The Villain Princess survived the Imperial Riot

"interesting."

"So, you agreed?"

"I only said it was interesting, not that I wanted to duel you." Hestia sneered. "You, a mystic cultivator of the Enlightenment Realm who has gained the power of Heavenly Fire, challenged me, a new apprentice to the Iron Throne Knights. How dare you call yourself a knight? When you were secretly plotting to assassinate me, why didn't you practice chivalry?"

"Haha, it seems you didn't inherit Heberus's arrogance." The wanderer shook his head when he saw that the princess actually had a brain. "Wanzhao is indeed a difficult door to pass through. In that case, having the knights of the palace to bury me is not too shabby."

"No, I accept your challenge."

"Huh?" This time it was the homeless man's turn to be surprised.

"But the gap in realm doesn't seem fair to me," Hestia said.

"so?"

"So you're going to have General Ant suppress his power. We won't compete in mystical arts, only swordsmanship," Hestia said. "Let's end this as a swordsman. I think that's fine, right?"

"Oh. Of course no problem."

The wanderer knew that he could not survive three moves at the hands of Freeman Ant, and he could not hurt the dragon even if he tried his best. Whether he had power or not would not affect the final result.

Since the princess gave him the opportunity, how could he let it go?

"Your Excellency General."

At the princess's signal, Freeman Ant stepped forward and punched the homeless man in the chest, causing him to stagger.

The wanderer's clothes were torn to pieces, and a huge bell symbol like a tower was echoing in his chest.

The skyfire was instantly extinguished, and Hestia threw a rapier.

The wanderer picked up the sword. He felt the seal on his chest and secretly tried to break through the suppression. He said, "You gave me your sword. What do you use?"

Hestia pulled out a saw sword from the back of an armored knight, weighed it, and looked at the wanderer: "Are you ready?"

The wanderer has heavenly fire accumulating in his chest.

He is sure.

Even if it's just for a moment, even if it means burning myself.

As long as she could break through the suppression of the tower and let the heavenly fire sweep over the evil dragon, there would be no chance of her surviving.

This is not the way of chivalry, but those who are high above the dragons are never knights.

"get ready--"

"Boom."

Smoke filled the air.

The wanderer stared blankly at the princess's left hand on her waist, which was an alchemical revolver specially made by the High Knight.

He touched his head and could only feel burnt flesh, not even a piece of brain.

He could still move, but this was just the Source of Forging reshaping his nerves, the instinctive response of his soul in its dying moments.

The next second, his soul returned to his dream.

The Celestial Dragons are not knights after all.

"Hahaha..." the wanderer laughed.

But soon, he couldn't laugh anymore.

Because he saw that what greeted him was not the warm yet merciless sea of ​​origin, but a dark world flowing with rivers of blood. The world was like a hurricane, crushing his memories and thoughts, leaving him no time to despair.

A stone monument rises at the junction.

In the auditorium, Hestia blew away the smoke from the guns, and there was complete silence.

So despicable!

This is the first thought of most secret practitioners.

If the wanderer had fought hard before, he could at least take a few people with him before he died. The armor of an ordinary knight would have just melted in front of the heavenly fire. Unexpectedly, this guy crippled his own hands and feet, and died so miserably in the end!

"Her Royal Highness is unparalleled in wisdom and courage. Even at the level of an apprentice, she has completely defeated Tong Xiao. I feel as if I have seen the Divine Emperor in person. I am astonished!"

Fritz Shayer, wearing makeup and rouge, came up and immediately sang an aria for the princess with beautiful melody.

"Amazing..."

"Yes, yes, it's breathtaking."

The echoes came one after another.

I just don't know whether this is praising the princess or scolding the God Emperor.

"Your Highness, this treasure map..." Freeman Ant brought the scroll to the princess.

The skyfire has been absorbed by the wanderer, and now the scroll is just an ordinary map.

But Hestia did not dare to be careless, fearing that another red Aphra would come out from inside.

"Have the military retrieve it, make two copies, and then present them to the Divine Capital."

Hestia has no interest in the Hearthstone treasure.

Not to mention the gods, even the treasures of ordinary myths contain countless deadly traps.

"Yes." Fuman Ant handed the scroll to a confidant, "Then, Your Highness, this gift..."

"Of course we will continue," Hestia said, smiling as she glanced at everyone in the auditorium. "The assassin has been killed. I believe everyone who remains is sincerely committed to the Empire, correct?"

Volume 95: Bird in a Cage: . Sheng Sheng Man

The assassination was just an episode that Hestia had expected. The tribute proceeded in an orderly manner until after dusk, when hundreds of secret practitioners finally settled down in the hotel arranged by Iyana.

In the study, a map of Yunling was placed on the princess's desk. Next to the map was a pile of information about the donors, as well as documents on the population, taxation, geography, and other aspects of Yunling's various regions.

"What do you think of this group of secret cultivators?" Hestia asked without looking up from the map.

"Everyone has their own agenda." The usually gentle Iyana rarely used such a derogatory term. She said, "Except for the forest rangers and many rootless secret cultivators, most of the secret sects in the Dream Realm are leaning towards evil..."

"go on."

Iyana nodded:

"The Shaye family once served the Sun King of Fran. To obtain the sun's resurrection blood, Bain Shaye secretly kidnapped Princess Fran and sacrificed her to the Twin Sheaths—a myth known for its evil reputation in the Dreamworld.

"The Blood Feast, a cannibalistic cult on the coast of Kasrat, worships sedges, hollow bones, and walls of flesh, rising to high positions through the process of eating and being eaten. Senior mystics share a common mind, and members often become puppets of those in higher positions due to schizophrenia.

"The Decaying Bone Cult, the dead of the Golden Plateau, were conquered by the Sun King four hundred years ago. I thought they had been lost to history...

"The Dawn Society, a variant of the Root of Light, split from an even older sect and has had numerous conflicts with the Church of Radiance. They specialize in alchemy and live experiments. Since the beginning of recorded history, they have transformed six-figure living people into Light Souls, a kind of ghost that is neither alive nor dead, unable to be liberated."

"..."

This is just the large secret sect backed by the Wanzhao Realm. There are countless more small organizations, and it is impossible to find out their composition in a short period of time.

If the founders of those small associations are not wealthy people or nobles, then in the process of searching for hidden treasures, seeking hidden treasures, and practicing secret arts, they will inevitably use shady and despicable means.

"Whether they're taking the right path or the crooked one doesn't matter. What's important is to infiltrate Fran with these outsiders and use them to squeeze out the living space of the local opposition." Hestia pondered. "Free Will has no shortage of supporters. This assassination is proof of that."

Even if the Kingdom of Fran was destroyed, the Empire would not be able to completely clear this land. Instead, it would need the help of "surrenderers" like Adrian Hesse to govern it.

Adrian Hesse had become imperial, even marrying into the Hesse family. Although a Franconian traitor, he was considered half an imperial man. However, many Frantic nobles who were watching the situation had never given up their desire to drive the Empire out of Fran.

When the empire was at its peak, they would bow their heads and praise the grace of the Divine Emperor. When the empire declined, they would pretend to obey but secretly disobey, dreaming of rising to power.

The connection of these interests is inevitably hindered by the local secret cultivators of Fran.

The princess's operation of selling official positions and titles undoubtedly touched the bottom line of these people.

You know, even though most areas have been defeuded, the tentacles of Fran's local powerful people are still firmly entrenched, just without the title of lord.

But now the princess not only wants to reinstate feudalism, but also wants to sell their land and cut their blood. They are sworn enemies and the hatred cannot be resolved.

If the Fran nobles were a bunch of complete cowards who could accept this situation, the Iron Army would not have been scheming against Free Will for a hundred years.

Iyana asked, "What lands will Your Highness grant them?"

"Don't rush for now. It won't be easy for them to take root in Fran, and they wouldn't be foolish enough to risk their lives for a few pieces of rotten land. Ultimately, they join the Empire for nothing more than public status and resources for cultivation," Hestia said. "Mortals are resources, money is a resource, and the Empire's collection of books and treasures is something they also covet... but the Empire won't support those without value. However, the Enigmatic Pirates' request can be considered. Find two people to talk to the Governor-General about leasing them a port on the Yunling Coast to increase trade with the New World."

Hestia tapped the map in thought.

The Old World and the New World had been connected for millennia, but the Empire had never held dominant trade control over the Seven Seas. After the Battle of the Sea of ​​Mist, all of the Empire's inherited colonies from Fran became independent, completely severing the Empire's ambitions to conquer the New World.

After all, deep in the heart of the empire's core area, there are endless mountains and hills. The Iron Army has not developed a decent naval technology tree and can only sigh at the ocean.

However, the New World has far richer mineral resources than the Old Continent. The endless supply of gold and magic ore once created the prosperity of the countries on the west coast and the heyday of the Age of Arcane. The ancient ruins and secret treasures hidden in the ruins have attracted countless adventurers.

Therefore, Hestia chose to cooperate with the pirates, actually hoping that one day, the New World would once again fly the flag of Lorraine.

"Yes, Your Highness." Iyana nodded. "Also, Your Highness, why did you specifically arrange for some of the secret cultivators to live in the inner courtyard of the villa instead of letting them live in the small town on the mountainside? And you don't give the same treatment to those major sects. Will this arouse any complaints?"

It's no exaggeration to call Yunting Villa a palace. Being the Governor's residence certainly offers unique advantages. Several main buildings, with four dozen abandoned rooms, large and small, are covered in cobwebs, making it resemble a haunted house at night.

Since the princess's living space is so limited, even if Iyana can control fairies, she is too lazy to take care of those places on a daily basis.

Hestia asked, "Iyana, do you think the assassins among the secret sects are only those who jumped out today?"

"Hmm...it's hard to say." The elf maid frowned slightly and said, "If Your Highness believes there are assassins lurking among them, shouldn't they be stationed outside the villa?"

"How can you monitor these people outside the villa?" Hestia said. "Besides, with you here and hundreds of Iron Army soldiers, how could I possibly be in danger?"

After saying this, the princess revealed a hidden smile.

If an assassin shows up, it's like a buffet for the Witch Book.

In the auditorium, she used the Witch's Book to explore the spiritualities of more than one Blade Cultivator, but being a Blade Cultivator did not mean being bound to free will. Whether they were hidden agents of the rebels still needed further identification.

Once the rebels inside are completely eliminated, the remaining people will not only not be a threat, but will become a barrier to protect Tianlong in the future.

"So that's how it is. Your Highness is very foresighted. I will keep a close eye on them." Iyana nodded.

"Recruit another two hundred... no, two thousand servants. Some will be the families of the Iron Army, and the rest will be selected from the common people. Also, transfer in some retainers from Lorraine. This manor has been abandoned in my care for almost two years. It's time for it to see the light of day." Hestia's eyes flickered under the crystal chandelier, her eyes tinged with curiosity, and a strange smile played at the corners of her mouth. "Recruitment will be carried out in several batches. If I have time, I will come to check it out for you. I just don't know if those rebels will interfere."

It is understandable that there are blade cultivators among the Zhaoanzhe, but if a few blade cultivators appear among the servants, don't blame her for adding more to the Witch's Book.

"Your Highness, recruiting two thousand servants at once will certainly require an experienced butler, head maid, accountant, and chef... There's not much money left in the treasury."

Iyana said with some distress.