Chapter 238 Negotiation and Alliance

The bone-chilling wind kneaded the surging clouds, making the haze over Qiumu Island even thicker.

Behind the withered walls and broken cliffs, the legion residence stood alone. At the south end of the third floor of the residence was Horn's study.

Walking into the room and standing by the window, Mitternich looked up. The clouds were hanging so low that they seemed to be pressing down on his head, making him feel chest tightness and shortness of breath.

Horn lit the peat iron stove with pine resin and tinder, then snapped his fingers, and the fluorescent stone lamps embedded in the surrounding walls and ceiling lit up one by one.

Under the illumination of fire and fluorescent light, the originally dim study became bright.

"Mr. Mitternich, please sit down." Pulling over a hardwood armchair, Horn warmly invited Mitternich to sit down.

Looking at the fluorescent lamps lit up around him in amazement, Mitternich thanked him and slowly sat down.

This number of fluorite lamps can emit such bright light. The magical power of this saint grandson is not weak.

Due to the sensitivity and uniqueness of Horn's identity, Sissi only informed Catherine of the specific situation.

Mitternich is Catherine's core subordinate, but he is not a witch's family or a member of the secret party after all. Not letting him know some things is actually to protect him.

From Mitternich's perspective, Farmer Horn is Jeanne's witch-companion, a lucky man who is good at instigation but has a conscience.

When Mitternich actually sat opposite Horn, he felt something was wrong.

The young man sitting in front of him was about 1.7 meters tall, and the clergyman's robe could not hide his thick wheat-colored fingers.

Although he looked like a farmer, he sat upright in his chair as if he were a young scholar or a young bishop.

In the casual chat we had just had on the way here, this holy grandson rarely displayed the ignorance and vulgarity typical of farmers and vagrants in his dealings with people and conversations.

Even some of the long and difficult sentences he used made Mitternich wonder if he was talking to a playwright.

Could it be true, as Sissi said, that one could suddenly realize something and become a self-taught person in just one month?

"The room is rather simple. After all, I come from a peasant family and I don't know etiquette or art. How about you and I be more casual?"

"Hahahaha, I'm not a noble, so why should I care about etiquette!"

He laughed twice in response, then took a sip of the hot ginger juice and felt much warmer. "You said it was simple, but I see your tower is as solid as a fortress."

Jintang Castle is located in the Bear Hammer Territory. During the First Blood War, it resisted the vampire army for three years and was hailed as the strongest castle.

"It's just the remains of the residence of the commander of the Gu'er Legion. I can't see whether it's good or bad."

Sitting opposite Mitternich, Horn picked up the hot ginger juice but did not drink it.

He blew away the mist from the cup and asked, whether intentionally or unintentionally, "Why don't I see Xixi?"

"He went to settle Andar."

"Armand told me about Andal and Jeanne." Horn tilted the cup and hid his face in the mist. "Jeanne is only sixteen years old. She was a little naughty and played around. I will punish her severely later."

Mitternich quickly interrupted: "We were the ones who were rude first... Hey, but that magical long crossbow really gave me a fright today."

Without responding to Mitternich's words, Horn put down the water cup with a faint smile and raised his head. The two men looked at each other and tacitly let the matter pass.

Mitternich knew that such a crucial weapon could not be obtained easily, so he just tried it casually.

"Sir Horn, I won't waste your time. I'm here mainly to form an alliance."

After the previous preparation, Mitternich felt that the time was right and began to get to the point.

"According to our Lady Catherine, given the current situation in the Thousand River Valley, if the church continues to cover up, the news of Blue Blood Wine and Juanno's death will spread.

However, the church has never given a reasonable explanation, and people from all walks of life in the Thousand River Valley, from nobles to farmers, are gradually becoming disappointed.

When the spring of next year comes, new crops cannot be planted after the flood, and the old crops have been used up in the winter, the number of farmers who starve to death or flee famine will increase explosively.

Under this situation, Archbishop Constance left the Thousand River Valley again.

Well, if we want to talk about the future of Thousand Valleys, now is the best time.

We are all united for a common purpose, and I will not hide anything.

We plan to officially respond by the end of February next year, calling on the citizens of Rapid City to expel the priests and summoning the nobles from the Thousand River Valley in Lower River County to join us.

We were originally planning to support the Duke of Jeanne d'Arc in his claim to the throne of the Thousand Valleys, but now the Kush family has become notorious.

We will most likely support Meliati of the Falls family in her claim to the throne of the Thousand Valleys.

You know that our Rapids City is located in Lower Rivershire, and the main force of the uprising, Grand Duke Meliati, is separated from us by the three mountainous counties of Upper Rivershire, South Moundshire and Moundshire.

The church's base camp, Hotham County, is a long way from us, and the army can arrive there any day. Now that Jeanne d'Arc has fallen into the hands of the church, we will be attacked from all sides.

In order to hold out until the arrival of Duke Meliati’s powerful army, we must help each other…” While talking about the plan, Mitternich took out the contract and placed it on the table in front of him for Horn to read.

"What do these three contracts mean?"

"These represent the three levels of our cooperation," Mitternich said with a wink.

"Tell me?"

"The first is to let Sissi be your advisor. We will provide you with resources, officers, and tax collectors, and help you complete all necessary activities. You only need to sit in the chair..."

"What about the second and third ones?" Throwing away the contract, Horn picked up two other shorter contracts.

"The second is a close partnership contract. We will provide you with interest-free loans and weapons and equipment, etc., but you must set out to attack Fort Jeanne d'Arc within the time we specify..."

After scanning the second contract, Horn still did not comment and continued to pick up the third contract.

Mitternich smoothly turned the topic to the third contract: "This contract is a simple offensive and defensive alliance contract. Only after you capture Fort Jeanne d'Arc will we provide a low-interest loan. No matter which side asks for help, the other side must declare a break with the enemy and choose the right time to start a war..."

Putting the three contracts on the table, Horn looked at Mitternich with a half-smile: "Which one do you think I will choose?"

"Before you came here, I thought you would choose the second one. After you came here, I thought you would choose the first one." Mitternich stirred the ginger juice with a wooden spoon and smiled. "Now, I think you will choose the third one."

"Mr. Mitternich, you are a smart man. Let's be frank. I am going to sign this offensive and defensive alliance contract." Horn said directly, "If we are restricted by the alliance in terms of strategic autonomy, we will be too passive."

"If you are willing to sign the second agreement, we can remove those restrictions at our discretion."

"If what you mean by discretion is that you want a clockwork gun, then I can tell you - I don't know what Sissi told you, but the clockwork gun is currently only available to the Saint's Favored."

Horn did not hide anything from him and told him the reason directly.

But from the expression, Mitternich, who was sitting opposite him, obviously did not regard this as Horn's real reason, but only regarded it as an excuse.

Horn had no choice but to say, "Let's sign the third contract. We need to discuss some specific details and plans."

After determining the general framework, the two parties finally entered into discussions on the specific details of the contract.

Mitternich tried some tricks on the contract, but Horn saw through them one by one.

After efficient discussions, the two of them drafted this simple alliance agreement in a short time.

After collecting the added content and additional agreements, Mitternich looked at Horn pouring hot ginger juice by the stove and couldn't help but sigh.

The behavior patterns of these brother and sister are really cut from the same cloth.

My younger sister Jeanne appears to be enthusiastic and forthright, just like a silly village woman.

But she could see through Andal's arrogance at a glance, and used an extremely simple little trick to make him suffer a loss.

My elder brother Horn looks like a devout young priest, but he is more calculating than the most mercenary businessman in his words and deeds.

In all aspects, he could tell the details of the matter without even calling in the relevant personnel.

What Mitternich could not understand the most was that the two people's actions did not make him feel abrupt, but rather a sense of naturalness.

Mitternich suddenly smiled with relief. If there was nothing special about these two people, how could they have made such a big name with these peasant rebels?

"What are you laughing at, Lord Mitternich?"

"Among the many peasant rebels, only you have such a great reputation. There is a reason for that."

"Oh, why do you say that?" Horn asked with interest, holding the ginger juice.

"Your Excellency is very good at governing, and your sister is even more alert and intelligent. With such talents and abilities, it's no wonder that you two have been able to defeat the church time and time again."

Horn, who was adding peat to the iron furnace with a smile, stopped and said, "Do you think these so-called talents are innate to us?"

"Isn't it?" Mitternich was surprised.

Horn did not answer immediately, but stood in front of the window holding the ginger juice.

He looked at the skinny soldiers on the training ground and remained silent for a full minute.

Just when Mitternich was wondering if he had said something wrong, he slowly spoke:
"Jeanne was so innocent and naive at first that anyone could deceive her, but I made many mistakes and went wrong all the time.

Mitternich, my friend, my sister and I are just an ordinary pair of farmers' brother and sister.

None of the talents and abilities you mentioned are innate.

These so-called talents were all gained through hard work and blood, and every step was stained with the tears of my companions and myself."

(End of this chapter)