bluer?"

Art's expression did not change. The night phantom that had taken off his mask was completely a shadow, completely black.

However, compared to the shadow, the facial features are very obvious.

"After the wizard's strength reaches the limit, there are only two ways to improve the title and make the territory more prosperous." Art said in a leisurely tone, "But not everyone can improve the title, right?"

Count Durade nodded: "Yes, that's right, not everyone is qualified."

"Military merit, contribution." He cut the food leisurely with a knife and fork, "How can one obtain a higher title without corresponding contribution?"

From baron to earl, the Durade family completed this process, but it took more than five hundred years to complete the process of upgrading the status from viscount to earl in his father's generation.

And he also continued to fight for the Duke of Scala and accumulate military exploits as a means. Originally, if there were no accidents, he would be able to become the "Marquis of Durade" in more than ten years.

However, everything has changed now.

Count Durade sighed. The County of Durade now belongs to the Duke of Rose. In other words, he is no longer under the command of the Duke of Scala.

The previous military exploits no longer count, and the only real gains from the decades of fighting for Duke Scala are the territories gained.

It wouldn't be so bad if they just changed one lord. The problem is that the Rose City of the Duke of Rose is in Dullard County, and half of the original Dullard County has become the direct jurisdiction of the Duke of Rose.

The improvement in strength has temporarily slowed down.

Fortunately, in the previous negotiations, several young earls did not choose Duke Rose's camp, but still sided with Duke Scala.

If he had a choice, he would not choose to side with Duke Rose. Although he is a legendary duke, under the current situation, he is a newly emerging force after all, and the risk of standing on this side is too great.

But he has no choice. Dullard County is too close to the territory of Duke Rose. If he chooses to stand in another camp, he has no doubt that he will be killed the next second he makes such a choice.

.

But it's okay...

If there are no accidents, after the end of winter, the Duke of Rose will launch a war against the Duke of the South or the Duke of the North.

As he is good at fighting, he should be able to become a good soldier under the Duke of Rose. Not to mention other things, the chance of gaining military exploits and becoming a marquis is actually greater.

Originally, under the command of the North Duke, the Marquis was already saturated, but now that the forces have been re-divided, the structure has been completely disrupted, which can be considered a good thing for him.

If he works hard enough, he may be able to obtain enough military exploits within ten years to become the first marquis under the Duke of Rose.

At present, the force closest to Duke Rose is Earl Red Rose. According to legend, the other party is the heir of Duke Rose, but the other party has just advanced to Apocalypse. Compared with him who has been in Apocalypse Level 2 for many years,

It's completely different. According to the situation, the other party will not be promoted to level two in the short term, at least within twenty years.

Besides that, there is only one other... Count Mercury.

This Earl of Mercury has always been a mysterious figure.

"Before me, the morning star of mercury."

A figure who rose up suddenly.

Although the two territories were directly adjacent to each other, he had very few dealings with each other. Every time the Northern Duke summoned the lords, the other party did not show up at all. He did not treat the other party as a marginal figure like other nobles.

Through some clues and the attitude of Duke North, Count Dullard has always had a guess——

The other party may be some reclusive big shot, or have some powerful background.

I don’t even know who the other person is.

When he went to Rose City to negotiate with Duke Rose last time, Earl Mercury seemed to be one step ahead of him. In other words, the other party knew about Duke Rose's appearance earlier, and he seemed to have a very close relationship with Duke Rose.

This situation also made him feel that his conjecture was close to the truth. Count Quicksilver Fast was no ordinary count.

However, he was just curious. There was no doubt that Earl Mercury's status among the Duke of Rose was better than his.

There is no doubt that he and Earl Mercury are currently the two most promising marquises.

Some information can be obtained through his apprentice.

With this in mind, Count Durade and Art began to talk——

...

At night, in Duolun Tavern.

"Have you heard about that castle in the snowstorm? It's so spectacular!" A tall and thin mercenary raised his arms, "Someone really saw it! The castle in the snowstorm!"

"Yes, yes, we know." The mercenary who was drinking next to him with a ruffian expression shook his glass, "I said Andy, how many times have you said this? Is it a hundred times?

"

The mercenary named Andy spread his hands and a drop of sweat appeared on his head: "No way, you are slandering."

"I think so. I remember that day after Andy entered the mercenary guild, there was an additional task of finding the castle." Another mercenary said, "Although it is anonymous, I think it was probably Andy who discovered it.

.”

"I remember that if this kind of exploration mission is really confirmed, the first discoverer will be highly rewarded, right?"

"Yes, if it is really discovered and the mercenary guild gains something, Andy will be prosperous." The ruffian-like mercenary bumped him with his elbow.

"Ahem, I told you it wasn't me." Andy turned his head guiltily, "If I had known, I would have explored it myself. It looks like there is a castle in the wind and snow, and it looks like there will be great gains."

His explanation also stunned the mercenary who originally suspected that he was the discoverer. He is right. When encountering such an opportunity, as long as he is not too timid, he will try to confirm it himself, just in case he can find some treasure.

If...

"No, no, no, this guy was seriously injured and was sent back. Later, he ran out on his own. He fainted in the heavy snow and almost died. He probably went to look for him again."

The ruffian mercenary clicked his tongue and said: "Andy's courage should be said to be quite great, but after almost dying twice, he didn't dare to go there again, so he gave the clues to the mercenary guild."

The well-founded statement made the other mercenaries suddenly realize. Several other people who knew about Andy also connected the clues. The discussion became closer to the truth, and the expression on Andy's face changed from guilty to nervous and finally to...

To accept fate.

"Okay, okay, let me tell you." Andy scratched his head and sat down on the chair, "Actually, this is what happened..."

While he was telling the story, Art's body had already taken action.

...

Compared with areas that are cleaned by people, no one cleans them in the wild.

The snow has reached a depth of more than one meter.

From the shadow of a big tree weighed down by snow, a figure walked.

The black tuxedo and black boots stepped lightly on the snow without sinking. The indifferent and calm face looked into the depths of the forest.

"It's quite difficult to travel through the shadows." Art put the distortion lens on his right eye, "Originally, I wanted to locate directly next to the castle, but..."

This distance is offset by at least two kilometers.

Jumping through the shadow world is a good way to move quickly, and this method of action can only be done by stalkers and shadow creatures. Other teleportation is either through teleportation spell arrays that require complicated operations, or through wizards.

Jump to the established star realm.

If you want to cross the shadow realm at will, even a marquis-level wizard at the fourth level of Apocalypse cannot do it.

The Shadow Realm will only protect shadow creatures and reject all non-shadow foreign creatures.

Art was able to turn himself into a shadow creature through the ability of the Shadow Crow. He once tried to remove the ability of the Crow Mage when he was in the Shadow Realm, but at that moment, he felt a huge wave of malice coming.

The shielding effect of the Phantom Eye almost failed.

but.......

At that time, although he did not have time to activate the effect of Crow Mage again, something like the will of the shadow world stayed on him for a while, and the malice disappeared, replaced by a confused and unfamiliar sight.

After much deliberation, only the fact that I have a complete dark attribute is more suitable for the situation.

No longer thinking about it, Art moved forward. The shadow crows hiding in the shadow of the gap in his clothes blinked, emerged from the shadow behind the tuxedo, and jumped into the shadow of the top hat. They were having fun.

Very happy.

"I don't want to say it, but you'd better not go too crazy."

As he walked, Art said to the crows:

"We are almost at our destination."

In the distance, in a castle built in a frozen forest, there was a room, protected by a warm fire in the fireplace.

When Art was walking towards the castle, a figure walked to the window. The next moment, the fire was extinguished, and the warmth disappeared in a moment.
Chapter completed!