Count Nero smiled when he heard this, his face was amiable, he turned his head to meet his great granddaughter's big watery eyes and fair face, and seeing her cheeks puffed up slightly and her angry look, he said gently: "Jaina, I didn't lie to you, we will definitely reach Dark Eagle City today."

Jaina had short blond hair with a few exquisite swan-like hairpins. She looked innocent and cute. She tilted her head slightly and said suspiciously, "Really?"

"Of course, if I lied, you can make any request and I will try my best to satisfy you!" Count Nero smiled kindly and gently stroked the golden hair on the side of Jaina's face.

"Wow, great-grandfather is so great!" Jaina jumped on the horse and cheered loudly, "Hehe, I want to see the Orc Circus! I have seen many descriptions of circuses in storybooks, they are so wonderful, but I have never seen one. Didn't you say that there are orcs in Dark Eagle City? Take me to see it!"

Nero held Jaina's waist to prevent her from falling, but when he heard this request, he looked helpless and said, "I'm afraid I can't guarantee that I can do this. After all, that's not Twilight City. How can I fulfill your wishes? The orcs there don't belong to us, so how can they be willing to perform acrobatics for you?"

"Ah?" Jaina said with a long tail tone, her face drooping, pulling a piece of light armor on Nero's shoulder, and said, "What should we do? How can we watch the orcs perform? Great-grandfather, you must have a way, right?"

Count Nero shook his head and sighed. After a moment, he raised his head and smiled with narrowed eyes: "Haha, there is indeed a way, but hope may have to be placed on you."

"What do you mean?" Jaina tilted her head, her face confused and totally puzzled.

Count Nero suddenly fell silent, turned his smiling face to the front, and the smile slowly faded, and he regained his composure.

His voice drifted to the back: "The first requirement is that you stay quiet and don't jump around. Just like your third grandmother Qiao Liya, stay quiet."

Four hours later, Count Nero led his team to Dark Eagle City and followed the road signs and soon arrived at Green Manor.

At the gate of Green Manor, Sveta was strolling leisurely, but she did not expect to meet Count Nero. As soon as he met him, the latter enthusiastically dismounted and walked up to him with enthusiasm that he had rarely seen in decades in the southwest border. He said quickly, "Butler Sveta, long time no see. You look as good as ever and still so energetic."

Sveta, who was somewhat sleepless, put down the small red kettle for watering plants and responded politely, "It's Count Nero. It's been a long time since we last met. Are you here to visit the master today?"

"Yes, I do have something to discuss with Marquis Rhett." Count Nero smiled and pointed to the carriage behind him, saying, "This is a gift from the Brian family to Marquis Rhett. I'd like to trouble Butler Sveta to notify Marquis Rhett."

"It's a small matter."

Faced with Count Nero's warm welcome, polite words, and boxes of gifts in the back carriage, Sveta was filled with emotion.

Once upon a time, his master was just a baron of minor nobles, and Count Nero was an absolute big shot for the Green family. Even the master used to be respectful to him. But things have changed, and today, everything has turned upside down. As the steward of Green Manor, he feels this deeply.

Coming back to his senses, he showed the attitude of a marquis's butler, smiled lightly but politely, and said to the knight behind him: "Kaz, go to the training ground and find a few squire knights to transport these goods to the warehouse!"

"Understood, Butler Sveta!" After saying that, the knight rushed towards the training ground.

"Count Nero, please come in with me first. The master is in the castle. I will go up and report to him right away." After saying this, Sveta turned around and quickened her pace towards Dark Rock Castle.

"Thank you very much!"

As Count Nero followed, a chaotic sound of footsteps was heard around him. Sveta turned his head and frowned slightly: "It is best not to walk around Green Manor with so many people, especially the back garden is prohibited. But on these two empty lawns, you can move freely." As he spoke, he pointed to the empty lawns on both sides of the stone path.

"These are the most basic rules, I know them very well!" Count Nero smiled, then picked up Jaina and said, "This is my great-granddaughter. It should be okay for her to accompany me into Dark Rock Castle, right?"

"It's okay, please come with me."

Jaina, who was held in Nero's arms, looked around. Although she didn't say anything, her bright eyes were full of curiosity about this strange place.

The two entered Dark Rock Castle, and Sveta told the servants to entertain the guests, then walked up the stairs, ready to report. But at the corner of the third floor, he saw Rhett coming down the stairs, and he was stunned for a moment, then stood still and prepared to tell his master about Count Nero's visit.

Butler interrupted him, stretched out his hand and said, "I saw it all. Count Nero is downstairs. Sveta, you don't look well. Go and rest first."

"Master, your eyes are sharp. I really couldn't sleep last night." Sveta said, touching his chest.

"Take care of yourself. If you feel unwell, let me know immediately." Rhett patted Sveta's shoulder and walked over her to go downstairs.

Thump thump thump

Hearing the sound of someone coming down the stairs, Count Nero stood up straight, walked quickly on the red carpet, and greeted the mature and steady figure. He said in a high voice: "Marquis Leiter, long time no see. The news of your promotion to marquis is good news for the entire southwest border. I have been waiting for your promotion banquet and preparing to congratulate you in person. But I have waited for a long time and never got it. But I have to express my excitement to you, so I came here today."

Looking at Nero who took the initiative to open his arms, Lei Te gently hugged him and put on a standard smile: "Thank you for the compliment. Who is the little girl next to you?"

"Boni's granddaughter, and also my great-granddaughter, is Jaina. You know, the last time Boni returned to the canyon defense line, he was seriously injured. It was a blow to him. He has been depressed since he came back, and he doesn't have much intention to take care of his offspring. I had no choice but to bring her out this time to broaden her horizons."

"I see." Leiter walked to the dining table, sat down, and waved to Count Nero: "Please take a seat. Boni's experience is really sympathetic. I hope he can get out of the shadow soon."

Then, the two exchanged pleasantries and tasted some desserts. During this time, Jaina sat on a chair. Although she didn't move, her big eyes kept moving around and looking around. It was obvious that she had a lively and active heart.

Leiter smiled slightly when he saw this: "Count Nero, Jaina seems to be unable to sit still. There is no need to tie a child to a fixed position. Why not let her go upstairs? Dick and Kazere are playing in the room. They probably won't mind such a cute girl joining them. They may even... welcome her. What do you think?"

"That's great. I agree with Marquis Rhett's point of view!" Count Nero looked at Jaina, patted her on the back, and said, "Jaina, there are other friends waiting for you upstairs. Go up first. Marquis Rhett and I have other things to discuss."

"Got it." Jaina responded obediently, finished the dessert on the plate, and jumped off the chair.

"Scarlett, take her to Riley's room." Rhett said to the maid next to him.

"Yes, my lord!" Scarlett, who was wearing a black and white maid outfit, responded and took Jaina's hand and went upstairs.

After the two left, Leiter took a sip of tea and said softly: "Count Nero, it seems that your great-granddaughter is not very happy. It is not good to force children to do things they are unwilling to do..."

"No, it's just that Jaina has always wanted to see orcs perform acrobatics. How could I agree to her unreasonable request?" Nero laughed and shook his head.

He paused for a moment, considered his words, and said, "Actually... Marquis Leiter, I came here this time because I want to discuss something important with you."

"Oh? Please tell me what's the matter." Rhett looked at the other person and pretended to be surprised.

"I think our two families can have an alliance!" Count Nero said seriously.

"Marriage? Are you kidding?" Rhett suddenly raised his voice and looked at Nero with a strange look on his face.

Count Nero also said sincerely, "Yes, that's right. As a marquis, you are the strongest force in the southwest border, and our Brian family has been operating here for quite some time. If we can form an alliance, it will be of great benefit to both of us and to the southwest border."

"Whether it is the combination of capital or the complementarity in intelligence, force, etc., it is beneficial to us and not harmful."

Hearing this, Lei Te's eyes were more surprised. He touched his chin and said thoughtfully: "Well... It sounds like a good choice, but I want to ask, have you and the Jin En family ever joined forces like this in the past?"

"Of course not." Count Nero shook his head. "Marquis Leiter should have heard that the other party planted spies in our family a few years ago. This is destined to have an insurmountable gap between us. Moreover, this is not the point. What's more important is that our two families are at the same level. There are competitions in many aspects, open and covert struggles. The so-called alliance is at most superficial.

After all, our strengths are equal, and neither of us is willing to submit to the other, but we are also wary of each other's hidden conspiracy, so it is difficult for us to truly integrate together. It would be good if we can coexist peacefully and not interfere with each other."

"But you are different, Marquis Leiter. You are the pearl of this barren land on the southwest border, destined to make this land, which is ignored by many people in the kingdom, shine brightly." Count Nero changed the subject, his eyes gleaming as he spoke, his tone containing a hint of eagerness: "You have infinite potential and strong enough strength. With your absolute power, you can suppress some conspiracies and intrigues. Your military support is the foundation of true peace, so that everyone can obey your dispatch and achieve a closer union."

Lei Te looked straight at the other person, paused for a moment, looked at him deeply, and said: "Count Nero's vision is indeed extraordinary."

"Your light is too dazzling. Anyone who is not blind can see it." Count Nero said modestly.

"Haha, okay, there's no problem with the alliance. We can discuss it slowly later and let the people below discuss how to cooperate." Lei Te said with a smile: "But as for the marriage, I should have stated before that my three sons are all married, so it's difficult to agree."

"No, no, no, Marquis Rhett misunderstood. I came here this time to discuss a marriage for Jaina." Count Nero waved his hand and said, "I learned in advance that Master Tucker has an older son who is about the same age as Jaina. I feel that the two of them are a good match."

"Dick and Gianna? Well, I need to ask Tucker's opinion on this matter." After listening, Rhett thought for a moment and gave an answer.

"No problem!" Count Nero was delighted when he heard this. If the other party did not reject it directly, it meant that there was a chance, and the success rate was quite high. After all, the head of the family had the power to make decisions on everything, and if he did not reject it, then the marriage was almost certain.

The two continued chatting for a few more words. Not long after, the dusty Thales walked in from the gate. He had heard about Count Nero's visit when he was in the manor, and also saw the strange knight outside, so he greeted him politely after he came in: "Count Nero, long time no see!"

"Long time no see." Count Nero was also very enthusiastic and took the initiative to stand up and hug Thales.

"Taylors, it looks like you've returned victoriously. How was your bandit-suppression trip?"

Rhett smiled and said that more than a week ago, he received news that bandits were killing, looting and massacring on the southwest border. Many villages and civilians suffered. Although it did not happen in his territory, now as the marquis of the southwest border, he could not sit idly by, so he sent White Hat to take Thales to suppress the bandits.

To be honest, it's a bit of a waste of talent, but in order to make it easier for Thales to harvest destiny points, I think it's safer to send White Hat, the sixth-level magician.

"Suppressing bandits?" Count Nero was stunned for a moment, then a little surprised: "Could it be that group of bandits with fourth-level earth knights? I met some victims on the way here. I heard that group of people did all kinds of evil, burning, killing, looting, and spared no one, young or old, men or women."

"Yes, it's them. There are more than twenty bandits in total. The leader is indeed a fourth-level Earth Knight. They have all been killed!"

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